Chapter 69: with translation of chapter title

Qingxia knew her master's identity all too well: the master was the Palace Master of Taiqing Palace, who held the Heaven's Net in his palm and grasped every organization's information in the world.

She was certainly not the sort of delicate, sheltered saintess from an ivory‑tower sect who had never been tempered by blood and fire.

Suddenly.

"Who's there? Come out!"

A furious shout rang out from the gate of the Qingming Sect's main hall.

Not good!

Qingxia's heart gave a jolt; she realized her voice had been a little too loud just now, actually alerting the Qingming Sect's guards.

She hastily prepared to ride her beast away.

"Liyan?" Two words sounded from behind, his voice trembling slightly.

And an unstoppable tone.

Only to see the Sixth Prince of the Dawu dynasty standing frozen in place, eyes shining, wide open, his gaze locked firmly onto the slender figure on the bronze war chariot.

Although she wore a silver moon mask and had an icy demeanor, how could the Sixth Prince, who constantly thought of her, fail to recognize her? Before him, inside the bronze war chariot, a woman in plain white robes with black hair flowing like a waterfall was his beloved.

"Liyan, I, your Highness, knew that your Martial Ancestor realm cultivation wouldn't easily encounter trouble."

"Ah, thank goodness, thank goodness—did you come here just to see me?" The Sixth Prince took a step forward, wanting to rush onto the bronze war chariot to pour out his feelings to Liu Liyan.

"But he also feared defiling her."

Finally, after a pause, he stopped beneath the chariot.

"In Liu Liyan's blood‑red eyes, everything was indifferent; she ignored the Sixth Prince's presence, turned a blind eye, showing no emotion at all: 'Your Highness, what's the matter?'"

The Sixth Prince was entranced by that gaze, his heart lost.

"Heaven knows, after hearing in the Qingming Sect that Liu Liyan had gone missing, how anxious and fearful he became; that feeling of loss, he truly did not want to experience again."

"Unbeknownst to him, he had initially only thought of using Liu Liyan as his cultivation furnace, but as they interacted, he realized he had fallen hopelessly in love with her."

"During the time Liu Liyan was missing, there was a moment when he even wanted to give up everything, to abandon the seventh layer of the Xu Nian Technique."

"He would spare no effort to search for her, to protect and cherish her."

"Liyan, only now have I truly realized that I have completely fallen for you, love that I cannot escape, love that has ensnared me."

"Open your eyes and look at me properly; I don't believe you can't feel my affection. Why is it that no matter how much I give, I cannot earn even a hint of tenderness in your eyes?"

"But Su Chen—his status, position, family background are all inferior to mine, not to mention his cultivation talent… he falls short in every way, and over these three years he has repeatedly hurt you, leaving you covered in wounds."

"Why is it that whenever he appears before you, you break into a full smile?"

"Even… just mentioning those two words, Su Chen."

The Sixth Prince stared fixedly at Liu Liyan wearing the silver mask, as if sensing something, and a sour feeling welled up in his chest.

"Is he really that good? What do I lack compared to him? Liyan, if you would just glance at me once more, you'd see that I am a thousand, ten thousand times better than him."

"At this moment, the Sixth Prince wished he could dig out his heart and show it to Liu Liyan."

"Each word and sentence was filled with deep feeling, making it impossible not to tear up."

"His sincere, heartbroken gaze upon the woman before him shattered his heart into pieces."

Qingxia felt her head buzzing.

"Meanwhile, Liu Liyan, seated in the bronze war chariot, merely propped her chin on her hand, yawned, and once again corrected his words: 'His place in my heart, his existence, far surpasses my own life.'"

"Whether he deceives me or hurts me, I don't care; from beginning to end, the only thing I care about is him as a person."

"This in fact shows that he is still willing to devote thought to me, which is far better than being a complete stranger in his eyes, don't you agree?"

"Click!"

"Click!"

"Rip!"

The Sixth Prince clutched his chest, feeling as if something had shattered inside.

He kept stumbling backward, his face drained of color, his whole body trembling; although the night wasn't that cold, he felt a chill seep into his body, piercing his chest and freezing his heart.

He tried to open his heart to Liu Liyan, tried to get closer, tried to weigh the pros and cons for her.

"Fine, fine, Liyan, no matter how you see it, I could never let you go."

"Right now, Su Chen is leading over a dozen people to head for Yunhai City to meet up with his father."

"This is utterly a pipe dream—my brother‑in‑law Ye Xuan has already monopolized the spirit‑stone supply for every faction around Yunhai City, and even barred the Treasure Tower from selling spirit stones to Yunhai City; without spirit stones to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, they will soon suffer a spirit‑burst invasion,"

"because they cannot refine the spirit energy within their bodies, causing their bodies to explode and die."

"Su Chen will die in the Myriad Demon Mountains; he won't reach Yunhai City, and he cannot give you what you want."

"Listen to me, will you come with me? I will provide you with an inexhaustible supply of spirit stones for your cultivation; the Scripture Pavilion of my Dawu dynasty will be wholly open to you. I will cherish you for a lifetime, and as for the Sect Master Liu, I have already sent my personal guards—they will surely bring the Sect Master back."

"Having spoken—"

The Sixth Prince extended his hand toward the bronze war chariot, hovering in mid‑air, awaiting Liu Liyan's response.

"His eyes held a hint of pleading, his lips trembling involuntarily: 'Liyan, come with me; Su Chen cannot contend with Ye Xuan—Ye Xuan is a monstrous genius, a child of destiny. If we join forces, we will dominate the Eastern Wasteland, and one day when I rule the Central Plains, you will be empress……'"

"Inside the chariot, Liu Liyan lifted her gaze, glanced at him, a faint sneer curling her lips; in just four words she embodied unwavering fidelity: 'I will marry no one but him.'"

Qingxia, hearing these words, breathed rapidly, her heart pounding.

"Having received Liu Liyan's command, she suppressed the hundred‑thousand doubts in her heart and rode away on the Flame‑God Steed."

The Sixth Prince stood aloft, hands behind his back, a lone silhouette watching the bronze war chariot gradually vanish from his sight.

An inexplicable sense of loss welled up in his heart, as if something important had slipped away; he reached out to grasp something, but could catch nothing.

"Liu Liyan's departure also carried away half of his heart……"

He asked his imperial sister to break off their engagement, but it ended in failure.

In the main hall he forcefully pressured Sect Master Liu to call off the marriage, yet still failed.

Finally he set aside his royal nobility, lowered himself, and offered a heartfelt confession—yet that too failed.

But the Sixth Prince was unwilling!

The eighth level of the Void Thought Technique, without the primordial yin aid of the Bodhi Holy Body, he could not break through the bottleneck; a twisted possessive desire began to stir in his heart, and the dark side of humanity was revealed: 'She can only belong to me!'

Only she can be mine!

Stop her!

The guards behind him sprang into action upon hearing the sound.

Several dozen Martial Ancestors unleashed their natal magic artifacts and surrounded Liu Liyan's bronze war chariot.

The prince stepped lightly upon a shooting star, head held high and chest out, and once again approached Liu Liyan.

This time, there was no pleading in his eyes, only an overbearing attitude that allowed no refusal: 'Liyan, this prince asks you one more question.'

Are you sure you cannot be with anyone but Su Chen?

Or follow this prince and become the emperor and empress of the Great Universe?

Hmph!

Upon hearing this, Liu Liyan laughed.

This was her first laugh, like a spring breeze, revealing her peerless elegance.

She slightly lowered her beautiful eyes, fearlessly swept her gaze over, meeting the Sixth Prince's gaze, as if saying: 'Only he will do.'

Does the Sixth Prince think that with their paltry cultivation, they can stop me?

Or is it that your confidence has collapsed, thinking I only have the cultivation of a Martial Ancestor?