Volume 9, Chapter 626 – The Lü Family’s Proposal (Part 2)

“I advise you to show some respect to my father. Otherwise, today, the gate of the Honghua Sect might just become your gateway to the underworld.”

Cheng Hongling’s tone was icy as she stepped forward. Her cultivation had already reached the Divine Realm; even if it came down to a one-on-one fight, she had no reason to fear Lü Yi.

“Rejecting your so-called proposal is considered ‘toying’ with you? Do you think you’re the emperor or something? This is the cultivation world, not the mundane world. There are no imperial edicts here.”

Qi Huang sneered mockingly.

“Hmph! In the cultivation world, the Immortal Stele is as good as an imperial edict. Your name has already been inscribed on our Lü Family’s stele. Do you really think you can escape my grasp?”

Lü Yi clenched his fist confidently.

“That’s right. The fact that we’ve mobilized so many people to come here with a marriage proposal already gives you enough face. Don’t be so ungrateful!”

“All this talk about parental consent and matchmakers… It doesn’t matter if we wait at home or not. When the sixth day of the sixth month arrives, you’ll still obediently come crawling over.”

Lü Fei and her husband spoke arrogantly, as though no one else mattered.

“In that case, you can go back and wait quietly.”

Qi Huang issued the eviction order again. She had no time to waste on this swarm of annoying flies.

“We’re all family now, aren’t we? Let’s talk this out calmly. There’s no need to ruin the harmony.”

Lü Gao hurriedly tried to smooth things over, having slowly realized how important this potential daughter-in-law was. If they could gain her method of strengthening Divine Sense, the Lü Family would soon become invincible in the cultivation world.

“Brother Cheng!”

Lü Gao clasped his fists toward Cheng Yuan before continuing, “You probably don’t know the full background of the Lü Family, do you? Allow me to explain. The Lü Family is one of the Nine Great Immortal Forces in the cultivation world, ranking as the third-largest cultivation clan. We possess the shelter of an Immortal Stele, and my father himself is a supreme powerhouse at the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Within the Weiyuan Empire, our status is second to none, even the mortal imperial clan must bow to us.”

“Not interested.”

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Cheng Yuan shook his head firmly.

“Why not? If your daughter marries my son, she’ll become the future madam of the Lü Family, her status will surpass that of an empress. She’ll also gain access to limitless cultivation resources. With conditions this favorable, why would you refuse?”

Lü Gao pressed on, unwilling to give up.

“Because my daughter is exceptional enough. She doesn’t need to cling to power or seek higher status. Her happiness is all that matters.”

Cheng Yuan glanced fondly at Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang.

“You really won’t reconsider?”

Lü Gao’s expression gradually darkened.

“There’s no need. Marriage is meant to be a matter of mutual consent between man and woman. I hope Brother Lü won’t force this.”

Cheng Yuan remained as courteous as a gentleman.

“Fine, if you won’t drink the toast, you’ll drink the punishment!”

Lü Gao finally tore away his false politeness, his face twisting with anger.

“Just as my son said, the Immortal Stele is the cultivation world’s imperial edict. Since your daughter’s name is engraved upon our Lü Family’s stele, she cannot escape. I needn’t even have come here with this proposal, but since you refuse to recognize our goodwill, you can forget about these betrothal gifts.”

He gestured toward the lavish gifts behind him.

“Betrothal gifts? Do you think I care about those? Take them and get out!”

Qi Huang scoffed. With her current strength, the only thing she needed to be wary of was the Lü Family’s Immortal Stele. As for people? Even if Lü Yi’s grandfather, that Heavenly Tribulation Realm powerhouse, came in person, she wouldn’t bother showing him any respect.

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“Not so fast.”

Lü Gao shook his head. “We’ve traveled countless miles to get here. Aren’t you going to at least invite us in for a cup of tea?”

“Apologies, but the tea of the Honghua Sect is reserved for guests. You are not guests of the Honghua Sect.”

Qi Huang rejected him coldly and decisively.

“Guest or not, I will drink tea here today.”

Lü Gao’s shamelessness knew no bounds.

“Brother,” Lü Fei tugged at his sleeve impatiently. “They clearly don’t welcome us. Let’s leave. Why stay here and be humiliated? Besides, Cheng Hongling won’t escape anyway.”

“You understand nothing! We traveled all this way to propose marriage. If we can’t even step inside the Honghua Sect, the entire cultivation world will mock us.”

Her husband, Lou Xiao, reminded her sternly.

“You’re right. That settles it then. We must drink this tea today!”

Lü Fei’s expression shifted as realization dawned.

“Still thinking about freeloading, huh?”

Qi Huang laughed angrily, then taunted, “Fine! If you have the ability to enter the Honghua Sect today, I’ll personally serve you tea with both hands.”

“Hmph! In that case, let’s see you fulfill your duty as my daughter-in-law in advance!”

Lü Gao declared forcefully before turning to his son. “Lü Yi, put on the special battle attire and meet your future wife head-on. Don’t lose, or you’ll find your position in the household rather… diminished.”

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“Heh, don’t worry. My woman will always be my subordinate.”

Lü Yi laughed arrogantly as he stepped forward. “Ever since the Evergreen Conference last year, when you killed my doppelgänger, I’ve wanted to test your strength. Today, I finally have the chance.”

“You think I’m stupid? With the Immortal Stele protecting you, if I attack you, I’ll be punished by its divine suppression.”

Qi Huang’s expression was full of disdain.

“Relax. Your name is also on the stele now. We’re family. As long as we don’t aim to kill, the stele’s punishment mechanism won’t activate.”

As he spoke, Lü Yi donned a robe made from the pelt of a Nine Nether Demon Cat, specially crafted to resist Divine Sense suppression. This was the source of his confidence in challenging Qi Huang.

“Is that so?”

Qi Huang’s lips curled into a dangerous smile. “In that case, why don’t all of you come at me together? Don’t waste everyone’s time.”

“What did you just say? All of us?”

Lü Yi thought he’d misheard.

“You talk too much.”

Qi Huang vanished from sight instantly, and a flash of icy blue light streaked past, the Cicada Wing Sword.

“How is she so fast?!”

Lü Yi had been locking onto Qi Huang’s presence with his Divine Sense, yet to his shock, he could barely follow her movements. His brain couldn’t even react in time.

When Qi Huang’s phantom-like figure reappeared, she was already behind Lü Yi, the razor-sharp Cicada Wing Sword firmly in her grasp.

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Lü Yi blinked in confusion, and then felt a chill spread across his chest. Looking down, he saw that his outer and inner robes had been sliced open cleanly from chest to waist, the fabric folding away on both sides, exposing his bare torso and… his undergarments.

To make matters worse, those undergarments hadn’t been washed in who-knows-how-long. Stains of all sizes dotted the fabric, so filthy that a few flies immediately landed on them upon exposure, creating an utterly revolting sight.

“Ah!”

Lü Yi yelped in panic, scrambling to pull his clothes together to cover himself. Even with his thick skin, he knew his current appearance was beyond humiliating.

Unfortunately, he moved too late. Everyone around had already seen everything.

“So this is the Lü Family’s young master? Looks more like a beggar.”

“They brag endlessly about how mighty the Lü Family is, but they can’t even afford laundry soap? Or maybe they can’t spare the money to dig a well?”

“Being wealthy doesn’t mean being clean. I wouldn’t marry a man like that even if it meant dying alone, imagine the infections you’d get!”

“I heard he has hundreds of concubines too. I don’t know how those women endure it. Probably need to visit the physician every month. Trading your health for riches? Pathetic.”

The crowd’s expressions turned to open disgust, especially the female disciples from Shuiyu Valley, who seized the chance to mock him mercilessly.

“You…”

Lü Gao nearly coughed up blood at the sight, his calculations completely overturned. He hadn’t expected Qi Huang’s speed to be so terrifying, nor had he imagined his son could be this… unhygienic. The Lü Family’s reputation was ruined in an instant.

“You wretched woman! How dare you humiliate me like this?! I’ll kill you today!”

Lü Yi had never suffered such disgrace. His face flushed crimson as he roared and lunged at Qi Huang, his hatred burning like wildfire. At this moment, he saw her as nothing less than his mortal enemy.