The grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect was a breathtaking spectacle, a sea of power, wealth, and influence the likes of which was rarely gathered in one place. Shimmering silks and priceless jewels adorned the guests, their polite, aristocratic chatter a low, pleasant hum beneath the soaring arches of the jade-pillared ceiling. The air was filled with the gentle strains of a string orchestra and the fragrant scent of a thousand rare, glowing spirit flowers.
Today was a day of celebration. But it was also a day of profound curiosity.
At a table draped in fine white linen, a portly marquis with a neatly trimmed beard leaned towards his companion, a thin, hawk-faced earl.
"I still cannot quite believe it, Earl Bai," the marquis murmured, his eyes fixed on the raised dais at the front of the hall. "Ning Fengzhi is not just marrying off his precious daughter, but he's allowing a double engagement. In his own hall?"
The earl took a slow sip of his wine. "It is… unprecedented. For the heiress of the number one sect in the world to share a husband is one thing. For the sect itself to host the ceremony and openly sanction it… that is another matter entirely."
"And the boy," the marquis continued, his voice dropping even lower. "Zhang Tian. Who is he? My sources say he is an orphan, a commoner. How does a boy with no background capture the heart of the princess and the approval of those three old monsters?"
"Not just the princess," the earl corrected, a knowing glint in his sharp eyes. He gestured subtly with his chin towards another part of the hall, where a small contingent from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was seated. "The other girl, Zhu Zhuqing. Have you not heard the rumors? She is the third daughter of Duke Zhu of the Star Luo Empire."
The marquis choked on his wine. "What?! The Star Luo Empire? Our enemy? Isn't she supposed to be engaged to one of their princes?"
"She was," the earl said with a smug, satisfied smile. "Which makes this all the more delicious, wouldn't you say? This unknown boy has not only won the greatest prize in our empire, but he has also stolen one from our rivals. Hah! Good on him! It's a delightful slap in the face to those arrogant Star Luo dogs."
Their whispered conversation was a microcosm of the thoughts swirling through the entire hall. The sheer audacity of the event was a source of endless speculation and entertainment.
At the main table, seated beside her father, Emperor Xue Ye, the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe maintained a placid, princely smile, but her mind was a whirlwind of cold, sharp analysis.
'This Zhang Tian is truly an entertaining variable,' she thought, her eyes, the color of a calm sky, fixed on the handsome, blue-haired young man who was speaking quietly with Dugu Bo. 'The last time I saw him, he was brokering a secret deal with that old poison freak. Now, a little over two months later, his entire aura has changed. It's stronger, deeper, and his appearance… he's become even more strikingly handsome.'
She had, of course, run a thorough investigation on him. The reports were a frustrating mix of the mundane and the impossible. An orphan from a backwater village. Awakened a Blue Silver Grass spirit. Innate spirit power near zero. Then, a sudden mutation after his first spirit ring. And then… a connection to Shrek Academy.
'That name,' she mused, a frown momentarily touching her perfect features. 'The same academy that was near that Suotuo City…Wasn't that the city whose central plaza was destroyed and many civilians were harmed due to a mysterious Titled Douluo's fury. And after that incident, a series of remote Spirit Hall branches in several kingdoms were brutally attacked. It feels… connected.' She looked at him again, at the calm, serene smile on his face. 'Is he involved? Or is it merely a coincidence? I must find an opportunity to interrogate him on this matter.'
She tried to probe his power, a subtle extension of her own immense spiritual sense, but she hit a wall. It was like looking into a deep, placid lake; she knew there was depth there, but she could not see the bottom. 'A Spirit Tool to conceal his cultivation. Clever. And his two fiancées as well.'
Dugu Bo, seated nearby, also noticed their concealed auras. He let out a silent, internal chuckle. 'Good boy. Cautious. He doesn't show all his cards, even in a place like this. He knows the world is full of vipers.' He took a sip of his wine, a deep sense of satisfaction warming him. He had chosen the right ally.
The gentle music in the hall swelled, and a tall, dignified sect elder, acting as the master of ceremonies, stepped onto the central dais.
"Honored guests," his voice boomed, imbued with spirit power, silencing the chatter in the hall. "Today is a day of joyous union! We are gathered here to witness and celebrate the official engagement of my sect's Young Miss, Ning Rongrong, and the esteemed Miss Zhu Zhuqing, to the prodigious young talent, Mister Zhang Tian!"
A wave of polite, enthusiastic applause filled the hall.
The grand doors at the far end of the hall swung open, and the trio made their entrance.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Ning Rongrong was a vision of starlight, her white and silver gown shimmering with the light of a thousand tiny diamonds. Zhu Zhuqing was a beauty of fire, her crimson dress a breathtaking counterpoint to her dark, flowing hair and pale skin.
And between them, holding each of their hands, was Zhang Tian. He moved with an easy, confident grace, his dark azure robes making his unique, two-toned hair and captivating eyes seem even more vibrant. He was not intimidated by the sea of power before him. He simply smiled, a calm, happy expression on his impossibly handsome face.
They ascended the dais, their steps synchronized, a perfect, beautiful trinity.
The sect elder smiled warmly. "In our Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect," he began, "we do not have complex rituals. An engagement is a promise, a bond of the spirit. To symbolize this union, you will each infuse a part of your own spirit power into the Heartstone of Union. Let your energies mingle, let them become one, a testament to the future you will build together."
He gestured to a large, flawless, nine-colored crystal that rested on a velvet cushion.
Zhang Tian went first. He placed his hand on the crystal, and a stream of vibrant, crimson energy, shot through with golden veins, flowed into it.
Ning Rongrong followed, her hand beside his. A brilliant, nine-colored light, the essence of her newly evolved pagoda, joined his.
Finally, Zhu Zhuqing placed her hand on the other side. A stream of pure, inky darkness, laced with ethereal flames and chilling frost, completed the trinity.
The three energies swirled together within the crystal, a chaotic, beautiful vortex of crimson, rainbow, and shadow. For a moment, they seemed to war with each other, but then, under the silent, guiding will of the three, they began to merge, to harmonize, creating a new, unique color that was a perfect, shimmering fusion of them all.
The crystal pulsed with a soft, warm light, a silent testament to their bond.
"Do you, Zhang Tian," the elder asked, his voice ringing with solemnity, "promise to love, protect, and cherish these two women, to honor them as your equals, and to stand by them through all the trials that life may bring?"
"I do," Zhang Tian said, his voice clear and unwavering as he looked from Ning Rongrong to Zhu Zhuqing, a deep, profound love in his eyes.
"And do you, Ning Rongrong, and you, Zhu Zhuqing," the elder continued, his gaze softening as he looked at the two beautiful girls, "promise to love, honor, and support this man, to be his partners in all things, and to build a shared future, together?"
"I do!" Ning Rongrong chirped, her happy voice echoing in the hall.
"I do," Zhu Zhuqing said, her voice a soft, firm murmur that was filled with an unshakeable conviction.
The elder smiled. "Then, by the authority of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, I declare you all officially engaged!"
The hall erupted in a thunderous, sustained applause.
Their first stop after the ceremony was the table of their elders. They knelt respectfully, serving tea first to Ning Fengzhi.
"Father," Ning Rongrong said, her voice thick with emotion.
Ning Fengzhi took the cup, his own eyes misty. "Be happy, my dear," he said softly. He then looked at Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. "And you two. Welcome to the family."
Next were the two Titled Douluos.
"Grandpa Sword," Ning Rongrong said, offering him the cup.
Chen Xin took it, his usual sharp, cold expression softened by a rare, genuine warmth. "You take good care of our little Rongrong, boy," he said, his gaze fixing on Zhang Tian with a gruff, protective warning.
"And you too, little cat," Gu Rong's dry, rattling voice added as he accepted his own cup. "He's a good boy. You three treat each other well."
They then moved to the imperial dais. They bowed deeply to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," Zhang Tian said.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled, a warm, paternal expression. "Rise, rise. A magnificent union. I give you my sincerest blessings."
Finally, they stood before Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu," Zhang Tian said, offering him a cup of tea as a gesture of respect.
Dugu Bo just laughed, his deep, resonant voice filled with genuine mirth. "Enough of that, boy. An old man like me doesn't need such formalities from my young friend who saved my life. Just be happy, you three. A bond like the ones you three have where you share your fortunes and misfortunes is a strong one. Cherish it."
With the blessings given, the grand feast began. The main table was a dazzling display of culinary artistry. Dishes made from rare, thousand-year-old spirit beasts, soups brewed with life-giving herbs, and pastries that seemed to be spun from sugar and light were served on plates of pure gold.
For the next few hours, Zhang Tian and his two new fiancées moved through the hall, greeting guests, accepting congratulations, their faces flushed with happiness.
Later, as the sun began to set, the orchestra struck up a new, lively melody. The grand ball had begun.
Zhang Tian turned to his fiancées, a charming smile on his face. He extended a hand to each of them. "May I have this dance?"
He first led Ning Rongrong onto the floor. She was as light as a feather in his arms, her movements a graceful, elegant waltz. They spun and twirled, their steps perfectly synchronized, their laughter a bright, happy sound that drew the smiling gazes of everyone in the hall.
"This feels like a dream," she murmured, her head resting on his shoulder as they swayed to the music.
"It's not a dream," he replied softly, his voice a warm current against her ear. "It's our beginning."
After their dance was over, he turned and offered his hand to Zhu Zhuqing. The music shifted, the gentle waltz replaced by a more passionate, intense tango.
Their dance was a different kind of magic. It was a fiery, smoldering display of passion and control. Their bodies moved as one, a blur of crimson and azure. Every step, every turn, every dip was filled with an unspoken, intimate language that only they could understand.
"I never thought," she murmured, her face close to his, her breath warm against his skin, "that I would ever have a moment like this. A moment of peace. Of happiness."
"There will be many more to come," he promised, his grip tightening on her waist as he spun her in a final, dramatic flourish.
As the dance ended, he didn't let either of them go. He stood in the center of the grand ballroom, an arm wrapped securely around each of his beautiful fiancées. The orchestra began a new, slower melody, and the three of them began to move together, a unique, harmonious dance that was a perfect, living symbol of their new, shared life. They were a single, beautiful entity, a union of monsters, and their future was a bright, limitless horizon.
The final, lingering notes of the tango faded into the warm, festive air of the grand hall. The dance floor, which had been a stage for their passionate, fiery display, was now filled with the smiling, appreciative faces of the guests.
Zhang Tian stood in the center, an arm wrapped securely around each of his beautiful fiancées. He felt Ning Rongrong lean against him, her body humming with a happy, post-dance energy. Zhu Zhuqing, on his other side, was a pillar of serene, quiet satisfaction, though her hand remained firmly clasped in his.
As the applause subsided and the orchestra began a new, more subdued melody, a figure detached from the imperial dais and began to walk towards them. He moved with a practiced, easy grace, a warm, disarming smile on his handsome face. It was the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.
"A truly magnificent performance, you three," he said, his voice a pleasant, cultured tenor. He offered them a slight, respectful bow. "Brother Zhang Tian, your skill on the dance floor is as impressive as your other talents, it seems."
"Your Highness is too kind," Zhang Tian replied with a polite smile, though his eyes were sharp, analytical.
Xue Qinghe's gaze, warm and friendly, swept over the two girls. "And Little Sister Rongrong, Little Sister Zhuqing, you were both visions of grace. It is no wonder you have captured the heart of such a remarkable man."
Ning Rongrong beamed at the compliment. "Thank you, Brother Qinghe!"
Zhu Zhuqing simply offered a cool, polite nod.
Xue Qinghe then turned his full attention back to Zhang Tian, his expression shifting to one of playful, comradely curiosity. "So, tell me, Brother Zhang Tian," he began, his tone light and joking, "now that the dust has settled, what are your plans for the future? You are now the official son-in-law of the wealthiest sect in the world. Will you be managing their finances? Or perhaps leading their guard? A man of your talents must have grand ambitions."
'Here it comes,' Zhang Tian thought, a secret, amused smirk flashing through his mind. 'The probe. He wants to know what my value is, what my role will be. He wants to know if I am a threat, or a pawn.'
He met the Crown Prince's warm, inquisitive gaze with a look of perfect, disarming sincerity.
"My ambitions are quite simple, Your Highness," Zhang Tian said with a sigh that sounded almost weary. "I am, at heart, a researcher. Now that I have the full support of the sect, I plan to dedicate myself to my alchemical studies. Concocting new pills, exploring the properties of rare herbs… it is a quiet life, but one that I find deeply fulfilling."
He then smiled, a warm, almost boyish expression, and he tightened his grip on the two girls beside him, pulling them a little closer.
"And, of course," he added, his voice dropping to a more intimate, confidential tone, "I must also fulfill my duties as a fiancé. I will do my best to ensure that both Rongrong and Zhuqing give me a child as soon as possible. A strong foundation for the next generation is very important, after all."
The effect of his words was instantaneous.
Ning Rongrong's face, which had been beaming with happiness, instantly flooded with a brilliant, crimson blush. She shot him a mortified, scandalized look and playfully pinched his side, though her eyes held a secret, happy sparkle.
Zhu Zhuqing's reaction was more subtle, but no less profound. Her cool composure cracked, a deep, beautiful blush spreading from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears. She quickly looked down, unable to meet anyone's gaze, a silent, flustered statue of embarrassment.
Zhang Tian then turned his innocent, smiling gaze back to the Crown Prince.
"I cannot be like Your Highness, after all," he continued, his tone one of profound, almost pitying sympathy. "To be in your mid-twenties, a man of such status and power, yet to have no wife, not even a single concubine… and no heir to carry on your noble line. It is a great shame."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "It makes one wonder, you know. Does the Crown Prince simply not have an interest in women? Perhaps… your preferences lie elsewhere? With men, perhaps?"
The air around them seemed to freeze.
Xue Qinghe's warm, princely smile didn't just falter; it shattered. For a single, terrifying instant, his eyes, which had been the color of a calm sky, turned as cold and hard as glacial ice. A flicker of pure, unadulterated shock, followed by a wave of murderous, reptilian coldness, flashed through them before being ruthlessly suppressed.
He took a small, almost imperceptible step back, as if Zhang Tian's words had been a physical blow.
When he spoke, his voice was still smooth, still princely, but it had lost all its warmth. It was now the polished, empty sound of a porcelain doll.
"As the Crown Prince," he said, each word carefully measured, "my duties to the empire are my first and only priority. I am far too busy with matters of state to distract myself with personal affairs, such as romance with women. Unlike my younger brother, I understand the weight of my responsibilities."
The dig at Xue Beng was a masterful deflection, a subtle reminder of his own diligence and superiority.
Zhang Tian's smile widened. He gave a slow, understanding nod, as if he completely accepted the explanation. "Of course, of course. A man of your dedication is a true blessing to the empire."
He seemed about to let the matter drop, but then his expression shifted, turning to one of feigned, serious concern.
"Speaking of the empire's safety, Your Highness," he said, his voice now low and serious. "There is a matter I feel I must bring to your attention. A matter of some… urgency."
Xue Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. 'What is he playing at now?'
"The last time I visited the Imperial Palace," Zhang Tian continued, "my two Grandpas, the Sword Douluo and the Bone Douluo, mentioned something to me in passing. They are Super Douluos, as you know. Their senses are… quite profound."
He leaned in again, his gaze direct and unwavering. "They told me that they sensed the presence of two other Titled Douluos, living secretly within the palace grounds. Hiding their auras. Lurking in the shadows."
Xue Qinghe's blood ran cold. Snake Lance. Porcupinefish.
"I must urge you to be careful, Your Highness," Zhang Tian said, his voice filled with a convincing, earnest worry. "For two such powerful individuals to be hiding in the very heart of the empire… who knows what their intentions might be? My grandpas suspect they may belong to the Spirit Hall."
He shook his head, a look of grim speculation on his face. "And if they are from the Spirit Hall, one must ask why. What could they be planning? Perhaps… an assassination? To remove His Majesty, or even yourself, from the board? To throw the entire Heaven Dou Empire into chaos, making it ripe for the Spirit Hall to seize control?"
He let out a heavy sigh. "The only reason I have not revealed this information publicly is a selfish one, I admit. To do so would be to openly challenge the Spirit Hall. It would put a target on my own back, and on the back of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. I am not yet strong enough to face such a powerful enemy."
He then looked at Xue Qinghe, and his expression was one of perfect, trusting relief.
"But now that I have informed you, Your Highness," he said, his voice bright with a naive confidence, "I am sure you will handle the matter with your usual wisdom and discretion. This threat should no longer be a problem, right, Crown Prince?"
The final question was not a question. It was a checkmate.
Xue Qinghe stared at him, his mind a screaming vortex of shock, terror, and a pure, unadulterated killing intent that he had to fight with every ounce of his immense willpower to suppress.
He was not a fool. He understood the message perfectly.
This was not a warning. It was a declaration.
'He knows,' the thought was a shard of ice in her heart. 'He knows I am an imposter. He knows I am from the Spirit Hall. He knows about Grandpa She Long and Grandpa Ci Xue.'
She didn't know how he knew. She didn't know if he knew her true identity as Qian Renxue. But it didn't matter. He knew enough.
And the fact that he had known this for over two months, yet had not acted, had not revealed her secret… it meant his silence was a weapon. It was a threat. A subtle, terrifying warning.
'Do not move against me,' the unspoken message screamed in her mind. 'Do not move against my fiancées. Do not move against the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Or I will burn your entire, decades-long plan to the ground.'
She had been playing a game of chess with an empire, and this boy had just walked up to the board, revealed he knew all her hidden pieces, and then calmly informed her that he could flip the table at any moment he chose.
She felt a wave of dizziness, a feeling of absolute, terrifying powerlessness that she had not experienced since she was a small child.
She had to force her lips to move, to form the words that her role demanded.
"Thank you… Brother Zhang Tian," she managed to say, her voice a strained, hollow sound. "Your… your information is of the utmost importance. I… I will look into this matter immediately. The safety of the empire is, as you say, my greatest concern."
She offered a smile, but it was a brittle, fragile thing, a porcelain mask that looked like it might crack at any moment.
She needed to leave. She needed to think. She needed to report this catastrophic development to her grandfather.
With a final, stiff bow, she excused herself, turning and walking away from them with a practiced, princely grace that felt like a lead weight on her shoulders.
She did not run. She did not show any outward sign of distress. But as she walked away, the back of her elegant, princely robes was already soaked with a cold, terrified sweat.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon