111: Chapter 111 Voluntary surrender, adding another bride

The Yao Beast tide had retreated.

After the highest-ranking Iron-Armored Earth Dragon was incinerated into ash by a single palm strike from Gu Yan, in a manner that could be described as world-destroying.

The morale of the entire Yao Beast army completely collapsed.

They no longer had organization or formation, and like the receding tide, they tucked their tails, let out terrified whimpers, and fled frantically into the depths of the Luoxia Mountain Range.

On the city walls, the Cultivators who had survived the disaster, after a brief moment of deathly silence, erupted into earth-shattering and deafening cheers!

"We won! We won!"

"We held it! Baifeng City held!"

"Patriarch Gu's Divine Might! Patriarch Gu is invincible!"

Countless gazes, filled with awe, worship, and even fanaticism, converged upon the man in green robes standing with his hands behind his back at the peak of the city wall, his sleeves fluttering as if he were a Heavenly God descended to earth.

After this battle, the name of Gu Yan and that palm strike of his, which seemed capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas, were destined to become a legend that would circulate throughout Baifeng City for a hundred years!

...

Three days later, at the City Lord's Mansion.

A grand victory banquet was held.

As the person with the greatest merit in the city defense battle, Gu Yan was deservedly placed in the seat of honor beside the City Lord.

During the banquet, all the prominent figures of Baifeng City took turns coming forward to toast him.

Their words were filled with undisguised flattery and sycophancy.

Even the Chen Family Ancestor, who had previously been at odds with him, had no choice but to hold his wine glass and squeeze out a smile that looked worse than crying, coming forward to "apologize".

Gu Yan handled it all with ease.

He knew that from this day on, in this Baifeng City, no one would dare to easily provoke the majesty of the Gu Family again.

After the banquet ended, Gu Yan politely declined the City Lord's Mansion's invitation to stay overnight and returned to Gu Garden alone.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, Steward Gu Zhong immediately came up to greet him, reporting with a somewhat strange expression: "Old Ancestor, the Loose Cultivator Zhao Feiyan, Fairy Zhao, has been waiting for you in the reception hall for a long time."

Zhao Feiyan?

In Gu Yan's mind, the image of that purple-clad figure from the city wall, who had cast amorous glances at him with such charm, surfaced.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and in his heart, he had already guessed some of the other party's intentions.

"Let her wait a little longer." He gave a light instruction, then went straight back to his room to visit his wife and children.

...

Inside the reception hall.

Zhao Feiyan sat upright in the guest chair, holding a cup of spiritual tea that had long since gone cold, her heart in turmoil.

She was here today to gamble.

To gamble with all her wealth, her future, and even... her freedom.

She did not know whether this "initiative" of hers would become a pleasant surprise or... a trouble in the eyes of that unfathomable Patriarch Gu.

Time passed slowly in this agonizing wait.

Until, outside the door, the unhurried sound of footsteps finally arrived.

Zhao Feiyan's heart jumped into her throat!

She hurriedly stood up, straightened her appearance, and toward the direction of the door, revealed a smile that she considered to be the most charming and captivating.

Gu Yan walked in slowly.

He had already changed out of the ornate robes he wore to the banquet, wearing only a simple cyan casual robe, but that aura of a powerful expert, steady as an abyss and towering as a mountain, had only increased.

"I have kept Fellow Daoist Zhao waiting for a long time." He spoke indifferently.

"I dare not, I dare not." Zhao Feiyan hurriedly bowed, "It is this humble woman who has presumptuously disturbed you."

Gu Yan sat down in the main seat, without saying another word of nonsense, just using a calm gaze that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, he looked at her and asked straightforwardly: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you have visited late at night, I wonder... what is the reason?"

Hearing this, Zhao Feiyan's heart tightened.

She knew that in front of such a person, any beating around the bush or playing hard to get would only be... self-humiliation.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all her nervousness and unease.

She raised her head, meeting Gu Yan's deep gaze, her face devoid of any girlish shyness or sycophancy.

Replacing it was a kind of solemnity and calmness, similar to a general surrendering and handing over a "letter of allegiance"!

"Patriarch Gu, I have come today, not for anything else."

"Only to seek... a future."

Her voice was crisp and full of power.

"This humble woman, Zhao Feiyan, is a Loose Cultivator, with no sect, no clan, and no roots. In this world of Cultivation where the strong prey on the weak, I have struggled bitterly for nearly a hundred years, only to luckily reach the current Realm of the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection."

"The hardships and dangers involved are not something I can tell outsiders."

"The day before yesterday, on the city walls, I was fortunate enough to witness Patriarch's supreme Divine Might that seemed to burn the heavens and boil the seas, as well as... the unfathomable and profound heritage of the Gu Family. Feiyan's heart yearns for it."

"Therefore..."

She slowly and solemnly bowed to Gu Yan, putting her posture at the lowest.

"This humble woman does not ask for status, does not ask for favor, and does not even covet any vows of eternal love."

"I only wish... to enter the Gu Family's gates and become your concubine."

"What I seek is just a... Cultivation environment where I can safely and steadily Impact the Foundation Establishment Bottleneck."

"And, every month, a portion of resources sufficient to support my Cultivation."

"In return..."

Her eyes erupted with astonishing brilliance!

"I, Zhao Feiyan, am willing to swear a Heart Demon Oath! For the rest of my life, I will go through fire and water for the Gu Family, and I will not refuse!"

"Whether it is guarding the house, or... expanding the territory for the Family and fighting with others!"

"My life, from now on, belongs to... the Gu Family!"

These words were spoken with absolute certainty!

Extremely frank!

And extremely realistic!

This was no longer a simple act of throwing herself into his arms.

But a... business negotiation, gambling everything she had!

[Host! Stop pretending! You're almost drooling!]

In his mind, the System's voice, filled with disdain, was ranting crazily.

[This delivered KPI, just click to receive! And it's a top-tier fighter at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refinement Stage! What are you still pretending to be profound for?]

[Hurry up! Follow the procedure! Hold the ceremony! Do it quickly! I'm still waiting to settle the rewards and unlock new functions for you!]

Gu Yan was indeed quite appreciative.

He liked smart women.

He liked women like Zhao Feiyan even more—smart, realistic, and decisive.

He knew that in the cruel world of Cultivation, this was the most realistic portrayal of most bottom-level Cultivators.

A good bird chooses a tree to perch on.

There is nothing shameful about that.

Moreover, he really had no reason to refuse.

An immediate combat fighter at the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage Great Perfection.

A System KPI that was within easy reach.

And... a charming, stunning beauty with great development value.

Why not?

He looked at the woman in front of him, who was waiting for his verdict with a calm, unwavering gaze.

Finally, he slowly nodded.

"Good."

"My Gu Family welcomes your joining."

Hearing this word "Good".

Zhao Feiyan's tense body suddenly relaxed.

A huge, ecstatic joy of having won the gamble instantly surged into her heart!

She knew that the most important gamble of her life...

She had won!

She could no longer suppress the excitement in her heart and bowed deeply to Gu Yan.

"Feiyan..."

"Pays respects to... Husband!"