Chapter 1265: Labor and Capital on the Shu Road Mountain

As the demonic cultivators conversed among themselves, they also continuously shared the monumental news of the marriage alliance with their friends from various demonic sects.

Consequently, as they moved forward, the crowd of demonic cultivators gathering to watch grew larger and larger.

Several hours later, the gathering was so dense that their numbers were impossible to estimate. While not half of the Great Barren State's demonic cultivators, at least twenty to thirty percent were present!

***

In the Southern Heaven Realm, a gigantic ancient fountain gushed a milky-white water column a thousand zhang high. The rising spray drifted in all directions, dispersing into shimmering droplets in the wind, forming an inverted, hemispherical light shield.

It radiated a sacred glow, which was the most feared thing by the ancient giants, especially those transformed from the Asura race. Upon contact, they would devolve back into Asuras. Its effect was very similar to the Saint Crystal Degenerator.

Beneath the immense sacred light shield, a prosperous Asura city came into view. Compared to Black Cloud Fortress, this Asura city was more than a hundred times larger. Its civilization flourished, rivaling even the human cities of the Central Lands. In the Southern Heaven Realm, where the Asura race had become captive prey, this city was akin to a sacred sanctuary.

In the city center, an exquisite courtyard was nestled amidst the bustling marketplace. Inside the courtyard, a babbling stream encircled a rock garden, carrying several cheerful, chasing fish. Several plants with tranquil, fragrant blossoms silently bloomed. Beneath a pine tree, a young woman in a black long dress, her back a picture of beauty, sat at a stone table.

She wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, her expression serene. As the wind blew, her dark hair gently lifted, revealing a fleeting glimpse of her stunning profile. The papers in her hand also gently fluttered with the breeze.

One of the papers, written in infernal script, read: "A contingent of ancient giants has been secretly relocated from the Central Tribe. Their destination is unknown."

Upon reading this, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she quietly began to ponder:

“The Central Tribe faces the strongest region in the Central Lands, Zhongzhou – the toughest bone to chew. Every soldier is precious. Why would they suddenly transfer a troop? Who are they targeting?”

After many possibilities flashed through her mind, her brows furrowed even deeper. She realized that of the two most likely targets, one could be their fortress!

“Our fortress has never been breached, allowing us to cultivate many Asura Kings who pose a threat even to the Giant King,” she mused. “We’ve long been a thorn in the ancient giants’ side. Now, with less than half a month until the Heaven Realm’s centennial Grand Hunt, it’s highly plausible they’d deploy a large army to help local tribes breach our fortress.”

She paused, then shifted her thoughts: “But it might not be directed at us. It could be aimed at Taicang Great State! Jiang Fan destroyed the Ancient Celestial Pit and looted the Black Sun Royal Court’s armory, weakening its power. Reinforcing the Black Sun Royal Court is also a strong possibility.”

She put down the paper, adjusted her glasses, and sighed faintly. “No matter who it’s aimed at, it’s not good news.”

As she pondered, a commotion arose outside the door. “Fairy Xuanxuan, the Young Mistress is handling matters; you cannot enter.”

“You dog servant, are you treating me like an outsider?!”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare, but the Young Mistress dislikes being disturbed, so please don’t make it difficult for me.”

“I’m the one in charge here!”

The girl in the black dress shook her head and softly said, “Let her in.”

Then, a charming young woman in a vibrant red long dress, holding up her skirt, stormed over to her. She wasn't particularly tall, but her figure was excellent, well-proportioned and graceful. She had a pointed chin, round eyes, and lips that were remarkably rosy even without rouge. A pair of small, round horns protruded from her hair. She was a very beautiful Asura girl, though she had a fiery temper. Even when facing an Asura King with a four-crown cultivation, her temper didn't diminish in the slightest.

She slapped the table and angrily said, “What in the world is he doing?! Late for our first meeting! Marriage alliance, my foot!”

The girl in the black dress looked at her and said, “Watch your language!”

Xuanxuan put her hands on her hips and, displeased, reverted to her usual accent: “I’m worried for you! This cross-realm marriage alliance is unprecedented. Everyone in the fortress is watching; if anything goes wrong, people will laugh at you.”

In fact, doubts had already spread throughout the city. In terms of the number of top experts, Taicang Great State in the Central Lands was actually inferior to their fortress. The marriage alliance was, in essence, a marriage into a lower status. They were the ones at a disadvantage. Yet, the Young Mistress had defied all objections and insisted on the alliance, causing much dissatisfaction. If the Central Lands were to break their promise now, the Young Mistress would be in an embarrassing situation.

The girl in the black dress calmly said, “Don’t be agitated. Taicang Great State’s high-ranking officials have no reason to refuse something that benefits both sides. Moreover…” She adjusted her glasses and continued, “Even if the high-ranking officials refuse, I believe Jiang Fan will still come to fulfill his promise.”

Although their time together was brief, she had discerned some of Jiang Fan’s ways. If he believed something was right, he would filter out all distractions and insist on doing it. In this, he was just like her.

Xuanxuan pouted, “You trust that guy so much?”

The girl in the black dress replied, “He will come.”

No sooner had she spoken than exclamations arose from the sky. The girl in the black dress smiled faintly, “They’re here.”

Xuanxuan leaped into the air, placing her small hands over her forehead as she gazed into the distance. She saw many Asuras rapidly approaching the courtyard, encircling something. As they drew closer, Xuanxuan finally saw it clearly: a four-zhang wide circular opening with a jet-black pillar in its center. It was unmistakably the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar!

She clicked her tongue, “They really came!”

The girl in the black dress gracefully stood up and said, “Let’s go. I placed the teleportation point at the courtyard gate.”

Xuanxuan’s eyes lit up. “Young Mistress, did you say the person I’m marrying is a tall, handsome, rich, emotionally intelligent, and deeply devoted human?”

The girl in the black dress’s faint smile froze slightly. Her intuition told her that Jiang Fan, just like herself, probably introduced a problematic marriage candidate.

Xuanxuan was famously the fiery “little chili pepper” of the entire fortress; no one dared to marry her. Jiang Fan’s introduction was probably not going to be a good character either, right?

She adjusted her glasses and said, “Yes, that’s what they said.”

Xuanxuan looked expectant. She didn't care about anything else; devotion was what she valued most.

The two arrived outside the courtyard. It was already a sea of people. Understandably, it was the first time any of them had seen the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar, and they realized this was a marriage alliance spanning two realms.

The girl in the black dress calmly approached the entrance of the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. Pulling Xuanxuan along, she stepped inside without hesitation.

“Wait!”

A gruff voice sounded. It belonged to a middle-aged Asura with reddened skin, bloodshot eyes, naturally downturned lips, and tightly furrowed brows. His muscles were exceptionally bulging, giving off a dangerous impression that he could erupt in rage at any moment.

“Father, what are you doing here?” Xuanxuan said discontentedly. “Your daughter finally found a family for herself; don’t you dare mess it up for me!”

It turned out he was Xuanxuan’s father, Long Lie, the future father-in-law of the West Sea Crown Prince!

Long Lie snorted, “That doesn’t mean you can just marry anyone. I’ll have to see for myself; only after my test will I allow you to marry!”

The girl in the black dress secretly sighed. As expected, the marriage alliance wouldn’t be smooth sailing. Or rather, some among the Asura race didn’t want her to continue acquiring the Abyssal Hell Crystals. Thus, they instigated Long Lie to disrupt the alliance. Where there are people, there is conflict, and the Asura race was no exception. She hoped the person Jiang Fan recommended was reliable.