Old fool, she said she's unwilling, are you deaf

Su Qingyue's intense reaction was like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing the smile on Daoist Lieyang's face.

"Qingyue, I admire you. I arranged this marriage for you because I felt you were worthy of my grandson. He is the sole heir of my Lie family."

"At only a hundred years of age, he is already at the peak of the Void Refinement Realm. Such talent is more than enough to match yours. If you become Dao companions with him, our relationship will grow even closer. When that time comes, not only will I teach you everything I know, but my resources, connections, magical treasures... whatever you need, I can give to you."

"With your innate talent, I can guarantee that within a century, I will help you step into the Body Integration Realm! And within five hundred years, you will attempt the breakthrough to become an Immortal!"

This promise was incredibly weighty. Body Integration in a century, Immortal Ascension in five hundred years—such a massive allocation of resources and such a pledge were enough to shake the resolve of any genius cultivator.

The prodigies who had come to participate in the disciple recruitment ceremony couldn't help but feel envious when they heard Daoist Lieyang make such a heavy promise to Su Qingyue:

"Why don't I have such good luck? Becoming an Immortal in five hundred years, what a massive stroke of fortune!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's a pity I wasn't born a woman, otherwise, even I would want to be this elder's granddaughter-in-law..."

At this moment, Su Qingyue pursed her red lips. Becoming an Immortal in five hundred years? It was very tempting. However, her purpose in cultivating was to catch up to Qin Hao. If the price of becoming an Immortal was never being able to be with Qin Hao again, was there still a need to achieve it?

Thinking of this, Su Qingyue bowed respectfully to Daoist Lieyang. "Senior, I apologize, but my heart already belongs to another. There are many outstanding people in this world; you should bestow this fortune upon someone else."

Saying so, Su Qingyue returned all the treasures Daoist Lieyang had gifted her:

"Senior, I was too rash just now. I have thought it over carefully, and you are not the most suitable master for me."

As soon as these words were spoken, Daoist Lieyang's expression darkened. He narrowed his eyes at Su Qingyue, and his coercive aura quietly intensified:

"Qingyue, what is the meaning of this? Talent and providence are certainly important, but without a suitable platform and protection, you won't be able to go far. The cultivation world has never lacked geniuses, but the vast majority of them die prematurely."

"As your master, I am doing this for your own good. This marriage is a match made in heaven for both you and my grandson. You should think it over carefully. Do not ruin your own bright future over a moment of foolishness."

Daoist Lieyang's words clearly carried a threatening undertone.

The surrounding people also voiced their incomprehension one after another: "No way, she isn't even cherishing such a great opportunity?"

"Her heart belongs to another? How ridiculous. Could the person in her heart possibly compare to the grandson of a Holy Land elder? She's truly throwing away a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed!"

"I don't understand it. If it were me, I would have agreed."

Right at this moment, a voice—so calm that it lacked even a single ripple, yet clear enough to overpower everyone else's—exploded like a thunderclap:

"Old fool, she said she is unwilling. Are you deaf?"

For a moment, everyone abruptly froze, then turned to look toward the source of the voice in sheer disbelief.

Everyone was astounded. Who could be so audacious as to call an elder of the Profound Heaven Holy Land an old fool? Did they not know how to write the word death?

They saw a handsome young man dressed in a profound black robe slowly strolling out. He walked with a leisurely pace, as if he were not in a Holy Land, but rather taking a stroll in his own backyard.

The moment she saw Qin Hao, Su Qingyue felt as if her heart had been fiercely gripped by a large hand. All her grievances and fears instantly transformed into relief and a fluttering heartbeat.

It was him again. When she was helpless, it was Qin Hao who stepped forward once more.

Su Qingyue threw herself into Qin Hao's embrace, burying her head in his chest. "I don't want to marry. If the price is marriage, I would rather not join the Holy Land."

Qin Hao patted Su Qingyue's back. "Don't be afraid. I am here. I told you, as long as I am here, no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do."

Daoist Lieyang stared at Qin Hao with an ashen face. It was one thing for elders of his own generation to jokingly call him an old fool, but who did this Golden Core Realm brat think he was? How dare he hurl insults at him in public!

This must be the person Su Qingyue liked. Fine, then he would obliterate him today and completely sever Su Qingyue's lingering attachments!

"You reckless thing, die!" Daoist Lieyang's roar was like thunder on dry land, causing the entire plaza to tremble violently. Around him, crimson flames soared into the sky, dyeing half the heavens red.

Daoist Lieyang flicked his finger, and a streak of flames, condensed to the absolute extreme and wrapped in the laws of an Immortal Lord, surged toward Qin Hao.

"Watch out!" Seeing Daoist Lieyang attack Qin Hao, Su Qingyue was frightened out of her wits. She wanted to stand in front of Qin Hao to block the blow for him, but her body was firmly pinned in place by a terrifying coercive aura emitted by Daoist Lieyang.

"Is that it?" However, there was no trace of fear on Qin Hao's face.

Under everyone's astounded gazes, the flames shot by Daoist Lieyang made a soft poof sound just as they were about to reach Qin Hao, and then completely vanished.

Not even a single spark or the slightest ripple of energy leaked out; everything was entirely absorbed by the Void Emperor Robe draped over Qin Hao.

Dead silence—

Everyone's expressions froze on their faces, filled with extreme absurdity and horror.

An angry strike from an Almighty Immortal Lord actually failed to harm a single hair on a Golden Core Realm cultivator?

Daoist Lieyang in particular had a flash of bewilderment in his eyes. He was an Immortal Lord! How did this kid block his attack?

"There's something bizarre about that robe he's wearing! It was the robe that blocked my attack just now!"

Thinking of this, Daoist Lieyang sneered:

"You dare to act so arrogantly before this seat just because you rely on a robe? Today, this seat will let you know what the might of an Immortal Lord truly is."

Listening to Daoist Lieyang's threat, Qin Hao curled his lips in disdain:

"The might of an Immortal Lord? Why don't you experience the might of my Primordial Dragon Emperor instead!"

Saying so, Qin Hao activated the Primordial Dragon Emperor Dharma Idol that he had obtained from his novice gift pack.

Instantly, an ancient and desolate coercive aura, originating from the distant primordial era of the Great Desolation, crossed endless time and space to descend upon this place.

Within Qin Hao's dual pupils, the phantoms of dragons could be seen swimming about.

"Roar!!!"

A dragon's roar suddenly exploded. With Qin Hao at the center, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of ten thousand zhang instantly rioted, and a supreme, imperial coercive aura swept across the entire scene.

Bearing the brunt of it was Daoist Lieyang. The killing intent on his face froze, replaced by boundless terror:

"What is this! How is this possible? How can a mere Golden Core Realm cultivator possess such a coercive aura? Even the Sect Master of my Holy Land, an Almighty Immortal King, gives me a sense of oppression far less intense than this kid! Just who is he?"

Daoist Lieyang was horrified beyond belief. What was going on? This coercive aura! It felt as if he was not facing a person, but an entire era.

It wasn't just Daoist Lieyang; the entire mountain gate plaza of the Profound Heaven Holy Land was now enveloped by the Primordial Dragon Emperor's coercive aura unleashed by Qin Hao.

"Heavens!!! I can't move, my divine soul is about to split open!!!"

"What is that? Why has a dragon appeared in my sea of consciousness? Was it summoned by this young man? Who... just who is he?"

Countless thoughts of panic, chaos, and sheer disbelief surged through the minds of the crowd.

Su Qingyue gazed at Qin Hao, the adoration in her eyes deepening even further:

"He is so incredibly handsome. He single-handedly suppressed an entire Holy Land just for me!!! Heavens, am I really not dreaming?"

"You rogue, now that I've met you, how could my heart possibly hold anyone else?"