At this moment, the Old Monarch looked at Ye Chen, stroking his beard with a smile that held a touch of confidence. "Battle Saint King, what do you think? You've met my clan's Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor before. She is peerless in grace and beauty, unmatched in this world. Moreover, she has inherited the strongest bloodline of our Emperor Ancestor. While perhaps not as monstrously talented as you, her aptitude is still transcendent, with great potential to prove her Dao and become an Emperor in the future."
"And you needn't worry. Regarding this matter, this old man will do his utmost to persuade the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor. I believe that with your astonishing, heaven-defying talent, the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor will be very satisfied."
As he spoke, his gaze toward Ye Chen carried a hint of fervor. He undoubtedly already believed Ye Chen would agree to marry into the clan, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.
Ice Flame Monarch watched Ye Chen, admitting to himself that marrying the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor was indeed a tempting prospect—even he would find it hard to refuse.
On one hand, the Imperial Maiden was truly stunningly beautiful. Any child of a Supreme One was inevitably exquisite to the extreme, possessing a special Emperor's aura that added countless charms compared to other women.
Secondly, the Imperial Maiden had inherited the Dan Emperor's strongest bloodline power. Her future achievements were destined to be remarkable, at the very least reaching the level of an Ancient Monarch or above.
Furthermore, the status of an Imperial Maiden was enough to command an entire imperial clan, truly standing above tens of thousands.
Beauty, talent, status—every aspect was flawless.
Even if it meant marrying into the clan, if word were spread, countless heroes would absolutely kneel and beg for the chance.
It had to be said, to recruit Ye Chen into the clan through marriage, the Dan Emperor Clan was making a considerable sacrifice.
Of course, Ice Flame Monarch and the others acknowledged that Ye Chen indeed possessed the capability to make the Dan Emperor Clan spare no expense in recruiting him.
"Thank you for the Dan Emperor Clan's regard for this Ye," Ye Chen said, looking at the Old Monarch with a faint, ambiguous smile. Instead of answering, he asked a question in return. "However, I have a question I'd very much like to ask. I already have several wives and children. If I were to marry your clan's Imperial Maiden and marry into the Dan Emperor Clan, what should be done about them?"
The Old Monarch was taken aback. He hadn't expected this Battle Saint King to be such a romantic, already having wives and children. But upon careful thought, he recalled hearing many years ago that several of the Moon Palace's Palace Masters from the Ultimate Ancient Path back then were his wives.
This question did stump him somewhat.
Should they ask the Battle Saint King to divorce his wives and abandon his children? That would be rather inhumane.
After a brief moment of contemplation, the Old Monarch said, "This old man hadn't considered that point, but it's no matter. If you marry into our Dan Emperor Clan, naturally our Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor would be the principal wife. Your other wives would have to honor her as supreme. As for your other children, they could naturally become members of our Dan Emperor Clan. However, in the future when you and the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor have offspring, your other children would have to honor that child as supreme."
"Of course, since they are your children, Battle Saint King, our Dan Emperor Clan would certainly focus on nurturing them as well, second only to any future offspring between you and the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor."
Behind them, many of the Dan Emperor Clan's higher-ups muttered quietly. Having the dignified Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor share a husband with other women would somewhat diminish her status. If possible, it would be best if he divorced his previous wives and children, having only the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor from now on.
However, they only dared to grumble among themselves, not daring to speak up openly.
"I understand," Ye Chen nodded. "The Dan Emperor Clan's idea is quite good."
The Old Monarch smiled. "In that case, has the Battle Saint King agreed?"
He wasn't the least bit surprised. After all, the Dan Emperor Clan were descendants of an eternal colossus. The Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor's status was incomparably noble, and she herself was a peerlessly beautiful woman. In this era, many Supreme Heaven's Prides had already pursued her, even including former overlords of the ancient path. That spoke volumes.
The other Dan Emperor Clan experts also exchanged knowing smiles. With the Battle Saint King joining them, the Dan Emperor Clan would surely grow even stronger.
Having said that, the Old Monarch chuckled. "Battle Saint King, please wait here for a few days. The World Stone and the Immortal Emperor Medicine seedling will be treated as betrothal gifts once the Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor returns."
Hearing this, Ye Chen smiled. Did the Dan Emperor Clan really think he was the one being married off?
He slightly raised his eyes, but the expression on his face gradually turned indifferent. "I think the Dan Emperor Clan's Fellow Daoists have misunderstood. My apologies, but I never agreed, nor will I agree. So I suggest you seek another worthy son-in-law."
"Fellow Daoist Ice Flame, let's go."
He turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Hah, the Dan Emperor Clan really knew how to scheme, actually wanting him to marry into their clan? Did they really think their so-called Imperial Maiden Young Ancestor was so extraordinary?
Witnessing this scene, the Dan Emperor Clan members were stunned. The Battle Saint King had refused? This was quite different from what they had imagined.
The Old Monarch hurriedly chased after him. "Battle Saint King, please wait! The terms can still be negotiated further."
"There's no need for further discussion," Ye Chen's tone turned cold. "I hope you understand that I, Ye Chen, will never marry into any force. Not even the Dan Emperor Clan is an exception. Nor will I allow my wives and children to lower themselves and honor others."
"Your clan's Imperial Maiden is indeed stunningly peerless, but my wives are no less exceptional. And in my heart, they are countless times more important than any Imperial Maiden."
"Moreover, you must understand one thing: I, the Battle Saint King, will not lower myself beneath anyone."
"The Dan Emperor Clan is indeed powerful, but I, the Battle Saint King, am not weak either."
"The World Stone and the Immortal Emperor Medicine seedling are precious, but they are not absolutely necessary for me to obtain. Besides, regarding the Immortal Emperor Medicine—"
"Sorry, I have one too. And it's more mature."
As he spoke, he opened a corner of the Great Emperor Reincarnation Body's internal Supreme Great World. A divine tree that reached toward the heavens and stood upon the earth appeared before everyone's eyes. A vast, boundless life aura spread out, shaking the heavens and earth, astonishing all present.
That was a true Immortal Emperor Medicine, not something the immature seedling in the Dan Emperor Clan's possession could compare to.
That was an Immortal Emperor Medicine that only an eternal colossus was qualified to possess! The Battle Saint King actually had one!?
Where had he obtained an Immortal Emperor Medicine?
The Dan Emperor Clan experts were both shocked and bewildered.
"Also, regarding this position of the Dan Emperor Clan's First Guest Elder, I, Ye Chen, cannot accept the burden. I have received the grace of Senior Dan Emperor by cutting open the Chaos Primordial Stones, and that debt is now repaid. From today, all debts and grievances between me and the Dan Emperor Clan are settled!"
After indifferently tossing out these words, Ye Chen turned and left without the slightest attachment.
Ice Flame Monarch sighed softly. "The Dan Emperor Clan actually used marrying into the clan as a condition for Fellow Daoist Battle Saint King to obtain the World Stone and Immortal Emperor Medicine seedling. What kind of intentions are you harboring? Do you really think he doesn't know? I can only say you've ruined a perfectly good game of chess."
With that, he also turned and left.
Left behind were the Dan Emperor Clan experts, their faces filled with regret.
They had thought that with the World Stone and the Immortal Emperor Medicine seedling, they could attract the Battle Saint King to marry into the Dan Emperor Clan. But they had forgotten: who was the Battle Saint King? His achievements were profound, his strength far surpassing other Heaven's Prides. Even among the older generation, among the Ancient Monarchs, only the most ancient batch of terrifying existences were qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as him.
They had actually indulged in wild fantasies, demanding the Battle Saint King marry into the Dan Emperor Clan. This had undoubtedly thoroughly offended the Battle Saint King.
For a man, lowering himself to marry into another clan was a humiliation to his dignity.