Chapter 1273: My Woman! The participation of the Giant Wave Merchant Guild warriors made the people of the Thousand Illusions Sect and the Shattered Hall even more passive. Watching Shi Yan capture Xing Shang, they felt completely constrained.
Ban Yu confirmed Shi Yan was a descendant of Dicarlo, instantly burdening Shi Yan with an extremely weighty identity. Dicarlo had profound ties to the mysterious "Bloodthirst," the Underworld Royal Clan, and the Celestial Demon Clan, meaning the Thousand Illusions Sect and the Shattered Hall likely dared not offend him.
With Xing Shang still held hostage, how could they respond?
Xing Ying and Hao Feng both felt a headache coming on.
Shi Yan, however, was inwardly startled.
He had never heard of Dicarlo. Hearing Ban Yu assert him as Dicarlo’s descendant, he paused, but he offered no explanation, keeping his grip tight on Xing Shang and coldly stating, "The key to the Primordial Spirit Lock in exchange for him."
Ouyang Luoshuang’s silk gown was tethered by the gentle light of the stars, keeping her standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Though unable to move or speak, her sacred and clear temperament was intensely captivating, and her pure, flawless eyes were intoxicating. A glimmer of light shimmered in her clear gaze, and her heart was secretly astonished.
Over the years, wandering alone through the sea of stars, she had seen much. She knew the name of Dicarlo, the Giant Wave Merchant Guild’s first Venerable Guest, recognizing him as a grand master of spatial profundity, whose understanding of spatial power was arguably unmatched in the current galaxy.
Shi Yan, Dicarlo’s descendant?
Ouyang Luoshuang was inwardly shocked, harboring doubts. She knew Shi Yan hailed from the Divine Grace Continent, yet she had never heard Dicarlo’s name mentioned in her homeland.
She discreetly watched Shi Yan and noticed a flicker of bewilderment in his expression. Ouyang Luoshuang immediately understood: Ban Yu must have made a mistake, and Shi Yan was merely putting on an act again!
She felt a bittersweet urge to laugh.
Yet, a sliver of hope flared in her heart!
Though she had guessed the true situation, the Thousand Illusions Sect and the Shattered Hall were unaware, and Ban Yu certainly did not know the truth. Leveraging Dicarlo’s prestige, and with Xing Shang as a hostage, perhaps… she truly had a chance for deliverance.
"The key to the Primordial Spirit Lock is not in our hands. There's nothing we can do," Xing Ying murmured, her heart trembling slightly as she cautiously weighed her words. She spoke softly and gently, "How about this? We enter Illusory Star first. I will fetch the key from my father, and you can wait for me for a while?"
Shi Yan shrugged casually, "Fine."
With that, he pulled Ouyang Luoshuang with stellar energy, his other hand gripping Xing Shang, preparing to step onto the soil of Illusory Star.
Xing Shang’s face at that moment was the color of pig liver—as ugly as it could possibly be. He continuously made frantic eye contact with Xing Ying, desperate for her to find a way to free him quickly.
Xing Ying pretended not to see.
Hao Feng and the Thousand Illusions Sect warriors, assured by Ban Yu’s confirmation of Shi Yan’s lineage, dared not make any rash moves. They remained silent, watching the proceedings coldly.
“He is a descendant of our Great Venerable Guest. Normally, we should not set foot on Illusory Star, but given this situation, we must make an exception this once. We will leave only after this matter is resolved,” Ban Yu declared firmly, nodding to the Merchant Guild warriors. Those men promptly boarded their war chariots and followed Shi Yan toward Illusory Star.
“Wait a moment, this matter is too significant; allow me to report it first!” The Nascent God Realm expert who had accompanied Hao Feng now realized the situation was grim.
He was no longer prepared to let Hao Feng act recklessly. Finally taking the matter seriously, he resolved to fulfill his true duty as an outer guard of the Thousand Illusions Sect.
"You may," Ban Yu conceded.
Everyone turned their gaze to Shi Yan.
Shi Yan grinned, revealing an exceedingly strange smile, and called out loudly, "You had best report this directly to Ling Xiang. Otherwise, it will remain difficult to resolve."
The man’s face changed drastically; he increasingly felt that something was deeply amiss, a growing intuition telling him things were going wrong...
Shi Yan was far too composed. From beginning to end, even when surrounded by the forces of the Thousand Illusions Sect and the Shattered Hall, he had not shown a trace of fear or unease. His calmness was borderline unnatural.
This behavior suggested only two possibilities: either this person was foolish to an absurd degree, or he was utterly fearless!
From his discreet observation of Shi Yan, he knew Shi Yan was not foolish, leaving only the latter possibility—Shi Yan was not afraid of a single person in the Thousand Illusions Sect or the Shattered Hall!
This conclusion left the man deeply shocked. He had initially planned to contact Hao Feng’s elders but hesitated, changing his mind. He decided to petition the Sect Master of the Thousand Illusions Sect directly!
"Please wait!"
His expression suddenly turned respectful, and he bowed slightly before moving back a short distance with his back toward Shi Yan, using a secret method to connect with Ling Xiang.
Hao Feng, Xing Ying, Ban Yu, and the others wore looks of surprised confusion, especially Hao Feng. He knew this man held a considerable rank within the Thousand Illusions Sect; ordinarily, he would not adopt such a cautious demeanor unless facing allies of the caliber of Lai Na or Xing Ming. The way he treated Shi Yan now indicated only one thing: he believed Shi Yan’s status and standing were equivalent to those of Lai Na and Xing Ming!
Hao Feng was secretly horrified, feeling that he might have just stepped on a landmine, and he deeply regretted his actions.
Xing Ying’s beautiful face flickered with uncertainty, and she glared at Wei Yun, "Look at the good work you’ve done!"
Ban Yu was the most at ease, waiting patiently, and when he looked at Shi Yan, he forced another smile.
Hao Feng, Xing Ying, and Ban Yu all believed Shi Yan was a descendant of Dicarlo. In their minds, only that status could explain why Shi Yan feared neither the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Hall, nor the Heavenly Water Palace, and why he wasn't worried about punishment.
As they were each lost in their own thoughts, a single sentence from the Nascent God expert contacting Ling Xiang left them completely stunned!
The man turned back, his face etched with terror, and announced, "The Sect Master has commanded us to wait here; he will arrive together with Hall Master Xize and Palace Mistress Luolin!"
When this statement landed, the man himself was utterly shaken, staring at Shi Yan in disbelief.
Given the status and prestige of Ling Xiang, Xize, and Luolin, even if Shi Yan were merely Dicarlo’s descendant—even if Dicarlo himself had arrived—these three would not need to personally greet him! Moreover, all three arriving together!
In the vast sea of stars, who possessed the qualifications to warrant a simultaneous reception from these three figures?
The Patriarch of the Divine Race? The Patriarch of the Underworld Royal Clan?
Xing Ying, Wei Yun, and the others turned pale, exhibiting intense anxiety. Hao Feng wore a bitter expression, consumed by regret.
Ouyang Luoshuang felt as if she were dreaming. She quietly observed Shi Yan, a violent surge stirring in her heart. She realized that she had once again underestimated Shi Yan, underestimated the sheer mystery surrounding this man...
Ban Yu was equally stupefied, rubbing his chin with a strange expression, unable to decipher the situation.
He knew that even if the President of the Giant Wave Merchant Guild personally arrived, it wouldn't guarantee a personal reception from Ling Xiang, Xize, and Luolin simultaneously.
As everyone watched in horrified confusion, Ling Xiang, Xize, and Luolin arrived in tandem. Furthermore, Gu Lian, Xing Ming, and Lai Na—the true power brokers of the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Hall, and the Heavenly Water Palace—were all gathered in one place.
"Hahaha!"
As Ling Xiang appeared, he let out a clear, resonant burst of laughter, his voice filled with delight and joy. "The Sovereign Lord truly grants me face, personally visiting my Illusory Star immediately upon ascending to the apex! It truly brings glory to this humble place. However, since the Sovereign Lord did not inform us of the specific time before arrival, we could not prepare adequately. We feel deeply uneasy for having possibly slighted the Sovereign Lord."
Ling Xiang and the others had previously agreed that they must show Shi Yan maximum respect on this occasion to dispel his wariness and finalize the arrangement.
That was why these three had arrived together—they hoped to win Shi Yan’s favor and quickly settle the matters they had previously discussed. In their eyes, Shi Yan was still too young; as long as they treated him with appropriate seriousness and deference, they were certain they could win him over.
Ban Yu, Hao Feng, Xing Ying, Wei Yun, and Ouyang Luoshuang naturally did not know of Ling Xiang’s intentions, nor did they understand the profound meaning behind the three of them coming out to greet him personally.
Thus, when Ling Xiang uttered those words, the warriors of the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Hall, and the Giant Wave Merchant Guild outside Illusory Star fell into absolute silence, every gaze fixed upon Shi Yan.
Every single person was dumbfounded.
A monumental question mark arose in every mind, filling their consciousness and dominating their awareness.
Who on earth was this person?
"Ugh, ugh, ugh!" Xing Shang groaned in pain, finally jolted by the intensity of the scene, struggling desperately to draw attention.
"What is this?" Xize frowned, his voice heavy. "How did my subordinates in the Hall offend the Sovereign Lord?"
Shi Yan glanced at Ban Yu and instructed, "You explain the matter."
Ban Yu froze, momentarily lost in the massive confusion engulfing him. Under the gaze of Xize and Shi Yan, he remained stunned for a moment before slightly bowing and detailing the entire situation as it unfolded.
Xize snorted coldly, glancing at Xing Ming behind him, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.
Xing Ming bowed his head, slight beads of sweat forming on his forehead, not daring to offer a rebuttal.
Although Xize did not interfere in the internal affairs of the Shattered Hall, Xing Ming deeply understood Xize’s formidable nature. With his Immortal Realm cultivation and position as Hall Master, if Xize truly wished to kill him, his reliance on borrowed prestige would be useless.
Because the prestige he relied upon was Xize himself!
"For the Shattered Hall to capture one or two people, we shouldn't require the Sovereign Lord's approval, should we? If this person is the Sovereign Lord's closest friend, then we are in the wrong, but based on Ban Yu's account of your relationship…" Xize frowned.
Before he could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly shifted in surprise, and the usually resolute and stern martial fanatic, Xize, looked utterly astonished.
The surrounding onlookers also showed looks of surprise and strange expressions.
Because at that very moment, Shi Yan abruptly released Xing Shang, casually pulled Ouyang Luoshuang close, enveloping her perfectly proportioned body in his embrace, and pressed his mouth onto her full, soft lips in a kiss—a kiss so rough and forceful that everyone clearly witnessed it.
After the kiss, without sparing a glance at the annoyance and indignation clouding Ouyang Luoshuang's eyes, he merely nodded toward Xize and declared, "She is my woman!"
The statement was supremely domineering and arrogant.
It left the surrounding women gaping in shock. Many maidens lost in youthful infatuation were instantly captivated by Shi Yan in that moment; Xing Ying felt a wave of heat rush through her, even feeling dampness between her legs...
Even Lai Na and Luolin paused, their faces flushing slightly, their eyes showing an unusual shimmer.
"This matter rests on the Shattered Hall. I, your Hall Master, offer my sincere apologies; it is my failure to discipline my subordinates that has troubled the Sovereign Lord," Xize, a hero in his own right, immediately accepted responsibility. He then shot a sharp look at Xing Ming and sneered, "Do I need to teach you how to behave?"
...To be continued on Shushu Network www.RT