Silence, absolute.
From below, Yue Qi and countless Hundred Flowers women gaped, lips parted, eyes wide with shock.
No one expected this. Both had acted flawlessly, decisive, with killing intent. Even the Peerless Under Heaven technique was activated.
Each had tried fooling the other, hiding their true intent. Yet, both dropped their weapons. Neither wanted to inflict harm, both chose loss.
A scene from novels, made real. Hearts trembled, with envy and worship for the sky-bound pair. Was this true love?
Lan An and Su Yan collided, he instinctively embraced her. Their eyes locked, a thousand words passed between them.
They weren't fools, they knew why this happened. Both shared the same thought: I cannot hurt you. Happiness and emotion surged, it was an eternal moment.
She felt his strong arms, his warmth through her skin. Su Yan parted her lips, her orchid breath soft:
"You, how were you going to defeat me?"
Her voice trembled. He had refused to harm her, how could he win, how could he marry her.
Lan An laughed. One arm tightened around her waist, the other caressed her flushed cheek, she quivered, but didn't push him away.
"Silly talk! Our hearts are entwined, why do we need a win or a loss?" He grinned.
Su Yan was stunned: "Master said, surpass us, marry us."
"Have you ever seen me fight Yue Qi or Meng Ying? Win or lose? Yet I'm still married to them!" He countered.
"This." She bit her lip, speechless.
He lifted her chin, their eyes met. He whispered:
"When we first met, Yue Qi was proud, and you were a stranger. Master's words were just an excuse. When I surpassed them, it became the reason to wed. Now Yue Qi is willing, Meng Ying too."
Su Yan fell silent. Her pure nature meant she always saw marriage as a duty. Defeat equaled obligation.
Now, in his arms, she realized: he was already in her heart. Defeat or not? Cripple or not? He was her man.
Yue Qi smiled sweetly, her ten-year pact was also just an excuse. Their love was ripe, why need one? She married him without a defeat.
Third Sister was too pure. Master's casual words had become a self-imposed cage. Even with the grass ring proposal, she wanted to say yes, but felt she had to demand defeat first. She revered Wu San Niang, and etched every word.
Lan An saw this, he accepted the duel just to free her. He had planned to feign injury to awaken her, this perfect outcome was even better.
No harm, just an explosion of love.
Their eyes locked. He raised the grass ring, solemnly:
"Su Yan, I love you, and I want you to be mine. Simple, yes?"
Her eyes were wet, and the warmth in her heart was deep, she nodded hard:
"Yes, my heart has you. Simple!"
Lan An was ecstatic, the Hundred Flowers Fairy had confessed love, not duty.
With a slight tremble, he lifted her jade hand. The grass ring was shaky, he missed.
Su Yan smiled, flowers seemed to bloom. She guided his hand, her confidence restored.
He took a deep breath, the ring slid on. The Hundred Flowers Fairy was now his fiancée.
On her flawless hand, the humble grass ring looked like the ring of a storybook wife.
Her lips quivered, her sandalwood breath sweet. Lan An claimed her soft petals.
"Mmm."
The moan was new and sweet. Their lips caressed, her heart seemed to stop. She pressed closer, their hands clasped.
Her cheeks were crimson. Lan An was gentle, savoring the world's best taste.
It was cool, sweet, and soft, soul-melting.
Her breath quickened, his hot tongue breached her lips. Startled, she resisted.
"Darling, first kiss, no regrets!" He soothed her, holding her tighter.
Her heart softened, her teeth parted. His tongue invaded.
"Mmm, hnn."
An unconscious moan, her mind went blank. Her clove tongue was captured, his manly saliva, taking hers.
Lan An too, his mind was empty, acting purely on instinct.
The lovers soared in the sky, amid the flowers, before the envious eyes of Hundred Flowers women, who were shedding teary joy. Their Sect Leader was happy.
Her man was a Golden Ranking Top 10 monster. A future peak powerhouse. A perfect match.
This was a historic, eternally recorded moment.
Time was lost, her lips were numb. He released her reluctantly.
Su Yan was limp, he carried her like a princess, descending while laughing.
"Congratulations Sect Leader, Lan Gongzi!" Elders choked with emotion.
Su Yan, lost all dignity, she was just a love-struck girl in his arms.
"Hehe, Third Sister is adorable!" Yue Qi and Qin Meng Ying teased.
Su Yan turned redder, she hopped down, unhidden bliss on her face. She felt lighter than ever.
"Congrats husband!" Yan Ruo Xue and Hua Yu Feng smiled.
"Sorry, stole the spotlight!" He held their hands, guilty.
"Fool, treat Sect Leader well, or Mi-sis will be unforgiving!" Yan Ruo Xue glared, not with pettiness.
Lan An thumped his chest, loving his women? Easy.
Disciples swarmed, the beauty circle grew larger.
"Ahem, love is set, the ceremony is needed. Simple!" Grand Elder Hua Yu Loan coughed.
Lan An grinned, the bride-price. Four pearls, no loss.
"Space please!" He called out to the disciples.
They obediently retreated, curious.
He glanced at Yue Qi and Qin Meng Ying, they smiled, and jade trays appeared.
Treasures, suppressed, the space trembled.
More, the Spirit Realm Pearl women emerged. Flower-like, they carried trays holding.
Two rows behind, radiant. Ming Yue and Ling Lung joined them, Ai Xin and To Mi were in seclusion.
Flower Ranking fairies bearing gifts, for Lan An only.
Even the Stone Man, a giant tray, a hundred meters long, with endless items, mountains of Spirit Stones.
The scene, Hundred Flowers was stunned. Su Yan was dazed.
Liu Shi Qin, without a tray, stood beside Lan An. She swept her gaze, then smiled:
"Bride-price for three Saintesses: 500,000 Extreme Spirit Stones, 1,200 Youth Pills, 600 Extreme Earth-Grade Robes, 90 Extreme Heaven-Grade Treasures, 30 Extreme Heaven-Grade Manuals, 12 Extreme Spirit-Grade Manuals, 12 Extreme Spirit-Grade Treasures, and 1 Early Seventh-Turn Stone Man Body Cultivator!"
Silence, the shock reached a peak.
Thousands gaped, they pinched and rubbed their eyes. Was this a dream? The trays were endless, the pressure suffocating.
Youth Pills and robes, women's treasures. The Myriad Treasures were pricey, unaffordable dreams.
Now, sect rewards. Effort equals gain.
The Elders, their world flipped. Hua Yu Loan and Yan Ruo Lan had tears in their eyes. Such a husband, perfect.
The bride-price, it surpassed a Ninth-Grade sect's vault. The Early Seventh-Turn Stone Man, a future terror.
It wasn't greed, it proved the women's high status. They were relieved.
Liu Shi Qin clapped her hands.
ROAR.
Two more Stone Men, another roar.
A Seventh-Turn Stone Man carried a giant tray. Atop it, a majestic bear, with Black and White Earth Spirit Force dense around it. Su Yan paled:
"Strange Earth!"
Gasps, Lan An's White Sand feats were known. The strongest Strange Earth, a gift?
"True form!" The order was given to the Ancient Bear Prison Earth.
Its face darkened, it had never been humiliated. Carried as dowry, it was tempted to rebel. But the pact, it had to be honest. It grumbled a roar.
Before their bulging eyes, the sandstorm retracted. The mountain bear shrunk.
Finally, the sand was gone. The tray held a black-and-white panda, tiny, lazily curled up, with big eyes, puppy-sized.
The crowd goggled. Even Lan An, it was weird. The strongest Strange Earth?
The Panda saw the stares, it looked embarrassed. Tiny paws on its hips, puffed cheeks, it spoke in a milky voice:
"What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a cute, beautiful bear?"
All exchanged looks, with a unified thought:
"A girl?!"