Chapter 147: Martial Contest for Marriage

Puppet One, currently in seclusion, also sensed the anomaly. Its body began to twitch unnaturally, but Yuan Wuji’s aura calmed it down once more.

The chitinous material began to fuse with Puppet One. The moment contact was made, Puppet One’s physical body almost disintegrated. Fortunately, Yuan Wuji discovered this in time and helped Puppet One stabilize its form.

Aside from stabilizing Puppet One’s body, Yuan Wuji also had to accelerate the fusion of the chitin and Puppet One. However, in the face of the chitin, Puppet One’s physical body became exceptionally fragile. A moment of carelessness could easily reduce Puppet One to powder.

Half of the chitin had already entered Puppet One’s body, and in response, Puppet One became intensely unstable. Even Yuan Wuji was unable to completely secure Puppet One’s physical form.

"Why is it trembling so severely?"

Not only was Puppet One’s physical body affected, but as the fusion accelerated, its Dharmic power also began to dissipate, its cultivation realm fluctuating erratically.

Faced with Puppet One’s condition, Yuan Wuji furrowed his brow deeply.

"I hope this works."

What Yuan Wuji retrieved from the Xuanling Ring was none other than the six-thousand-year flat peaches from the Flat Peach Garden. Yuan Wuji had taken quite a few back then, and now he produced one of these six-thousand-year flat peaches to resolve Puppet One’s crisis.

In Yuan Wuji’s hand, the six-thousand-year flat peach transformed into a surge of pure energy, enveloping Puppet One’s physical body.

After absorbing the energy of the six-thousand-year flat peach, Puppet One’s body did indeed stabilize considerably, though it was still not enough to secure it completely.

"More?"

Yuan Wuji felt a pang of heartache. Given Puppet One’s current state, it would likely require quite a few flat peaches. The flat peaches he had stolen back then were limited in number, and now a small fraction of them would have to be used on Puppet One.

Dozens of flat peaches appeared in Yuan Wuji’s hands, once again transforming into pure energy that continuously poured into Puppet One’s body.

Thus supported, Puppet One’s body stabilized completely. Yuan Wuji then resumed accelerating the fusion of the chitin.

"Clang."

The chitin had now entirely entered Puppet One’s body. As for what would happen next, it depended entirely on Puppet One’s own fortune.

Nourished by the six-thousand-year flat peaches, Puppet One’s physical body should be able to withstand the fusion with the chitin.

For Puppet One, this was a tremendous opportunity, requiring a period of seclusion.

When Yuan Wuji emerged from Puppet One’s seclusion chamber, three days and three nights had already passed. Duo Yuan and Hu San had been waiting for Yuan Wuji in the Fiery Cloud Cave for a long time.

"Hu San, Puppet One has entered seclusion for this period. You must pay close attention to Puppet One’s condition," Yuan Wuji instructed Hu San, pointing toward the cave dwelling where Puppet One was in seclusion.

"Understood, Subordinate."

"How did the mission go?"

"Completely accomplished."

What Yuan Wuji saw in Duo Yuan’s eyes was not the look of someone who had merely completed a task; there seemed to be something else on his mind.

"Duo Yuan, is there something else?"

Duo Yuan, who had been wondering how to broach the subject, immediately answered upon hearing Yuan Wuji’s question:

"Great King, I discovered quite a few children with good aptitude in the village. I wish to bring them back to the Fiery Cloud Cave. I believe that with just a little cultivation, they will surely become the backbone of the Fiery Cloud Cave."

"Great King, would that be appropriate? After all, we are demons..." Hu San also knew Duo Yuan’s thoughts and strongly opposed them. Seeing Duo Yuan ask Yuan Wuji, Hu San could not help but speak up to stop it.

"We will do as Duo Yuan says."

Yuan Wuji’s words overjoyed Duo Yuan, while Hu San lowered his head in disappointment. However, Yuan Wuji’s next sentence caused both of their emotions to shift once more:

"Among the human factions, there are those who use demons as mounts, and even demons kept as servants and slaves. Now that we can also have human subordinates, why should we object?"

Duo Yuan and Hu San wore expressions of uncertainty—was it excitement or astonishment? According to what Yuan Wuji said, it was completely different from Duo Yuan’s original intention.

"You may bring them to the Fiery Cloud Cave now."

"Y-Yes, Great King."

Duo Yuan could not tell whether he should be happy or disappointed. He had originally wanted the children with good aptitude from the village to come to the Fiery Cloud Cave to cultivate and become its backbone, thus providing a guarantee of safety for the village.

However, Yuan Wuji’s reasoning had changed the nature of Duo Yuan’s plan. Whether this was good or bad, Duo Yuan could not yet determine.

After Duo Yuan left, Yuan Wuji looked at Hu San.

"How are your preparations for the demon soldiers going?"

"Great King, there are indeed many wild beasts on Hao Mountain, but genuine spirit-monsters are far too few."

Hu San had also been plagued by a massive headache over these past few days. Spirit-monsters on Hao Mountain were pitifully scarce. The primary reason was the devastation caused back when Wudang Mountain exterminated the Fiery Cloud Cave, turning the entire Hao Mountain upside down. The spirit-monsters had long since fled far away from Hao Mountain, leaving behind only low-intelligence wild beasts.

Even the few spirit-monsters Hu San had managed to find were ones that had only appeared on Hao Mountain in recent years. Hu San felt quite helpless about this.

"Handle this matter yourself."

Yuan Wuji did not believe for a second that Hu San had no way to resolve it. He trusted that Hu San would eventually give him a satisfactory answer.

"Yes, Great King."

Hu San understood Yuan Wuji’s intent and thus did not argue, directly accepting the task.

"Great King, there is one more matter."

"What matter?"

"Previously, this subordinate mentioned to you that the martial arts competition for marriage selection on Accumulating Thunder Mountain is about to begin," Hu San reminded him.

Back then, Hu San had informed Yuan Wuji of every single detail.

"Wasn't it already decided beforehand? Why is there still a martial arts competition?"

"That is the meaning of the Eldest Brother. I do not know the details, but my Eldest Brother said that as long as you go, Great King, whether you win the competition or not, he will present you with a先天灵宝 (Xiantian supreme spiritual treasure)."

Accumulating Thunder Mountain had truly invested a massive fortune for this affair. The compass-pointer magical treasure of their clan kept pointing alternately to the Bull Demon King and Yuan Wuji, making it impossible for them to make a proper judgment. Therefore, the Chief Patriarch of Accumulating Thunder Mountain, the Aged-thousand Fox King, made a choice: to hold a martial arts competition for marriage selection and choose a son-in-law for Accumulating Thunder Mountain.

At that time, Accumulating Thunder Mountain was widely distributing invitations; anyone with genuine strength was welcome to participate. No one knew exactly how much wealth Accumulating Thunder Mountain possessed, but it was undoubtedly among the very best of the demon race. With Accumulating Thunder Mountain choosing a son-in-law in this manner, the number of demon kings going to participate in the competition was certainly not small.

"In that case, if I don't go, it would be showing disrespect. Since Accumulating Thunder Mountain is so sincere, you tell your Eldest Brother to reserve a spot for me, the Divine Ape King, when the time comes."

This held considerable attraction for Yuan Wuji; he had no reason to give up such a readily available Xiantian spiritual treasure.

He just wondered if the Bull Demon King’s situation was the same as his own. If the Bull Demon King’s situation contrasted with his, and Accumulating Thunder Mountain gave away two Xiantian spiritual treasures just like that, then Accumulating Thunder Mountain's foundation was truly lavish.

"Very well, a spot will definitely be reserved for the Great King when the time comes," Hu San replied happily.

The situation on翠云山 (Emerald Cloud Mountain) at this moment was entirely different. Princess Iron Fan was seated at the highest position in the main hall, holding the invitation sent by Accumulating Thunder Mountain, while below stood an envoy sent from Accumulating Thunder Mountain.

The Bull Demon King stood beside Princess Iron Fan, his expression somewhat subtly bizarre.

"You are here to invite my Great King to participate in the martial arts competition for marriage selection?" Princess Iron Fan asked with a gloomy expression.

"Indeed. With the Bull Demon King’s reputation in the demon realm, he is a top favorite to win the competition. When the Bull Demon King wins the crown and becomes the son-in-law of Accumulating Thunder Mountain, it will be much more comfortable than staying on Emerald Cloud Mountain," the Accumulating Thunder Mountain envoy said, seemingly oblivious to the Bull Demon King’s warning glances.

"Oh? If my Great King becomes the son-in-law of Accumulating Thunder Mountain, wouldn't Princess Jade Face become the secondary wife? Does your Accumulating Thunder Mountain not mind this?"

Princess Iron Fan was the Bull Demon King’s wedded wife. From her perspective, Accumulating Thunder Mountain must have known this, so why would they still dare to marry Princess Jade Face off to him?

"Secondary wife? Accumulating Thunder Mountain has never regarded anyone as a secondary wife. Naturally, it means the Bull Demon King will divorce his current big wife before coming to marry Princess Jade Face."

"Then do you know who I am?"

"I do not."

"I am the Bull Demon King’s wedded wife, Princess Iron Fan."

"Oh? Then I must apologize for my lack of respect!" The Accumulating Thunder Mountain envoy still wore a fearless expression, completely ignoring Princess Iron Fan before him.

"You..."

Princess Iron Fan’s eyes looked as though they were about to spark a fire. However, since the visitor was from Accumulating Thunder Mountain, Princess Iron Fan could do nothing about it. What made her even angrier was that the Bull Demon King remained unmoved, acting completely indifferent while his own wife was being bullied.

"Old Bull, what do you have to say?" Princess Iron Fan demanded directly of the person involved, the Bull Demon King.

"I listen to my wife," the Bull Demon King replied, not daring to provoke Princess Iron Fan’s anger any further. After all, Princess Iron Fan was already carrying his child, and in front of her, the Bull Demon King remained very obedient.

"Then take your Accumulating Thunder Mountain invitation back!"

Princess Iron Fan stood on no ceremony, throwing the invitation from Accumulating Thunder Mountain away. The envoy from Accumulating Thunder Mountain was not angered; instead, he looked toward the Bull Demon King:

"There is no need to jump to conclusions so early. This is a gift from our Accumulating Thunder Mountain to the Bull Demon King. Please accept it."

Seven-Colored Glazed Bow.

A treasured bow emitting seven-colored light appeared in the hand of the Accumulating Thunder Mountain envoy, and without any hesitation, he tossed it directly to the Bull Demon King.

"A Xiantian spiritual treasure?"

The Bull Demon King was stunned by Accumulating Thunder Mountain’s lavish handwriting; a mere greeting gift was a Xiantian spiritual treasure? Then Accumulating Thunder Mountain’s heritage was simply too...

"I take my leave."

Having delivered the treasured bow into the Bull Demon King’s hands, the Accumulating Thunder Mountain envoy had no intention of lingering, and departed Emerald Cloud Mountain with his subordinates.

"What? Tempted?"

Princess Iron Fan’s voice rang out behind the Bull Demon King. The Bull Demon King hurriedly put away the Seven-Colored Glazed Bow in his hand, then turned around with a sheepish smile.

"A free treasure must not be refused. Don't be angry anymore; be careful of the child."

The Bull Demon King said, gently touching Princess Iron Fan’s belly. Princess Iron Fan’s anger flared up anew—he clearly knew she was pregnant, so why hadn't he spoken up just now?

Princess Iron Fan wanted to say more, but she was coaxed away into the chambers by the Bull Demon King. Before leaving, the Bull Demon King gestured to his subordinates, and the demon soldiers who understood the Bull Demon King’s intent carefully picked up the invitation that had been discarded on the floor.

And Princess Iron Fan, who was being placated by the Bull Demon King, naturally remained unaware of the Bull Demon King’s little trick.