Chapter 141 - 138: The Day of the Marriage Alliance Arrives

The Emperor shook his head slightly. "For the Ling family and Tai Xuan Academy to dare to do this, they must be fully prepared. Killing Ling Lang and Nangong Ling probably won’t be that easy. It might even be a trap."

The crowd frowned.

"What should we do then? We can’t just do nothing and wait for their marriage alliance to happen, can we?" an old man asked.

"We’ll wait a bit longer."

The Emperor looked at the Eldest Prince beside him. "Xia Yi."

"I am here!" The Eldest Prince stepped forward.

"Go find the Lie family and the Yuwen family. Discuss a collaboration with them and do your absolute best to draw them into our camp," the Emperor ordered.

"Yes, I will go at once!" The Eldest Prince strode out of the grand hall.

As soon as the Eldest Prince stepped out, a middle-aged man rushed inside. "Reporting! Mo Qianqian is here requesting an audience!"

"Oh?" The Emperor and everyone present were taken aback.

Mo Qianqian had come to the royal family to request an audience?

Everyone present knew of Mo Qianqian. He was once ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List, a genius possessing the Holy Dragon Bloodline, and the adopted son of the Ling family. However, the Ling family had stolen his Holy Dragon Bloodline and expelled him. In the end, he became a Body Cultivator and rose against all odds.

Just a little over a month ago, he had lured the Ling family’s Grand Elder into a trap and severely injured him, while leading the Lie family’s Grand Elder to his death. Even the vast majority of the people present had never achieved such a battle record.

"Let him in," the Emperor said.

"Yes!" The middle-aged man hurriedly retreated.

It did not take long before two figures strode into the grand hall. One of them was Zhongli Xuan. The other, naturally, was the fake Mo Qianqian, bearing his exact appearance.

"Junior Mo Qianqian greets Your Majesty and all seniors." The fake Mo Qianqian stepped forward, bowing to the Emperor and the crowd.

Zhongli Xuan followed suit and paid her respects.

"Mo Qianqian, speak your mind," the Emperor said bluntly.

"Then this junior will get straight to the point," the fake Mo Qianqian continued. "The Ling family is about to form a marriage alliance with Tai Xuan Academy. I imagine this is giving the royal family a headache."

The crowd frowned. He certainly didn’t mince his words.

"I am sure everyone sitting here is well aware of my grudge against the Ling family," the fake Mo Qianqian stated. "This junior has come today simply to say one thing.

"If I wreak havoc at the Ling family’s residence on the day of the marriage alliance, will you assist me?"

The crowd furrowed their brows. Their royal family could not easily make such a commitment.

However, the Emperor affirmed without hesitation, "We will."

The crowd was stunned.

Then, the Emperor added, "But will he really go?"

"What do you mean?" The fake Mo Qianqian frowned.

Zhongli Xuan’s expression also changed.

"It’s nothing. As long as someone causes trouble, no matter who it is, our royal family will be happy to see it," the Emperor replied.

The fake Mo Qianqian frowned, profound wariness showing on his face. The Emperor might have seen through his identity, or at the very least, he was already suspicious. However, that did not matter anymore.

"Having your word is enough. Rest assured, on the day of the marriage alliance, someone will definitely cause a scene," the fake Mo Qianqian said. "Your Majesty, everyone, I shall take my leave!"

With that said, the two retreated from the hall.

"Your Majesty," the group of officials called out, looking toward the Emperor.

"If we cannot act in the open, we can act in the shadows. Prepare our men, and we will make our decision on the day of the marriage alliance," the Emperor said sternly.

Elsewhere, the Lie family and the Yuwen family were urgently convening clan meetings to deliberate.

Factions large and small across Central Earth, especially the minor families affiliated with the three major families, were all discussing crucial decisions. The major families might still have some leeway, but for these minor affiliated families, once they chose the wrong side, they could be wiped out at any moment.

One after another, they had also been receiving invitations from the Ling family.

***

The Ling family was located in Ling City of Central Earth, which was quite a distance from the royal capital. The very day they heard the news, many people began their journey to the Ling family’s estate.

Three days slowly passed by, and numerous forces had already swarmed into Ling City. Experts from all walks of life gathered there.

At dawn on the fourth day.

In a forest near Ling City, Mo Qianqian looked up at the sunlight filtering through the leaves, his eyes bursting with a cold glint. At this moment, he had taken off both the Black Iron Mask and the Human Skin Mask, revealing his true, original appearance.

"It is time."

Mo Qianqian flicked the spear in his hand, letting out a loud, resonant CLANG.

"Ling Qingxue, Ling family, it’s time to settle our score!"

With that said, Mo Qianqian strode toward the direction of the Ling family, his entire body radiating murderous intent.

***

At the Ling family’s estate.

The entire residence was decorated with magnificent splendor. A red carpet was laid all the way from outside the main gates to the Martial Arts Arena in front of the grand hall. Standing on both sides of the red carpet were maids and guards dressed in festive red robes.

Even though it was not yet Noon, the Ling family’s Martial Arts Arena was already packed with a sea of people. Factions of all sizes had gathered there, and a flurry of discussions and whispers filled the entire arena.

"The Ling family is truly impressive, managing to form a marriage alliance with Tai Xuan Academy. If all goes smoothly, the Ling family will definitely be at the height of their power and ride the momentum to prominence."

"The Ling family already has Ling Qingxue, who ranks first on the Hidden Dragon List. Now, with Nangong Ling, who ranks fifth, marrying into the family, no one in the entire Great Xia Dynasty can match the Ling family in this generation."

"That might not necessarily be true. Asura’s talent is equally monstrous. He’s only sixteen or seventeen, yet he is already a Second-Grade Spirit Master and possesses the Bone-Eroding Spiritual Source. However, his combat prowess might still fall slightly short."

"It’s a pity Asura failed to refine the Spirit-Breaking Pill and advance. Otherwise, becoming a Third-Grade Spirit Master at sixteen or seventeen would make him the youngest Third-Grade Spirit Master in the history of the Great Xia Dynasty, as well as one of the dynasty’s most elite figures."

"The people from the Asura Conglomerate have already arrived, but Asura himself is nowhere to be seen. I wonder why?"

A group of people gossiping couldn’t help but look toward the group from the Asura Conglomerate.

By now, the members of the Asura Conglomerate had indeed arrived. Among their ranks was the Yuling Sect Master, who was present despite not officially being a part of the conglomerate. For the Asura Conglomerate to be missing only Asura himself inevitably sparked the suspicions of many.

"I heard Asura has feelings for Nangong Ling, but agreed to get engaged to Xian Ling’Er for the sake of the pill. Furthermore, Ling Qingxue has also confessed her feelings to him. Asura probably feels too awkward and didn’t want to come."

"That is indeed an awkward situation. But frankly speaking, Asura is only engaged to Xian Ling’Er; they aren’t actually married yet. Given that he failed to break through after refining the Spirit-Breaking Pill, it isn’t impossible for Asura and Ling Qingxue to get together if the Ling family mediates."

"Master Chu is not someone to be trifled with. Would Asura really dare to back out of the engagement?"

"Speaking of Ling Qingxue and monstrous geniuses, you’ve all forgotten someone: Mo Qianqian. He used to be first on the Hidden Dragon List, but now he has become a Body Cultivator and possesses incredible treasures, prompting various factions to hunt him down. Nobody could find any trace of him, but the moment he re-emerged, he lured the Lie family’s Grand Elder to his death, injured the Ling family’s Grand Elder, and caused the deaths of numerous experts. For Mo Qianqian to reach this point all on his own... he is undeniably one of the absolute top geniuses in the Great Xia Dynasty."

"Mo Qianqian has a deep-seated grudge against the Ling family and even used to have a marriage contract with Ling Qingxue. With the Ling family and Tai Xuan Academy forming a marriage alliance today, I wonder if he’ll come and cause trouble?"

"Mo Qianqian? Causing trouble? With the experts of both the Ling family and Tai Xuan Academy present, anyone who comes will never leave alive. Does he even have the guts?"

***

The crowd debated fervently.