"Qingyun Crown Prince Gu Changge could withstand one strike of my sword, yet you can't even withstand half a strike. No, that's not right either. Perhaps Gu Changge couldn't withstand half a strike from me either," Chu Kuangren said arrogantly.
When he defeated Gu Changge, he had only just broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Now that he had reached nascent soul perfection, he would win even more easily if they faced each other again.
Gu Changfeng's face was pale. He wanted to argue but could not. If Princess Linglong had not suddenly intervened, he truly could not have withstood that strike.
The other Heavenly Prides present looked rather grim at his words as well.
It was true that Gu Changge had defeated six Great Saint Dao Traditions in succession, yet he was not worth mentioning before Chu Kuangren.
Then what about them?
Some of them were not even Gu Changge's equals.
Before Chu Kuangren, wouldn't they be even more insignificant?
This was the Great Age of Strife.
It should have been incomparably glorious, with prodigies from all sides vying for supremacy.
Yet why did it feel as though the stage belonged to Chu Kuangren alone?!
"How could someone like him appear in this era? What use are the world's other Heavenly Prides, then?" one Heavenly Pride said resentfully.
Clearly, Chu Kuangren had dealt them far too great a shock.
"Everyone, I have been remiss in hosting this banquet. Sorry for the trouble, but please leave first. Fellow Daoist Chu and I have something to discuss."
Princess Linglong suddenly spoke in an even tone.
She had withstood Chu Kuangren's sword strike, her expression utterly calm.
At that moment, none of them dared regard her as an ordinary princess anymore. Clearly, she too was an exceptional Heavenly Pride!
She was even more outstanding than Gu Changge!
The Heavenly Prides who had attended the banquet left with all manner of thoughts.
"Brother Chu, take your time talking with the princess. I'll be off." Li Xingchen winked at Chu Kuangren and chuckled.
"Third Brother, you should withdraw as well," Princess Linglong said.
Gu Changfeng hesitated.
"Withdraw." Princess Linglong repeated herself, a hint of sternness in her voice. Only then did Gu Changfeng leave.
Soon, only Chu Kuangren, Lan Yu, and Princess Linglong remained.
Princess Linglong glanced at Lan Yu without asking her to leave, then said to Chu Kuangren, "If I hadn't withstood that strike just now, Third Brother would have had only a slim chance of survival. Did you truly want to kill him?"
The air grew tense, carrying a hint of cold.
Chu Kuangren smiled faintly. "If I did, what would you do?"
"No, that's not right. You were drawing me into making a move."
"With you setting me up like this, Princess, it wouldn't be right if I did nothing. I don't like being used."
Chu Kuangren had seen through it long ago. Princess Linglong was setting him up, treating him with kind words and a pleasant manner while using the other Heavenly Prides' jealousy to make trouble for him. How could he possibly sit and wait for his doom?
If you set me up, of course I have to return the favor.
Upon seeing Princess Linglong, he had immediately examined her with the Eye of Insight. Her cultivation was at void insight, and her combat strength surpassed even Gu Changge's and Fang Tian's. She was strong enough to block the sword strike he had just unleashed.
"If I hadn't acted, or if I hadn't acted in time, wouldn't Third Brother really have died beneath your sword?" Princess Linglong said.
"Naturally, I'm confident I can control a strike I unleash."
Chu Kuangren was very confident in his swordsmanship.
Even if Princess Linglong had not intervened in the end, he could have controlled the sword light in time, at least ensuring that Gu Changfeng would not die.
"All right, now it's time to discuss why you've repeatedly targeted me, Princess. Was it really to avenge your elder brother?"
"I wasn't targeting you, only testing you."
"I'm all ears."
"Let's talk inside."
The three entered the palace. After sitting down, Princess Linglong asked directly, "What do you think of me?"
Chu Kuangren froze for a moment. "Princess, are you trying to have a matchmaking meeting with me? Sorry to disappoint you, but I really have no interest in you."
His words made Princess Linglong's delicate brows arch. No interest?
Damn it, I have looks, money, power, and talent, yet there's actually a man who isn't interested in me?
Accustomed to being surrounded like the moon amid a host of stars, Princess Linglong felt somewhat aggrieved inside. She did not show it, however, and said nonchalantly, "Then let me ask another question. What do you think the others came for?"
"Most came for power, wealth, and status, and they lust after your body. A small number don't care about power or wealth and simply lust after your body," Chu Kuangren said.
"That's certainly... blunt."
Power, wealth, status, resources-these were what most participants in the marriage contest sought. But Daoists of Saintly Dao Traditions like Fang Tian and Lin Batian lacked none of these.
What they lusted after was Princess Linglong's body.
To be precise, it was the Mysterious Nether Essence of her Dark Nether Dao Body!
"That's right. The Mysterious Nether Essence of the Dark Nether Dao Body is a supreme treasure that every cultivator in the world thirsts for. Because of this constitution, a Young Emperor has even set his sights on me," Princess Linglong said.
Chu Kuangren's expression shifted slightly. "A Young Emperor?"
"The Shang Clan Young Emperor of the Vermilion Bird Domain! To use the Shang Clan's influence to strengthen our nation, my imperial father has already promised me to the Shang Clan Young Emperor!"
Young Emperor was short for a young Great Emperor.
Every Young Emperor was an unrivaled Heavenly Pride with extraordinary combat strength, considerably stronger than the likes of Gu Changge and Fang Tian.
There were eight known Young Emperors on Firmament Star, scattered across the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Four Domains.
"The Shang Clan Young Emperor, huh? Sounds quite formidable. But what does that have to do with me?" Chu Kuangren asked.
"The Shang Clan Young Emperor is wholly devoted to the Dao. To him, I'm nothing more than a tool, a tool to help him cultivate. Once I'm no longer useful, he'll discard me at will." Princess Linglong's voice carried some resentment.
Chu Kuangren said nothing and listened quietly.
"I refuse to be such a tool. That's why I held this Tournament to Find a Spouse, hoping to find a Heavenly Pride capable of opposing the Shang Clan Young Emperor. And that person is you, Chu Kuangren!"
"My earlier schemes to have others test you were merely to confirm your abilities again. Now, it seems my choice was right."
"Chu Kuangren, I want you to defeat everyone, including the Shang Clan Young Emperor. I want you to become my rightful prince consort!"
"This is a partnership!"
Chu Kuangren quietly listened to everything Princess Linglong had to say.
He understood.
Princess Linglong was an independent woman who had risen in resistance against an arranged marriage she resented. But to conceal this from everyone else, she wanted to find someone for a marriage in name only, and that someone was him.
"Sorry, I refuse. First, I already have all the power, status, wealth, and resources you have. The prince consort you want is only one in name. I imagine you wouldn't let me touch you either."
"Second, I have no need to offend a Young Emperor for you."
Chu Kuangren was no fool.
The position of prince consort held no appeal to him whatsoever. Princess Linglong would be the only one who truly benefited.
"Are you afraid of the Shang Clan Young Emperor?"
"Sorry, goading me won't work." Chu Kuangren raised a brow. The Shang Clan Young Emperor? He did not know how strong the man was, but as for fear-sorry, he had never feared anyone.
He could even kill a supreme supreme, let alone a so-called Young Emperor.
"Three things. As long as you agree, I can promise to do three things for you. I'm Princess Linglong, and I possess the Dark Nether Dao Body. There is no limit to what I can achieve. I'll definitely be able to help you in the future."
"Heh. If even I can't accomplish something, you'll be even less able to. Lan Yu, let's go." Chu Kuangren turned to leave.
Watching his retreating figure, Princess Linglong gritted her teeth. "Don't you want the Mysterious Nether Essence? As long as you become my prince consort, I can agree to give you the Mysterious Nether Essence and help you attain the Great Dao!"
This was the last and most precious thing she could offer.
In her eyes, giving it to Chu Kuangren was better than giving it to the Shang Clan Young Emperor, whom she had never met. At least Chu Kuangren's looks suited her tastes very well.
"Sorry, I told you, I'm not interested in you. I, Chu Kuangren, can attain the supreme Great Dao without something like that!"
With that, Chu Kuangren left without looking back.
Only Princess Linglong remained, her face filled with unwillingness.
Before you continue