150: Chapter 149 Zhang Yangyao: Dad! The way you're doing this makes me look stupid.

Xiao Ye cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing: "That is correct. Sect Leader Zhang, everything your son said was twisting the truth. The facts are—"

"I know." Sect Leader Zhang waved his hand, interrupting him. His tone was as flat as if he were commenting on the weather: "I know exactly what kind of character my son has."

Zhang Yangyao was stunned: "Father?"

"Shut up." Sect Leader Zhang glanced at him, and Zhang Yangyao immediately shrank his neck, not daring to make another sound.

Sect Leader Zhang looked back at Xiao Ye, his gaze filled with a bit more scrutiny: "Xiao Ye, I have heard of your deeds. A Nascent Soul killing a Soul Transformation, taking down nine Saints of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace single-handedly, even the Tianji Holy Land looks at you differently. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved."

Xiao Ye breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but his Face remained impassive: "Sect Leader Zhang is too kind."

"However—" Sect Leader Zhang's tone shifted: "You slapped my son's Face in front of the Taiyi Sect. As his father, I must show some response."

Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes: "How does Sect Leader Zhang wish to respond?"

Sect Leader Zhang looked at Saintess Wu Qingqing and Xiao Ye, who were standing in the distance watching the show hand-in-hand, then looked at his own good-for-nothing son. He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Simple. My son lost, and he is a man of his word; it is only right that he calls you Big Brother."

Zhang Yangyao: ?????? No, Father, I called you here to back me up, not to tear down my stage! The way you are doing this makes me look so stupid!

Sect Leader Zhang looked at Zhang Yangyao: "Call him."

Zhang Yangyao's Face turned beet red, his lips trembling for a long time, before he squeezed two words through his teeth: "...Big Brother."

Xiao Ye nodded with a smile: "Mm, good boy."

Zhang Yangyao almost coughed up blood.

Sect Leader Zhang spoke again: "However, I heard that you, Xiao Ye, possess spirit ascension pills and can refine perfect-quality Soul Transformation Stage Pill."

He glanced at Saintess Wu Qingqing, then back at Xiao Ye, and smiled meaningfully: "If you are to marry a Saintess of my Taiyi Sect, you must show some sincerity, right? Ten spirit ascension pills, plus ten perfect Soul Transformation Stage Pill, in exchange for one Saintess Wu Qingqing. What do you think?"

Xiao Ye cursed the old fox in his heart, but his Face beamed with a bright smile: "Deal. However—"

"However what?"

"I will take Saintess Wu Qingqing, and I will provide the pills. But your son, as my subordinate, must obey my orders from now on. Don't worry, I won't send him to his death; he will just be running errands and doing odd jobs."

Sect Leader Zhang looked at his son, then at Xiao Ye, his mouth twitching, before finally nodding: "Fine."

Zhang Yangyao's Face turned green: "Father?!"

"Shut up, go back and Cultivate." Sect Leader Zhang waved his hand, tearing through space, and walked in while grabbing Zhang Yangyao by the collar.

Before leaving, he looked back at Xiao Ye with a tone of warning: "Young Friend Xiao, you must ensure the quality control of the pills; do not try to cheat."

Xiao Ye cupped his hands: "Rest assured, I am a man of my word."

The spatial rift closed, and the sky returned to calm.

On the training grounds, the observing Disciples looked at each other, unable to snap out of it for a long time.

This plot twist was too fast—not only did the Sect Leader not take action, but he also allied with Emperor Xiao? And he even threw in the Saint to be a subordinate?

Saintess Wu Qingqing walked to Xiao Ye's side, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly as she whispered: "Emperor Xiao, you even managed to handle the Sect Leader?"

Xiao Ye put his hands in his pockets and smiled nonchalantly: "A small matter. Your Sect Leader is just sensible; he knows there is no benefit in opposing me."

Saintess Wu Qingqing rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that if it weren't for the Peak Mahayana battle soul standing behind you, the Sect Leader would have slapped you to death long ago.

Despite her internal complaints, seeing Xiao Ye being so fierce, she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

In the distance, Li Fu came running over, holding a small notebook: "Master, one is done. Where to next? There are over thirty more on the list."

Thinking about having to go to the Great Wilderness Sect to propose marriage, Xiao Ye counted the time on his fingers—he had agreed to pick up Saintess Yu Keqing in ten days, and now only seven days remained. The round trip would take three days, so how could he have time to find the next one?

"Forget it, don't bite off more than you can chew. Let's get these two into the palace first." Xiao Ye dusted off his robes and vaulted onto the eagle: "Let's go, back to prepare."

Seven days later, Great Qian Imperial Palace.

Seven giant Airships were parked neatly above the Imperial City, their hulls draped in red and decorated, banners fluttering, so festive it seemed as if they would dye the sky red.

Xiao Ye was dressed in a bright red wedding robe, riding Little Qilin, stepping on auspicious clouds, standing at the very front of the procession, full of spirit.

Little Qilin was also dressed up gaudily today, with a big red bow tied around its neck, looking utterly dejected.

This was the first time Xiao Ye had personally welcomed a bride since becoming Emperor—not because he was lazy, but because the previous concubines had either delivered themselves to his door, were spoils of war, or were political marriages, so there was no need for such a grand display.

But Baihua Valley was different; she was a Saintess of a top-tier power in the East Sea, so the proper Face had to be given.

"Hiss—Emperor Xiao is going to pick up whom? So grand?" The Cultivators in the Imperial City looked up one after another, watching the vast and mighty wedding procession in the sky, clicking their tongues in wonder.

"I heard he is going to pick up Saintess Yu Keqing of the Baihua Valley to enter the palace as a concubine."

"So it's the Baihua Valley, no wonder the display is so big. That is a Saintess of a top-tier power in the East Sea; Emperor Xiao must have paid a heavy price to marry her."

"Indeed, I heard that for this marriage, Emperor Xiao gave a Mahayana Pill!"

"What Mahayana Pill? It's spirit ascension pill! It can upgrade the Spiritual Root grade! He sent ten at once!"

"Holy crap, ten? Is Emperor Xiao that rich?"

The discussions rose and fell, with envy, jealousy, and bitterness all present.

Xiao Ye ignored it all, riding Little Qilin at the very front of the procession, his back straight, a perfect smile on his lips, his entire being exuding the words "Life Winner."

A-Diao followed behind him, tilting its head to look at Little Qilin, which was tied up like a dumpling with red silk, let out a "chee," and spat out a stream of sparks.

The meaning was clear: Big Daddy, are you being biased? Why does the Qilin have a bow and I don't?

Xiao Ye didn't even turn his head: "Your neck is too short; it wouldn't look good."

A-Diao was so angry it spat out another stream of sparks, nearly setting the flag next to it on fire.

Li Fu followed behind, holding a thick gift list, beaming with smiles, already calculating how much profit he could make from this trip.

Seven Airships slowly started up and sailed toward the Baihua Valley.

Xiao Ye rode Little Qilin, stepping on auspicious clouds, his robes fluttering as he traveled against the wind.

He took a deep breath, smelling the floral scent permeating the air, and his mouth slowly widened into a grin.

Three hundred and sixty-five—although it was still far off, at least the deliveries had begun.