Volume 4, Chapter 257 – Madam, You Are Indeed No Ordinary Person (Part 2)

“This is called the Phoenix Selection Token. It is used by the imperial family to select concubines for their descendants. When a woman holds it, all aspects of her physical condition are converted into numerical values, and a comprehensive evaluation is given. I assume the two of you have heard of it before?”

Altar Master Xu introduced it with a hint of showmanship before adding, “Of course, it works the same for men. It was just named ‘Phoenix Selection Token’ because of its original purpose!”

“The most miraculous aspect of the Phoenix Selection Token is its ‘fertility’ rating. It doesn’t just reflect a person’s health, it also evaluates the quality of their bloodline. So even if an ordinary person has no hidden ailments, they can only score a maximum of six. Only those with special bloodlines can exceed that threshold.”

Altar Master Xu glanced at the token in his hand and continued, “So whether you’re ordinary or not, the truth will be revealed the moment you hold it.”

“And if I refuse?”

Cheng Yuan asked calmly.

“I only want people of value. So this is your only hope. Whether you comply or not is up to you.”

Altar Master Xu, unperturbed, extended the token toward him.

Cheng Yuan frowned. The logic was sound, but both he and his wife were ordinary people, this much was obvious. If they underwent the test, they would undoubtedly be doomed. Rather than that, it was better to resist stubbornly. As long as there was no definitive result, the other party wouldn’t dare kill them outright.

Thinking this, Cheng Yuan remained unmoved, prepared to fight to the death.

“Hmph! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!”

Altar Master Xu snorted coldly, his movements swift as lightning. He seized Cheng Yuan’s hand and forced the token into his grip.

Crack!

Cheng Yuan heard the mournful creak of his own bones. A muffled groan escaped him as pain shot through his hand. Instinctively, he tried to shake off the token, but the other man’s grip was like an iron vice—impossible to break.

At that moment, the Phoenix Selection Token began emitting a faint glow. Every aspect of Cheng Yuan’s physical condition was converted into numerical values and displayed.

Appearance: 8

Physique: 8

Rеаd οո KαtReaԁіոɡСαfе

Skin: 6

Voice: 7

Fertility: 6

Scent: …

Comprehensive Evaluation: 7

Altar Master Xu read them aloud one by one. Perhaps because the test was conducted on a man, the “scent” category was left blank.

“Brother Cheng, you truly are a handsome man. The Phoenix Selection Token is notoriously strict, ninety percent of people in this world can’t even reach a score of six. Yet your comprehensive evaluation is a seven.”

After finishing, Altar Master Xu offered a hollow compliment before his tone shifted. “However, it’s a shame. A fertility score of six means it’s impossible for you to father a genius like Cheng Hongling! It seems your background really is unremarkable.”

Cheng Yuan’s expression darkened upon hearing this, it was as if the other man had just pronounced his death sentence.

“Brother Cheng, now it’s your wife’s turn. Hand her the token. I don’t wish to be rough with a woman, so I hope she cooperates.”

Altar Master Xu’s reminder was deceptively polite.

After a moment of hesitation, Cheng Yuan recalled the searing pain in his hand. Unwilling to subject his wife to the same torment, he passed the token to her.

Jiang Linian’s face twisted with conflict, but in the end, she took it. Once again, a pinkish glow radiated from the token.

Appearance: 9

Physique: 9

Rеаԁ oո КαtRеαdiոɡСafe

Skin: 9

Voice: 9

Fertility: 10

Scent: 7

Comprehensive Evaluation: 9

Altar Master Xu began reading the results once more. The moment he saw the first line, Appearance: 9, his composed expression shattered. By the time he reached Fertility: 10, he was completely stunned, standing rigid as if struck by lightning.

Cheng Yuan’s reaction was even more exaggerated. His eyes widened in utter disbelief as he stared at his wife.

As for Jiang Linian herself, she clearly hadn’t expected this outcome either. Clutching the token awkwardly, her face, now free of the large red birthmark, revealed an expression of innocent confusion.

“Hahaha… It seems I’ve stumbled upon something extraordinary. Madam, you are indeed no ordinary person!”

Altar Master Xu suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, startling everyone around him.

“Brother Cheng? Didn’t you claim your wife was an ordinary woman? How do you explain this?”

His tone was mocking as he questioned Cheng Yuan.

Cheng Yuan was speechless, his face etched with defeat.

“Don’t tell me you don’t even know your own wife?”

Altar Master Xu sneered.

Cheng Yuan’s expression was complicated. In the past, he could have sworn he knew his wife inside and out. But now, he wasn’t so sure.

Rеаd oո КаtReаdiոɡCаfe

Jiang Linian opened her mouth as if to explain, but no words came out.

“Well then, since that’s the case, I’ll have Madam herself enlighten me.”

Altar Master Xu turned to Jiang Linian and demanded, “First of all, with such a large birthmark on your face, how could the Phoenix Selection Token rate your appearance as a nine? A nine! Forget this backwater Huangtian County, even across the entire Western Radiance Dynasty, a woman like you might only appear once in a millennium!”

“I… I don’t know!”

Jiang Linian averted her gaze, stammering her reply.

“Oh?”

Altar Master Xu’s response was noncommittal. Then, in a flash, he vanished from his spot, only to reappear right beside Jiang Linian.

She felt a sharp tug on her cheek. Instinctively, she reached up to cover the “birthmark”, but she was too late. The patch of red had already been peeled away, revealing flawless, porcelain skin beneath.

Without the birthmark, Jiang Linian transformed from an unremarkable sparrow into a dazzling phoenix. Her face, now fully visible, bore a striking resemblance to her daughter’s, only more mature and breathtakingly beautiful. The candlelight illuminated her thin nightgown, outlining her voluptuous, hourglass figure. The curves of her shapely legs flickered in and out of view, exuding an intoxicating femininity that could drive any man wild.

“A true peerless beauty—mature, alluring, and still in her prime! Madam, would you care to explain why you’ve been disguising yourself as an ugly woman all this time?”

Altar Master Xu held up the fake birthmark, his eyes burning with greed. This stunning woman before him wasn’t just blessed with a perfect fertility score, her appearance had also earned an astonishing nine. What man wouldn’t covet her? Even as another man’s wife, she was irresistible.

Jiang Linian hesitated, offering no answer.

This time, Cheng Yuan didn’t look surprised, clearly, he had already known.

“Never mind. This is Madam’s private matter. It’s not my place to pry.”

Altar Master Xu withdrew with false courtesy before pressing on. “However, I have one last question. How is it that the Phoenix Selection Token, infamous for its strictness, gave you an unbelievable ten in fertility? Do you know what that means? It means your descendants will be dragons and phoenixes among men, destined for greatness across generations. Even the descendants of immortals from the Central Continent rarely produce women as perfect as you.”

“What if I said I don’t know? Would you believe me?”

Jiang Linian took a deep breath before responding.

Rеαⅾ οո КаtRеαⅾіոgСаfе

“Madam doesn’t wish to speak? Very well. You may tell me when you’re ready.”

Altar Master Xu appeared magnanimous, or perhaps “indulgent” was the better word.

“Husband, I truly don’t know what’s happening. My background is clear, you know that. There’s no falsehood in it. If there’s any irregularity at all…”

She hesitated before clenching her teeth and admitting, “I was adopted. I’m not my parents’ biological daughter.”

“What?! You’re not their real daughter?”

Cheng Yuan’s face twisted in shock once more.

“Hah! Now the truth is clear. Madam’s origins are anything but ordinary.”

Altar Master Xu laughed triumphantly before turning to his subordinates. “Alright, all of you, take good care of Madam Cheng. If even a single hair on her head is harmed, don’t bother returning.”

Having issued his orders, he turned back to Cheng Yuan. “As for you… Well, let’s make the most of your remaining value.”

“What do you intend to do?”

Cheng Yuan took two cautious steps back.

“Naturally, I’ll use your life to bargain for your daughter’s. Cheng Hongling, a prodigy, the perfect breeding vessel. Initially, I planned to seize her during this mission no matter what. But now that I have your wife, she’s no longer as important. After all, a cultivator at the Incarnation Realm isn’t so easy to control.”

Altar Master Xu revealed his true intentions.

“You dare covet my wife? Do you not realize she’s a married woman?”

Cheng Yuan’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“That’s quite alright. Married women are exactly my preference!”

Altar Master Xu remained unmoved. With a sudden lunge, he seized Cheng Yuan’s arm—and in the next instant, both men vanished from the room.