197: Fairy, face your true self; I, the Emperor, disagree.

Qin Wudi clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, bleeding unnoticed.

His face revealed an expectation that was close to madness!

He stared at his Revered Master, anticipating her furious outburst, anticipating her order to escort Mu Bingyun back to the Sacred Sect and imprison her in the Ice Palace!

However!

When the Butian Sect Master heard the name Qin Wushang, she paused slightly, and then, a faint smile slowly bloomed on her mature and beautiful face.

Within that smile, there was surprise, realization, contemplation, and finally, a hint of satisfaction.

Yes, satisfaction!

Qin Wudi's pupils contracted sharply. The illusory shadows of the sun and moon within his Supreme Double Pupils trembled violently. He suspected that his jealousy and rage were causing hallucinations.

Revered Master smiled?

And even showed a satisfied expression?

How is this possible!

Shouldn't she be furious?

Shouldn't she immediately enforce the sect rules?

“Qin Wushang...”

The Butian Sect Master softly repeated the name, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening.

“So it was him.”

She nodded.

“Bingyun, you have done well.”

She took a step forward, extended her delicate jade hand, and gently pinched Mu Bingyun's cold, smooth cheek. The gesture was intimate, completely unlike her usual solemn demeanor.

“You girl, you've finally wised up.”

“I thought you were truly going to spend your whole life with the Ice Heart Art, becoming an emotionless, desireless block of ice.”

Her tone teasing, she continued: “Very good. I have heard of that child, Qin Wushang. Supreme Double Pupils, placing importance on his own body—he is a promising talent.”

“Since you have feelings for him, why didn't you bring him earlier for me to see? Are you afraid I would disagree and break up the loving couple?”

The Butian Sect Master looked smilingly at her Disciple, her eyes full of 'I understand' teasing.

“You can rest assured. As long as you truly love him, and his character and talent are acceptable, I am not some rigid, pedantic person; I would certainly not make things difficult for him.”

“My Heaven Mending Sacred Sect is not that heartless.”

Silence.

A deathly silence.

All the Disciples of the Heaven Mending Sacred Sect, including the accompanying Elders, were dumbfounded, their mouths wide enough to fit a giant object the size of a baby's arm.

They looked at their Sect Revered Master's expression, which could only be described as reasonable and understanding, and felt they must have misheard.

Was this still their usually stern and humorless Sect Revered Master?

Shouldn't she be nearly ruthless in enforcing the sect rules, especially given her extremely high demands for the Saintess?

Qin Wudi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, freezing in place, his eyes hollow.

What did he just hear?

Revered Master not only didn't punish her, but actually approved?

And even teased them?

What has happened to this world?

“Ma... Revered Master!”

Qin Wudi suddenly snapped back to reality, his voice hoarse, filled with despair and confusion.

“Senior Sister violated the sect rules! She likes someone from Great Chu! An outsider!”

“According to the sect rules, she should be confined to the Ice Palace, meditating on her mistakes until she severs her emotional ties and comprehends the Great Dao!”

“How... how can you be so biased?!”

He was practically questioning her!

One must know that in the Heaven Mending Sacred Sect, many female Disciples who fell in love with Prodigies outside the sect were forced to commit suicide for love, or sever their emotional ties and live out their days alone.

There were even cases involving previous Saintesses!

“Silence!”

The smile on the Butian Sect Master's face instantly vanished, replaced by her usual solemnity and coldness.

Her Phoenix eyes, filled with killing intent, swept over Qin Wudi.

“Wudi, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Her voice turned cold.

“Bingyun, as the Saintess, is setting an example! Daring to break old conventions and pursue her true heart is exactly the sharp spirit Cultivators of our generation should possess!”

“What is violating the sect rules? Rules are dead, but people are alive!”

“Do you want the Saintesses of our sect to all become emotionless, desireless wooden puppets who only know how to Cultivate?”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the stunned Sacred Sect Disciples and Elders around her, and her voice spread everywhere.

“Today, this Sect Revered Master tells you: Cultivating the Dao means cultivating the mind, and the most important thing is to Understand One's True Nature.”

“It is a good thing that Bingyun can face her true heart and pursue her love!”

“As long as the other party has upright character, outstanding talent, and no conflict with our Sacred Sect, why not?”

“As for talk of an 'outsider,' that is even more narrow-minded!”

“Qin Wushang is a pillar of Great Chu and a high Disciple of the Chu Yuehua. He and the Saintess of my Heaven Mending Sacred Sect are truly a match made in heaven!”

These words were resounding and clearly hinted at a desire to bring them together.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the surrounding crowd erupted in even more fervent discussion.

“So that's how it is! The Butian Sect Master is actually so open-minded!”

“Qin Wushang and Mu Bingyun... Hiss, don't say it, but thinking about it, they really are a beautiful couple, a match made in heaven!”

“One has the Supreme Double Pupils, the other has the Mysterious Ice Spirit Body. Both are peerless Prodigies. If they combined, how terrifying would the talent of their descendants be?”

“It seems the Heaven Mending Sacred Sect intends to use this opportunity to form a marriage Alliance with the Great Chu Empire? What shrewd calculation!”

“Wuwuwu, although my heart is broken, if it's Qin Wushang... I guess it's not entirely unacceptable...”

People discussed animatedly, scrutinizing Qin Wushang and Mu Bingyun!

Upon closer look!

The two were extremely well-matched!

However, not everyone was happy to see this outcome.

“Hmph!”

A cold snort containing boundless Imperial Might swept over like a cold current from the Nine Heavens, instantly suppressing all the noisy discussions.

Above, on the Imperial Carriage high in the sky, the Chu Yuehua slowly stood up.

Her Imperial Robe billowed without wind, flapping loudly.

No emotion could be discerned on her stunningly beautiful face, only a cold indifference that seemed to freeze ten thousand miles.

Her Phoenix eyes first swept coldly over Mu Bingyun, whose expression was calm on the ground, and then turned toward the Butian Sect Master.

The Butian Sect Master felt her gaze, raised her head, and met it. Her face still bore that graceful and proper smile, and she even gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

“Fellow Daoist Chu!”

Mu Qingyi's voice was clear and resonant, spreading in all directions.

“I presume you heard what just transpired.”

“My little Disciple, Bingyun, indeed holds deep affection for your Disciple, Qin Wushang.”

“Both our parties are hegemons of the Desolate Heaven Domain. If we could use this happy occasion to form a marriage bond, establish an Alliance, and explore the Great Dao together, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?”

“I wonder what Fellow Daoist Chu thinks?”

Her tone was composed, as if she were proposing something beneficial and harmless to both parties.

The Chu Yuehua looked at her silently for a full three breaths.

Then, her red lips parted slightly, uttering three words.

“I disagree.”

She paused, then turned her gaze downward, landing on Qin Wushang, who had been sitting in the Imperial Carriage the entire time.

“This! Emperor! Dis! A! Grees!”

She spoke deliberately, emphasizing each word.

“This Emperor also disagrees!”