85 Chapter 85

That boy was Jiang Mang. When Xia Mei challenged him, the crowd shot him a jealous look. He was confused by what happened, but before he or his sisters could react an elder at the sage realm from the Xia family bound him with his qi. He was then dragged on to the fighting platform and provided with a sword.

Jiang Mang realized he was being challenged for a sword duel by the girl in front of him. He took a sword stance and waited for her to attack first and then win the duel.

The thing that he didn't know was that this was a bridegroom search and that if he were to win would become the Xia family's son-in-law and Xia Mei's fiancee.

Xia Mei initiated the attack, using a basic sword slash. Jiang Mang blocked using his sentimental sword and counter-attacked using his dignity sword. Xia Mei blocked the sword, but her heart was affected with a sharp desire for dignity. She realized it to be a charm attack and crushed the desire with her entire soul.

She realized that Jiang Mang wasn't an easy opponent and started using her full power. She used her family inheritance, which is a set of sword techniques suited for her profound spirit called the seven styles of the frost sword. She used the first style named frostbite.

Her sword attack was now filled with a strong ice element capable of wounding the opponent with temporary frostbite. Jiang Mang defended the move with his anger sword and returned the attack with an affectionate sword strike. He wasn't affected by the ice elemental qi, due to his strong body.

Xia Mei countered with the second style called frost rapier, which blocks with ice qi while counterattacking with the sword. She was, however, again assaulted by a charm attack that she immediately crushed but left some traces.

The two started exchanging sword moves more than a hundred times and reached a stalemate. Jiang Mang started being affected by the icy qi, while Xia Mei was starting to become more and more affected by the thirteen sword stikes.

The duel restarted immediately after the short pause. Xia Mei started using her currently strongest third style, while Jiang Mang started to use only the affectionate sword strikes to diminish her sharpness. The duel continued for half an hour before the two started exhausting their qi.

The two as if connected started preparing for one last strike. They hacked their swords against each other before separating them immediately. The two waited for a minute until Xia Mei admitted defeat when her knees fell on the ground.

Jiang Mang had been able to withstand the last sword strike by using the abundant yang qi in his body to diffuse the ice qi. Xia Mei, on the other hand, had to exhaust her entire soul to crush the last charm attack that contained an abundant amount of pure emotional affection.

Jiang Mang was declared the winner. The bridegroom event had ended after the very first battle, which surprised the elder. The elder and the weak Xia Mei asked Jiang Mang to follow them inside the mansion behind the fighting platform.

He thought that he would be rewarded with something and thus agreed to follow them inside. The actual reason, however, was to discuss the marriage and their return to Ice city. Jiang Mang's sisters and Xiao Liu were also invited into the mansion by some servants, and they too remained clueless.

While Jiang Mang followed the elder and Xia Mei, he was having a conversation with her. Xia Mei was interested in her new fiancee and wanted to know him. Jiang Mang told her about his origin from the outer domain and his recruitment into the Zither Palace. He also told her about him being blind and his identity as a musician cultivator and a level four formation master.

The elder listened to the boy's story and was happy with his identity and abilities. She was also surprised by his peak formation apprentice identity and thought that her young mistress had found herself a good husband.

Jiang Mag also learned of her identity in the Xia family and that she would be the future matriarch of the Xia family. He was surprised by her identity, but didn't show it on his face and just continued conversing with her. They discussed the dao of the sword for the rest of the journey until they arrived in a private room.

Jiang Mang followed them inside the room and sat himself down. Xia Mei sat in front of him while the elder took the front position of the table. Jiang Mang started the discussion by asking what happened with his sisters with who he had arrived.

The elder informed him that they were invited inside the mansion and were made comfortable. Jiang Mang was relieved and let the elder take the word. The elder then took the word as he wanted to start discussing the matter of Jiang Mang marrying into the Xia family.

She started with the following words: "Young friend Jiang Mang, I have to congratulate you for defeating the young miss. She is the most talented member of our family and didn't expect to find someone of the same age capable of defeating her in swordplay inside the Holy capital. You have successfully become the Xia family's son in law and the fiancee of the young miss. You will marry into the Xia family, but this will not clash with your identity as a disciple of the Zither palace. You and your companions will follow us tomorrow back to Ice city, where you will meet with the current patriarch of the Xia family and your future father in law. Make sure, you treat him with absolute respect as he is our Xia family's emperor realm powerhouse. Do you have any other questions?"

Jiang Mang was still relaxed while listening to the elders beginning words but became frozen in shock after she mentioned the word son in law. He only regained his senses when she asked that question.

He remained silent for a few seconds until he asked the following words that froze the room: "Can the marriage be canceled?"