This was an exquisitely crafted silver box of aluminum alloy, held gently in the palm of the middle-aged man, who smiled faintly. "This is a Dragon Spirit Pill, refined from the bone marrow of a savage, captured transcendent dragon. It can influence human genes, increasing the genetic strength of an ordinary person by a hundredfold! A small token of my regard; I hope Clan Leader Bai will accept it."

Bai Tian’s expression was not overly cold; he nodded slightly. "You honor me."

The middle-aged man looked down at the numerous figures seated in the VIP section below and laughed. "I didn't expect so many notable figures to attend today. Divine Buddha of the South Sea, long time no see—how have you been? Solitary Demon of Madness, it has been many years since we parted atop Tianya Peak; have you made any progress?"

The assembled guests in the VIP section all offered him slight nods of acknowledgment.

The elder in the pristine white robe smiled faintly and nodded. "Great Emperor Shaohao, three million years have passed since we last met. I trust you are well."

Beside him, a man with black hair and a cold demeanor, marked by a sword-shaped scar on his forehead, spoke with chilling indifference. "Nine million years since our last encounter. The flaws in my swordsmanship have finally been rectified. When shall we cross blades again?"

This middle-aged man, named Great Emperor Shaohao, offered a slight smile. "If you wish to fight, any time will do. However, today is Clan Leader Bai’s daughter’s wedding day; it is best to keep our weapons sheathed. Ah, speaking of which, am I late? Has the Young Hero Tournament concluded? Which lucky young man managed to win the hand of the Bai family's young lady?"

The atmosphere, previously relaxed, instantly solidified. For a moment, the others in the VIP section displayed various reactions—some with peculiar expressions, some shaking their heads with resignation, others visibly awkward.

"Great Emperor Shaohao!" At this moment, the Heavenly Witch King, who had been standing silently in the distance, suddenly spoke up. "The first place winner of the Young Hero Tournament has been decided. It is none other than a descendant of your Spiritual Civilization!"

Great Emperor Shaohao paused, turning his gaze to look. With his keen eyesight, he already knew that the only person present with the Spiritual Civilization bloodline was Ye Chen, standing behind him!

"It is you?" Great Emperor Shaohao’s eyes brightened.

Ye Chen cupped his hands and bowed his head. "Yes, Your Excellency."

Great Emperor Shaohao examined him closely, then couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter, praising him. "Good! Haha, worthy of being a descendant of my Spiritual Civilization! To defeat the world’s most peerless geniuses here without even awakening your bloodline—well done!"

Ye Chen offered a wry smile.

The Heavenly Witch King behind him’s gaze flickered, adding immediately, "That might not be entirely true!"

"Hm?" Great Emperor Shaohao inevitably looked toward him in confusion, furrowing his brow. "What do you mean?"

The Heavenly Witch King felt a vast, imposing aura pressing down on him, causing his heart to clench, yet he did not retreat. He shook his head. "Securing first place is commendable, and becoming the Bai family's son-in-law would be excellent, but unfortunately, Clan Leader Bai does not permit it. Therefore, calling him the fortunate son-in-law is hardly accurate."

Hearing this, Great Emperor Shaohao’s brow knitted. He glanced down at Ye Chen and said in a deep voice, "Is what he says true?"

Ye Chen nodded silently. "Master Heavenly Witch has not spoken incorrectly."

Great Emperor Shaohao stared at him for a moment, then turned back to look at everyone present. He immediately discerned some nuances from the eyes of the Divine Emperor powerhouses in the VIP section. He then looked up at Bai Tian, speaking solemnly. "Clan Leader Bai, is this true?"

Bai Tian frowned, his tone indifferent. "It is."

Great Emperor Shaohao's brow furrowed further. "Since he won, by the established rules, he is your Bai family's son-in-law! My Spiritual Civilization and your Bai family share a bond dating back to ancient ancestors who were intimate friends. Countless eras have passed, and the relationship between our houses has always been harmonious. Why do you forbid the descendant of my Spiritual Civilization from becoming your son-in-law?"

Bai Tian frowned. "I set the rules: to become my son-in-law, one must first be the foremost genius of the younger generation, and second, one must possess overwhelming influence, capable of inviting a Tenth Hall Master-level expert, or possess a Void Heaven Artifact. While this junior belongs to your Spiritual Civilization, he possesses strength but not a shred of background. Were it not for the fact that he is your junior from the Spiritual Civilization, I would have crushed him with a single palm strike long ago!"

Great Emperor Shaohao’s face darkened. "This junior has not awakened his bloodline; he is likely a descendant of our clan left outside. Otherwise, with such strength, it would be impossible for him not to have earned the appreciation of the elders and been brought into the Awakening Spirit Pool! Now that I have seen it, I cannot stand idly by. He is one of my people; my clan is his background!"

Saying this, he stared coldly at Bai Tian. "Clan Leader Bai, may I ask if he can now become your Bai family’s son-in-law? Our two houses have been amicable since ancient times; now, by becoming in-laws, our relationship ascends to a higher level. What is there not to delight in?"

Bai Tian shook his head. "Although my Bai family and your Spiritual Civilization have a venerable friendship, this concerns my daughter's lifetime happiness. The rules must be followed!"

Great Emperor Shaohao frowned. He had not expected Bai Tian to be so stubbornly insistent, tearing off the veneer of friendship right to his face, showing utter disregard for the friendship spanning countless years between their houses. A wave of anger surged within him, and he said darkly, "Clan Leader Bai, saying this, are you implying that my Spiritual Civilization lacks figures comparable to the Tenth Hall Masters?"

Bai Tian remained silent, clearly tacitly agreeing.

The Bai family disciples watching from the periphery held their breaths, daring not to utter a sound. Even the geniuses on the competition platform stared fearfully at Great Emperor Shaohao, knowing they were unqualified to interject in a conversation between figures of this stature.

The Divine Emperor powerhouses in the VIP section all cast a second glance at Great Emperor Shaohao, surprised that he dared to openly challenge Bai Tian like this.

The Divine Buddha of the South Sea held up one hand, uttered a soft Buddhist chant, and said gently, "Benefactor Shaohao, the ties between your two houses have been strong throughout history. Do not let a small matter today sour the mood. Matters concerning this young man should be left for the young ones to resolve."

Ye Chen looked at the majestic figure before him, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness, as if gazing upon kin—a resonance from the blood flowing within him. Moved, he gritted his teeth slightly and murmured, "Senior need not worry for me. I alone initiated this matter today, and I should bear the consequences alone!"

Great Emperor Shaohao understood that Ye Chen feared implicating him, and his favorable impression deepened immediately. He whispered, "With me here today, I absolutely will not allow you to suffer the slightest humiliation! Marriage is fundamentally about mutual affection. I see you have feelings for that young lady too. What rules or regulations—they are all dog droppings! Who gets to change or set them is up to him, but his obstinacy clearly shows contempt for my Spiritual Civilization! Since he looks down on us, I have no need to be polite to him!" His tone carried a touch of cold arrogance by the end.

What kind of person was he to endure such indignity? When he heard Bai Tian object to the marriage, he had already been deeply displeased, thinking that even if one didn't respect the monk, one should still respect the Buddha, yet he was shown such a lack of regard. When he offered friendly counsel, Bai Tian countered with a set of rules, the implication being that the Spiritual Civilization possessed no one comparable to a Tenth Hall Master!

Upon hearing Great Emperor Shaohao’s words, everyone present felt a chill, recognizing that his anger had been provoked, and it would be difficult to resolve this peacefully today.

The Divine Buddha of the South Sea sighed. "Benefactor Shaohao, do not blame Clan Leader Bai. He is merely concerned for his daughter, fearing that junior Ye Chen lacks the power to protect her and keep her safe, which is why he acts this way."

Great Emperor Shaohao snorted coldly. "If that were truly the case, I could understand. I just fear the matter is not so simple! Regardless, today he chooses to tear face with my Spiritual Civilization over a beautiful union. It clearly shows that the Spiritual Civilization holds no weight in his heart—it is disposable! Since that is the case, why should I waste warmth on a cold backside!"

The Divine Buddha of the South Sea was momentarily speechless, letting out a soft sigh while chanting softly.

Bai Tian looked at Great Emperor Shaohao, his expression cold. "Listening to you, are you perhaps intending to forcefully seize her?"

A flash of fury crossed Great Emperor Shaohao's eyes, and he sneered, "Do you think I wouldn't dare? In the past, I single-handedly charged into the central zone of the Dark Great World and fought my way in and out seven times! I feared nothing even when surrounded by dozens of Divine Emperor powerhouses. Today, even if your Bai Ling Mountain is a deep pool and a tiger's den, I will venture in!"

"Hmph!" Bai Tian’s expression turned cold. "I know your Spiritual Civilization has the Ancient Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. If it were Emperor Fuxi, Emperor Xuanyuan, or Empress Wa saying such things today, I might show a measure of caution. But for mere Shaohao to attempt to stir up turmoil before me—you overestimate yourself!" As he spoke, his robes billowed without wind, and a vast aura emanated from within him, saturating the entire area.

Bai Yijun, standing before him, shuddered. Unable to help herself, she turned and knelt before her father, crying out sadly, "Father, since I was young, I have never dared to defy your wishes. I only beg that you allow me to decide this matter myself. If I am fated never to marry him in this life, I will take my own life before your eyes!"

Hearing this, everyone glanced at the girl in white, secretly sending her looks of admiration.

"Retreat!" Bai Tian’s face darkened. He flung out his hand, and a tremendous force enveloped Bai Yijun’s figure, pulling her forcibly backward. With a surge of energy, he knocked her unconscious, not giving her the chance to do anything foolish.

Shaohao glanced at the now-unconscious Bai Yijun, then shifted his gaze back to Bai Tian’s cold expression, sneering, "You wish to see the Three Sovereigns? What difficulty is there in that!" As he spoke, he clenched his hand. A dark mark between his brows suddenly blazed with intense light, and behind him, in the void, a pitch-black vortex slowly opened. The vortex spun faster and larger, crackling with lightning and thunder, while arcs of electric sparks and fire danced around its edges, captivating the soul.

The moment this black vortex opened, a vast and immense aura swept out from it, filling the heavens and the earth. The Bai family disciples watching on the periphery, as well as most of the contestants, began to sweat on their foreheads, their hearts trembling with fear.

The numerous Divine Emperor powerhouses in the VIP section all adopted grave expressions, secretly shocked.

From within the black vortex, a golden boot, seemingly forged from brilliant gold, slowly extended, followed by the emergence of a towering, majestic figure. Clad in golden armor and wielding a massive broadsword, he stood tall as the sky, exuding a chilling, murderous aura that struck fear into the heart. He strode out of the black vortex and, under everyone's gaze, slowly raised his head, murmuring in a low voice, "Who dares cause such a disturbance?"

...

Brothers of the Dark, please cast your recommendation votes! The plot ahead is tightly woven and filled with dramatic twists and turns. Please lend your support to Old Gu’s fervor so I can write down these boiling words!!