171: Sang Qianhua (Part 2)
"I have not deceived you."
Xu Qing's voice sounded again, still calm, but now carrying an undeniable weight.
He walked to Sang Qianhua's side, stood with his hands behind his back, looked at the rolling mountains outside the hall, and said slowly, "In this world, the Legacy is not the only path."
"The world is vast, and there are countless Opportunities."
"Although I was born humble and was indeed a small snake in the Taihang Mountains, but..."
Xu Qing turned his head, his golden vertical pupils seeming to contain the birth and death of stars. He looked deeply at Sang Qianhua and said, "I once had a great Opportunity."
"A great Opportunity?" Sang Qianhua turned around, her expression shifting slightly.
"Correct," Xu Qing nodded.
Naturally, he would not reveal the existence of the System; that was his greatest secret and the foundation of his standing. However, he could explain it using another concept common in the cultivation world.
"This Opportunity is so great that it exceeds your imagination. It allowed me to be reborn, enabled me to learn those ancient Divine Abilities, and let me see things that ordinary people cannot. It is precisely because of this that I have been able to reach this point today."
Xu Qing's tone was sincere, and his expression was open.
Sang Qianhua stared into Xu Qing's eyes, trying to find any trace of a lie. But those golden eyes were as deep as an abyss, filled only with honesty and confidence.
After a long time, the doubts in Sang Qianhua's heart finally wavered.
In the cultivation world, there is indeed the concept of "Luck."
Some beings, despite their humble origins, possess Heaven-Defying Luck; they can pick up ancient Immortal Artifacts while walking and achieve enlightenment while sleeping.
Such people of destiny, while rare, do exist.
"Opportunity..." Sang Qianhua murmured. The shock in her heart did not diminish; instead, it grew even stronger.
What kind of Opportunity could allow Xu Qing to grow in such a short time to become an existence capable of rivaling, or even surpassing, her, who possesses the Heavenly Silkworm Clan Bloodline?
Every cultivator has their own trump cards and secrets.
Since Xu Qing attributed it to an Opportunity, it was a forbidden zone that should not be probed further.
To ask further would be to commit a taboo.
"Fine, I believe you." Sang Qianhua took a deep breath, nodded, and accepted this explanation.
Immediately after, her expression became somewhat strange, carrying a trace of incomprehensible confusion, and she asked the question that she could not understand most.
"Since that is the case, with your Opportunity and strength, your future achievements will be limitless. You even have the hope of reaching the Upper Three Ranks and becoming a Demon King."
Sang Qianhua pointed outside the hall, her tone complex as she said, "You already have a wife like Bai Ling, who possesses the Dragon Bloodline, as well as the celestial fox sisters from the Tushan Clan, and even a divine Dao Companion like the Jingyue River God... In your harem, there are countless stunning beauties."
"Why... are you still persistent in wanting to marry me?"
Sang Qianhua truly did not understand.
If it were for the power of the Demon Alliance or the Treasure Trove of the Heavenly Silkworm Clan, Xu Qing could have completely traded it for his favor.
After all, he had seen the ancestor's remnant soul and could have made similar requests...
Yet, he specifically made the request to "take a wife."
For Xu Qing at this moment, an extra fourth-rank Dao Companion did not seem to bring about a qualitative leap; instead, it would only add another layer of Karma.
"Could it be..." Sang Qianhua looked at Xu Qing with a strange expression, hesitating, "Could it be that you are truly just... lustful?"
Facing Sang Qianhua's question, Xu Qing's expression remained unchanged.
He gave a direct answer: "Yes, and no."
"You are the Clan Chief of the Heavenly Silkworm Clan, possessing the Nine Changes Demon King Bloodline. Whether it is your appearance, Aptitude, or cultivation, you are rare in this world." Xu Qing took a step forward, only inches away from Sang Qianhua, and could clearly smell the faint, delicate fragrance on her. "I, Xu Qing, seek much in this life. On this long path to immortality, would it not be lonely without a beautiful woman by my side? Since I have the ability, I naturally want to keep the best women in the world by my side."
"I want to marry you, and I am sincere."
Xu Qing's words were straightforward and domineering, lacking flowery embellishments, yet they exuded a powerful sense of self-confidence and possessiveness.
Sang Qianhua was stunned.
She did not expect Xu Qing to admit it so readily, speaking with such righteous confidence, so refreshingly and uniquely.
For some reason, looking at the man before her and those eyes burning with golden light, she could not feel even a shred of revulsion in her heart.
The Yao Race has always revered the strong; for the strong to possess more is only natural and right.
Sang Qianhua was silent for a moment, countless thoughts flashing through her mind.
The future of the Heavenly Silkworm Clan, the period of weakness after the blood curse is lifted, the covetous eyes of the outside world... and this mysterious, infinitely potential man before her.
If she married him, the Heavenly Silkworm Clan would receive the most powerful protection, and she would no longer have to struggle alone to support this vast Demon Alliance.
Moreover, whether to repay his kindness or to follow the ancestor's last wish, this seemed to be the best choice.
Furthermore...
Sang Qianhua raised her head, looked at Xu Qing's handsome and bewitching face, and sighed slightly in her heart.
This man truly possessed a charm that one found hard to resist.
"Fine."
After careful consideration, she made her final decision.
The confusion in her eyes dissipated, replaced by a touch of firmness and relief.
The Demon Alliance Leader, Sang Qianhua, bowed slightly to Xu Qing. Although her voice remained cold, it now carried a sense of belonging.
"Since the Mountain Master does not mind my humble appearance, Sang Qianhua... is willing to marry the Mountain Master as his wife, from now on sharing honor and disgrace, life and death together."
As these words fell, the atmosphere in the great hall instantly became amorous and tender.
Xu Qing's mouth curled into a satisfied arc, and he reached out to help Sang Qianhua up.
"Since we are family, from now on you don't need to call me Mountain Master."
"Call me Husband."