Chapter 1090: Today, I Choose My Husband!
Chapter 1090: Today, I Choose My Husband!
The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled and said, "Alright, with the Battle for the Throne concluded, we now move on to another important part of this tournament. All of you, Crown Princes and backup candidates alike, are paragons of the new generation and the future of our realm. Your offspring will also carry great significance. I hope each of you will find a companion you're truly drawn to.
"For our two Crown Princes in particular, I must emphasize this: While your current cultivation is already high, the road to becoming an Emperor is still long and treacherous. Finding a suitable partner is critical. A good match can provide immense aid in overcoming the tribulation. For instance, if your partner is a Celestial Fox Great Demon King, a member of our clan with eight tails, they can channel our clan's fortune to assist you in your tribulation, reducing the difficulty by at least thirty percent. With the fortune of an eight-tailed Celestial Fox, your ascension to Emperor would be nearly guaranteed.
"As of now, there are only four such Great Demon Kings in our clan—and unfortunately, all of them are female. Jin Miaolin, if you're willing, I can offer you all four of them as your wives. You are extraordinarily talented, yes, but your capabilities are too multifaceted, which is a dangerous trait when facing tribulation. With the support of four eight-tailed Celestial Foxes, you would surely succeed.
"Fellow Emperors, I ask for your understanding. My recommendation certainly has some personal bias in it, but the main reason is the importance of Jin Miaolin's ascension to Emperorhood, for all of us and for the entire Ancestral Court. I have conducted divination based on the power of fortune surrounding the Blue Gold Tree clan, and here is the answer: If the Blue Gold Tree clan produces an Emperor, the life energy they control could extend our lives by at least five centuries each. I hope you understand that we cannot take chances here."
Originally, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor was already about to lose his temper at the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's blatant proposition to give Tang San four fox wives. But upon hearing the latter part, he fell silent.
What the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said was indeed true. If Jin Miaolin were to ascend, it would be of tremendous benefit to all current Emperors. With him extending their lifespan by five hundred years and gathering life energy for the Ancestral Court, his importance would rival the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's own influence over fate. Especially for the Emperors that were getting close to the end of their lifespan, five more centuries of life was something priceless.
By now, Tang San had already calmed from his earlier frustration. Hearing the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor's words, he cursed the wily old fox in his heart. So this was the trap. No wonder not a single fox clan woman had come to approach him; this Master of Destiny had planned this all along. And he really was going all in, offering all four of his Great Demon Kings at once.
But the fox had a point: Cultivating fortune was indeed extremely difficult. He himself had the Discerning Eye of Heaven, and he knew all too well that fortune only partially correlated with talent or insight, and was in fact a separate and elusive force. If the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor fell in the future due to old age, one of those four eight-tailed foxes would surely succeed him. By giving them all to Tang San, he was essentially entrusting the entire future of the Celestial Fox clan and the fox race to him, in a massive gesture of recognition.
As Tang San looked at the old fox smiling slyly at him, he found himself at a loss for how to politely decline.
But at that moment, someone interjected.
"Your Majesties, I am the champion of this tournament, and the matchmaking contest was held for me. Shouldn't I be the first to choose?"
The speaker was none other than Mei Gongzi. Her expression was calm and poised. As the First Crown Princess, her words carried authority even among Emperors.
The Celestial Fox Demon Emperor laughed heartily. "Of course, of course. Have you made your decision?"
Mei Gongzi turned toward the arena below. From where Tang San was, he could only see the side of her face. Bathed in sunlight, her flawless skin was tinged with a golden hue—dazzlingly beautiful, stunning beyond words.
All the Emperors focused their attention on her. While her importance to the Ancestral Court wasn't quite equal to Tang San's, she was still the absolute champion of the tournament. That blood-red divine sword she wielded had left a deep impression. If she used it to ascend, she could very well lead the Peacock Demon clan to new heights.
Tang San tensed. In front of so many Emperors, he couldn't give her any signal. If she declared that she wasn't choosing anyone, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor might apply pressure on her. But it was out of his hands; he had lost, after all.
"Today, I will choose my husband," Mei Gongzi declared. "And my future husband may only take me as his wife. Any woman who dares approach my husband, be she demon, nymph, or anything else, better be prepared to die."
Her words exuded killing intent. Even as she spoke, her Asura Hell Domain radiated across Council Mountain. It didn't feel like a selection—it was more like a declaration of dominion.
Tang San felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Compared to her past life, this version of her was far more commanding and fierce.
The Emperors were stunned as well. Recalling the moment when Mei Gongzi had ignited her life essence to slash at Jin Miaolin, even they felt a chill. Some suspected she had more to say: If an Emperor tried to take her husband, she might really cause another Emperor seat to be vacated.
"Have you made your decision?" the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor asked once more.
Mei Gongzi nodded. "My husband must be able to keep up with me, and be of help to my clan. I've made my choice."
"You have?" Even Tang San couldn't help exclaiming. Could it be that she'd publicly choose his human identity? That would bring tremendous pressure. She could even be stripped of her Crown Prince title.
"Oh? And who have you chosen? For our Crown Princess to make a choice, this person must surely be exceptional," the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor said with a smile.
Mei Gongzi replied coolly, "Honestly, by the time I came here, I hadn't made up my mind. But I must thank you, Your Majesty. Since you were willing to offer him four eight-tailed Celestial Foxes, he must be outstanding. You control the fate of the world, so I believe in your choice."
At first, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor smiled brightly. But as the meaning of her words sunk in, his expression froze.
He had planned this meticulously the moment Tang San entered the finals—he would stop at nothing to secure this union with the Blue Gold Tree clan. But in the end, he had been completely outplayed.
Tang San stared at Mei Gongzi in shock. He pointed at her, then at his own face. "You… What? You… choose… me?"
Mei Gongzi shot him a cold look. "Yes. I choose you. Didn't you like me or something? Well, there's your chance. Since all the Emperors think you're so amazing, I suppose you're qualified to be my husband."
"You… Weren't you about to kill me just now?! And now you say you choose me?!" Tang San exclaimed, disbelief all over his face.
"I was about to kill you. In fact, I still might," Mei Gongzi answered coldly, then turned away without another glance.
It was now obvious—she had recognized him. He didn't even know when he'd slipped up, but clearly, he had.
In any case, he could only smile awkwardly. Since she had chosen him and made such a bold and public declaration beforehand, he wouldn't need to reject any marriage offers himself. She had already done it on his behalf.