As the crowd watched in astonishment and sighed with emotion, Chang Li gradually suppressed the anger in his heart. He steadily took the gift box, his expression changing, a gentle look appearing on his face.

"Since Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er has suddenly had an insight during her cultivation and needs to go into seclusion, Chang Li is, of course, happy for her. As for these gifts, even if Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er cannot attend my birthday banquet in time, she can still keep them.

"Perhaps she can even make it up to me with another birthday banquet in the future!"

Celestial Sect Leader Hua sighed softly in his heart. If, before witnessing Mr. Mu deal with the Eight Great Demon Venerables, I had encountered this Second Prince from the Xianluo Dynasty, I would have undoubtedly, without hesitation, made the decision for Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er and insisted she attend Second Prince Chang Li's birthday banquet! But after personally witnessing Mr. Mu, with his Ninth-Layer Perfection strength, repel the Pseudo-Earth Immortal Realm Eight Great Demon Venerables, and overthrow the Rakshasa Six Demon Sects within a single hour, Emperor Xiaoo and I have already agreed to let Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er be with Mr. Mu! Moreover, Mr. Mu saved a hundred Tier Eight and Tier Nine cultivators of the Great Xia Dynasty. This immense kindness... No matter how talented Chang Li is, so what if he can subdue an Initial Tier Earth Immortal Level demon? No matter how strong Chang Li's cultivation is, or how powerful his backing, so what? I can't possibly be ungrateful and try to persuade Ying'Er to accept this Chang Li!

Thinking of this, Celestial Sect Leader Hua cupped his hands and said, "Second Prince, I will certainly convey your kind intentions. However, since Ying'Er has already asked me to deliver the gifts, I believe she will not reconsider matters concerning you! I humbly ask for the Second Prince's forgiveness!"

Celestial Sect Leader Hua certainly understood that rejecting Chang Li so publicly would likely turn his admiration into resentment. However, if they were to drag things out and remain ambiguous, it would only cause Ying'Er more trouble in the future, possibly even attracting some irksome problems she couldn't shake off! Better a swift, sharp pain than a lingering one. If they could make Chang Li give up all hope today, it would be for the best for both Ying'Er and him!

However, while Celestial Sect Leader Hua thought this, how could Chang Li possibly know?

Upon hearing Sect Leader Hua's rejection once more, a hint of coldness flickered deep within Chang Li's eyes, but he quickly masked it, then put on a smile.

"It seems the gifts I selected this time still do not meet the Third Princess's approval!

"But, that's to be expected. I've heard that the numerous cultivators in Spiritual Crane Immortal City have already ranked those participating in the upcoming disciple recruitment event. Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er is ranked eighteenth among tens of thousands of Ninth-Layer cultivators—the only woman to make it into the top twenty!

"With such talent, not much inferior to my own, Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er naturally has high standards!

"Very well. In the future, if I acquire any other fine items, I will send them to the Third Princess. The next gift will undoubtedly be even more precious than this one!"

After speaking, he leaped lightly, once again landing atop the Earth Dragon's head.

Just then, Celestial Sect Leader Hua's expression suddenly faltered, his gaze falling upon Lin Xuankong, who stood in a corner.

"Sect Leader Hua!" Lin Xuankong cupped his hands and smiled.

Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er is so resolute, rejecting Second Prince Chang Li of the Xianluo Dynasty so utterly, leaving him no leeway at all! A warmth spread through Lin Xuankong's heart, a sense of being deeply touched. Looking at Celestial Sect Leader Hua, even this old woman, who once advised the Third Princess to leave me, seems considerably more agreeable now!

Celestial Sect Leader Hua, however, showed a look of pleasant surprise.

"Mr. Mu, you've come? You're finally here! Ying'Er has been anxiously waiting for you for months, fearing you might miss the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment event and be unable to join the sect!

"Thankfully, you've arrived in time. There are only a little over ten days left before the recruitment event officially begins!

"Quick, Mr. Mu, please come in!"

With that, Celestial Sect Leader Hua quickly walked to Lin Xuankong's side, leading the way for him and his companions into the Fuyuan Immortal Inn!

This scene, witnessed by the many thousands of cultivators nearby, left them all with expressions of utter disbelief. Most of them had long heard of the renowned arrogance of Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er of Great Xia. Ever since she displayed her strength in the initial trials of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment event, her admirers had been numerous. Those who came to the Fuyuan Immortal Inn to pursue her were as countless as crucian carp crossing a river. Yet, this Third Princess of Great Xia had never shown any man the slightest favor, nor had she even made many public appearances since then!

However, what was the deal with this Mr. Mu before them? He had only just arrived and was immediately welcomed into Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er's lodgings? And judging by Celestial Sect Leader Hua's words, the Third Princess had actually been waiting for this Mr. Mu?

"Where on earth did this Mr. Mu come from? Is he also from the Great Xia Dynasty, to be held in such high regard by the Third Princess?"

"No wonder Xiaoo Ying'Er never showed any other man the slightest courtesy, not even deigning to respond to the prominent Chang Li... It must be because of this man!"

"It's said that Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er is not yet wed! Since this Mr. Mu is a man, how could he be directly welcomed into the Fuyuan Immortal Inn, a place only accessible if a female cultivator permits entry?"

"Has this prized flower already found its owner? They say Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er possesses heavenly beauty, her appearance and figure both transcendent and refined, such that even Fairies of the Earth Immortal Realm would seem three parts inferior by comparison! And yet, this Mr. Mu is able to enter the Third Princess's residence? How utterly enviable!"

"Xiaoo Ying'Er rejected three hundred Grade-Entering Profound Truth Jades, the incredibly precious Gathering Essence Grass, and even the Second Prince of Xianluo, yet she invited only this Mr. Mu inside! Tsk, tsk!"

Among the murmuring cultivators, some were aghast, some were incredulous, some were green with envy, and others wore strange expressions. Naturally, many eyes also fell upon Chang Li, who had just been rejected.

At this moment, although Chang Li maintained a calm and indifferent expression, his eyes were already brimming with a chilling coldness.

I meticulously prepared so many gifts, came to this Fuyuan Immortal Inn more than ten times, and was even willing to offer Xiaoo Ying'Er the immensely valuable Gathering Essence Grass, yet every time she rejected me without the slightest reservation... This Mr. Mu merely arrives, and that Celestial Sect Leader Hua joyfully ushers him in... Even an idiot could perceive that the relationship between Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er and this Mr. Mu is anything but ordinary! Even an idiot, standing in my shoes right now, would be seething with shame and anger! However, I absolutely must not succumb to impotent rage at this moment. As long as Xiaoo Ying'Er has not yet given her body to this Mr. Mu, I still have a chance! That Profound Phoenix Strange Vein! If I can merge with her in body and soul, I can instantly advance from Ninth-Layer Perfection to the Initial Tier Earth Immortal Realm! If I manage to preserve it for the future, should I have the chance to reach the Ninth Layer of Earth Immortal... wouldn't I then ascend to the Celestial Immortal Realm, a realm perhaps unattained even within the Spirit Platform Buddhist Sect? I absolutely cannot give up, I must not give up... This matter is of supreme importance! It concerns my future path of cultivation, my ascent to the Earth Immortal Realm, and even the Celestial Immortal Realm!

Thinking this, Chang Li's jaw tightened slightly. With a mere thought, the Earth Dragon began to move, swiftly departing from the vicinity of the Fuyuan Inn and heading along Blessing Avenue towards his own residence.

That Mr. Mu... According to that contemptible Sect Leader Hua of the Profound Phoenix Celestial Sect, he's here to participate in the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment event! If that's the case, then there's a high probability that I'll encounter him in the upcoming recruitment trials... Even if I don't face him directly in the trials, I can always find ways to bribe his opponents! Mr. Mu? If he genuinely possesses some skill, then so be it. But if he's just an unremarkable Ninth-Layer Perfection cultivator... Then he can only blame his own wretched Life Plate, for being fated to clash with a baleful star! I, Chang Li, as one of the three most sought-after and powerful young prodigies in Spiritual Crane Immortal City, how could I possibly endure this humiliation? Much less allow Xiaoo Ying'Er to be obtained by someone else! Mr. Mu? Just some commoner from a remote, minor dynasty! There are countless methods to secretly gather people to deal with you. At the very least, a mere Ninth-Layer cultivator like you can never withstand a Demon King Level demon! When the disciple recruitment event begins, that will be the time of your utter ruin and death!

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