Hearing Dongfang Lin's words, Liu Ling'er, Lin Changqing, and Duanmu Lan were all taken aback.
In the past, Lin Changqing would certainly have agreed without hesitation.
A marriage alliance with the Great Xia Imperial Clan would have been such a tremendous stroke of fortune for the Chishui Royal Clan that they could have woken up laughing from their dreams!
But in the past, Lin Changqing's son wouldn't have been worthy of it!
In fact, even now, if the decision were his to make, Lin Changqing would have agreed to the match without a second thought.
Liu Ling'er, on the other hand, was somewhat hesitant.
Of course, she knew the benefits of a marriage alliance with the Great Xia Imperial Clan, but Lin Heng had only just been born. Deciding the most important matter of his life already seemed a little inappropriate.
"By the way, Lady Goddess, I also have a great-granddaughter who was born not long ago. She's close to the little prince in age, so she'd be a more suitable match!"
Once Duanmu Lan recovered from his surprise, he joined in as well.
At the same time, he sighed inwardly. As expected of the Great Xia Imperial Clan-they really did think far ahead!
If Dongfang Lin hadn't brought it up, a marriage alliance would never have occurred to Duanmu Lan.
"Hmph!"
Dongfang Lin snorted in displeasure. "Ancestor Duanmu, never mind imperial and royal clans. Even people from ordinary martial arts families wouldn't pay much attention to an age gap when choosing a marriage partner. Others might not know that, but surely a dignified God Realm expert like you does?"
"You and your wife are a full thirty years apart!"
"And the current emperor of our Great Xia Empire has an empress twelve years older than him!"
"My daughter is less than ten years older than Lady Goddess's little prince!"
"Besides, I'm offering my own daughter in marriage, while you're offering your great-granddaughter. How can that be the same?"
"Do you want to be not only the little prince's ancestor, but Lady Goddess's ancestor too?"
Duanmu Lan was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged, but for the moment, he didn't know how to retort.
He understood that his great-granddaughter certainly couldn't compare with Dongfang Lin's daughter in the distinction of her status!
Besides, their generational seniority really was a problem!
If Dongfang Lin's daughter married the little prince, Dongfang Lin and Lady Goddess would be of the same generation. That would undoubtedly make the match easier for Lady Goddess to accept.
Duanmu Lan sighed inwardly. Dongfang Lin had taken one wife after another, and people had once mocked him, saying his eldest son could have been his youngest daughter's grandfather. Who would have thought it would now become an advantage?
Most experts who could advance to the God Realm were usually absorbed in cultivation and devoted to a single partner. Dongfang Lin was clearly an exception!
"Imperial Uncle, I should naturally be delighted to accept your kind offer, but I don't want to make the decision for Heng'er. Please allow me to ask his opinion first."
Liu Ling'er wasn't saying this to turn him down tactfully. Rather, she had thought it over and still couldn't make up her mind.
"No matter. I can wait."
Dongfang Lin smiled.
After staying to chat about a few more things, Liu Ling'er excused herself from the Hall of Longevity on the grounds that her son needed looking after and returned to the Heartwarming Pavilion.
By then, Lin Heng had also read through the general contents of the Heavenly Art of Creation.
All in all, the cultivation art was extremely advanced and profound. It could seize the fortune of heaven and earth to strengthen its practitioner, but not just anyone could cultivate it.
It had been created at the height of his power by the Human Race forebear who possessed the Supreme Divine Physique, and was only suited to martial artists with exceptionally powerful physiques.
If a martial artist with an ordinary physique tried to cultivate it, their body simply wouldn't be able to withstand it.
The fortune of heaven and earth encompassed all things!
Spiritual Qi was part of the fortune of heaven and earth, and so were Devil Qi, Sha Qi, hostile Qi, and the like!
Every flower and tree was part of the fortune of heaven and earth, as were the oceans and mountains!
Even the stars that filled the sky were part of the fortune of heaven and earth!
If you could cultivate the Heavenly Art of Creation, then everything between heaven and earth could be said to become a cultivation resource for you!
No matter when or where, you would be cultivating at high speed!
With that thought, Lin Heng couldn't help thinking of the Heavenly Devil Tyrant Body again!
The Supreme Divine Physique he should have received had already gone to his mother, Liu Ling'er.
Although he had received a little of the Supreme Divine Physique's divinity in the womb, it wasn't enough for him to develop the Supreme Divine Physique as well.
If he could obtain the Heavenly Devil Tyrant Body, which was just as formidable as the Supreme Divine Physique, he would be able to cultivate the Heavenly Art of Creation.
"Eunuch Hong, you may leave us for now."
Liu Ling'er instructed, "Tell those people kneeling outside the door to disperse. As long as they sincerely repent, I have no interest in making things difficult for them."
"This old servant obeys!"
Hong San placed Lin Heng in Liu Ling'er's arms, bowed, and withdrew.
A moment later, Liu Ling'er asked Lin Heng, who was in her arms, "Heng'er, you probably don't understand the importance of marriage yet, do you?"
"Mother, I don't understand it very well, but I do know a little."
Lin Heng didn't know what Liu Ling'er wanted to say, but since she'd brought it up, he was willing to chat with her about it.
He thought Liu Ling'er wanted to talk about her relationship with Lin Changqing.
"The Great Xia emperor's imperial uncle has a daughter who is said to be under ten. That imperial uncle said he wants to betroth her to you."
Liu Ling'er smiled gently and gave Lin Heng's little cheek a soft pinch. "Do you understand?"
"A childhood betrothal?"
"That's right, a childhood betrothal!"
Liu Ling'er nodded, then said in surprise, "You know quite a lot, don't you? Hong San must have told you about it, right?"
"Mother, is that imperial uncle powerful?"
"He is!"
Liu Ling'er replied, "He's a God Realm expert, and his status is even higher than that of the current Great Xia emperor!"
"How could such a powerful man have a daughter who's not even ten?"
"Who knows!"
Liu Ling'er pursed her lips.
"If you have no objection, Mother, neither do I!"
Lin Heng looked every bit the obedient, sensible child.
As he saw it, it was only a childhood betrothal anyway. If he didn't take a liking to her when the time came, or if he had another woman he liked, the betrothal wouldn't bind him!
That was because he believed that by then, he would certainly be strong enough to have no fear of the Great Xia Imperial Clan.
Moreover, once the childhood betrothal was made, his status would become much more distinguished, and accordingly, he would have an additional source of powerful protection as he grew up!
Who would dare lay a hand on the son-in-law of a God Realm imperial uncle of the Great Xia Imperial Clan?
Lin Heng had no desire to be like the protagonists of those fantasy novels he'd read in his previous life, bullied, provoked, and hunted down all day long.
Wasn't it better to be treated like an ancestor and waited on hand and foot?
"You really have no objection?"
Liu Ling'er was somewhat surprised. Her son was so unlike ordinary children!
"I'll leave everything to you, Mother!"
Lin Heng nodded with an air of solemnity.
"Good boy!"
Liu Ling'er kissed Lin Heng on the cheek.
Outside the main gate of the Heartwarming Pavilion.
After hearing the message Hong San relayed, everyone kneeling there breathed a sigh of relief!
Su Ying and Shi Feifei in particular nearly jumped for joy!
The crowd first kowtowed several times, thanking Lady Goddess in unison for her tolerance and mercy!
Liu Ling'er naturally heard their voices, but her expression didn't change.
After killing a God Realm expert, her outlook had changed a great deal.
She felt that the Ancestral God had not bestowed his divine grace upon her so she could use it for revenge or to bully the weak.
The Ancestral God's eyes were surely watching her. She needed to be especially cautious in everything she did, lest the Ancestral God take back everything he had given her!
That night.
Lin Heng activated the Heavenly Devil Tyrant Body!