Chapter 1217: Breaking the Marriage Alliance

“Fairy Ji, Heavenly Maiden Xiao, it's an honor to meet you. You are even more stunning in person than I'd heard. Your beauty is unmatched, truly like celestial beings descended to earth, untouched by the mundane world!”

No matter what was said, everyone appreciated compliments. Chu Feng, smiling broadly, stepped forward to engage them, immediately surprising the two women.

“Are you Cao Zhuanji, the one who goes around slandering people, looking for trouble everywhere, and claiming he’ll level the Eleventh Forbidden Land?” Xiao Shiyun asked.

To be first labeled a loudmouth and then have his boasts questioned, it wasn’t the best first impression.

Chu Feng’s face immediately flushed. Boasting in front of Monkey, Jin Lin, Jin Lie, and the others was one thing, but saying such things to the world’s top-ranked Divine Kings made him seem far too naive.

After all, he was currently only in the Golden Body realm.

“I have that ambition,” Chu Feng eventually admitted with remarkable candor.

“You’re not planning to come over here and insult us too, are you?” Xiao Shiyun asked with a giggle. Despite being a Divine King, she was far from solemn. Her purple hair gleamed, her bright eyes sparkled, and her delicate nose was perfectly sculpted. She was remarkably lively and spirited, even saying such things casually without regard for her lofty status.

Notably, a tiny, crystal-clear red mole adorned her brow, adding a unique charm to her appearance.

She was indeed a peerless beauty. Even Chu Feng, having traversed two realms, witnessed countless events, and seen countless beauties from various races, was struck by her stunning appearance.

Ji Caixuan also smiled, saying, “We haven’t provoked you. You’re not trying to pick a fight and then pretend to be a victim, are you?”

Her figure was tall and graceful, exquisitely beautiful, and she too was a peerless beauty, her bearing exceptionally distinguished.

Standing together, they were like a pair of sympathetic flowers, truly captivating. Countless eyes were undoubtedly fixed on them.

“No, how could I be? Am I that sort of person? I’ve always been a person of integrity, and with reason on my side, I can go anywhere. I’ve simply admired your reputations for a long time, Fairies, and came specifically to pay my respects. Besides, can one just spray saliva everywhere? Actually, I primarily came here on behalf of my sworn brother, Fairy Ji. You see, Brother Li, he feels about you…”

Chu Feng rambled on, spouting nonsense with spittle flying, all while not forgetting to gesture towards Li Jiuxiao in the distance.

Ji Caixuan’s lips twitched subtly. This young whippersnapper truly had the nerve of a bear and a leopard, daring to speak on such a sensitive matter?!

In the distance, Li Jiuxiao was profoundly moved. Cao De, whom he had just met, was surprisingly helpful, speaking up for him and recounting to Ji Caixuan all that Li Jiuxiao had done over the past decade or so. It was certainly a bold move.

In truth, Chu Feng had only mentioned it offhandedly. He had no power to sway Ji Caixuan, and by all appearances, Li Jiuxiao had no chance anyway. Being too proactive often made one seem cheap, and his standing in Ji Caixuan’s heart was likely not high enough to gain her approval.

Besides, Li Jiuxiao had always sought to hunt down his true form, so Chu Feng had no strong obligation to champion him. His current actions were merely an incidental gesture.

“Did you come here just to play matchmaker?” Xiao Shiyun asked with a smile. “A mere young punk dares to do such a thing?”

She glanced at her close friend, Ji Caixuan, noticing her slightly darkened expression, and so rebuked him on her behalf.

“Of course not! I came for Fairy Xiao! Xiao Yao introduced me!” Chu Feng declared, pointing towards Xiao Yao in the distance.

The stone forest glowed, its order runes blocking sound waves. Xiao Yao couldn’t hear Chu Feng’s words, but he knew that Cao De was certainly up to no good. He immediately waved his hand towards them, signaling and greeting his aunt.

“See? Xiao Yao is signaling us, he’s so eager and enthusiastic. He told me that the Martial Maniac lineage are no good, and he really doesn’t want you to associate with them privately.”

Xiao Shiyun’s expression instantly shifted upon hearing this. Had such a confidential matter truly leaked? Only a select few within the clan should have known. It seemed Xiao Yao had indeed been the one to divulge it.

Completely unselfconscious, Chu Feng continued, “I think, given how powerful the Dao clan is, renowned throughout history, even if the Martial Maniac lineage is strong, the Dao clan shouldn’t be selling off their children. If that got out, it would be terrible. Who in the world doesn’t know that the Martial Maniacs are notorious? They destroyed the Ancient Dream Path, murdered righteous peers, and have questionable ties with certain forbidden lands—they’re natural-born villains!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shiyun’s face turned icy. Could such sensitive matters truly be bandied about so carelessly?

If Cao De’s words spread, they would undoubtedly tarnish the Dao clan’s reputation. Xiao Shiyun’s expression immediately turned grave. Regardless, the suggestions from certain elders in the family should definitely not be pursued at this time.

Ji Caixuan, standing nearby, also showed a look of surprise. She truly hadn’t considered that the Dao clan might form marital ties with the Martial Maniac lineage.

Xiao Shiyun instantly grasped her thoughts and quickly said, “Don’t get the wrong idea; there’s nothing to it. Don’t spread rumors!”

Next, she sternly warned Chu Feng: “Cao De, you must not spread such nonsense. These are all rumors. If I hear any damaging whispers, you will face severe consequences!”

“Don’t worry, I absolutely don’t believe the Dao clan would marry their daughters into the Martial Maniac lineage. Besides, I’ll soon advance to the Divine King realm myself, so the Dao clan shouldn’t be so hasty.”

With that, Chu Feng promptly took off.

“What does that even mean? What does your advancement to Divine King have to do with us?”

Xiao Shiyun quickly grasped his implication, and she truly wanted to slap him.

Ji Caixuan, however, merely pursed her lips and smiled. To think there was such a brazen young cultivator who dared to speak to a Divine Queen in such a way—it was truly amusing.

Regardless, Chu Feng felt he had done everything within his power, hoping that the Dao clan would not form an alliance through marriage with the Martial Maniac lineage.

He also believed it would be wise to spread some rumors to make the Dao clan consider their reputation.

“Dong!”

A single bell toll resonated, shaking the entire sacred land.

Not far off, an altar ascended, shimmering with radiant light. Various symbols of order materialized, and faintly, the harmonious resonance of the Great Dao could be heard.

A green blade of grass, radiating brilliant light, shimmered there, emitting the aura of the Great Dao. The sight was quite astonishing.

The final moments of the Dao Integration Grand Assembly had arrived; the Dao Integration Grass was about to be distributed.

The grass stood about a meter tall, resembling a small tree. Emerald light bloomed from it, making its entire form brilliant, and thousands of ribbon-like beams of light draped down, enveloping it.

As it ascended with the altar, its colors shifted again: crimson light surged, golden mists undulated, purple qi emanated…

For a moment, the area shimmered with vibrant hues, and countless symbols densely coalesced, transforming into ethereal forms such as phoenixes, qilin, vermilion birds, and strange barren human kings. The sounds of the Great Dao grew even grander, becoming deafening.

Furthermore, amidst a rustling sound, the entire plant seemed to transform into a Daoist scripture, its pages turning there. The sounds it emitted made one feel on the verge of comprehending the Dao.

“See?” Monkey exclaimed, “This is the marvel of the Dao Integration Grass! It’s a tangible vessel of the Dao, bearing a portion of the Great Dao and containing the secrets of the world’s origin. Absorbing even a small part means comprehending the mysteries of the entire Yang Realm, gaining insight into its rules and order!”

Monkey was so excited he was practically dancing.

Chu Feng said, “Let’s go find a good spot and prepare to comprehend and absorb!”

Around the high platform, numerous meditation cushions were arranged, some on the ground, others suspended in mid-air, encircling the Dao Integration Grass.

“Hm?!” As Chu Feng took his seat, a large group of individuals approached and surrounded him. This group included Divine King Chifeng of the Nine-Headed Bird Clan, Kun Long, Jin Lie, the Three-Headed Divine Dragon Yun Tuo, Jin Lin, and many others.

Among them were evolvers from powerful clans closely allied with them, naturally including many Divine-level experts, and even two or three Divine Kings!

This group surrounded Chu Feng, intending to collectively pressure him and contend for the essence of the Dao Integration Grass. If all of them were to compete with him, his prospects would be bleak.

“Damn it, they’re bullying him!” Monkey exclaimed.

At that moment, Li Jiuxiao walked over, intending to pull Chu Feng up and have him sit next to him.

Chu Feng remained calm. “It’s fine, Old Li,” he said, “just sit aside and watch me conquer the world. Anyone who dares to corner me is nothing but a bunch of pathetic nobodies!”

“Old Li?” Li Jiuxiao’s face twitched; he considered himself quite young!

As for the others, they erupted in outrage. This was simply too arrogant! Among them were Saints, Reflection-level cultivators, Divine-level figures, and even Divine Kings—yet they were being scorned and humiliated by a mere Golden Body cultivator!

“Come at me, all of you!” Chu Feng said coldly.