148: Chapter 147 One After Another

Her voice remained cold, but her confidence was clearly lacking.

Xiao Ye spread his hands, smiling like a benevolent old fox: "Don't believe it? You can test it right now. Eat the Medicinal Pill first, and if the results are good, we can discuss terms. I, for one, am honest and fair."

Saintess Yu Keqing remained silent for a long time.

The mountain breeze blew through the sea of flowers, causing petals to flutter down onto her snow-white robes.

She bit her lip, her gaze shifting back and forth between the Medicinal Pill and the Secret Manual; the struggle in her heart was written all over her face.

Finally, she reached out and took the spirit ascension pill.

"How do I take it?" she asked, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of being overheard.

"Swallow them directly, all three at once." Xiao Ye crossed his arms, looking at her with a beaming smile.

Saintess Yu Keqing took a deep breath and popped the three spirit ascension pills into her mouth. As the Medicinal Pills entered her stomach, a warm wave of spiritual energy dispersed, flooding into her limbs and bones.

She closed her eyes to sense it for a moment, then suddenly snapped them open, her pupils filled with shock.

Her Spiritual Root had truly been upgraded.

She was now a Prodigy with a Mutated Spiritual Root.

In the world of Cultivation, there are many types of Geniuses.

(Genius, Prodigy, Prodigy, and then, Youth Supreme, Great Emperor Potential.)

"Believe me now?" Xiao Ye shoved the Jade Maiden Immortal Scripture into her arms. "Take the Secret Manual too and start practicing. Once you reach the first level and find it effective, come to the palace and find me."

Saintess Yu Keqing held the Secret Manual, her fingers trembling slightly. Her lips quivered for a long time before she finally managed to choke out a sentence: "What... what do you actually want?"

"Didn't I already say?" Xiao Ye put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head to look at her. "I want you."

Saintess Yu Keqing's face flushed red instantly, the heat spreading from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears.

Xiao Ye laughed heartily, turned around, and strode down the mountain without looking back: "In ten days, I will send a bridal sedan to pick you up. Cultivate well, and don't let me down."

Behind him, Saintess Yu Keqing stood in place, clutching the Secret Manual and holding the Medicinal Pill, watching that dashing departing figure as her mind turned into a chaotic mess.

She looked down at the items in her hands, then looked up at the sea of flowers rippling in the distance, murmuring to herself: "Did I... did I just agree to this?"

In the distance, Xiao Ye whistled, his footsteps as light as if he were treading on the wind. He took out his communication stone and sent a message to Li Fu: "Baihua Valley is done. Next."

Li Fu replied instantly: "Master is mighty! Where to next?"

Xiao Ye thought for a moment, the corners of his mouth curling up: "Taiyi Sect. That Wu Qingqing, she has long legs, I like her."

A-Diao was flying low nearby, chirped, and spat out a string of sparks, as if to say: Big Daddy, you don't even rest for a single day.

Xiao Ye patted its head and said with a beaming smile: "Rest? What's there to rest for? Three hundred and sixty-five of them; the road ahead is long and arduous."

Inside the Hundred Flowers Palace, Fairy Peony stood by the window, watching the figure gradually disappear in the distance, then looked at the bottle of spirit ascension pills in her hand and sighed: "This kid, I don't know what good stuff he gave Keqing. He doesn't even know to give me a share too; I could have children for you too!"

She turned and ordered the Disciple behind her: "Go, prepare a wedding dress for the Saintess. Red, it must be bright red."

The Disciple was stunned: "Valley Master, the Saintess hasn't agreed yet..."

"She will agree." Fairy Peony put away the jade bottle, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.

Three days later, Xiao Ye rode A-Diao and landed in front of the Taiyi Sect's mountain gate.

The Taiyi Sect was truly one of the six top powers of the East Sea; the mountain gate was towering and surrounded by spiritual mist, possessing a bit more dominance and sharpness than Baihua Valley. After announcing his arrival, he was led directly to the Immortal Cave of the Sixth Elder, Wu Yumei.

Wu Yumei was a middle-aged female cultivator who still retained her charm, dressed in a plain robe, with a hint of heroic spirit between her brows.

Ding! [Name: Wu Yumei. Cultivation: Body Integration Peak. Age: 556 years old. Aptitude: Heaven-Grade Medium Grade. Score: 81.]

Xiao Ye took out the customary greeting gift—five spirit ascension pills.

"Elder Wu, this is a small token of my sincerity. I have long admired your daughter, Wu Qingqing, and wish to take her as a concubine."

Wu Yumei stared at the five spirit ascension pills, her eyes glazed over. She had been stuck at the Peak of Body Integration for nearly two hundred years, and her Spiritual Root Aptitude had always been her weak point. With these spirit ascension pills, a Breakthrough to the Mahayana stage was just around the corner.

"Emperor Xiao is too kind." Wu Yumei cleared her throat, struggling to maintain her composure. "It is Qingqing's good fortune to be favored by Emperor Xiao. However..."

"However, what?"

"It's just that my daughter has a stubborn temperament; she must agree to it herself." Wu Yumei put away the Medicinal Pills and called out toward the depths of the Immortal Cave, "Qingqing, come out and meet our guest."

The gauze curtain was lifted, and a woman in a light blue dress walked out. Her features were exquisite, her eyes and brows cold and detached, and her long legs were straight and slender. As she walked, her skirt swayed, revealing glimpses of them. It was none other than Wu Qingqing.

Ding! High-quality beauty detected—

[Name: Wu Qingqing. Cultivation: Soul Transformation First Layer. Aptitude: Heaven-Grade High Grade. Age: 38 years old.]

"Greetings, Emperor Xiao." She bowed slightly, her voice cold, her attitude neither servile nor overbearing.

Xiao Ye looked her up and down, nodding inwardly—those legs were indeed long. He said with a beaming smile: "Miss Wu, I intend to take you as a concubine. Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, and resources for Cultivation—I have them all. If you agree, I will give you ten spirit ascension pills and a copy of the Jade Maiden Immortal Scripture, guaranteeing you a Breakthrough to Void Refinement within three years."

Wu Qingqing's eyes flickered, and she was about to speak—

"Wait!"

A cold and sharp voice came from outside the Immortal Cave. Immediately after, a young man dressed in golden robes strode in. He had a handsome face, sinister eyes, and was exuding the powerful aura of the Soul Transformation Perfection stage.

"Zhang Yangyao?" Wu Yumei frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard someone came to propose marriage, so naturally, I had to come and see." Zhang Yangyao's gaze swept over Xiao Ye, a cold sneer hanging on his lips. "Taiyi Sect Saint, son of the Sect Leader, Zhang Yangyao. Emperor Xiao, I have long admired you."

Xiao Ye leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, and looked at him with a beaming smile: "Mhm, long admired, long admired. Do you need something?"

Zhang Yangyao turned to Wu Qingqing, his gaze burning: "Qingqing, you have always known my feelings for you. Today, in front of Emperor Xiao, I will make it clear—I want to marry you!"

Wu Qingqing was expressionless: "I will not marry you."

Zhang Yangyao's expression stiffened, then he looked at Xiao Ye, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes: "Emperor Xiao, both of us have come to propose. Since Qingqing is hesitant, why don't we have a duel? Whoever wins gets to marry Qingqing. How about that?"

Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow, watching this guy spout nonsense with a straight face, even though she had clearly said she wouldn't marry him: "It's not good at all."

Zhang Yangyao was stunned: "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Xiao Ye laughed, his smile looking entirely benevolent. "Saint Zhang, you have misunderstood one thing—Wu Qingqing is not merchandise, and it's not up to you to make decisions for her just because you win. Whether she is willing or not, she decides for herself."

He turned to look at Wu Qingqing: "Miss Wu, are you willing to come with me?"

Wu Qingqing looked at Xiao Ye's beaming face, then looked at Zhang Yangyao's gloomy face. She was silent for a moment, then nodded gently: "I am willing."

Zhang Yangyao's face turned completely black.

"Xiao Ye!" he gritted his teeth, enunciating every word, "Unless you defeat me today, don't even think about taking her away!"

Xiao Ye sighed: "Fine, a duel is acceptable. But the stakes must be changed."

"Changed to what?"

Xiao Ye took a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and spun it on his fingertips: "Ten spirit ascension pills. If you win, the Medicinal Pills are yours. If I win—you become my underling."

Zhang Yangyao stared at the bottle of spirit ascension pills, a flash of greed in his eyes.

Lose? It was impossible for him to lose. These ten spirit ascension pills, he was determined to have them!

"Deal!"