81: Chapter 81 You're obsessed with demon cores, aren't you?

"Great-Grandfather, why do you value him so much? He's the enemy who almost beat your granddaughter to death."

The White Elephant King suddenly turned serious. He let out a thoughtful sigh, his voice tinged with melancholy: "I know everyone now thinks he is arrogant, domineering, conceited, and kills the innocent indiscriminately. But have you ever considered that he defeated Huan Lin, a peak Great Sun Realm expert, with one hand, and then instantly took out several of you at the late Undying Realm? Great-Grandfather admits you were guilty of underestimating him, but to only suffer minor injuries under your Sword Seal of a King, his defense must be at least at the Marquis level. And that is not even the most important part."

The White Elephant King sighed and looked at Bai Xuaner very earnestly: "Great-Grandfather is already over a thousand years old; my lifespan is about to run out. If I am gone, Xibai Pass needs someone to guard it, the Bai Family needs someone to guard it, and you need someone to protect you."

Bai Xuaner still couldn't understand and kept shaking her head in refusal. "Can I not take care of myself without him? Is there really no genius in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty better than him? I still cannot accept that little thief as my husband."

The White Elephant King had always maintained a doting attitude toward this great-granddaughter, but on the matter of Kang Dalei, he would not yield. He continued to explain: "Xuaner, trust your grandfather's judgment. At under twenty years old and at Body Tempering Stage 8, possessing combat power at the Marquis level—his future will at least start at the King level. Such a genius is once in a millennium; are you sure you want to miss this?"

"Great-Grandfather, I..." Bai Xuaner fell silent.

Since she was young, she had vowed only to marry the top genius in the world. To achieve this goal, as soon as she comprehended a secret technique, she joined the army and stayed at the border to kill demons.

This led her to reach the late Undying Realm at 29.

To prevent others from thinking she was just a female general who only knew how to brandish weapons, she took time to study the Great Zhou Historical Records and the Book of Songs.

She made herself excellent, not to be ruined by trash like Kang Dalei.

After thinking for a long time, Bai Xuaner still couldn't overcome the hurdle in her heart, so she firmly shook her head at the White Elephant King.

"Granddaughter is unwilling."

"You."

This was the first time the White Elephant King had shown dissatisfaction toward Bai Xuaner.

Bai Xuaner seemed to know she was being willful, but she did not regret it.

However, seeing the White Elephant King's hunched back, she couldn't help but compromise slightly: "Great-Grandfather, if that little thief is really as powerful as you say, why not let him hold off a demon beast tide at Xibai Pass by himself? As long as he can do that, I, Bai Xuaner, will have no objection to marrying him."

The White Elephant King's eyes lit up, but then immediately dimmed.

A beast tide—and for a large city like Xibai Pass at that—involved tens of thousands of demon beasts, including many high-ranking ones and even Demon Kings. Apart from those at the King level, even those at the Marquis level would not dare to say they could withstand a beast tide alone.

"Xuaner, isn't your request too harsh? The danger of a beast tide is something even those at the Marquis level would avoid."

"Hmph, if he really has the ability, then let him prove it to me. If he doesn't, then he is not worthy of me."

Bai Xuaner spoke spiritedly, but it caused the White Elephant King great distress. He was the one who pulled the strings for Kang Dalei, forcing him to marry his granddaughter, and now he was setting demands for him. Wasn't that problematic? Thinking of that boy Kang Dalei's explosive temper, the White Elephant King felt even more bitter.

"Xuaner, you have really caused your grandfather great trouble."

There was no other way; for the sake of the Bai Family and for Bai Xuaner, he would have to sacrifice something.

The next day, early morning.

Qingya Residence.

Kang Dalei had just woken up when he saw the White Elephant King, in white robes with a hunched, elderly back, sitting at the guest table waiting for him.

Rubbing his eyes, Kang Dalei casually woke up Qingyi and Chengyi.

The two women were still a bit groggy, but the moment they opened their eyes and saw the White Elephant King, they immediately became alert.

"When did you come in?"

The two women threw on a garment and stood in front of Kang Dalei.

The White Elephant King didn't even glance at the two women; with a wave of his hand, they appeared outside the room.

"Using a God Venerate as a concubine or maid, you really have quite the airs, boy."

There was clearly more anger on the White Elephant King's face.

It was normal for men to have three wives and four concubines, or maids for the bedchamber. But to be so ostentatious at this juncture made the White Elephant King somewhat angry.

Kang Dalei, however, was indifferent. He didn't want to marry that so-called Bai Xuaner anyway, so if this made the White Elephant King change his mind, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

"Your Highness, you're up so early; why not sleep a bit more?"

Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Kang Dalei took the initiative to step forward and pour a cup of tea for the White Elephant King.

The White Elephant King did not seem to be in the mood for banter; he just coldly glanced at Kang Dalei and then said: "Boy, I came today to tell you some good news. I wonder if you are interested in participating."

Kang Dalei shook his head directly. "Not interested."

This caused the White Elephant King, who had just swallowed half the tea, to nearly spit it out.

"You haven't even asked yet, and you know you're not interested?"

Kang Dalei poured himself another cup of tea, took a sip, and then said languidly: "I am a person who dislikes trouble. It's best to just lie flat; reaping without sowing is the best."

This time, the White Elephant King truly spat out the tea he had just swallowed, coughing violently; he was clearly choked quite badly.

"You brat, what are you thinking about all day? How can a young person have such thoughts? Especially us cultivators, we should focus on how to become a God Venerate, and after becoming a God Venerate, how to break through to higher realms and protect the Cangyuan World."

Kang Dalei gave the White Elephant King a look, and the White Elephant King coughed a few more times. He knew that even he couldn't convince himself of what he had just said.

But to have him openly state his thoughts like that—wouldn't that be very awkward, shameless, and sleazy?

Seeing the White Elephant King saying nothing and just continuously refilling his tea, Kang Dalei seemed to know he had something on his mind. He took the teapot the White Elephant King was holding and scrutinized him: "If you have something to say, just say it; don't hide it. Is it that your great-granddaughter doesn't agree to this marriage? It's fine, these are small matters. Your Bai Family reneged on the marriage first; just compensate me with a few hundred thousand demon cores later, and this matter will be settled. How about that?"

Before Kang Dalei finished his nonsense, the White Elephant King interrupted him: "You brat, you've gone crazy thinking about demon cores, haven't you? A few hundred thousand demon cores? Do you think demon beasts are raised by your family? Do you know how many demon cores the Great Zhou Dynasty receives annually? It's only a mere one million or so."

"Wait, why am I telling you this? Listen to me finish the real business first."

The White Elephant King was so flustered by Kang Dalei that he almost forgot what he had come to say.

"I won't waste any more words. In the next few days, there will be a points competition for a demon beast tide. The reward is a Buddhist defensive treasure, the Zen Robe, which can withstand most attacks. I wonder if you are interested."

"No."

It was the same tone. Kang Dalei lazily stretched.

This old thing definitely had something important he hadn't said yet; he wouldn't fall for it.

Besides, he had an important task to do today: go and raid the Qian Family.

For a God Venerate Family, the stored demon cores inside should be quite numerous.

Humans rely on demon cores to temper their foundations and rely on the god sovereign jade marrow fluid after death to strengthen their foundations.

Demon beasts rely on devouring humans and God Venerates to improve themselves.

Why is it said that demons eat humans and God Venerates also eat humans? This is the reason.

Therefore, generally, a God Venerate Family should have some prepared demon cores as resources for cultivating descendants and forging God Venerate foundations.