This is definitely not something to cosplay.

A bitingly cold gale swept through.

Greenish astral winds whirled and rose!

Lin Chen soared through the air, stepping forward, the Cloud-Splitting Staff in his hand.

On the streets of Huangcheng lay numerous martial artists, scattered in all directions.

All had been struck down by him; not a single one was his match.

"If any of you wish to continue the fight, I, Lin, will keep you company."

Lin Chen said indifferently.

Black light coiled around the jade pendant, murderous aura boiling, and along with it, his entire demeanor turned cold and ruthless.

Immediately, those who had taken action shivered.

At first, seeing this guy's grinning, playful appearance, they thought he was a clown.

Who would have thought that once he started fighting, he would be so ferocious!

Even martial artists at the peak of the Void Realm couldn't last more than a few rounds.

"You have impressive skills, sir."

At that moment, an old man with an immortal-like demeanor walked over slowly.

"Be careful, this old man is no simple character."

A voice came from the jade pendant, hurriedly reminding him.

Lin Chen's gaze turned serious. He tightened his grip on the Cloud-Splitting Staff, the green astral winds swirling around him, blowing his black hair to reveal sharp, ice-cold eyes.

This old man before him was the first martial artist of such formidable strength he had encountered since coming to the Immortal Gate.

His power was completely restrained, making him seem like an utterly ordinary old man, impossible to gauge his depth, which inspired caution.

"This old man is Xu Kang."

Noticing Lin Chen's vigilance, Xu Kang stopped and said with a smile.

Upon hearing the old man introduce himself as Xu Kang, everyone's expressions changed drastically, turning solemn. They struggled to their feet to pay their respects to Xu Kang.

Elder Longbrow Xu Kang!

One of the Four Great Guardians of the Celestial Palace!

A truly top-tier expert of the Celestial Palace.

Lin Chen, holding the Cloud-Splitting Staff, said coldly, "May I ask what business you have, Elder Xu?"

"Don't be alarmed, I bear no hostility."

Xu Kang chuckled lightly, taking a token from his sleeve.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "This is..."

"Young Master Lin's strength is extraordinary, this old man is impressed. This token can guarantee your qualification for the marriage contest!" Xu Kang said with a smile.

Hearing this, the crowd was slightly taken aback, then sour with envy.

"Can being handsome let you do whatever you want?!"

"This bastard is so shameless! He deliberately picked fights, not only dragging us bystanders into it but also wrecking the Celestial Palace's restaurant."

"And yet, in the end, he actually gets a qualification token!"

"Unfair!"

In an instant, the surrounding people were both angry and resentful.

Some even planned to imitate Lin Chen next, attacking anyone they saw on the street!

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, understanding something from their expressions.

"A marriage contest?"

"Thank you."

Lin Chen put away the token and said slowly.

Xu Kang smiled leisurely. "The Palace Lord thinks very highly of you, Young Master Lin. Don't disappoint her."

Hearing this, everyone's faces twisted with envy.

"He's already caught the Palace Lord's eye in advance?!"

Murong Qinghong's beauty is peerless—of course, that's secondary.

It's mainly her status! The Celestial Palace Lord!

What domineering female CEOs, what wealthy heiresses, they all pale in comparison.

In the Immortal Gate, Murong Qinghong is the genuine article, an empress!

To be favored by an empress!

That truly would be one person below, ten thousand above!

Money!

Power!

Beauty... well, that's a no-go, his... equipment would become the Palace Lord's exclusive tool from then on.

Anyway, in the future, he'd command the wind and rain, have everything he could wish for.

For this marriage contest, people from all walks of life in the Immortal Gate world wanted to get involved—men and women, old and young, even many from different races among them!

They were all hoping the Palace Lord had quirky tastes, just in case she liked their particular flavor!

Now it seems the Palace Lord's taste is normal.

She just likes young, handsome fellows!

Lin Chen took the token and stored it away.

"A marriage contest... Hah, not interested."

He wasn't An Yi; when he said he wasn't interested, he truly meant it.

He wasn't particularly obsessed with feminine charms.

Having one bespectacled, silly girl was enough.

Right now, Shangguan Qianqian was at the Celestial Palace. His main purpose was to come and understand the situation clearly.

Vaguely, he felt something was off about Shangguan Qianqian becoming the Celestial Palace's Saintess.

An aged voice came from the jade pendant: "Kid, you can participate in the marriage contest..."

After listening, Lin Chen fell into thought.

The next morning.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

War drums thundered, shattering the dawn's silence.

The entire Huangcheng was refreshed and renewed!

Flags were planted on the city walls, fluttering in the wind, rows of golden-armored soldiers standing imposingly.

In the center of Huangcheng.

Within a massive training ground, martial artists from all corners of the Immortal Gate gathered, all looking expectantly towards the high platform at the rear, awaiting the Palace Lord's arrival.

"Damn, this woman really knows how to put on airs!" Han Liang muttered impatiently.

Hearing this, Gu Changfeng broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "Shh! Don't talk nonsense, do you want to keep your head?!"

Bad-mouthing the Palace Lord in Huangcheng was practically asking for death!

Han Liang was unperturbed.

Tu Langlang looked around curiously in the crowd: "Second Brother seems to be missing."

An Yi raised an eyebrow, as if just realizing: "Oh, someone is missing, huh."

Tu Langlang: "..."

At that moment, Hua Fengyu looked at An Yi and asked curiously, "Brother Lin, didn't you already qualify? Why are you still participating in the qualification round?"

"Qualified? When?!"

An Yi was a bit confused.

Yesterday, he beat up a bunch of people, then didn't pay for his meal and just ran off.

He didn't remember doing anything like that at all!

Hua Fengyu said helplessly, "No need to hide it. Guardian Xu personally delivered the token to you. The whole of Huangcheng knows about it."

An Yi raised an eyebrow: "Is that so..."

Right now, he was still disguised as Lin Chen.

And in the arena, quite a few people were looking at him with strange expressions.

An Yi sighed inwardly.

He knew it!

With Lin Chen's poker face and such a punchable look, disguising as him would draw hatred!

Thinking this, An Yi subtly retreated to a corner behind the crowd.

"It seems this Celestial Palace marriage contest is no ordinary affair."

Gu Changfeng swept his gaze over the surrounding crowd and sighed softly.

Top experts from many sects were practically all visible.

The Young Master of the Evil Dragon Gang, Hu Fei!

The premier warrior of the Ghost-Hand Tribe, Wei!

The Chieftain of the Flame Tribe, Ma Duoke!

Including the person next to him, Hua Fengyu, the direct grandson of the Great Elder of the Flower-Scent Sect.

Of course, these were the top young experts, but they didn't make up a large proportion of the total.

More numerous were a group of middle-aged men with imposing bearing!

Most of them were leaders of various sects, clan heads of major Immortal Gate families, and the like.

Their intent was obvious: to form a powerful alliance with the Celestial Palace and jointly carve up the Immortal Gate!

Gu Changfeng stole a glance, sizing them up quietly.

Good grief, many of them already had whole harems and a bunch of children!

And they could still participate in the marriage contest?

Of course, that wasn't the most excessive part.

There were also old-timers like the Grand Elder of the Canghai Sect, who didn't even have many teeth left, stubbornly participating while leaning on a cane.

Han Liang scoffed disdainfully, muttering under his breath: "A bunch of shameless old coots... Huh? Where's the Boss?"

"I'm here!"

An Yi's voice rang out.

Han Liang turned around and nearly stumbled in fright.

Behind him stood a two-meter-tall minotaur-like giant, looming like an iron tower.

A minotaur?

The word immediately popped into Han Liang's mind.

Boss, this is not the kind of cosplay you should be doing!

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.