Chapter 134: The Prince Arrives at Tai’an City! The Emperors’ Betrothals Are in Disarray
Li Xuan, following his master Gu Jingyun, quickly reached the gates of the Tai’an Imperial City. Gazing up at the enormous gate, with the bold characters “Tai’an City” carved in a majestic dragon-and-phoenix style, Li Xuan felt his blood surge with excitement.
“Once, I was just an orphan on the verge of death, chased and wounded by wild beasts…”
“Who would have thought that one day, I’d become an unrivaled young genius?”
LAnd now, I’m set to marry the ethereal princess of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! All of this—I owe to my master.”
Though a passionate young man, Li Xuan had never been close to a woman. In his village, he had been the orphan everyone despised, ignored even by the limping village girl. Now… he chuckled to himself.
“Master, let’s hurry into the city. I can hardly wait.”
With success came a bit of arrogance. Unlike Lin Qi’an, who had the restraint of someone with two lifetimes of experience, Li Xuan was eager and unrestrained. At this moment, his greatest wish was to meet the princess, his fiancée!
As they approached the city gate, however, they were stopped by a fierce, armored guard.
“With the grand ceremony approaching, we must guard against any demonic infiltrators. All arrivals must show identification.”
Just as they reached the gate, they encountered fierce guards who blocked their path.
Recently, countless sects and clans had gathered in the Dao Domain, so it was only natural that security was heightened. Cultivators needed to show their sect or family tokens, though ordinary people were exempt.
“Do you know who my master is? Move aside, or don’t blame me for being rude!” Li Xuan shouted.
“No matter who your master is, you must show proof of identity. That’s the rule!”
“Courting death!” Li Xuan erupted in rage, releasing a terrifying aura. In an instant, a flash of cold light swept through the air, and the guard’s head fell to the ground.
Frightened citizens screamed, while the remaining guards drew their weapons, prepared to retaliate. The atmosphere grew tense.
Gu Jingyun silently observed. Although youthful pride was natural, he hadn’t expected his disciple to be so impulsive, resorting to violence over a minor offense. Perhaps, after training in the mountains for so long, Li Xuan lacked social etiquette, behaving like a wild brute.
“Lower your weapons,” Gu Jingyun commanded.
These simple four words carried an authority impossible to defy—the voice of an Emperor, vast and thunderous.
Winds howled as thunder cracked across the sky. The aura of an Emperor filled the air, sending shockwaves throughout Tai’an City, alarming countless powerful cultivators.
Who was this Emperor, gracing Tai’an with his presence?
“Hurry, let them pass! Do not provoke them!” someone hastily transmitted to the guards. Terrified, the guards quickly complied, realizing that even a glance from the Emperor could mean their deaths. Grateful to have survived, they hurriedly allowed the two to enter.
“Master, let’s go!” Li Xuan strode forward, head held high.
“…”
Gu Jingyun shook his head. Who would have thought that simply entering a city would force him to reveal his aura? His disciple’s first journey down the mountain, and already he had caused a scene!
Sure enough, as they departed, hushed discussions erupted among the onlookers.
“This is Tai’an City, the heart of the Tianlang Immortal Dynasty! Can an Emperor kill so casually here? Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?”
“Exactly. That kid’s like a wild animal—one word, and he’s already chopping heads.”
Meanwhile, within the palace, Emperor Tai’an, dressed in his dragon robes, sensed the aura and murmured to himself, “Gu Jingyun… I didn’t expect you’d come personally.”
“It’s been ages since the three of us last gathered. I wonder if you and Lin Weixuan still have some unfinished sparks.”
Emperor Tai’an acknowledged that his own strength was beneath theirs. But between Gu Jingyun and Lin Weixuan—who was stronger? In the past, it had been Lin Weixuan, but now… even he couldn’t be certain.
A few days ago, he received wonderful news: his younger daughter, Zhao Qingmeng, had started cultivating and even advanced to the Transcendent Layer. To Emperor Tai’an, nothing could be more delightful.
While mortals barely lived a hundred years, cultivators could survive for millennia. He had no wish to see his daughter age and die early.
After questioning everyone familiar with the situation, he concluded that Zhao Qingmeng’s sudden ability to cultivate was linked to her time with Lin Qi’an, the Prince of Beiyang. For this, Emperor Tai’an held Lin Qi’an in high regard and gratitude.
As for the younger generation fighting over a woman, he never cared for such matters. If one couldn’t secure a marriage, it was simply a matter of lacking skill. Since his elder daughter’s engagement had already been annulled, he fully supported the union between Lin Qi’an and Zhao Qingmeng.
A marriage alliance was a marriage alliance, regardless of whom it involved! Moreover, it was clear to him that his younger daughter had deep affection for Lin Qi’an. But herein lay the complication…
Upon the birth of his elder daughter, Zhao Yunji, Emperor Tai’an had established a marriage pact with the Sword Emperor, promising Zhao Yunji’s hand to Lin Qi’an.
Then, at the birth of his younger daughter, Zhao Qingmeng, Gu Jingyun had come to congratulate him, to which Emperor Tai’an, smiling, had responded, “If you ever have descendants, I could marry my youngest daughter to them.”
But now, Lin Qi’an had developed feelings for Zhao Qingmeng. If Gu Jingyun truly had brought a young successor, wouldn’t this cause…
In the past, the Sword Emperor and Blade Emperor had competed over a woman, and now, their descendants were doing the same.
“Sigh, the entanglements of these two generations are too complicated. Very well, let them handle it themselves. I, as Emperor, will not interfere.”
Rubbing his forehead, Emperor Tai’an decided to leave the matter alone.
…
Gu Jingyun, with Li Xuan, moved swiftly through the sky, drawing countless onlookers as they crossed the Outer City, Inner City, and reached the palace gates. Impatient, Li Xuan quickly inquired about Zhao Qingmeng’s residence and hurried toward it.
Fearing his disciple might embarrass him further, Gu Jingyun didn’t follow and instead went to rest in the sleeping quarters, guided by an envoy sent by Emperor Tai’an.
In Qingle Mansion, Zhao Qingmeng’s residence, the princess lay in bed, thinking longingly of Lin Qi’an, hoping he would soon arrive in Tai’an City.
Outside, a commotion broke out.
“Who goes there?”
“The princess’s fiancé! Have her come out to greet me!”
“How dare you! Such disrespect toward the princess?”
“Oh… ouch…”
As Zhao Qingmeng stepped out, she saw the guards sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain. The one causing the ruckus was a young man in plain clothes, with thick eyebrows and large, fervent eyes barely able to contain his excitement.
“Who are you?” she asked, her tone cold.
“I am Li Xuan. Your father and my master made a pact to betroth you to me. From now on, you shall call me husband!”
“Get lost! How dare you presume to be worthy of me!” With a fierce shout, Zhao Qingmeng’s dress billowed as if stirred by an unseen wind.
“Guards, throw him out!” she commanded.
Li Xuan’s face darkened with fury. “How dare a mere girl show such disrespect to her fiancé? You’re asking for a beating!” he shouted, striding forward, his hand raised to strike her.
Though Zhao Qingmeng’s current strength was no match for his, a powerful elder servant of the Dao Transformation Realm stood guard within the princess’s estate. With a single palm, the elder deflected Li Xuan, sending him flying a hundred meters back.
“What strength…” the elder thought in surprise. His blow should have left the boy’s bones shattered, especially given that he was merely at the Celestial Layer. But instead, he had only been knocked back.
“Leave now, or I won’t hold back!” the elder threatened menacingly.
Brushing off the dust, Li Xuan pointed an angry finger at the elder and shouted, “An old weakling bullying the young! Let someone from the younger generation fight me if you dare—I, Li Xuan, consider myself unrivaled among my peers!”
The elder sneered. “You’re just an ignorant boy who’s never seen the world, and yet you dare call yourself invincible among the young?”
He continued, “Princess Yunji is peerless, and the Beiyang Prince is an exceptional talent. Just who do you think you are?”
With a disdainful smirk, Li Xuan replied, “Heh, the Beiyang Prince? Rest assured, if he dares come to Tai’an City, I’ll crush him like an insect!”
Just then, a voice transmission arrived.
“Your Highness, the Prince has arrived in Tai’an City!”
“Brother Lin is here?” Zhao Qingmeng’s cold, stern expression softened, transforming into that of an adorable young girl.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and without a second thought, she leaped up, preparing to greet Lin Qi’an. She had no time to waste on this arrogant fool.
“I didn’t say you could leave! How dare you disregard your duty as my future wife?” Li Xuan shouted, chasing after her.