902: Chapter 903 You naughty girl! Do you think your father is just randomly matchmaking?!

Her words seemed calm, yet they carried the pride of a favored daughter of heaven and a hint of aggrieved frustration at being slighted. She truly did not understand; looking across the entire Demon Domain, in terms of appearance, talent, background, and potential, those qualified to stand by her side could be counted on one hand!

The man before her could actually decline her so calmly in public? This caused the usually tranquil lake of her heart to surge with such massive waves for the first time, along with... a trace of unwilling competitiveness.

Yao Delong turned his head and met those eyes that seemed capable of speaking. Even with his steadfast will, looking at this flawless face at such close range—chilly yet possessing a breathtaking beauty—his mind could not help but sway slightly.

Her temperament was pure and transcendent, like the purest lotus atop a snowy mountain Peak. Her skin was whiter than snow and appeared delicate enough to break at a touch; her features were like a painting, as exquisite as the Creator's most perfect masterpiece. Especially those cool eyes, which seemed to contain the flow of the galaxy, so deep they could make one lose themselves. A simple yet elegant set of palace robes further accentuated her graceful figure and peerless elegance, as if she were the embodiment of all the spiritual grace in heaven and earth.

He praised her sincerely, his voice warm and genuine: "Fellow Daoist Shushu's words truly flatter this Long too much." His gaze was clear, carrying unabashed appreciation. "Your appearance is enough to make the stars and moon lose their luster and all flowers bow their heads. With icy skin and jade bones, your elegance is peerless; it is truly the only such sight Yao Delong has seen in his life! As for your talent and cultivation, reaching the rank of a mid-tier Demon Emperor in a mere few thousand years is brilliant and extraordinary, surpassing your peers. Your future path to the Emperor Realm is promising! This Yao Delong feels only admiration, with not a shred of contempt."

This praise came from the bottom of his heart without any intentional flattery, yet every word struck Xue Shushu's heartstrings. Despite her cold nature, being praised for her talent and beauty so directly and sincerely—especially by a Great Grandmaster capable of refining Ninth-Grade Divine Pills and possessing a steadfast will... two faint but incredibly moving clouds of red involuntarily rose on her jade-white cheeks. Deep within her cool eyes, a glimmer flashed that even she didn't notice, and her originally tense mood inexplicably relaxed a bit.

However, Yao Delong's tone shifted, becoming calm and solemn:

"However, everyone has an appreciation for beauty. But the word 'beauty,' in the eyes of us Cultivators, is ultimately like passing clouds. Not to mention becoming Dao Companions; this is a lifelong matter concerning one's Dao path and life itself!"

He looked into Xue Shushu's eyes, his gaze honest and deep: "We have only known each other for a few months. During this time, it was mostly regarding the Dao of Alchemy and injuries; we do not yet fully know each other's Heart-Nature. Your father's public marriage proposal today is touching, but Yao Delong knows well that this was an expedient move born of necessity under the pressure of the situation."

He paused slightly, his voice carrying a detached steadiness that seemed to see through the world:

"In our cultivation, we should follow our true hearts, not violate our own will, and not go against our Dao Heart. Yao Delong is unwilling to make a hasty promise due to your father's momentary words or any external interests, which might cause you to have regrets or even remorse in the future. That would be unfair to you and is not what Yao Delong desires. This is not a rejection of your kindness, but rather respect for you, and respect for my own Dao Heart."

Xue Shushu was stunned.

Her cool eyes stared unblinkingly at this calm and serious face. Those words flowed through her heart like a clear spring, dispersing most of her shame and unwillingness, yet leaving behind deeper ripples and an unprecedented shock.

Follow the true heart? Not violate one's own will? Not go against the Dao Heart?

Rejecting because of respect? Unwilling to let her regret?

She had never heard such words from any suitor, or even from the prodigies of her generation. What they saw in their eyes was the Qingqiu behind Xue Shushu, her talent, and her appearance. But this man before her seemed to truly be looking at "her" herself, considering her feelings and her future.

An extremely strange feeling sprouted in the depths of her heart. She suddenly felt that she seemed to have never truly seen through this man named 'Yao Delong.' The mist surrounding him seemed to have grown thicker, yet it also revealed an unprecedented attraction.

Her red lips moved slightly, appearing both annoyed and sighing; her voice was as light as a falling snowflake, carrying a hint of probing and curiosity that even she hadn't noticed:

"How do you know... that I would definitely regret it?" These words were no longer a defense of her pride, but more like... a search filled with confusion.

The banquet flowed slowly amidst this low-voiced conversation that invited much imagination. The Myriad Fox Feast lasted for several days, during which Yao Delong inevitably exchanged pleasantries with the powerhouses of various royal clans in the central region. Xue Shushu remained quietly by his side, playing the role of a semi-"Dao Protector," though the amount of time her cool eyes spent on Yao Delong clearly increased, and her gaze became increasingly complex and difficult to decipher.

Finally, as the banquet neared its end and the guests were about to disperse, Mo Jue stood up again. With an incredibly solemn expression, he walked up to Yao Delong. His eyes were burning, and his tone was more serious than ever before:

"Little Friend Yao Delong, what this old man said under those circumstances a few days ago was indeed forced by the situation, but every single word was sincere! Your Dao of Alchemy is divine and shakes the past and present! This old man is by no means speaking falsely! If you are willing, I still sincerely entrust my daughter Shushu to you to become Dao Companions! All of Qingqiu will treat you with the most grand etiquette!"

"Father!" Seeing her father bring up the old matter again, especially in front of Yao Delong, Xue Shushu immediately became both ashamed and anxious. She couldn't help but speak out in annoyance, "Fellow Daoist Long has already declined, why are you again..."

"Shu'er!" Mo Jue turned his head abruptly, his eyes carrying an unquestionable majesty as he glared at his daughter. Immediately, an urgent and powerful divine sense transmission crashed into Xue Shushu's Sea of Consciousness like a thunderclap:

'You bastard girl! Do you know the true value of this Little Friend Yao Delong?! Do you think your father is just playing matchmaker randomly?! Do you know how many years it has been since he started cultivating?!'

Xue Shushu's mind trembled at her father's harsh shout and the information in the transmission! How many years has he cultivated? To accurately probe the Bone Age of a high-level Cultivator is extremely difficult unless one has a special Bloodline Magic Treasure! She subconsciously recalled—right! This Yao Delong had entered the core treasury of Qingqiu. Although it couldn't be precise to the month or year, certain special Restrictions in the treasury would leave behind a blurry time imprint!

Just as her mind was shaking violently, Mo Jue's transmission, containing earth-shattering information, exploded in her brain again:

'Although I cannot be precise to the year, I dare to swear on my Dao Heart that this Little Friend Yao Delong's cultivation years—absolutely do not exceed five hundred!'

Boom—!

It was as if a bolt of Nine Heavens profound lightning had slammed into the crown of Xue Shushu's head!

Less than... five hundred years?

Demon King Realm?!

Able to refine Ninth-Grade Divine Pills?!

This... how is this possible?! This can no longer be described as a "Genius"! It simply subverts all cognition! Unprecedented since ancient times!

Even though Xue Shushu was proud and possessed peerless talent, she was shocked into a blank state of mind by this inconceivable information! The gaze she directed at Yao Delong was filled with unprecedented horror and disbelief! She had achieved the rank of Demon Emperor in three thousand years, which was already enough to look down on the masses and be hailed as the top Prodigy of the Demon Domain!

But this seemingly ordinary "Demon King" before her, in less than one-sixth of her time, not only had a cultivation that wasn't weak but had also reached the Peak of the Dao of Alchemy that she might not reach in her entire life?! The gap between them was enough to make all the talent she took pride in instantly lose its luster!