The sky had turned a deep indigo when the underwater carriage pierced through the ocean's surface.
The sea split apart like a curtain, scattering shimmering spiritual light in every direction. The emblem of the Eastern Sea Kingdom engraved upon the carriage glowed with a faint blue radiance—a symbol of authority that even high-level cultivators would not dare to underestimate.
On the shoreline, three figures had been waiting for a long time.
The evening wind carried the salty scent of the sea… along with unspoken anxiety.
The moment the carriage stopped and its doors opened, Yun Wu, Xiang Shuai, and Luo Shixin all tensed at once. Their gazes were no longer merely worried—they were vigilant.
Yun Wu stepped forward first. His black hair fluttered in the wind. His face remained as calm as a winter lake, almost without ripples.
Yet his voice… sounded slightly different.
"Yunxue," he called softly.
"Are you alright?"
He stood close enough to ensure there were no hidden injuries on her body.
Xue Yunxue smiled faintly. The glow of sunset reflected within her clear eyes, her beautiful face bathed in gentle twilight light.
"Yes. I'm fine."
She lowered her head slightly.
"Sorry… for making all of you worry."
Xiang Shuai snorted quietly but said nothing. For a brief moment, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits—the instinctive reaction of a serpent that did not fully trust the situation.
Luo Shixin stepped forward.
The golden-brown wings on his back slowly faded, dissolving into spiritual light that returned to his body. His expression remained cold, like ice atop a snowy mountain peak.
"It's fine," he said flatly.
"As your husbands, your safety is naturally our responsibility."
His tone was calm, completely devoid of emotional fluctuation—as if he were merely stating an undeniable fact.
And precisely because of that… the words felt heavy.
Xue Yunxue fell briefly silent.
This man… could say something like that without even blinking.
Suddenly—
A sharp aura exploded into the air.
Xiang Shuai was already standing directly before Lin Yuan.
The wind around them twisted strangely, and the sand beneath Xiang Shuai's feet cracked under the pressure of his spiritual energy.
"And you."
His voice was low, filled with deadly venom.
"Lin Yuan."
His eyes narrowed.
"If you dare touch even a single strand of Yunxue's hair… I will kill you."
There was no shouting. No empty intimidation.
Only a threat spoken with absolute certainty.
Lin Yuan slightly raised his chin. His blue eyes flashed like a stormy deep sea.
A faint ocean aura spread from his body—heavy and damp.
"Try it," he replied coldly. "Unfortunately, you're still too weak to fight me."
Two opposing auras—serpent and sea—collided in the air. Invisible waves of energy rippled outward, causing the ocean surface to tremble faintly.
Yun Wu released a quiet sigh.
But before the clash could escalate—
"Enough."
Xue Yunxue's voice sounded gentle, yet clear.
Strangely, the pressure in the air truly subsided.
She stepped between them.
"That's enough. He won't hurt me."
Her gaze briefly met Lin Yuan's. There was no hatred there—only calm certainty.
Lu Xiao, who had been silently standing to the side, slowly opened his eyes and gave a slight nod.
"She's right," he said simply.
A single sentence from Lu Xiao was enough to make the three men restrain themselves.
Xue Yunxue smiled softly.
"As a thank-you…"
She looked at each of them in turn.
"I'll cook a delicious dinner for all of you."
Silence lingered for a moment.
Xiang Shuai snorted, though the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
Luo Shixin remained expressionless, yet the coldness of his aura was no longer piercing.
Yun Wu turned his face away slightly, hiding a trace of relief.
In the darkening sky, the first star began to appear.
Xiang Shuai raised his hand. A spatial ring glimmered faintly.
Spiritual light swirled in the air, forming a circular formation.
From within it, a large silver-blue flying vehicle slowly emerged, the emblem of the Shelua Kingdom engraved along its side. Ancient runes lit up across its surface, releasing steady and powerful energy fluctuations.
The vehicle was large enough to carry all six of them.
Xue Yunxue was secretly amazed. This troublesome snake was surprisingly wealthy—and unexpectedly generous.
The door opened with a soft hiss.
Night wind flowed inside.
Without further words, they boarded one by one.
The vehicle sliced through the air, returning toward Wulong City.
Upon arrival, Yun Wu did not stop.
He immediately turned and headed straight toward the Wulong City Population Office.
The decision was simple.
He did not fully trust anyone's intentions—especially Lin Yuan's.
Official status would become the boundary line.
Inside the grand hall illuminated by bright spirit-stone lamps, he submitted documents and identification. The process was swift. No one dared delay when they saw the names listed before them.
One by one, official seals were stamped.
Marriage registered.
The bond of law and the mortal world now fused with the soul bonds that had long existed within them.
This was not mere formality—it was a declaration.
Xue Yunxue was no longer a girl without protection.
She was their wife.
And anyone who dared to touch her—
Would face all five men at once.
Inside a pavilion filled with the scent of black incense and the dim glow of crimson lanterns, Bai Ling stood before her jade stone table.
The night wind stirred the thin curtains, carrying with it the latest reports from her spies.
When she first read that Xue Yunxue had been taken to the depths of the sea by a mysterious man, the corner of Bai Ling's lips lifted slightly.
A cunning light flashed in her eyes.
"Finally…" she murmured softly.
The Eastern Sea territory was not a place ordinary people could enter. If a land-born human were dragged there without protection, the chances of returning alive were almost nonexistent.
In her mind, she had already imagined Xue Yunxue's body sinking into the endless darkness of the ocean—her breath cut short, her fate ending in tragedy.
However—
A knock sounded again at the pavilion door.
A shadowy figure knelt upon the floor.
"Miss… the target has safely returned to land."
Bai Ling's smile froze.
"What?"
Her voice dropped several degrees.
"Not only that… Miss Xue has officially registered those five men as her legal partners."
The room fell into sudden silence.
The red lantern above trembled faintly, casting distorted shadows of Bai Ling's face across the wall.
Her hand moved swiftly, grabbing the report scroll and opening it herself.
One name after another appeared clearly before her eyes.
Yun Wu.
Xiang Shuai.
Luo Shixin.
Lu Xiao.
Lin Yuan.
Crack.
A faint fracture spread across the jade table beneath her palm.
Bai Ling's originally gentle and beautiful face slowly tightened. Lines of resentment carved themselves into the corners of her eyes, making her expression far harsher.
"How is this possible…" she whispered hoarsely.
Those five men—all of them had once been Hu Shui's husbands.
Each stood at the peak of the younger generation. Handsome, powerful, and possessing extraordinary backgrounds. Even among noble circles and great clans, they were desired by countless women.
And that woman…
Xue Yunxue—how had a woman with no background managed, in such a short time, to obtain every one of those elite men?
Bai Ling's nails pierced into her own palm without her noticing.
"Hu Shui is already dead… and now another woman named Xue Yunxue appears…" she murmured quietly.
She closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath.
No.
She could not act rashly.
Her hand moved to the spatial ring on her finger. A faint glow flickered, and a small bottle appeared in her palm.
The liquid inside was a dark violet-black, slowly swirling as if it possessed its own consciousness.
The Mutant Elixir.
She had obtained it at tremendous cost—exchanged secrets, blood sacrifices, and assistance from parties whose names could never be spoken.
Anyone who drank it would lose control, transforming into a half-human, half-demonic creature. Their power would surge, but their sanity would shatter.
Originally, she had planned to slip it quietly into Xue Yunxue's food or drink.
Silent. Traceless.
But now…
She gritted her teeth.
Those five men were not fools. Especially now that their marriage was officially registered, they would undoubtedly become far more vigilant.
One wrong move—
And they would immediately suspect her.
And if Yun Wu or Luo Shixin began investigating…
Bai Ling swallowed.
No. She was not yet strong enough to confront them openly.
The bottle vanished back into her spatial ring.
"Retreat… in order to advance," she murmured.
She turned toward the black shadow still kneeling.
"Watch them from afar. Do not get too close. Leave no trace."
"Yes, Miss."
The shadow disappeared.
The pavilion returned to silence.
Moments later, Bai Ling stood and walked toward the main hall of the Bai Family residence.
Her steps became light.
Her face softened once more.
She even allowed tears to gather deliberately at the corners of her eyes.
Night had fully descended upon Wulong City.
The sky was veiled in thin spiritual mist, while spirit-stone lanterns glowed faintly throughout the Bai Family courtyard, casting long shadows along the black stone corridors.
The door to Bai Zhou's study opened without a knock.
Bai Ling stepped inside.
Her purple silk dress brushed softly across the floor, her face once again wearing a nearly flawless mask of gentleness. Yet anyone who knew her long enough would notice the ambition burning endlessly behind her eyes.
"Father."
Bai Zhou, who had been reviewing reports with furrowed brows, slowly lifted his head.
"What is it now?"
Bai Ling did not waste time.
"Father must find a way," she said directly, her voice soft yet firm, "to make the five husbands of the woman named Xue Yunxue mine."
Silence fell.
The brush in Bai Zhou's hand froze midair.
He slowly set it down, pressing his fingers against his temple as though that single sentence was more exhausting than the dozens of political and trade reports he had handled that day.
"Ling'er…" he said, restraining his patience.
"You already possess the ten finest men in Wulong City."
Ten.
Each from prestigious clans—young generals, formation masters, heirs of wealthy merchant families, even a successor of a minor sect.
All were results of political negotiation, alliances, and strategies he had carefully arranged over years to strengthen the Bai Family's dominance over Wulong City.
"Are they still not enough?" he asked, frustration no longer hidden.
Bai Ling smiled faintly.
The smile never reached her eyes.
"They are indeed the finest men in Wulong City," she said softly.
"But the husbands of that woman, Xue Yunxue… are the finest in the entire nation."
Bai Zhou had already heard the news. The young woman named Xue Yunxue had registered marriage with five fierce husbands—all former spouses of the renowned Princess Hu Shui—causing an uproar throughout the population office that very night.
His hand clenched at his side.
"They are not merely men, Father," she continued, her eyes blazing.
"They are the foundation of future power."
Bai Zhou stared at his daughter for a long moment.
"You want to steal another woman's husbands?" his voice hardened.
Bai Ling stepped closer.
"Father," she whispered softly, almost sweetly,
"This world belongs to the strong. If they can be taken… why shouldn't I?"
She slowly knelt before his desk.
"You always taught me that marriage is the strongest political tool. If I possess them—the Bai Family will surpass Wulong City itself."
Her gaze pierced directly into his eyes.
"We could stand equal to provincial clans… even national powers."
Bai Zhou fell silent.
Those words were not nonsense.
If those five men truly fell under Bai Ling's influence…
The Bai Family's strength would rise dramatically.
Seeing her father remain silent, Bai Ling stomped her foot in anger before turning and leaving.
"Whatever I do, don't try to stop me!" she said furiously.
After she left, the study sank back into heavy silence.
Bai Zhou sat upright behind his black spirit-stone desk, fingers tapping slowly against its surface in an uneven rhythm—evidence of rapidly turning thoughts.
His gaze shifted toward the massive crystal window behind him.
From there, the entirety of Wulong City stretched into view.
The city stood at the easternmost border of the Yanhuo Kingdom—a place often called the "Eastern Gate," yet more frequently treated as a sacrificial wall.
From afar, Wulong appeared magnificent.
Towering buildings rose like forests of steel and spirit stone. Neon-like formation lights burned through the night, carving sharp colors into the dark sky. Flying vehicles crossed aerial routes endlessly, while night markets thrived even beneath the highest moon.
At first glance, the city seemed prosperous.
But Bai Zhou knew the truth hidden beneath the glitter.
Wulong's prosperity… was fragile.
Murders occurred almost daily in the lower districts.
Children with high spiritual talent vanished without a trace, becoming commodities for dark sects and shadow organizations.
Cursed artifacts circulated through underground markets, sold like ordinary goods without control.
The royal troops stationed in Wulong were far too few.
So few… it felt like an insult.
To the capital, Wulong was merely an outer fortress—a place meant to absorb the first wave should war erupt. Important enough to maintain, yet not valuable enough to fully protect.
That was why Bai Zhou had been forced to hire mercenaries.
Including Yun Wu.
Thinking of that name caused his eyes to narrow slightly.
That man was no ordinary mercenary—disciplined, cold, nearly impossible to read. Bai Zhou knew that without Yun Wu and his group, Wulong's stability would have collapsed long ago.
But now…
The situation had changed.
It was not only his daughter who coveted the five men surrounding Xue Yunxue.
There was another faction.
And that faction was far more powerful than him.
Slowly, Bai Zhou picked up an envelope lying on his desk. The paper was thick, pale gold in color. At its center was the royal seal of the Yanhuo Kingdom—a flame fox holding a star disc.
A faint spiritual aura still lingered upon the seal.
He opened it slowly, eyes scanning its contents.
Invitation to the Coronation of the Star Princess.
The study suddenly felt colder.
Bai Zhou reread every line, ensuring he had not misunderstood. Yet the more he read, the heavier his expression became.
Princess Hu Lian—the eldest princess, the legitimate royal daughter of the Yanhuo Kingdom who had long been declared missing.
Now… she had returned.
Her return was not merely palace news. The entire nation trembled when the Royal Grand Priest announced the result of a celestial prophecy:
Hu Lian was the long-awaited Star Princess.
The figure foretold to unite all nations and lead the resistance against the power of darkness.
Her name spread like wildfire across dry plains.
In the capital, citizens knelt in gratitude.
Within major sects, elders began recalculating their positions.
Among nobles, alliances quietly reshaped themselves.
Rumors reaching Bai Zhou described Princess Hu Lian as gentle-hearted, benevolent, and possessing a sacred aura that made people instinctively wish to submit.
She was not the type of woman who displayed ambition openly.
Bai Zhou stood silently inside his study, his gaze fixed on the coronation invitation that still lay open upon the desk.
Rumors from several of his acquaintances in the Imperial Capital echoed in his mind.
When Hu Shui had been declared dead, Princess Hu Lian had openly expressed her willingness to become the partner of the five men who were once bound to Hu Shui.
A clever move.
If she truly ascended as the Star Princess, and those five men stood at her side, then both her legitimacy and power would become unshakable.
Yet—
The five men refused.
A polite refusal, but absolute. They had even declined without ever meeting the Princess face to face.
From a political standpoint, the decision made no sense.
Hu Lian was the kingdom's legitimate princess.
Beautiful. Noble. A woman foretold to carry a grand destiny.
To reject her was equal to rejecting the Imperial Court's favor.
Why would they do such a thing?
And now…
Those same five men had instead become the husbands of Xue Yunxue.
A girl with no royal background. No official status. No visible political power.
Bai Zhou narrowed his eyes, a faint throbbing forming at his temples.
Perhaps standing on the Princess's side would bring him greater advantage.
He slowly pulled a sheet of paper toward himself and lifted his brush.
With elegant and carefully chosen words, he began composing a letter addressed to Princess Hu Lian.
If matters proceeded this way, Bai Ling's ambitions would extinguish on their own.