113: Chapter 113: Secret Talks at the City Lord's Mansion

The martial arts tournament for marriage came to an end amidst thunderous cheers.

Xiao Ran walked off the arena under the gaze of everyone and was immediately surrounded by a group of enthusiastic Cultivators.

"Brother Xiao! I am a Loose Cultivator named Wang Wu, I would like to invite you for a drink!"

"Young Master Xiao, I am from the Hundred Flower Valley... I would like to invite you to spend a wonderful night with me."

"Demon Son Xiao, would you do me the honor of visiting my home?"

"Young Master Xiao, I am from the Hehuan Sect. Do you want a companion? I can..."

"..."

A group of female Cultivators, who were decent in appearance, were eager to pounce on Xiao Ran, spouting suggestive remarks without restraint.

Xiao Ran was greatly shocked and hurriedly cupped his hands to politely decline them one by one.

Because there was a gaze locked onto him from behind.

At this moment, Bai Linger was standing behind the White Emperor, watching him.

Xiao Ran pretended to turn his head to look over inadvertently.

Their gazes met once again; Bai Linger lowered her eyes slightly, her face still expressionless.

But the faint blush on the tips of her ears betrayed her.

"There's a chance!"

As a master of romance, Xiao Ran noticed this immediately.

Therefore, his refusal to the female Cultivators who were throwing themselves at him became even more apparent.

"Young Master Xiao."

At this moment, an old man in gray robes in the crowd squeezed in front of Xiao Ran; he was the head steward who had presided over the martial arts tournament just now.

"The City Lord invites you. Please follow me."

He bowed slightly.

Xiao Ran nodded and followed the old man through the crowd towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Behind him, gazes of envy and jealousy wove into a web.

In their Soul connection, Li Changsheng's voice came through.

"Xiao Ran, you've made a huge profit this time! You've gotten all the beauty rewards!"

Xiao Ran's smile became even more pronounced upon hearing this.

"Just average, just average."

"Still pretending?"

Li Changsheng scolded him with a laugh.

"Alright, you go do your thing. I'm going to prepare for tomorrow's auction. Contact me if anything comes up."

"Alright."

Cutting the connection, Xiao Ran had already arrived at the gate of the City Lord's Mansion with the old man.

The City Lord's Mansion covered a vast area, with layers of grand halls and an extraordinary atmosphere.

The old man led Xiao Ran through several corridors and finally stopped in front of a grand hall.

"Young Master Xiao, please."

The old man pushed open the door and stepped aside.

Xiao Ran stepped inside.

The hall was spacious and bright. In the center, there was a long sandalwood table, and a person was sitting behind it—the White Emperor.

He had changed into black robes, his aura completely restrained.

But that aura of authority of a superior still made people afraid to look directly at him.

Several young men stood on both sides, each with an extraordinary demeanor; they were presumably the White Emperor's direct sons.

Their gazes towards Xiao Ran were varied: some curious, some scrutinizing, and some with a trace of hard-to-detect... complexity.

"Young Master Xiao, please sit."

The White Emperor raised his hand, pointing to the brocade stool in front of the table.

Xiao Ran sat down as instructed, neither humble nor arrogant.

The White Emperor looked at him, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master Xiao, I will fulfill my promise first."

He raised his hand, and a jade box and a Storage Pouch flew towards Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran took them and opened the jade box.

A golden Medicinal Pill, the size of a dragon's eye, lay quietly inside.

The fragrance of the pill was pungent; just one whiff made one feel refreshed.

Three-Turn Nirvana Pill! A Divine Pill that could help a Nascent Soul achieve a Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation stage.

"Many thanks, City Lord."

Xiao Ran was not polite at all; he immediately put away the Medicinal Pill and the Storage Pouch, cupping his hands in thanks.

The White Emperor waved his hand.

"This is what you deserve, but..."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"Young Master Xiao, I have a few questions I would like to ask you."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred, but he said calmly on the surface.

"Please go ahead, City Lord."

"How old are you this year?"

"Just over twenty."

A flash of shock crossed the White Emperor's eyes.

What kind of joke was this? A Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator in his early twenties? This talent was far more terrifying than Su Wuhun, and far more terrifying than he himself had been back then.

"Who is your master, Young Master?"

The White Emperor's tone softened significantly. He knew all too well the value of a Nascent Soul Cultivator in his early twenties. Such a person must never be offended, otherwise, the consequences would be endless.

"My master is the Third Supreme Elder of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, but I have not been a Disciple for long and have not yet formally apprenticed; I am just a registered one."

Xiao Ran replied truthfully.

The White Emperor was lost in thought.

The Third Supreme Elder? Anyone in the Eternal Night Demon Sect with the title of Grand Elder was an old monster from the previous era. Those were old monsters who had long reached the Body Integration Stage, had lived for who knows how long, and whose status in the Eternal Night Demon Sect was equivalent to the Sect Master.

"I have also heard about your affairs in the Ancient Battlefield."

"Young Master Xiao, you are even more outstanding than I imagined."

The White Emperor continued.

Xiao Ran smiled modestly: "The City Lord overpraises me."

The White Emperor's lips curled up, and suddenly he changed the subject.

"Young Master Xiao, what do you think of Linger?"

Xiao Ran was stunned. This question... the reversal was so fast?

He subconsciously looked at Bai Linger, who was standing behind the White Emperor. Bai Linger was still expressionless, but Xiao Ran noticed that her fingers were slightly gripping her sleeves.

"Young Miss Bai has the bearing of a celestial being, pure and unsullied."

Xiao Ran said after careful consideration.

The White Emperor nodded.

"Then if I gift her to you, would you be willing?"

Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze. The expressions of the several direct sons on both sides changed slightly, but they all endured it and did not speak.

Xiao Ran calculated rapidly in his heart. Gift? The White Emperor's words were quite clever! Gifting and marrying were only a one-character difference. But the meaning was completely different. Marrying was a normal union, the kind popular among the masses. But gifting was different; Bai Linger would be treated as a gift, and from then on, she would belong to Xiao Ran. These two meanings were completely different.

Xiao Ran paused in his heart. He understood instantly that it seemed this White Emperor wanted to get something from him. But on the surface, he remained calm.

"The City Lord honors me, but I am a person of the Demonic Path, and Young Miss Bai is a famous Fairy, this..."

"What Righteous Path or Demonic Path?"

The White Emperor waved his hand directly upon hearing this.

"In my eyes, there are only capable and incapable people. You won the martial arts tournament for marriage by your own strength, so Linger is yours."

"As for Righteous or Demonic... White Emperor City never asks about one's background."

He said it lightly, but it held an unquestionable authority.

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment. He looked at Bai Linger. Bai Linger was also looking at him. In those clear eyes, there was a trace of anticipation and a trace of nervousness.

Xiao Ran suddenly remembered that scene on the arena. The moment she lifted the pearl curtain and walked out, the composure in her eyes as she swept across the audience. It precisely struck Xiao Ran's fetish. What more was there to say?

"The City Lord's kindness, I..."

Xiao Ran was immediately prepared to agree.

"Wait."

"I have another presumptuous request."

Just at this moment, the White Emperor suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him.

Xiao Ran was stunned. This old geezer, he really knew how to time things. So he was waiting for me here?

"Please speak, City Lord."

Xiao Ran said calmly.

The White Emperor looked at him and said slowly.

"I want to cooperate with the Eternal Night Demon Sect."

Once these words were spoken, the hall quieted down again.

Xiao Ran's heart sank. As expected. The White Emperor marrying his daughter to him was not purely out of appreciation, but had political considerations.

"What does the City Lord want to cooperate on?"

The White Emperor smiled.

"For specific matters, I want to talk to someone who can make decisions in your sect."

"Young Master Xiao, could you help me make an introduction?"

Xiao Ran pondered for a moment and nodded.

"I can send a message back to the sect, but I cannot guarantee whether the Sect Master is willing to meet the City Lord."

"No matter."

The White Emperor waved his hand.

"You just need to send the message; whether it succeeds or not, I will appreciate your favor."

Xiao Ran said no more and took out a communication jade talisman from his bosom. This was given to him by Mo Yuan for emergency contact. He crushed the jade talisman, briefly explained the situation here, and then waited for a reply.

Eternal Night Demon Sect, Deacon Hall. Mo Yuan was flipping through a scroll when his brows suddenly raised.

In his storage ring, a communication jade talisman vibrated. He took out the jade talisman and probed it with his Divine Sense.

A moment later, a smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Interesting."

He whispered to himself.

"That kid Xiao Ran went to White Emperor City and even brought me back a surprise."

He thought for a moment, got up, and walked towards the back hall. Mo Yuan needed to discuss with someone.