Gu Yan was not worth mentioning anymore. He had become just a minor figure, no longer on the same level as them at all.
Zixiao Saint Lord was a different story. As a Nine Turns Half-Saint and former Nine Heavens Saint Lord, she never could have imagined that Yan Zhen—the mere One-Star Mystic Venerable she had looked down on just two days earlier—not only possessed the terrifying potential of All Eight Realms Extreme, but had even defeated Zi Jinchan, the Heavenly God Clan’s second prodigy and a Third-Grade Supreme, in a fight across multiple realms of power!
She had completely misread him. When Chen Xi and the others had praised their own disciple in her presence back then, she had assumed they were just shamelessly flattering him.
Reality had delivered a resounding slap to her face, proving that she truly was shortsighted, arrogant, and ignorant. The consequences? She had lost her position as Saint Lord and the clan leader’s trust.
As the only female Half-Saint with any real shot at reaching the Saint Realm, Zixiao Saint Lord had once been the prime candidate to serve as Zi Ji’s protector. Had that happened, her standing in the clan would have been unshakeable once Zi Ji grew into her power.
Unfortunately, her arrogance and prejudice had caused all of that to slip right through her fingers.
“…”
In stark contrast, the three beautiful masters felt a surge of pride, their hearts filled with satisfaction—especially the Evil Consort Master. After all, the Flying Fire Meteor Sword that had sealed the victory was a technique she had personally taught Yan Zhen.
“Clan Leader Zi, does this count as passing the third trial?” Yan Zhen tossed a pill into his mouth. “Or do we need another round with Brother Xuandu?”
Zi Tianjun turned to Zi Xuandu. “Xuandu, do you want to test our friend Yan Zhen’s skills?”
Zi Xuandu quickly waved his hands. “Holy Son Yan Zhen has already proven his strength. I won’t embarrass myself. Besides, he’s clearly worn out right now—I can’t take advantage of that.”
Zi Tianjun gave a slight nod. “In that case, this old man hereby announces that Yan Zhen has perfectly passed all three trials! In other words, I approve of this marriage! If anyone has any objections, speak up now so we can discuss it. But once everything is settled, if I hear even a whisper of gossip, don’t blame me for being unforgiving.”
The three former Nine Heavens Saint Lords exchanged glances. In the end, Zixiao Saint Lord stepped forward. “Clan Leader, it’s been nearly a thousand years since our clan produced a god-level bloodline in the form of Zi Ji. Are we really just going to marry her off like this?”
Zi Tianjun looked down at her from on high. “It seems you and Zi Chen still don’t get it. The Heavenly God Clan has never pinned all our hopes on a single person! Zi Ji will still be one of us even after marriage—my daughter, with Heavenly God Blood flowing in her veins. That won’t change! If you lot want to treat her like some convenient tool, you’ll have to ask me first. Hmph!”
Zixiao Saint Lord’s delicate frame trembled, and she fell silent, not daring to say another word.
Zi Tianjun reined in his temper and spoke mildly. “We’ll end things here for today. We’ll rest up and discuss the marriage details tomorrow. Does that work for the three of you?”
Jialan Fairy nodded. “Clan Leader Zi can make the arrangements. We have plenty of time.”
“Very well, then.” Zi Tianjun smiled before adding, “Zi Ji, come with me.”
Zi Xunyi shot Yan Zhen a glance, a hint of nervousness in her eyes, then followed along.
Yan Zhen felt a twinge of unease in his heart. Had his father-in-law somehow sensed Ling’er’s aura?
“Brother Yan Zhen.” Zi Xuandu walked over with a friendly, familiar air. “Congratulations! You’ve gotten exactly what you wanted. From now on, you and I are family.”
“Brother Xuandu.” Yan Zhen didn’t push back—in the script, they had a decent relationship, and he had even guided Zi Xuandu toward becoming a saint. “Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. You proved yourself out there. Even if we’d fought, it probably would’ve been a draw—nothing worth doing. The real point is, I don’t mind you becoming my brother-in-law.” Zi Xuandu grinned. “Sure, Zi Ji and I aren’t that close, but she’s still my little sister. I naturally want her to have a good home. You better treat her right, kid, or it won’t just be me—most of the men in the Heavenly God Clan won’t let you off the hook!”
Following Zi Xuandu’s pointed gaze, Yan Zhen turned his head and spotted Zi Jinchan looking their way. The other man’s expression was complicated, carrying the air of a sore loser.
It was the first time in Zi Jinchan’s life that he’d taken such a massive hit. Admitting defeat publicly in front of so many clan members had shattered his lifelong pride into pieces. Yet his dao heart remained steadfast.
“Yan Zhen! I’ll come find you for a rematch someday!”
With that harsh declaration, Zi Jinchan turned and left without looking back.
Yan Zhen paid it no mind. Zi Jinchan was impressive, sure, but he wasn’t a real opponent—not for him. Yan Zhen’s true foe was only one: the Nether Evil God!
The Nether Evil God, who had forced the beautiful master to sacrifice herself just to seal him away!
After exchanging a few casual words with Zi Xuandu, Yan Zhen returned to the three beautiful masters.
“Masters, Holy Lord Master, Evil Consort Master—I didn’t disgrace you, did I?”
The three beautiful masters all wore faint smiles.
“You did wonderfully, Zhen’er.”
“Let them look down their noses at people. Hmph. They have no idea whose disciple you are.”
“No more surprises now. Let’s head back and talk.”
Yan Zhen had just agreed when Zixiao Saint Lord suddenly flew over and landed in front of them.
The Evil Consort Master’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. Jialan Fairy signaled for her to stay calm, and Chen Xi spoke evenly. “Do you need something, Zi Xiao?”
Gone was Zixiao Saint Lord’s earlier arrogance. She kept her head lowered as she said, “I… I came to apologize to you all. I was blind and rude.”
Chen Xi let out a soft sigh. “Recognizing your own mistakes has always been one of your strengths, Zi Xiao. But you never admit them right away—you always wait until there’s no arguing your way out. You’ve been like that forever: from when you first joined the sect, through your apprenticeship, and even now. No growth at all. Have you completely forgotten what our teacher said?”
Zixiao Saint Lord bit her lip, unable to respond.
“…”
“Even our teacher couldn’t stop praising your talent. But in the end, you didn’t receive her mantle. Feeling that she favored me, you stormed out of the sect in a huff, abandoning the Art Refining Path to focus solely on the Mystic Path. And yet here you are, still unable to break into the Saint Realm. By now, you should understand why.” Chen Xi sighed lightly. “Go back and think it over properly, Zi Xiao. Once you do, the Saint Realm will come naturally.”
With that, Chen Xi ignored her old fellow disciple from back in the day. She led Yan Zhen, the Evil Consort Master, and Jialan Fairy back together to the Heavenly Sunset Pavilion on the western side of the Celestial God Palace.
As sunset fell, the evening glow bathed the land in gold, gilding the entire Heavenly Sunset Pavilion.
Yan Zhen stood before the Beauty Lean, gazing toward the West Palace in the Celestial God Palace, his heart restless.
“What’s wrong, Zhen’er?”
“Master, do you think Father-in-law Zi has figured out that Zi Ji is pregnant?”
“It’s hard for even my concealment techniques to fool a Nine Star Great Saint. Probably. But your marriage to Zi Ji is already set. As long as you explain it properly, I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Maybe I should go take a look anyway. Worst case, he punches me a few times.”
