A Marriage Proposal? Asking Only to Be a Concubine-and Rejected!

The reception hall of the Eternal Ye Family.

Its furnishings were lavish, and spiritual energy filled the air. Even the most basic tables and chairs were gilded, with all manner of Immortal Treasures arrayed upon them.

The ruler of the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom and its Eldest Princess, Huang Ruoxi, were already seated on the left.

Yet both were visibly ill at ease, their bearing utterly deferential.

After all... this was merely a reception hall, yet it was more magnificent than the imperial court of their Phoenix Ancient Kingdom.

The Immortal Treasures and precious medicines laid out on the tables shimmered with dazzling colors, with tiny spirits occasionally dancing among them.

The Phoenix Sovereign marveled inwardly, As expected of the Eternal Ye Family, the strongest family across all the heavens!

Even a mere reception hall is more extravagant than the main halls and imperial palaces of ordinary Immortal Forces!

His yearning grew stronger. If the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom could climb onto the lofty branch that was the Eternal Ye Family, it would surely grow ever more powerful.

After all... under the combined pressure of the other three ancient kingdoms, their Phoenix Ancient Kingdom was already declining by the day.

The ancestor in the palace's ancestral grounds did not have much time left, either.

Only by finding a sufficiently powerful backer could they brace their great tower before it fell.

Just then, Ye Junlin approached slowly, surrounded by a host of elders.

"Greetings, Lord God Emperor!"

The Phoenix Sovereign immediately rose to show his respect, cupping his hands with utmost deference.

Compared with the Eternal Ye Family, the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom was no different from an ant before a true dragon.

Never mind respectfully cupping his hands—even kneeling to greet him would have been entirely appropriate.

"Greetings, Lord God Emperor!"

Huang Ruoxi also rose and bowed respectfully.

"There is no need for such ceremony."

Ye Junlin took the seat of honor, while several elders of the main lineage sat on the right side of the hall.

"They say the Eldest Princess of the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom is learned, gracious, and beautiful enough to topple kingdoms. You certainly live up to your reputation!"

Ye Junlin offered his praise with a faint smile, looking very satisfied.

"You flatter me, Lord God Emperor. I am merely a woman of little consequence."

"Lord God Emperor, to be frank, we have come today to propose a marriage to your son!"

The Phoenix Sovereign wasted no words, going straight to the point with a startling declaration.

"Oh? But my little boy was only born some ten days ago. Surely it is too early to discuss marriage?"

Ye Junlin gave a wry smile, seemingly troubled.

"Your son possesses world-shaking talent and breathtaking gifts, with the potential to become a God Emperor. He will surely be a dragon among men."

"My daughter naturally cannot match him. She would be content with nothing more than a concubine's place."

"Besides... your son will grow up eventually, will he not? A dozen or so years is merely the flick of a finger to cultivators like us, who contend with heaven for our lives."

The Phoenix Sovereign spoke at length, every sentence reasonable, trying to persuade Ye Junlin through logic.

After all... Ye Junlin was the God Emperor, the true decision-maker of the Eternal Ye Family!

Whether this succeeded or failed depended entirely on a single word from him.

"Indeed, the Eldest Princess possesses Phoenix True Blood and exceptional talent. At such a young age, she is already a Divine Ability Realm cultivator."

"This matter is certainly open to discussion."

"But... let Tian decide for himself. It is his life, and no one may interfere."

As Ye Junlin finished speaking, a voice came from outside the doors: "Welcome, Young Master!"

Ye Linglong entered the reception hall with Ye Tian in her arms.

Ye Tian's large, watery eyes were wide open, as though he found everything fascinating.

Indeed... he had lived two lives, yet now he could only appear before others as a baby, spending every day in someone else's arms.

When will these dull, tedious days finally end?!

"Is this your son? What a celestial bearing!"

"Bright eyes, immortal energy swirling around him, and a body as lustrous as jade—he will surely become an unrivaled figure of his generation!"

The Phoenix Sovereign approached Ye Tian with a smile curling his lips and a gleam in his eyes, lavishing him with praise.

Even Ye Tian could not bear to listen any longer. How could the dignified ruler of the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom act so much like... a bootlicker?

Yet it seemed to work quite well on everyone else.

Especially his father, who was practically floating after hearing the Phoenix Sovereign's praise.

His grin nearly stretched to his ears.

Ye Tian was speechless. If he could talk, he would have been the first to object.

I only have a Mortal Physique. Where is this supposed celestial bearing coming from?!

Ye Junlin promptly took Ye Tian into his own arms, unwilling to let him go.

It was hard to imagine that this silly little boy could learn the Peerless Sword Technique with a single glance and casually refine a Heaven-Grade Pill.

The more he looked at him, the more he adored him, until he planted a smacking kiss on his forehead.

"Tian, the Eldest Princess of the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom wishes to marry you. Not as your principal wife—she only asks for a concubine's place."

"What do you think, my child? Do you agree to this marriage?"

To everyone's astonishment, the God Emperor actually put the question to Ye Tian.

The move left the gathered onlookers dumbstruck.

Lord God Emperor, are you serious?

He is just a baby born barely ten days ago.

You are asking whether he agrees? Can he even understand you? No, no—does he even know what marriage means?

Ye Tian's lips twitched. His father really was something else.

But this concerned a major decision in his life, so he certainly ought to make it himself.

Nestled in Ye Junlin's arms, Ye Tian smacked his little lips, narrowed his eyes, and shook his head with a smile.

You must be joking. I don't want to be a little pony pulling a giant cart.

I'm only a baby right now. Even if I have both the desire and the nerve, I don't have the ability.

Let's discuss it when I'm older.

With no woman in my heart, my sword will naturally strike like a god!

"Haha, it seems my son does not agree to this marriage."

Ye Junlin shook his head with considerable regret.

In truth, he had been very willing to accept the marriage himself.

An outstanding prodigy with Phoenix True Blood, asking for nothing beyond a mere concubine's place.

But... this son of his was certainly not as simple as he appeared.

Barely ten days after his birth, he could already refine pills, learn sword techniques, and understand what his father meant.

As for everyone else present, they were utterly dumbfounded.

What?! A ten-day-old baby who cannot even speak actually understood the God Emperor's words?

And... he personally rejected the marriage?

Come on, little ancestor, are you an idiot?

Someone came right to your door to give you a wife, and you refused! Do you even have anything between your legs?

What was more, the woman was hardly lacking: the Eldest Princess of the Phoenix Ancient Kingdom, an outstanding female prodigy with Phoenix True Blood.

She was not even asking for the principal wife's place in the Eastern Palace, only that of a minor concubine.

At the thought, the elders present nearly ground their back teeth to pieces.

But the one questioning her entire existence most of all was the Eldest Princess, Huang Ruoxi.

She... had been rejected by a baby who could not even speak.

Shouldn't I be happy? Why do I feel this sense of loss instead?

Is it because I was rejected?

But... what fate will my Phoenix Ancient Kingdom face now?

It would be carved up by the other three Ancient Kingdoms, its people plunged into misery, unable to make a living, with suffering spread across the land.

At that thought, Huang Ruoxi stepped forward under everyone's watchful eyes.

First, she bowed gracefully to Ye Junlin and the Great Elders with utmost respect.

Then she said, "Your son was born barely ten days ago. I am willing to become his maid and attend to him day and night!"