Mo Yanyu

She was just sixteen years old, yet her beauty was enough to captivate not only young men but even some adults. However, because she rarely left her home and always concealed her face when she did, only a few had ever seen her true appearance.

Since so few knew about her, nothing unusual had ever happened. But today, when the Han Family's genius arrived at her house and caught sight of her, he was instantly mesmerized. Without hesitation, he proposed marriage.

The girl, Mo Yanyu, was the daughter of the Mo Clan's leader. While the Mo Clan was powerful, its influence was limited to the East Province.

The Southern Kingdom had five provinces. In the East, the Mo Clan reigned supreme, while in the West, the Yang Clan was the most powerful.

As for the Han Clan, it dominated the Central Province and influenced the other four provinces as well. Aside from the Royal Family, the Han Clan was the most formidable force in the Southern Kingdom.

Han Tianming, the Han Clan's prodigy, was a master of alchemy, widely recognized across the kingdom for his extraordinary talents.

He and his elder were traveling through the powerful clans of each province, showcasing the strength of the Han Clan.

When he arrived at the Mo Clan, he saw a girl walking toward a grand mansion.

Her face was like a flawless porcelain sculpture—pure, smooth, and pale as the first snowfall of winter. Her eyes were deep and penetrating, their gaze carrying an inexplicable allure that made one feel as if they were being drawn into an endless abyss. Her long, dark lashes framed them perfectly, casting delicate shadows across her fair cheeks. Her lips were naturally red, soft, and slightly curved, giving her an enigmatic charm. The contrast between her snow-white skin and her dark attire only made her beauty more striking, as if she did not belong to the ordinary world.

Her figure remained hidden beneath a flowing black cape that covered her entirely. Unless she moved her hand outside the cloak, it was impossible to tell what lay beneath. Yet, just from her exquisite face, one could easily imagine that her figure was just as breathtaking.

Enthralled by her beauty, Han Tianming immediately desired to make her his wife. Upon learning that she was the Mo Clan leader's daughter, he proposed marriage.

----

The moment Mo Yanyu stepped into the hall, all eyes turned toward her. The elders of the Mo Clan sat solemnly, her father, Mo Jingxia, seated at the center, his expression unreadable. Across from them stood three figures—Han Clan's two elders and a young man, his gaze locked onto her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.

Before she could even demand an explanation, her father spoke. "Yanyu, this is Han Tianming, from the Han Clan. He is a gifted alchemist. The Han Clan has proposed marriage, and I have accepted on your behalf."

Mo Yanyu's eyes narrowed. She looked from her father to Han Tianming, then back again. For a brief moment, silence filled the hall before she scoffed. "I see, you think you look better standing next to me, but sorry, even my beauty can't solve your ugliness."

The hall fell into stunned silence. The Mo Clan elders froze, their expressions shifting between disbelief and horror. The Han Clan elders tensed, angry at Mo Yanyu's words. But the person who reacted most was her father.

Mo Jingxia's face darkened instantly. "Yanyu!" he snapped, his voice sharp with warning. "Do you even understand what you are refusing? Han Tianming is an esteemed alchemist! If you marry into the Han Clan, you will gain limitless resources, a powerful husband, and bring honor to the Mo Clan! Yet you dare insult him?"

Mo Yanyu crossed her arms, her dark eyes filled with contempt. "Honor? You think selling your daughter off like livestock brings honor?" She let out a cold laugh. "You must have lost your mind, Father. Since when did the mighty Mo Jingxia become so desperate that he would throw his own daughter at a man just because he can play with fire?"

Mo Jingxia's fists clenched. "You ungrateful girl! You dare speak to me this way? Everything I do is for the clan!"

"For the clan?" Mo Yanyu's voice dripped with mockery. "Don't make me laugh. This isn't about the clan—it's about you. You're afraid that the Mo Clan will fall behind the others, so you're willing to sacrifice me to gain favor with the Han Clan. How pathetic."

Mo Jingxia slammed his hand against the armrest of his chair, his face turning red with fury. "Yanyu! You will marry Han Tianming, and that is final!"

A sudden surge of energy erupted from Mo Yanyu. The air around her turned heavy, and a dark mist began to swirl at her feet. The moment the dark energy became visible, the entire hall gasped.

"She… She's a Mortal Elemental 8th Stage?" one of the Mo Clan elders whispered in shock.

The realization struck them all at once. No one had expected this. For a sixteen-year-old to reach the 8th Stage was rare. The dark energy coiled around her like living shadows, responding to her anger. Mo Jingxia, for all his authority, was left speechless.

Then, laughter broke the silence.

Han Tianming finally spoke, stepping forward with an arrogant smirk. "Impressive," he mused, his tone dripping with amusement. "I didn't expect you to be at the 8th Stage already. No wonder you're so unwilling—you actually think you can stand on equal footing with me."

Mo Yanyu's eyes flickered toward him, her expression cold. "You talk too much."

Han Tianming ignored her, lifting a hand as flames erupted around his body. The golden-red fire crackled, illuminating his confident smirk. "I am also an 8th Stage Mortal Elemental," he declared, his voice filled with certainty. "And I am also an alchemist, the same age as you."

His gaze bore into hers. "I understand your hesitation now. You fear that if you marry me, you will be overshadowed." His smirk widened. "But I can assure you, you will learn to appreciate being by my side."

Mo Yanyu scoffed. "Overshadowed? Don't flatter yourself." She took a step forward, her dark energy pulsing. "If you truly think you're my equal, then fight me. If you win, I will consider your ridiculous proposal. But if you lose, then you have no face to speak of marriage."

Han Tianming didn't hesitate. "Agreed. I will show you the difference between us." His voice was thick with arrogance as if victory was already his.

The elders exchanged glances, sensing the battle that was about to unfold. Han Tianming stood with unwavering confidence, convinced that he would win. Mo Yanyu, however, remained unimpressed.