# Chapter 1681: Marriage Contract
"Admitting defeat is a wise choice."
Zhang Ruochen was very cautious, but added, "However, how do I know that after releasing you, you won't use the trump cards on you, or have the blind man and the big bearded man deal with me?"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden lowered her posture, her tone no longer as tough as before. "First, you know the secret that I possess the Truth Esoterica. If you spread this matter, although it may not necessarily be enough to kill me, it would indeed cause me great trouble. If I want to deal with you, I would have to weigh the consequences carefully."
"Second, I still want to cooperate with you to collect the Divine Spring. Dealing with you would not benefit me."
"We were both too impulsive earlier. We should calm down. Cooperation is the right path."
From childhood to adulthood, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had never been defeated. She simply did not believe that any of her peers were qualified to be her opponent. Yet today, she had stumbled and was actually suppressed and imprisoned by Zhang Ruochen.
In truth, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden felt extremely aggrieved and hated Zhang Ruochen to death.
But earlier, when she used her strongest trump card and failed to break through the "Space-Time Secret Scripture," her heart sank to the bottom. What if Zhang Ruochen truly disregarded everything and fought to the death with her, taking this opportunity to kill her and seize the Truth Esoterica on her? What would she do then?
Now, she naturally had to find a way to stabilize Zhang Ruochen first.
In fact, Zhang Ruochen had never intended to kill the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden from start to finish. Even if he were to kill her, he could not do it so blatantly. If the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden died inside the Star Radiance Sacred Chariot, first of all, the Truth Divine Temple would suppress Zhang Ruochen, and he would not be able to leave the God-Sealing Platform.
The reason he had struck earlier was merely to warn the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden not to go too far. If she pushed him to the brink, he would do anything. Moreover, he had the strength to kill her.
"I still don't feel at ease with you."
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head, carefully scrutinizing the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, and added, "Didn't you once say that I have a chance to become the consort of the Thousand Star Civilization? Why don't we take this opportunity to solidify the consort relationship? That way, I would have some more security."
"What consort relationship? Zhang Ruochen... what are you trying to do?"
There was a hint of fear in the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's tone.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Given the Heavenly Maiden's temperament, having been defeated by me this time and suppressed by me, you must already hold a grudge. If our relationship cannot advance further, once I release you, you might kill me or suppress me at any time. Wouldn't I have to be on guard against you every moment? That would be too tiring and too passive."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was very uneasy. "If you dare to act recklessly, I will fight you to the bitter end."
"Heavenly Maiden is a smart person and also cherishes her own life. I believe you won't do that."
Zhang Ruochen smiled nonchalantly, then reached out a hand to touch the Scroll Beauty. Space power surged out, and his fingers probed into the book.
"Rip."
A piece of the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's purple long skirt was torn off and fell into Zhang Ruochen's hand.
"Zhang Ruochen, you pervert... this is too much... do you believe that I, this Heavenly Maiden, will really die together with you..." The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was furious. If she were not suppressed by the "Space-Time Secret Scripture," she would have self-destructed her Sacred Source just to kill Zhang Ruochen.
But what surprised the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was that after Zhang Ruochen tore off a piece of her skirt, he did not take further action.
After a while, Zhang Ruochen opened the "Space-Time Secret Scripture" and released the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was still wrapped in layers of silver light curtains and had not regained her freedom.
Zhang Ruochen threw the piece of skirt fabric over. "I have already written the title. Now it's your turn to write the main text."
"Write what?"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden knew that Zhang Ruochen could suppress her back into the book at any time, so she did not act rashly. She picked up the piece of skirt fabric on the ground, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, and she exclaimed, "Marriage contract. Whose marriage contract?"
"Yours and mine, of course."
Zhang Ruochen said solemnly, not as if he were joking.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said, "Is this what you meant by solidifying the consort relationship?"
"What else did you think? You didn't think I would be interested in your body, did you?" Zhang Ruochen said with surprise.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was so angry that her jade-like hands trembled. She felt that Zhang Ruochen's words were too much. From his tone, it seemed he was even disdainful of her?
One must know that in terms of beauty and temperament, she was not inferior to the nine fairies on the "Nine Immortal Beauties Painting." It was only because she was much younger than them that she was not painted into the picture.
"Chi!"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's ten snow-white, jade-like fingers surged with Saint Qi, shattering the skirt fabric into pieces. She said coldly, "There are countless heroes across the myriad heavens pursuing me, this Heavenly Maiden. You want to coerce me into writing a marriage contract? What qualifications do you have?"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's entire body emitted a bright and dazzling sacred light. Unbeknownst to Zhang Ruochen, a white talisman had appeared between her two fingers.
She was about to activate the talisman and strike...
"Hua!"
Zhang Ruochen closed the "Space-Time Secret Scripture" again, imprisoning her.
"Rip."
Immediately after, Zhang Ruochen reached his fingers into the pages again, tore off another piece of her long skirt, and also snatched the white talisman from her hand.
"Pervert... bastard..."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was both furious and wronged, on the verge of tears.
That white talisman was made from some kind of Sacred Jade, polished thin as paper, and felt quite cold in the hand.
On the talisman, extremely complex patterns were drawn with Divine Blood, emitting an aura different from that of the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden. Clearly, it was refined by a more advanced Rune Dao Saint Master.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had used it as a trump card, which meant that the power of this talisman was definitely extremely terrifying.
Zhang Ruochen temporarily set aside his research, put it away, and then used his own Sacred Blood to write the words "Marriage Contract" on the skirt fabric.
He released the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden again.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's long skirt had been torn off by nearly half, revealing two beautiful, snow-white calves like solidified fat, jade bones and ice skin, fragrant and alluring. However, her pretty face was as cold as frost, and her eyes stared straight at Zhang Ruochen, revealing two rows of snow-white teeth, as if she wanted to bite Zhang Ruochen to death.
Zhang Ruochen threw the skirt fabric over again. "I'll say it, and you write it down. Don't destroy the skirt fabric again, or I'll have to tear it off your body again. If I tear it any higher... the Heavenly Maiden will be exposed."
"You..."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden picked up the skirt fabric on her body, holding back the urge to tear it apart. "Zhang Ruochen, do you think a mere piece of paper can bind me, this Heavenly Maiden?"
"It is both a marriage contract and an oath. I want you to swear in the marriage contract, in the name of a god, that you will never betray or harm your husband, Zhang Ruochen."
After a pause, Zhang Ruochen added, "I recall that the Thousand Star Civilization has a god called the Hundred Battles Star Lord. Use your Sacred Blood as ink, your spiritual will as the brush, and swear in the name of the Hundred Battles Star Lord to write this marriage contract."
"First sentence: The Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen, is handsome in appearance, peerless in talent, and upright in character. He is a man I truly admire. Today, I, Yu Chenjing, Heavenly Maiden of the Thousand Star Civilization, swear in the name of the Hundred Battles Star Lord that I voluntarily marry the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden clenched her fists tightly, grinding her teeth incessantly. "Do you have any shame?"
Zhang Ruochen frowned and said seriously, "You don't think I actually want to marry you, do you? I just want to use this marriage contract to protect myself. As long as you don't target me, I won't make it public. When I break through to the Great Saint realm, I will naturally return it to you."
"Besides, I have been quite lenient with you. I haven't made any excessive demands, like ordering you to obey my commands or making you a slave or servant, and so on."
Zhang Ruochen had thought about this. If he pushed the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden too hard, with her proud personality, she would definitely not follow his instructions. She might even fight him to the death.
In short, it was enough to stop at the right point.
"Fine, I'll write."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was enduring and restraining herself. With a very exasperated mood, she followed Zhang Ruochen's instructions and spent half an hour writing the marriage contract sentence by sentence.
Zhang Ruochen took the skirt fabric, carefully inspected the marriage contract twice, and nodded with satisfaction. "Written with your own Sacred Blood, infused with spiritual will, and sworn in the name of a god. At least you have some sincerity."
Then, Zhang Ruochen used his own Sacred Blood to write below: "I do."
Seeing those three words, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden felt a chill run down her spine, and her ample chest heaved violently with anger.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her. "From now on, if you want to deal with me, you'd better think carefully about the consequences once this marriage contract is made public. If you kill me, it would be better. At most, you would go from being a pure and innocent proud daughter of heaven to a widow. If you don't kill me, I have a hundred ways to ruin your reputation. That should have a big impact on you, right?"
"Don't worry, I won't keep the marriage contract on me. I'll find a trustworthy person to keep it safe."
"Actually, I'm quite curious. This is a form of oath for you. If you break it, will you suffer divine punishment?"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said, "Zhang Ruochen, if you dare to make this marriage contract public, I, this Heavenly Maiden, will not only kill you but also exterminate your entire clan."
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden took the marriage contract very seriously because she was destined to become the future Heavenly Lord of the Thousand Star Civilization, ruling over billions of living beings. She could not have a single stain on her record.
Zhang Ruochen stared at her for a long time before speaking slowly. "Since there is a marriage contract, there should naturally be a precious betrothal gift. That belt of yours seems to be a very good treasure. Give it to me?"
"Don't even think about it." The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden immediately refused.
First of all, that belt was a defensive Divine Relic Ancient Artifact. Once Saint Qi was infused into it, it could form a light shield carrying a faint divine power, worth over a hundred million Sacred Stones. It was a treasure that even Great Saints would covet.
Secondly, if her belt as the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden fell into Zhang Ruochen's hands...
If Zhang Ruochen later used this belt to make claims, no matter how she explained, it would be futile.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then I'll take it myself."
"If you dare to do something so excessive, I, this Heavenly Maiden, will truly fight you to the death." The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden became nervous and kept retreating.
Zhang Ruochen imprisoned her back in the book, and then her screams and curses rang out. After a while, her voice came from the book: "I'll give it to you... I'll untie it for you... take your dirty, evil hands off me..."
After a while, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden returned to the carriage, holding her chest with both hands, tightly wrapping her long skirt, biting her lips, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Where was her previous arrogance and willfulness?
Zhang Ruochen played with the belt in his hand, which still carried a faint body fragrance. "I know you are very angry and are suppressing the anger in your heart. But what can you do? You don't dare to fight me to the death because you cherish your life, because you think you are very smart. As long as you endure now, you will definitely be able to take revenge in the future. That is precisely why, when you are humiliated and threatened, you choose to comply. Now, I say that your state of mind has a flaw. When faced with a true great calamity, you may not dare to face the difficulty head-on, even if it means fighting to the death. Do you admit it or not?"
...
(Xiao Yu wishes all readers a Merry Christmas Eve!)