46: Want to be the emperor's consort? First, show off your talent!
The entire Yingxian Island was deathly silent.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the seven-colored figure lying on the ground,
unconscious.
That was the Phoenix Goddess, Feng Ling'er!
The pearl of one of the three great imperial clans of the Primordial Divine Mountain,
a Heavens Proud Daughter, was she really made to vomit blood and faint by a few words from the Jiang Family Imperial Son?
Should one say she was too useless,
or that the Jiang Family Imperial Son was too eloquent?
The Phoenix Ancestor and the Elders of the Phoenix Clan all had ashen faces,
rushing over to frantically help Feng Ling'er up, checking her Qi and feeding her Medicinal Pills, looking utterly disheveled.
The Phoenix Ancestor's old face flushed red then turned pale.
He looked up at the young man on the throne, who appeared calm and composed,
his lips trembling for a long time, but ultimately, he didn't dare to utter a single word.
What else could he say?
They had brought this humiliation upon themselves!
Clearly, when they came to propose marriage, they were seeking the Saintess of the White Tiger God Race,
but they had mistakenly thought he came to marry their own Saintess,
and had privately insulted the Imperial Son as a good-for-nothing.
Now, well, he simply wasn't playing with them anymore.
They didn't even have the qualifications to sit at the table!
“Someone, escort the Phoenix Clan out.”
Jiang Zhan's authoritative voice rang out at the opportune moment, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable command.
Immediately, Jiang Family guards stepped forward, making a 'please' gesture towards the Phoenix Ancestor and the others.
“Elder Feng, please. Our Jiang Family has a small place and cannot offer proper hospitality, so we won't keep you any longer.”
These words were even more cutting than a direct slap to the face.
The Phoenix Ancestor's old face turned a deep purplish-red; he held the unconscious Feng Ling'er,
and under countless gazes of sympathy, mockery, and schadenfreude,
was ignominiously escorted out of Yingxian Island.
Watching their disheveled departure, all the Heavens Proud Daughters present felt a jolt in their hearts.
They finally realized profoundly
just how overbearing and difficult to provoke this smiling Jiang Family Imperial Son truly was.
If he tells you to scram, you must scram!
No matter if you are a Saintess or from a myriad race's imperial clan!
For a time, those Heavens Proud Daughters who were originally arrogant,
and thought they should maintain a certain posture even in an arranged marriage, all became obedient.
Comparing backgrounds?
How many of them could truly surpass Feng Ling'er?
If your identity and background don't exceed hers,
then just shut up!
Yan Linger, the Flame God Sect Saintess who had previously jumped out to accuse Jiang Yuan,
had an even paler face and quietly shrank back, fearing that Jiang Yuan would call her name next.
“Alright, the troublesome people are gone, let's continue.”
Jiang Yuan acted as if nothing had happened, returning to his throne,
picking up the spiritual tea handed to him by Xiao Cui nearby, and taking a light sip.
“Where were we just now? Oh, right, the test.”
His gaze swept across the entire hall, looking at the beautiful women below who were silent as cicadas in winter, feeling amused in his heart.
You little rascals, can't I control you?
“Actually, I'm a very easygoing person; I was just joking with you all earlier.”
Jiang Yuan's tone shifted, and that harmless smile reappeared on his face.
Everyone below collectively rolled their eyes.
Joking? You call infuriating the Phoenix Goddess to the point of vomiting blood and fainting a joke?
“My second test is even simpler.”
Jiang Yuan put down his teacup and clapped his hands.
“Since it's a Dao Discussion Platform, naturally, there should be discussions on the Dao.”
“However, all talk and no action is a sham; I prefer to see something practical.”
“How about this: one by one, you all come up and demonstrate your best skills to me.”
“It can be zither, Go, calligraphy, painting, or singing, dancing, swordplay, or even your insights into the Great Dao—anything is fine.”
“As long as you can make me find it interesting, you will pass the test.”
“Those who pass, come behind me.”
He pointed to the large empty space behind his throne.
“As for those who don't pass...”
He chuckled,
“Then I'm sorry, the Jiang Family's gate is over there, please take your leave.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.
After all that, this Dao Discussion Platform was actually a talent show?
To make these Saintesses and Goddesses perform their talents here like mortal courtesans and dancers, to please a man?
Many Heavens Proud Daughters showed expressions of humiliation and indignation on their faces.
But then they thought of Feng Ling'er's fate just now,
and then of the supreme temptation of ascending to heaven in one step and achieving a Saint Body,
their little bit of pride instantly suppressed.
Especially those Saintesses and Goddesses from top-tier forces... who neither had enough Quasi-Emperors nor Ultimate Imperial Weapons to guard them,
and unlike non-top-tier forces who were busy with survival every day,
being stuck in the middle was quite uncomfortable!
Therefore, many Heavens Proud Daughters from top-tier forces had been given strict orders before coming!
To win over Jiang Yuan, Imperial Son Jiang, at all costs!
Even if it meant sacrificing their dignity!
So... perform talents, then!
It's better than being publicly driven out!
Besides, for those who cultivate the Dao,
which of their cultivated arts like zither, Go, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, or swordplay doesn't contain the ultimate principles of the Dao?
This itself is a form of Dao discussion!
Thinking this way, everyone's hearts immediately felt much more at ease.
“Alright, who wants to go first?”
Jiang Yuan asked lazily.
The entire hall was silent.
Although they had all accepted it in their hearts, no one wanted to be the first to step forward.
Just as the atmosphere became a bit awkward,
a figure as clear and cold as an immortal slowly rose from a lotus throne.
It was the Jade Pool Saintess, Qin Mengyao!
She wore a white dress, untainted by the mortal world,
and no emotional fluctuations could be seen on her exquisite face.
She stood there quietly, like a snow lotus blooming above the Nine Heavens, noble and sacred.
“This humble one, Qin Mengyao, wishes to offer a song to Your Highness, the Imperial Son.”
Her voice, like a heavenly melody, clear, cold, and pleasant to the ear, instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up.
Oh?
The 96-point Jade Pool Saintess was the first to step forward?
What courage!
I like it!
“Alright.”
Jiang Yuan looked at her with interest,
“Then, Your Highness Saintess, please begin your performance.”
He wanted to see what kind of surprise this Saintess, who possessed the Innate Dao Embryo, could bring him.
Qin Mengyao bowed slightly to Jiang Yuan,
then walked to the center of the Dao Discussion Platform.
She didn't take out a zither or any musical instrument,
but simply sat down cross-legged, closing her eyes.
Just as everyone wondered what she was going to perform,
she parted her crimson lips, and an ethereal, distant,
song, as if from ancient times, slowly emanated from her mouth.
The song had no lyrics, only segments of profound syllables.
But the moment this song sounded, the entire Yingxian Island, and even the entire Jiang Family territory, suddenly fell silent!
The wind stopped, the clouds halted, and even time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Immediately after, an incredible scene unfolded!
With Qin Mengyao's singing, above the Dao Discussion Platform,
mysterious golden runes, condensed from the Laws of the Great Dao, actually began to appear!
These runes slowly rotated around Qin Mengyao, emitting a vast and sacred aura.
Heavenly flowers rained down, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth!
Streaks of immortal light descended from the sky, and golden lotuses emerged from the ground!
The Heavens Proud Daughters present,
as well as the Dominators of various major forces watching from afar through the heaven-connecting mirror,
all felt their Divine Souls being cleansed and purified at this moment!
They seemed to witness the birth of the Universe, the creation of all things, the evolution of the Dao, and the succession of Laws!
“This... this is... Dao Sound! Dao Sound resonating with heaven and earth!”
Inside the Jiang Family Deliberation Hall, a Clan Elder who had lived for over a hundred thousand years exclaimed in shock, suddenly standing up from his seat, his face filled with unconcealed awe!
“Innate Dao Embryo! This is the true Innate Dao Embryo! Naturally attuned to the Great Dao, every word and action can stir the Laws of heaven and earth!”
Jiang Zhan was also very satisfied,
“Yuaner has truly found a treasure this time.”