Chapter 431 A massive marriage-urging scene? Liu Ruyan's Beast Taming Phoenix?!

Liu Ruyan's voice echoed gently within the Spirit Sealing Hall, cold and distant, like a late autumn night breeze brushing over a cold pool, devoid of any superfluous warmth.

"This Junior, Liu Ruyan, greets Grand Tutor Dongxuan."

Beneath his mask, Jiang Yun's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.

This Junior?

This self-address gave him an indescribable sense of strangeness.

In terms of age, Liu Ruyan looked to be about twenty, a few years older than him.

A woman older than him, yet referring to herself as 'this Junior' in front of him...

This was clearly not out of respect, but a deliberate attempt to create distance.

Using the most polite etiquette.

To draw the clearest line.

Jiang Yun understood this clearly.

This proud daughter of the Liu Family had likely heard Elder Liu Lan's praises of him and had preconceived notions that he was one of those arrogant young Geniuses who looked down on everyone.

She was unwilling to compromise her own pride, so she used the most thorough etiquette to maintain distance—polite, yet never intimate.

Since the other party was deliberately keeping their distance, Jiang Yun naturally wouldn't try to force a connection.

He only nodded slightly, his voice flat.

"Young Miss Ruyan, there is no need for such formalities."

His tone was polite and restrained, neither so cold as to be rude nor so warm as to cause a misunderstanding.

Like two icebergs looking at each other from afar, each maintaining their own height, neither willing to lower themselves by an inch.

What kind of person was Liu Qingyun?

Having managed the Liu Family for many years, his ability to read people was already masterful.

He saw the subtle sense of alienation between the two at a glance.

He felt anxious inwardly.

Daughter, oh daughter!!!

It was so hard for this father to invite this Grand Tutor Dongxuan to the Liu Family, apologizing and offering treasures, barely managing to smooth out his ruffled feathers.

You come in with this standoffish attitude; if you offend him, wouldn't all this father's efforts be in vain?

Thinking of this, he hurriedly stepped forward, his Face full of enthusiastic smiles.

"Grand Tutor Dongxuan, please allow this Family Head to formally introduce you. This is my daughter, Liu Ruyan, my only daughter. Ruyan has grown up in the Liu Family since she was young; I have watched her take every step to where she is today. It is not for this Family Head to boast, but Ruyan's talent is second to none among the younger generation of the entire Liu Family."

He paused, his tone filled with a father's unique pride.

"She is only twenty years old this year, yet her Beast Tamer cultivation has already reached the Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak, just one step away from the Falling Star Rank. Looking at the entire provincial capital, young Beast Tamers who can reach the Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak at twenty are few and far between. And Ruyan is the cream of the crop; her beast possesses the Ancient Soul Runes and the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix Bloodline, and her rank is unrivaled among her peers."

He seemed to feel that praising her talent wasn't enough, and added.

"Moreover, Ruyan is not only talented but also has excellent character. She has been sensible since childhood. Although her personality is a bit cold, her heart is kind. She is respectful to the elders in the Family and never puts on airs with her Juniors. Everyone in the Family speaks highly of her. As for her appearance... Grand Tutor Dongxuan has seen it, so I won't say much more."

Saying this, he suddenly realized he had praised his daughter too hard and hurriedly added a few explanatory words.

"Of course, Ruyan's temperament is indeed a bit cold and arrogant. She has never liked socializing since she was a child and is quiet. Even as her father, sometimes when I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with her, she just responds indifferently. If her attitude toward the Grand Tutor just now seemed cold, it was by no means intentional, but purely because of her nature. I hope Grand Tutor Dongxuan will not take offense, please do not take offense."

Liu Qingyun said these words quickly and urgently, like an old father desperately trying to make up for things while matchmaking for his daughter.

There was absolutely none of the composure and dignity expected of the head of a Hidden Family.

Before Jiang Yun could respond, Elder Mo stroked his long white beard and added a knife with a chuckle.

"The Family Head is right. Little friend Dong Xuan, although I am just an old retainer of the Liu Family, I have watched Ruyan grow up. I have lived for nearly three hundred years; what kind of people have I not seen? But a girl like Ruyan who possesses talent, character, and appearance all in one is truly Rare. Her Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak cultivation was earned through hard work. Those so-called prodigies and Geniuses of various families in the provincial capital might not even be able to withstand a single move before her beast."

Great Master Master Fu Shan also became interested.

He stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly.

"I can testify to this."

He changed the subject.

His gaze swept back and forth between Jiang Yun and Liu Ruyan.

"Little friend Dong Xuan is also a Prodigy. A sixteen-year-old Grand Tutor Level Appraiser, whose comprehension of Formation and mastery of runes make both me and Elder Mo bow down in admiration. Young Miss Ruyan is likewise a one-in-a-million Prodigy. You two are of similar age, and in terms of talent, you are evenly matched. If you could get to know each other, you would surely cherish each other and achieve great things together. For the Liu Family, it would also be a Rare success story."

The three of them spoke one after another, and the meaning between the lines was already obvious.

Although they didn't say it outright, that posture, that tone, and that wording were clearly matchmaking, pushing the two young people together...

Those Formation Masters and Rune Masters gathered around the high platform heard these words, were stunned for a moment, and then reacted one after another.

"The Family Head's intention is too obvious! He is playing matchmaker for Grand Tutor Dongxuan and Young Miss Ruyan!"

A middle-aged Formation Master lowered his voice, his tone full of realization.

"Need you say? Didn't you hear Great Master Master Fu Shan even blurt out the word 'beauty'? This is clearly trying to set them up!"

"But having said that, although this Grand Tutor Dongxuan is young, his talent is indeed worthy of Young Miss Ruyan. A sixteen-year-old Grand Tutor Level Appraiser, whose comprehension of Formation and runes are also at the Grand Tutor Level. All three Domains are at the Grand Tutor Level! Such a Prodigy, let alone the Liu Family, you can't find a second one in the entire provincial capital."

"Yes, it should be said, whether our Young Miss Ruyan is worthy of this Grand Tutor Dongxuan. Grand Tutor Dongxuan's three Grand Tutor Level talents, any one of them is shocking, and the three combined are simply a Legendary existence."

And those young Formation Masters and Rune Masters were not so rational.

They all wore masks of pain, as if they had heard some terrible news of the sky falling.

"No... Young Miss Ruyan is my goddess! How can the Family Head do this..."

A young disciple wailed in a low voice, clutching his chest.

"My Young Miss Ruyan... My youth... is over..."

Another young disciple sighed at the sky, his eyes hollow.

"Save it, with your third-rate rune skills, you wouldn't even get a glance from Young Miss Ruyan."

"Although Grand Tutor Dongxuan is Heaven-Defying, he is only sixteen! He is still a boy! Is Young Miss Ruyan going to have an arranged marriage? This is too cruel!"

Some tried to change the subject, coughing dryly.

"Wait, weren't we calling Young Miss Ruyan here to activate the soul crystal? How did it turn into a massive matchmaking scene? How did these two things get mixed up?"

Jiang Yun naturally couldn't fail to hear the subtext.

He stood in front of the high platform, his expression hidden by the silver-white mask, showing no fluctuations.

But beneath the mask, his heart was full of astonishment.

He originally thought that after arriving at the Liu Family, his biggest challenge would be appraising the soul crystal, dealing with the difficulties from Liu Lie and the others, discussing Formation and runes with Great Master Master Fu Shan and Elder Mo, and repairing and activating the soul crystal.

But he never expected that before the soul crystal was even activated, the people of the Liu Family would send the Family's proud daughter to his doorstep.

He hadn't done anything.

He hadn't curried favor, hadn't shown any interest in Liu Ruyan, and had even only said one sentence: "Young Miss Ruyan, there is no need for such formalities."

Just such a polite sentence actually led to a joint matchmaking push from the Liu Family Head, Elder Mo, and Great Master Master Fu Shan.

Jiang Yun sighed inwardly.

Being too outstanding is indeed a kind of trouble.

He glanced at Liu Ruyan.

Those amber eyes were still as cold as ever, as if those words had nothing to do with her.

But looking closely, one could see a faint blush rising at the base of her ears.

This cold-as-ice proud daughter was now showing a Rare trace of awkwardness.

Jiang Yun withdrew his gaze, thoughts racing in his mind.

Liu Ruyan was indeed very beautiful. That cold and indifferent temperament was somewhat similar to Fox Immortal, yet it had a unique charm.

As a normal man, he naturally wouldn't have no feelings for such a stunning beauty.

But affairs between men and women are matters of mutual affection.

It is not a bargaining chip that can be traded for Family interests, nor is it a deal that can be settled with a word from the elders.

What's more, his current identity is so special.

Grand Tutor Dongxuan, Grand Elder of the Appraisers Guild—these identities brought him high status and respect, but they also meant that his every move in public represented the Face of the Appraisers Guild.

Furthermore, he had another identity.

If he were to have a romantic encounter with this Young Miss of the Liu Family using this special identity, it would not be a good thing.

Therefore, he could not appear too enthusiastic, but he absolutely could not show any intention of refusal.

If he refused too bluntly and caused the Liu Family to lose Face in front of everyone, the good relationship that had been painstakingly built would likely be ruined.

He pondered for a moment and spoke.

"The Family Head and the two Great Masters flatter me. Young Miss Ruyan is exceptionally gifted, and this Junior only has a few meager skills, not worthy of such high praise from everyone."

His tone remained flat, but his wording was a bit softer than before.

"This Junior is of similar age to Young Miss Ruyan, and we are both advancing on the path of Beast Taming. If we have the chance to meet again in the future, we should communicate more and learn from each other. It is just that the matter of the soul crystal today concerns the next few hundred years of the Liu Family. Although this Junior is untalented, I am willing to do my best first. As for other things... we have plenty of time."

"Hahaha! Plenty of time..."

In this way.

He gave the Liu Family Face and cleverly used the phrase "plenty of time" to temporarily shelve the topic without closing the door completely.

He neither refused nor agreed.

Like a door left ajar.

Those who want to push it open can see a glimmer of light, and those who want to step back will not be tripped by the threshold.

Liu Ruyan stood aside, listening to her father and the two elders' almost undisguised matchmaking words, and that cold, indifferent Face finally showed fluctuations.

Two faint blushes appeared on her cheeks. Although very light, on her Face that rarely saw color, it was already extremely Rare.

Her ears turned crimson, and a trace of unmistakable embarrassment and helplessness flashed in her amber eyes.

She didn't expect that her father and the elders would be so direct, with almost no concealment.

Although the wording didn't say it explicitly, anyone with ears could hear the meaning between the lines.

Isn't this just pushing her toward Jiang Yun, practically throwing her at him?

Liu Ruyan had been the pride of the Liu Family for twenty years; countless geniuses and prodigies within the Liu Family's Grotto-Heaven had pursued her, yet she never gave any of them a second glance.

Yet now, here in her own ancestral grounds, right in front of the soul crystal, her own father was publicly urging her to marry...

At this thought, Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She then involuntarily cast her gaze back onto that silver-white mask, beginning to earnestly examine the youth whom her father and the elders held in such high regard.

sixteen years old.

Grand Tutor Level Appraiser.

Grand Elder of the Appraisers Guild.

His Comprehension Ability in Formations made Great Master Master Fu Shan concede defeat.

His attainments as a Rune Master made Elder Mo feel inferior.

Divine Sense at Diamond Rank.

Beast Tamer cultivation at Purple Crystal Tier 5.

Any one of these labels, if applied to anyone else, would be enough to make them proud for a lifetime.

Yet, they were all piled onto the same person.

Liu Ruyan thought to herself, such a person was indeed worthy of being her, Liu Ruyan's, man.

If she truly had to choose someone to spend the rest of her life with, the masked youth before her was, at the very least, more than capable in terms of talent and ability.

No!

What was she thinking?

Her heart gave a sudden jolt.

Worthy of being her man?

Why would she even think of such things?

She was currently in the Liu Family's ancestral grounds, standing before the soul crystal the Liu Family had waited three hundred years for, with everyone waiting for her to attempt to activate it.

Yet here she was, distracted, thinking about romantic matters?

This was not like her at all...

"I am still young."

Liu Ruyan suddenly spoke.

Her voice remained cold and indifferent, though it held a trace of imperceptible stiffness that hadn't been there before.

"For now, I only wish to focus on raising my Beast, improving my strength, and advancing my cultivation Realm. As for matters of romance..."

She paused there, seeming to realize that being too absolute would only make the situation more awkward.

After all, although Jiang Yun's answer earlier had been vague, he had ultimately given the Liu Family Face.

If she were to bluntly state that she wouldn't consider romantic matters, it would be too harsh.

Facing such an outstanding youth, her heart seemed to experience a ripple it had never felt before.

She turned her head, her amber eyes resting on Jiang Yun, her tone softening slightly.

"If Grand Tutor Dongxuan is willing, I would like to be friends with you. I wonder what your thoughts are on this, Grand Tutor?"

The corners of Jiang Yun's mouth beneath the mask lifted slightly.

This proud daughter of the Liu Family appeared cold as ice on the outside, but she didn't seem entirely devoid of human warmth.

At the very least, she knew how to offer someone a graceful exit.

"It would be my honor."

His tone remained calm, though a hint of a faint smile flashed in his eyes.

These two exchanges were neither too warm nor too cold.

Liu Qingyun saw this, and his heart blossomed with joy.

He could see that neither of these young people had their hearts set on this.

One had just said she was young and focused on cultivation, and the other had offered a lukewarm, "It would be my honor."

It wasn't exactly enthusiastic, but it was a start.

As long as the door wasn't slammed shut, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

"I am very gratified that little friend Dong Xuan is willing to be friends with my daughter."

Liu Qingyun's Face was wreathed in smiles, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

He looked at Jiang Yun, then at Liu Ruyan.

"However, the most important thing right now is to awaken the Soul of the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix within the soul crystal."

He changed the subject.

"Once this matter is settled, you two will have plenty of opportunities to have a heart-to-heart talk."

A heart-to-heart talk.

These words fell upon Liu Ruyan's ears, causing her cheeks to flush slightly once more.

She thought to herself, *What is Father talking about? A heart-to-heart talk? It's just being friends; how did that turn into a heart-to-heart talk in Father's mouth?*

The corners of Jiang Yun's mouth beneath the mask twitched slightly.

Could the phrase "heart-to-heart talk" really be used here?

Late at night, a lone man and woman, sitting knee-to-knee… and with such a stunning woman… The mere thought of that scene felt wrong.

Was this Patriarch Liu truly so eager to push his daughter onto him?

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to pull her attention away from these irrelevant distractions.

She was currently in the ancestral grounds, and the high platform beneath her feet bore the weight of the Liu Family's thousands of years of Foundation and three hundred years of expectation.

Everyone was waiting for her to summon her Beast and attempt to awaken the soul crystal.

She could not allow herself to be distracted by such chaotic thoughts.

She closed her eyes, her aura suddenly receding.

When she opened them again, her amber eyes had returned to a state of calm, devoid of the earlier awkwardness.

In its place was a sense of solemnity and determination.

"Father, I am ready."

Her voice was cold and resolute.

Elder Mo and Great Master Master Fu Shan exchanged glances, simultaneously shedding the relaxed expressions they had worn while chatting.

"In that case, Miss Ruyan, please summon your Beast."

Elder Mo stroked his long beard, his expression serious.

"The Nether Phoenix Bloodline and the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix share the same origin.

Although they are not the same species, it is one of the Ancient Bloodlines in the Nether avian lineage closest to the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix.

If anyone in the Liu Family has a Beast most likely to trigger a resonance with the soul crystal, it must be Miss Ruyan.

I, too, am eager to see if this Nether Phoenix Bloodline can truly stir the sleeping remnant Soul of the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix to resonate."

Liu Qingyun also nodded, full of anticipation.

"Ruyan, begin."

Liu Ruyan nodded slightly.

On the way to the ancestral grounds, Elder Liu Lan had already briefly informed her about the situation with the soul crystal.

A remnant Soul of the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix slept within this soul crystal, and it required the resonance of three types of Ancient Bloodlines to awaken.

Although she was the only one in the Liu Family who met the criteria, her Nether Phoenix shared the same origin as the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix; perhaps she wouldn't need all three, and her Bloodline alone would suffice to trigger the resonance.

She raised her right hand, her slender, elegant fingers tracing a light stroke through the Void Realm.

Hum!!!

A low, resonant hum echoed out.

The sound seemed to come from an incredibly distant place, yet it also felt as though it were ringing right in everyone's ears.

The sound itself wasn't loud, but it carried a piercing quality that went straight to the Soul.

The Void Realm in front of Liu Ruyan began to twist.

It wasn't the kind of distortion caused by heat waves from high temperatures, but a deeper, darker spatial distortion.

Within that twisted Void Realm, a crack slowly opened.

The edges of the crack were dark purple, like solidified blood.

Countless dark purple runes surged from the crack, like a swarm of startled fireflies, spinning and dancing in the air.

Each of those runes radiated an ancient and vast aura, faintly resonating with the Ancient Soul Runes on the walls of the Spirit Sealing Hall.

The Ancient Soul Runes around the great hall lit up simultaneously at this moment.

The dark blue fluorescence and the dark purple light of the runes intertwined, illuminating the entire hall as if it were a dreamscape.

Immediately following, a vast pressure poured out from the crack.

The pressure was extremely pure and non-aggressive, yet it made everyone involuntarily feel a sense of reverence.

It was the natural suppression of a lower life form by a higher one... the inherent majesty of an Ancient Divine Beast Bloodline.

The crack suddenly expanded.

A beam of dark purple light erupted from the crack, shooting straight toward the dome of the Spirit Sealing Hall.

Within the beam of light, the phantom of a massive bird was slowly coalescing.

Its entire body was dark purple, like the solidified night sky.

The edges of its feathers burned with dark blue flames, which faintly echoed the dark red light at the core of the soul crystal.

When it spread its wings, the wingspan reached ten zhang, and every flap stirred up a chilling current of air.

The feathers on its wings were layered, each one gleaming with a dark purple metallic luster.

Its eyes were a deep, dark blue, like two cold moons hanging in the night sky.

There were no superfluous emotions in those eyes, only an ancient, profound calmness.

Its phoenix beak was sharp as a hook, glinting with a cold, biting light.

Its phoenix crown was tall, composed of nine dark purple feathers of varying lengths, with a cluster of dark blue flame burning at the tip of each feather.

Its tail feathers were long and elegant, trailing a beautiful arc behind it.

The beam of light dispersed, and the Nether Phoenix fully revealed its form.

It hovered quietly above the crowd, its wings flapping slightly; each flap stirred up a ripple of dark blue spiritual power.

The waves of energy spread outward at a speed visible to the naked eye, and as they brushed past the cheeks of those present, they brought with them a trace of chilling coolness.

Inside the Spirit Sealing Hall, exclamations rang out one after another.

"This is Miss Ruyan's Nether Phoenix!"

"The last time I saw Miss Ruyan summon her Nether Phoenix was at the clan martial arts competition several years ago.

At that time, the Nether Phoenix had only just broken through to the Amethyst Rank, but now, this aura..."

The speaker was a middle-aged deacon, his voice filled with shock.

"It's many times stronger than it was back then!"

"Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak!

And the intensity of this pressure has completely exceeded the scope of the Purple Crystal Ninth Rank."

An old Formation Master was so excited that his beard was trembling slightly.

"I specialize in Formations, and while I'm not an expert in Beast Tamer cultivation, I have seen many Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak Beasts.

Yet, the pressure from those Beasts doesn't even reach half of this Nether Phoenix's!"

"That is only natural.

How can ordinary Beasts be compared with an Ancient Bloodline?"

Another old Rune Master stroked his beard, his eyes filled with amazement.

"Although this Nether Phoenix is at the Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak, how can its true combat power be measured by ordinary ranks given the bonus of its Ancient Bloodline?

I just sensed it, and the oppression it gave me is comparable to a Diamond Rank!

It might even be a mid-stage Diamond Rank!"

"A Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak possessing combat power comparable to a mid-stage Diamond Rank?

This ability to fight across ranks is simply terrifying!"

"What is so strange about that?

This is the most Heaven-Defying aspect of an Ancient Bloodline.

Their combat power is never calculated based on their cultivation Realm, but on their Bloodline level.

The stronger the Bloodline, the more invincible they are at the same rank, and the greater the span of their ability to fight across ranks."

"As expected of Miss Ruyan's Beast.

Indeed, among the younger generation of our Liu Family, there is no second Beast that can rival it."

These discussions reached Jiang Yun's ears, but he simply listened quietly, without offering any opinion.

A faint, light-blue glint flickered in his eyes.

His Innate Talent Skill, Entry Manifestation, had already been activated silently.

Beside the Nether Phoenix, lines of text that only he could see quietly emerged, detailing all information about this Nether Phoenix.

Its rank, Bloodline level, attribute compatibility, resonance potential with the Nine Nether Underworld Phoenix, and even its hidden Innate Talent Skill and evolution path—everything was displayed in exhaustive detail before his eyes...