The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Over ten thousand members of the Military Suppression Department, clad in their black uniforms, quickly gathered in the vast plaza, standing in neat formations.

Chen Dong and his companion, however, were led by Guo Meizhu into the reception contingent. Everyone in this group was dressed in formal suits, gowns, or flowing traditional robes, looking as if they were about to attend a banquet.

A middle-aged man in a black trench coat, his hair slicked back, was inspecting the contingent.

Chen Dong recognized the man. It was Xue Yi, the former Beijing Domain Lord.

The members of the reception contingent asked in confusion, "Lord Xue, weren't the envoys supposed to arrive this afternoon? Why are they early?"

Xue Yi replied with an annoyed look, "Those guys didn't take the plane we sent to pick them up. They thought it wasn't safe and took their own Flying Magical Artifact. Damn it, I just got the news myself! Regardless, don't embarrass us. This is the first time the Floating Shadow Realm has sent envoys. Everyone, take this seriously!"

Xue Yi's gaze fell upon Chen Dong and his two companions. He frowned and walked closer, demanding coldly, "What's going on here? I don't recall selecting these two for the reception contingent!"

It seemed Xue Yi didn't recognize Chen Dong.

Guo Meizhu quickly mustered her courage and explained, "Lord Xue, they are my friends. They just wanted to see the spectacle. Besides, their cultivation levels aren't low. They won't cause any trouble, I guarantee it!"

'Guo Meizhu wanted to tell Chen Dong to leave, but it would be a disaster if he caused a scene now like he did back at the Guo Family estate.'

Xue Yi sized up the two of them, nodded, and said, "Two at the Inner Realm. Not bad. And they're good-looking. They can stay!"

This was the aura Chen Dong had Li Zhixuan display. His own aura of the Ninth-Layer of the First-Grade Golden Core was too powerful; there was no need to attract attention everywhere he went.

'But what did he mean by "good-looking"?' It was only then that Chen Dong noticed the reception contingent around him was composed entirely of handsome young men and beautiful women.

'Is this just a welcoming party?' Chen Dong wondered.

ROOOOAR—! In an instant, a series of unending lion roars thundered from the horizon.

Two truck-sized Thunder Lions appeared on the horizon, pulling a long, magnificent carriage.

A moment later, an immense pressure descended upon the plaza, emanating from the two Golden Core Stage Thunder Lions.

The members of the reception contingent could barely withstand it, their faces strained with effort. The ordinary disciples of the Military Suppression Department, however, were drenched in sweat and trembling. If not for their powerful willpower, they might have disgraced themselves and collapsed to their knees on the spot.

Just then, two earth-shattering bellows came from within the main hall: "MOO! MOO! You're just a couple of little lions with impure bloodlines! Keep acting fierce, and we'll turn you into soup!"

The pressure instantly vanished. The two Thunder Lions let out a pair of pitiful yelps.

An arrogant voice came from the carriage. "Please, do not be alarmed. These two Thunder Lions were only recently tamed. Their wild nature is difficult to control, and they can't always contain their aura."

The words seemed apologetic, but they held no real remorse. It was obvious the two lions had acted deliberately. It seemed these envoys from the Floating Shadow Realm did not come in peace.

The carriage slowly descended to the ground. The two lions, terrified by the earlier bellows, now lay obediently on the ground, not daring to move an inch.

A total of thirty-six people, both men and women, disembarked from the carriage. They wore Magic Robes in three different color schemes: white with blue patterns, white with black patterns, and plain cyan. Even the flowing skirts of the Female Cultivators followed these three color schemes. It seemed these people came from three different factions. Moreover, half of these thirty-six people were at the Golden Core Stage.

From the great hall, seven people emerged. Leading them was a gray-haired elder in a white robe. Following him were three Demon Cultivators whose transformations were likely incomplete due to their bloodlines; they had the heads of a pig, a tiger, and a cow, respectively. The bull's bellows from earlier must have come from this Cow Race Demon Cultivator.

'Aren't those three some of the ones who were captured by You back then!' Chen Dong realized, sensing their auras.

Behind them were an elder Chen Dong had never seen before and a dashing, elegant young man.

At the very back was Tian Sisi, dressed in a gossamer gown of smoky jade, patterned with pale clouds. Even walking at the rear of the group of seven, she was incredibly dazzling. But she wasn't looking at the people from the Floating Shadow Realm; instead, she knitted her willow-like brows and stared intently at Chen Dong.

The leading elder smiled and said, "I am Changyi, of the Military Suppression Department's Divine Department. Welcome, envoys of the Floating Shadow Realm!"

Three people stepped forward from the Floating Shadow Realm's side. A domineering man in a white robe with black patterns and sword-like eyebrows announced, "Mo Palace, Leng Tong."

An exquisitely beautiful woman in a flowing white skirt with blue patterns smiled gracefully. "Heart Slaying Hall, Baili Qingcheng."

The last one, a defiant youth in cyan robes, declared, "Cyan Sky Sect, Fu Changyan. We represent the righteous path of the Floating Shadow Realm on our mission to this world. From what I see now, this world is nothing special! Funneling resources like Spiritual Artifacts and Cultivation Techniques here would be a complete waste. In my opinion, these people have no potential worth cultivating whatsoever!" His words were filled with arrogance. He was the one who had spoken from the carriage earlier.

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the plaza turned frigid. The members of the Military Suppression Department, from top to bottom, glared at them with cold indignation.

Li Zhixuan sent a voice transmission to Chen Dong. "This guy doesn't think before he speaks. Has he cultivated himself into an idiot?"

Chen Dong sent back, "How could that be? How could someone chosen as an envoy for an entire realm be an idiot? His actions are a provocation, but they're also a display of his side's strength. This will give them more leverage in the upcoming negotiations and allow them to gain greater benefits. Someone will step in to smooth things over soon and propose something like a competition."

Sure enough, Baili Qingcheng curtsied and said with a smile, "Please, everyone, don't take offense. I'm sure you are all aware of the situation in the Floating Shadow Realm. We have come today to negotiate an agreement between our two worlds. However, the terms of that agreement will depend on your potential. If you are truly unsatisfactory, the Floating Shadow Realm will have to unilaterally close the passage."