Chapter 63

Shen Qingli had already furrowed her brows, not knowing where Pei Jianshu got his confidence, how he still dared to present the betrothal gift in public? She had clearly refused before.

Does he enjoy being slapped in the face publicly?

"You're dreaming!"

Shen Quchi had already scolded without hesitation!

The entire venue fell silent……

The elders beside Pei Jianshu couldn't help but darken their faces.

The elders of other forces were all looking at Shen Yuan and Shen Duo, obviously observing the attitude of the Shen family heads.

Neither of them rebuked Shen Quchi, obviously acquiescing that his words could represent them, as well as the attitude of the entire Longwater Shen clan.

How audacious!

Everyone sighed in awe.

In the whole Sheng Long Tian, only the Longwater Shen clan dared to speak to the Grand Elder of the Azure Cloud Realm like that.

They didn't even try to smooth things over……

This made the atmosphere in the banquet hall extremely awkward; nobody dared to move.

Instead, a commotion came from outside the hall—the sound of clothing rustling and footsteps.

"Family Head, Elder Liu of the Primordial Origin Sect, and the chief female disciple Liu Xiaoxiao have arrived."

This was the report from the Shen clan's guards, letting the embarrassed guests secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"Please."

Upon receiving the order, the guards turned and relayed the message.

The Primordial Origin Sect party entered in single file.

Leading them was Elder Liu, middle-aged, with a beautiful beard and hair bun, his bearing dignified.

Beside him, Liu Xiaoxiao hid her face behind a light veil, her brows and eyes delicately painted, naturally exuding a languid charm that could easily captivate.

"Family Head Shen," Elder Liu said, offering his respects.

"I pay my respects to Family Head Shen," Liu Xiaoxiao said, following suit.

The crowd behind them had not yet finished entering, only stopping when the banquet hall was completely filled.

Each of them still held a treasure box in hand, big or small, of various sizes.

"Old man of the Primordial Origin Sect, do you have some request of our Longwater Shen clan?" Shen Yuan asked directly.

Elder Liu smiled faintly, "Sort of, but not really. This is the betrothal gift given by Ancestor Pei of the Azure Cloud Realm to my sect's female disciple; Family Head Shen, please have a look."

As he spoke, the boxes were opened, dazzling everyone's eyes in the banquet hall!

Sparkling everywhere……

The little white snake on Shen Qingli's wrist was already stirring; as the dragon bloodline awakened, it too awakened its bloodline fondness, let alone the treasures inside that could let it grow quickly!

"Dragon horn!"

"Dragon crystal!"

"Dragon pellet!"

"Dragon scales, dragon powder, dragon crystal……"

After counting, everyone felt this betrothal gift could even buy a major clan.

Especially the most precious ancient tome, personally presented by Elder Liu, which bore the title "Cangsheng Divine Scripture" upon it.

"No, Elder Liu, a betrothal gift is a betrothal gift—why are you flaunting it before our Longwater Shen clan?" Huang Laogou of the River Summer Huang clan rolled his eyes directly.

He was the oldest among the elders present, yet also the most childish old fogey, and he had with him a junior from the Huang clan, a little girl who looked only about eight or nine years old.

"Shen Qingli, I am a female disciple of the Primordial Origin Sect," Elder Liu explained.

The venue fell silent again; everyone realized this was actually the betrothal gift from the Azure Cloud Realm to the Shen clan!

"Besides, it's not right either—she's a phoenix, a little phoenix, and you're giving all this messy dragon stuff, useless!" Huang Laogou snapped, mainly out of envy!

Not to mention him, the other factions were also envious.

With such a betrothal gift, why wouldn't the Azure Cloud Realm take a liking to their daughters?

However, Shen Yuan let out a light snort, "Would our Shen clan sell the young master's person for these trinkets? If you were buying me, that'd be fine, but buying our A Li—no."

"Family Head Shen, Shen Qingli is also a female disciple of my sect. Our sect has already agreed to the Azure Cloud Realm's proposal; the engagement is set, this is the marriage contract—please have a look." Elder Liu unfolded the marriage contract with a flick of his sleeve.

The festive red marriage contract loomed large in the center of the hall, clearly bearing the names of Pei Jianshu and Shen Qingli, as well as their respective identities.

Shen Kuo instantly exploded, coldly questioning, "This is a marriage contract you, the Primordial Origin Sect, decided on yourselves! What does it have to do with our Longwater Shen clan? And what does it have to do with my A Li?"

"Exactly! If you want to marry, marry your own disciples! Our young master A Li certainly won't marry!"

"Isn't Liu Xiaoxiao famed as the number one beauty of Sheng Long Tian? If she loves to marry, let her marry!"

"Sorry, fellow Daoists of the Longwater Shen clan, just say what you need to say, don't drag me in—I won't marry, I've just been called off an engagement, I'm not in a rush to get married." Liu Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke.

The entire hall fell silent; Shen Qingli also turned her gaze to Liu Xiaoxiao, who was also looking at Shen Qingli, their eyes met, and she gestured with clasped hands.

As if the so-called called-off engagement meant nothing to Liu Xiaoxiao; she also didn't favor this marriage contract, which made everyone present glance askance, seeming quite surprised.

"I'm afraid not." Elder Liu continued, saying, "When this marriage contract was made, our sect still did not know that Shen Qingli was a descendant of the Changshui Shen clan, nor did we know she was the young mistress of the Shen clan."

"Shen clan head, please examine the marriage document carefully; it bears the alliance seal of our Hunyuan Sect and the Qingyun Realm. If this marriage contract is violated, then our Hunyuan Sect and the Qingyun Realm will be destroyed and scattered!"

"Destroyed and scattered!"

"That is equivalent to the Hunyuan Sect being annihilated and the Qingyun Realm disappearing!"

"Such an agreement is too harsh!"

"Shen clan head, Seventh Uncle Shen, our sect has not appropriated any betrothal gifts. The Qingyun Realm and our sect have always intermarried through marriage alliances; this is the marriage document we have always used between us, not a scheme against your Changshui Shen clan. Indeed, the situation is already settled, and there is nothing we can do." Elder Liu sighed.

"This really isn't the Hunyuan Sect forcing them; rather, if the marriage contract is not fulfilled, the Hunyuan Sect will be finished, and the Qingyun Realm will be finished too! This is no longer just a simple matter of getting married."

"No wonder once the Hunyuan Sect and the Qingyun Realm become engaged, they never go back on it—this really is something they cannot regret." Old Dog Huang muttered, then looked toward Shen Yuan.

Even though the Longwater Shen Clan is extremely strong, the Primordial Sect is the leader of the three sects, and the Azure Cloud Realm is the oldest existence among all forces, not easy to deal with.

Then just expel A Li from the sect, after all our A Li won't marry; you Primordial Sect and Azure Cloud Realm can easily join forces and attack my Longwater Shen Clan!

Shen Yuan's words rang out like a heavy stone falling to the ground: 'As long as the Longwater Shen Clan still has one person alive, we could never wrong A Li! Longwater Shen Clan, we never bow!'

'Longwater Shen Clan, we never bow!' Shen Duo agreed.

'Longwater Shen Clan, we never bow!' The pillars of the Shen clan present, the younger generation of the Shen clan, spoke in unison!

Even facing the Primordial Sect and the Azure Cloud Realm, not a single one of them hesitated;

Even if what lay before them were top-tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures capable of making any force bow, they would not waver;

Even though Shen Qingli had just returned, most of them hadn't even spoken to her yet, yet they still protected her.

The reason is just one—Shen Qingli is unwilling.

Then no one would let her compromise herself, not even asking her once.

After all, in this situation, asking even one more question is nothing but moral blackmail.

Refusing would make the Longwater Shen Clan an enemy of the Primordial Sect and the Azure Cloud Realm—how could she answer?

Shen Yuan and Shen Duo knew this well, as did the rest of the Longwater Shen Clan, so they didn't ask and simply refused!

I—

Shut up.

Shen Yuan even forbade Shen Qingli from speaking.

How did it come to this?

Elder Liu sighed helplessly; it's just becoming dao companions, after all, the young master of the Azure Cloud Realm is still excellent.

As for that.

A bell-like boom echoed into the banquet hall; Shen Qingli immediately looked toward the outside, sensing a familiar aura!

'A Li hasn't taken a master yet; strictly speaking, she isn't even a disciple of my Primordial Sect—how could she be engaged to the Azure Cloud Realm?'

'Old Ancestor Tianxing?'

'Old Monster Tianxing!'