Chapter 38: The Valkyrie, Riding on Su Ruoxi’s Coattails?

The clamor of the crowd rose and fell as the first round of the selection finally drew to a close.

The Saintess of Xuanshuang, consumed by frustration and exhaustion, gazed at Ling'er before her. Her tone was laced with complex emotions: "You... are you the granddaughter of the Linglong Holy Land's Ancestor Zhao? The one who was newly appointed as a saintess a century ago?"

Having paused to reflect, the Saintess of Xuanshuang had suddenly recalled the girl's origins, and she blurted out the question in shock.

"What? The Linglong Ancestor personally arranged for his own granddaughter to come for a marriage alliance? Does that mean the Linglong Holy Land is now trying to curry favor with the Yellow Emperor of Xia?" the onlookers whispered among themselves, their gossip spreading like wildfire.

One bystander remarked, "That is the granddaughter of the Linglong Ancestor, not just some ordinary person. It seems we must make preparations early."

The other saintesses present suddenly felt that the atmosphere had soured. One even stood up to flaunt the supposed nobility of her own holy land: "Hmph, to think the Linglong Saintess has stooped so low. It seems that reputation for high-born purity was nothing more than a facade."

"Hold your tongue! What right do you have to speak so recklessly? The dignity of my Linglong Holy Land is not something you can tarnish at will. I was merely—"

Ling'er was agitated and about to retort when a telepathic message from Su Ruoxi cut her off. Su Ruoxi’s voice resonated in her ear, calm and authoritative:

"Ling'er, do not argue with them. Your status and your actions are things that Jiang Cheng and I will account for. For now, maintain your composure. Let everyone see the true bearing of a Linglong Saintess."

Ling'er took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart, and her gaze regained its resolve and coolness. She knew she was fighting not only for herself but for the honor of the Linglong Holy Land.

"Ling'er, since you have participated in this trial, let me ask you: are you willing to join the Xia Dynasty and become a consort to my husband?"

Su Ruoxi’s voice sounded again, calm and resolute, leaving no room for debate.

Taken aback by the question, Ling'er flushed bright red and stammered, "Sister, please don't misunderstand! I only came to bring you back to the sect, and incidentally... incidentally to investigate the state of the Xia Kingdom on behalf of our Holy Lord. I am truly not here for a marriage alliance, I—"

Su Ruoxi interrupted via telepathy: "Little sister, you must know that I have already announced that this contest is for the Nine Holy Lands to offer their saintesses as consorts; the winner is to be selected as one of the imperial wives. Since you issued the challenge, you must understand that a monarch’s word is final. As the Mother of the Xia Kingdom, how could I treat this as a joke?"

Ling'er looked at Su Ruoxi, her expression full of innocent embarrassment. In a fit of passion, she had rushed onto the stage, thinking of herself only as Su Ruoxi’s younger sister, failing to realize that she was also one of the Nine Saintesses. This left her in a dilemma, unable to find the words to explain herself.

Su Ruoxi comforted her with a playful smile: "Very well, I understand your intentions. Since you have taken the lead for me, you are naturally one of our own. From now on, you shall act as the standard by which the other saintesses are challenged."

Ling'er blinked, confused. "What does Sister mean by this?"

"I mean for you to act as the challenger to verify their true strength on my behalf. Afterward, I shall appoint you as an Honorary Elder of the Xia Kingdom, granting you authority over the other eight saintesses. How does that sound?" Su Ruoxi’s plan was clear and comprehensive.

Ling'er suddenly realized what was happening. "This..." Though she hesitated, she ultimately agreed.

She stole glances at Jiang Cheng, who sat nearby. Seeing his gentle smile, she nodded. When she noticed his gaze shift toward Su Ruoxi, a warmth spread through her heart, and she seemed to understand something.

Despite grasping the situation, a sense of disappointment unexpectedly welled up within her. *Is my appearance so plain? Does he not desire me?* she wondered. While she hadn't necessarily wanted to be chosen, witnessing the silent exchange between Jiang Cheng and Su Ruoxi made her feel as though this had all been prearranged, deepening her sense of loss and leading to a misunderstanding.

Jiang Cheng, of course, was unaware of her thoughts. Had it not been for Su Ruoxi, he might not have cared whether Ling'er was a consort or an elder; it made no difference to him. He knew clearly that the Empress was the only one in his heart.

Su Ruoxi’s perspective, however, was different. She knew the background of her dear friend Ling'er and the temperament of the ancestor behind her. She knew she could not allow Ling'er to be shamed and needed to make concessions. As long as the dignity of the Xia Kingdom was preserved and Ling'er did not feel slighted, all would be well.

Yet, she never imagined that her good intentions would inadvertently make Ling'er feel insulted.

Ling'er’s gaze shifted from softness to disdain. A sharp roll of her eyes gave Jiang Cheng an ominous feeling, and Su Ruoxi realized that things were not looking as optimistic as she had hoped.

Su Ruoxi quickly sent a telepathic message to soothe her: "Little sister, you have misunderstood; things are not as you imagine..."

But the seeds of doubt and resentment had already been sown. Ling'er replied coldly: "Sister, I understand. No more need be said."

The atmosphere turned tense. Both Jiang Cheng and Su Ruoxi realized they needed to act quickly to dispel the misunderstanding before it affected the relationship between the Xia Kingdom and the Linglong Holy Land.

In that instant, complex emotions flickered across the eyes of the three. Ling'er, fueled by a hint of anger, let her voice ring out through the hall like a trumpet call for battle: "Is there anyone else who wishes to challenge me? Do the great saintesses not claim to be invincible within their realm? Who dares to fight?"

Her voice was firm and powerful. Standing beside the Empress, she looked like a fierce warrior goddess, her presence so imposing that it created the illusion that she was a guardian of the Xia Kingdom, her killing intent soaring to the heavens.

"Biyao, Saintess of the Ninth Palace of Biluo, challenges you. Let me show you the Azure Phoenix Sacred Art of our Biluo Holy Palace."

With this clear challenge, the void in the sky slowly opened, and the Qiankun Platform once again exerted its immense pressure. A figure flashed like a shooting star, landing in the arena.

The second duel of the selection had begun. Unlike before, many people looked up, but this time, rather than the previous clamor, a profound silence fell over the hall.

Perhaps due to Ling'er’s identity, mutual suspicion began to brew.

"If the granddaughter of the Linglong Ancestor truly marries the Yellow Emperor of Xia, wouldn't that mean the Xia Kingdom and the Linglong Holy Land will become one?" one attendant whispered.

"Have you forgotten what the Danxia Saintess said earlier?" another replied.

These whispers caught the attention of the Danxia Saintess. She cast a glance at them, her heart filled with pent-up frustration and anger, wishing she could take the stage herself to vent her emotions. The fighting spirit flickered in her eyes, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of her seat, as if suppressing a fire within. Each breath she took seemed to accumulate power, waiting for the right moment to erupt.

Though the attendants’ whispers were faint, everyone present was a cultivator of high standing and heard them clearly:

"It’s no wonder. A Yellow Emperor who can refine Imperial Pills—even the Linglong Ancestor would find it reasonable to curry favor. After all, those are Imperial Pills; a living master of alchemy is far more valuable than a dead one."

"Exactly. The grand Linglong Holy Land has countless treasures, yet no one can refine an Imperial Pill. Su Ruoxi already had ties to the sect, though she left to marry into the Xia Kingdom. But if you add the Ancestor’s own granddaughter to the mix, then surely..."

"It seems the Linglong Holy Land will become one of the strongest sects in the Chenguang Realm. I must admire Su Ruoxi’s judgment; it is truly ruthless. Compared to Su Ningxue, sigh... hahaha."

Su Ruoxi remained expressionless, having no intention of explaining anything to these people. She knew Jiang Cheng held many secrets. From a man once called a "cripple" to the ruler who built the Xia Kingdom, it was all his own doing. She, as his wife, had never even had to lift a finger, yet others always assumed it was her status and the prestige of the Linglong Holy Land that had established his authority.

*My husband... what kind of man is he really?* The thought lingered in her mind. She stole a glance at him, her love evident in her eyes. It was clear that this man fascinated her more and more. She did not want to pry into his secrets, but she knew he was no ordinary soul.

Her intuition told her that the bold promises he had made to build his own immortal empire were within reach. At this moment, she felt full of confidence, as if some mysterious power were whispering to her:

*Su Ruoxi, you too must show your worth. This man has given you the ultimate honor and devotion; if the chance arises, you must protect the Xia Kingdom with all your might.*