I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals
Chapter 429: Phoenix Crown and Rosy Veil, Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea

Chapter 429: Phoenix Crown and Rosy Veil, Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea

Within the territory of the Beast King Valley.

Jianya City, originally an immortal city affiliated with the Blood Sword Valley of Feng Kingdom, had been successively captured by the Unseen Gate and the Beast King Valley.

Now, Jianya City was a key logistical hub behind the Beast King Valley's frontlines, supplying resources and reinforcements to various frontline strongholds.

In recent years, the surrounding cultivation forces near Jianya City had been placed under wartime control by the Beast King Valley elder, "Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch."

At dawn, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, Jianya City was adorned with lanterns and decorations, filled with a festive atmosphere.

A wedding procession from the frontline Feilong stronghold entered Jianya City.

The bridal carriage of Black Feather True Monarch, decorated with auspicious symbols, was pulled by two third-rank jiao dragons, exuding an extraordinary aura as he rode with pride and vigor.

Half an hour later.

A luxurious and majestic "Flying Phoenix Carriage" emerged from Jianya City, soaring into the sky, accompanied by thousands of cranes and birds, surrounded by auspicious clouds and radiant light.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Black Feather, for fulfilling your long-cherished wish and marrying the Saintess."

Before the groom's jiao dragon carriage, former Core Formation fellow disciples who had been close to him offered their warm congratulations.

Black Feather True Monarch's admiration and pursuit of the Peacock Saintess were no secret within the Beast King Valley.

Black Feather True Monarch's face was full of satisfaction as he glanced back at the Flying Phoenix Carriage behind him, his heart warming slightly.

Beaded curtains blocked his view.

Inside the carriage, the Peacock Saintess wore a phoenix crown and rosy veil, dressed in a custom-made "Rainbow Phoenix Gown." The feathered skirt accentuated her graceful figure, showcasing her magnificence, nobility, and unparalleled beauty.

Pei Shuyuan lifted her veil slightly, her crimson-painted lips pursed as a complex expression flickered across her face, loneliness, reluctance, before she turned to look back at the heights of Jianya City.

On the city tower.

Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, his hair silver and his face aged, watched the departing wedding procession with sharp, eagle-like eyes.

"Those below the Nascent Soul realm are mere ants. A single step away, yet bound by fate."

Pei Shuyuan sighed inwardly, forced to accept this arranged marriage for the sake of her family, her destiny no longer her own.

But dedicating herself to the Pei family while also avenging herself through her "future husband" was not a bad choice.

She held no resentment, only a trace of guilt.

Over the centuries, her family had spared no expense to nurture her, a heaven-grade spiritual root cultivator, to reach the pinnacle of the Beast King Valley, even aspiring for her to become the leader of the sect.

In her early years, to obtain the heaven-grade Five-Colored Peacock, her grandfather had even humbled himself.

As the wedding procession left Jianya City, Black Feather True Monarch turned to the city tower and bowed respectfully to Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, who nodded slightly in encouragement.

"Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch has deployed the famous 'Ten Thousand Cranes Soul-Extinguishing Formation' for protection, showing his deep regard for his granddaughter and this marriage alliance."

Among the Beast King Valley's forces, many cultivators gazed in awe at the Flying Phoenix Carriage gradually disappearing into the clouds, surrounded by a vast flock of spirit cranes dancing gracefully, radiating immense pressure.

Even if Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch did not personally attend, the "Ten Thousand Cranes Soul-Extinguishing Formation" could hold off a Nascent Soul True Monarch for a short time.

Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch held high seniority within the Beast King Valley. It was said that even Sect Master Meng addressed him as "senior brother."

His divine abilities surpassed those of many veteran Nascent Soul cultivators, placing him among the top early-stage Nascent Soul experts, second only to the Grand Elder and the sect master.

This was also why Black Feather True Monarch had repeatedly tolerated delays and insisted on marrying the Peacock Saintess.

Only with this elder's support could he hope to reclaim the Black Heaven Wings on the demonic battlefield and perhaps advance further in the future.

...

The wedding procession raced through the sky toward Feilong Fort near the frontline, the region under Black Feather True Monarch's jurisdiction.

Due to the impending war, the wedding was relatively modest, not overly extravagant.

As a result, only two True Monarchs from neighboring strongholds attended the ceremony in Feilong Fort.

One of them was True Monarch Fang.

The Beast King Valley's occupied borderlands were vast, and most other True Monarchs had their own duties and responsibilities, sending only trusted representatives.

With three True Monarchs stationed at Feilong Fort, the safety of the wedding was well guaranteed.

Moreover, Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch in Jianya City could provide distant support if needed.

The wedding procession returned safely to Feilong Fort.

Due to the True Monarch-level wedding, Feilong Fort was filled with celebration. The stationed cultivators received spirit stone rewards, and mid-to-high-level cultivators indulged in wine during the festivities.

In such an atmosphere, the fort's usual strict regulations and personnel controls were inevitably loosened.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Black Feather True Monarch, his face glowing with joy, hosted the two True Monarchs and Core Formation representatives from various factions of the Beast King Valley.

The banquet was lively, with toasts and laughter.

Midway through the feast, a Core Formation cultivator on duty rushed in to report:

"Reporting to the True Monarch! In just half a day, our scouts and patrol cultivators around Feilong Fort have inexplicably disappeared or died. At the same time, the Righteous Dao Alliance's Evergreen True Monarch and his spirit beast are eyeing our borders menacingly."

Hearing this, Black Feather True Monarch's expression darkened with anger.

What was that Turtle Lan up to, harassing the borders on his wedding day?

Even before the marriage alliance, the demonic path scouts and spies near the frontline had suffered significant losses, including elite operatives from the Unseen Gate.

The Evergreen True Monarch's spirit beast, the Rat King was good at earth escape and ambushes, making it nearly impossible to guard against.

Black Feather True Monarch had originally planned countermeasures after the wedding.

But now, on his wedding day, he was denied peace, as the Righteous Dao Alliance took advantage of the distraction.

"Recall all scouts and patrol cultivators! All frontline strongholds and outposts must be on high alert and defense!"

On his wedding day, unless it was an all-out war, Black Feather True Monarch could only tolerate the Righteous Dao Alliance's provocations.

"At most, I'll endure it for one night!"

Suppressing his displeasure, Black Feather True Monarch decided to settle the score after his wedding night, to lauch counterattacks and reprisals.

As dusk fell, the wedding banquet neared its end.

Black Feather True Monarch, half-drunk, felt a surge of heat in his abdomen, eagerly anticipating the coming night.

However, before he could rise.

An urgent alarm from the detection formations echoed through Feilong Fort and several other strongholds and outposts along the Beast King Valley's border.

At the banquet, the three demonic path Nascent Souls sensed it simultaneously, their expressions changing as they looked toward the border adjacent to the Feng Kingdom.

They distantly sensed at least three Nascent Soul cultivators' auras approaching boldly and without concealment.

"Enemy Nascent Souls are invading our territory!"

"How audacious! The Righteous Dao Alliance dares to invade the Sacred Sect's domain?"

...

Black Feather True Monarch and True Monarch Fang exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe.

With the Righteous Dao Alliance's strength, they could hold their own against the Beast King Valley in a defensive battle.

But if they took the initiative to attack, fighting in open terrain, they would easily be surrounded and picked off by the Beast King Valley.

"Given that Turtle Lan's temperament, he likely doesn’t dare to escalate this. His goal is probably just to..."

Black Feather True Monarch seethed inwardly.

That Turtle Lan must be trying to spite him, ruining his wedding night and disrupting this politically significant marriage alliance.

"Fellow Daoist Black Feather, on your wedding night, there’s no need for you to step out. Brother Fang and I can handle the confrontation for half a day without issue."

True Monarch Fang and the burly man in python robes beside him stood up, offering to take charge.

"The two of you are guests. How could I let fellow True Monarchs fight in my stead in the region I oversee?"

Black Feather True Monarch resolutely shook his head and stood.

Having guests fend off enemies while he hid in the back to enjoy his wedding night, that was utterly unreasonable.

It would damage his prestige within the Beast King Valley and the Sacred Six Sects.

Especially since True Monarch Fang was the closed-door disciple of the demonic path's great leader, Black Feather True Monarch wanted to befriend him and didn’t want to lower his standing in the other’s eyes.

At that moment, a subordinate rushed in to report the identities of the three invading True Monarchs:

Evergreen True Monarch, Xuanbing True Monarch, and True Monarch Yuanhai.

Yin Yuanhai was a disciple of the Righteous Dao Alliance leader Chu Tianfeng. He had once sparred with Lord Earthrock to a draw.

The three demonic path True Monarchs couldn’t afford to underestimate them.

While Xuanbing True Monarch and True Monarch Yuanhai might not be exceptional in strength, the leading Evergreen True Monarch couldn’t be treated as an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three demonic path Nascent Souls flashed out of Feilong Fort in an instant, arriving high above the clouds.

They flew several hundred li toward the frontline, coming to a standoff with the three invading figures.

Huuu—

The auras of multiple True Monarchs clashed, their towering mana forming vast halos above their heads, shaking the heavens and earth.

The cultivators below trembled in fear, as if witnessing ancient titans wielding unimaginable power.

On the Righteous Dao Alliance’s side:

At the center stood Evergreen True Monarch, riding a massive black tortoise atop surging waves, his sleeves billowing. Dressed in white, his handsome features were accentuated by streaks of silver in his tied-back hair.

Black Feather True Monarch’s face twisted with disgust at the sight of Lan Chang'an.

His wedding night had been utterly ruined by this man.

His gaze then flicked to the woman beside Lan Chang'an—Fairy Xia, standing gracefully on an ice lotus. Her delicate features, snow-white skin, and ethereal aura made her resemble a moon goddess from legend.

Black Feather True Monarch couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

In terms of beauty, Fairy Xia rivaled the Peacock Saintess. Combined with her status as a Nascent Soul female cultivator and her icy innate Dao body, she was undoubtedly the top beauty of the Righteous Dao Alliance.

Female Nascent Souls were exceedingly rare in the cultivation world.

Most early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators didn’t have Nascent Soul wives.

Black Feather True Monarch marrying the late Core Formation, heaven-grade spiritual root Peacock Saintess who also had a powerful background was actually a fairly "equal" match.

If the Saintess had reached Nascent Soul, she likely wouldn’t have looked at him twice.

Suppressing his jealousy, Black Feather True Monarch focused back on the confrontation.

True Monarch Fang and the others also scrutinized Lan Chang'an and Xia Wenyue, the couple at the forefront.

As for Yin Yuanhai beside them, the three demonic path Nascent Souls barely spared him a glance.

"True Monarch Lan, we’ve already inflicted significant losses on the demonic path’s elite forces as a show of force. Now that their Nascent Souls have arrived and reinforcements will soon follow, we shouldn’t linger."

Yin Yuanhai’s expression remained neutral as he transmitted his message secretly.

He was only here assisting Lan Chang'an on his master Chu Tianfeng’s orders.

Personally, he wasn’t keen on taking orders from Lan Chang'an.

"No rush. We’ve only achieved half our goal. Let me exchange a few words with our ‘generous friend’ first."

Lan Chang'an raised a hand, signaling Fairy Xia and Yin Yuanhai to hold their positions.

He rode his black tortoise forward another few hundred feet.

...

"Lan Chang'an, why have you invaded on my wedding day?"

Black Feather True Monarch’s face darkened as he spoke coldly.

If not for Lan Chang'an’s provocation, he would already be embracing his long-cherished bride, enjoying his wedding night.

"Hahaha..."

Lan Chang'an looked Black Feather True Monarch up and down, dressed in his bright red groom’s robes, and smirked.

"Fellow Daoist Black Feather, did you seek my permission before marrying the Peacock Saintess?"

The three demonic path Nascent Souls froze momentarily.

Lan Chang'an’s words made no sense, was there some hidden meaning?

Black Feather True Monarch’s face stiffened, feeling inexplicably humiliated.

At the same time, a vague thought flickered in his mind.

The grudge between Lan Chang'an and the Peacock Saintess spanned over a century, their relationship too complex for outsiders to grasp.

Could it be... that the two had once been entangled in some secret, ill-fated romance?

"Preposterous! Utter nonsense!"

Black Feather True Monarch instinctively lashed out, waiting for Lan Chang'an to continue.

The onlookers, however, were always eager for drama.

True Monarch Fang and the others maintained neutral expressions, but a hint of curiosity flickered in their eyes.

Lan Chang'an continued leisurely:

"The Peacock Saintess once chased me thousands of miles into the Endless Desert. Failing once, she even pursued me into the Fengyuan Kingdom a second time."

"Such deep hatred is etched into my bones. I once swore that if I ever gained the power, I would capture the Peacock Saintess and make her my personal maid!"

"You dare—!"

Black Feather True Monarch’s face flushed crimson with rage.

This bastard had openly declared his intent to take his wife as a maid, no matter how composed he was, this was intolerable.

Lan Chang'an remained unfazed and pressed on:

"If you insist on marrying the Peacock Saintess, you are making an enemy of me."

"Scram!"

"This is the Beast King Valley’s territory. Who I marry is none of your concern!"

Black Feather True Monarch’s eyes turned sharp as he spread his arms, summoning an ancient longbow before him.

Hummm!

Nascent Soul mana surged as a golden arrow of light, several zhang long, materialized on the bowstring, locking onto Lan Chang'an.

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you!"

Lan Chang'an snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.

Pfft!

His figure shimmered with emerald light as the golden arrow pierced through, leaving only a shattered afterimage behind.

In the next instant, Lan Chang'an recalled his black tortoise and rejoined Xia Wenyue and Yin Yuanhai a few hundred feet away.

The three Righteous Dao Alliance Nascent Souls didn’t linger, transforming into streaks of light as they swiftly retreated from Beast King Valley territory.

"Compared to twenty years ago, that Turtle Lan’s mana and divine abilities have improved significantly."

Black Feather True Monarch silently put away his ancient bow.

"Fellow Daoist Black Feather, Lan Changqing, and the others have been driven off. You should return to your bride on your wedding night."

True Monarch Fang smiled faintly.

"My thanks to both of you."

Black Feather True Monarch cupped his hands in gratitude.

Thankfully, the wedding had three True Monarchs guarding it. Otherwise, that Turtle Lan’s antics might have truly ruined the ceremony and humiliated him.

...

True Monarch Fang and the other True Monarch remained on alert in the vicinity.

Black Feather True Monarch swiftly returned to Feilong Fort, several hundred li behind the frontlines.

Frontline strongholds typically lacked fourth-rank spiritual veins, relying on "pseudo-fourth-rank" formations that were only fully activated when facing major invasions.

Today, due to the True Monarch's wedding, the guards at Feilong Fort were slightly lax, but the Black Feather True Monarch couldn't bring himself to punish them harshly.

His thoughts lingered on his properly wedded Saintess bride, his heart burning with desire as he hurried back.

In just a few breaths, Black Feather True Monarch returned to the cave-dwelling within the city and entered the bridal chamber.

"Shuyuan, I've kept you waiting."

The wedding night was filled with a warm and tranquil atmosphere.

The noble and resplendent Peacock Saintess, adorned in her phoenix crown and rosy veil, exuded an elegant Eastern beauty as she sat quietly by the bed.

Once the lofty and unattainable Saintess, the pride of heaven, was now finally his—a long-cherished dream fulfilled.

In a way, the Peacock Saintess was his "white moonlight¹."

Suppressing his excitement, Black Feather True Monarch approached his newlywed wife by the bed.

He reached out to slowly lift the veil.

At that very moment, his instincts as a Nascent Soul cultivator tingled, something was wrong.

The restrictions in the bridal chamber had been subtly damaged, particularly in the area beneath the bed.

Hiss—

A foul-smelling wisp of smoke rose from beneath the veil of his bride.

In her place was a burning wooden talisman.

Boom!

Black Feather True Monarch stood frozen as if struck by lightning.

His mind went blank, then spiraled into chaos, buzzing with disbelief.

"Shuyuan! Don’t joke with your husband like this!"

His dream shattered, Black Feather True Monarch was utterly stunned.

His spiritual sense swept the cave-dwelling repeatedly, but Pei Shuyuan was nowhere to be found. Instead, traces of earth escape technique were detected beneath the bed.

He had no choice but to accept the reality, his newlywed wife had been abducted before they could even consummate the marriage.

"It must be that Turtle Lan’s scheme! In the entire Righteous Dao Alliance, no one surpasses the Lord Earthrock in earth escape!"

Black Feather True Monarch’s eyes burned with fury, his voice icy to the bone.

Yet, many questions plagued him.

Even if Feilong Fort had no Nascent Soul guarding it at the moment, and the pseudo-fourth-rank formation wasn’t fully activated, the numerous restrictions, Core Formation cultivators, and thousands of demonic path disciples were no mere decorations.

In a heavily guarded stronghold, even a Nascent Soul cultivator or fourth-rank spirit beast would find it nearly impossible to stealthily "steal" a living person.

Fine, he admitted that security had been somewhat lax on his wedding day.

But the Peacock Saintess wasn’t some inanimate object. She was a late Core Formation cultivator, the granddaughter of Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, with life-saving means at her disposal.

A Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator or fourth-rank demon beast shouldn’t have been able to subdue her instantly, she should have at least resisted or struggled briefly.

Yet, there were no signs of battle or struggle in the cave-dwelling or the bridal chamber.

...

"That Turtle Lan, this is beyond insulting!"

A streak of black flame shot into the sky from the bridal chamber.

A voice dripping with hatred and coldness shook the entirety of Feilong Fort.

Black Feather True Monarch was about to pursue the Lord Earthrock and Lan Chang'an, regrouping with True Monarch Fang and the others.

If he gave chase without regard for cost, there might still be a sliver of hope to reclaim his wife.

However, after flying just a few dozen li, his body suddenly swayed, his mana stagnating.

Purplish-black shadows spread around his eyes, and eerie, poisoned blood seeped from his ears and nostrils.

Even his Nascent Soul spirit felt stiff and numb.

"Not good! Fourth-rank poison!"

Black Feather True Monarch spat out poisoned blood and immediately sat cross-legged to meditate, swallowing several antidote pills.

His mind raced, the poison must have been applied to the veil, an invisible, undetectable toxin.

Moreover, this was the second time he had fallen victim to Lan Chang'an’s fourth-rank poison.

This poison was slightly different from the one used twenty years ago.

"Fellow Daoist Black Feather, what happened?"

Alarmed, True Monarch Fang and the other True Monarch rushed back, finding Black Feather True Monarch was poisoned and healing.

With a bitter expression, Black Feather True Monarch revealed the truth.

Pei Shuyuan had been captured, there was no hiding this.

They had to inform Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch immediately. Only with the help of allied demonic path Nascent Souls would there be any chance to recover from this disaster.

But Black Feather True Monarch was severely poisoned, his mana reduced to a fraction, leaving him unable to pursue recklessly.

"How is this possible? A living person, taken right under our noses despite all the defenses!"

True Monarch Fang and the others were equally stunned.

Even knowing Lord Earthrock excelled in earth escape, Feilong Fort’s formation covered the underground as well, and the True Monarch’s cave dwelling had numerous restrictions.

...

Under the cover of night, thousands of li away within the territory of the Righteous Dao Alliance.

In a dense forest.

Poof!

A half-rat, half-human figure draped in a black cloak emerged from the ground.

The Black Wind Cloak on Lord Earthrock's body resembled a dark void, distorting and swallowing all surrounding auras, light, and even dust.

Its presence was nearly imperceptible—even at close range, it was easy to overlook.

"How did it go?"

Lan Chang'an stepped out from the shadows of nearby trees.

"Master, this five-rank material is truly miraculous! This Little rat sneaked right under the bride's feet in the bridal chamber without alerting anyone. Of course, the fourth-rank spirit talismans and treasure talismans you bestowed were also incredibly effective in breaking restrictions and concealing our presence."

The Lord Earthrock caressed the strange fabric of the Black Wind Cloak with admiration.

Years ago, during the battle at the Abyssal Demon Realm, the greatest harvest for Lan Chang'an and Jing Wufeng was actually the damaged fifth-rank robe.

Its origins likely traced back to the Demonic Peak Realm on the other side of the Abyssal Demon passage.

Later, Lan Chang'an repurposed it into a cloak, granting it exceptional concealment properties that could even obscure spiritual fluctuations, making it difficult for even a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator to detect.

After all, fifth-rank materials corresponded to the Deity Transformation stage.

"Where is the bride?"

Lan Chang'an beckoned, retrieving the Black Wind Cloak from Lord Earthrock.

For this operation, the Lord Earthrock had been the better choice.

Lan Chang'an had drawn attention and provoked the three demonic path True Monarchs with his taunts, while the Lord Earthrock seized the perfect opportunity to carry out the abduction.

Had the plan gone awry and Lord Earthrock alerted the guards, Lan Chang'an and the others could have engaged the three True Monarchs directly to cover its escape.

Whoosh!

The Lord Earthrock's body expanded, transforming into a towering rat king several zhang tall, its demonic aura stirring up a whirlwind of sand. With a forceful exhale, it spat onto the ground.

As the yellow sand dispersed...

A bride lay quietly on the ground, adorned in a phoenix crown, rosy veil, and resplendent rainbow phoenix robes. Even in slumber, her peerless beauty and noble, icy demeanor were unmistakable.

"Well done!"

"A wedding night, a True Monarch's beautiful wife, untouched and pure. That 'generous man' truly lacked the fortune to enjoy such blessings..."

Lan Chang'an smiled gently, not immediately waking the Peacock Saintess.

First, he layered multiple restrictions over her body, ensuring she couldn't even take her own life.

Among them, he applied a unique restriction, Gu God Seal.

This technique targeted a cultivator's sea of consciousness and was originally inspired by the bizarre restrictions of the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu.

In his early years, Lan Chang'an had tested the Gu God Seal on Zhou Qingxuan and Xing Peng, the younger cousin of True Monarch Jue Ying.

Over two centuries, Lan Chang'an refined the Gu God Seal by incorporating insights from multiple Nascent Soul lifes and soul arts from the Thousand Machines Divine Transformation Art.

Now, bolstered by Lan Chang'an's formidable spiritual sense, the Gu God Seal was nearly impossible for even a mid-stage Nascent Soul to break.

...

A short while later.

"Where... am I?"

Pei Shuyuan awoke groggily, discovering her mana sealed, her limbs weak, and even the simple act of opening her eyes a struggle.

She attempted to summon her spiritual sense and certain secret techniques.

But a piercing, soul-rending pain erupted from the depths of her consciousness, scattering her gathered spiritual sense.

A voice spoke beside her:

"Peacock Saintess, after two hundred years, you’ve finally fallen into my hands."

The face of the white-robed man, a familiar enemy from her memories, came into view.

"Lan... Lan Chang'an!"

Pei Shuyuan gritted her teeth, her face alternating between red and pale as she quickly grasped her predicament.

Her last memory before unconsciousness was waiting absentmindedly in the bridal chamber before being abruptly knocked out by an unknown force.

Her heart sank to the depths.

It was unbelievable—one moment, she had been in a heavily guarded stronghold within Beast King Valley territory, in her bridal chamber; the next, she was Lan Chang'an's prisoner.

Her body and soul were immobilized, leaving her powerless.

With a complicated expression, she weakly sat up, breathing unevenly, and murmured:

"True Monarch Lan, this humble woman is now a married woman with little value. Why go to such lengths to trouble me?"

Lan Chang'an chuckled lightly:

"Heh, back then, the Saintess chased me across entire cultivation nations without regard for cost. Weren’t you also going to great lengths?"

Pei Shuyuan fell silent, unable to refute.

Lan Chang'an raised his hand and made a grasping motion toward the long, elegant wedding dress Pei Shuyuan wore.

Instantly, the lower half of the dress, including her embroidered shoes, turned to dust, revealing her snow-white calves.

Her jade-like feet sank slightly into the muddy ground, like a heavenly maiden fallen into the mortal world...

"Turtle Lan! What are you doing?!"

Pei Shuyuan flushed with shame and anger, her face burning, but under the restrictions, she couldn’t muster even a hint of resistance.

At this moment, even an ordinary mortal could do as they pleased with her.

"Saintess Pei, do you recognize this?"

Lan Chang'an's gaze remained calm and composed as he produced a silver ring.

"The Spirit Taming Silver Ring!"

Pei Shuyuan naturally remembered.

This was one of the gold and silver Spirit-Taming Rings she once possessed, capable of enslaving third-rank spirit beasts and was precious artifacts to any beast-taming master.

In theory, they could also enslave human Core Formation cultivators.

Back then, while chasing Lan Chang'an, she had entertained the thought of enslaving him, a handsome man with many secrets as her personal servant.

Go!

Lan Chang'an cast a spell and pinched his finger, and sent the silver ring spinning in a silvery phantom around Pei Shuyuan's delicate, snow-white ankles.

After a few breaths...

The phantom of the Spirit Taming Silver Ring solidified, tightly locking around the Peacock Saintess's crystalline ankle.

Pei Shuyuan's face paled with despair.

With the Spirit-Taming Ring binding her, she was no different from Lan Chang'an's spirit beast, a slave.

Then, she realized her immobilized body had loosened slightly, allowing her to move weakly and summon a trace of mana.

Her heart churned with conflicting emotions as she instinctively tried to stand.

But a surge of electric numbness shot from the Spirit-Taming Ring.

Thud!

Her legs gave way, and the once-proud Peacock Saintess, tonight's bride, fell to her knees on the muddy ground.

"This True Monarch bestows upon you the name... Pei Nu²."

¹ Someone admired from afar, symbolizing an idealized and unattainable love, like the sect goddess many Mcs don't have a chance with before they get their cheat.

² The character 奴(nú) means "slave" or "servant" in Chinese.

Nvm, author can't be trusted and putting the chapters behind a paywall just feels scummy so I'll keep releasing them as usual until we run out or the author returns. Good news is there's still enough chapters to last over a month. Alright, enjoy more of Lan Chang'an's shenanigans!

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