Yan Zhen’s words were half true and half false. Without the saint-level Primordial Yin from his Saint Lord Master and Evil Consort Master, he never could have advanced so quickly.
Count in the Nirvana Fruit, and it was the equivalent of consuming three saint medicines in short order—and fully refining them all. For a Supreme powerhouse, that was next to impossible. Only Yan Zhen, bearer of eight Extreme Flames, could pull it off.
Zi Tianjun grew all the more satisfied with this son-in-law. The Jade Dragon Consort and Scarlet Python King nodded along vigorously.
Yan Zhen truly stood apart from any young man they’d met before. Still in his early twenties, he already showed the faint makings of an Emperor.
After the exchange of pleasantries, the two sides swiftly moved to the main topic: the engagement ceremony to seal their alliance marriage.
There had been a similar step in his previous life as well, though back then it had involved Cai Lian and Zi Xunyi together. Now it was three instead of two, with Long Ying added to the mix.
The Snake God Clan seemed keen to make it four, however. Once the formal business wrapped up, The Scarlet Python King turned to Qing Ling at her side and asked:
“Qing’er, how have you been faring in the Jialan Holy Land?”
Qing Ling smiled sweetly.
“I’m doing wonderfully, Clan Leader. All the sisters here are so kind and gentle. Not long ago, I even cultivated alongside Master Chen Xi, and my realm advanced a full grade because of it.”
“Heh, as long as you’re happy. Everything back at the clan is just as you left it—no need to worry. If you like it here, then stay on.”
“Really? Thank you, Clan Leader!”
The Scarlet Python King smiled indulgently, shaking her head to herself. A grown daughter couldn’t be kept at home—not even for a reincarnator. She turned to the Jialan Fairy.
“I hope the Jialan Saint Lord will look after my little girl Qing Ling. She’s a shy one, stubborn as they come.”
The Jialan Fairy inclined her head slightly.
“Of course. Qing Ling’s a fine young woman, and I take to her quite well myself.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
“Heh…”
The two elders’ gazes settled on Qing Ling, their deeper meaning plain as day. It left the girl blushing to her ears, head bowed in silence.
Cai Lian covered her mouth with a light laugh, while Yan Yan chimed in unprompted:
“Auntie Qing wants to stay here forever with Father Emperor! What a devoted woman.”
The words landed like a stone in still water, turning the atmosphere awkward in an instant.
Qing Ling’s pretty face flushed crimson, as if she were dying of embarrassment. Cai Lian and Yan Zhen alike twitched at the corners of their mouths, utterly speechless at their foolish daughter’s antics.
The Scarlet Python King burst into laughter.
“Little Yan’er, no bullying your Auntie Qing now.”
Yan Yan crossed her arms over her chest, chin held high with pride.
“I’m not a bad child like that! I like Auntie Qing lots.”
Hearing this, Qing Ling beamed.
“Little Yan’er is such a good girl.”
Long Ying muttered under her breath nearby:
“Yan Yan isn’t good at all. She’s the biggest troublemaker. Hmph~”
It was probably all the “Sister Long Ying” calls that had irked her old playmate. These days, she was “Long Ying Auntie” instead.
The little girl’s… er, no—now the big sister’s discontent.
Yan Zhen could tell the Scarlet Python King was directing her words at him, nudging him to accept Qing Ling’s feelings without leaving the poor girl hanging.
The trouble was, he’d barely interacted with Qing Ling. There’d been no deep ties even in his previous life. How was he supposed to just accept her?
He had no idea why she’d fallen for him in the first place. In his memory, Qing Ling was just a good girl—an obedient little sister-in-law, nothing more.
…
The engagement ceremony was set for five days hence. In that time, the Jialan Holy Land bustled with preparations, sending invitations to the Ten Great Superpowers across the Jialan Continent.
Zi Tianjun and the other God Race elders were housed on Suspended Peak outside Jialan Peak. Folk from the seven peaks came calling one after another, eager to cozy up to these Mystic Saint experts.
The other girls on Holy Son Peak felt a twinge of envy toward Cai Lian, Zi Ji, and Long Ying. This engagement doubled as a marriage alliance, and they weren’t part of it.
Ji Ya had held an engagement ceremony with Yan Zhen once before, but only her Ji Family elders had been present—Yan Zhen’s side unaware and uninformed. It hadn’t been official. She felt the envy too.
Yan Zhen saw through their feelings at once, so he went around consoling them one by one, lest anyone start overthinking.
Once he’d soothed the crowd of young wives on Holy Son Peak, Yan Zhen headed to Rain God Peak.
He hadn’t seen Yu Shizun since returning from the Yu Family, and truth be told, he’d missed her.
Yan Zhen tore open space and appeared directly inside the Rain Master Mansion’s tree hollow. There sat Yu Shizun as always, clad in a water-blue skirt with a gossamer veil over her face. She perched primly atop the array disk at the end of the walkway, eyes closed in cultivation.
Yan Zhen didn’t disturb her. He simply sat down quietly at her side.
Moments later, Yu Shizun opened her eyes and spoke coolly.
“What brings you here? With the engagement ceremony so close, you should stick to Holy Son Peak. Avoid the gossip—it might irk the God Race elders.”
Yan Zhen smiled.
“Compared to that, I care more about how the woman in my heart feels.”
Yu Shizun turned to look at him.
“No wonder so many people up top have their eyes on you. Heart’s so big.”
Yan Zhen blinked.
“Rare to hear a cold joke from Yu Shizun. It’s kinda cute.”
Yu Shizun fell silent, averting her gaze as if she hadn’t spoken.
Yan Zhen reached out and pulled her into his arms. With his other hand, he casually plucked away her veil, then leaned in for a kiss.
Yu Shizun gave his chest a light push in token resistance, her half-hearted reluctance only making her more alluring.
As their kiss deepened, Yu Shizun realized with a start that her skirt had been peeled back, layers bunched at her waist. Yan Zhen’s lips began trailing downward.
“N-No, don’t.”
She protested with her words, but her slender arms hooked tight around the back of his neck, her eyes half-lidded in evident pleasure.
Yan Zhen kissed her a while longer before pulling back. He took a box from his storage ring and offered it to her.
“Here, for you.”
Yu Shizun’s face was flushed like peach blossoms, her breath coming in soft pants.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
“…”
Yu Shizun lifted the lid. A streak of watery light shot out, forming a long river overhead. Clouds capped both ends—it was a Heavenly River!
She recognized it at once and instinctively raised her hand. The river shrank into a crystalline ring that slipped onto her ring finger.
Yu Shizun stared at the ring in a daze.
Yan Zhen held the Supreme beauty in his arms, his voice gentle.
“This is my promise… The engagement ceremony’s just a formality, a show for the God Race.”
Yu Shizun said nothing for a long moment. Then she hugged him again, sliding proactively onto his lap—her intent clear.
Yan Zhen let out a breath of relief. He cradled Yu Shizun’s warm, supple form, lost in their tender entanglement.
Five days later, the Jialan Holy Land was decked out in finery, thronged with guests. Yan Zhen’s engagement to Cai Lian, Zi Xunyi, and Long Ying kicked off in grand style.
The banquet stretched a full day and night before concluding. The name of Jialan Flame Holy Son Yan Zhen now echoed across the Jialan Continent.
Young as he was, he’d reached the High-Grade Supreme Realm—and won the favor of three God Race maidens. He was a living legend, a role model for the younger generation to admire and chase!
With the ceremony done, the God Race elders set their minds at ease. The next day, they returned to the Eighth Continent.
Yan Zhen, meanwhile, prepared to head to the Evergreen Holy Land to find Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing.
