Free Web NovelChapter 504: Chapter 277: Offering Allegiance (3)
Although it was a bit embarrassing to admit, Song Xuelan was nevertheless very content. Her Master, after all, doted on her. Even as his Cultivation and status grew, his feelings for her remained unchanged.
"It’s been so long, and still no news?"
Ling Changqing glanced at her flat stomach, hidden beneath her slate-blue palace gown adorned with patterns of flowers and clouds, and remarked with a hint of regret.
Song Xuelan sighed, her expression dimming. "This... It’s all my fault for being useless."
In truth, it wasn’t just her; all the women of the harem were worried about this. They had tried all sorts of methods, but so far, none of them had any good news to share.
The significance of being the one to bear Ling Changqing’s first heir would be extraordinary, and her status in his heart would be completely different.
"There’s no need to rush," Ling Changqing said gently. "You’re certain to become a Nascent Soul True Monarch in the future. With over a thousand years of life ahead of you, there will be plenty of opportunities."
"Yes, I know."
Song Xuelan nodded vigorously. After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but ask, "Master, do you prefer... boys or girls?"
"They’re both the same to me,"
Ling Changqing chuckled. "But I have a feeling my first child will be a girl. The next few as well. As for a son... that will likely be difficult."
"Oh, is that so?"
Song Xuelan blinked her big, clear eyes, clearly puzzled as to why all of Ling Changqing’s future children would be daughters.
’But considering his near-infallible mastery of the Celestial Secret Technique, perhaps his premonition isn’t wrong.’
A moment later, the two of them arrived at the Clan Assembly Hall.
Ling Qiyue and Tang Qiu Yao were already there. Seeing Ling Changqing walk in with Song Xuelan, they nodded slightly in greeting.
"Alright, let them come in and speak."
Ling Changqing said as he walked up to the high platform and took a seat beside Ling Qiyue, while Song Xuelan stood at his side.
Two guards acknowledged the order and left. A short while later, they returned, leading in two men and one woman.
The three Envoys walked to the foot of the high platform’s jade steps, bowed respectfully, and offered their greetings.
Ling Changqing swept his gaze over them and saw that they were all Golden Core Masters. The old man in the lead was at the Late stage Golden Core, while the other two were at the Middle Stage.
The Linsha Sea Region was presided over by a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and as such, the region was mostly unified.
However, that Nascent Soul True Monarch was not skilled in combat. He was also old and frail, with not much time left. As a result, he had only ever guarded his own small territory, never attempting any large-scale external expansion.
’So, for them to send envoys to discuss submission... he must be planning for the future of his descendants, right?’
"Fellow Daoist Cen, there is no need for such ceremony. Please, have a seat and speak."
From the main seat, Ling Qiyue spoke calmly. She was clad in a bright-yellow palace dress embroidered with a sun, moon, and phoenix, her beauty cold and alluring, her aura imposing.
The three Envoys expressed their thanks and sat down.
The old man, whose name was Cen Wen Zhong, began by explaining the situation in the Linsha Sea Region. He was the son of their Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Due to his insufficient talent, the Late stage Golden Core was Cen Wen Zhong’s limit; he had no hope of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm in this lifetime. Furthermore, among the Cen Family’s many descendants, not a single one showed enough promise to be properly cultivated.
The Patriarch of the Cen Family, the Nascent Soul True Monarch Cen Deyang, had thought long and hard. With no other options, he had finally made this decision—one that went against the ways of his ancestors.
After all, the Ling Family already controlled two sea regions. Their Patriarch, Ling Qiyue, and Tang Qiu Yao had successively advanced to become Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and both were in their prime, with limitless future prospects.
Currently, the Ling Family had only publicly announced two Nascent Soul True Monarchs. The other women were kept hidden, their true Cultivation Realms never revealed to the outside world.
However, the intelligence networks of other powers were not to be underestimated, and by now, they had gleaned some inside information about the Ling Family.
For instance, they knew that Qin Yun had also advanced to become a Nascent Soul True Monarch and that the Ling Family had several powerful allies. Their combined strength could no longer be underestimated; they were by no means the pushover outsiders might take them for.
Therefore, for the Cen Family of the Linsha Sea Region, submitting to the Ling Family would not be a simple matter. Without offering a sufficient pledge of fealty, it was completely out of the question.
