Chapter 87: Crushing

"What do you mean?"

"Indeed. This King seeks a marriage alliance for my son and has brought three betrothal gifts. Whether it succeeds or not, it shows sufficient sincerity. You wish to take Kongling Xianzi as your wife; I wonder what kind of betrothal gifts you have brought?"

Hearing this, Ruyue Xianzi, who was to the side, shifted her expression slightly. She immediately raised her right hand, and silently, a Storage Bag was placed into Su Zhangqing's hand.

This item was originally intended for forming an alliance. Taking it out at this moment was perfectly appropriate, and after this matter, he figured Shenguang Xianzi would not refuse to form an alliance with him.

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Su Zhangqing's expression shifted slightly, and he already had a plan in mind.

"Hehe..."

Kuangshi Laoguai watched from the sidelines with cold eyes, a look of smugness flashing across his face.

"What do I mean? Fellow Daoist, are you asking when you already know, or are you truly clueless? If you want to marry this Kongling Xianzi, you must produce a few decent betrothal gifts, no?"

Kuangshi Laoguai looked at Su Zhangqing, the corners of his mouth curling slightly to reveal a smug expression.

"Haha, wanting to marry the one you love but being too stingy to produce betrothal gifts—if word got out, wouldn't it be a laughingstock?"

Just at this moment, Shi Yu's voice rang out. At this very moment, this fellow's face was full of schadenfreude, and his words were extremely unpleasant.

One must know that while three betrothal gifts did not seem like much, each one had reached a heaven-defying level; Shituoling had prepared for a long time to obtain them.

"How about it, Fellow Daoist Su? If you can produce betrothal gifts as precious as mine, I will say no more and turn around to leave immediately, absolutely not lingering here any longer."

Kuangshi Laoguai spoke with feigned generosity.

"Who I marry is my own business; when did it become someone else's place to interfere? Even if my husband sends me a blade of grass, I, this Xianzi, will marry him all the same!"

Kongling Xianzi's voice rang out at this moment.

"Hehe, so that is to say, Fellow Daoist Su cannot produce any betrothal gifts?"

"I..."

Kongling Xianzi wanted to say more, but she saw Su Zhangqing raise a hand, stopping her from continuing.

"Old fellow, even if you are a Golden Core stage demon clan member, you shouldn't be so arrogant. I will only ask one thing: will your word hold?"

"Naturally, it holds."

Kuangshi Laoguai was also an old monster who had lived for who knows how many years; naturally, he would not be deceived by Su Zhangqing's appearance. How could the other party possibly produce such precious gifts? Needless to say, it must be a bluff.

"Good, I hope you keep your word!"

Su Zhangqing did not waste any more breath. If it came to scheming, he was far above the other party. The other party doing this was merely trying to make him look bad.

The next instant, he reached out, patted his waist, and with a flash of spiritual light, several jade boxes appeared before him.

Seeing Su Zhangqing actually produce gifts, Kuangshi Laoguai could not help but be slightly stunned. Could he have guessed wrong? However, Su Zhangqing's gaze fell upon Shenguang Xianzi.

"Since you are Kongling Xianzi's mother, and you have taken much care of my beloved, it is only right that I provide some betrothal gifts. However, my own wealth is meager, and I hope you will not find them too shabby."

After his voice fell, Su Zhangqing raised his right hand, and a streak of light struck the jade box. As the light dispersed, what appeared before them was a stone of entirely crimson-gold color.

Eh? "Hehe, Fellow Daoist Su, have you taken the wrong medicine? Even if you couldn't produce any precious gifts, what is the meaning of bringing out a broken stone?"

Just at this moment, Shi Yu revealed a sneer.

He was just waiting for Shenguang Xianzi to get angry and drive Su Zhangqing out, which would be best. However, very quickly, he discovered the atmosphere was not right. Aside from himself sneering and mocking there, the expressions of the others were full of solemnity. He could not help but turn his head back, only to see his father's face was incomparably gloomy, as ugly as it could be.

Could it be that the treasure this brat brought out could compare to the treasures his own family brought?

At the thought of this, Shi Yu could not help but reveal a look of horror.

However, Su Zhangqing did not even look at him, as if this fellow were merely an ant. He calmly reached out his hand and tapped lightly against the stone in the jade box, and a streak of light flickered before shooting onto the stone.

"Hum..."

A five-colored shimmering light rippled outward. Everyone could not help but gasp. Although they had some guesses in their hearts, the three late-stage Golden Core existences revealed moved expressions.

"This is a piece of Five Elements Crimson Gold Essence."

"Since you are Ling'er's mother, this piece of Five Elements Crimson Gold Essence is a small token of respect, and it is the first betrothal gift this junior presents."

Su Zhangqing's voice rang out.

Once this betrothal gift appeared, Kuangshi Laoguai's complexion became incomparably ugly, and his expression toward Su Zhangqing became increasingly unkind.

Truly hateful! Where did this brat get this Five Elements Crimson Gold Essence? Could it be that this marriage proposal is really going to be outdone by this brat?

"How is that possible?"

"Hmph, this is only the first item. Brat, let's see what else you can do, and how you will produce gifts more precious than mine."

"No need to trouble yourself."

Su Zhangqing's expression was faint and incomparably calm. Then, as he raised his right hand, a streak of light flickered, and a suit of five-colored, resplendent battle armor appeared before them.

"Impossible!"

Even as a late-stage Golden Core old monster, Kuangshi Laoguai could not keep his composure.

"This is a set of low-grade Dharma Treasure, the Qilin Armor."

If one were to discuss value, this Qilin Armor was definitely even above the Spirit Gathering Bead.

"Xianzi, this is the second betrothal gift. I hope you will graciously accept it."

Su Zhangqing's faint voice rang out. Neither item was his own; he was merely bringing them out to go through the motions.

This brat actually has such treasures?

For a moment, Kuangshi Laoguai revealed an expression of both shock and anger.

Matters had reached this point; he could be said to have lost all his prestige and face. However, although the old lion's face was incomparably ugly, he was still unwilling to give up just like that. There was still one final betrothal gift.

The Tribulation-Crossing Pill! To Shenguang Xianzi, this item was the most useful; it was directly related to whether she could advance to the Nascent Soul realm. Therefore, the outcome was still up in the air; at the very least, he still had some chances.

"Senior, as for the third betrothal gift..."

Before Su Zhangqing's voice had finished, Kuangshi Laoguai spoke up.

"Brat, to speak plainly, your first two betrothal gifts are indeed not bad, but if that is all, it is still not enough. The Tribulation-Crossing Pill is the most important. If you cannot produce it, then you have lost."

"No need to trouble yourself. Xianzi, this is the third betrothal gift Su is presenting to you: it is this Tribulation-Crossing Pill."

As they spoke, Su Zhangqing took out a jade box, and inside it, a spirit pill the size of a dragon's eye sat quietly.

It was precisely the Calamity-Resolving Pill.

"Many thanks, fellow Daoist."

Shenguang Xianzi nodded; having experienced this series of events, she already regarded Su Zhangqing as an equal.

"Kuangshi, a bet is a bet. Now that Zhangqing has brought out these three gifts, I wonder what else you have to say."

Just at this moment, the voice of Ruyue Xianzi rang out.

"Hmph, a bet is a bet. Since this brat can produce such precious gifts, this king will naturally keep his word."

A look of resentment flashed through the eyes of Kuangshi Laoguai, but at this moment, it was of course impossible to flip the table immediately.

He could be said to be furious to the extreme at this time; ever since advancing to the Golden Core stage, when had he ever suffered such a great loss?

However, as the saying goes, a gentleman takes his revenge ten years later. Ordinarily, he held a certain amount of wariness toward this person, Su Zhangqing, so he gave the other party a gloomy look before turning to bow to Shenguang.

"Ling'er, you've come. By rights, I shouldn't disturb your cultivation just after you've made a breakthrough, but today Shenguang Mountain has honored guests, and you should meet these two seniors."

Wuse Xianzi said with a light laugh; it was clear she was very doting toward Lingling Xianzi.

Hearing her mother say this, Lingling Xianzi turned her beautiful eyes and looked toward the people sitting there.

In that very instant, her expression changed wildly; besides her mother, there were actually two Golden Core late-stage existences present.

"Ling'er, this is Senior Kuangshi from Shitu Valley, whose divine abilities are truly remarkable."

Wuse Xianzi spoke with a smile.

Lingling nodded slightly and bowed to Kuangshi; after all, the other party was a Golden Core late-stage old monster, so she had to show some respect.

"Xianzi..."

Shi Yu's expression flickered slightly, his face full of adoration.

"Hmph! Lecher!"

However, Lingling Xianzi's gaze swept over him, and she gave a light huff without saying another word of nonsense.

"Eh?"

Such a scene caused Shi Yu's expression to stiffen slightly; this situation was even more painful than being cursed at, as she had directly ignored him.

Damn it!

A look of resentment flashed in his eyes; he had never been so slighted by a woman before. Sooner or later, I will pin her beneath me and make her repent for today's events! "Ling'er, come quickly and pay your respects to Ruyue Xianzi. You must have heard of her great reputation. She is a good friend of your mother's; if you have the chance, you should ask the Xianzi for some guidance."

Upon hearing this, Kongling Xianzi respectfully bowed to Ruyue Xianzi.

"Ling'er, I know you don't like this brat Shi Yu, but you still need to keep up appearances. In a moment, you just need to do this."

Just at this moment, the voice of Shenguang Xianzi rang out.

"Eh?"

Shenguang Xianzi briefly told Kong Ling about the matter. Kong Ling'er revealed a look of surprise, but more than that, she felt happy; her mother had not treated her like cargo to be traded away.

"Brother Zhangqing, you're here!"

"En, I'm here."

Just at this moment, the voices of the two rang out in the great hall. After a brief exchange of glances, they knew how to proceed with the act.

Both of their voices were very soft, yet the entire hall suddenly became quiet.

"Ling'er, what did you call him?"

Shenguang Xianzi's jade face sank immediately as she looked at Kong Ling.

"Hehe, Xianzi, you heard correctly. Ling'er and I... *cough cough*, have known each other for a long time. Ling'er is my future Shuangxiu Daolu, and in this life, I will marry no one but her."

Since they were going to put on a show, they naturally had to be serious and not let others see through it easily. As Kong Ling'er's lover, he naturally had to shield her from the wind and rain, stepping forward at this time instead of hiding behind a woman.

Seeing Su Zhangqing's actions, Kong Ling'er's face flushed, revealing a sweet expression.

"Mother, you heard correctly. Ling'er now has a Shuangxiu Daolu."

"This..."

Shenguang Xianzi revealed a look of embarrassment at just the right moment.

Upon hearing this, Kuangshi's expression became even uglier; he hadn't expected the other party to be taken, so where would he put his face? Just at this moment, Shi Yu's voice, filled with extreme resentment, rang out.

"Nonsense! Ling'er is of the demon race; what right do you, a mere human, have to be her husband?"

"Hmph, Ling'er and I are in love and willing to become Shuangxiu Daolu; that is our own business. What kind of thing are you to dare meddle in my affairs?"

Su Zhangqing was what kind of person? He naturally didn't take this brat seriously and retorted without the slightest bit of politeness.

"You..."

Shi Yu could not help but be furious, never having imagined the other party would be so arrogant. Beside him, Shi Yu's expression also changed abruptly; the other party's unscrupulous words clearly didn't put him in their eyes.

"Hmph! You don't know how to live! The next instant, his pupils turned blood-red, and a terrifying, fierce aura burst forth. The pressure of a Golden Core mid-stage demon was no small matter, and his momentum even carried an attacking effect.

If this had been any other cultivator of the same rank, they would have suffered somewhat.

However, Su Zhangqing was different; with his current strength, even Kuangshi would not be in his eyes.

If you want to fight, then fight! Su Zhangqing waved his hands, his internal Yuan power began to circulate, and flowing light shimmered around his body. A majestic spiritual pressure surged forth, not a whit inferior to a Golden Core late-stage cultivator.

Boom! The next instant, a cracking sound echoed in the void as the two auras collided in mid-air.

The entire hall trembled, and the heaven and earth spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius transformed into a hundred-foot-long flood dragon, all of it shrouding toward Shi Yu.

"Impossible!" Shi Yu's face revealed a look of disbelief.

The other party's strength was actually stronger than his own; in the clash just now, he hadn't gained the slightest advantage.

How could this be?

How could this be...

Blood-red light flashed violently in Shi Yu's eyes.

"Puff!"

In the next instant, the figure of Shi Yu was blasted away over a hundred zhang, blood spraying out wildly as if it were worthless.

After just one exchange, Shi Yu had suffered heavy injuries.

At this moment, his eyes were filled with a look of deep resentment, yet within this look, there was also a hint of fear.

"This..."

Seeing this scene, Kong Ling'er's face revealed a look of astonishment; clearly, she had not expected that her mother would find her such a powerful shield, and one who looked so handsome, too...

As she thought of this, Kong Ling'er's face turned rosy; if she could have such a husband, it would naturally be excellent.

At this moment, even with Shenguang Xianzi's shrewdness and depth, she could not help but be moved; although she knew Ruyue Xianzi held Su Zhangqing in high regard, she had never expected this lad to be so remarkable, taking down Shi Yu in just one exchange.

Among the crowd, the most composed was naturally Ruyue Xianzi; having traveled with him all the way, she had already discovered that Su Zhangqing's divine abilities were not a whit inferior to her own, so dealing with a cultivator of the same rank was entirely within her expectations.

Ruyue Xianzi was very calm and composed; after a light smile, she sipped some spirit wine, feeling quite happy to see this Kuangshi Laoguai suffer a setback.

At this moment, her gaze fell upon the face of Kuangshi Laoguai, and she saw that the other party's expression was gloomy to the extreme, with a baleful aura surging continuously around his body, his pair of blood-red eyes staring fixedly at Su Zhangqing, as if he might strike at any next moment.

Ruyue Xianzi, who was to the side, naturally would not just watch idly, but instead kept her eyes on every move of Kuangshi Laoguai.

(End of this chapter)