Hidden By Moonlight

The sky above the Taiyin Sect glittered with soft sunlight, golden rays spilling over the towering pavilions. Below, anticipation rippled through the crowd gathered around the grand Matchmaking Platform.

After the dazzling beauty competition, rows of elegantly dressed girls sat in numbered seats, their robes flowing like painted silk. Cultivators and noble heirs from various sects and powerful clans waited their turn to step onto the stage, each introducing themselves with proud voices.

Names. Lineages. Cultivation realms. Specialties.

Lin Yuan sat perfectly still in his disguise as Sister Lin Yue, but under the layers of cosmetics and charm-enhancing fox blood, sweat trickled down his back.

Too many people.

Too many eyes.

> What if someone recognizes me?

His fingers twitched, tempted to walk off stage—until Lady Mingyan's voice brushed through his mind, soft and commanding through the soul talisman:

> "Stay. Ask if anyone is selling Evergreen Stones or Evergreen Holy Stones."

With a breath to steady himself, Lin Yuan nodded almost imperceptibly.

---

Round One: Suitor Introductions

Men ascended one by one, introducing their names and intentions. Seven princesses quickly descended—clearly unimpressed.

Then came the Bride Request Round.

Each girl voiced what she sought in a partner—or more accurately, what gift they desired.

When Lin Yuan's turn came, he stood gracefully and spoke with practiced calm:

> "I'm still young. I don't want to marry. But if anyone is selling Evergreen Stones or Evergreen Holy Stones, I'm willing to trade—at a fair price."

A murmur spread through the platform. It was a clever deflection. Neither a rejection nor an acceptance.

A six-year-old princess giggled, saying she liked honey water and soft animals.

A nine-year-old declared she wanted to study formation diagrams.

Others asked for spiritual beast eggs, rare herbs, talismans—even a spirit ship.

Just as the platform began to clear, and the judges whispered their closing remarks, a mysterious figure moved among the crowd—silent, unnoticed by most.

He wore a black half-mask, veiling his upper face, and robes stitched with silent clouds. He paused beside a nervous-looking young man carrying a small pouch at his side.

"Hey," the masked man whispered, his voice low and smooth as velvet. "Do you see that girl on the stage? Number one,name Lin yue."

The young man looked up. His gaze landed on Lin Yuan, still seated elegantly as Sister Lin Yue, eyes distant, arms resting gracefully in his lap.

"She's beautiful," the young man muttered.

The masked man smiled faintly beneath the mask.

"Then make your move," he said, slipping a box into the youth's hands. "Inside is an Evergreen Holy Stone. Say you came to enjoy the beauty competition. Say you were drawn by her presence. Offer her the stone in exchange for nothing."

The boy blinked in shock. "You want me to just give her this? This is worth—!"

The man gripped his shoulder firmly.

> "Act like you're just here to watch.And wants to be her friend."

The masked man vanished into the crowd.

---

Round Two: The Proposals

Men returned, bearing gifts and promises.

Some girls chose. Some rejected.

One embarrassed girl tried to pick two suitors and was quickly booed offstage.

Dozens of trades occurred, and the platform thinned.

Then, a silver-haired youth approached Lin Yuan quietly.

> "If I give you five Evergreen Stones, will you give me a spirit boat?"

> Lady Mingyan whispered:

"Accept. Trade with him."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Wait here. I'll return shortly."

---

A Secret Trade

At Sect Leader Yuexian's home, Lady Mingyan handed him a storage bag.

> "This came from the assassin who tried to poison your master. One of his people carried a spirit boat. Use it."

Back at the platform, Lin Yuan summoned a small, elegant boat with refined spirit veins. It hovered silently.

> "If you agree, we'll trade."

The boy handed over the stones and bowed before leaving—to propose to another girl.

---

Moonlight Bargaining

Only a handful of girls remained.

One girl requested a third-grade Moonlight Herb. Lin Yuan received two offers:

– One offered two Evergreen Stones.

– The other offered three.

Lin Yuan asked Sect Leader Yuexian quietly.

> "You may give her three seeds," she said.

Lin yuan ask the girl, "Do you want 2 moonstone and 3 moonlight seed or 1 moonstone with 3 moonlight seed? "

The girl turned to the man who offered two said:

> "One Moonlight Stone and three seeds."

Lin Yuan smiled, handed over the items, and the girl made her choice.It's surprising that the girl doesn't choose for benefit.

---

The Final Offers

Now, just two men remained.

One offered a Great Spirit Imperial Sword. A princess accepted—on the condition he ask her father.

Then came a striking, confident man.

> "I am a Holy Son of the Evergreen Holy Land," he said. "Give me a Moonlight Holy Stone and accompany me to the auction. In return, I'll give you evergreen Holly Stone " He thought when Lin yuan says I don't have moonlight holy Stone. He will give her the evergreen holy Stone and say give a moonlight holy stone to me in future. Because if he try to give her for nothing people will say I have something to hide.

Lin Yuan turned toward Yuexian.

> "Do we have a Moonlight Holy Stone?"

Yuexian hesitated. "That's a sacred treasure…"

But several voices rose in protest:

> "She thinks she can take anything she wants!"

"This is abuse of sect resources!"

"Sect Leader, don't give it to her!"

Amid the rising tension, Lady Mingyan spoke calmly in Lin Yuan's mind.

> "I have a Dark Holy Stone. Taken from the assassin who poisoned you with big. "

> "He was once kidnapped by tai yin elder—one who drained his yang energy, killed his lovers, and used him in dual cultivation.One day she capture a young master from a demonic sect. When his demonic sect rescued him, he traded his every poperty for a demonic flame .He joined the demonic sect and complete many tasks related to kidnap tai yin sect's girl,earned this stone as a reward. It's powerful, though little used."

---

Final Bargain

Lin Yuan stepped forward, voice clear:

> "I offer a Dark Holy Stone, one Moonlight Stone, and I'll pay for your expenses until the auction."

The Holy Son inspected the stone. "Used—but acceptable. Add another Moonlight Stone… and a promise."

> "What promise?"

> "You will help me if I need assistance. And accompany me through the auction."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Agreed."

Suddenly, a child's voice rang out:

> "What about me? Nobody chose me!"

It was the littlest princess—barely waist-high—marching toward the stage.

She pointed a tiny finger.

> "I choose you!" she said to Xiao Hu.

Gasps echoed.

Xiao Hu climbed onto the platform, transformed into a hulking Black Tiger, and bared his teeth.

The girl squealed, "Ooooh! Pretty teeth!"

He turned back to human.

> "Why would I marry you?"

She pouted. "I'm cute and rich!"

Xiao Hu smirked.

> "You're fifth in beauty. And I'm richer than you.And you are older than me."

He summoned a thousand high-grade spirit stones from his storage bag.

> "If I'm marrying an older woman, she better be drop-dead gorgeous, richer, and good at cooking.She have to read me story .

He turned dramatically.

> "Sect Leader Yuexian! Will you marry me instead?!"

The crowd froze.

Yuexian descended from above, grabbed his ear, and tugged hard.

> "Ow ow ow! I'm sorry! You're young and beautiful! You're not even 100! You're ageless!"

> "You still drink milk and dare propose to me in public and called me old woman?!" she hissed.

Xiao Hu yelled as she dragged him away, "I'm warning you! My mom is very scary! She'll eat you alive!"

And thus, the most chaotic matchmaking event in Taiyin Sect history… came to a close.

In the Taiyin Sect, the tradition was strict, and the reason behind it was as practical as it was painful.

Every six months, the sect hosted a Beauty Competition and Matchmaking Ceremony. While it dazzled outsiders with elegance and glittering lanterns, for the girls in the Body Refining Realm, it was mandatory—not a celebration, but a turning point.They might cultivate outside but they have to leave the sect.

These girls were the lowest-ranking disciples, and while many showed dedication, not all had the talent or fortune to ascend the cultivation path. The sect, despite its power, could not afford to feed thousands forever.

So, marriage became the solution.

If a girl was chosen by a suitor—whether noble, cultivator, or merchant—she would be granted a Protective Sect Talisman.

This talisman was no simple charm.

If the bearer was attacked, the talisman would activate automatically, shielding her with defensive light, and most importantly, recording the attacker's image in a spiritual imprint that would be transmitted directly to the sect's records.

Once confirmed, the Taiyin Sect would assign a cultivator squad to hunt the attacker down—no matter their background.

This made the girls highly desirable:

They weren't just wives or companions—they were walking protection arrays, each backed by one of the most feared sects in the region.

Some sought these girls for love, others for the talisman's insurance. Either way, everyone watched these events carefully.

And those who were not chosen?

If they remained unpicked after three ceremonies… they were quietly dismissed.Unless they reach qi gathering. But they have to face another beauty competition if there body doesn't match with tai yin qi.

Every girl hopes to be chosen—because the alternative is exile.

Would you like the aftermath scene next? Maybe a private talk between Lin Yuan and the Holy Son? Or the Sect LeLea