Zhang Xian dropped his joking demeanor, his expression turning grave.

“Isn’t this exactly the outcome you wanted? It solidifies our relationship and sends a crystal-clear signal to every force watching from the shadows.”

He stood up and gestured toward the inner chamber. “Alright. Go rest in the bedroom.”

Rest… in the bedroom?

Yun Wanqing tensed up instantly. Was he implying that they should…

“What are you thinking about?” Zhang Xian scoffed gently, reading her mind. “I’m going to meditate out here to prepare for tomorrow’s match. Hu Yanzhi hates me to the bone. When we step into the arena tomorrow, he’ll be coming with the intent to kill. I’d rather not get wiped out before I even get the chance to enter the bridal chamber.”

A wave of emotion washed over Yun Wanqing. “I… I’ll stay here with you.”

“You’d better not. With a beauty like you by my side, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself, let alone focus on battle prep. In my eyes, you’re a hundred times more dangerous than Hu Yanzhi.”

Zhang Xian seized the moment to deliver a shamelessly cheesy line.

“I’m sorry… please give me a little more time…” Yun Wanqing’s eyes swam with tenderness.

“Just don’t mind me dragging my family along,” Zhang Xian laughed, unbothered. “I told you—I want you, and I want your heart. I won’t force you into anything.”

Yun Wanqing felt a sweet warmth flood her chest. “You have such a glib tongue!”

Despite her scolding words, an indescribable heat welled up inside her—a feeling of security she had never experienced before.

She obediently turned and walked into the inner bedroom. The light curtains drifted shut, separating the two small spaces and providing a comforting, safe distance for both.

[Ding! Investment successful. Triggering rebate. Returned: 200 million High-Grade Spirit Stones.]

[Ding! Current Favorability: 66.]

Zhang Xian sighed inwardly. As expected of the Southern Region’s wealthiest woman, her appetite was immense—she had absorbed the full investment of two million High-Grade Spirit Stones in one go.

As dawn broke, the bedroom door opened softly.

Yun Wanqing walked out, her steps light and airy. She clearly hadn’t slept soundly, yet her spirits were high. When she looked at Zhang Xian, who was waiting by the door, the flicker in her eyes revealed a closeness and reliance entirely different from the day before.

“Let’s go,” Zhang Xian said with a faint smile.

The two walked out together.

Creak—

The maid who had been standing guard outside all night jolted awake. She stared at the pair emerging side by side, her gaze sweeping over them like a high-powered searchlight.

With a woman’s innate radar, she instantly picked up on the subtle changes in their aura. She saw the faint blush on Yun Wanqing’s cheeks. She sensed the thick atmosphere of rapport between them. It was the relaxed intimacy of two people who had shared a profound, private exchange.

The tea! The drama!

The maid’s eyes erupted with the unprecedented fervor of a gossipmonger striking gold!

Confirmed! Absolutely confirmed!!

The Southern Region’s number one Goddess! Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s Lord, Yun Wanqing! And the mysterious, filthy-rich Zhang Xian! They stayed overnight in the Palace’s West Warm Chamber without leaving!!

They definitely, certainly, absolutely did something beyond just talking! Otherwise, how could their eyes look like that?!

This was too much! She had to share this earth-shattering secret immediately. It was enough to vibrate the foundations of the entire Southern Region’s cultivation world! She would tell everyone she knew, everyone she didn’t know, and anyone with ears!

Shocking!! The Southern Region’s biggest scoop! Pavilion Lord Yun Wanqing pledges her love to a mysterious tycoon! A sleepless night in the Royal Palace!

Yunmiao Sect battles Central Continent forces for the bride! Baoqing Workshop’s Hu Yanzhi tragically abandoned! The prize bird has flown the coop!

The maid had already drafted the explosive headlines in her mind. She could practically hear the collective gasp of the Southern Region.

Under the maid’s almost tangible, scrutinizing gaze, Zhang Xian and Yun Wanqing seemed completely unaware. An intimate energy flowed between them that outsiders couldn’t penetrate as they walked calmly toward the martial arena.

Last night’s confrontation and confessions had quietly drawn their hearts much closer. But in the maid’s eyes, this was undoubtedly ironclad proof of the lingering afterglow of a passionate night!

The new day was destined to be turbulent.

When Zhang Xian stepped into the Yunmiao Sect’s preparation area, two pairs of eyes instantly locked onto him.

“Well, well, who do we have here?”

Lin Yinyin darted in front of him, lifting her small chin defiantly. “Brother, how could you finally bear to show your true face?”

She circled halfway around him, inspecting him from head to toe. “Tsk tsk, impressive! The news from last night’s palace banquet has spread like wildfire! Boldly throwing out two million High-Grade Spirit Stones, publicly forcing—ah, no, proposing! Proposing to our Southern Region’s number one beauty, Yun Wanqing!”

She suddenly leaned in close, lowering her voice with a mischievous grin. “But staying out all night must have been exhausting, right?”

Zhang Xian was both amused and exasperated by Lin Yinyin’s barrage. He was just about to knock her on the head to make her behave when his gaze caught sight of Li Fuxi standing quietly nearby.

When Li Fuxi’s eyes fell on Zhang Xian’s handsome face—now free of any disguise—a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of surprise passed deep within her beautiful eyes.

[Ding! Current Favorability: 69.]

However, the moment this brief surge of favorability arose, Li Fuxi remembered exactly who Zhang Xian had revealed his true appearance for. That, coupled with the rumors of him “staying out all night”…

An inexplicable sourness and stifling anger clogged her chest.

[Ding! Li Fuxi’s Favorability toward you -2. Current Favorability: 67.]

She let out an extremely soft “Hmph!” from her nose, her pretty face stiffening into a mask of ice. Without looking at Zhang Xian again, she turned on her heel and walked directly toward the dueling platform.

Zhang Xian: “…”

Bad news.

He had just managed to placate Yun Wanqing, only to end up upsetting his tsundere Master.

Zhang Xian instantly felt a headache coming on. Watching Li Fuxi’s retreating back—which radiated a “don’t touch me” aura—he inwardly groaned. This jealousy flared up way too fast!

The third round of matches finally began.

The atmosphere in today’s martial arena was particularly strange.

Almost all eyes were firmly fixed on the arena where Zhang Xian and Hu Yanzhi were about to face off.

A battle between love rivals! A clash of obscene wealth! The protagonists of yesterday’s scandal facing off directly! This drama was just too delicious to ignore!

The entire spectator area was filled with an almost boiling, barely suppressible excitement.

“Hey, hey! Look! That’s Zhang Xian! The one from Yunmiao Sect!” someone whispered frantically.

“Zhang Xian? Which Zhang Xian?” a nearby cultivator asked, looking confused.

“Wow! Your news is way too outdated! You’re still asking which Zhang Xian? The one from the palace banquet yesterday!”

“You know Hu Yanzhi, Young Master Hu, right? Backed by Baoqing Workshop and the Guiyuan Sect, he was practically guaranteed to marry Pavilion Lord Yun Wanqing! But then? This guy came out of nowhere and snatched her away!” someone nearby immediately launched into a manic explanation.

“Holy crap! Yun Wanqing? She’s been widowed for over two hundred years, and someone finally took her down?” The newcomer to the gossip was utterly shocked.

“I’ve never heard of this guy. Maybe Yun Wanqing just likes this kind of unknown pretty boy? Dammit, why didn’t she choose me?”

“Unknown?? He slapped old Master Yun He in the face with a million High-Grade Spirit Stones! I heard the old master was about to kowtow to Zhang Xian right then and there, but the Emperor desperately stopped him!”

“Two million? And High-Grade?! What on earth is this guy’s background?”

“Who knows! There are rumors he’s the Young Master of a super reclusive ancient clan, or the reincarnation of an Immortal. Some even say he’s just a mortal who got lucky and dug up an Immortal’s ancestral tomb. Anyway, he’s incredibly rich now! He directly overpowered the wealth of the Guiyuan Sect and the Baoqing Workshop headquarters combined.”

Discussions, exclamations, and wild theories surged through the crowd like a tidal wave.