372: Chapter 372 Ambiguous Winning Over

She lowered her voice, using a volume only the two of them could hear, and transmitted softly: "Just now on the arena, Big Sister underestimated you. It was Big Sister's fault."

Soft, sweet breath brushed against his ear, warm and tantalizing.

Lin Yun's heart wavered slightly, but he remained steadfast, opening his mouth calmly: "Winners are kings and losers are bandits; the outcome is decided."

"The outcome?" King Xuanyin shook her head gently, her eyes shifting with endless charm, "In the eyes of others, it is an outcome. In my eyes, it is breathtaking."

"Ai Wei reached the Seventh Realm in her nineties; she is already a rare Genius of our Tianlang Empire in a century."

"But you, a mere forty-eight years old, are able to suppress a Seventh Realm expert while in the Sixth Realm, breaking the World Projection and remaining immune to the Heavenly Spirit illusions."

She lifted her gaze slightly, looking straight into Lin Yun's eyes, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness mixed with deliberate, languid flirtation: "Little brother, staying in the Lingyuan Empire is a waste of your talent."

Finally, she revealed her true purpose—to recruit him in public.

The breath of countless people in the arena hitched; they instantly understood the subtext of her words.

King Xuanyin wanted to poach someone!

Facing the defeat, she didn't care about winning or losing at all. Instead, she immediately set her sights on the opponent's peerless Genius, wanting to bring Lin Yun under the Tianlang Empire's banner.

King Xuanyin continued to entice him softly, her tone so gentle it made people fall into a trance: "Come to our Tianlang Empire, and I can give you the highest specifications of resources, the top-tier Cultivation Technique, and the Opportunities of the entire Star Domain for you to use as you please."

"And…"

She changed the subject, a tantalizing smile curling at the corners of her lips, her eyes shifting with ambiguity: "Big Sister can personally guide your cultivation, accompany you day and night, and provide close-contact guidance. How about it?"

This mention of "close-contact guidance" was spoken so softly and sweetly, revealing all her charm, that it made countless people's hearts tremble.

Everyone understood that given King Xuanyin's beauty, temperament, and status, this promise carried ultimate weight and ultimate temptation.

The members of the Tianlang Delegation looked up, their faces full of astonishment, not expecting their own King Xuanyin to go to such lengths just to recruit a young man.

The faces of King Blood Axe and the other two darkened; this woman was truly unscrupulous!

Looking at the peerless beauty within arm's reach, Lin Yun's eyes remained clear; he was not swayed by resources or beauty.

Instead, he chuckled, bringing up his previous teasing remark again, and took the Opportunity to flirt back: "The highest resources and close-contact guidance are indeed tempting."

"But I have said it before, unless Big Sister is willing to marry me as your wife, I am not going anywhere."

Once these words were spoken, the whole arena was in an uproar!

Everyone was stunned; who would dare to be so bold? Daring to flirt in public with the incomparably charming King Xuanyin!

Even Ai Wei, who was watching nervously, was filled with disbelief.

King Xuanyin was also slightly taken aback, but instead of being angry, her smile deepened, and a trace of playfulness and interest flashed in her eyes.

She had lived for countless years, possessing countless Soul servants. Countless prodigies and powerhouses would bow in submission and dare not look her in the eye when they saw her. This was the first time someone had dared to be so bold repeatedly, publicly asking to marry her. Interesting, truly too interesting.

She leaned in slightly, almost touching Lin Yun's ear, whispering in a charming, sultry voice, her hot breath teasing him: "Little brother, you are very bold. Want to marry me? That will require a heavy price, oh."

The ambiguous atmosphere instantly reached its peak. The two faced each other at close range, their auras intertwined, their figures reflecting off each other. It made the entire audience's heart rates accelerate; they held their breath.

Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly sticky and ambiguous, a cold, fairy-like voice sounded, timely interrupting this tug-of-war.

Fairy Suxin stepped through the air, her white clothes whiter than snow, her cold aura spreading out, instantly dispersing the lingering, charming atmosphere of the arena.

Her clear, indifferent gaze fell upon King Xuanyin, and she spoke calmly: "The tournament is over. Little Sister Xuanyin, do not delay the proceedings."

King Xuanyin heard this and withdrew with regret, straightening her posture. She looked deeply at Lin Yun, her eyes filled with a look of determination to have him.

She sent a voice transmission, leaving one sentence: "I will stay in Lingyuan City for a few more days after the tournament. Little brother, we still have plenty of time; let's chat slowly."

The highly anticipated tournament came to a complete end. Staff members quickly went up to the stage to clean the arena, preparing for the subsequent awards ceremony and the banquet between the two empires.

At the end of the Tianlang Delegation, Ai Wei was completely wilted. Today's battle was a devastating blow to her.

She was originally the only Seventh Realm Prodigy participating in the ten-thousand-year tournament, her talent looking down on her peers. She had crushed nine people along the way, only one step away from becoming a legend. As a result, she was forcefully reversed-swept by a forty-eight-year-old Sixth Realm youth, grinding all her pride, confidence, and glory into dust.

The louder the cheers of the audience were, the more embarrassed she felt in her heart. Countless gazes fell upon her, some sympathetic, some mocking, some sighing. Every gaze made her cheeks burn and her heart feel sour and stifled; she was almost unable to hold back her tears.

King Xuanyin walked back to the delegation. Changing from the ambiguous teasing she had shown Lin Yun just moments ago, her expression softened slightly, and she raised her hand to gently rub Ai Wei's head.

A soft power enveloped Ai Wei's restless and stifled Divine Soul, and she soothed her softly: "Silly girl, don't be so dejected."

Ai Wei's nose tingled, her eyes reddening: "Revered Master, I lost so thoroughly… I was clearly already at the Seventh Realm, yet I didn't beat a Sixth Realm."

She had cultivated for nearly a hundred years, taking Heaven-Defying steps at every turn, and had never experienced such a setback. She even began to doubt if her Heavenly Spirit Body talent was just an empty name.

King Xuanyin gently smoothed her messy hair and patiently guided her in a low voice: "It is not that you are weak, but that Lin Yun is too abnormal."

"His Soul strength, perception of the Space Element, and the foundation of his Physical Body completely transcend the martial arts principles of the Sixth Realm. Losing today is not a failure of your combat ability."

A trace of unfathomable brilliance flashed in her eyes, and her tone was meaningful: "This person is a variable, a Prodigy, not an opponent on your normal path of cultivation."

"Suffering a loss today can be considered a lesson."

"Go back, calm your mind, consolidate your Realm, and step steadily into the Eighth Realm. When you look back in the future, this small defeat today will not be worth mentioning."

Hearing her Revered Master's comfort, Ai Wei's tense heartstrings relaxed slightly, and most of her stifled emotions dissipated. However, in those beautiful cat-like eyes, the figure of Lin Yun was already firmly etched. There was unwillingness, there was defiance, and even more so, an extreme obsession.

She secretly swore that in the future, she would cultivate hard to catch up and must win it back with her own hands.

King Xuanyin looked at her disciple's stubborn appearance, understood in her heart, and said no more, only hiding calculations in her eyes that no one noticed.

A peerless Prodigy like Lin Yun must either be subdued or kept in check; he must never be allowed to fully grow up.

In the evening, the grand banquet of the Lingyuan Empire palace began as scheduled. It was to celebrate the great victory of the Friendship Tournament and to host the visiting Tianlang Delegation.

The palace banquet was set, brightly lit, with magnificent buildings shimmering in colorful light. Delicacies and fine wines were arrayed throughout the hall. Civil and military officials, royal nobles, and participating geniuses were all in attendance.

The Lingyuan side was full of high spirits, their brows filled with the exhilaration of finally exhaling. The stifled feeling of being suppressed by the Tianlang Empire for ten thousand years had been completely washed away in today's battle, and Lin Yun, who created the miracle, was naturally the most dazzling core of the entire venue.

Countless nobles and geniuses took the initiative to come forward to offer toasts, congratulate him, and chat, their attitudes extremely respectful.

Conversely, the members of the Tianlang Delegation were silent throughout, the atmosphere oppressive, sitting silently in their seats, becoming mere foils for the entire time.

Halfway through the banquet, everyone was tipsy, and the atmosphere was harmonious. A charming figure in a purple dress rose again, quietly left her seat, passed through the crowd, and headed straight for Lin Yun, who was standing alone on the corridor outside the hall to get some air.

King Xuanyin avoided everyone's gaze and sought him out alone.