"This bottle of Foundation Building Pills and this superior Cultivation Technique are my wedding gifts to you!"

Zhao Tianxia took the bottle of pills and the Cultivation Technique from his subordinate, saying, "Marry me, the last good man of this century!"

His eyes pleaded earnestly. Under his gaze, Guli Weileng finally reached out and took the bottle of pills and the Cultivation Technique.

"What? Could it be that she agreed?"

Seeing this, many of the Immortal Seekers below the high platform sighed. They thought to themselves, A beautiful flower is about to be planted on a pile of cow dung. Zhao Tianxia had talent but no virtue; such a person was nothing more than cow dung.

Only Zhao Tianxia was ecstatic. Tonight, I’ll finally get a taste of this swan meat! A smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

However, what happened next left him dumbfounded.

"Disgusting!" Guli Weileng’s face was like ice as she hurled the bottle of pills to the ground.

CRACK! The bottle shattered into pieces.

As for the Cultivation Technique, she tore it to shreds without a moment’s hesitation.

The entire crowd was stunned. No one could have imagined that her gesture of acceptance was, in fact, a rejection. To do this right in Zhao Tianxia’s face, in front of everyone... was that really wise?

"You..." Zhao Tianxia stared, his face a mask of disbelief. He had pursued countless women, and not a single one had ever dared to humiliate him so publicly.

"Did you think I would accept your proposal?" Guli Weileng’s beautiful face was cold, her delicate body trembling as she gritted her teeth. "Yes, I can see that you come from a distinguished background and that you’re very powerful. No, I misspoke. It’s obvious your *father* comes from a distinguished background. Your *father* is the one who’s powerful!"

"But so what?" she continued. "In my eyes, you’re not worth a single one of that man’s toes! Just looking at your smug, self-important face makes me sick."

Her merciless words left Zhao Tianxia speechless.

"If you want to kill me, then do it!" Guli Weileng cried out. "I would rather die than marry someone like you!"

That declaration struck Zhao Tianxia like a physical blow. He was the youngest son of the Righteous Alliance Hierarch, a man of noble birth. What woman wouldn’t want a night of passion with him? How could someone possibly prefer death over marrying him?

Zhao Tianxia was consumed by fury. He had lost face in front of so many Immortal Seekers. His dignity had been utterly trampled. How could he not be enraged?

Killing intent flared in Zhao Tianxia’s heart. Since she won’t marry me, I’ll rape her and then kill her!

Am I going to die? Guli Weileng’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she bit her lip, determined to stay strong and not let them fall. Will I die without seeing you one last time?

She looked out at the dense crowd before her, her voice raspy and choked with unshed tears. As her words carried, the surrounding Immortal Seekers sighed in pity. Alas, the man Guli Weileng loved was likely just a mortal. How could he possibly save her? She had offended Zhao Tianxia; her death was certain.

"She won’t die."

In the dead silence, a child’s voice suddenly rang out, sharp and clear. The crowd turned to see it was the little boy.

The familiar voice drew Guli Weileng’s attention as well. Her gaze fell upon him, and she was instantly drawn to the man standing beside him—Wu Tian.

Is it him? Is it really him? Am I imagining things?

"It’s you!" Guli Weileng, who had been so strong, could no longer hold back her tears. Her tear-filled eyes saw only Wu Tian.

Everyone followed her unwavering gaze and saw the slender figure.

Wu Tian!

Instantly, the entire square erupted.

"Why is Guli Weileng looking at him?"

"Don’t you get it? That’s the man she loves!"

"Him? How could it be him?"

A chaotic buzz of discussion swept through the Immortal Seekers. And there, by Wu Tian’s side, stood Qin Yuhan.

"It’s you, isn’t it?" Guli Weileng cried out from the high platform, her beautiful eyes seeing no one else but him. Crystalline tears, which she could no longer suppress now that he was here, streamed down her cheeks.

"I know you already have a good wife!" she sobbed. "I know I shouldn’t love you. But I can’t control what my heart feels."

Silence.

The entire square once again fell into a deathly stillness.

So, Guli Weileng doesn’t have a lover... she’s in unrequited love? How can this be? The woman we all desire is in love with another man? Why aren’t we that lucky?

Zhao Tianxia’s fists were clenched so tightly that his veins bulged and his knuckles cracked. How could I possibly lose to Wu Tian?

Guli Weileng continued speaking to Wu Tian. "It seems today I’ve offended someone I cannot afford to cross. But being able to tell you what’s in my heart before I die... I’m content."

By now, she was a mess of tears. She turned her gaze to Qin Yuhan and said, "Yuhan, I’m sorry!"

She had arrived too late. She had met Wu Tian after Qin Yuhan had. One step too late, and the outcome was sealed.

Qin Yuhan said nothing. She felt no hatred for Guli Weileng. Instead, she empathized deeply.

If I had been the one to arrive a step too late... would I be the one crying right now?

Wu Tian was aware of his family, so all he could say was, "With me here, you’ll be fine."

The Immortal Seekers were stunned. Where did Wu Tian get such confidence? Such dominance! Guli Weileng had offended Zhao Tianxia. How could she possibly be fine?

"Fellow cultivators!" On the high platform, Zhao Tianxia rose from his kneeling position. His face was filled with righteous indignation as he spread his arms wide and bellowed, "This man is a fiend! He has used heretical arts to bewitch Guli Weileng, forcing her to act against her will! Tell me, fellow cultivators, should this fiend not be exterminated?"

Below the platform, a deathly silence fell. No one could have imagined that Zhao Tianxia could be so shameless, spouting such nonsense in front of all the Immortal Seekers. Yet, he maintained an air of righteous indignation, his every word ringing with conviction as if it were true.

"What’s this? Have you all been bewitched by the fiend as well?" Zhao Tianxia’s voice thundered, enhanced by his Thunder Spirit Root, causing the very air to crackle as if with lightning. "This young master is merciful, but if you have lost your way and fallen to the Demonic Path, then our Righteous Alliance must eradicate evil!"

A spineless coward was the first to cry out, "Exterminate him!"

"Exterminate him!"

"Exterminate him!"

Soon, the Immortal Seekers were a united chorus of condemnation.

"Good! It seems you haven’t been deceived by the fiend. You are still our brethren." Zhao Tianxia nodded in satisfaction, his confidence soaring. He turned his gaze to Wu Tian and sneered, "Fiend, the Immortal Seekers will not tolerate your existence. Today, this young master will—"

"Idiot." Wu Tian cut him off. Before the eyes of the entire assembly, he let out a sigh, his voice dripping with contempt for the crowd. "Right is no longer right, and wrong is no longer wrong. You call me a fiend? Fine, then I am a fiend. You say I am a demon? Then I am a demon. Now, let’s see which of you can possibly subdue me!"