45: Refusing recruitment, an ancient clan with a history of thousands of years

Inside the main hall, the fragrance of tea curled in the air.

The atmosphere, however, was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, ready to snap at any moment.

Ninth Princess Ji Lanxi leaned forward, her pale gold Phoenix pupils staring intently at Su Xuanchen, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"Su Xuanchen, you are a clever man."

She extended her fair palm, and within it, a purple-gold token engraved with the character for 'Emperor' slowly emerged.

"This token represents the will of me, Ji Lanxi."

"Accept it, and you shall be the Chief Guest Elder of this palace."

"I will not ask of your origin, nor care for your past."

"As long as you assist me in seizing the throne, I promise the Su Family eternal glory and you... the position of a Quasi-Emperor."

Boom!

As soon as these words were spoken, the breathing of Su Jingyuan and the other Su Family Elders instantly ceased.

Quasi-Emperor!

That was an existence second only to a Great Emperor, a destination countless Cultivators dared not even look up to in their entire lives.

With just a nod, the Su Family could ascend to heaven in a single bound, transforming from local overlords in a remote corner into the dragon-following ministers of the Imperial Court!

Everyone's gaze focused on Su Xuanchen, filled with fanaticism and expectation.

However.

Su Xuanchen only gave the token a faint glance.

Then, he picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam.

"Not interested."

Three words.

Spoken nonchalantly, yet they landed like a clap of thunder.

Su Jingyuan almost lost his breath, his eyes nearly bulging out.

Old Ancestor!

That is a promise of a Quasi-Emperor! You're just refusing it like that?

The smile on Ji Lanxi's face froze.

The Grey-robed Saint King behind her suddenly opened his eyes, and a terrifying Saint King pressure, like a Primordial Divine Mountain, crushed down towards Su Xuanchen without reservation.

"Impudent!"

"Her Highness recruiting you personally is a blessing you've earned over several lifetimes!"

"You ungrateful thing!"

Rumble!

The space within the hall groaned under the pressure. Even with the protection of the great array, the Su Family Elders felt their blood and Qi boil, and they fell to their knees one after another.

Only Su Xuanchen remained.

He still sat in his chair, and even the hand holding the tea did not tremble in the slightest.

"Buzz!"

A brilliant starlight suddenly erupted from within him.

It wasn't defense.

It was a counterattack!

His cultivation at the sixth-level Saint Realm was released without reservation. The Aura was so condensed and overbearing that it actually held back the Saint King's pressure, creating a vacuum of equal standing in the center of the hall!

"Crack!"

The two Auras collided.

The hard diamond floor instantly cracked, with countless fissures spreading like a spiderweb.

The Grey-robed Saint King's pupils shrank.

"Sixth-level Saint Realm?"

"But this power... how is it possible?!"

He could clearly feel that the quality of Su Xuanchen's Saint power was incredibly high—it was an extreme power after countless compressions and purifications. In terms of pure destructive power, it actually did not lose to him, a first-level Saint King!

"Old fellow, want to make a move?"

Su Xuanchen put down his teacup and slowly stood up.

In the void behind him, nine blurry Tribulation Shadows faintly appeared, emitting a heart-palpitating Aura of destruction.

"In my life, I, Su Xuanchen, hate two things the most."

"First, having a spear pointed at my head."

"Second, being someone's dog."

He looked directly at Ji Lanxi, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

"The Imperial Court's succession struggle is your royal Family's mess; I have no interest in getting involved."

"If my Su Family is to rise, it will be by our own fists, not by charity."

"Quasi-Emperor?"

Su Xuanchen sneered, the arrogance of looking down on the world no longer concealed.

"That Realm, I will reach it through my own cultivation."

"Why would I need you to give it to me?"

Arrogant!

Unbelievably arrogant!

But at this moment, looking at the man who still stood tall and proud under the Saint King's pressure, the anger in Ji Lanxi's eyes actually dissipated.

Replacing it was a trace of unprecedented admiration.

And even... a deeply hidden desire to conquer.

This is a real man.

Compared to this person, those geniuses who only knew how to kneel at her feet and beg for mercy were simply trash.

"Good."

"A fine 'why would I need you to give it to me'."

Ji Lanxi clapped her hands, signaling the Grey-robed Saint King to withdraw his pressure.

She stood up and walked in front of Su Xuanchen, the distance between them so close they could smell each other's scent.

"Su Xuanchen, you win."

"I take back what I just said."

"A person like you is indeed not suited to be a subordinate."

With a flick of her wrist, the purple-gold token disappeared, replaced by a golden scroll emitting an ancient Aura.

"This is the 'Ancient Clan' evaluation issued by the Imperial Court."

"Although your Su Family's foundation is still shallow, you, Su Xuanchen, alone are worth ten thousand armies."

"I will make an exception and grant your Su Family the status of a 'Quasi-Ancient Clan'."

"Within a thousand years, if your Su Family can produce another Saint King, the 'Quasi' prefix can be removed."

Having said that, she threw the scroll into Su Xuanchen's arms.

"Take it."

"It's what you deserve."

Su Xuanchen took the scroll and did not refuse.

This was a tangible benefit.

With this title, the Su Family would be the officially recognized 'local emperors' in the Sacred Ruins Continent, legitimate and justified.

"Thank you."

Su Xuanchen nodded, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"No need for thanks."

Ji Lanxi gave him a deep look, then turned and walked out of the hall.

At the doorway, she paused.

"In half a year, the Demon Suppressing Abyss Secret Realm will open."

"That is the Trial Grounds of the Imperial Court, and also the burial ground for the prodigies of the various Ancient Clans."

"Su Xuanchen, I will wait for you there."

"I hope by then, you can still be as tough as you are today."

Her voice fell.

A flash of golden light.

Ji Lanxi led the Imperial Court experts onto the Imperial Boat and soared away.

Leaving behind in the hall a group of Su Family Elders who hadn't yet come to their senses, and Su Xuanchen, who was holding the golden scroll and lost in thought... "Whew..."

Su Jingyuan slumped onto the ground, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That scared me to death..."

"Old Ancestor, you are truly... too unyielding!"

Su Xuanchen ignored him.

His mind was now entirely on the System interface.

The moment Ji Lanxi left, the long-awaited System notification finally sounded.

『Ding! Congratulations to the host for refusing the Imperial Court's recruitment and showing the demeanor of a powerhouse. The Family's prestige has increased significantly!』

『Task completed! Calculating rewards...』

『Congratulations to the host for obtaining: One Saint-level Grand Elder!』

『Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Ten Quasi-Saint-level Clan Protection Elders!』

『Congratulations to the host for obtaining: One Saint King Weapon, the 【Starfall Heaven-Rending Halberd】!』

『Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Ten Clan-Suppressing Saint Weapons (Standard Issue)!』

『Congratulations to the host for obtaining: A Ninth-Grade Clan Protection Array, the 【Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array (Incomplete)】!』

A huge haul!

An absolute jackpot!

Looking at the dazzling array of rewards in the System space, Su Xuanchen's smile almost reached his ears.

"System, extract rewards!"

"Buzz!"

In the Su Family's back mountain, deep within the Forbidden Ground.

Eleven powerful Auras erupted without warning!

At the head was a man with white hair and beard, wearing a Daoist robe, surrounded by dense Saint Dao Laws. His Aura had actually reached the third-level Saint Realm!

Behind him, ten Quasi-Saint experts in black armor with cold expressions lined up, radiating Killing Intent.

"We pay our respects to the Clan Head!"

Their voices were loud and clear, echoing through the clouds.

The entire Su Family was in an uproar.

Originally, the Su Family's high-end combat power relied solely on Su Xuanchen. Now, with this group of fresh forces, the Su Family's foundation instantly surged tenfold!

A true rise!

...Time flew by like a white horse passing a crack.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

During this half-year, the Sacred Ruins Continent was calm, but inside the Su Family, things were in full swing.

On the martial arts field.

"Boom!"

A loud explosion.

Su Zining threw a punch, and the void in front of her actually produced visible ripples.

Dressed in tight-fitting martial attire with her long hair tied high, she had long since shed the greenness and cowardice of half a year ago, replaced by a sharp edge.

Peak of the Yuan Gang Realm!

In just half a year, starting from re-cultivation, she had soared all the way to the Peak of the Yuan Gang Realm.

This speed would scare a lot of people if word got out.

"Not bad."

Su Xuanchen stood to the side, holding a teaching pointer, and nodded with satisfaction.

"The Innate Dao Embryo is indeed monstrous."

"In this clan competition, first place is guaranteed."

Su Zining stood up after retracting her punch, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked at Su Xuanchen with eyes full of admiration and affection.

"It's all thanks to Old Ancestor Brother's good teaching."

"Alright, stop flattering me."

After dismissing Su Zining.

Su Xuanchen stretched and turned toward his palace.

He hadn't been idle during these six months.

Guiding Su Zining's cultivation by day, and giving his all for the Family's multiplication plan by night.

Bai Lingxi was also hardworking, drinking various tonic soups and Spirit Medicines like water, with extremely high cooperation.

Even Gu Lingshuang, though she said 'don't disturb me while I'm nurturing the fetus,' would occasionally be pulled by Su Xuanchen to 'discuss' the path of Dual Cultivation.

Life was truly pleasant.

Besides that.

That Ninth Princess Ji Lanxi had also become a frequent guest of the Su Family.

This woman seemed to have taken a liking to Su Xuanchen.

Every few days, she would run to Tianyan City, under the pretext of 'inspecting the development of the Ancient Clan,' but in reality, she came to chat, spar, and even... flirt with Su Xuanchen.

She was like a proud Phoenix, constantly showing off her feathers in front of Su Xuanchen, trying to catch his attention.

But Su Xuanchen was as steady as an old dog.

He ate and drank as usual.

Facing Ji Lanxi's probes, he always met her with strength and refused with his bottom line.

There was ambiguity, but no crossing of lines.

This push-and-pull attitude instead made Ji Lanxi fall deeper, and the way she looked at him became increasingly unusual... Three months later.

Late autumn.

From within the Su Family palace, a suppressed sound of dry heaving could be heard.

Su Xuanchen was in the courtyard teasing the spirit cat Ji Lanxi had sent. Hearing the sound, his expression changed, and he instantly rushed into the room.

He saw Bai Lingxi leaning over the bedside, her face a bit pale, but her large eyes were sparkling with surprise.

"Husband..."

She looked up, her hand trembling as she touched her lower abdomen.

"I... I think I'm..."

Without a word, Su Xuanchen stepped forward and placed his finger on her wrist.

His Divine Sense probed in.

The next second.

A look of wild joy erupted on his face.

"You're pregnant!"

"You really are!"

Deep within her lower abdomen, a faint but life-filled little life was quietly being nurtured.

Although there were no world-shaking phenomena like with Gu Lingshuang, this was a genuine Su Family Bloodline!

"Excellent!"

Su Xuanchen picked up Bai Lingxi and spun her around several times.

"Lingxi, you've done a great service!"

"I must reward you heavily! Heavily!"

Bai Lingxi leaned into his arms, smiling like a flower.

Finally... she was finally pregnant with her husband's child.

She was no longer that invisible person who could only look at her sister's belly with envy.

The news spread.

The entire Su Family was in an uproar once again.

A double blessing!

The main mistress was carrying a peerless Prodigy, and the second mistress was also carrying a Saint Body Bloodline.

The future of the Su Family was simply limitless!

In the dead of night.

Su Xuanchen stood atop the Star-Plucking Tower, looking down at the brightly lit Tianyan City.

At this time, the Su Family.

With a Saint presiding and a crowd of Quasi-Saints.

Geniuses emerging in succession, and Luck like a dragon.

They were only one final step away from becoming a true Ancient Clan, or even the legendary Imperial Clan.

"Phew..."

Su Xuanchen exhaled a breath of turbid air and turned his gaze toward the distant north.

That was the direction of the Eternal Radiance Imperial Court.

And also where Ji Lanxi was.

"Ninth Princess..."

Su Xuanchen stroked his chin, a deep ambition flashing in his eyes.

These past six months of contact had given him a clear understanding of this 'Little Immortal Phoenix's' personality.

Proud and aloof, admires the strong, and extremely starved of love.

"It's about time."

"Enough bait has been scattered."

"Once this trip to the Demon Suppressing Abyss is over and my strength progresses further..."

A wicked smile curled on Su Xuanchen's lips.

He reached out and clenched his hand tightly against the void.

As if to grasp that bright moon hanging high in the sky, along with that proud Phoenix, in the palm of his hand.

"Ji Lanxi."

"You little Phoenix, sooner or later, you'll be mine."

"You can't escape."