Chapter 931: This Marriage I Oppose

Ling Shu entered the bridal sedan chair.

The journey from her private chambers to the Demon Emperor's court was not long, yet it felt like an entire day had passed. Every minute, every second was agony.

"We have arrived at the Demon Emperor's Hall."

As Liuli's soft sigh came from outside the sedan, Ling Shu covered her head with the red bridal veil. Calmly, she stepped out of the sedan, and guided by Liuli, she walked step by step towards the Demon Emperor's Hall. She silently counted the bluestone bricks on the ground: one, two, three…

Until a pair of black boots appeared in her line of sight. She knew her fate was sealed at this very spot.

"Ling Shu, once we complete the ceremony, you will be my thirty-seventh consort."

"I, the Emperor, will cherish you dearly."

Listening to the Demon Emperor's deep voice, Ling Shu painfully closed her eyes.

The Demon Emperor, however, gazed at the maiden before him, clad in red with a graceful figure, his eyes burning with desire and greed. In Ling Shu, he saw the shadow of Concubine Yunxia. Both possessed exceptional talent, extraordinary intelligence, and outstanding qualities. So outstanding that he wished to possess them, to enjoy them exclusively and utterly. Others could only envy, only watch. He reveled in the feeling of wantonly possessing all things beautiful. Tonight, everything he hadn't vented on Concubine Yunxia, Ling Shu would have to bear. He would fiercely, forcefully possess her!

"In that case, let the wedding begin."

With an authoritative command, the master of ceremonies chanted loudly:

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

The Demon Emperor and Ling Shu turned to face the area outside the main hall's doors, bowing towards the sky. The Cangqiong Demon Emperor was about to rise when a sudden thunderbolt exploded above the Demon Emperor's court.

"No need to bow!"

"Heaven and Earth's agreement is useless; you must ask me first!"

A youth in black, crackling with thunderous energy, descended into the hall. Powerful thunderous energy swept through the hall, overturning numerous tables and chairs, igniting them and sending thick plumes of smoke billowing upwards. The high-hanging lanterns, the windows adorned with '囍' characters, and the red gauze draperies all caught fire. The once joyous Demon Emperor's Hall was instantly plunged into a sea of flames, left in utter chaos.

"Jiang Fan?"

The Demon Emperor sharply lifted his head, his pupils constricting as he clearly saw the person before him. He hadn't expected Jiang Fan to come, nor did he expect him to dare to! And yet, wasn't Jiang Fan's cultivation crippled by him?

"How did your cultivation recover?"

The Demon Emperor's face showed surprise and doubt. Even for the Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, restoring someone's cultivation was no simple feat.

Jiang Fan did not answer him. Instead, he looked at the bride, whose delicate body was gently trembling. He smiled and playfully chided, "How could you get married without a word? Didn't you want me to accompany you to herd horses on the frontier?"

Ling Shu's beautiful eyes widened beneath the veil. She couldn't see, but that voice, which had haunted her dreams, she recognized from just a single word.

"I did... I thought about it every day... but you didn't come for me, you never came for me..."

Large, pea-sized tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Her choked voice was filled with joy, grievance, and a hint of a smile.

"Then why aren't you coming over?" Jiang Fan extended his hand.

Ling Shu quickly tore off the veil from her head. Jiang Fan's face, etched in her heart, came into view.

"Brother Jiang Fan!"

In that instant, she was like a withered blade of grass that had suddenly regained its vitality. Lifting her red gown, she ran, crying and laughing, towards Jiang Fan.

The Cangqiong Demon Emperor's face was as dark as murky water. On his wedding day, someone burned his hall and snatched his bride? What an utter humiliation! An insult to him, the Demon Emperor?

"Presumptuous!" the Cangqiong Demon Emperor roared.

A shockwave from his Demon Emperor realm swept across the hall. Ling Shu, who was running, stumbled and was sent sprawling. The shockwave, its momentum undiminished, continued to crash towards Jiang Fan. But Jiang Fan was not as he once was; a mere glance from the Demon Emperor no longer repelled him, nor did a single roar make his blood churn.

Jiang Fan remained unfazed. He moved against the shockwave and swiftly caught the sprawling Ling Shu.

"It's a little late, but I've finally come for you."

Ling Shu, her face streaming with tears, could no longer suppress the emotions in her heart. She embraced Jiang Fan tightly.

"Brother!"

"The one Ling Shu wants to marry is you!"

Jiang Fan chuckled softly, "I can tell." If she didn't love someone, how could she have selflessly thrown herself in front of a blade, ready to die for him? If she didn't love someone, how could she have reserved a place for him in her most cherished dreams?

"It's still too early to talk about marrying me, but as for who you *don't* want to marry, I'll make that decision for you."

He gently wrapped his arm around Ling Shu's waist and raised his gaze to the Cangqiong Demon Emperor.

"I'm taking Ling Shu. You can marry someone else!"

The Cangqiong Demon Emperor's eyes were nearly splitting with rage as he spat, "Jiang Fan! I truly regret not killing you! Die!"

Nothing could be more humiliating to a man than what was unfolding before him. Especially for a man like the Cangqiong Demon Emperor, whose possessiveness was almost pathological! To snatch his bride right in front of his face. He had a mind to exterminate Jiang Fan's entire clan! He immediately raised his arm and slammed it down fiercely towards Jiang Fan, "Die!!!"

But as his palm descended, a pair of straight lightning beams suddenly shot towards him! The Cangqiong Demon Emperor quickly retracted his palm to block the attack.

"Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion! It's you?"

From the clouds, the Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion swooped down, a faint smile on his face.

"Cangqiong Demon Emperor, how could you secretly hold a grand wedding without notifying your old friends?"

The Cangqiong Demon Emperor raged, "You two are intentionally causing trouble, aren't you?"

The Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion chuckled calmly, "Yes. Otherwise, do you think I'm truly here to offer congratulations? What's wrong? Are you very angry? I've merely stopped you from marrying one bride, and you're this furious? You instigated a war, causing so many sacrifices for the Nine Sects and such heavy casualties for the demon race. Aren't their families and friends angry too? Cangqiong Demon Emperor, don't be so selfish. The Tiger Demon Emperor left behind the opportunity to break through to the Demon Emperor realm hoping that future Demon Emperors would lead the demon race forward. Not like you, treating the demon race as your personal livestock, to be enjoyed at your whim."

"Enough!!!" The Cangqiong Demon Emperor's eyes turned fierce. "My actions, Cangqiong's actions, are not for you to criticize! Get out now! Otherwise, don't blame me for instigating a great war and annihilating your human lands!!!"

The Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's eyes turned cold. "It seems I truly came at the right time. Your existence is indeed an enormous threat." He looked towards Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan understood implicitly and looked towards Concubine Yunxia, who stood silently in the hall. She nodded imperceptibly and quietly crushed something in her hand.

The next instant, a strange, violent aura emanated from deep within the horizon. As if something terrifying was descending upon this world.

The Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and the Cangqiong Demon Emperor both looked. As veterans, they were all too familiar with this aura. Familiar to their very core, so much so that even years later, it would still awaken them from nightmares.

Because this was the aura signaling the descent of a Heavenly Tribulation! Someone was about to undergo a Heavenly Tribulation!