Those who made it through the grueling selections to the very end, along with the other eight won on stage, were all undeniably stunning super-beauties. Their collective charm was off the charts.
Ever since Lin Tang appeared wearing Long Tianji's face, they had been observing him discreetly.
"Aside from his incredible martial arts, he doesn't seem that special!"
"He just looks like an unremarkable middle-aged man..."
"He has a sense of humor, though, teasing Director Xiao and Director Guo without a care."
"Of course. If I were a Heavenly King, I wouldn't have any cares either."
"No matter what, if I could marry him, I'd feel completely secure."
After thinking it over, most of them weren't opposed to the idea. Instead, they were eager, doing their best to showcase their most beautiful side with natural smiles and graceful postures.
Of course, there were also those who were unhappy, their expressions worried and downcast. For instance...
"Oh, Youling, what kind of occasion is this? Why the long face? Can't you see those won next to you, striking poses and trying to be seductive? You should learn from them!"
"That damn Lin Tang, his ghost is haunting us even now. If he hadn't shown up and caused a scene, Youling wouldn't have perford so poorly!"
"Youling, oh Youling, you have to make us proud! Your good-for-nothing adoptive father is completely unreliable. We're counting on you to win over this Heavenly King Long and have him back us up!"
At the edge of the audience, Shen Xin, Dong Mingfeng, and Shen Jiayue had shalessly taken seats. Lu Zizheng, however, hadn't co. Ever since his attempt to assault Shen Youling, he had been scared witless, hiding away whenever possible to avoid her gaze, terrified of retribution.
Shen Qiushi was also absent, having been mired in depression for so ti.
At this mont, seeing Shen Youling look as wilted as a frostbitten eggplant, Dong Mingfeng and the others stomped their feet in anxiety. Shen Jiayue was even more resentful. We're sisters, so why am I just so plain, forgettable face? If I had her looks, I would've used them to climb the ranks long ago! Heaven is so unfair to !
On stage, when Shen Youling saw Heavenly King Long and the others judging her from head to toe as if she were a commodity, her heart ached with sorrow. They had been instructed beforehand not to speak to Long Tianji without permission, but she couldn't care less about that now.
She spoke up imdiately, "Reporting to Heavenly King Long, the black mark on my face was cured by my husband, Lin Tang, himself."
"Silence!" Xiao Xuanye's expression changed, and he quickly tried to shut her down. You damn girl! Even if you have to break the rules and speak up, why would you ntion the word 'husband'? Are you trying to sabotage yourself?
"You shut up!" Lin Tang also shouted, turning on Xiao Xuanye. "Xiao Zhanchong, this young lady is talking to . What business is it of yours? Get lost!"
"...Yes." Xiao Xuanye's face was as black as the bottom of a pot. He continued to swallow his anger, repeatedly consoling himself. Who can I bla? He's a Heavenly King. What can I do? He's a Heavenly King.
Lin Tang smirked inwardly, then turned his attention back to Shen Youling. "This Lin Tang you speak of sounds quite impressive. His dical skills must be remarkable!"
"Uh—" The crowd was bewildered, unsure if this was genuine praise or sarcasm. This was his bride selection, yet Shen Youling had tactlessly brought up her forr husband. Shouldn't he be furious?
Could it be... he's into married won? The more she ntions her husband, the more thrilled he gets? What a pervert!
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Yan Qinghe gave a dry cough and said, "Heavenly King Long, you've misunderstood. I've heard a little about this young man, Lin Tang. He apparently acquired so kind of potent dicine from sowhere; it wasn't a display of his own dical prowess."
Guo Jufeng eagerly chid in, "Yes, that's right! Lin Tang is just a lowlife who doesn't walk the righteous path. He's good at poisoning, sure, but his dical skills are diocre at best."
"Oh?" Hearing the word "lowlife," Lin Tang's smile widened, but his gaze turned exceptionally cold.
Guo Jufeng felt an inexplicable chill but paid it no mind and continued, "When it cos to dical arts, my sworn brother Yu Huaji is the true master. Lin Tang isn't even qualified to carry his shoes!"
Yu Huaji, who had been itching for a chance, imdiately stood up and bowed, a sycophantic smile plastered on his face. "I am Yu Huaji, Sect Leader of the dical Immortal Sect. Greetings, Heavenly King Long!"
"The dical Immortal Sect?" Lin Tang's tone grew frigid. "Is that the backer for the little piece of trash who insulted and deceived ? You have the gall to show up at my door? I ought to crush you..."
THUD!
Yu Huaji scrambled to his knees, his voice trembling. "Spare , spare ! It was all a misunderstanding! Hong Yuanfei, the one who disrespected you, and his father, Hong Yongqun, I've already chopped them up and used them for fertilizer. The dical Immortal Sect itself holds you in the highest admiration and respect!"
"Is that so?" Lin Tang said, his expression full of disbelief.
"Heh, this is a small token of my apology. I beg for Heavenly King Long's forgiveness!" Yu Huaji produced a box, holding it above his head with both hands.
Guo Jufeng took the box and presented it to Lin Tang, who opened it for a look.
Whoa, it's a Thousand-Year Purple Spirit Flower! Tsk tsk, the dical Immortal Sect really is wealthy and ostentatious! He decided then and there that he would visit the headquarters of the dical Immortal Sect when he got the chance to see if he could "find" so more dicinal herbs.
Outwardly, however, he pretended not to recognize it. "What are these withered twigs and rotten leaves? You have the nerve to present this junk to ?"
Yu Huaji hurriedly explained, emphasizing the rarity of the herb and how no amount of money could guarantee its purchase.
Only then did Lin Tang nod in satisfaction. "At least you're considerate." He then shifted the topic back. "Xiao Zhanchong, your daughter already has a husband, so why are you so shalessly forcing her to be here? I noticed she's been crying. You're making it look like I'm so villain who abducts innocent won! You're ruining my reputation!"
As he finished speaking, an aura far surpassing that of a Grandmaster erupted from him, pressing down fiercely on Xiao Xuanye. Xiao Xuanye hastily circulated his energy to resist, but his forehead broke out in a cold sweat, and his body trembled.
So strong! I can barely even form the thought of fighting back. Is the gap between a Grandmaster and a Heavenly King truly this vast?
"Heavenly King Long, please calm your anger," Yan Qinghe interjected, gasping for air. His usual calm and collected deanor had involuntarily shifted. He was trying to smooth things over. "If you do not find this girl to your liking, we will ask her to step down imdiately."
Guo Jufeng also added, "The main issue is that Lin Tang is a real piece of work, completely unworthy of our dear Youling. Old Xiao only annulled their marriage for her own good."
"The more you talk, the more curious I beco about this Lin Tang," Lin Tang said, his eyes narrowing. "Go on, tell more. In what way is he such a piece of work?"
Like an elentary school student eager to tattle, Guo Jufeng imdiately began listing Lin Tang's deeds as if they were cris too nurous to count.
Lin Tang listened, then burst out laughing. "Interesting, truly interesting. It's been a long ti since I've encountered such an amusing young man."
"Huh?" Guo Jufeng was floored. Why does he seem to admire him more the more I badmouth him? This can't be happening! "Heavenly King Long, you don't know how audacious he is! He even impersonated your disciple! He insulted you, calling you an old reprobate, a lecherous degenerate, a dirty old man!"
Guo Jufeng continued his report, expecting Heavenly King Long to fly into a rage. To his astonishnt, the man's laughter only grew louder.
Everyone was speechless. Why is he so happy about being insulted?
Suddenly, Lin Tang's smile vanished. "What if I told you he really is my disciple?"
BOOM!
His words struck Guo Jufeng, Xiao Xuanye, Dong Mingfeng, and the others like a bolt of lightning, leaving them utterly frozen. Their hearts nearly stopped.
"Hea-Hea-Heavenly King Long, you... you can't be joking, right?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"My heavens—" Xiao Xuanye's face turned a sickening shade of green. Guo Jufeng's mind was a complete blur. But... Shen Youling's grandfather didn't recognize him... That's right! Who's to say Lin Tang only has one master? Maybe he learned his dicine and poison skills from that Divine Calculator fellow, but his martial arts ca from Heavenly King Long! Then why didn't he clarify that last ti...?
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence, everyone reeling from Long Tianji's shocking revelation.
"So that poison-wielding devil is actually Heavenly King Long's disciple!"
"No wonder he's afraid of nothing."
"Does this an Director Xiao bringing Shen Youling here was a case of sucking up and getting it completely wrong?"
"And they even put a bounty on Lin Tang... Isn't that like lighting a lantern in a latrine—courting death?"
In their corner, Dong Mingfeng and her companions turned pale as ghosts, not knowing what to do with their hands and feet. Am I dreaming? My ears must be playing tricks on ! How could Lin Tang be Heavenly King Long's disciple? So we had a powerful patron all along and didn't even realize it? Instead, we repeatedly tried to distance ourselves from Lin Tang?
On the stage, Ning Yuexi was once again on the verge of a breakdown. So it really is him! Lin Tang! That beast! That shaless animal!
Shen Youling stood stunned for several seconds before the reality of the situation sank in, and she was overco with joy. Oh, Lin Tang, Lin Tang, why didn't you tell sooner... This is wonderful. I don't have to live in fear anymore. I don't have to marry soone else...
"Eh? You all actually believed ?" Lin Tang's mocking voice echoed through the hall once more.
SWOOSH!
All eyes snapped back to him. He simply spread his hands. "I was just kidding. I've never even t this young man nad Lin Tang."
PFFT— Xiao Xuanye nearly coughed up blood. Seriously! You'll scare soone to death! What in the world are you playing at?
"Phew—" Guo Jufeng, Yu Huaji, and the others slumped back into their seats, utterly drained. "Heavenly King Long, he really isn't your disciple?"
"Nope."
"Haha!" Dong Mingfeng was the first to laugh out loud. Since her section of the audience was still silent, her laugh was particularly jarring, causing many heads to turn her way. Startled, she quickly covered her mouth, but she couldn't hide her glee. That's what I thought. How could a lowly country bumpkin like Lin Tang have a Heavenly King for a master? If he were that incredible, he'd be so arrogant his nose would be in the air by now.
Xiao Xuanye breathed a huge sigh of relief and composed himself. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Tang cut in again.
"However, I'm extrely interested in this Lin Tang. And as it happens, I have yet to take a disciple. Why don't you do this: find him and bring him to . If I like what I see, I might just take him as my disciple right now."
Isn't this supposed to be a bride-selection event? How the hell did it turn into a disciple recruitnt?!
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