136: I will hate you for the rest of my life.

In the cultivation room next door, the scene was completely different.

There were no surging waves of immortal spiritual qi here, only a biting Sword Qi silently circulating in the air.

Ye Gucheng sat cross-legged on a futon, eyes slightly closed, his entire being like a peerless sword sheathed.

He wore an Ice Soul Sword Heart Pendant on his chest. The pale blue cold qi emitted by the jade pendant blended perfectly with the Sword Intent swirling around him, condensing into tiny ice crystals in the air.

The nine revolutions purple heaven pill within his body had been completely refined.

Heavenly Immortal Middle Stage!

Heavenly Immortal Late Stage!

Ye Gucheng's aura grew sharper and sharper. The temperature in the cultivation room plummeted, and a thin layer of frost formed on the walls and floor.

The moment he opened his eyes.

"Hum!"

A physical sword light seemed to flash and vanish in his eyes. The frost crystals throughout the cultivation room shattered simultaneously, turning into a sky full of ice powder that rustled as it fell.

"Heavenly Immortal Late Stage, combined with the Frost Sword Intent, I have now mastered five types of Sword Intent."

Ye Gucheng murmured to himself, a rare hint of satisfaction appearing on his cold face.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion; a wisp of pale blue Sword Qi condensed in his palm, instantly freezing the surrounding air.

"Boom."

The doors to both cultivation rooms opened almost at the same time.

Xuanyuan Che and Ye Gucheng walked out. They exchanged a glance, both seeing the progress in each other's eyes.

"It seems you two have gained quite a lot."

A hearty voice came over.

The two turned to look and saw Long Yin appearing in the small courtyard outside the cultivation rooms, looking at them with a smile.

Today, Long Yin wore a simple green robe and stood with his hands behind his back, possessing less of an emperor's majesty and more of an approachable air.

"Second Brother, young friend Ye, congratulations on your Breakthrough."

Long Yin smiled and came forward to greet them. His gaze swept over the two, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes.

These Medicinal Pills were rare in his Yao Race and were usually bestowed upon Elders who had performed great services.

Just one could allow a Golden Immortal Realm Elder to make rapid progress.

With five, it could at least allow a Golden Immortal Realm Elder to break through a minor Realm.

Xuanyuan Che said somewhat sheepishly, "Third Brother, the immortal spiritual qi in this cultivation room of yours is truly too thick. Your second brother couldn't help himself and cultivated for a bit longer."

"It's fine." Long Yin waved his hand. "It's a good thing for your cultivation to progress."

"Just in time, the gift I prepared for Eldest Brother is also ready."

After a pause, he said solemnly, "In three days, we will set out for the Five Evolutions Great Thousand World. Second Brother, what do you think?"

Xuanyuan Che nodded. "Good! Let's set it for three days from now."

Ye Gucheng held his long sword in his arms and said nothing, his meaning clear: he could set out at any time.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside the Yao Race Sacred Temple, the ceremonial procession was already prepared.

Nine true dragons of the Heavenly Immortal Realm pulled a magnificent phoenix carriage. The carriage body was inlaid with countless treasures, emitting an auspicious aura of the dragon and phoenix singing in harmony.

This was the highest specification of bridal ceremony for the Yao Race, representing the importance placed on this marriage.

Long Kui wore a phoenix crown and a red bridal robe as she sat before a bronze mirror.

Her makeup in the mirror was exquisite, but her gaze was hollow.

Two maidservants carefully adjusted her clothing and accessories, not daring to make a sound.

"Princess, the hour has arrived," an older maidservant reminded her softly.

Long Kui remained motionless, merely staring at herself in the mirror.

She was more magnificent and beautiful than she had been a month ago, like a carefully packaged gift.

Unfortunately, the recipient was a stranger she hadn't even met.

The two maidservants were sweating with anxiety.

If the hour truly arrived and His Majesty the Yao Emperor blamed them, they wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.

Just then, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in Long Kui's eyes.

A single tear fell without warning, leaving a faint trail on her exquisite makeup.

She stood up woodenly, the pearls and jade on her phoenix crown clinking crisply.

The two maidservants felt as if they had been granted a great reprieve and hurriedly stepped forward to support her on both sides, leading her toward the hall exit.

On the plaza outside the hall, the sky was filled with rosy clouds.

Long Qinger and Long Yin stood one after the other, both having changed into their most formal attire.

Long Yin wore a Black-Gold Dragon-Patterned Imperial Robe and an imperial crown.

Long Qinger was dressed in a Golden Phoenix Court Robe, her hair piled high and adorned with shimmering jewelry.

Seeing Long Kui appear, a complex look flashed in Long Qinger's eyes, and she immediately forced a smile. "Kuier is truly beautiful today."

Long Kui stopped before her mother and asked in a raspy voice, "Mother, once I go, will I ever be able to return?"

Long Qinger's body trembled slightly as she forced a smile. "Silly child, what nonsense are you saying?"

"After you marry over, you will be the Imperial Concubine of the Taiyan Immortal Court, with a noble status. In the future..."

"What about the future?" Long Kui interrupted her, a trace of emotion finally in her eyes. "Marrying someone I've never even met, what future is there to talk about?"

Long Qinger opened her mouth, but it ultimately turned into a sigh as she turned her head away, unable to bear looking into her daughter's eyes.

If she could, if Long Yin didn't mind, and if Brother Yan didn't despise her, she would have loved to put on this bridal gown herself.

It was just a pity that she had followed Long Yin three lifetimes ago, and it was still the same in this life.

Even if she stood before Di Yan again, there would likely only be the bond of siblings left.

Long Kui said no more. She took a deep breath, stepped past Long Qinger, and walked straight toward the phoenix carriage.

In front of the phoenix carriage, Long Yin had been waiting for a long time.

Today, he was exceptionally majestic. The black-gold imperial robe reflected a dark luster in the sunlight, and dragon shadows faintly circled around him.

Standing behind him were Xuanyuan Che and Ye Gucheng, both also ready to depart.

Seeing his daughter approach, Long Yin's gaze fell upon her magnificent bridal gown. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, "Kuier, after you go to the Taiyan Immortal Court, you must remember your identity."

Long Kui's figure stiffened slightly, but she didn't stop walking.

Long Yin continued, "From now on, you are no longer a princess of the Yao Race, but the Imperial Concubine of the Taiyan Immortal Court."

"You must strictly observe your duties, do what an Imperial Concubine should do, be loyal to His Majesty Emperor Yan, and not show the slightest negligence."

His words were exceptionally cold, without a hint of warmth.

Long Kui's hand inside her sleeve trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "Hypocrite."

Long Yin's expression remained unchanged. "Your father is a hypocrite, but in the future, you will understand your father's painstaking efforts."

He paused and continued, "Emperor Yan is my eldest brother and the person I respect most. It is your blessing that he has taken a fancy to you, and it is the honor of our entire Yao Race."

Long Kui slowly turned around.

There were no longer any tears in her eyes, only a nearly icy calm.

"Blessing? Honor?" Her voice was very soft. "Father, you personally tore apart your daughter's engagement with her beloved and forced her to marry a... senior she's never met, all for your so-called brotherhood?"

Long Yin was silent for a moment before only saying, "There are some things you don't understand yet."

"Yes, I don't understand." Long Kui laughed, a smile that was both tragic and resolute. "I don't understand why you are so heartless, or why you don't even care about your daughter's happiness."

She took a deep breath and said word for word:

"But I have understood one thing."

"Father, I hate you."

"From this day forward, I will hate you for a lifetime."

As her words fell, she didn't look at him again. She turned, lifted the curtain, and ducked into the phoenix carriage.

The pearl curtain fell, isolating the inside from the outside.

Long Qinger stood to the side, watching her daughter's resolute back. Her brow furrowed slightly, her heart filled with indescribable complexity.

This child is, after all, too young.

If she were still pure, if there were a chance, she would have put on this bridal gown without hesitation to make up for the regrets of three lifetimes ago.

Unfortunately, there are no 'ifs' in this world.