Gurbach nodded, his eyes full of reverence. "So, isn't it incredible? But it's the truth. The Imperial Court's Thirteen Squads have a rule: any squad member who defeats the captain can take their place. And she defeated the previous captain to become the new one. That was the first thing she did when she returned from the Innerverse. Since then, no one knows how strong she is, because there's no one left in the empire worthy of her making a move."
Lu Yin was shaken, an endless sense of absurdity rising in his heart. The captains of the Imperial Court's Thirteen Squads were all Cruiser Realm experts, in other words, experts with a combat power of over fifty thousand. That woman had actually reached that level? How was that possible?
Hall Masters like Gurbach were merely in the Melting Realm, an infinite distance from the Cruiser Realm. It was a massive chasm. No wonder that woman looked down on the empire's younger generation. She was a prodigy who had stood out from the boundless universe.
"Top 20 on the Astral Combat Rankings, a terrifying power sufficient to sweep across the entire Canglan territory. Even the older generation of experts would have to bow down. In the entire Great Yu Empire, there are only a few who could easily defeat her. She is powerful enough to look down on all of us," Gurbach said with emotion.
At this moment, the light screen lit up again. It was Shuz. "Gurbach, the fight with Lu Yin is postponed. I want to test how strong the members of the Outerverse Youth Council are."
Gurbach nodded. "I also want to test them. To be noticed by Princess Wendy, they must be exceptional. You should adjust your condition well. Our Great Yu Empire cannot be looked down upon."
Shuz closed the light screen.
Gurbach looked at Lu Yin. "You should go back. Your fight with Shuz will have to wait for a while, at least until after the members of the Outerverse Youth Council have arrived."
Lu Yin grunted in acknowledgment and left, his heart a little complicated. His fiancée was a bit too dominant.
No matter how much of a sensation Wendy Yushan's matter caused in the Great Yu Empire, from an external perspective, it was still a good thing. At the very least, she was a princess of the Great Yu Empire.
Perhaps it was precisely because of Wendy Yushan's strong rise that the Huo family suddenly rejected the marriage proposal from Lianyin Star.
"Your Majesty Undying Yushan, the marriage between our Lianyin Star's Young Master Yan Feng and the Huo family's eldest young lady was scheduled long ago. For the Huo family to suddenly go back on their word today, are they looking down on our Lianyin Star?" Yan Gang roared angrily in the imperial court.
A group of court officials looked on indifferently. At the front, Crown Prince Dolan Yushan spoke, "The Great Yu Empire and Lianyin Star have been on friendly terms recently. A marriage alliance would naturally be for the best. However, this is the Huo family's own decision. It is not convenient for the empire to interfere."
Yan Gang gritted his teeth. "Does Your Highness the Crown Prince mean that the empire will not get involved?"
"It's not that we won't, but that we can't. After all, this is just a family matter. The marriage between Young Master Yan Feng and Huo Xiaoling was not decided by His Majesty, nor is it a matter of state relations. The outcome is entirely up to your two parties to decide," Dolan Yushan said with a faint smile.
Yan Gang's gaze shot towards the man with fiery red hair standing below Dolan Yushan. This person was Huo Qingshan, the captain of the Imperial Court's Fifth Squad. Compared to his scorching heroic presence when he tested Zhang Dingtian in the second ring, he looked more like an ordinary person now.
Huo Qingshan's gaze was indifferent. "I have never agreed to marry Xiaoling to Lianyin Star. It was your Young Master who decided on his own, it has nothing to do with me."
Yan Gang clenched his fists, feeling immense humiliation. Lianyin Star had never suffered such disgrace. But facing the Great Yu Empire, he could only endure, especially now that Wendy Yushan had entered the Outerverse Youth Council. Making an enemy of the Great Yu Empire was truly unwise. Thinking of this, Yan Gang looked up at Undying Yushan and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, since the Huo family has unilaterally broken the marriage contract, Lianyin Star has nothing more to say. I can only accept this humiliation on behalf of my Young Master."
Undying Yushan said wearily, "Young man, don't be so emotional when you speak. There is no humiliation, just a difference in the romantic views of young people."
Yan Gang was helpless. His gaze suddenly fell on the man exuding a cold aura standing behind Huo Qingshan. His eyes lit up, and he bowed respectfully again. "Your Majesty, with the Huo family breaking the engagement, the Young Master will surely become the laughingstock of the entire Canglan territory. I wonder if I might be able to choose another marriage on the Young Master's behalf?"
Everyone looked at Yan Gang in surprise. A mere Melting Realm cultivator, a guard of Lianyin Star's Young Master Yan Feng, actually had such great authority? Daring to make decisions for his master?
Duke Yushan looked at Yan Gang. "I heard you and Yan Feng have known each other since childhood. In name, you are master and servant, but in reality, you are brothers. It seems the rumors are true, for you to dare to choose another marriage for him."
Yan Gang said helplessly, "The entire Canglan territory, and even the Haoyuan territory, knows that our Lianyin Star came to the Great Yu Empire to propose marriage. If it falls through, Lianyin Star will become the laughingstock of the Outerverse. I believe Your Majesty would not wish to see such a scene either."
"Whom do you wish to propose to?" Undying Yushan asked.
Yan Gang turned around. "Miss Jenny Ona."
Everyone was shocked. The man standing behind Huo Qingshan's eyes turned cold as he glared at Yan Gang. "Impossible."
Yan Gang was stunned. "Why?"
Undying Yushan and the others also looked at the man. This person's name was Rock Ona, captain of the Ninth Squad of the Imperial Court's Thirteen Squads, and also Jenny Ona's uncle. "Jenny is already engaged to someone else."
Yan Gang smiled. "Captain Rock must be mistaken. Miss Jenny and I participated in the Earth trial together and have known each other for a while. I have asked her before, and she is not engaged to anyone."
Rock Ona's gaze was icy. "That was in the past. My Ona family once had a marriage contract with the Zishan clan. Who in the Great Yu Empire doesn't know this? You can ask around."
Yan Gang couldn't help but look at Undying Yushan.
Undying Yushan glanced at Rock Ona, then nodded. "That is correct."
Yan Gang frowned. "Your Majesty, as far as I know, Miss Jenny does not want to marry the King of Zishan. There is even enmity between them."
"How can she be the one to decide a matter of marriage?" Rock Ona shouted coldly.
Yan Gang was furious but helpless. "In that case, I understand. I will report this matter truthfully to my leader and the Young Master. The Young Master has just heard that Princess Wendy has joined the Outerverse Youth Council and greatly admires her. In a few days, he will also go to participate in the selection. In the future, perhaps there will be an opportunity to work with Princess Wendy, and we can discuss this matter again then."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was alarmed. Lianyin Star's Young Master Yan Feng was qualified to participate in the Outerverse Youth Council? They really didn't know this. If it was true, then it would be troublesome... Suddenly, everyone realized something. Could it be that Lianyin Star's target had always been Princess Wendy? Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Ona were just smoke screens, intended to make the Great Yu Empire refuse, thereby lowering the difficulty of pursuing Princess Wendy.
The Great Yu Empire had already refused to marry Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Ona to Lianyin Star. Once Yan Feng successfully pursued Wendy Yushan, it would be very difficult for the Great Yu Empire to refuse again.
The more they thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Many people looked towards Undying Yushan. Undying Yushan, however, was calm and showed no expression.
Yan Gang still had that indignant look on his face.
Huo Qingshan and Rock Ona looked at Yan Gang, their gazes icy. They had been used as pawns. They would not let this matter rest.
"Alright, I am tired. Dismissed," Undying Yushan said wearily, waving his hand. Everyone left the grand hall.
"Summon the King of Zishan to the imperial palace to see me," Undying Yushan said calmly.
Before long, Lu Yin's flyer appeared outside the imperial palace. The King of Zishan's residence was too close to the palace; by the time he arrived, the court officials had just reached the Grand Star Gate.
Lu Yin happened to meet everyone. Bronson stood ten meters away from him.
Sika gave him a faint, polite smile.
Many officials were displeased with Lu Yin; they were all ones who had been extorted by him.
A good number of officials also avoided him, afraid of being targeted by him.
Lu Yin waited for everyone to leave the Grand Star Gate before slowly entering.
"King of Zishan," a voice sounded by Lu Yin's ear.
Lu Yin turned and saw Rock Ona. "Captain Rock, hello."
Rock Ona's expression was indifferent. Just now in court, he had personally stated the engagement between Jenny Ona and Lu Yin. Whatever the reason, this matter was now a fact. The young man before him was now the son-in-law of his Ona family. "Act with more stability. Be careful with your words and actions. Don't trust anyone. If you have a problem, you can seek help from the Ona family," he said, then turned and left, his entire body exuding a frosty air.
Lu Yin was dazed. What does that mean?
"King of Zishan, His Majesty is waiting for you," a palace maid reminded him.
Lu Yin hurriedly followed the maid inside.
"What? A marriage alliance with the Ona family?" in the courtyard of the imperial palace, Lu Yin exclaimed.
Before him, Undying Yushan smiled and nodded. "That's right. This was decided between the Zishan clan and the Ona family long ago. In court today, Rock Ona personally acknowledged it. You should prepare yourself. We'll pick an auspicious day and you can get married. You're not young anymore."
"With whom?" Lu Yin asked.
"Of course, with the direct heir, Jenny Ona," Undying Yushan said.
An image of an arrogant woman immediately appeared in Lu Yin's mind, along with the scene of her being tied up by him, and the scene of her threatening Siken Maldo and the others after the decisive battle with Qing Yu. That woman must hate him to death. He remembered that on the spaceship, she had never given him a pleasant look. Marry her? The rest of his life was over.