19: Will you give yourself to this woman or not?

Inside Purple Heaven Palace, a deathly silence fell.

The Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect's arrogant and domineering words were like a basin of ice water, dousing all the festive joy and clamor in the hall.

Time seemed to freeze solid at that moment.

The smiles froze on countless guests' faces, hands holding wine cups halted mid-air, their expressions one of utter shock, as if they had seen a ghost.

At a Saint's grand wedding, before all the top powers, demanding another Imperial Dynasty's princess to be his concubine?

What unparalleled arrogance was this!

What unparalleled humiliation was this!

This was no simple provocation; it was grinding the face of the Su Family and the Yunlan Dynasty into the dirt and stomping on it repeatedly!

The Quasi-Saint Old Ancestor of the Yunlan Dynasty, his wrinkled old face instantly flushed a deep purple-red.

The dragon-headed walking stick in his hand creaked under his grip, a Quasi-Saint's fury uncontrollably surging skyward.

But he dared not act out.

The Lingxiao Sword Sect was a top-tier sword sect of the Eastern Region, its profound heritage far beyond what his declining, sunset-era Yunlan Dynasty could contend with.

The emperor behind him, Bai Tianyu, was even more enraged, his entire body trembling, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth grinding audibly.

That was his most beloved daughter!

She was the Yunlan Dynasty's only hope!

He would rather stake the lives of the entire Dynasty than send his daughter into such a tiger's den!

"You..."

Bai Tianyu was just about to speak when the Old Ancestor beside him pressed down firmly on his shoulder.

To step forward now would be no different from courting death.

All hope could only rest on today's protagonist, that mysterious and inscrutable Su Family Saint.

Bai Lingxi's exquisitely beautiful face had long since drained of all color, turning deathly pale.

Barefoot, she involuntarily retreated half a step, her hand clutching her father's sleeve trembling slightly from fear and humiliation.

She was like a startled fawn, shivering under the hunter's undisguised, covetous gaze, utterly helpless.

On the other side, the Sect Master of Hunyuan Sect, the Valley Master of Tianyao Valley, and other leaders of top-tier powers all set down their wine cups.

The expressions of watching a spectacle vanished from their faces, replaced by solemnity and intrigue.

Things had become interesting.

Everyone understood clearly that the Lingxiao Sword Sect's move was by no means simply due to infatuation with a woman's beauty.

This was a probe.

A probe targeting this newly ascended Saint, Su Xuanchen!

It was also a naked game of power between top-tier forces!

If the Su Family retreated, they would lose all face and become a laughingstock.

If the Su Family advanced, it would mean thoroughly offending the behemoth that was the Lingxiao Sword Sect!

Everyone's gaze instinctively converged on the direction of the main seat.

They were all waiting.

Waiting to see how this new Saint would handle this dilemma, one that could determine the future landscape of the Northern Wastelands.

Amidst this suffocating silence.

Boom!

Boom! Boom!

The festive sounds of gongs and drums suddenly resounded throughout the Heavenly Palace without warning.

Elegant immortal music followed, beginning to play.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!"

"We respectfully welcome the groom!"

A clear, loud announcement shattered the frozen atmosphere.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone present.

A figure slowly walked out from behind the main hall.

The newcomer wore magnificent groom's robes woven from divine star silk, his ink-black hair casually draped over his shoulders.

His face was flawlessly handsome, as if carved from divine jade, his eyes deep and calm, seemingly containing the birth and death of billions of stars.

He exuded no earth-shattering pressure, yet carried an ethereal grace that made all things pale in comparison.

At six thousand years of age, within a Saint's fifty-thousand-year lifespan, he was merely in his youth.

He walked slowly, step by step, following the rhythm of the immortal music, towards the main seat at the center of the hall.

The moment he appeared, he instantly became the sole focus of the entire hall.

All the light between heaven and earth seemed to converge upon him at that moment.

"This... this is the Su Family Old Ancestor?"

"Too... too young! And too handsome!"

"Rumors say he is six thousand years old, how could... how could he look like a youth!"

Countless guests exclaimed in shock, their eyes filled with unconcealed astonishment.

Especially those Holy Land divine maidens who considered themselves proud daughters of heaven; the moment they saw Su Xuanchen, their beautiful eyes shone with brilliant light, their hearts uncontrollably racing.

Bai Lingxi was also stunned.

She stared blankly at the slowly approaching figure, and on her lovely face, which had been pale from fear, a captivating blush unexpectedly bloomed.

She had originally thought that a six-thousand-year-old monster, even if he became a Saint, would surely look white-haired and decrepit.

But the person before her... was as handsome as an immortal banished from a painting.

"He's... quite good-looking..."

A thought that even she found embarrassing uncontrollably surfaced in her heart.

The fear and humiliation caused earlier by the Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect dissipated greatly at this moment, as if by magic.

She even began to feel a faint sense of anticipation.

Anticipation for how this legendary Su Family Saint would handle the situation before him.

Su Xuanchen ascended the high platform.

He did not immediately take his seat. Instead, he swept his gaze across the entire hall, slowly looking at the face of each guest.

Finally, his gaze settled upon the Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect.

The Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect met his gaze without fear, even raising his wine cup in a distant toast towards him, his face filled with a provocative smile.

Su Xuanchen's face showed no expression.

He withdrew his gaze.

Then, under everyone's astonished stares, he actually completely ignored the Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect and walked directly towards the Yunlan Dynasty's seating area.

Step by step, he finally stopped before Bai Lingxi.

The two of them, eyes meeting.

A gentle smile slowly appeared at the corner of Su Xuanchen's mouth.

That smile was like a spring breeze turning to rain, instantly melting all the unease in the young girl's heart.

"Don't be afraid."

He said softly, his voice not loud, but carrying a magical power that could put hearts at ease.

"Today is my wedding."

"With me here, no one can let you suffer any grievance."

Bai Lingxi's heart trembled violently.

Looking at this handsome face so close to hers, feeling the tenderness and domineering aura in those deep eyes, her lovely face flushed so red it seemed about to drip blood.

And on the other side.

The Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect, who had been utterly ignored, had his smile completely frozen on his face.

An uncontrollable rage exploded from the depths of his heart!

He violently crushed the wine cup in his hand to pieces, abruptly standing up, his voice like thunderclaps exploding throughout the great hall!

"Su Xuanchen!"

"Are you deaf?!"

"I am asking you a question!"

He stared fixedly at Su Xuanchen's back, killing intent fully revealed in his eyes.

"I want this woman. Will you give her to me, or not?!"

Su Xuanchen finally slowly turned around.

Looking at the seemingly crazed Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect, the smile on his face slowly faded.

Replacing it was a kind of indifference, as if looking down at an ant.

"You want her?"

He asked softly in return, his tone frighteningly calm.

The next second.

He raised his hand and waved dismissively at a Su Family guard behind him.

"How noisy."

His voice carried not a trace of worldly agitation, yet clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Throw this barking dog out for me."