Chapter 1079: Martial Contest to Recruit a Son-in-Law

"Is it Emperor Xia who wants to see me, and you won't let them say it in advance?" Ye Liuyun asked again.

"You single‑handedly deceived two princesses, and still haven't gone to see their parents?" Ling Shuang laughed.

"Meet the father‑in‑law? Such a big scene?" Ye Liuyun saw that the young men arriving one after another were not few.

There were still quite a few in the banquet hall. Just looking at the seats, it could hold four to five hundred people.

"So, it's all about your performance! But you don't need to worry; I'll stay by your side the whole time!"

"You're staying with me?" Ye Liuyun was a bit puzzled.

Ling Shuang explained to Ye Liuyun: "I'm your prize, taken by you, so of course I have to stay with you. My sister isn't like that! She's the star of tonight. Whether my father, the Emperor, will betroth her to you depends on your performance!"

At that moment, the Fourth Prince also walked over, smiling at Ye Liuyun: "Tonight it's all about your performance!"

"What are you all talking about? How am I supposed to perform?" Ye Liuyun was still completely confused.

"Can you give me a hint?" Ye Liuyun had to ask Ling Shuang.

Ling Shuang gently slipped her arm around Ye Liuyun's, comforting him: "Don't be nervous; just do your best!"

Ye Liuyun saw her circling around without getting to the point and felt a bit irritated inside.

"What exactly are we supposed to do?"

Ling Shuang, seeing Ye Liuyun getting angry, sent a Transmission Voice: "Father the Emperor is holding a martial contest to recruit a son‑in‑law!"

But outwardly she kept a calm demeanor, coaxing Ye Liuyun: "Oh dear, why are you in a hurry? You'll know soon enough. Come, I'll take you to find a seat."

Ye Liuyun immediately understood; someone must be watching Ling Shuang's words, preventing her from leaking information early.

So Ye Liuyun also pretended to be glum, following Ling Shuang to sit down wherever.

Ling Shuang obediently stayed by Ye Liuyun's side, holding his arm and sitting together.

Ye Liuyun asked: "Did your father, the Emperor, order you to be with me?"

"Yes! You have a wager with the Holy Son of the Demon Race! Even if my father wanted to give me to the Demon Race, he couldn't!" Ling Shuang laughed.

At the same time she sent Ye Liuyun a Transmission Voice: "So my sister is a much bigger trouble!"

Ye Liuyun nodded and said nothing more.

Whether Emperor Xia is testing him on purpose or trying to make things difficult, he will not let anyone take Xia Tianqiong away.

Those invited to the banquet were almost all descendants of nobles and disciples of great families.

The first thing they did upon arriving was discuss the Imperial Family's arranging a martial contest to find a husband for the Ninth Princess.

"Seems like they kept it from me!" Ye Liuyun became even more certain; at that moment Emperor Xia deliberately gave him a warning.

However, these people, upon seeing Ling Shuang remove her veil and sit coquettishly by Ye Liuyun's side, were all very surprised.

"Is that the Thirteenth Princess? Who's the kid beside her?"

"Haven't you heard about the Holy Son of the Demon Race's wager with King Yonglie?"

"So that's King Yonglie? So young?"

Soon, the two of them became the focus of everyone.

Ling Shuang, however, was unfazed, occasionally pouring wine for Ye Liuyun, acting very obediently.

"That's a bit much! You're not usually like this!"

Ye Liuyun was for a moment a bit unsettled.

"This isn't outside; we have to save face for the men!" Ling Shuang smiled in reply.

Ye Liuyun gave a faint smile, stopped worrying about her, and began assessing these people's cultivation levels.

"There are also a few at Di Zun First Rank!" Ye Liuyun was surprised inside.

He saw several young men sitting silently, but their realms had already reached Di Zun First Rank.

"If I didn't have any skill, Tianqiong could really snatch me away!"

After getting a rough idea, Ye Liuyun stopped looking further and focused on chatting and drinking with Ling Shuang, causing a group of men to look on enviously.

Ling Shuang saw that Ye Liuyun could still focus on staying with her in this situation, and was very happy.

Being under the gaze of countless eyes, chatting and drinking with the one she loves felt extraordinary.

The two talked more and more intently, completely ignoring the people around them.

As more and more people arrived, the seats were almost all taken.

At that moment, a booming bell‑like voice rang out.

"Emperor Xia has arrived!"

"Emperor Xia?"

"Emperor Xia actually came in person?"

"And the Xiao Imperial Consort?"

The crowd stood up in astonishment.

Ling Shuang gave Ye Liuyun a tug, pulling him up as well.

"That's my father, the Emperor, and my sister's birth mother!" Ling Shuang whispered to Ye Liuyun.

It was still Ye Liuyun's first time seeing Emperor Xia; he noticed the Crown Prince looked really like him. However, Emperor Xia appeared to be in his forties, his demeanor far more dignified and steady than the Crown Prince's.

Xia Tianqiong was trailing behind, instantly spotting Ye Liuyun and looking toward her.

These past few days, Xia Tianqiong, because Emperor Xia was holding the martial contest to recruit a son‑in‑law, hadn't slept well and looked extremely haggard.

Her gaze toward Ye Liuyun was also full of melancholy.

Ye Liuyun stared at Xia Tianqiong resolutely, putting him at ease.

Although they didn't use Divine Sense Transmission Voice, Ye Liuyun's steadfast gaze instantly eased Xia Tianqiong's mind, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

Meanwhile, others who saw the Ninth Princess smiling at Ye Liuyun immediately expressed discontent, casting hostile glances at him.

"I believe everyone invited today knows the purpose of this banquet," Emperor Xia announced, his deep baritone surprisingly pleasant.

Ye Liuyun glanced at him, silently cursing: "Just I don't know!"

At this moment, Emperor Xia also looked at him, smiled slightly, and continued: "This banquet is to select a consort for the Ninth Princess through martial contest."

After Emperor Xia finished speaking, a fighting platform rose in the middle of the banquet hall.

This fighting platform is a special space. Though it looks small, once inside its interior is vast, enough for martial cultivators to exert themselves normally.

Emperor Xia continued: "Anyone who received an invitation is eligible to compete. There are no restrictions. Weapons, treasures, ferocious beasts, etc., of Divine Rank may be used.

Victory is decided by one side admitting defeat or by casualties. Whoever wins the final victory will marry the Ninth Princess."

Emperor Xia's words were simple and clear; a few sentences finished stating the recruitment rules.

Xia Tianqiong had been prepared mentally, yet still nervously looked toward Ye Liuyun.

At this moment, the Imperial Family also sent an Elder to serve as the referee for the match.

After the Elder stepped forward, he directly asked the crowd: "Which young hero will come first to fight the opening bout?"

As his words fell, Ye Liuyun immediately replied: "I will!"

Ye Liuyun stepped forward voluntarily, fearing Xia Tianqiong would worry.

Moreover, he thought that since Emperor Xia intended to make things difficult for him, he would not let Emperor Xia be "disappointed"!

So he was the first to step onto the fighting platform.

And everyone knows how difficult it is to fight from start to finish!