"Rise. No need for formalities."Yi Tianxing nodded slightly, gesturing with a wave of his hand.
He then walked over to Cai Yan and the other consorts.
"Your Majesty, these are the young women selected from among the countless eligible girls of the Great Yi. There are exactly one hundred of them, each chosen from among billions. Every single one is a peerless beauty, flawless in both appearance and figure. Now that they've entered the palace, it's up to you to decide who will be granted titles and favored," Cai Yan said with a soft smile.
Only one hundred were selected in total. Given the sheer number of participants—numbering in the billions—the level of competition and the strictness of the selection process could easily be imagined. By the final stages, the contest came down to talent and skill. Without that, there was no way to narrow it down to just these few.
From this, it was clear just how outstanding these hundred truly were.They were women of national beauty and heavenly charm—each and every one worthy of the title.
Yi Tianxing scanned the crowd and was genuinely struck by how dazzling they were. Each had a unique charm and bearing. Standing together, they were a feast for the eyes—an overwhelming display of beauty. Out in the world, each one would be fiercely sought after by countless suitors.
Among them, he spotted several familiar faces.
They were none other than Mu Guiying, Hua Mulan, Tong Huang, Nihuang, Shen Luoyan, and Fan Lihua.
"Zhaoji, what is the meaning of this?"Yi Tianxing smiled wryly and looked toward Cai Yan.
"These sisters have long been fond of you, Husband. So many years have passed. It's time they were given a proper place by your side. Since this is the selection, I took the liberty of including them among the candidates. This time, you must accept them," Cai Yan replied with a warm but firm smile.
Mu Guiying had joined the Great Yi decades ago and had never engaged in any romantic entanglements. Cai Yan naturally understood her intentions. But with the wars, especially the two-decade campaign on the battlefield of gods and demons, things had been delayed. Of course, for cultivators, age wasn't much of an issue—decades passed in the blink of an eye, and eternal youth was easily maintained.
Yi Tianxing remained silent.
He would be lying if he said he had no feelings for these women.All men love beauty—and these were not just any women. They were heroines, leaders on the battlefield and high-ranking officials in court—his closest allies and pillars of the empire.
He had refrained from involving them emotionally, fearing it would disrupt the balance and dynamics of power.
"Guiying, have you truly thought this through?"After a moment's contemplation, Yi Tianxing looked toward the group and asked.
"If we enter the palace, can we still lead troops and fight on the front lines?" Mu Guiying's eyes shone with determination.
"There are no restrictions on your freedom in the palace. If you choose to, you may continue to lead armies," Yi Tianxing replied calmly.
But some boundaries still had to be respected.
"In that case, Luoyan is willing," Shen Luoyan said firmly.
All the women were extraordinary in their own right, driven by the belief that women were not inferior to men. They wished to prove their worth on the battlefield. To them, Yi Tianxing was the embodiment of irresistible strength and charisma. He had risen from nothing, transforming a small village into a vast empire. That kind of achievement was intoxicating to any woman.
The ancient saying was true: beautiful women love heroes.
To these women, Yi Tianxing was a lethal temptation.
Ordinary men could never win their hearts.
When Cai Yan had mentioned the selection to them, none had refused. In fact, they were secretly delighted. After all, every woman dreams of marriage. And marrying Yi Tianxing? There was no better choice.
"Once you enter the palace, you may continue leading troops. But some things must still be handled with discretion. Once you've made your choice, there's no going back," Yi Tianxing nodded solemnly.
Mu Guiying and the others exchanged glances, then spoke as one:"We are willing."
Cai Yan smiled in satisfaction. This was the outcome she had hoped for. The other consorts had no objections. Mu Guiying often visited the palace; they already considered one another sisters.
"Then it's settled. From now on, we're all one family—true sisters," Cai Yan said warmly.
"By imperial decree: Mu Guiying shall be conferred the title of Consort Ying, ranked First Grade, and shall receive the full honors of an imperial consort."
Yi Tianxing wasted no time issuing the decree. This also meant she would receive two stipends—one as a general and one as a consort—but only the higher rank would apply.
"We accept your decree," Mu Guiying said, her usually bold demeanor giving way to a rare blush.
"By imperial decree: Hua Mulan shall be named Consort Hua, First Grade."
"We accept your decree."
"By imperial decree: Shen Luoyan shall be named Consort Yan, First Grade."
"We accept your decree."
One by one, he conferred titles upon the rest:
Consort Ni for Nihuang,
Consort Tong for Tong Huang,
Consort Fan for Fan Lihua.
Each received the First Grade imperial consort rank, and their names immediately appeared on the Investiture List—though truthfully, their names had long been recorded there in secret.
Looking at them, Yi Tianxing couldn't help but feel moved. Each was a remarkable woman in her own right, with different styles and unique charm. Tong Huang, in particular, had a petite and delicate allure that stood out.
With the conferral of titles, the six women stepped out of the selection ranks and joined Cai Yan and the other consorts, officially changing their identities and status.
"Why is Zhaojun joining the fun as well?"Yi Tianxing's eyes twinkled as he looked over the remaining candidates.
Among them, he saw Wang Qiang—better known as Wang Zhaojun—as well as Gong Qianyu of the Celestial Race. Both had stayed in the Great Yi after being rescued and had since grown close to Cai Yan and the other consorts, often shopping and chatting together.
Wang Zhaojun was of the human race, so her inclusion was unsurprising.But Gong Qianyu, being from the powerful Celestial Race, was more complicated. Given her status, she could have contacted her people at any time for rescue, yet she had willingly stayed in Great Yi.
Her motives were… difficult to gauge.
She remained something of a mystery.
"Zhaojun, have you truly decided? If you regret it, there's still time," Yi Tianxing said.
No man could ignore someone as beautiful as Zhaojun—one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient history.
"Wang Qiang is willing," she replied with a calm smile.
She had long understood that a woman's beauty, without sufficient power behind it, could easily turn into a curse. Yi Tianxing was her best—perhaps only—choice.
"Very well. From today forward, you shall be Consort Qiang, ranked First Grade."
Yi Tianxing nodded and issued the decree.
"Gong Qianyu, you are of the Celestial Race, and clearly not of low status. Why have you chosen to enter the palace?" Yi Tianxing asked, his tone direct. He wanted to know her real motive—otherwise, he couldn't rest easy.
"I represent the Celestial Race in a formal alliance marriage with the Great Yi. I simply chose to do it quietly, and the selection was a perfect cover," Gong Qianyu replied serenely.
"A political marriage with the Celestial Race…"Yi Tianxing raised an eyebrow, then laughed. "Very well. Since that's your choice, I have no reason to refuse. Today, I confer upon you the title of Consort Yu, ranked First Grade."
He did not object.
Such alliances were common between major powers. Whether they bore fruit or not would depend on the future. Still, tying the knot with someone as stunning as Gong Qianyu was hardly a loss—and it opened the door to closer ties with the Celestial Race.
"Husband," Cai Yan smiled and said, "the imperial palace is vast. It would be more lively with a few more consorts. These young ladies standing before you—all of them are the cream of the crop. Why not accept them all into the palace, grant them the rank of 'Beauties,' and formally assign them titles after you've had time to get to know them?"