Marrying Wives and Attaining Immortality in a Chaotic World

Chapter 299: The Challenge

“Do you admit defeat?”

Xu Lian asked the Old Sea Demon.

The Old Sea Demon remained silent, the truth was as clear as day to her – the Goddess of Time had not secretly helped Xu Lian in any way.

Xu Lian released the Old Sea Demon and gave her a gentle push with one palm, sending her back onto the surface of the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea.

Overwhelmed with shame, the Old Sea Demon knelt on the water’s surface and bowed her head to Princess Ao Mei, the Black Dragon Princess of the Sea Clan. “Princess, I have failed you. I was unable to protect the king grade medicine Black Lotus. Please punish me, Your Highness.”

Ao Mei extended her black dragon claw, lifting the Old Sea Demon to her feet. With a sigh, she said, “Mama, there is no need for this. You raised me from childhood, and I consider you family. How could I ever punish you? Allowing you to guard the king grade medicine Black Lotus was meant to let you absorb its medicinal properties to extend your lifespan. But unfortunately, this incident happened. 

No matter what-the Black Lotus seeds may be lost, but the root of the Black Lotus remains intact. There will be no permanent damage. I will explain the situation to the supreme elder of the Sea Clan. It is not a serious matter.”

Xu Lian was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected the fiery-tempered Black Dragon Princess to show such a tender side towards those close to her.

“Nine Heavens Holy Son Xu Lian, you took the king grade Black Lotus Seed from my Sea Clan. This debt will remain on record for now.”

The Black Dragon Princess’s dragon eyes glowed like divine lanterns as she coldly stared at Xu Lian. “I will not take advantage of you. When you reach the Sage Realm, we will settle this with a battle.”

Xu Lian’s heart stirred. By the time he reached the Sage Realm, he would not fear this Sea Clan princess. Smiling faintly, he replied, “If it’s a challenge, how can we do without a wager?”

The Black Dragon Princess scoffed. “What do you want to wager?”

Xu Lian thought for a moment. “If I lose, I will return the king grade medicine Black Lotus in its entirety and hand over the priceless treasure – the Laws of the Divine Kingdom. But if you lose, give me a divine medicine that can extend life by ten thousand years. Does your Sea Clan have such a divine medicine?”

This made the Black Dragon Princess hesitate.

A divine medicine-its value was immeasurable. In the entire world, only a handful of top-tier powers possessed such treasures, not more than twenty in total. And the laws of the Divine Kingdom? They were unprecedented and existed as a unique entity in the world. Only a few supreme forces possessed such laws, numbering less than ten.

Wagering a divine medicine against the laws of the Divine Kingdom? This was truly a monumental gamble!

The stakes were too high, leaving her uncertain. Even as the princess of the Sea Clan, she did not have the authority to wager the clan’s divine medicine.

“Accept his terms.”

An overwhelming presence of a Supreme Elder emanated from the depths of the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea. The voice was strangely youthful, yet tinged with indescribable agedness. 

“The Sea Clan may lack divine medicine, but if we can claim the laws of the Divine Kingdom, our clan will surely rise to even greater heights. There is no reason to turn down such a chance.”

Such ambition, such audacity… Xu Lian had only made the suggestion to intimidate the Black Dragon Princess. He hadn’t expected that a Supreme Elder of the Sea Clan would personally intervene.

With the Supreme Elder’s approval, the Black Dragon Princess no longer hesitated. She coldly declared, “Very well, I accept your wager! When you reach the Sage Realm, we will settle this with one decisive battle. If you win, the Divine Medicine of the Sea Clan will be yours. If you lose, the laws of the Divine Kingdom will be ours!”

“This cannot be allowed.”

An aged voice rang out from the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands-it was clearly an elder of great standing. 

“The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands already possess a divine medicine; we have no need for another one. In terms of value, the Laws of the Divine Kingdom far surpass any single divine medicine.

“The Laws are the essence of a legendary divine kingdom, painstakingly forged through countless efforts. Its value surpasses all else. Even an abundance of divine medicines cannot compare to the Laws of the Divine Kingdom.

“This wager is unequal and meaningless. The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands cannot accept such a reckless gamble.”

Xu Lian inwardly disagreed. The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands might have a divine medicine, but he did not. A divine medicine that could extend one’s life by ten thousand years would be of immense use to him. If he obtained it, the issue of longevity would be resolved once and for all for his companions.

Moreover, he had absolute confidence in his own strength. At the same level of the Sage Realm, he did not believe that he would lose to the Black Dragon Princess.

Previously, he had struck her with the power of his left divine bone, forcing her back several steps. At his current level of Origin Tracing Seventh Stage, he had managed to repel her despite relying on the divine bone’s might. From this, he inferred that her cultivation level likely hovered around Sage One or Sage Two, and Sage Three at most.

If she had been a high-level Sage, even his Divine Bone-Enhanced Strike wouldn’t have budged her.

Thus, once he reached the Sage Realm, provided the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands supplied him with sufficient resources for Sage-level cultivation, his strength would surpass hers. Victory over the Black Dragon Princess would be all but guaranteed.

Why refuse a sure thing?

Xu Lian bowed respectfully in the direction of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands. “Elder, I wish to accept this wager. Once I ascend to the Sage Realm, I am confident that I can defeat her.”

These words infuriated the Black Dragon Princess. She had been a Sage for many years. How dare this upstart, the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens Xu Lian, assume that he could defeat her upon reaching the Sage Realm?

The elder replied, “Even if you are confident, you cannot gamble with the laws of the Divine Kingdom. All gambling involves risk. Should you lose, the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands would lose the Laws – an unacceptable loss.”

Xu Lian replied, “I see no risk. I am absolutely sure of victory. The Sea Clan is practically giving us their divine medicine. How could I refuse?”

“…” The elder fell silent.

The Supreme Elder of the Sea Clan and the Black Dragon Princess did the same.

This was beyond confidence – it was arrogance. What kind of audacity allowed him to speak so boldly?

Some might even suspect that Xu Lian had lost his mind. Absolute certainty? Such words from someone from Orging Tracing Realm cultivator?

Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might assume that he was already a Sage, far stronger than the Black Dragon Princess, to make such claims.

Only the Goddess of Time understood why Xu Lian spoke with such certainty. There were no bottlenecks in his cultivation. Upon reaching the Sage Realm, if the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands provided him with ample resources, his strength would surpass hers.

And if they couldn’t provide enough resources, he could simply delay his ascension to the Sage Realm, accumulating resources until he could make a single leap to surpass her.

Thus, his claim of absolute certainty was understandable.

The Goddess of Time interjected, “I think we should accept the wager.”

The Elder sighed, “O, must you join in this folly?”

The Goddess of Time transmitted her thoughts directly to the Elder. “I can foresee the outcome of this future duel. Xu Lian will emerge victorious.”

The elder knew that she occasionally glimpsed fragments of the future and immediately relented. “Very well. The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands approve of this challenge!”

The Supreme Elder of the Sea Clan declared, “Then let the Goddess of Time and the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens, Xu Lian, swear a Great Dao Oath to ensure that neither side reneges. We from the Sea Clan will do the same.”

And so, both parties swore the Great Dao Oath, sealing the challenge.

“I hope you ascend to the Sage Realm soon. Do not keep me waiting too long,” the Black Dragon Princess said coldly, casting one final glance at Xu Lian before departing with the Old Sea Demon, the Sea Dragon, and the Octopus, vanishing beneath the waves and returning to the depths of the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea.

Xu Lian returned to the ancestral grounds of the Divine Clan and walked deep into the fog. He turned to the Goddess of Time with a puzzled expression. “Why did the Elder suddenly agree? What did you say?”

The Goddess of Time replied, “I told him that I foresaw your victory in the bet.”

Xu Lian grinned. “That’s wonderful!”

The Goddess of Time added, “In truth, I saw nothing. You proposed the wager so suddenly that I didn’t have time to use the laws of time to predict the outcome.”

Xu Lian chuckled. Even her master was deceived… He was used to it by now. Sometimes, she could be quite mischievous.