Do you want to marry Qing`er?

Do you want to marry Qing`er? . . . 

Within the opulent confines of Princess Changping's residence, an assembly of notable figures, including Princess Changping herself, the Crimson-eyed Marquis, Qin Wentian, and Qing'er, had gathered in a courtyard. Together, they gazed upward at the heavens, their eyes fixed on a resplendent beam of light that streaked across the vast expanse of space, destined for the imperial palace where the Evergreen Immortal Emperor held court. It was none other than the adjudication missive dispatched by the audacious Skymist Immortal Empire.

"They have crossed the line, sending the missive directly to the emperor's palace," remarked the Crimson-eyed Marquis, his countenance darkening with displeasure. "Who does Skymist Hai think he is? To lay claim to our princesses is preposterous."

"Their intentions are far from noble; Skymist Hai is but a pawn in their grand scheme. The Skymist Immortal Empire is well aware that the Evergreen Immortal Empire would never consent. They are deliberately provoking us," Princess Changping declared, her beautiful eyes flashing with indignation.

"I wonder how the great emperor intends to address this matter," the marquis pondered, his gaze drawn toward the direction of the Emperor Palace. Following the turmoil of recent internal strife, the Evergreen Immortal Empire had undoubtedly seen a decline in its strength. The Skymist Immortal Empire had seized the moment with calculated precision.

"I refuse to believe that the Skymist Immortal Empire would dare wage war against our empire," Ting'er, Princess Changping's daughter, interjected with a note of defiance.

"Who can say for certain? Our Evergreen Immortal Empire is likewise reluctant to engage in conflict unless we find ourselves with no other recourse," the Crimson-eyed Marquis asserted coldly. In this critical moment, enmities and rivalries among the nobility had dissipated, as they faced a common adversary. All eyes remained fixed on the Emperor Palace, and several nobles even advanced toward it, seeking an audience with the Evergreen Immortal Emperor.

However, an eerie silence emanated from the palace, shrouding the intentions of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor in uncertainty.

Unbeknownst to the populace, within the hallowed halls of the imperial palace, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor was engaged in a game of chess with an imposing middle-aged man.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Evergreen, if this piece makes its way to the board, it will spell checkmate for you. How will you maneuver your way out of this predicament?" The middle-aged man, addressing the Evergreen Immortal Emperor as his junior apprentice brother, placed his chess piece with a sense of assuredness.

"Senior Apprentice Brother, you have steadily advanced, methodically positioning yourself to secure your desired outcome at every juncture. I must delve deep into the abyss of peril in search of a path to salvation." The Evergreen Immortal Emperor's voice bore a composed resolve. He, too, maneuvered his chess piece onto the board, sacrificing a portion of his territory while inflicting significant damage upon his opponent.

The imposing middle-aged man fixed his gaze upon the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, a knowing smile gracing his lips. "Junior Brother, both you and I trace our origins to the Heavenly Dao Sacred Academy. Why must you persist in obstinacy? There are clearly more advantageous moves for you to make. Why cling to this path?"

As he spoke, the middle-aged man waved his hand, reversing time and returning the chess pieces to their original positions. Then, with a fluid motion, he executed a move on behalf of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor. This move, in stark contrast to the prior, displayed a willingness to compromise, opening doors to myriad possibilities.

"What is your intention, Senior Apprentice Brother?" the Evergreen Immortal Emperor inquired with unwavering composure.

"I am blessed with numerous descendants, all of whom possess remarkable talents," the imposing middle-aged man began, his voice carrying the weight of his words. "Among them, one is destined to inherit my position in the future. And as for your daughter, Qing'er, she exhibits extraordinary potential—an exceptional talent that even garnered the attention of Matriarch Ji. Would it not be a splendid idea to forge a marriage alliance between our junior generations? Could this not be a simple solution to our current predicament?"

"Qing'er shares my unwavering spirit. No one can compel her to take actions against her will, and as her father, I am equally reluctant to impose my desires upon her," responded the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, his voice maintaining its characteristic calm.

"In the past, when I sent Daolong to pay a visit, junior brother extended no courtesy to my son," the imposing man continued, revealing his true identity as the peak-level expert of the Eastern Region within the immortal realms—the Violet Emperor.

In the outside world, only a select few were privy to the knowledge that both the Violet Emperor and the Evergreen Immortal Emperor hailed from the same sect.

"Senior brother, that was indeed a rather demanding request that placed me in a difficult position. While I may not have been personally acquainted with the young man, he was a dear friend of Qing'er who had arrived as an honored guest. Surrendering him to noble nephew Daolong back then would have cast me in an unfavorable light in the eyes of others within the immortal realms," the Evergreen Immortal Emperor calmly explained.

"Junior brother, you speak the truth," the Violet Emperor conceded with a laugh. He then redirected his attention to the chessboard. The Evergreen Immortal Emperor, in turn, raised his head to meet the gaze of his counterpart, uttering words marked by unwavering resolve, "I do not engage in actions that I might later regret. It was true in the past, it is true now, and it shall remain true in the future."

"In that case, I shall take my leave, junior brother," the Violet Emperor declared, a smile gracing his lips. With that, he assumed an ethereal form and vanished from sight.

This clandestine exchange between the two immortal emperors remained veiled from all, shrouded in secrecy. Neither the residents of the Evergreen Immortal Empire nor those of the Skymist Immortal Empire were privy to the monumental choice made by the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, a decision poised to ripple through the unfolding crisis.

Beyond the walls of the imperial palace, within the bustling royal capital, forebodings of an impending tempest were palpable. With each passing day, a growing influx of experts converged upon the city. Rumors even suggested that immortal emperor-level experts from the Skymist Immortal Empire had arrived, poised to "reclaim" Princess Qing'er and Princess Glaze and return them to the Skymist Immortal Empire. Within the imperial palace, anxiety hung thick in the air, as its denizens braced themselves for the impending storm.

Daily, the Skymist Immortal Empire and other preeminent powers relentlessly pressed the Evergreen Immortal Empire to honor the long-standing agreement. The imperial palace's retort remained steadfast—the adjudication process was nothing but a farce. They refused to allow an age-old rule to dictate the destiny of the Evergreen Immortal Empire, dismissing it as preposterous.

Both factions remained resolute in their convictions. Within the royal capital, speculation ran rife—what if the Evergreen Immortal Empire unequivocally refused to honor the agreement? Would the Skymist Immortal Empire truly embark on a war?

Whispers and rumors coursed through the royal capital like wildfire. Some even asserted that the Skymist Immortal Empire, biding their time as they awaited a response, had already set their troops in motion, preparing for imminent conflict.

Today marked the Skymist Immortal Empire's issuance of a final ultimatum. A month hence, they would breach the imperial palace and "retrieve" the princesses. If the Evergreen Immortal Empire persisted in flouting the agreement and disregarded the ruling of the adjudication, all the preeminent powers would instantly unite in war against them.

Within the imperial palace, tension had reached a fever pitch. Nerves were frayed, and accusations of despicability and shamelessness were hurled at the Skymist Immortal Empire. Would they genuinely initiate a war?

Among the nobility of the Evergreen Immortal Empire, doubt had begun to creep in. The Skymist Immortal Empire appeared to be earnestly preparing for an offensive. A mere month remained.

Many sought an audience with the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, but he steadfastly declined to entertain anyone. His thoughts remained an enigma to all.

Amidst this mounting pressure, Qing'er found herself under tremendous strain. She had been residing in Princess Changping's quarters. Holding Qing'er's hand, Qin Wentian offered a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Don't fret, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor will never surrender you."

"I know..." Qing'er replied. Her apprehension did not stem from the fear that her father might relinquish her to the Skymist Immortal Empire. Rather, she dreaded the prospect of the Skymist Immortal Empire launching an attack against the Evergreen Immortal Empire. The ramifications were too dire to contemplate.

"Qing'er." Suddenly, a voice resonated from behind, causing Qin Wentian to startle. Unbeknownst to him, someone had appeared unnoticed.

Swiveling around, Qin Wentian beheld an extraordinary figure. The person stood there casually, yet an aura of perfect harmony with heaven and earth enveloped him. When he stepped, it was as though he merged seamlessly with the very ground beneath him—a manifestation of unity.

Qing'er, too, wore a shocked expression at the sight of this man. She cast a glance at Qin Wentian, who stood beside her, and instinctively reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. This simple gesture warmed Qin Wentian's heart. He now realized the identity of the extraordinary figure before them.

"Junior Qin Wentian pays his respects to the Evergreen Immortal Emperor," Qin Wentian offered a respectful bow. The individual standing before him was none other than the paramount figure within the Evergreen Immortal Empire—the Evergreen Immortal Emperor.

The Evergreen Immortal Emperor retained his stoic expression as he strode toward the lakeside, his hands clasped behind his back. It was as though he were silently savoring the tranquil scenery.

"Qin Wentian, you hail from a humble particle world, the Sky Harmony City of Chu, nestled within the vast Grand Xia Empire. Your foster father is none other than Qin Chuan, and fate saw you ascend to the throne as the sovereign monarch of Grand Xia. Your journey led you to the Battle Sword Sect, where you forged a bond with the Medicine Sovereign. You faced down the indomitable power of your world's tyrant, the Royal Sacred Sect, and emerged triumphant. And then, you united your destiny with Chu's foremost beauty, Mo Qingcheng."

As the Evergreen Immortal Emperor recited these details, his gaze remained fixed forward, undisturbed as a tranquil lake. Meanwhile, Qin Wentian's heart raced within his chest.

It appeared that the Evergreen Immortal Emperor was astutely aware of every facet of his life. Yet, Qin Wentian's turbulent emotions quickly settled. How could a father not scrutinize the individual chosen by his beloved daughter? Many years ago, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor had already ordered his subordinates to search for Qing'er, and she had been by his side at the time. It was only natural for the Evergreen Immortal Emperor to investigate the background of the young man who had captured his daughter's heart.

Indeed, within the vast expanse of the immortal realms, aside from Qing'er and Mo Qingcheng, no one else was likely to possess such an intimate knowledge of his life as the Evergreen Immortal Emperor.

"Upon entering the immortal realms, you forged a connection with the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord and received an invitation to participate in the hundred-year recruitment banquet hosted by the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. You secured the coveted position of top ranker but declined the offer to become the disciple of Eastern Sage himself. Instead, you were spirited away by the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord, leading others to speculate that you were his personal disciple. You subsequently achieved top rank in the City of Ancient Emperors and mastered the sacred art of Ancient Emperor Yi, known as 'God's Hand.' During this time, you vanquished Zi Daoyang and encountered the Holy Maiden of the Southern Phoenix Clan, Nanfeng Yunxi. Responding to her plea for aid, you journeyed to the Southern Phoenix Immortal City, where you played a crucial role in her ascension to Holy Successor."

"In gratitude, the Southern Phoenix Clan divulged the location of the complete God's Hand technique to you. You ventured to the God Hand Mountain Manor and, after a series of trials, successfully mastered the art, inheriting the legacy of Ancient Emperor Yi."

With each word, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor painted a succinct and precise portrait of Qin Wentian's life from his birth in Sky Harmony City. Aside from the most guarded secrets that even the Evergreen Immortal Emperor couldn't fathom, every detail was rendered with remarkable accuracy.

Beside him, Qin Wentian and Qing'er gazed upon the Evergreen Immortal Emperor. Qing'er clung to his hand with unwavering determination, as if seeking to transmit her strength to him. Her actions conveyed her unwavering commitment—no matter her father's verdict, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Qin Wentian for all eternity.

The Evergreen Immortal Emperor finally turned to Qin Wentian, locking his penetrating gaze onto him. Under this intense scrutiny, Qin Wentian felt an oppressive weight pressing upon him. Every word he uttered seemed to carry life-altering consequences.

"I do," Qin Wentian replied resolutely, his voice steady despite the mounting pressure. As perspiration began to bead on his forehead, Qing'er stepped forward, positioning herself in front of him. Her beautiful, resolute eyes locked onto her father's, silently protesting on behalf of her beloved.

Observing the determination in her eyes, the Evergreen Immortal Emperor sighed inwardly. "Forcing my daughter to take such a stance for your sake, I'm tempted to throttle you."

Yet, as the words left his lips, the oppressive force lifted from Qin Wentian. It was evident that the Evergreen Immortal Emperor harbored no true intent to harm him.