Marry the Demon Sect Girl with No Bride Price

Zhenyang Mountain.

Sword Tomb Peak.

Unlike the lush forests of the other five peaks, Sword Tomb Peak had no trees, only a stone stairway leading upward from the foot of the mountain straight to the summit.

This stairway had thousands of steps, and no one typically ventured upon them.

Because this stairway, leading directly to the peak, was called the "Punishment Tier."

If a disciple violated the sect rules, committing a grave offense, they must ascend these stone steps to the Sword Tomb Platform at the summit, to receive the sect’s judgment.

It had been several decades since anyone had ventured up these steps.

But today, disciples of Zhenyang Sect lined both sides of the Punishment Tier.

Everyone was waiting for the third senior sister of Xiyue Peak to walk this stairway.

"Such a pity, Si Minglan, ranked as a top beauty on the Beauty Ranking, is she really going to meet her demise?"

"Nonsense, third senior sister must be innocent!"

"It’s a rare scene for all six peaks’ hearing, which hasn’t been seen for many years, I reckon Si Minglan is likely guilty."

"Even so? How dare the West Imperial Dynasty, a mere mortal dynasty, interfere in our Zhenyang Sect’s affairs, even if their eldest prince was killed, so what?"

"Shush, keep your voice down! Don’t you know that behind the West Imperial Dynasty is the Immortal Flying Pavilion, and that Western Empress Lin Yuan hails from there?"

"Oh, why isn’t that princess here?"

"She’s here!"

While the disciples of Zhenyang Sect were conversing, someone exclaimed as figures appeared in the sky, performing Sword Flight; it was the Peak Masters and Commanding Disciples of the Six Great Peaks.

They flew to the summit of Sword Tomb Peak, landing on the Sword Tomb Platform, which was specially set up for judging disciples who violated sect rules.

Today’s six peaks hearing would also take place on the Sword Tomb Platform.

Soon, a figure of noble elegance slowly arrived, causing exclamations below.

She wasn’t riding a flying sword, but stood on a white ribbon that fluttered in the wind, yet she stood steady, her figure full and graceful, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

"Is this the Western Empress?"

"Indeed a beauty beyond compare!"

"Stop acting like you’ve never seen such things, Peak Master Xiyue and Senior Sister Wei Wan rank higher than her on the Beauty Ranking!"

"But this mature woman’s charm is really irresistible!"

Amidst the voices of admiration, Lin Yuan descended gently onto the Sword Tomb Platform, as if a celestial maiden.

The six Peak Masters stepped forward to greet her.

Zheng Shengmo, Wei Shouyuan, and Shi Shuhong were particularly enthusiastic, praising Lin Yuan’s beauty incessantly.

Leng Jing, the Peak Master of Sword Tomb Peak, responsible for internal sect punishment, with a thin face and an iron ruler in hand, approached Lin Yuan without expression and slightly bowed.

Lin Yuan smiled warmly: "I’ve long heard of Peak Master Leng’s impartiality, I trust today the truth shall emerge clearly."

Leng Jing’s voice was emotionless: "If Si Minglan is guilty, I will not show favoritism."

"Then I am at ease." Lin Yuan nodded, and Ye Xiyue also stepped forward to pay respects, Lin Yuan looked her up and down, praising:

"Peak Master Ye, with her celestial beauty, is truly a fairy of the present age."

Jian Yue appeared cold: "Western Empress, with elegance and dignity, and Immortal Flying Pavilion’s aura surrounding, truly lives up to the reputation."

Lin Yuan remained gracious: "Peak Master Ye jests, I have long left the Immortal Flying Pavilion, now just a mother seeking justice for a wronged child."

"Western Empress also jests, the eldest prince is born of the late Noble Consort Li, not your child, correct?"

Tantai Mingyue stepped forward, her smile gentle, yet her eyes sparkled with a sharp light, starkly different from her usual tranquil and graceful self.

Lin Yuan also looked at Tantai Mingyue, the two women, one noble, one gentle, yet between them seemed countless spiritual powers colliding, sparks flying.

Below the Sword Tomb Platform were the inner sect disciples of various peaks, staring dumbfounded.

Everyone knew that Peak Master Tantai was serene and gentle, never disputing with others, what was happening today?

Why did she seem ready to fight the Western Empress?

A few steward disciples in the know quietly explained to others:

"Actually, Junior Martial Uncle Tantai and the Western Empress used to be kindred spirits, back then, Western Emperor Wu Zheng was merely the third prince, not the Crown Prince. Junior Martial Uncle Tantai and Junior Martial Uncle Sang Yue were sent by the Sect Leader to the West Imperial Dynasty, intending to ensure the Crown Prince smoothly ascended the throne."

"Lin Yuan had just left the Immortal Flying Pavilion and bonded with Junior Martial Uncle Tantai instantly, like sisters, Lin Yuan promised to help Junior Martial Uncle Tantai support the Crown Prince’s ascension."

"But unexpectedly, Lin Yuan suddenly married the third prince Wu Zheng and assisted him in killing the Crown Prince!"

"Eventually Wu Zheng ascended as Emperor, Junior Martial Uncle Tantai failed the Sect Leader’s task, and upon returning to the sect, she voluntarily sought punishment, spending three years in solitary reflection on Sword Tomb Peak."

Others listening were flabbergasted, none expected Tantai Mingyue and Western Empress Lin Yuan to have such a past, someone pondered:

"Even so, isn’t it just a difference in their beliefs?"

"Indeed, after all, whether the West Imperial Dynasty’s Emperor is the third prince or not makes little difference to Zhenyang Sect, it’s unlikely he’ll take action against us, right?"

The well-informed disciples spoke quietly: "There’s a hidden aspect to this... Rumor has it that Junior Martial Uncle Tantai and the Crown Prince were about to become Dao companions!"

Wow!

The news was too sensational, the disciples were stunned, all eyes turned to the icy confrontation between Tantai Mingyue and Lin Yuan on the Sword Tomb Platform.

So the serene Tantai Mingyue once had a man she was devoted to.

And the Western Empress turned out to be Junior Martial Uncle Tantai’s husband’s murderer!

No wonder they were so adversarial.

At this moment, hearing Tantai Mingyue’s words, Lin Yuan calmly replied:

"Taoist Friend Tantai, you’re mistaken, as Empress, all the princes are my children, naturally I must seek justice for my wronged child."

Tantai Mingyue remained calm: "Taoist Friend Lin, you’re mistaken, everyone knows the eldest prince was wicked, where’s the claim of wrongful death?"

Lin Yuan’s eyes gleamed: "So, the eldest prince’s death was intentional by Zhenyang Sect?"

Tantai Mingyue smiled indifferently: "No wonder, you rose by killing your brother, ready to provoke discord between Zhenyang Sect and the West Imperial Dynasty."

Lin Yuan smiled: "Ming Yue, you still can’t let go of the past."

Tantai Mingyue’s voice turned cold: "Lin Yuan, time will tell, retribution will come."

Then Zheng Shengmo spoke: "Junior Sister Tantai, the Sect Leader commanded you to temporarily act as Deputy Sect Leader before retreating into seclusion, prioritize the greater matters."

Tantai Mingyue was silent for a moment, no longer confronting Lin Yuan, turning to Leng Jing who was responsible for the six peaks hearing:

"Let Si Minglan ascend the Punishment Tier."

Leng Jing nodded, and soon, at the foot of the mountain, several disciples of Sword Tomb Peak escorted a disheveled woman to the front of the Punishment Tier.

Suddenly, sounds of disbelief erupted around.

"This, this person is Si Minglan?"

"Oh my, this is the third senior sister of Xiyue Peak? The fairy on the Beauty Ranking?"

"What has she gone through, how has she become like this?"