Chapter 375-376 On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 375-376 |
Three days later…
Lin Yuan City was more crowded than it had ever been.
The Yu family’s martial arts marriage competition had drawn attention from across the entire Abyssal Gaze Realm. Every cultivator who thought they had a chance flocked to the city, hoping to witness the event, and perhaps even participate.
A massive arena, visible from every corner of the city, had been constructed above the Yu Manor, a testament to the family’s power and influence. The entire city was abuzz with excitement, the crowds in the streets and on rooftops gazing up at the sky, their voices a constant hum of anticipation.
“Look! Isn’t that the Qi family’s patriarch? A renowned Dao Realm expert! He has so many children and grandchildren, why would he even bother participating?”
“Dao Realm is nothing compared to a Dao Venerable! A connection to the Dao Venerable is worth more than any amount of face or dignity! And look, the Xu family’s patriarch, the Grand Elder of the Lingyun Pavilion, even that old monster from Cloud Valley who hasn’t been seen in centuries… they’re all here!”
“You clearly don’t understand the significance of this competition. What greater opportunity is there than a connection to the Dao Venerable? If you’re lucky, he might even take you as his disciple! You could become a Dao Venerable yourself!”
“Who do you think will win?”
“I’m betting on Vice Palace Master Lin Wuji. He’s the Dao Venerable’s right-hand man, second only to him in power.”
“It’s hard to say… perhaps there are other hidden talents waiting to emerge. Remember that mysterious swordsman who dominated the preliminary rounds?”
“He’s probably just a fraud. He hasn’t shown up yet. He must be too scared to participate.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure…”
The entire city was abuzz with speculation and excitement.
And as they talked, a pair of fox ears flickered in the shadows, then disappeared.
———
Outside the city, on a deserted mountain…
Luo Luo landed gracefully beside Luo Qiaoqiao, her voice filled with worry. “The competition is about to begin. Is Young Master… ready?”
Luo Qiaoqiao glanced at the cave where Chen Yin was cultivating, a worried expression on her face.
“There’s been no movement. What should we do? If he misses the competition because of his breakthrough, he’ll never forgive himself. But waking him up now is too risky…” She hesitated, then bit her lip. “Let’s wait a little longer. He’s always been… unreliable… but he’s never let us down when it matters. We have to trust him.”
The long-awaited competition finally began.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire city, the participants took to the stage, their battles a dazzling display of skill and power.
But after a while, some of the spectators noticed something strange.
“Wait a minute… haven’t those Dao Realm experts, like Vice Palace Master Lin and the Xu family’s son, haven’t they fought yet? If they don’t hurry, the competition will be over!”
“They seem to be… waiting for someone… Who are they waiting for?”
“That mysterious swordsman, of course.”
“He hasn’t shown up yet… if he doesn’t come soon, he’ll miss the competition!”
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, while on the stage, Vice Palace Master Lin and the Xu family’s son sat calmly, their expressions unreadable.
They weren’t interested in the competition.
They had been ordered by the Qian Yuan Dao Venerable to stop Chen Yin, no matter the cost.
But he hadn’t appeared yet.
“Perhaps he was scared off?”
“What do you think, Vice Palace Master Lin?”
“I trust the Dao Venerable’s judgment. He wouldn’t waste our time.”
“But I still can’t believe there’s someone in the Lower Realm who could threaten him. How strong can he be, to warrant such a response?”
As the competition progressed, and the favorites remained on the sidelines, the whispers grew louder, the crowd’s curiosity turning into suspicion. Even the Dao Realm experts were exchanging uneasy glances, their uncertainty growing with each passing moment.
The referee, unable to control the restless crowd, looked towards the Yu Manor, hoping for some guidance.
In the study of the Yu Manor…
“He’s not here yet,” Qian Yuan, in his bird form, said softly, perched on the windowsill.
“Do you know where he is?” Yu Ling asked, her head propped up on her hand, her brow furrowed with worry.
“He’s outside the city, in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. But I can’t sense his causality anymore.”
“Does that mean he’s at a critical moment?”
“Reaching the Dao Realm isn’t easy. Even you needed my help, channeling the destiny of this world. It would normally take him decades, perhaps even centuries, to achieve it alone.”
“It seems he won’t make it in time.”
Yu Ling didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on the clouds outside, her mind filled with a quiet dread.
…Will he really… not come?
Another half hour passed.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and the Xu family’s son, his patience finally wearing thin, stood up. “It seems we’ve been waiting for a clown. Since none of you are interested in marrying the Yu family’s daughter, then I’ll take my chance.”
He leaped onto the stage, his movements graceful and fluid, his arrival met with cheers from the crowd.
“Young Master Xu, what are you doing?” Vice Palace Master Lin frowned.
“This is a martial arts competition,” he said calmly, “if no one else challenges her, then I’ll win by default. I’m sure the Dao Venerable wouldn’t break his promise.”
The other Dao Realm experts had only come because of Qian Yuan’s orders. They weren’t interested in the competition itself.
But the Xu family’s son was different. He genuinely wanted to win.
The referee, having received no further instructions from the Dao Venerable, had no choice but to continue the competition.
And the young man proved himself worthy of his reputation as a prodigy, his skill and power surpassing even those of the older Dao Realm experts.
Within minutes, he had defeated all the remaining challengers.
The crowd roared his name, their cheers deafening. “Xu family’s son! Invincible!”
“Too easy,” he said, his expression calm and indifferent, then he glanced towards the horizon, a hint of mockery in his voice. “It seems someone isn’t interested in this opportunity. In that case, I won’t be polite—”
As he turned to leave, about to claim his prize,
Every Dao Realm expert in the arena suddenly looked up.
A flash of light in the sky.
He stopped and saw a young woman in white, her face youthful, her eyes ancient, standing before him, her gaze fixed on his face.
His brow furrowed slightly. “…A sword spirit?”
“My master sends his regards,” she said, her voice clear and bright, “he’s a bit busy, so he sent his sword instead. You can claim your prize… after you’ve survived this.”
Silence fell over the arena.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, the Dao Realm experts exchanging worried glances.
The Xu family’s son’s face turned pale, then flushed with anger.
It was a blatant insult.
He hadn’t even bothered to show up, sending a mere sword instead.
“I’ll see,” he said, his voice cold and hard, “what kind of ‘master’ you have, to be so arrogant!”
Sword Maiden looked at him, her long black hair swaying gently in the wind, her amber eyes clear and bright. “Then I’ll begin.”
She raised her hand, a single slender finger extended towards him.
And in that moment, his calm facade crumbled, his initial disdain turning to anger, then to shock…
…and finally, to terror.
Outside the city…
“It’s too late!” Luo Qiaoqiao said, her voice filled with a desperate urgency. “I’ll go wake him up!”
“Wait, Sister Qiaoqiao—”
Luo Luo was about to stop her when a hand gently rested on her head.
Another hand rested on Luo Qiaoqiao’s head, and she sighed, her body relaxing.
“Seriously… you always do this… it’s so nerve-wracking…”
“Sorry,” Chen Yin said softly, his eyes now clear and calm, his aura strangely… ordinary… like that of a mortal.
“I’ll be back soon.”
On the arena stage in Lin Yuan City…
Since the white-clad girl’s appearance, the initially boisterous crowd had fallen into a stunned silence. The Xu family’s eldest son lay unconscious, gravely injured by a single sword strike. The renowned Dao Realm experts who had challenged her were scattered across the stage, defeated.
Only one remained.
Lin Xian, Vice Palace Master of the Lin Yuan Palace.
He gripped his sword, the famed Mingfeng Sword, which trembled faintly in his hand, its aura subdued, as if whimpering in fear. His gaze was fixed on the girl, his expression grim.
“…I’m out of… swords,” she said, glancing at her empty hand, then looking at him with a hint of admiration in her eyes, “you’re very strong. You survived Master’s sword.”
Just one sword… Lin Xian chuckled wryly. He was the Vice Palace Master, a Dao Realm expert for over a thousand years. He was the closest to becoming a Dao Venerable, yet this unknown swordsman, or rather, his sword, wielded by a mere girl, had almost forced him to use his full power. Only he knew how terrifying that single sword strike had been. He was a Sword Cultivator himself, but that sword… it had almost shattered his Dao Heart, its power so far beyond his reach that he had felt a wave of despair, a chilling premonition of his own inadequacy.
…Has he already become a Dao Venerable, through the Sword Dao? He smiled bitterly.
He finally understood why Qian Yuan had given them this task.
Perhaps he had never expected them to succeed.
But it was the Dao Venerable’s order.
He took a deep breath, his voice calm and steady. “Little girl, you’re a sword spirit, aren’t you? Your master is incredibly powerful. But I have my orders. Unless he defeats me personally, no one will win this competition. You alone are not enough.”
Sword Maiden thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. I can’t defeat you.”
“But…”
A sudden chill ran down Lin Xian’s spine, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss, his back drenched in cold sweat.
“My Master says—”
“—I’ve kept you waiting.”
The Eternal Light Sword, its blade shimmering with a translucent light, appeared before him.
A man in grey robes, a wide-brimmed hat concealing his face, stood there, a faint smile on his lips. “Apologies for sending only my sword spirit. I was… detained. Consider this a token of apology.”
Lin Xian didn’t hear his words.
His gaze was fixed on the tip of the sword, his mind a blank canvas. Only he, a fellow Sword Cultivator, could sense the terrifying power contained within that seemingly delicate blade. It was as if all his connections to the world, all his ties to reality, had been severed, leaving him alone in a vast, empty void, a silent, desolate abyss.
Tears streamed down his face.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse and trembling.
“Have you… become… a Dao Venerable…?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer.
He bowed slightly, then turned and walked towards the Yu Manor, leaving behind the stunned crowd, the speechless referee, and the utterly defeated Lin Xian.
And this time, no one dared to stop him.
He walked slowly, deliberately, along the long, winding staircase that led to the clouds, each step echoing in the silent air. It had been a long time since he had walked alone like this, his heart so quiet, so still.
Ever since his return, he had been constantly busy: saving Xiang’er, rebuilding the Mist Spirit Sect, dealing with Shen Li, running errands for his… harem… traveling between Qinglian City, Xiaoxiang Clinic, the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain, and the Wu Xuan Cave. He had fought in the Triennial Heavenly Tribulation, a thousand years ago and again in his own time. He had ascended to the Upper Realm, searching for Master.
He was tired.
But he had never felt so… close… to the end, as if this long staircase, leading to the heavens, was the final stretch of his journey, the summit the end of his story.
He reached the top and stepped onto the floating island, the Yu Manor looming before him.
A small, grey bird perched on the steps, its eyes fixed on him.
“You’ve arrived.” It transformed into Qian Yuan, his gaze meeting Chen Yin’s.
“Are you going to stop me?” Chen Yin asked, his voice calm and steady.
“No.” Qian Yuan’s gaze lingered on him for a moment, then he closed his eyes. “…You’re faster than I expected.”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
“She’s been waiting too,” he added softly.
Chen Yin looked past him, and the gates of the Yu Manor slowly opened, revealing Yu Ling, dressed in a flowing gown, her hair styled in an elegant updo, her lips curved into a gentle smile, her eyes shining with an uncontainable joy.
“Did you miss me, brat? Were you worried I would find another man?”
“You’re so… ladylike. It’s unsettling,” he retorted, his usual playful banter returning.
“What?! I can’t wear a pretty dress once in a while?!”
“It doesn’t suit your… comedic personality.”
“You’re asking for a beating! It’s been too long since I spanked you!”
“My ass is too thick for your little hands. Try it.”
“I’ll pinch your cheeks!”
The tension between them dissipated, replaced by their familiar playful banter, as if they were back on Mount Yu, not in the celestial realm of the Yu Manor. She pinched his cheeks playfully, and he tickled her, their laughter echoing through the air.
When their laughter finally subsided, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, she said softly,
“…Brat,”
“Listen to me, just this once.”
“No,” Chen Yin said firmly.
“Just once! Can’t you be obedient for once?! I’m about to save the world! You’re too young for this! Let me handle it!”
Chen Yin just looked at her, his gaze steady.
“Once I become a Dao Venerable, I’ll be the ruler of this world! I’ll beat up that Gu Tian bastard and avenge the Yu Alliance! And then I’ll travel to all the worlds and find all the prettiest girls and have a massive orgy! Doesn’t that sound amazing?! Why aren’t you excited?!”
Chen Yin shook his head.
“You’re impossible!” she exclaimed. “I’m offering you so much, and you’re still not satisfied?! Are you going to neglect me again, now that you have your harem?! Are you going to do everything yourself, without telling me, like you did in the dimensional passage?!”
Chen Yin’s playful demeanor vanished, his brow furrowing slightly. “You think I’ve forgotten about that? I haven’t. You raised me. You know I hold grudges.”
He would never forget that moment in the dimensional passage, when she had frozen time, her body turning to ice as she held him close.
He wouldn’t let it happen again.
“Don’t lie to me. Someone told me the truth. Becoming the Heavenly Dao means sacrificing everything, your body, your soul, your very being. I won’t let you do this alone. Not again.”
Master pouted. “Why are you so stubborn? Why can’t you listen to me, just this once? I’m your Master!”
“And I’m your man.”
They glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I was blind to choose such a disobedient disciple.”
“And I was blind to fall for such a spoiled and unreasonable brat,” he retorted.
But it was too late for regrets.
They were both hopelessly, irrevocably in love.
“One last time,” she said, her voice turning serious, “are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” Chen Yin’s gaze was firm and unwavering.
“You don’t have to do this. Many people will be sad if you become the Heavenly Dao.” She glanced at Luo Qiaoqiao and Luo Luo, who were rushing towards them, their faces filled with worry. She knew there were others too. “You could just stay on Mount Yu and… take care of our little harem. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Chen Yin’s eyes lowered slightly.
“…Yes, perhaps it would.”
“But if you become the Heavenly Dao…”
“I’ll be sad.”
I’m greedy. I want you all to be happy. I can’t bear to lose any of you.
“This time,”
“It’s my turn to be the hero,” he whispered, raising the Changming Sword.