259: Select forty dowry items

The onlookers widened their eyes even further.

Merely based on the fact that Cao Bu could withstand a single move from a Great Emperor Fourth Level expert...

...he was already a legend of the Spirit Realm, an existence even more terrifying than Gu Qingtian.

"Could it be that he relied on his own strength to sit on the position of Gu Clan Chief?" Long Qingxin's red lips parted slightly, an undisguisable shock rippling through her beautiful eyes.

Although the Four Sacred Realm was secluded and rarely concerned itself with external affairs, how could they not know about a major event like the Gu Clan changing its Clan Chief?

They had originally thought Cao Bu had used despicable means to take that position.

They didn't expect him to have a certain amount of genuine talent.

On the battle stage.

Cao Bu appeared to the left of Bai Shuang, his voice smiling, "Your attacks are all illusory; my attacks are what is real."

Bai Shuang shouted in fury and performed the White Tiger Clan's secret technique, Slaughtering Heaven and Earth, as countless silver tiger shadows pounced from all directions!

However, after entering the Black and White Domain, all attacks turned into illusions, not even touching a corner of Cao Bu's clothes!

"Good speed, but unfortunately, you can't hit me."

Cao Bu strolled leisurely, weaving through Bai Shuang's storm-like attacks.

Bai Shuang grew more shocked as she fought, discovering that once any of her Laws entered that strange Domain, their power would vanish!

"My turn." Cao Bu's voice suddenly appeared behind her.

Bai Shuang turned abruptly, her tiger claws sweeping across, but they missed again!

Cao Bu's true body had already arrived at her right side, his right hand patting out lightly.

"Cloud Dispelling Palm."

A palm strike landed squarely on Bai Shuang's buttocks.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound echoed throughout the silent square.

Bai Shuang's body froze, and her cheeks beneath the silver armor instantly turned as red as blood!

It wasn't pain, but extreme shame and fury!

"You—!" Killing intent boiled in her eyes.

Cao Bu had already retreated ten zhang, standing with his hands behind his back. "You lost."

Just as Bai Shuang was about to fight again, Feng Nishang sighed from the high platform, "Sister Shuang, you have indeed lost. If he hadn't held back, that palm strike could have shattered your Physical Body."

The faces of all the clansmen present turned pale.

A Quasi-Emperor Sixth Level defeating the Great Emperor Fourth Level Bai Shuang so easily?

This... even the legendary Sword Immortal Gu probably couldn't achieve this!

Long Qingxin took a deep look at Cao Bu, then rose and flew down to the battle stage.

Feng Nishang and Xuan You followed closely behind.

The four women stood side by side, their beauty breathtaking.

"I... am willing to marry," Long Qingxin spoke through gritted teeth, her heart unwilling.

Even if they went back on their word, it would be useless.

Fang Ruodan alone was an insurmountable chasm for them.

Feng Nishang also whispered, "Willing to marry."

Bai Shuang was mortified, but under the gaze of the entire clan, she could only squeeze out from between her teeth, "Willing... to marry."

Xuan You was silent for a moment before finally saying softly, "Willing to marry."

The entire clan looked as if they had lost their parents!

Grief, jealousy, envy, anger... all sorts of emotions were intertwined!

A Dragon Clan Prodigy roared towards the sky, "No—! Our clan's Highness Qingxin possesses the True Dragon Bloodline, how can she marry a mere Human Race!"

A Phoenix Clan Genius's eyes were blood-red, "Highness Ni Shang is a Nine Heavens True Phoenix, destined to bathe in fire and achieve Immortal Ascension in the future! Now... I refuse to accept this!"

The White Tiger clansmen's bodies shook violently, their steel teeth grinding as they let out low cries of sorrow, "Shame! This is an utter shame!"

The Black Tortoise clansmen had tears in their eyes, "Princess Xuan You..."

The clamor on the square lasted for a full dozen breaths.

Even though they had ten thousand reluctances in their hearts...

...at this moment, they could only grumble.

As for rushing up to fight Cao Bu with their lives, they weren't that foolish.

Long Aotian's face was ashen. He looked at Cao Bu, who stood with his hands behind his back, and then at Fang Ruodan, whose aura was unfathomable. Finally, he let out a long sigh, "The Four Sacred Heavenly Pride Battle... is suspended."

His voice spread throughout the city, carrying an undisguisable humiliation.

"Please, both of you, enter the Four Saint Hall for a talk." Feng Jiuxiao suppressed his anger and made an inviting gesture.

Amidst countless angry gazes, Cao Bu and Fang Ruodan calmly walked towards the magnificent Four Saint Hall at the north of the square.

The four Clan Chiefs followed closely, while the four women followed with complex expressions.

Inside the hall.

Four massive Sacred Beast Jade Tables were arranged in a circle, covered with spiritual fruits and immortal wine. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Long Aotian sat behind the Azure Dragon Jade Table, raised his wine cup, and said in a low voice, "Clan Chief Cao, the Four Sacred Realm will remember today's events."

His words were barbed, but he had already conceded.

Cao Bu raised his cup in response, "Clan Chief Long is too polite. We will all be one family in the future."

"One family?" Bai Zhan sneered, "If it weren't for her, just based on you..."

Before he could finish, Fang Ruodan slightly released her aura.

Bai Zhan suddenly felt as if he were carrying ten thousand tons, and his words got stuck in his throat.

Seeing this, Xuan Zhong spoke in a deep voice to smooth things over, "The matter is settled; say no more. Clan Chief Cao, I wonder what your plans are next?"

Cao Bu put down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping across the four Clan Chiefs, "According to my Human Race's customs, you four fathers-in-Law should prepare the dowry."

"Dowry?" Long Aotian narrowed his eyes, "What do you want?"

"From each clan's treasury, let This Clan Head choose ten treasures." Cao Bu spoke nonchalantly.

"Impossible!" Feng Jiuxiao slapped the table and stood up, "The treasury is the accumulation of our clan for a million years. How can you be allowed to enter?"

Cao Bu said no more, only looking at Fang Ruodan.

Fang Ruodan picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

An invisible Emperors Might permeated the entire hall, locking onto the four Clan Chiefs!

The expressions of the four Clan Chiefs changed simultaneously.

There was a hint of killing intent in that pressure!

If they dared to oppose again, the Four Saint Hall might be stained with blood today!

Long Aotian gritted his teeth for a long time before finally closing his eyes and sighing, "Fine. In three days, we will take you to each clan's treasury to choose ten items."

"Brother Long!" Bai Zhan said urgently.

"Shut up!" Long Aotian barked, "Do you want our four clans to be annihilated?!"

Bai Zhan's whole body shook. Looking at Fang Ruodan's calm and rippleless eyes, he finally realized this point.

Feng Jiuxiao also sat down dejectedly, "Forget it, ten items it is."

Xuan Zhong sighed, "My Black Tortoise Clan also accepts."

Cao Bu raised his cup with satisfaction, "Fathers-in-Law are straightforward. This Clan Head toasts you all."

The expressions of Long Qingxin and the other three women were ugly to the extreme.

This detestable Cao Bu not only wanted to force them into marriage but also wanted to pick ten supreme treasures from their treasuries at will. It was simply abominable.

The banquet ended in an atmosphere that was hard to describe.

In the East Palace of the Four Sacred Palace, inside a newly built palace.

Cao Bu looked at the four women standing side by side in front of him.

Long Qingxin was in green clothes, cold and elegant; Feng Nishang was in a red dress, like fire; Bai Shuang had not removed her silver armor; Xuan You was in a deep black dress.

"Four wives, after tonight, you will be This Clan Head's people." Cao Bu walked closer slowly.

Long Qingxin said coldly, "Cao Bu, using power to oppress others, you lack grace."

"Using power to oppress others?" Cao Bu repeated these words. There was no mirth in his voice, only a cold calm. "Then tell me, what has the Four Sacred Realm relied on to stand for a million years?"

Feng Nishang looked up, "We rely on Bloodline Legacy, on..."

"It's power." Cao Bu interrupted her. "Your four clans can rule the Four Sacred Realm because your ancestors were stronger than others."

"When the White Tiger Clan unified the West, did they ever talk about grace?"

"When the Dragon Clan slaughtered living beings, did they ever ask if they were being ridiculous?"

Bai Shuang's fist clenched tightly, her silver armor making a slight grinding sound.

"That's different," she gritted out.

"How is it different?" Cao Bu's gaze swept across each of their faces. "Because then you were winning, and now you are losing."

"When winning, power is called the natural order; when losing, power becomes 'using power to oppress others'."

"Is the pride of the Four Sacred Realm merely such a double-standard face?"

Xuan You spoke in a low voice, "You force us into marriage, it has nothing to do with love; it's only to humiliate the four clans and satisfy your plunder."

"Humiliate?" Cao Bu laughed. "If I really wanted to humiliate you, you would be kneeling on the ground right now. But I haven't; I gave you status. As for plunder..."

He paused, his gaze becoming sharp.

"You were born enjoying the resources of the treasury, receiving the best Legacy, and being worshiped by the entire clan. On what basis? Did you earn it yourselves?"

"No, it's because you were born well, because of that bit of ancestral shade in your Bloodline."

"Since you accept this rule of being born unequal, then today I am stronger than you, and the rules are naturally set by me. This is very fair."

Long Qingxin's breathing quickened, "Sophistry!"

"Is it?" Cao Bu took a step closer. "Then tell me, if my adoptive father Gu Qingtian were standing here today, asking you to marry him in the same way, would the Four Sacred Realm fight to the death, or would they go along with it, or even consider it a beautiful tale?"

The four women fell silent at the same time.

They knew the answer in their hearts.

Gu Qingtian was a Sword Immortal famous throughout the Spirit Realm, with unparalleled talent.

If he spoke, the elders in the clan would probably be eager to agree, viewing this marriage alliance as an honor.