I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Zhou Xuanyuan’s voice rang out with unusual clarity in the spacious, elegant room.

He looked at Shen Xian with a smile, reminiscent of a cat eyeing a mouse it intended to devour whole.

If the other party refused, he had a whole speech prepared to mock him—a tirade guaranteed to humiliate this heir of the Shen family and satisfy his own deep-seated resentment.

If Shen Xian agreed, that was even better. No one had ever bested him in a spirit beast duel. When the time came, he would crush Shen Xian beneath his heel!

Since that was the case, he might as well see what tricks the man had up his sleeve.

Upon hearing this, a sharp light flashed in Ye Shun’s eyes. He immediately took a half-step forward, bowed slightly, and spoke with respectful yet measured courtesy. “Young Master Zhou, my Young Master-in-law is visiting such an establishment for the first time. He merely wishes to observe. Please be understanding.”

Zhou Xuanyuan’s expression turned cold. “Since when does a servant like you have the right to speak here?” he snapped.

Ye Shun was left speechless.

Remembering the Matriarch’s instructions and worried that Shen Xian might be disadvantaged, he was about to speak again when Shen Xian cut in.

“How do you want to compete?” Shen Xian asked.

He had already realized that this person would not let the matter rest. His plan was to play along for now and see what happened; if things looked truly hopeless, he could still refuse later.

“My Purple Lightning Sable has won seven consecutive matches,” Zhou Xuanyuan declared with confidence. “If you can select a spirit beast and defeat it, I am willing to offer a Wanxiang Token as a prize. Furthermore, you may take any spirit beast you wish from here.”

He couldn’t resist adding a point of emphasis. “My Purple Lightning Sable has already fought three battles today and is not at its peak condition. So, you cannot say I am bullying you!”

The Wanxiang Token was a credential issued by the Wanxiang Chamber of Commerce to its most honored guests, granting many privileges within their establishments. For the other party to offer something so valuable, he undoubtedly had a greater scheme in mind.

“And if I lose?” Shen Xian asked calmly.

A sinister glint flashed in Zhou Xuanyuan’s eyes. “Simple. I want that dragon-shaped jade pendant at your waist, and for you to publicly admit that Shen Xian is inferior to me!”

This dragon-shaped jade pendant corresponded with Ye Qingxian’s phoenix-shaped one—a fact this Young Master of the Wanxiang Chamber of Commerce was clearly aware of. This move was naturally intended to humiliate Shen Xian.

As for the latter demand… it laid his intentions utterly bare.

Shen Xian’s gaze darkened slightly, but he did not answer.

Zhou Xuanyuan was just about to add a few more mocking remarks when an attendant beside him suddenly sent a voice transmission. “Young Master, the buyer has arrived.”

His expression shifted, and he stood up with a smile. “I will give you fifteen minutes to consider.”

Before leaving, he couldn’t resist one final jab. “It is perfectly fine if Third Young Master Shen is afraid. I am a very understanding person.”

He strode away, his face a picture of smug satisfaction, almost hoping Shen Xian would refuse.

“Young Master-in-law, this Spirit Beast Pavilion is his territory. Do not fall for his trap,” Ye Shun urged immediately after Zhou Xuanyuan left. “If you are unwilling, I can send word to the Matriarch right now.”

He realized that Zhou Xuanyuan’s aim was clearly to embarrass Shen Xian. Whether he refused or accepted, he would fall into the other’s snare. Only by invoking the Matriarch’s authority could this be resolved.

“Let me think first. Go wait outside,” Shen Xian said, not immediately agreeing.

Since the other party dared propose this wager, he must have something to rely on. But that didn’t mean Shen Xian was without countermeasures.

Ye Shun could only obey.

Afterwards, Shen Xian quietly took out the Void Reflecting Spirit Mirror.

This treasure could enhance its wielder’s spiritual sense. Spiritual sense was immensely helpful for probing spirit beasts and could help him find a way to deal with the Purple Lightning Sable. After all, there were natural counters among spirit beasts as well.

Of course, if he couldn’t find one, then he would have no choice but to follow Ye Shun’s advice.

As spiritual energy poured into it, the spiritual treasure began releasing a profound power that surged into his body like a mighty river.

In the next instant, Shen Xian possessed spiritual sense comparable to that of a Deity Transformation Realm Venerable. Everything before him seemed crystal clear.

His spiritual sense spread out like a tide, piercing through the walls of the elegant room and extending towards the beast pens deep within the Spirit Beast Pavilion.

Within his spiritual perception, the auras of hundreds of spirit beasts flickered like stars.

Some were fierce and violent, others cold and sinister; some were gentle and reserved…

Shen Xian carefully examined the characteristics of each spirit beast, searching for one capable of countering the Purple Lightning Sable.

Suddenly, his spiritual sense detected an unusual fluctuation.

In a small cage in the farthest corner of the pens lay a small cat with snow-white fur, curled up in a ball.

It wore a tiny jade collar and was covered in wounds; its white fur was stained red with blood—a pitiful sight indeed.

Shen Xian’s spiritual sense swept over it and discovered special thunder patterns flowing within its blood—patterns so extremely faint that it would be difficult for anyone with spiritual sense below the Deity Transformation Realm to detect them at all.

“Is this… a Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat?”

Having read numerous ancient texts, he recognized its origin at a glance.

This cat possessed a Mystic-grade bloodline! Moreover, it was a fourth-rank spirit beast whose innate thunder patterns naturally countered thunder-attribute spirit beasts—perfect for dealing with that Purple Lightning Sable!

Spirit beasts were also demonic beasts, and their strength was divided into ten ranks. The first three ranks were low-grade spirit beasts, corresponding to human cultivators at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Realms.

Such spirit beasts possessed no awakened intelligence and were mostly used as tools or food by cultivators.

The next ranks—fourth through sixth—corresponded to the early Golden Core, late Golden Core, and early Nascent Soul Realms, respectively. Spirit beasts at these ranks possessed some intelligence and could assist in battle.

Seventh-rank spirit beasts fell into the high-grade category; they could already assume human form and were generally called shape-shifting Great Demons, with strength comparable to cultivators beyond the Nascent Soul Realm.

Furthermore, a spirit beast’s growth was limited by its bloodline. These were generally divided into five grades: Mortal, Spirit, Earth, Mystic, and Heaven. The higher its bloodline, the greater its potential.

This Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat possessed a Mystic-grade bloodline containing traces of an ancient demonic beast or a branch lineage of a True Spirit. Its divine abilities were powerful, and it could potentially break through to the Void Refining Realm—truly immense growth potential indeed!

Withdrawing his spiritual sense, Shen Xian made up his mind.

“Young Master Zhou! My Young Master-in-law hasn’t finished considering yet!” Ye Shun’s voice came suddenly from outside.

The next second, Zhou Xuanyuan barged inside. Seeing Shen Xian standing there unmoved only made his smile widen. “Well? Has Third Young Master Shen reached a decision?”

He looked at Shen Xian with a smile, a trace of contempt hidden deep within his eyes. “Our Wanxiang Chamber of Commerce is very reasonable indeed! If you are unwilling, that is fine too!”

That was what he said, but truthfully, if the other party refused, he would use the Chamber of Commerce’s influence to spread news of this encounter far and wide. It would not just affect Shen Xian alone, but the entire Shen family’s reputation.

“I accept,” Shen Xian said calmly after a moment of silence. “But I must personally select the beast myself.”

“Naturally!” Zhou Xuanyuan replied, raising a hand to gesture towards the attendant beside him. “Take Third Young Master Shen to the beast room now, please.”

The attendant immediately moved forward. “Please follow me, sir.”

Shen Xian followed him out, leaving Zhou Xuanyuan alone in the room. He sat back on the soft stool, sneering coldly, his eyes filled with a mix of resentment, jealousy, and envy. “Hmph… trash… just wait until you make a fool of yourself publicly. We’ll see if you can laugh then.”

Inside the beast room, hundreds of refined iron cages were neatly arranged in row upon row.

Shen Xian walked straight towards the cage containing the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat.

The little creature lay there, completely ignoring the presence before it.

“Third Young Master Shen,” the attendant spoke in a cold tone, emphasizing the word ‘trash’ heavily. “This creature hasn’t won a single match since arriving here—it is utter trash! The Young Master plans to sell it off soon anyway, so you had better think carefully before choosing, sir.”

Shen Xian focused his gaze upon the blood-stained little creature before him.

With its capabilities, if truly unleashed, it shouldn’t appear so wretched. Unless… it had already given up hope completely?

Shen Xian vaguely guessed the truth behind the situation.

Ignoring the attendant’s words, he leaned down and sent a voice transmission directly to the cat inside the cage. “Help me defeat the Purple Lightning Sable, and I will take you away from here.”

Upon hearing those words, the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat’s body trembled slightly, yet it still didn’t lift its head.

“Only I know the true strength hidden within you!” Shen Xian continued pressing the point. “You can only trust me now, because once you are sold off, you will never escape your fate!”

Fourth-rank spirit beasts already possessed intelligence. The reason it hadn’t won a single match was probably that it was resisting deliberately; that was why Shen Xian spoke such words now.

After hearing these words, it finally lifted its head. Its golden pupils gleamed strangely, staring directly back unblinkingly, as if silently asking: Can you really do it?

Shen Xian looked back seriously, meeting its gaze firmly and replying simply: “Trust me.”

Finally, after a moment of silence, the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat gave a soft meow. It answered the question indirectly, yet clearly enough for Shen Xian to understand the meaning behind it.

His heart leaping with joy, Shen Xian turned towards the attendant and declared firmly, “I choose this one!”

The servant hadn’t expected the other party to actually choose that beast. He was stunned for a moment, then sneered inwardly. “Trash and scrap. A perfect match indeed!”