Who Would Choose The Serious Heroine? Aren't The Supporting Characters Good Enough? - Chapter 85:

Chapter 85: Void Demonic Beasts, White Snake Girl:

Yun Xi and Chu Qingran gazed at Ling Ye and his back in silence.

Mu Zihua had just called him… “Your Majesty”?

Could he be an emperor of some empire?

If that were the case, then his identity was anything but ordinary!

This world was filled with countless small empires, but even the smallest empire was far larger than a mere desert city. No true empire would consist of just two cities.

And no power ruling over only two cities would dare call itself an empire.

That meant this man—whose demeanor was extraordinary and whose appearance was striking—was someone their desert city could not afford to provoke.

But why would such a powerful figure appear in the desert city?

“Kidnapped?”

Ling Ye looked at Mu Zihua with an expression that barely shifted.

Of course, he already knew that Gu Shengyan had been taken.

He simply didn’t care.

“Yes! They took her away, saying they wanted her to marry in place of their young lady!” Mu Zihua explained urgently. “And… they’re forcing her to marry a man who is both mute and crippled! Your Majesty, I beg you to intervene!”

As soon as he said this, Yun Xi and Wei exchanged glances in the background.

Could the person Chu Qingran had mentioned—the substitute bride—be Gu Shengyan?

It had to be!

A forced marriage to a cripple and a mute… that could only refer to one person.

Chu Qingran remained silent, afraid to utter a single word.

She hadn’t expected such a coincidence.

The person she had ordered to be captured was actually connected to the three people standing before her?

No. She couldn’t let them find out.

If they did, she would be in serious trouble!

“Shengyan… she is a citizen of the Dayuan Empire, a subject of His Majesty! Only His Majesty can save her now! I implore Your Majesty to help her!”

Mu Zihua knelt to the ground, pressing his forehead firmly against the floor.

At this moment, he was willing to do anything, as long as Ling Ye agreed to rescue Gu Shengyan.

But as soon as Mu Zihua spoke those words, Yun Xi and Chu Qingran’s faces changed dramatically.

The two exchanged another glance, their eyes filled with shock and fear!

Dayuan Empire?

This was unbelievable!

The man before them was the emperor of the Dayuan Empire?

Even though their desert city was remote, they knew a thing or two about the Dayuan Empire.

It was one of the most powerful empires in the world!

If Ling Ye learned that someone from their desert city had captured a citizen of the Dayuan Empire, his wrath alone could lead to their destruction.

With the might of the Dayuan Empire, their two desert cities could be wiped off the map in an instant!

No—he must not find out that they were the ones responsible.

But Ling Ye already knew.

He turned slightly, his gaze landing on Chu Qingran.

He had overheard everything Chu Qingran and Yun Xi had just discussed.

It wasn’t hard to deduce that Chu Qingran had been the intended bride.

In the end, she had abducted Gu Shengyan to take her place?

What an amusing coincidence.

But… it had nothing to do with him.

“Those who serve the Dayuan Empire are its people,” Ling Ye stated indifferently. “But if I’m not mistaken, she left the Dayuan Empire with you of her own accord, intending to sever ties with it completely.”

On the day of his wedding to Beiming Xue, Ling Ye had observed everything.

He had sensed Gu Shengyan’s presence among the crowd.

Perhaps from that moment on, she had already decided to distance herself from both him and the empire.

If she had chosen to leave the Dayuan Empire, could she still be considered one of its people?

So why should he concern himself with her fate?

Whether Gu Shengyan lived or died was none of his concern.

Besides, she wouldn’t die.

She was a heroine.

Wherever she went, she would thrive.

Mu Zihua’s expression shifted drastically at Ling Ye’s words.

Because… Ling Ye was right.

Gu Shengyan had indeed left the Dayuan Empire to distance herself from both Ling Ye and the empire itself.

So Ling Ye had no intention of saving her?

Was he really going to let her marry a cripple and a mute?

“Don’t worry. The man she’s being forced to marry is neither crippled nor mute,” Ling Ye said with a faint smile. “Who knows… she might even be happy to marry him.”

This was a typical trope in women’s novels.

A heroine is forced to take someone else’s place and marry a so-called “useless” man.

Then, after the wedding, she discovers that her husband isn’t useless at all—he’s actually incredibly powerful and extraordinarily handsome.

A hidden expert.

This was a cliché often found in such stories.

Of course, Ling Ye didn’t think such a development was foolish.

It just had nothing to do with him.

As long as it didn’t concern him or his woman, he didn’t care what happened to Gu Shengyan.

Whether she met with great fortune or misfortune—it was her own business.

Not his.

Mu Zihua hesitated before asking, “Your Majesty… how do you know this?”

Ling Ye had only just arrived here, right?

He couldn’t have met the Young Lord of the Western City yet.

So how could he be so certain?

Yun Xi and Chu Qingran were just as puzzled.

The Young City Lord of the Western City was infamous for being born with disabilities. He was known to be completely incapable of cultivation.

Everyone knew this.

So how could Ling Ye make such a claim?

But… none of them had ever seen the man with their own eyes.

“I guessed,” Ling Ye replied with a smile.

It was indeed a guess.

But he was almost certain he was right.

Mu Zihua was speechless.

A guess?

Was he really making assumptions about something this serious?

And this kind of assumption—what was it even based on?

“Go find her,” Ling Ye continued. “If she’s only being forced into marriage, she won’t be in any real danger. When you meet the man she’s marrying, you’ll know whether or not my guess was correct.”

“This…”

Mu Zihua hesitated.

If Ling Ye had already decided not to intervene, then there was nothing he could do.

But Ling Ye’s guess was truly baffling.

And… what if the Young City Lord really was normal?

If Gu Shengyan was willing to marry him… then what would happen?

Would she truly accept this fate?

If she was willing to stay with that man, what would become of his own feelings for her?

Mu Zihua finally stood up.

He bowed slightly to Ling Ye before turning and swiftly departing.

Fine.

He would go and find out for himself.

If Gu Shengyan was truly willing to marry that man, then she had found a home.

And he…

He would let go.

He would return to the Dayuan Empire.

Return to Ziyue Immortal Sect.

And continue his duties as the Great Elder.

As Mu Zihua disappeared into the distance, only Ling Ye and the others remained in the vast and dark space.

“Now, answer the question I just asked,” Ling Ye said, turning to look at Chu Qingran and Yun Xi. “What exactly is inside?”

Chu Qingran and Yun Xi averted their gazes, afraid that Ling Ye would discover the truth.

Afraid that he would realize that Gu Shengyan’s capture had been ordered by Chu Qingran.

“Underneath…” the two muttered hesitantly, “a divine beast resides.”

“A divine beast?” Ling Ye raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

What kind of beast was significant enough to be marked on a demonic beast map?

“That’s right, it’s the deity that blesses the two desert cities with good weather!” Chu Qingran answered. “And… as a condition, a young and beautiful woman must be sacrificed to it as a saint every year!”

Hearing this, Ling Ye nodded, then glanced at Yun Xi. So this was why she was locked here? She was the so-called saint meant to be sacrificed this time. No wonder she had spoken about dying together… Ling Ye smirked and flicked his fingers.

Ding!

Four black streams of Spiritual Qi shot out and struck the four chains. Immediately, with a crisp sound, the chains that even Chu Qingran had failed to break collapsed in an instant.

As soon as they were freed, Qu Xi and Chu Qingran were overjoyed. The two quickly stood up, held hands, and bowed toward Ling Ye. “Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor!”

To think they had escaped such a catastrophe! The emperor of the Great Imperial Empire was truly a great man.

“Go, be free,” Ling Ye said with a casual wave of his hand.

The two felt slightly embarrassed. Having their relationship exposed like this was a bit awkward. “Then… we will take our leave. Thank you, Your Majesty. If fate allows, we shall meet again!” They bowed once more, then quickly turned and left, hand in hand.

With their departure, only Ling Ye and Su Xinyue remained in the dark space. Su Xinyue watched Yun Xi and Chu Qingran leave, curiosity filling her eyes. Their relationship was truly strange. What were they thinking? How had they even ended up like that?

She shook her head and turned back to Ling Ye. “Master, what should we do next?”

Now that they had learned the secret of this place—that a so-called divine beast resided here—what was their next move?

“Step back,” Ling Ye said calmly.

He slowly raised his palm, black flames of Spiritual Qi surging around it. “I want to see what’s so special about this so-called divine beast.”

Su Xinyue quickly nodded and retreated, hiding behind the stone platform. Then, under her watchful gaze, Ling Ye’s black flames surged forward, slamming into the center of the void’s ripple.

Boom!!!

A massive explosion erupted as the black palm imprint, infused with the burning black Spiritual Qi, collided with the blue distortions in the void. The ripples in the void trembled violently before slowly stabilizing.

The stillness lasted only a few seconds. Suddenly, a colossal figure slowly rose from the void’s ripples.

A snake.

A giant snake over a thousand feet long!

Its entire body was covered in snow-white, crystal-clear scales, with faintly glowing blue lines between them. Its appearance was eerily beautiful.

The enormous serpent slowly lifted its massive head, its long and narrow eyes locking onto Ling Ye. In comparison, Ling Ye seemed no larger than an ant before this monstrous creature. Yet, instead of fear, his eyes remained calm as he studied it.

Demonic beast?

No, not exactly.

It wasn’t exuding Spiritual Power but rather… the power of the void. Power from the void itself!

Ling Ye suddenly recalled the beings he had encountered in the Sea of Void at the Southern Ruins. Those void creatures had similar translucent lines covering their bodies. Though the colors were different, they all carried the same ethereal glow and emanated void energy.

This white snake before him couldn’t be classified as an ordinary demonic beast. If anything, it needed a more precise name—Void Demonic Beast.

That was a far more accurate description.

But this one was much stronger than the ones he had encountered before.

“Divine Soul Realm?” Ling Ye muttered with a faint smile.

He could feel the overwhelming aura radiating from the white snake. It was at the Divine Soul Realm! That was rare. In this world, creatures of the Divine Soul Realm still existed?

“Hiss…”

The giant white snake suddenly flicked its tongue, its narrow eyes remaining fixed on Ling Ye.

A moment later, it opened its massive mouth, unleashing a blinding white beam of void energy toward him!

Boom!

Ling Ye’s entire body surged with black energy as he clenched his fist and struck forward.

Boom!!!

With an earth-shattering explosion, his punch shattered the incoming beam into nothingness.

The white snake immediately sensed that Ling Ye was not an opponent to be taken lightly. Its body radiated a dazzling light before it lunged forward at full speed.

“Sword box!”

Ling Ye’s voice rang out as the enormous creature charged. Since they were both at the Divine Soul Realm, there was no need to drag this battle out. If he could crush it, he would do so immediately.

Su Xinyue, still hiding behind the stone platform, heard him and swiftly retrieved the massive black dragon sword box from her storage ring.

With a heavy bang, she set it down.

Ling Ye rushed forward and struck the sword box with his palm.

Shing! Shing! Shing!

In an instant, eight ancient swords shot out simultaneously, their immense Sword Qi filling the space.

The eight swords, imbued with overwhelming power, streaked toward the white snake.

The massive serpent, still unaware of the true terror of these swords, continued its descent.

But in the very next instant, it understood.

Because as the eight swords slashed through the air, they pierced straight through its protective energy barrier!

Shing!

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Eight blades plunged into its enormous body from different angles.

The giant snake let out a painful screech.

Realizing it was no match, it desperately tried to retreat, attempting to slip back into the void’s ripples.

But Ling Ye wasn’t about to let it escape.

Just as it was about to disappear, Ling Ye shot forward, his black Spiritual Qi forming a massive hand that grabbed hold of its tail.

Then—he swung.

The gigantic snake’s coiled body was forcefully stretched to its full length as Ling Ye lifted it.

Then, with an earth-shaking crash, he slammed it into the ground!

Boom!!!

The entire space trembled violently.

The massive white snake convulsed and struggled, its body writhing like an eel with its head smashed.

As it twitched, Ling Ye waved his hand.

One of the eight ancient swords shot into the sky.

Buzz!

Sword Qi gathered, condensing into a colossal black sword over a hundred feet long. Its blade pulsed with vast Sword Qi, flowing like drifting clouds.

The sword’s tip pointed directly at the white snake’s head.

Then—it plunged downward!

If it landed, the white snake’s head would be nailed to the ground instantly.

“Wait! Wait! I surrender! I surrender!”

A sudden voice rang out.

Ling Ye narrowed his eyes slightly.

The voice was light and crisp, like a silver bell.

And… it belonged to a girl?

He hesitated for a brief moment, and the enormous black sword halted in midair.

Meanwhile, the colossal white snake’s body rapidly shrank.

In a flash of white light, it transformed into a human form.

A young girl dressed in white, with snow-white hair.

Though she had taken on a human form, traces of her snake nature remained.

Her large, intelligent eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief, and faint, translucent snake scales shimmered at their corners.

And her lower body… instead of legs, she had a long, white serpent’s tail.

A lively and adorable snake girl.