163: Nine Phoenixes Facing the Dragon

The Great Qian Divine Dynasty, Imperial Capital.

The bloody turmoil of the past melted away under the golden sunlight. The air was no longer filled with the killing intent of war, but with the rich fragrance of a ten-mile-long bridal procession.

Xiao Tiance, the once unattainable Immortal Envoy, was now curled up like a dead dog in the deepest part of the Heavenly Prison. Lin Chen's Soul Searching Secret Technique showed no mercy, even for his so-called Immortal Spiritual Root. The moment his Sea of Consciousness shattered, a set of the ancient [Nine Heavens Star Chart] was firmly imprinted by Lin Chen. The coordinates of the Upper Realm, those self-proclaimed noble Immortal Sects, and the so-called “big shots” who treated the Lower Realm as a nursery—none of them held any secrets from Lin Chen anymore.

Outside the Heavenly Prison, an event momentous enough to shatter a thousand years of societal norms was surging above the Imperial Capital.

An Imperial Edict, personally written by the Empress, Wu Zhao, and sealed with the Human Emperor's Divine Seal, was instantly transmitted to every corner of Great Qian via a Sound Transmission Array:

"I, receiving the Mandate of Heaven and ruling the cosmos, now perceive the imbalance of Yin and Yang, and that the Male Dao should not be solitary. Lin Chen possesses talent capable of governing heaven and earth, holding the weighty status of a Human Emperor. I... shall marry down today, naming Lin Chen the Great Qian's sole Imperial Husband, to rule the land and jointly govern all life!"

Upon this news, the world fell silent. Throughout the tens of thousands of years of the Great Qian where women were superior to men, only women married husbands—who had ever heard of an Empress "marrying down"? Furthermore, she announced this to the entire world in a manner that was almost a declaration of sovereignty: from now on, the Heaven of Great Qian would no longer be the lofty Wu Zhao, but the man named Lin Chen.

On the day of the Grand Wedding, in the Weiyang Palace.

Gathered here were the most elite and stunning beauties of the entire Divine Dynasty.

Red Makeup Ye shed her heavy armor and changed into a dark red, waist-cinching long dress. Even without the armor, the heroic spirit of a battle-hardened general and her straight, powerful long legs still made countless female officials afraid to look directly at her;

Yan Ruyu no longer held her ruler. A long cyan gauze dress enveloped her increasingly voluptuous Dao body. Her eyes held less aloofness and more of the charm that comes after receiving favor;

Clear Profound Ji had even stood up for the first time. Although her steps were still somewhat slow due to her long-term disability, the dark and exquisite sense of wisdom and strategy she exuded added a touch of morbid tension to the atmosphere of the grand banquet;

Furthermore, Su Mei's enchanting fox tail twitched restlessly in the corner of the hall; Luo Bingli's unique crisp laughter of an Upper Realm Loli echoed; Nangong Yue's vast Family wealth behind her transformed into Spirit Stone red carpets covering the Imperial Capital; and Liu Ruyan's mature, peach-like married woman charm made the female officials secretly drool yet tremble with fear.

This was a Harem Group capable of making all the Gods and Buddhas of the heavens jealous. Although on this day of the Grand Wedding, sparks and undercurrents flew between the various Female Leads in their clash of gazes, everything appeared harmonious and strangely unified under the suppression of Lin Chen's god-like "Imperial Family Status."

"The auspicious hour has arrived—enter the Bridal Chamber!"

The voice of the Master of Ceremonies trembled, not just from excitement, but because he was witnessing the complete transfer of the Divine Dynasty's authority.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, behind the Nine Dragons Chasing Phoenix Screen, the bright yellow candlelight was trimmed very short, emanating a hazy and intoxicating ambiguity.

Wu Zhao was sitting in the center of the Dragon Couch. Today, she was not wearing her dark black Dragon Robe, but a set of extremely luxurious Phoenix Coronet and Robes of Rank. Scarlet silk flowed over her body, every inch of which seemed exquisitely sculpted by the heavens. She lowered her head; the golden bead curtain obscured her devastatingly beautiful face, but it could not hide her chest, which was rising and falling rapidly due to nervousness and anticipation.

Lin Chen pushed the door open and, with a backhand motion, set up a barrier capable of isolating Immortal Consciousness.

"Your Majesty, your husband has waited so long."

Lin Chen walked up to the couch and, amidst the clinking of the bead curtain, reached out and lifted her chin.

"After today... do not call me Your Majesty anymore." Wu Zhao's Phoenix eyes were filled with spring affection. The arrogance that belonged to an Emperor completely melted away at this moment. Her porcelain-white face pressed against Lin Chen's warm palm as she greedily inhaled the masculine scent that made her Soul tremble. "Call me... Zhao'er."

Lin Chen chuckled lightly, brutally gripping her shoulders with both hands and pressing her down abruptly.

At that instant, the Phoenix Coronet, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Divine Dynasty, fell to the floor with a crisp sound. Her waterfall-like black hair scattered across the bright yellow bedding, contrasting with her shoulders, which were pink and lustrous from passion. The visual impact was almost overwhelming.

Lin Chen's movements were devoid of any tenderness. He directly tore open the layered Robes of Rank, pulling this arrogant Empress completely off the altar of imperial power and into the dust of desire.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Ultimate Bond Completed! Successfully captured the Daughter of Luck, Empress Wu Zhao!] [System initiating final stage settlement...] [Congratulations, host! Cultivation Breakthrough to the Peak Mahayana Stage! Half-step Ascension!] [Received Divine-Grade Reward: [Key to the Plane Gate]!] [System Version Update: Activating "Immortal Realm Great Family" Mode! The host will receive tenfold feedback for every descendant produced in a higher plane!]

Following the System's cool prompt, Lin Chen felt the restlessness inside him, originally caused by conquest, instantly sublimate into an understanding of the Law.

Wu Zhao was completely lost in a daze at this moment. She had completely fallen, both physically and with the Emperor's Heart that once only sought the Immortal Dao.

"My Zhao'er, I shall accept your Empire."

Lin Chen whispered in her ear, every word carrying unquestionable hegemony.

The next day, as the first ray of morning sun crossed the Imperial Capital's walls and shone upon the golden tiles of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lin Chen was fully dressed, standing alone atop the Imperial Palace—the Star Picking Tower.

He toyed with the faintly blue glowing [Star Chart] in his hand, his gaze piercing through layers of cloud sea toward the vaster, more mysterious Nine Heavens Immortal Domain.

There, there were stronger Sects, colder Fairies, and more brutal Female Devil Heads. But in the eyes of him, the Human Emperor who had already mastered the Highest Status in the mortal world, it was merely another hunting ground waiting to be developed.

"Big shots of the Upper Realm... are you ready?"

Lin Chen's lips curved into a cruel yet confident arc.

"My Family is just beginning to spread its branches and leaves. Since there are no more opponents in this mortal world, then let's go to the Immortal Realm... and open up a new 'back garden'."

A clear breeze swept past, and Lin Chen's figure slowly dissipated amid a dark golden Dragon Roar. The history of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty turned a brand new page, and a "Human Emperor Legend" that would sweep across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands had just begun its grander prelude.