Chapter 143: Marriage Competition

"Have you heard? The Saintess of the Ji family is holding a martial arts competition in the Holy City to select a husband. Anyone under two thousand years old who can suppress all rivals and emerge victorious will be allowed to marry into the Ji family and become the husband of the Saintess."

As soon as he entered the city, Chu Feng heard this news. It had spread throughout the entire Holy City.

A martial arts competition for a marriage proposal. To think that the Imperial Ji family would resort to such a measure.

"Ling'er, does your Ji family have a tradition like this?" Chu Feng asked.

Ji Ling'er was also completely bewildered.

Jiang Yan added curiously, "Logically speaking, for the Ji family, being an Imperial clan, this shouldn't be the case."

Over the past half-year, thanks to the increase in his conquest points—now reaching a full 85, with An Miaoyi reaching 89—Chu Feng had imparted his divine techniques and spells to his women without much reservation.

Jiang Yan’s seal had completely shattered, and she had recovered her full cultivation: the mid-stage of the Tribulation Transcending Heavenly Monarch. As her power returned, her aura grew increasingly formidable, much like an empress. The presence she had cultivated from years of being in a position of authority made people instinctively feel the urge to kneel before her with every move she made.

"Husband, are you interested in winning this Ji family Saintess over?" Chen Wanwan asked with a playful smile.

"Not interested," Chu Feng shook his head. "What kind of nonsense Saintess of the Ji family could compare to Ling'er? However, it would be a different story if Ling'er were to become the Saintess of the Ji family."

"Ling'er, are you interested in becoming the Saintess of the Ji family?"

"Me?" Ji Ling'er shook her head immediately. "I am content just being by my husband's side; I have never thought about becoming a Saintess."

"No, you have." Chu Feng interrupted her, speaking with unusual firmness. "With your husband's help, you will become the Saintess of the Ji family."

"Is that really possible?" As a member of the Ji family, carrying their bloodline, Ji Ling'er still felt a deep sense of belonging and identity. The prospect of becoming the Saintess did, in fact, bring her joy.

Seeing this, Chu Feng became even more determined. He wanted the position of the Ji family Saintess. But for now, he decided to go and see this martial arts competition first.

The Ji family's martial arts competition had caused a sensation throughout the Central Region. Young prodigies from all major factions, as well as powerful figures under two thousand years old, had almost all gathered here.

Just like in the Eastern Wasteland, there were finally three major rankings—Heaven, Earth, and Human. Almost everyone under two thousand years old who had reached the Void Refinement or Mahayana realm was present, and there was no shortage of experts from the Earth Ranking. Even those on the Human Ranking, known as the "Hidden Dragon Ranking," were considered insignificant here.

"What a grand event this is."

"The Saintess of the Ji family is said to be only six hundred years old and at the Spirit Severing realm, yet she is opening up the competition to everyone. How is that even possible?"

"This is the Saintess of the Ji family we're talking about. I'm afraid the men who want to marry her could circle the entire Taixu Holy City."

"Or perhaps, there is some hidden truth behind it?"

"I don't know if you've heard the saying: 'Before absolute power, all schemes are but paper tigers.' For the Ji family, is there any need for schemes?"

"That seems to be the case."

Inside the Tianxiang Restaurant, Chu Feng and his companions found a table and sat down. They immediately heard many people discussing the matter. There was something strange about all of this.

"Look, everyone! A fight has broken out!"

"Zhao Qingxu, ranked ninth on the Earth Ranking, is fighting Murong Bo!"

"We must go and see!"

Suddenly, the bustling restaurant became deserted as everyone rushed out to watch.

Chu Feng felt a flicker of interest, but before he could speak, Chen Wanwan was the first to stand up, excited. "What are you waiting for? Let's go see!"

"Let's go," Chu Feng nodded.

On the street, they indeed saw the two of them confronting each other. Zhao Qingxu looked to be about thirty, while Murong Bo appeared to be in his forties. Both were figures from the Earth Ranking—Zhao Qingxu at ninth and Murong Bo at eleventh—neither was a simple opponent.

The Central Region was vast and its factions intricate. Zhao Qingxu hailed from the hidden immortal sect, the Green Ox Temple. Each generation of the temple had few disciples, with only one walking the world every thousand years. Furthermore, the temple seemed to forbid its disciples from marriage.

Murong Bo was the head of the top-tier Murong family. Both were Mahayana Heavenly Humans. As a family head, Murong Bo not only had a dao companion but several, and he even had children. Earlier, while drinking in the Tianxiang Restaurant, he had boasted that he would marry the Saintess of the Ji family.

Zhao Qingxu was enraged. The Saintess, Ji Qingyue, was the goddess in his heart; he could not allow her to be defiled. If she married someone else, it might be acceptable, but marrying an old man like Murong Bo, who already had a house full of wives and children—that was simply out of the question.

And so, they began to fight.

"Just this?" Chu Feng rolled his eyes.

"This Zhao Qingxu is purely meddling in other people's business. Why does he care? The Saintess of the Ji family chose to hold this public competition; surely she considered these possibilities. If she didn't object, why should he stand out and cause trouble? It's disgusting," Chu Feng said disdainfully.

However, as soon as he said this, he felt several powerful killing intents directed toward him. He looked up to find all his women staring at him with smiles on their faces.

Chu Feng had a bad premonition and frowned, saying, "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

"Not at all," Jiang Yan said. "Husband, it seems you are also interested in marrying into the Ji family."

Chu Feng quickly shook his head. "How could that be? I already said I wanted to promote Ling'er to be the Saintess; wouldn't this be redundant?"

As they spoke, the two combatants began to clash. It had to be said that they were evenly matched. Although they used endless techniques, Chu Feng found it all quite dull. To him, he could suppress or kill either of them with a wave of his hand.

His gaze began to wander, and his search yielded a discovery.

[Congratulations to the host, you have encountered the Son of Destiny, Xiao Junlin, once again.]

The Son of Destiny. Chu Feng’s interest was piqued.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he quickly found Xiao Junlin.

[Son of Destiny: Xiao Junlin.]
[Cultivation: Late-stage Mahayana Heavenly Human.]
[Life Story: He is the lover of the Ji family Saintess, Ji Qingyue. Not long ago, he and Ji Qingyue were intimate, resulting in her becoming pregnant. However, because of his humble background, the Ji family disapproved and forcibly separated them. But Ji Qingyue is deeply in love with Xiao Junlin and begged her father, leading to this martial arts competition. The purpose is a final test for Xiao Junlin: if he can stand out in the competition, he will be allowed to marry into the Ji family as the ideal son-in-law. If he fails to win, Ji Qingyue will be married off to someone else.]
[Age: 600.]

Truly a favored child of heaven. Chu Feng couldn't help but shake his head.

He thought to himself: at 999 years old, his lifespan was nearing its end, and he could lose his life at any moment. And then look at this guy—only 600 years old, yet he had already reached the Mahayana realm and a lifespan of ten thousand years.