Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Capital City, inside one of the inns.

Chu Kuangren was tidying up the items inside his Yin and Yang ring.

He had obtained numerous items and treasures from the Secret Realm. Although most of it had been handed over to Elder Ruyan for her to bring back to the sect, there were still some that he kept with him.

“Hey, is this…” Chu Kuangren suddenly wondered in a soft voice.

While he was tidying, his eyes could not help but lit up when he found another Yin and Yang ring from the Black Light Sage's corpse.

'The Yin and Yang ring of a sage. What kind of valuable riches will lie in this?'

Chu Kuangren opened it up excitedly.

However, what he saw instead was an empty dimension within the Yin and Yang ring. There were some soulstones, a few vials of medicinal pills, and some other sc.r.a.ps.

“It can't be. Was that Sage really that poor?” Chu Kuangren pouted before he continued to tidy the items inside it.

There was no need to bother with the medicinal pills and soulstones.

His attention was drawn to the piles of sc.r.a.p instead. There was a token, a Jade Scroll, and a few pieces of clothing among them.

The token was black and it emanated a heavy aura when held in his hands. There were also some Qi of Death swirling around the token, which had multiple runes and the words 'Preserve Technique' carved onto it.

Chu Kuangren remembered that when he checked the Black Light Sage's information using his Eye of Revelation, he obtained the words 'Sacred Palace of Death'.

“What kind of force is the Sacred Palace of Death? I've never heard about it before. But with a sage within its rank, it must be a formidable group.”

Chu Kuangren thought of it and kept that token away.

After that, he picked up the piece of Jade Scroll.

As his spiritual thoughts began, a sudden burst of Daoist Rhyme erupted before large amounts of information flowed into his mind and formed into two big words … Gluttonous Devouring!

A Sage Technique was recorded onto that piece of Jade Scroll!

Having gone through multiple occurrences of Daoist Enlightenment, Chu Kuangren's understanding of the Dao was already at a very deep and refined level. It was even comparable to an Honorable Realm cultivator's level.

Although that Sage Technique seemed very interesting, Chu Kuangren had a general understanding of its uses just by taking a look at it.

“How powerful!”

“This is definitely a type of Sage Ruler Technique!”

“This might even be a more exquisite technique than the Human Mountain Stamp! I'm afraid this technique is very close to the level of an Emperor Technique.”

Chu Kuangren was extremely surprised.

Ancient legends had it that there was once a dragon who had nine children and one of them was named Avarice. It was said Avarice possessed the ability to devour thousands of living beings to strengthen itself.

Hence, the Gluttonous Devouring Technique was created based on the ancient beast Avarice. It had the function to devour the essences of flesh and blood to increase the user's cultivation.

“Consuming others to strengthen oneself. This technique is quite creepy.”

“Yet, this is a world where the strong preyed on the weak. If one is not strong, they will, in return, be bullied by others for their weaknesses!”

When Chu Kuangren thought of that, he then decided to cultivate that technique for his use.

Taking the opportunity that the marriage by combat had not started, Chu Kuangren informed Lan Yu and Li Xingchen about this before he began his closed-door meditation to cultivate that technique.

Since the Black Light Sage himself had also cultivated that technique, the remnant Daoist Rhymes in his corpse was a great help to Chu Kuangren in learning how to use that technique.

In the Capital City, everyone was looking forward to that marriage by combat event.

This was especially for the crowd of sky-prides who were looking forward to the chance of getting the G.o.dly Essence. They intended to use it to break through into higher realms of cultivation and surpa.s.s Chu Kuangren's level.

However, the date of the marriage by combat had yet arrived before they received extremely enraging news instead. The marriage by combat was… Canceled!

That news immediately angered everyone.

They had traveled a long way from their respective areas just to take part in that compet.i.tion, yet they did not even have a chance to touch a single hair of hers. Instead, they were all fooled by the Royal Azure Dynasty.

Numerous cultivators were filled with so much outrage that they demanded an explanation from the Royal Dynasty.

“I've come to a far *ss place just to take part in the Princess's marriage by combat, but now you're telling me that it's canceled?”

“Are you messing with us? You're kidding, aren't you?”

“I haven't even seen the Princess yet and the event is already over?”

“What a scam!”

Many sky-prides in the Capital City said angrily.

The cultivators from the normal orthodoxies were fine with it since they could easily be dealt with if the Royal Azure Dynasty just gave them some amount of soulstones as repayment.

It was the ones from the sage orthodoxies who were p.i.s.sed off.

Some consideration would have to be done to deal with those people.

However, the Royal Azure Dynasty King was dealing with another person at that time.

The Shang Clan's Young Emperor had arrived in the Capital City.

He was being welcomed personally by the Royal Azure Dynasty King himself.

Even Princess Linglong had shown herself at that time. When he first laid eyes on her, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor was a bit stunned by her beauty despite being a devoted Daoist.

Princess Linglong was an exquisite beauty and unparalleled in looks. Her every move had a dignified and n.o.ble temperament, which made anyone want to look up to her.

For a rare moment, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor had a faint feeling that he was falling for her.

“Greetings Your Majesty the Royal Azure Dynasty King and Your Highness the Royal Princess.” The Shang Clan's Young Emperor gently nodded.

“At ease, Young Emperor.”

The Royal Azure Dynasty King smiled and brought the Shang Clan's Young Emperor to the gardens at the back of the palace. Not sparing any time for nonsense, he immediately told him about wanting to dissolve their marriage agreements.

The elder who was accompanying the Shang Clan's Young Emperor had a terrible look on his face when he heard that. He said, “Your Majesty, are you messing with my Shang Clan?”

The Shang Clan's Young Emperor then took a look at Princess Linglong and said, “Is there any dissatisfaction that Your Highness the Princess has about me?”

“The man is not the problem, but…” When the Royal Azure Dynasty King spoke of this, he paused and sighed with regret. Then, he told them what had happened inside the Secret Realm of the Luminous Moon.

“Now that my daughter has lost her innocence and purity, she doubts her qualifications as the Young Emperor's bride. This is why she personally suggested the idea of dissolving the marriage agreement.”

“I'm naturally aware that he's at fault, hence I have prepared generous gifts as compensation. Besides this, I shall send someone out to the Shang Clan to deliver my personal apologies.”

Upon hearing this, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor's expression was already very grim. He felt as if a field of gra.s.s had grown on his head, sporting with green lushness1.

'I can't believe Princess Linglong gave her G.o.dly Essence to someone else!'

Glaring at the peerless beauty that was Princess Linglong, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor erased the hint of love that he had for the Princess before.

The more he thought about it, the more angry and uncomfortable he felt. That unbearable feeling was like a large boulder on his chest, making him feel overwhelmed and out of breath.

He had intended to use the G.o.dly Essence to ascend to a higher cultivation realm, but now his plans were ruined. No matter man or cultivator, that was something which would enrage them and made them feel unacceptable.

“Fortunately, only both our Royal Azure Dynasty and your Shang Clan know of the arranged marriage. Now that we're dissolving the marriage agreements, it'll be easy to act as if nothing has ever happened, and there will be no damage to either party's reputation.”

The Royal Azure Dynasty King continued speaking.

Up until that point, Princess Linglong, who was beside him, did not utter a single word.

“Very well, splendid!”

“Since your majesty has already made all the necessary agreements, what else is there for us to say? Elder, let's leave now!”

With that, the Shang Clan's Young Emperor stood up and left, all while trying hard to hold back his anger.

“Hold up.”

The Royal Azure Dynasty King's words made him stop in his tracks. “I shall be hosting a large banquet in the palace today. In addition to this, I have invited many sky-prides as well to explain why the marriage by combat was canceled. The Young Emperor is invited to attend if he is interested.”

“Then what about that Chu Kuangren? Will he be attending?”

“He should be.”

“Got it, I'll be there.”

The Shang Clan's Young Emperor replied coldly.

After that, only Princess Linglong and the Royal Azure Dynasty King were left in the garden.

“Father, will the Shang Clan give up that easily?”

Princess Linglong asked.

“I've prepared generous amounts of gifts for them besides upholding the required etiquettes that are necessary. The higher-ups of the Shang Clan are not foolish. Although this matter will damage both sides' relations.h.i.+p, no major conflict will happen because of it.”

“Then… What about the Black Heaven Sect?”

“I've already discussed with their Honorable Xuan Qi. From this day onwards, Chu Kuangren will not only be the Black Heaven Sect's Elder Senior Brother, but also the Fiancé of the Royal Azure Dynasty's Eldest Princess. Regarding the date of the wedding, I'll leave it to both of you to decide yourselves.”

1

The Royal Azure Dynasty King chuckled.