Chapter 1564: The Battle Begins
Silence—a silence so terrifying it was almost frightening. The smile on Beihan Chu's face froze in place, and every single person present, including Beihan Shenjun and Dongxu Shenjun, almost believed their ears had deceived them.
Was Nanhuang Chanyi... refusing him?
She actually refused!?
Nanhuang Shenjun stood there dumbfounded as well. Nanhuang Jian's jaw dropped, then he abruptly turned around, his eyes wide as he shouted, "Chanyi, you... what nonsense are you spouting!"
Nanhuang Mofeng shot to his feet with a "whoosh," a strained smile plastered on his face as he declared loudly, "Dongxu Shenjun, Young Palace Master, Chanyi's temperament has always been cold and aloof. What she just said was merely out of maidenly reserve, with absolutely no intention of declining."
"Chanyi," he said, turning his gaze to her. The smile on his face remained stiff and unnatural, but his eyes carried a deep, unmistakable warning: "Some time ago, I heard that the Young Palace Master would be coming for you, and your delight was plain for all to see. Today, your wish has been fulfilled, so there's no need to be coy. Why not speak directly from your heart to the Young Palace Master, hahahaha."
Nanhuang Mofeng's laughter immediately eased the tense atmosphere. The people of Nanhuang all joined in with their own laughter. Nanhuang Jian quickly chimed in, "That's right, that's right! Chanyi has never been willing to enter the Zhongxu Realm before, and the only reason she came here today was to meet the Young Palace Master."
"..." Nanhuang Shenjun said nothing. He looked at Nanhuang Chanyi, his solemn eyes carrying a subtlety that no one else could detect—and that no one else could possibly understand.
"Beihan Gongzi," Nanhuang Chanyi continued, amid the countless stunned gazes, "I am deeply grateful for your feelings. But my heart does not lie with you. I came here today to tell you this plainly, so that you may put this matter to rest. I believe that once you let go of this attachment and clear your mind of distractions, Brother Beihan's cultivation will advance even further."
...
The atmosphere, which had just slightly eased, instantly turned even more rigid and cold.
If her earlier words could still be softened or retracted, what she said now left no room for doubt!
She had rejected Beihan Chu's intentions!
In front of the five realms of Youxu, before millions of cultivators... and with not the slightest hint of tact!
What should have been completely unreasonable—the most impossible outcome—was now unfolding before their very eyes.
Beihan Chu's expression changed. He tried his best to maintain a calm demeanor and a smile, but anyone could see that his features were twitching slightly.
Returning with the halos of "Young Palace Master" and "Beiyu Tianjun List," there was no reason from any angle for Nanhuang Chanyi to refuse him.
And yet, he was rejected again—publicly and humiliatingly.
He had chosen not to do this in private but to propose right here at the Zhongxu Battle, in front of countless people, precisely because he had never considered this possibility. Not even a tiny bit.
"Hmph, a woman of middling status... how utterly foolish." Bubai Shangren snorted coldly, anger rising in his heart.
Nanhuang Chanyi's refusal was not only incomprehensible stupidity but also a severe blow to Beihan Chu's dignity. How could he not be furious?
"Chanyi, you... you..." Nanhuang Mofeng's features contorted violently, his anger and anxiety making his hair and beard nearly stand on end. "Have you been blinded by a demon?!"
"Uncle Feng," Nanhuang Chanyi said calmly, "mind your words."
"..." Nanhuang Mofeng's face twisted.
"Alas." Nanhuang Shenjun let out a heavy sigh, then cupped his hands toward Beihan Shenjun and said, "Beihan Xiong, my daughter's nature has always been cold and distant. It's not that she dislikes your worthy nephew; she simply has no interest in romantic matters between men and women. I deeply regret this, but the affairs of the young cannot be forced. For today, let us leave it at that."
"...What Nanhuang says is very true." Beihan Shenjun nodded, his face showing no sign of anger. Instead, he maintained a faint smile as before.
But even an idiot knew perfectly well that Beihan Shenjun must have been boiling with rage deep inside.
Back when Beihan Chu was merely the Crown Prince of Beihan, his marriage proposal had been rejected—that was one thing, since their statuses were somewhat comparable at the time. But now, Beihan Chu's position was so far above Nanhuang Chanyi's that it was immeasurable, and yet he was still rejected...
Anyone else would have coughed up blood.
"What's going on?" Dongxu Shenjun frowned deeply, unable to comprehend.
Dong Xueci clicked his tongue in amazement for a long time before clapping and laughing loudly, "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! I never expected such a wonderful show!"
"Hmph, the so-called number one beauty of Youxu—she's just a pretty face without a brain!" Dong Xueyan sneered. "A heaven-sent opportunity, and she's turned it into a disaster! What a disgrace to the women of Youxu!"
All Nanhuang Chanyi had to do was nod, and Beihan City and the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom would be joined in marriage. From then on, whether it was Nanhuang Chanyi or the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom, their status and standing would far surpass the present.
But her refusal would undoubtedly provoke Beihan Chu and Beihan City.
One path led to heaven, the other to hell.
Such a simple choice, and yet Nanhuang Chanyi had chosen the latter!?
"The Zhongxu Battle is the most important matter today. Chu'er..." Beihan Shenjun turned his gaze and said, "Since fate is not on your side, there is no need to force it. You have already made it onto the Beiyu Tianjun List; you should carry yourself with the poise and pride of a favored child of heaven. Your vision and pursuits should match your current status! When you one day truly look down upon the world, you will surely be grateful for today's outcome."
Beihan Shenjun's words sounded like gentle advice, but in truth, they were quite cutting. The already ugly expressions on the faces of the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom delegation turned even worse, yet no one could refute him.
They knew full well that if this weren't the Zhongxu battlefield, with so many people present, Beihan City would have already exploded in fury and turned hostile.
After the initial shock and bewilderment, the gazes directed at the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom grew especially pitying. The Eastern Ruins Realm and Western Ruins Realm, in particular, were more than just gloating over their misfortune.
"Your Majesty is right. Your son will remember this day well." Beihan Chu spoke with his eyes closed. When he opened them, his demeanor had shifted slightly, and he declared loudly, "This year's Zhongxu Battle, I will supervise and witness it on behalf of my master. Any participant who violates the battlefield rules, and any spectator who unjustifiably interferes with the battle, will be severely punished without exception!"
Beihan Chu's voice abruptly turned to the matter of the Zhongxu Battle, as if trying to forcibly erase the preceding events from memory. "I, Beihan Chu, Young Palace Master of the Hidden Sword Palace of the Nine Radiance Heavenly Palace, hereby announce that the Zhongxu Battle... begins now!"
His Divine Sovereign aura exploded outward, and his voice, carrying the might of a Divine Sovereign, fiercely shook the battlefield and the hearts of the crowd.
The ranking of the Zhongxu Battle was determined by the order of defeat, so the first to enter the battlefield was undoubtedly at the greatest disadvantage. In every previous Zhongxu Battle, the first to enter was always the champion of the last round—that is, Beihan City. This time was no exception.
And the only advantage of being the first to enter was that if no one else stepped forward to challenge, one could forcibly choose a realm to fight.
With a metallic clang, a tall figure leaped up from the north and landed in the center of the battlefield. He swung his arm, and a black storm instantly surged around him, carrying his voice as it shook the surroundings: "I am Beihan Mingzhi of Beihan City. Please enlighten me!"
At his roar, the battlefield fell into dead silence. None of the other three realms answered the challenge.
Even among those at the same level of Tenth-level Divine King, there were differences in profound aura. Those who had just entered the Tenth Level and those at the peak of the Tenth Level could almost be considered two separate realms.
Even if the intensity and control of their profound auras were identical, the strength of the profound arts they cultivated could easily determine victory or defeat.
And among the five realms of Youxu, Beihan City was the absolute overlord in both aspects!
No one from the other three sects wanted to fight the first match, and even less did they want to go up against Beihan City!
Time silently passed in the stillness. Ten breaths went by, and still no one answered the challenge. Beihan Shenjun stood up and declared solemnly, "Ten breaths have passed. Mingzhi, you may choose your opponent! The chosen one must not refuse to fight, or they will be directly considered defeated."
Beihan Mingzhi smiled faintly, then suddenly turned to face the south. The smile on his face grew strange, and even his previously proud and imposing voice suddenly became somewhat weak and casual: "Nanhuang Divine Kingdom, please enlighten me."
As he spoke, he extended his hand and curled his fingers in a slight gesture... On the battlefield, this was undoubtedly a highly provocative, even humiliating act.
The faces of the Nanhuang people all changed. A low murmur rippled through the battlefield. It was common in the Zhongxu Battle for Beihan City to choose its first opponent, but they had never chosen Nanhuang Divine Kingdom before.
Because the battle array of Nanhuang Divine Kingdom was too weak. As the overlord of Youxu, Beihan City, with the pride of the Beihan lineage, would never deign to pick a fight with the weakest! But times had changed!
After the initial murmur, no one found it too surprising. Everything was because of Nanhuang Divine Kingdom—or, more precisely, because of Nanhuang Chanyi herself, bringing it upon herself!
If she had agreed to Beihan Chu, then not only would Beihan City have shown mercy in this Zhongxu Battle, but even the Eastern Ruins Sect and Western Ruins Sect would have had to tread lightly when facing Nanhuang. That was precisely why Beihan Chu had announced the matter before the battle.
But the outcome was beyond everyone's expectations. The situation of the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom in this Zhongxu Battle was now all too predictable. Beihan City, with its absolute strength, would crush them mercilessly, while the Eastern Ruins Sect and Western Ruins Sect would undoubtedly add insult to injury, currying favor with Beihan Chu, whose halo shone bright and whose future was limitless.
On the Nanhuang side, everyone's expressions turned extremely ugly. Nanhuang Mofeng clenched his fists, gritting his teeth slightly, and then growled in a low voice, "Chanyi... all of this is your doing!!"
He was holding back with great effort. If this were not under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he would have already exploded!
Nanhuang Chanyi remained silent.
"I'll go!" Nanhuang Jian stepped forward. With such provocation, this battle could not be lost. Even if they had to lose, they could not lose too disgracefully.
Nanhuang Mofeng stretched out his arm to block him. "Jian'er, you need to hold the rear. Canglang, you go!"
"Yes!"
A man in blue robes responded and leaped into the battlefield, facing Beihan Mingzhi directly. "Nanhuang Wei Canglang, please enlighten me."
Wei Canglang was one of the foreign reinforcements that the Nanhuang Divine Kingdom had summoned, and he was arguably the strongest among them—one of only four Tenth-level Divine Kings in the Nanhuang battle array. Beihan Mingzhi's brazen public provocation forced Nanhuang to put out a "trump card" in the very first match.
But the leader of the Nanhuang battle array was clearly Nanhuang Chanyi!
Yet when it came to the decision of who would fight, no one even consulted her.
Her standing now was a world apart from what it had been before.
Crown Princess? Everyone knew that Nanhuang Shenjun's hasty decision to depose the Crown Prince and establish a Crown Princess was solely for the purpose of forming a marriage alliance with Beihan City. With this outcome now, Nanhuang Shenjun was probably regretting it to the marrow of his bones.
After the Zhongxu Battle, there was no way she would remain Crown Princess. She would be deposed even faster than Nanhuang Jian had been! She might even be charged with a serious crime, and it was uncertain whether she could even keep her status as a princess.