What's meant to come, will come eventually.
Qing Muling wasn't surprised. Since the Emperor had taken notice of him, it was inevitable that they would meet. Hence, the invitation was extended under the guise of the Dragon Ritual Princess. Fortunately, he had prepared for this before setting out and had no need for concern.
Thus far, Qinghuan Emperor had shown nothing but goodwill towards Qing Muling and Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. Without her support of ten billion heavenly merits, Xinyu Emperor's revival wouldn't have been so easy. The weight of this favor was far from ordinary.
"Since the princess has summoned me, I shall comply. However, my Dao Companion and my protectors must accompany me!" Qing Muling stated calmly.
The female official looked slightly surprised and said, "The protectors may accompany you, but perhaps your Dao Companion should not?"
"Very well, let it be so. Allow me to change my attire."
Qing Muling didn't expect her to agree. By making the request, he wanted to make it clear that he was "spoken for."
Even if the Dragon Ritual Princess was crafty, with her noble status, she wouldn't stoop to forcibly taking someone else's Dao Companion. Such an act would tarnish her reputation, and even her mother, Qinghuan Emperor, would lose face.
As a major figure of the Dao Court, she naturally cared about appearances, at least publicly.
Shortly after, Qing Muling emerged, dressed in deep azure brocade with subtle dragon and phoenix cloud patterns, a sparkling belt, and an exquisite pearl-studded golden crown, further accentuating his youthful elegance. The Dao Rhyme of solitude and profundity emanated from him, causing the female official to take a few deep glances, filled with both amazement and a hint of regret.
As someone close to the Dragon Ritual Princess, she had seen many elite young men, geniuses with noble destinies and great fortune. Her standards were notoriously high. Yet, compared to Qing Muling, they all seemed to lack something, inevitably feeling inferior.
Such an outstanding individual, how did someone else get to him first?
Qi Yalan and the other ladies held back their words, while Xuebing Xuan gave them a reassuring look, signaling that there was no need to worry.
The attire Qing Muling wore was personally refined by Xinyu Emperor, capable of concealing fate and masking aura, making it difficult for even Qinghuan Emperor to see through him.
Surely, the Emperor and her daughter wouldn't be so shameless as to strip him of his clothes to uncover the truth on the spot?
Thus, Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord and Yueyi Heavenly Lord followed Qing Muling, leaving their residence with the female official and boarding a magnificent starship to head for Qinghuan Emperor's Dao Court.
"…With many admirers of the princess, including those with sky-high backgrounds and stunning talents, if I were to meet with her alone, regardless of the outcome, I would become a thorn in their side, and they would target me at every turn," Qing Muling said to the female official on the way.
The official chuckled, "Mediocrity invites no jealousy. Even without this, your performance at the assembly of immortals would have stood out, overshadowing many geniuses, and you would still be the target of their envy and ostracism."
"Of course, our Emperor understands your predicament and has already made arrangements. There won't be any chance for them to target you or Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. You can rest assured."
"That's very reassuring. I have no objections then."
Qing Muling breathed a sigh of relief. With Qinghuan Emperor's reputation as a guarantee, those forces wouldn't dare to cause trouble on Dao Court's territory.
***
Half an hour later, the starship entered Qinghuan Emperor's exclusive Dao Court, a vast world spanning billions of miles, independent of the Great Void, with its own system of Dao laws.
The spiritual energy here was incredibly dense, and amidst the vast mountains and rivers, Qing Muling saw many extinct spiritual herbs and legendary creatures thriving contentedly.
He could sense that this world was still growing, continuously drawing spiritual essence from the vast expanse of the void to strengthen itself. As long as the Emperor didn't fall, this process would not stop and could theoretically grow to the size of several immortal domains.
Qing Muling wasn't sure if Qinghuan Emperor could become a primordial holy person in the future. If she could take that step and had enough time, perhaps this world could grow to rival the Great Void or at least be comparable to the Misty Illusion Secret Realm.
Such Hidden Cave Mystical Realms are the personal domains of Quasi Holy Emperors, the source of their divine powers. The larger the scale, the more formidable the Emperor's power.
The starship flew swiftly, occasionally performing spatial jumps. After a while, it descended gracefully before an exquisite palace.
Qing Muling disembarked with the ladies, greeted by a group of female attendants who ushered them into a secluded hall to wait. Servants presented delicate spiritual tea and pastries, bowed, and quietly withdrew.
Surrounded by silence, Qing Muling sat for a moment, then stood and paced, attempting to chat with the guards at the door, who ignored him.
Meanwhile, in another secret room, a young girl in a luxurious deep purple palace dress stood before a massive golden-framed mirror adorned with nine dragons, silently observing the pacing beautiful youth.
She was pure and charming, with a mysterious allure yet a sacred and inviolable dignity, exuding the pressure of a True Immortal.
"Having watched for so long, what do you think?"
A gentle yet authoritative voice came from behind her.
The Dragon Ritual Princess turned to find Qinghuan Emperor had appeared behind her, her radiant beauty shrouded in dazzling light, her graceful figure barely discernible.
The princess hesitated, then softly said, "He seems decent, but he falls short of my expectations, and moreover… And he's already taken, right?"
Qinghuan Emperor chuckled, resting her hand on her daughter's shoulder, casually saying, "His fate and fortune are shielded by great divine powers, and he carries treasures that mask his aura. Even I can't see through all his secrets, so…"
The princess's expression shifted slightly, "Is that so?"
What she could see already surpassed most monstrous geniuses. If Qing Muling wasn't hiding anything and allowed her to see everything, how extraordinary would he be?
Qinghuan Emperor nodded affirmatively, "It's a pity he already has a Dao Companion. You're a step too late. With him, you could have had a chance to achieve the Quasi Holy Emperor realm."
The princess sighed softly, remaining silent.
"If he's truly an exceptional gem, then taking him by force wouldn't be an issue. What's reputation compared to one's own Dao and grand ambitions?" Qinghuan Emperor continued.
The princess fell silent for a moment, then said, "I heard that Xuebing Xuan was injured in a duel with the saint of Huaqing Divine Palace and was supposed to be hopeless in her Dao journey. Yet, she recovered and even advanced to the Elemental Immortal realm, probably due to seizing his Dao Rhyme."
Qinghuan Emperor nodded, "It's likely the case. Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, having discovered him by chance, would naturally secure him, marrying their most outstanding woman to him. Their fates intertwined, sharing fortune, they can look forward to longevity."
"The five female disciples who came with him are all at the Elemental Immortal realm, and their fates are deeply entwined with his, showing they've gained much."
The princess looked somewhat disheartened. Compared to her mother's decisive valor, she was inherently more innocent and couldn't be as crafty. Her pride and dignity as the Emperor's daughter also prevented her from stooping to compete with other women for a man.
What is sought after, I do not want!
That was the Dragon Ritual Princess's principle. She was used to others flattering and courting her favor, trying to get close. When did she ever need to lower herself to pursue a man?
"Mother, let's forget it," she finally said after weighing her options. "If we force him to our side, our relationship with Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would be over, which is not conducive to your future plans. Moreover, he might not accept such an arrangement, and neither side would benefit. Why bother?"
"Oh, is that really what you think?" Qinghuan Emperor looked at her daughter meaningfully, "There are things you can't see clearly now. In time, you might regret today's decision."
"I've made up my mind and won't regret it!" The princess huffed and walked away, "I'll exchange a few words with him and then send him back. I hope his performance at the upcoming assembly of immortals lives up to your expectations."
"Wait," Qinghuan Emperor called out, "Lin Shengqing from Bright Moon Sword Sect has offered a generous gift to meet you. If you have time, why not see him too?"
"Lin Shengqing?" The princess paused, then remembered and frowned in annoyance, "What's he worth? Just a crafty, ruined man who barely recovered with the underhanded methods of Calamity Fate Palace. He thinks he can be my Dao Companion? Even a maid by my side is beyond his reach!"
With that, she hurried away.
Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Qinghuan Emperor sighed deeply. She had prepared a substantial gift, including twenty billion heavenly merits, territories of thirty large star domains, and a wealth of rare resources, as compensation for Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. Qing Muling was worth the price.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Ritual Princess had voluntarily given up. Missing this opportunity, her future achievements might not reach the level of inheriting her mother's mantle.
***
At the residence of Bright Moon Sword Sect.
"…Young Master, the Sect Master has connected with a confidant of Qinghuan Emperor. He's agreed to help introduce you. As long as you meet the Dragon Ritual Princess and win her favor, this matter is likely to succeed!" the deputy Sect Master, Su Qinglin, said to Lin Shengqing with a smile.
Lin Shengqing's face lit up with joy, "That's excellent. Marrying this noble lady will further elevate our Bright Moon Sword Sect's influence. What will those Supreme Dao Lineages nearby amount to then?"
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan