“A joyous occasion?”
Upon hearing this, Chi Hong didn’t show the slightest hint of happiness; instead, the vigilance in her crimson eyes deepened.
She leaned forward slightly, her scrutinizing gaze roaming across Qin Qingyue’s face.
“What joyous occasion?”
She was inwardly suspicious—since when did this Evil Dragon have a change of heart and bring good news?
Has the Evil Dragon turned into the Joy Dragon?
“What do you think of our Jiang Huai?”
Qin Qingyue promptly pulled Jiang Huai in front of her, almost pressing him right up to Chi Hong’s Dragon Throne.
Jiang Huai was clearly dressed with particular care today.
His azure robe accentuated his upright bearing, refined features, and extraordinary temperament.
Yet being “paraded” like this by his own wife, though his face remained calm, he couldn’t help but feel a strange and awkward sensation deep down.
Why does this feel so odd—his own wife bringing him to propose marriage to another woman.
Only Qin Qingyue could pull off something like this.
Chi Hong raised her slender eyebrows, her gaze lingering on Jiang Huai for a moment before she lazily spoke with a half-smile:
“Mm, indeed, impressive bearing and outstanding appearance. So? Palace Master Qin, have you come today just to flaunt your husband before me?”
She was somewhat curious about Jiang Huai, but not for his looks. She couldn’t quite fathom what Qin Qingyue meant by this display.
Qin Qingyue chuckled slyly, dropping all pretense.
“Flaunt what? I’m being completely sincere—I’ve come to propose marriage to your Red Dragon Clan!”
Propose marriage? Propose to the Red Dragon Clan for Jiang Huai?
Chi Hong’s gaze swept over the obedient Su Yingman standing behind her, her expression turning a bit playful, her tone indifferent.
“Oh? Palace Master Qin is in good spirits, busy arranging concubines for her own husband?”
Her words made it clear that this so-called proposal was naturally for taking a wife as a concubine, not for marrying off her own husband.
“I wonder, Palace Master Qin, which young lady of my Red Dragon Clan has caught your eye?” Chi Hong asked, taking her time, her fingertips gently tapping the armrest of the Dragon Throne.
This was a tricky matter. With Qin Qingyue as the matchmaker, Chi Hong didn’t want to offend her, and besides, both were dragon clans—the Nine Heavens Palace was practically an invisible ally.
If the request wasn’t unreasonable, perhaps a promising young Red Dragon could marry over—provided she herself was willing.
“Our Nine Heavens Palace, after all, doesn’t have a low threshold.” Qin Qingyue smiled radiantly, as if discussing the most ordinary thing in the world.
“I wonder, could I ask to marry your clan’s Saintess…?” She rubbed her hands together.
“Qin Qingyue!” Before Chi Hong could react, the Grand Elder Chi Qin’s face had already changed drastically. She strode forward with a furious shout.
“What do you mean by this? Are you asking for the future Clan Leader of our Red Dragon Clan to become a concubine for your husband?!” “You’re humiliating our Red Dragon Clan!”
The status of the Dragon Clan’s Saintess was exalted; she was usually the designated next Clan Leader. Making her a concubine was the gravest of insults.
Faced with Chi Qin’s stern accusation, Qin Qingyue—thick-skinned as ever—still wore her smile, but her gaze locked directly onto the real decision-maker, Chi Hong.
Chi Hong, on the contrary, let out a soft laugh, her voluptuous body quivering slightly with her laughter, alluring yet with not a hint of warmth in her eyes.
“Palace Master Qin, the Saintess was chosen and nurtured by me personally—she is to lead my clan in the future.”
“Having her become someone’s concubine, heh, that’s unreasonable no matter how you look at it, isn’t it?”
The four Flame Crystal Stones in her palm glowed brighter, showing she wasn’t without confidence.
Qin Qingyue’s smile didn’t falter. “Matters of the heart are the hardest to explain.”
“When fate comes, it cannot be stopped.”
“Why not let the young ones meet, get to know each other before making any decisions?”
This refusal was within expectations, but Qin Qingyue was not willing to give up.
According to White Dew and Jiang Huai’s own feelings, the stronger and more talented the female cultivator, the greater the benefit to the Yin-Yang Body.
The most powerful in the Red Dragon Clan was, of course, Chi Hong—but there was no way she would humble herself as a concubine.
Then the most talented Saintess naturally became the optimal choice.
In Qin Qingyue’s eyes, no matter what, she had to fight for the very best!
“Our Nine Heavens Palace would never treat the Saintess unfairly. Resources, status, all privileges would be top-notch…”
“That’s not the issue.” Chi Hong interrupted coolly.
At that moment, the long-silent Jiang Huai suddenly spoke, his voice clear.
“Since the marriage alliance is hard to settle for now, may I at least request a meeting with your clan’s Saintess?”
Meeting everyone’s eyes, he continued calmly.
“Even if not for marriage, as fellow cultivators, is it not natural for us to spar, exchange insights, and discuss the Dao?”
Qin Qingyue glanced at Jiang Huai in surprise. What was going on? Why was her husband being so proactive today?
She’d thought he would keep silent until the end, just like always in these situations.
“You, a Foundation Establishment Period…”
Chi Qin couldn’t help but sneer, her tone full of disdain.
“What could you possibly have to discuss with our Saintess? The gap between your cultivation levels is far too great—you don’t even qualify to speak to her!”
If not for the constraints of his constitution, Jiang Huai would have already reached the Golden Core Stage by now; all the other geniuses of his generation had long since broken through.
Jiang Huai’s expression didn’t change.
He simply rested his hand lightly on the hilt at his waist, an invisible sharpness radiating from him. His tone remained calm.
“It’s just a meeting and exchange, sparring and mutual learning, that’s all.”
Just as White Dew had said, increasing his strength was now an urgent matter.
He thought of the calamity of the Outworld Heavenly Demons in the inherited memories, the collapse of the world, the precarious state of Qin Qingyue, beset with enemies and shaky foundations.
How long could the peace of the Cultivation World last? Could Qin Qingyue, upon reaching the Immortal Realm, truly remain supreme?
He could not be content to be protected any longer.
He had to grow quickly, to have the strength to guard those by his side.
The Yin-Yang Body had limitless potential—he had to make the most of it. Only then could he stand before Qin Qingyue and Zhu Rong in the future, instead of passively letting them shield him from every storm.
Otherwise, if someday the Qin Qingyue who had protected him all his life ended up with no one to protect her, wouldn’t he regret it for the rest of his days?
With this thought, Jiang Huai took a step forward and solemnly bowed to Chi Hong, his voice low and resolute.
“If your clan feels that I, Jiang Huai, am too unworthy to meet your Saintess, then why not have someone of your younger generation come out and spar with me?”
“Whether or not I qualify, let’s decide with our own hands.”
Since ancient times, sects in the Cultivation World have always allowed the younger generation to spar and compete—Chi Hong could not refuse this point.
Chi Qin was grinding her teeth in fury at Jiang Huai and was about to rebuke him again when Chi Hong lightly laughed and raised a hand to stop her.
“No need to trouble yourself, Young Master Jiang.” Chi Hong looked at him with great interest, half-smiling.
“Or does Young Master Jiang wish to reenact that legendary feat—one man challenging an entire sect?”
Clearly, Jiang Huai’s single-handed challenge of a sect’s young cultivators had already reached the Red Dragon Clan Leader’s ears.
She sat up a little straighter, her voluptuous curves more dazzling than ever, red lips curling into a meaningful smile.
“Young Master Jiang, since you only wish to meet the Saintess, I can grant you that favor.”
“However, my Saintess is currently cultivating in the clan’s Forbidden Land.”
“Then, Young Master Jiang, please go meet her alone.”
Her gaze was full of trial and scrutiny, as she slowly added,
“Of course, the prerequisite is that Young Master Jiang is capable of making it to her on your own.”