Hua Yunfei nodded toward Ye Chen. His blue robe fluttered as he turned to Dantai Xuan with a gentle, apologetic smile. "One of our disciples is trapped in an ancient ruin. My true body has sent a message, asking me to rescue them. So, I won't be able to return to the Holy Land with you, Dantai."

Dantai Xuan gave a calm nod, her ethereal, icy face showing no trace of emotion. "Then I'll head off first."

With those words, she didn't linger. She ascended gracefully, and a majestic ship, hidden within the void, materialized once more. Dantai Xuan boarded and departed without a backward glance.

Hua Yunfei let out a soft chuckle, his blue robe swaying lightly. In an instant, he transformed into a wisp of spiritual energy and vanished silently. The scene left every cultivator present in shock. Even Ye Chen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

This Hua Yunfei was the most dangerous figure Ye Chen had ever encountered since entering the cultivation world, far more threatening than Dantai Xuan. And yet, unbelievably, this was merely an avatar of his?

Just how powerful was his true body? It was almost unimaginable.

But Ye Chen wasn't discouraged. On the contrary, Hua Yunfei's presence ignited an even stronger desire in him to grow stronger. If the world were filled with weaklings like the Champion King, it would be dull.

The more prodigies and powerhouses like Hua Yunfei there were, the higher the cultivation world's ceiling would be. And that gave Ye Chen all the more motivation to grow. He was confident that, with his own efforts, he would one day surpass this Senior Brother Holy Son.

Reflecting on his current Golden Core Great Perfection stage, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. Just ten years ago, he had arrived at Silver Moon Market, trembling at the mention of rogue cultivators, fleeing in panic from beast tides. Now, a decade later, he stood at the late Golden Core stage, a single step away from forming his Nascent Soul. Soon, he would head to the lofty Heavenly Evolution Holy Land to assume the role of Holy Son.

Memories of the past ten years swirled in his mind—moments of fear, embarrassment, and timidity. But those were all in the past.

Ye Chen let out a wistful sigh. "Just a bit of wind and frost, nothing more."

...

The display from the Holy Son and Holy Maiden only deepened Ye Chen's anticipation for the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land. This trip had been incredibly rewarding. With that, he prepared to leave.

The crowd watched him with a mix of envy and jealousy. The Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique was a treasure art anyone would covet. But Ye Chen's strength was undeniable, and no one dared show any hint of greed.

Only the heads of families like the Wang Clan gazed at Ye Chen with subtle, calculating expressions…

The Holy Son and Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Evolution Holy Land had departed, and the coronation ceremony was drawing to a close. The guests began to leave the palace one by one.

Just as Ye Chen was about to depart as well, a voice transmission reached his ears: "Ye Chen, come to the Chu Emperor Hall."

It was Li Feihuang's voice.

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. He had already gifted the Northern Emperor War Chariot to Dantai Xuan, using up his daily gift quota. As for the Sword Peng Heart Refining Technique from Hua Yunfei, he had no intention of giving it to Li Feihuang. Her reward multiplier was a mere five hundred times—hardly worth it. It would be better to gift it to Aunt.

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In truth, the technique would be even more fitting for his master, whose Golden Core was forged from the bones of a sword peng, perfectly aligning with the technique. But his master wasn't here, so the aunt would have to do.

Under these circumstances, there didn't seem much point in meeting Li Feihuang. Still, Ye Chen recalled how, in the past, whenever he'd given her gifts, she'd promised grand rewards once she became empress—returns a hundredfold, she'd said.

Perhaps now was the time for her to make good on those promises? If she let him pick a couple of treasures from the Great Chu treasury, he could gift them to someone else for a nice return.

With that thought, Ye Chen decided not to rush off. He strolled leisurely toward the Chu Emperor Hall. The hall was vast and opulent, radiating grandeur. After a palace attendant led Ye Chen inside, the doors closed behind him.

Li Feihuang sat upon the imperial throne, her gaze on Ye Chen filled with admiration. Now at the late Golden Core stage, she had reached Great Perfection after defeating the Champion King and receiving the blessing of imperial aura.

"You did well out there," she said.

Ye Chen blinked, momentarily confused. What had he done?

Li Feihuang noticed his feigned ignorance but didn't call him out. To outsiders, Ye Chen's bold move of gifting the war chariot to the Holy Maiden might have looked like an attempt to curry favor. But Li Feihuang knew better. His generosity was a calculated move to make the Holy Maiden owe the Great Chu Dynasty a favor—a significant boon for the dynasty.

Even among the Li Clan, few would sacrifice their own interests for the dynasty's benefit. Ye Chen's actions touched her deeply. Today, she would give him the reward he'd been waiting for. She was certain the news would thrill him.

Li Feihuang lifted her chin proudly, her graceful jawline catching the light as her radiant eyes met Ye Chen's. "Ye Chen, I've spoken with the Ancestor. The Ancestor will no longer hold you accountable for killing the Champion King. Moreover, he has agreed to take you as a son-in-law, making you the Imperial Consort of Great Chu!"

Her words hung in the air as she awaited Ye Chen's ecstatic reaction. But Ye Chen's eyes widened in shock.

"Huh?"

Son-in-law? Imperial Consort? What was she talking about?

Li Feihuang's smile grew even brighter as she watched Ye Chen's expression. She continued, "After becoming the Imperial Consort, you'll offer up the True Dragon Treasure Technique to serve as the Li Clan's hereditary technique. You'll also provide a wisp of your soul to craft a soul lamp, marking you as a core member of the Li Clan. All resources, techniques, and cultivation methods will be fully available to you without reservation, ensuring you reach the Nascent Soul stage.

"As for heirs, I'm still young and won't consider such matters before forming my Nascent Soul. But I can promise you this: if, after two hundred years, I still haven't formed my Nascent Soul, I'll dual cultivate with you to produce an heir. That child, bearing the Li surname and blessed with our combined physiques, will surely be extraordinary and destined to inherit the Great Chu throne. Soon, you'll be titled the Golden Dragon King. I'll enter seclusion, entrusting all authority to you…"

At this point, Ye Chen couldn't hold back a chuckle. He'd thought that becoming empress might temper Li Feihuang's arrogance. Instead, it seemed her condition had only worsened. Her words were, without a doubt, the most outrageous thing Ye Chen had heard since crossing into this world.

Become a son-in-law, surrender the True Dragon Treasure Technique, and let their child take her surname? Fine, he could stomach that. But waiting two hundred years for her to decide whether she's in the mood to dual cultivate and produce a single heir? Even the mythical Weaver Girl wasn't this absurd.

And the kicker? Hand over a wisp of his soul to craft a soul lamp, effectively putting him under her control. Then, while she secluded herself to cultivate and grow stronger, he'd be left to handle the dynasty's affairs like some workhorse? All while she acted as if she were doing him a grand favor? How could she say this with a straight face?

A thousand roasts swirled in Ye Chen's mind, but he didn't know where to begin. Outrageous. Truly outrageous. In his previous life, he'd read those ridiculous dragon king son-in-law novels, and even those plots weren't as absurd as Li Feihuang's proposal.

In the end, Ye Chen couldn't be bothered to respond. It was a waste of time. With a calm glance at Li Feihuang, he turned and walked out of the Chu Emperor Hall.

On the imperial throne, Li Feihuang waited for Ye Chen to eagerly accept her offer. Sure, the conditions were a tad strict, but given his feelings for her, how could he care about such trivialities? Becoming her Imperial Consort was surely his lifelong dream.

But in the next moment, her pupils constricted, her smile freezing. In her line of sight, Ye Chen merely looked at her calmly. Without a single word, he turned and left the Chu Emperor Hall. His resolute figure seemed to carry an unshakable determination…

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