Chapter 368: The Grand Wedding

"Say that again?"

Duan Ling looked at Ye Lin in disbelief.

"I mean, I'm going to attend a wedding, in the capacity of the groom."

Ye Lin gave a sheepish smile, looking rather awkward.

"You're joking, right?"

A strained smile tugged at the corners of Duan Ling's lips. Her beautiful eyes were fixed intently on Ye Lin, as if she were desperate for him to give her a negative answer.

"Uh..." Ye Lin felt a pang of guilt, whispering, "It's true..."

"Why..."

Ye Lin's silence caused Duan Ling's composure to crumble completely. She took a few steps back, her eyes reddening.

"Why would you do this to me... Did I do something wrong?"

She slowly crouched down, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her face in them.

Her small frame trembled slightly until she could no longer hold back and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

"Why, tell me why? What do you take me for?"

"I'm sorry..."

Ye Lin leaned down to comfort her, but Duan Ling recoiled like a startled rabbit.

"Don't touch me!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Ye Lin could only stand by in silence. After crying for who knows how long, Duan Ling's sobs finally subsided, though her eyes were swollen like peaches.

She took out the divine artifact, Huang Quan of the Huang Quan, and shoved it into Ye Lin's hand.

The moment the artifact left her, the terrifying toxins within her body surged once more, far more violently than before. Beneath her fair skin, countless black venomous snakes seemed to writhe.

The air around them frosted over black as it was tainted by the potent poison.

"Take your things back. I don't owe you anything anymore."

With those words, she turned and left without a hint of hesitation.

Ye Lin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he had no idea how to begin.

Should he ask her to be his mistress? That would be far too scummy. He had already acted like a beast by hurting her without a word; to follow it up with lies would be even worse. Ye Lin could only remain silent, watching her leave—perhaps it was for the best that she chose to walk away.

Ye Lin chased after her and hung the Huang Quan of the Huang Quan back around her neck.

"You never owed me anything. This thing is better off with you."

By now, Duan Ling was streaming with tears. She had hoped Ye Lin would beg her to stay, but he only wanted to return the artifact, showing no intention of stopping her.

He wouldn't even weave a lie to deceive her.

Recalling how they had met... it was always her chasing after him. Perhaps in his eyes, she was just an annoying pest who bothered him every day.

"If she asks about me, don't tell her what we went through. Let's pretend we never met. That is my final request." Duan Ling said softly.

"Understood."

Ye Lin nodded woodenly, watching her walk further and further away until she vanished into the darkness.

Ye Lin felt as though he had lost something vital, a deep ache settling in his heart.

Yet, this was all his own doing; he had no one else to blame.

If he had truly felt nothing for Xie Xiaoxiao, he could have brushed this off as a stalling tactic for Xie Hong. But he couldn't claim his feelings for her were purely platonic either.

He simply couldn't bring himself to lie to Duan Ling. He had already acted like a scoundrel by hurting her; to add deceit to that would be a step too far, even for him.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Ye Lin finally witnessed a glimpse of the Xie family's true power.

Introduced by Xie Hong, he met an old man who looked as if he were falling apart—hair and teeth nearly gone, skin wrinkled and withered—yet he exerted an incomparable pressure on Ye Lin.

This was a being capable of contending with a Demon Emperor!

"Sigh, the Third Ancestor is nearly two hundred years old. His lifespan is nearly exhausted; he doesn't have much time left. He can likely only strike one more time." Xie Hong sighed gloomily.

Ye Lin felt a chill. A Sun-Blazing Realm powerhouse was terrifying enough, but one on the verge of death was even more frightening than the Emperor.

The Emperor might fight with full strength, but this man would be fighting for his life.

Ye Lin realized that this old fox, Xie Hong, was using this to intimidate him, warning him not to think he could act recklessly just because he had the Emperor's backing.

It was also a reminder that being on the same boat as the Xie family wouldn't be a loss—the Third Ancestor would become his shield.

Ye Lin actually considered asking Xie Hong if he could use Endless Devour to absorb the Third Ancestor since he was dying anyway—absorbing a Sun-Blazing Realm expert would surely skyrocket his strength.

But considering he might get slapped to death for saying it, Ye Lin chose to remain silent.

Over these three days, the news that the Xie family, one of the Five Great Clans, was marrying off their daughter had spread throughout the You Daxia.

Today, the Xie estate was a sea of celebration, with red lanterns hanging high and colorful silks dancing in the wind.

The courtyards were filled with exotic flowers, creating a festive atmosphere.

"Wait, the wedding venue is already set up? Isn't this too rushed?" Ye Lin couldn't help but ask.

"Of course it's rushed."

Xie Hong nodded and pulled Ye Lin into his study.

"Good son-in-law, you were the one who cursed me, weren't you?" Xie Hong looked at Ye Lin gloomily.

"Hehe, you found out, huh."

Ye Lin scratched his head shyly, like an innocent boy who had made a small mistake.

"I knew it!" Xie Hong's face darkened. He knew he wouldn't have been cursed for no reason! If he hadn't discovered it in time and hired a master of curses to break it, who knew what would have happened!

"My mistake, I won't do it again." Ye Lin promised. "So, is this why you're in such a hurry for me to marry Xiaoxiao?"

"Yes, and no."

Xie Hong shook his head, looking at Ye Lin meaningfully. He had thought this guy was an orphan, but he never expected his background to be so terrifying.

"The real reason I'm in a hurry is that I need you to represent the Xie family in the upcoming Clan Struggle!"

"Hm? What is the Clan Struggle?" Ye Lin was confused.

"Seventy years ago, the previous Xie family head, Xie Zhinan, discovered a realm entrance called Refining Heaven."

"The Refining Heaven Realm is unique. There are no demons inside, only creatures called Spirit Prisoners. Every time you kill one, you accumulate a layer of Spirit Momentum. All the momentum you've gathered will be converted into experience points the moment you step out of the realm."

"Every ten years, a Spirit Mother appears among the Spirit Prisoners. At that time, the Five Great Clans send their clansmen under the age of thirty into the realm. If you can capture the Spirit Mother, your Spirit Momentum doubles instantly!"

"More importantly, the family that captures the Spirit Mother becomes the spokesperson for the Five Great Clans for the next decade. That is the decennial Clan Struggle."

"Ye Lin, are you willing to support the Xie family in becoming the spokesperson?"

Xie Hong looked at Ye Lin with burning eyes.

"So... you mean you want me to marry Xiaoxiao as soon as possible, and then participate in the Clan Struggle as the Xie family's son-in-law?" Ye Lin asked.

"Exactly!" Xie Hong nodded. "I have every reason to believe that a level 74 Curse Master like you will capture the Spirit Mother."

At this, Xie Hong couldn't help but reveal a playful smile.

The Ye family was known as the 'Leaf of the Profound Heaven' because they had won the Spirit Mother for five consecutive terms, holding the position of spokesperson for fifty years.