110: Chapter 110: The Eight Great Families

On the arena stage.

The battle between Zhou Yuanhao and Leng Xue had reached a fever pitch.

Blood-fiend Qi and Golden Imperial Qi intertwined and collided; every impact shook the arena's Restriction violently.

Both were at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, their strengths evenly matched, making it difficult to determine a victor for a time.

The crowd below watched with rapt attention, occasionally erupting into cheers.

Xiao Ran blended into the crowd, but his gaze drifted from time to time toward the figure behind the beaded curtain on the viewing platform.

"Something is definitely wrong."

He thought to himself.

"The rhythm of this Martial Arts Marriage Recruitment is just too smooth."

"Furthermore, this Third Prince of Great Qian clearly hasn't given his all. It seems he is also a plant."

From Golden Core to Nascent Soul middle stage, and now to these two at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, everything was proceeding step-by-step according to plan.

But the smoother it went, the more deliberate it seemed.

It was as if... someone was controlling everything from the shadows.

Through the Soul link, Li Changsheng's voice came through.

"Xiao Ran, I feel it too."

Having been prompted by Xiao Ran, he had also noticed something was amiss.

Xiao Ran nodded slightly.

"This White Emperor is indeed fishing."

"Fishing for all possible variables, and then..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Li Changsheng fell silent for a moment.

"Then should we..."

"No rush. I want to see exactly who is worth such a build-up from a Void Refining Stage powerhouse."

Xiao Ran interrupted him.

On the arena stage.

Zhou Yuanhao and Leng Xue were simultaneously sent flying backward, yet they both steadied themselves at the same time.

A trace of blood leaked from the corners of both their mouths; they had clearly sustained significant injuries.

"Exhilarating!"

Leng Xue licked the blood from his lip, his eyes filled with madness.

"Again!"

Zhou Yuanhao did not respond to the words. He took a deep breath and scanned the crowd below the stage.

Then, the Golden Imperial Qi surrounding his body dissipated instantly.

"There is no point in continuing this fight."

"Since Brother Leng wants to win so badly, then I shall let you have the victory!"

After saying that, he intended to jump off the arena stage.

On the other side.

Leng Xue's face darkened upon hearing this.

What do you mean 'let me win'? You're making it look like my victory is dishonorable!

Leng Xue immediately wanted to stop him.

Right at that moment.

"Good!"

A cool, clear voice rang out from the viewing platform.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it entered everyone's ears clearly.

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

The beaded curtain was pulled back, and a tall figure slowly stepped out.

It was a middle-aged man with a majestic countenance and an unfathomable aura.

Standing there, he seemed to merge as one with the entire world.

The White Emperor!

Although the pressure of a Void Refinement Peak expert hadn't been released, it already made everyone present feel suffocated.

Zhou Yuanhao and Leng Xue stopped simultaneously and bowed with cupped hands.

"Greetings, City Lord Bai."

The White Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the venue.

"Today is the day to choose a husband for my daughter. It is my, Bai's, honor that you all could attend."

He paused and looked at the two on the stage.

"The two of you are truly worthy of being called Prodigies. You are indeed promising young men!"

Zhou Yuanhao and the other quickly cupped their hands to express their thanks.

At this time, the curtain was lifted once more.

A delicate voice suddenly came from behind.

"Father!"

A woman wearing a pale yellow dress stepped out from behind the curtain, her calm gaze scanning the surroundings.

Bai Linger.

An eighteen-year-old girl, born with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and skin like congealed fat.

She was simply a top-tier beauty.

"Father, the two Prodigies are in the middle of a contest. It is best if we do not disturb their interest."

Her voice was also very pleasant to hear.

She had the aura of a mature, elegant woman.

"Very well, this was indeed my oversight."

The White Emperor said with a smile, then led Bai Linger back behind the curtain.

The beaded curtain fell once again.

At the same time.

Below the stage, a young man suddenly looked up, as if he had received some sort of hint.

...

Behind the curtain.

The White Emperor let go of his daughter's hand, his expression calm.

Bai Linger stood to the side, her expression clearly not as relaxed as before.

After a long while, she finally spoke softly.

"Father, must I really marry that person?"

The White Emperor looked down at her, a flash of reluctance in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by determination.

"Linger, your father is getting old."

With just those few words, Bai Linger could no longer maintain her composure.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

"Father, you are only eight hundred years old; you are in your prime. How can you be old?"

The White Emperor sighed at her words and gently wiped the tears from her face.

"Silly child, in my youth, I roamed the world freely and provoked many enemies. To survive, I used life-consuming secret techniques without regard for the cost. Only then did I earn the current glory of White Emperor City."

"But my body has also broken down."

"After I die, can those useless brothers of yours hold things together?"

"So your father has no other choice."

"The Su Family is one of the Eight Great Families of the Northern Territory. The old family head, Su Tianhe, is at the Body Integration Stage. There are few in the entire Northern Territory who can contend with him."

"The Su Family's direct son, Su Wuhen, is already at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection at thirty-five years old. He is hailed as the Su Family's number one Genius in a thousand years."

He paused.

"Such a person is worthy of you."

Bai Linger shook her head subconsciously.

"But he... he is supercilious and arrogant."

"I met him once. The way he looked at me was like he was looking at an object."

The White Emperor fell silent.

After a long time, he slowly said,

"Linger, let me ask you, who do you think will eventually win this Martial Arts Marriage Recruitment today?"

Bai Linger was startled, then said,

"Zhou Yuanhao and Leng Xue are both strong, but... didn't Father arrange for that person?"

The White Emperor nodded.

"Correct, Su Wuhen is right below the stage at this moment."

He walked to the edge of the curtain and looked at the arena through a gap.

"He will go up shortly. With his strength, sweeping the field will be effortless."

"When the time comes, everyone will see how the Direct son of the Su Family crushes all the other Prodigies."

Listening to this, Bai Linger's heart grew colder and colder.

"Father... you want him to establish his prestige in front of everyone?"

The White Emperor looked back at her.

"Indeed."

"Not only that, I want the entire Northern Territory to know that the son-in-law of White Emperor City is the future head of the Su Family."

He walked back to his daughter's side and reached out to help her up.

"Linger, your father knows he is wronging you."

"But you must understand that in this world, strength is everything. Only with the support of the Su Family can White Emperor City stand firm in the Northern Territory after I die."

"And you will become the mistress of the Su Family, the most noble woman in the entire Northern Territory in the future."

Bai Linger lowered her head and did not speak.

The White Emperor looked at her and sighed.

"Alright, when Su Wuhen goes on stage later, take a good look at him."

"Though he is arrogant, he indeed has the capital to be so."

"In time, you will get used to it."

He turned around and looked back at the arena.

Bai Linger stood in place, the bitterness in her heart known only to herself.

...

On the arena stage.

Zhou Yuanhao had already conceded.

Leng Xue waited for the next challenger.

Among the crowd, discussions began to rise.

"Is anyone else going up?"

"Such a great beauty can't be taken away by this cold-blooded fellow, right?"

"Look at you, getting anxious again."

"What do you mean by that? Is there someone even more powerful who hasn't made a move?"

"Nonsense, the true Prodigies haven't even appeared yet."

"Do you think there might be a Nascent Soul Great Perfection?"

"Unlikely. A Nascent Soul Great Perfection under the age of fifty is a rarity even in the entire Northern Territory."

Just as they were speaking, suddenly...

An arrogant laugh rang out.

"Hahaha! A bunch of local rabble actually dare to covet the Young Miss of the Bai family?"

The crowd automatically parted.

A young man wearing a purple brocade robe slowly walked out.

He had a handsome face with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, but his brow was etched with thick arrogance.

The aura around him was released without reservation—it was indeed the Nascent Soul Great Perfection!

"It's Su Wuhen!"

"The Direct son of the Su Family!"

"Why is he here?"

Cries of surprise erupted from the crowd.

Su Wuhen turned a deaf ear to these exclamations and walked straight toward the arena.

With one step, he landed on the stage and looked at Leng Xue expressionlessly.

"Will you step down yourself, or shall I send you down?"

Leng Xue showed no fear upon hearing this and gave a cold laugh.

"Su Wuhen, others may fear your Su Family, but my Blood Shadow Sect does not."

"Want me to go down? Ask the blade in my hand first!"