A Martial Contest for Marriage

Time slowly passed. The sun moved from east to west, and the arena tournament finally produced its last victor.

The referee immediately stepped forward, raised the winner's arm, and shouted, "The winner of this martial contest is Qin Guan!" Qin Guan stood atop the platform, his face radiant with pride.

Qin Guan stood eight feet tall and had delicate features. He was a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm; among the younger generation, he could be considered an expert in a small place like Azure City.

"Now, let us welcome the Nalan Clan's eldest young lady, Nalan Xue!" the host called out.

From a nearby carriage emerged a slender woman in a white gown, her face veiled.

In an instant, every gaze was drawn to her. Jiang Ming's Golden Eyes flashed, seeing through the veil to reveal a face beautiful enough to topple kingdoms and cities.

The Golden Eyes blazed with golden light as he stared at the woman without blinking. With lotus steps, she slowly ascended the arena.

At the sight of such a peerless beauty, Qin Guan could not help but stare in a daze. Even the veil could not conceal her wondrous beauty. Thinking that she was his future wife, he grew wildly excited and was just about to step forward—

The referee immediately stopped him. "Second Young Lady, may I ask...?"

Qin Guan was instantly disappointed upon hearing this. This stunning beauty was actually not the Nalan Clan's eldest young lady, not his future wife. Still, if the second young lady was this beautiful, the eldest young lady could not be inferior.

"My sister is very satisfied with this... Young Master Qin. She wishes to invite Young Master Qin to the Qin family as a guest. What does Young Master Qin think?" Second Young Lady Nalan Yu said in a soft, boneless voice that stirred one's heart.

"Yes, yes, I'm willing." Qin Guan nodded repeatedly.

Nalan Yu turned toward the carriage and said, "Sister, Young Master Qin has agreed."

Before her words had faded, a black shadow shot out from the carriage.

Jiang Ming focused his gaze. Good heavens—why were they not a pair of lovely sisters? He saw a lump of Bo Gang rapidly closing in on Qin Guan, each stomping step seeming to shake the earth like an earthquake.

Terror filled Qin Guan's face, but he was too late to dodge and was crushed beneath her. He cried out, "Who are you? What are you trying to do? I am the future husband of the Nalan Clan's eldest young lady!"

The black shadow roared, "I am Nalan Xue! Baby Qin, come, give me a kiss."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Something must have gone wrong somewhere!" Qin Guan wailed in terror.

"Could it be that Young Master Qin wishes to go back on his word? It is already too late!" Nalan Xue knelt astride Qin Guan, locking him down so tightly that he could not move. The aura of the Core-Gathering Realm leaked from her body, shocking everyone present.

Naturally, Jiang Ming was excluded. Watching this scene of forced coercion, he found it rather interesting. In the past, he could only have watched something like this in short videos.

Qin Guan lay on the ground and stared at the sky, tears of regret streaming from the corners of his eyes.

Nalan Xue seized Qin Guan and headed for the carriage. As she passed Zhang Chengzhen, perhaps startled by Zhang Chengzhen's aura, she stared warily at Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming was somewhat speechless as well. Although he had not revealed his aura, neither had he deliberately hidden it. He had not expected that someone who had only just entered the Core-Gathering Realm could sense it. Still, it was no big deal. If she had discovered it, then so be it.

"May I ask, Senior..." Nalan Xue said softly, her face full of flesh, utterly different from her previous domineering manner.

The people around them swiftly retreated half a step, staring at this handsome man dressed in plain robes, golden light shining from his eyes, with an adorable Catgirl holding his right hand.

Jiang Naicha seemed uncomfortable under so many stares. She lightly bit her lip and tightly clasped Jiang Ming's right hand with both of hers.

Jiang Ming looked calmly at the humanoid tyrannosaur before him without saying a word.

Nalan Yu, beside them, moved with lotus steps to Nalan Xue's side and bowed slightly. The already prominent curve before her chest became even more magnificent. Jiang Ming's Golden Eyes flashed as he stared without blinking.

Perhaps sensing the scorching gaze of the Golden Eyes, Nalan Yu's cheeks reddened slightly. Rather than flying into a rage from embarrassment, she said in a sweet voice, "On behalf of the Nalan Clan, this little woman invites Senior to visit our Nalan Clan as a guest. What does Senior think?"

"How old are you? You've got a C cup, right? Is it natural?" Jiang Ming inexplicably said a few words.

Nalan Yu froze, not understanding.

"This little woman is sixteen this year."

On the Heavenly Profound Continent, sixteen was the age of adulthood, the age at which one could marry.

"Oh, right. Naicha, how old are you?" Jiang Ming turned to Jiang Naicha.

Meeting Jiang Ming's Golden Eyes, Jiang Naicha lowered her head, her little face flushing red.

"I just turned fourteen this year."

Jiang Ming nodded.

"Fine, then. Let's go take a look at the Nalan Clan." Jiang Ming did not stand on ceremony and pulled Jiang Naicha onto the Nalan Clan's carriage.

"Oh, and I'm not that old. Don't call me Senior."

After returning from his transmigration, Jiang Ming had learned what sort of world this was, yet he still felt somewhat restrained. Ever since leaving the Spirit Realm, Jiang Ming had felt all his shackles come undone, and he acted ever more freely as he pleased.

Perhaps he had been somewhat constrained at home. Once outside, with the capital to act without restraint, he could be utterly unbridled.

The Nalan Clan of Azure City.

Having received the news, Nalan De, the Nalan Clan Head, laid out a grand banquet and waited for Jiang Ming's arrival. Nalan Xue was in the Core-Gathering Realm. Someone who could make a Core-Gathering Realm cultivator instinctively address him as Senior must surely be far beyond the Core-Gathering Realm, at the very least in the Nascent Soul Realm. One had to know that the ancestors of Azure City's three strongest Lineages were only at the first level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

"Haha, I did not know that... this young master would honor us with his presence. Forgive us for failing to welcome you from afar. How disrespectful, how disrespectful. I hope Young Master will not blame us." Nalan De had originally wanted to address him as Senior, but looking at Jiang Ming, he simply could not bring himself to say it, so he changed it to Young Master. As it happened, Jiang Ming disliked being called Senior anyway.

Jiang Ming gave an "Mm," pulled Jiang Naicha along, and strode into the Nalan Clan. He paused and looked back, seeing that the others were still outside the gates.

"Aren't you coming in? It's your own home, don't be so reserved."

Nalan De and the others smiled awkwardly.

At the banquet, Jiang Ming sat in the seat of honor, with Jiang Naicha seated to his right and Nalan Yu to his left. Beyond her sat Nalan De. As for Qin Guan, he was not qualified to join the table for now and had been locked in Nalan Xue's private courtyard.

Nalan De felt slightly displeased, but it was only natural to put aside one's pride appropriately when facing someone of unknown strength.

Jiang Ming stopped after taking two bites. Damn, this was a little unpalatable. His household ate delicacies from land and sea every day, so this food felt quite ordinary by comparison. His tastes had been spoiled. Jiang Ming sighed. Fortunately, at the Nascent Soul Realm, essence, energy, and spirit became one; it did not matter even if he neither ate nor drank, since absorbing spiritual energy was enough.

Nalan Yu read his expression and promptly said, "Our family's means are limited. Please do not blame us if the food does not suit Young Master's palate."

Jiang Ming waved a hand.

"Did you invite me here because there is something you need? You couldn't have dragged me here just for a meal. We've only just met."

"Since Young Master has asked, then I will speak frankly. We hope that Young Master can help our Nalan Clan resolve a crisis." Nalan Xue spoke directly in her booming voice.

"Tell me more." Jiang Ming tapped the table and glanced at Jiang Naicha. Seeing this, Jiang Naicha set down her bowl and chopsticks, walked behind Jiang Ming, and began kneading his shoulders.

Jiang Naicha had been brought here to serve him in the first place; she could not possibly do nothing at all. Over the past few days, Jiang Naicha had often given Jiang Ming massages. Though her technique was still slightly lacking compared with Technician Number Eight's, she was improving.