Chapter 41: Forced to Marry My Ex? Part 2

Now in flickering firelight, he saw clearly—the Profound Iron Heavy Sword’s gilded swallow-tail pommel, dark patterns flowing along the spine, even the worn hilt curve matched perfectly the sword Shen Fengyan carried everywhere in his deepest memories!

Not to mention, on that skeletal wrist’s jagged bones…

Hung a slightly frayed handchain knot, woven in a unique style.

After leaving Fu Xi Palace, Shen Fengyan built a new home: Perching Maple Vine Pavilion.

Many corners there still dangled similar knotted ornaments.

Jiang Chen lived there two years and never touched those relics, letting them sway quietly in the breeze.

Senior Brother Shen…?

The skeletal general seized Yu Rumu’s collar and hurled him precisely back toward the allied lines!

Xia Yunjie wrenched a gap free and caught him. Both stared in shock.

Yu Rumu gasped raggedly, equally stunned by the bizarre twist from death’s door. Only Zhao Lixuan hadn’t sorted his thoughts when the skeletal figure dissolved into the flames and smoke like mist.

“Senior Brother Shen!!!”

No time to dwell—a killing intent exploded from behind!

Princess Xue Ying pierced the flames, her fingertip Soul-Slaying Black Bell resonating with the Soul-Devouring Black Lotus. She tilted her head in a sweet smile; as the bell shook silently, space rippled like water with twisting black waves.

“Found you, Brother Lixuan.”

“What a pity. This time, it’s goodbye forever.”

Wherever the ripples passed, even light was devoured, carrying aura of soul annihilation and worldly corruption straight at Zhao Lixuan, Xia Yunjie, and Yu Rumu!

Xia Yunjie instantly unfurled the Ninefold Colored Glaze Barrier, but the black bell ripples touched it and the glazed lights melted like spring snow, layers crumbling in moments.

Yu Rumu’s strained emerald wood barrier tore like thin paper. Death’s waves loomed to swallow them—

A dark figure flashed into place before them.

Flowing cloud dark patterns on Jiang Chen’s robes ignited like dawn, faint golden glow surging through the weave. His ink-black hair lifted without wind, tips tinged with circulating gold.

His dormant dark flames now boiled blood-red around him.

He pressed a hand down, and the boiling flames solidified into a crisscrossed crimson-gold bulwark. Black bell ripples crashed against it, ancient runes emerging from the blaze, unleashing vast, majestic force in backlash!

Buzz—!

The mighty Soul-Slaying Black Bell shattered outright. Xue Ying staggered back, blood spilling uncontrollably from her lips, her gaze at Jiang Chen filled with horror and disbelief.

And this was merely the beginning.

The crimson-gold flames spread like living things from Jiang Chen’s hand across the battlefield, mending the shattered Taiyi Qiankun Barrier where cracks birthed phoenix-feather gold patterns.

Corrupted earth purged its filth, regaining faint vital glow.

Semi-demon generals besieging the Immortal Lords disintegrated in the fire waves; even the grotesque Rotten Flesh Giant Demons low-roared uneasily, instincts driving retreat.

The entire battlefield’s tide turned by Jiang Immortal Lord’s solitary might!

“Jiang Immortal Lord! Jiang Chen Immortal Lord has returned!”

The Immortal Realm coalition erupted in cheers of relief after their narrow escape from death: “As expected of the Mortal Realm’s War God!”

Yet anyone with a keen eye could tell that this absolute power—which had single-handedly turned the tide of the entire battlefield—was far beyond what the so-called “Mortal Realm War God” could achieve.

Even the legendary Demon Gods probably couldn’t match it!

For the first time, Demon Emperor Luo Ting’s expression changed, his crimson pupils contracting sharply. “Withdraw!”

In an instant, the Demon Bright army retreated like the ebbing tide into the Interworld Transit Grand Array, while the demon forces fled in panic without even gathering their remnants.

They left behind only twisted spatial ripples in the air and crimson-gold embers scattered across the ground, proclaiming the miracle like a divine testament.

Zhao Lixuan was held tightly in Jiang Chen’s arms, his mind still reeling from the massive shock, somewhat dazed.

Jiang Chen’s embrace… it burned scorching hot, brimming with vigorous life force—completely different from the faint chill and stiffness he remembered.

Something feels off.

He lifted his gaze and met those deep, profound eyes that, as always, reflected only his own figure in their dark depths.

But those arms held him with an unyielding strength that brooked no escape, brazenly possessive, as if declaring his ownership to the entire battlefield.

The demon power forcefully infused to heal him surged like an endless, pure torrent, turbulent and boundless.

This was no realm achievable by an ordinary immortal or demon!

…

At the post-battle council, everyone noticed that Jiang Immortal Lord was profoundly changed.

He must have questioned the heavens and earth on Clear Heart Island, comprehending the solutions to all things in the world.

Now, he sat calmly at the table, his demeanor serene and abyssal.

He answered fluidly about methods to utterly crush the Demon Clan and Demon Bright.

“Though the Four Symbols Demon-Suppressing Tower is destroyed, the earth’s spiritual veins endure. We can draw from the Nine Nether Spring to refine its foundation, then recast the tower with stellar power.”

His fingertip traced the sand table, and the flowing lights of Azure Cloud Pass’s Wall of Returning Dust extended across the entire Unstained Immortal Realm. “Link this wall to the earth’s veins, transforming the land into an iron bastion to shield the whole Unstained Immortal Realm.”

“Then, merge it with the core of the Great Void Heavenly Smiting Array. Its might will pierce the Three Realms, straight to the Demon Court’s capital—any who dare invade the Unstained Immortal Realm will be slain from ten thousand li away. The two realms will never dare act rashly again!”

Even his voice rang like striking jade, free of its former hoarseness.

His divine might from the battlefield was still fresh in their minds, his strength witnessed by all. Now, he seemed like a demigod descended upon the world, exuding a calm detachment born of weathered vicissitudes.

“But this still isn’t enough.”

His tone shifted as he continued, “The Demon Clan activated the Myriad Evils Resonance Instrument to open passages to other worlds. Those demonic beasts are scourges from realms beyond the Three Realms, still pouring in endlessly. Without severing the root, today’s chaos will breed endless future calamities.”

“Demon Emperor Luo Ting even sacrificed his entire realm’s fortune to force open the Netherworld Rift. Now the Demon and Monster Clans’ united army is desperate; even if we win this battle, an unsealed rift will eventually collapse the Three Realms.”

“Thus, the Unstained Immortal Realm needs a divine artifact to emerge and stabilize the cosmos.”

“Only then can we truly suppress this catastrophe and eliminate all future threats.”

The divine artifact Jiang Chen spoke of was the “Primordial Blade” from ancient legends.

It was said to sever otherworldly karma, shatter all laws, and utterly expel the invading fiends from beyond this world. Yet ancient texts mentioned it only vaguely—even someone as erudite as Yu Changxin knew only its name, not its location.

How could they find it?

“We can find it,” Jiang Chen said again. “I’ll retrieve it.”

“But I need everyone here to grant me one thing in return.”

He slightly raised his gaze, looking at the sparse attendees—this was a top-secret meeting, so only Immortal Leader Xia Yunjie, Immortal Sovereign Shen Fengyu, Zhao Lixuan, Chu Fusheng, and a few other Fu Xi Palace core members were present.

Though Xia Yunjie found it abrupt, he maintained his composure as Immortal Leader and said gravely, “Speak freely, Jiang Immortal Lord. As long as it benefits the Immortal Realm’s greater good and is within Fu Xi Palace’s power, we shall not refuse.”

Jiang Chen nodded slightly, his dark pupils fixed intently on Zhao Lixuan, seated across from him.

“Lixuan,” his voice rang clear and audible, “I want him.”

“I want Fu Xi Palace’s permission for me to form a dao companion bond with Immortal Lord Li Xuan.”

Dead silence filled the room.

Shen Fengyu frowned. “Jiang Immortal Lord, at a time like this, you have the mind for this?”

“I do.”

“Approve the marriage, and I’ll retrieve the Primordial Blade to help the Unstained Immortal Realm eradicate the demonic scourge.”

“Refuse, and I’ll return to the Mortal Realm today.”

Everyone: “…………”

Amid the crowd’s stunned gazes, Jiang Chen rose and walked toward Zhao Lixuan.

Zhao Lixuan watched him approach, sensing that this returned Jiang Immortal Lord appeared calm and breezy on the surface, yet was enveloped in a strange aura.

It seemed withered and despairing, yet carried an almost tender obsession.

He stopped before him, lowering his voice: “I also know the method to bring back Immortal Lord Lan Ze.”

“…”

“Lixuan, marry me.”

“Not just the Marriage Contract—hold a wedding banquet, invite friends and family, drink with loved ones. Make it real.”

His gaze burned with undisguised heat and viscosity, as if, were they not in public, it would wrap Zhao Lixuan entirely.

Yet Zhao Lixuan only felt that this Jiang Chen was… damper than ever.

His skin was warm, his throat ailment cured, and the chronic pain and exhaustion gone from his face.

Yet there was a sticky, hopeless dampness seeping from the depths of his soul, utterly at odds with his serene exterior.

Zhao Lixuan parted his lips to speak, but Jiang Chen had already grasped his fingers.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he stubbornly, slowly interlaced their fingers one by one, refusing refusal.

Until their ten fingers clasped tightly. Zhao Lixuan instinctively tugged lightly, but Jiang Chen gripped harder, his voice trembling faintly: “Don’t pull away. Just hold for a bit.”

“…”

“Lixuan, agree.”

His voice was coaxing yet humble, like a threat yet a struggle.

“For the common people. For your brother. I won’t cling to you for long.”

Something’s wrong. Everything’s wrong.

Zhao Lixuan strained to read the emotions in his eyes under the dim light, but saw only bottomless depths.

On the other side, Shen Fengyu tried to mediate: “Jiang Immortal Lord, this can be discussed later.”

Jiang Chen cut him off decisively: “Decide today, and I set out today.”

“The Demon and Monster Clans won’t stop here—they’ll return soon. I hope all Immortal Lords prioritize the Unstained Immortal Realm’s greater good.”

“I’ll treat Lixuan well.”