117: male body

The Human Race fell silent, the atmosphere freezing.

Only the waves surged and the dark winds howled.

Everyone was still immersed in the shocking act of the youth skinning and de-sinewing the Pure-blooded Dragon Clan Member, unable to recover for a long time.

"Good, very good!"

Su Jing's raspy voice broke the silence. The veins on her forehead throbbed, looking as if they might burst at any moment: "This Prefect Su truly didn't expect that you could actually kill that Pure-blooded Dragon Clan Member. Your current strength is probably not much inferior to your mother's, is it?"

Her gaze landed on Su Quan's resolute face. For the first time, she felt her child was so strange—so strange that she even felt a sliver of fear.

Favoring females over males, she had never truly valued this son.

She had always believed that with the Laws of heaven and earth and the boundless Great Dao, male Cultivators, no matter how hard they worked, could never catch up to the world's most gifted women.

Of course, this was indeed the case.

Those who stood out in previous Ascension Assemblies were, without exception, female Cultivators.

Even if a male Cultivator occasionally achieved decent results, they were often looked down upon and ignored during the final apprenticeship ceremony.

Therefore, she had never devoted herself to cultivating this son of hers; he had been raised with a hands-off approach since childhood.

Yet, he who grew up neglected had, in just twenty short years, almost reached the very peak of the Mountain Sea Realm. It was simply shocking.

"Your daughter has been dull-witted since childhood with poor skeletal roots. How can I compare to Mother!"

Su Quan's voice was very soft, but he didn't expect it to completely ignite Su Jing's fury.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. A terrifying vortex of Origin Qi condensed above the woman's head. Her overbearing Aura pressured all living beings, making many Cultivators tremble with fear.

"Is this Prefect Su's strength?"

"So terrifying. As expected of the strongest expert of our Human Race!"

"She could probably rival that Black Dragon King who emerged from the Fourth Sea Area a hundred years ago."

"Alas, Eldest Miss Su's situation today is likely going to be troublesome..."

The spectating Human Race Cultivators whispered among themselves.

On one hand, they marveled at Su Jing's terrifying strength; on the other, they felt regret for Su Quan's predicament.

To be fair, seeing the demise of the Pure-blooded Dragon Clan Member who had plagued the world, every Cultivator in the world felt a deep-seated satisfaction originating from their Bloodline.

The racial hatred that had lasted for hundreds of millions of years was vented at this moment.

They wanted to applaud Su Quan's feat, but they also had to worry about the trouble that would follow this satisfaction—it would likely be a catastrophe affecting all of humanity.

This heavy pressure of death made it hard for everyone to breathe.

"You still know I'm your mother? Do you even respect me as your mother? When I told you to stop earlier, why didn't you?" Su Jing asked repeatedly.

Su Quan remained silent.

Su Jing spoke again, her voice like rolling heavenly thunder: "Do you think your wings have grown strong? Do you think you're so capable now?"

"Yes, you are very impressive. Slaying a Pure-blooded Dragon Clan Member is a feat that has never occurred in the history of the Mountain Sea Realm. You've certainly stolen the spotlight today!"

"But if you truly think you are a heroine saving all living beings, the savior of the Human Race in the Mountain Sea Realm, a dragon-slaying warrior who will be praised for eternity, then this Prefect can tell you right now!"

"You are nothing!"

"You are just a coward who cares only for small gains and ignores the big picture, a petty woman acting on impulse!"

"Because of your momentary satisfaction, the entire Mountain Sea Realm and hundreds of millions of the Human Race will be plunged into a deadly situation. War between the Human Race and the Dragon Clan will break out again, and countless families will be torn apart because of you!"

"Not only will you not be praised, but you will instead draw the spurn and curses of the Human Race for generations to come!"

Su Jing's words were like thunder. She wasn't just scolding; she was also channeling Origin Qi, shifting the momentum of heaven and earth to press down majestically toward the youth.

However, in the face of this momentum that could make heaven, earth, ghosts, and gods change color...

Su Quan's spine stood as straight as a peerless divine spear. He exuded a sharp Spear Intent that seemed to see through everything. He refused to lower his head even slightly, his eyes bright as he met the woman's gaze.

His Dao Heart was as solid as iron and would not waver in the slightest because of a few simple words from the woman.

"This child is truly terrifying!"

Su Jing's beautiful eyes flickered.

No matter how much she disliked this son of hers in the past, she couldn't help but secretly praise him in her heart now.

If she had carefully nurtured Su Quan when he was young, perhaps his achievements today would be even higher. By then, he might truly have had hope of showing his brilliance at the Ascension Assembly and helping her return to the Immortal Domain.

Even with her Heart-Nature, she couldn't help but feel a hint of regret.

But she immediately extinguished such improper thoughts. Her gaze became increasingly cold, as if she were not looking at her son but judging a criminal.

"I struck with my spear not for some momentary satisfaction, but simply followed my heart. As for the consequences, I will naturally take full responsibility and will not involve any of you!" Su Quan said indifferently.

But it was precisely this indifferent attitude that further enraged Su Jing.

She laughed out of extreme anger: "You'll take responsibility? Can you afford to?"

"Then tell me, what should be done today?" Su Quan asked with a frown.

"You have caused a catastrophe today, so naturally, there is a price to pay!" Su Jing's tone was aggressive, gradually revealing her purpose: "You cannot bear the fate of the Human Race in the Mountain Sea Realm, and neither can this Prefect Su, but there is someone who can!"

"You mean..."

Su Quan followed her lead.

"Indeed, that person is Princess Cao, born into an Immortal King's family in the Immortal Domain!"

Su Jing nodded vigorously. When the words "Immortal King" left her mouth, a radiance appeared on her face as if she shared in the glory.

"As long as you are willing to marry Princess Cao and serve her wholeheartedly, I believe that with Princess Cao's influence, she will surely resolve this grudge with the Dragon Clan with a wave of her hand."

Her intention was clear: to force Su Quan to willingly marry Cao Ying.

As for whether Cao Ying was willing to step forward to resolve the grudge between the Human Race and the Dragon Clan, she didn't care. Once she returned to the Immortal Domain, why would she care if the Mountain Sea Realm was flooded?

As soon as these words were spoken, they caused an uproar among the many Cultivators.

Marry... Princess Cao?

Their gazes fell upon Su Quan's world-toppling, peerless face. Someone speculated: "Is this Princess Cao from the Immortal Domain a lesbian?"

"Forget about this Princess Cao; with Eldest Miss Su's looks, even a seasoned one like me can't help but want to get close!"

Just then, a sharp-minded person spoke up.

"Do you think it's possible our Eldest Miss Su has been a man all along?"

"Are you joking? Eldest Miss Su just killed a Pure-blooded Dragon Clan Member with her own hands. Such talent ranks at the top even among the Heavenly Prodigies in the history of the Mountain Sea Realm. How could she be a man?"

This was the common inertia of thought in a female-dominated world; the idea that women are stronger than men was deeply ingrained in everyone's instinct.

"Um, actually, I've felt for a long time that Eldest Miss Su looks a bit like a man."

"I have the same opinion. I have practiced the Yin and Yang Acacia Heart Sutra since childhood and am a woman of extreme Yin who is only interested in men. But when I saw Eldest Miss Su, I couldn't suppress the desire in my heart. Originally, I thought I had been turned gay, but if Eldest Miss Su is a man, then it's easy to explain!"

"Look at Eldest Miss Su's little mouth, those phoenix eyes, and that straight back. I used to think she was a bit effeminate, but now it seems she's a peerless handsome man!"

One word stirred up a thousand waves, and countless gazes fell upon Su Quan.

The corners of Su Jing's lips curled up slightly. Today, she intended to use the public opinion of the world to make her stubborn son compromise.

Mother and son were of one mind.

How could Su Quan not see through Su Jing's thoughts?

However, he let out an indifferent chuckle, then reached out to untie his skyward braids, letting his black hair fall over his shoulders.

Holding a long spear, stepping on wind fire wheels, and wrapped in the sky-mixing sash, his heroic spirit burst forth from between his brows.

The Young Master's jade-like face was matchless, and his elegance could be called peerless.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he performed a brilliant spear flower and asked calmly: "This child will say it once more before the people of the world: I already have someone in my heart."

"As for the Mother-Father's match-making, I'm afraid I cannot agree!"