Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Holding the Nether Fire Blade, Tuoba Rui was gasping for breath, his body drenched in sweat. He had never before experienced a clash of such intense spiritual concentration and power. Today had been utterly exhilarating.

Mu Chen was in a similar state, beads of sweat dotting his cheeks, but an excited smile played on his lips. "You too," he said, breathing lightly. "When it comes to Swordsmanship, you’re the strongest person my age I’ve ever met."

"Is that so?" Tuoba Rui chuckled. "Then that is truly my honor. But I’m still a step behind you."

Mu Chen was slightly surprised. "What makes you say that?"

Tuoba Rui turned, strapping the Nether Fire Blade to his back. He chuckled. "From the beginning of the fight to the end, you never once used your left hand. Hmph. The next time we meet, I will definitely force you to go all out."

With that said, Tuoba Rui’s figure vanished into thin air, disappearing from the platform in the blink of an eye. Mu Chen stared at the spot where he had vanished, silent for a long moment. Once his breathing steadied, he folded his Profound Jade Fan, slung the Profound Jade Box onto his back, and murmured to the empty space, "Next time. I will."

Seeing Tuoba Rui depart, Yu Wen Tuo clasped his hands in a salute to Mu Chen. "Since Brother Tuoba has left, I will not linger. When you have the time, don’t forget the duel you promised me."

Mu Chen smiled. "Of course."

Hearing Mu Chen’s affirmative reply, Yu Wen Tuo nodded in satisfaction and vanished as he turned to leave. On the entire battle platform, aside from the tattered and charred Zhang Lie, only Mu Chen and a dazed Wan Xian’Er remained, with him gazing at her.

Just then, Elder An appeared right on cue. He gave Mu Chen a deep look before turning his indifferent gaze to the crowd below the platform. "It seems the outcome of this marriage selection has been decided," he said slowly. "Although the ceremony did not proceed as I had envisioned, I believe our Young Miss has made her choice. Is that right?"

"Young Miss?"

Seeing Wan Xian’Er still looking lost, Mu Chen shook his head with a helpless sigh. He reached out and gently tapped her between the eyebrows. "Time to wake up."

A sharp sting between her eyebrows startled Wan Xian’Er awake. The moment she came to, she saw hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at her from both the stage and the crowd below. Even for the esteemed daughter of the Ding Palace, being caught so unprepared was incredibly awkward.

"What’s going on?" she asked, her gaze shifting nervously. She hadn’t heard a single word Elder An had just said.

"You didn’t hear?" Mu Chen gave Wan Xian’Er a mischievous look. "Just say ’yes’."

Without thinking, Wan Xian’Er blurted out, "Yes."

Elder An sighed softly. ’The ancients were right,’ he thought to himself. ’A woman’s intelligence drops to zero in front of the man she loves.’ He shot Mu Chen a peculiar glance before addressing the crowd. "Since our Young Miss has made her choice, this marriage selection ceremony has come to a successful conclusion!"

"Huh? Made a choice? What choice?" Wan Xian’Er faltered, turning her head to look at Mu Chen. But he just turned away to look at the distant sky, refusing to meet her gaze. His action made everything click into place for her. Surprisingly, she wasn’t the least bit angry. Instead, a sweet smile graced her lips.

’This guy... he hasn’t changed one bit.’

Down below, upon hearing the announcement that the ceremony was over, the crowd couldn’t help but look disappointed, even though they had expected it. Their disappointment, of course, wasn’t because they had failed to become the Palace Master’s son-in-law. Both Zhang Lie and Tuoba Rui were far stronger than any of them; even if Mu Chen hadn’t appeared, Wan Xian’Er would never have chosen one of them. Still, to have traveled so far, crossing mountains and rivers to reach the Ding Palace, only to stay for two days and do nothing... it left a bitter taste of resentment.

As if sensing the crowd’s frustration, Elder An smiled. "However, to compensate you for the hardship of your long journey, the Ding Palace will grant each of you one Seventh Grade Elixir. You may collect it now from the reception hall in the main palace."

"What?"

"A Seventh Grade Elixir?"

"One for each of us?"

"My heavens! What a grand gesture!"

...

At the mention of a Seventh Grade Elixir, the gloom on the faces of the once-disappointed crowd vanished, replaced by expressions of pure delight. One must understand that even for the mid- to high-tier families of the Central State, Seventh Grade Elixirs were extremely rare when distributing Cultivation Resources. Unless one belonged to a family of Cauldron Masters, that is. While there were many here from the Direct Lineage of respectable families, even they might only see a Seventh Grade Elixir a few times a year. To think they could come to the Ding Palace as if on a leisurely trip, stay for two days, do nothing, and receive such a prize... for a deal this good, they would gladly come again and again.

Such is human nature!

Of course, their thoughts were of no concern to Mu Chen. His attention was focused entirely on Wan Xian’Er, his roguishly handsome eyes burning with a feverish light.

As if sensing his stare, Wan Xian’Er turned her head. "What are you thinking?" she asked warily.

Mu Chen looked away. "The marriage selection ceremony is over."

Wan Xian’Er was speechless. "...So?"

"Time for the wedding night..."

Before the words had even faded, and without giving Wan Xian’Er a chance to react, Mu Chen swept her into his arms. Amidst her indignant cry of surprise, they vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.

High in the air, Wan Xianzhong witnessed this and flew into a rage. "Hey! That little bastard! In broad daylight! He dares to snatch my precious daughter from right under my nose! Does he have any respect for me, his father-in-law?!"

Roaring, Wan Xianzhong moved to tear open space and give chase, but when he stomped his foot, the space around him didn’t react. Surprised, he tried again, but still nothing happened. He whipped his head around and finally noticed the seven old geezers standing behind him. All of them had their eyes closed, their expressions placid, and each was emitting a current of Space Power that had locked down the area.