Celestial Refining Divine Scripture Chapter 73

"Husband?"

Xu Yang almost thought he had misheard.

But then his eyes suddenly widened.

He now knew who this woman was.

The Barbarian Princess!

She—she actually called me husband?

Xu Yang’s mind buzzed blankly.

The Barbarian Princess had come here as well...

"Blood Marquis Puppet!"

"Your Highness!"

From the sky came Helan Ying’s incredulous cry, snapping Xu Yang out of his shock.

Blood Marquis Puppet?

This Blood Armor Barbarian was actually a puppet?

Xu Yang stared at the blood-armored figure before him, involuntarily drawing in a sharp breath.

A single puppet had reached the Myriad Phenomena Realm—utterly unimaginable.

Tuoba Hongyu narrowed her eyes, glanced at Helan Ying, and said coolly, "Go."

The instant her voice fell, the Blood Marquis Puppet vanished like a ghost.

"Your Highness..."

Helan Ying’s cry was drowned out by an earth-shattering boom.

The Blood Marquis Puppet was clearly far stronger than him; at first exchange, Helan Ying was forced to retreat again and again.

Upon the wild mountain slopes, waves of terror surged forth!

On the side, Wuo Longyue, furious beyond measure, could not help but join the battle as well.

In a twinkling, Helan Ying grew utterly disheveled, retreating step after step!

Witnessing this, Zhao Mushen on the other side was left dumbfounded.

What was going on?

That brat wasn’t dead?

"Blood Marquis Puppet... could it be?" As the grand commandant of the Guo Wen Division’s Demon Ape Army, how could Zhao Mushen not have heard of the Blood Marquis Puppet by name?

His heart trembled, his face full of dread.

"It might not be a bad thing!" A gleam of calculation flashed through Zhao Mushen’s eyes as he quietly took his leave.

As a Daqian man, now was not the time for him to show himself.

Since that one had come, Xu Yang would surely be fine!

"Rise."

Tuoba Hongyu extended her palm.

Xu Yang gave her a glance, but did not take her hand, instead pushing himself off the ground.

Tuoba Hongyu took no offense, instead appraising the bedraggled Xu Yang before smiling faintly: "I have been searching for you all along. Never did I expect you would be here in the Kunwu Division; it was only Helan Ying’s disturbance that brought me here."

Xu Yang looked at Tuoba Hongyu, inner heart resigned.

Blessing or misfortune!

The Barbarian Princess had saved him, but he well understood: it would be nigh impossible to remain in the Kunwu Division from now on.

She had come with Wuo Longyue—likely already privy to his identity as an Alchemist.

No matter Wuo Longyue’s reluctance, he could no longer stop this!

To go to the Barbarian King Court was certainly not as carefree as in the Kunwu Division.

Yet he had no choice.

"How may I address you?" Xu Yang drew a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts surging within him.

Though everything had spiraled beyond his control, perhaps it was not all for the worse.

"Tuoba Hongyu!"

"Husband, there is no need to be so distant!"

"..."

The muscles in Xu Yang’s face convulsed. "Your Highness Princess, I would prefer you not address me as such. I am but a discarded child of the King Beixuan’s estate—far unworthy of the title!"

"Moreover, we both know this is but a formality."

Tuoba Hongyu arched her willow brows, half smiling: "It seems husband does not fancy me. True enough, my Barbarian Race and the Human Race differ greatly."

To speak honestly, Tuoba Hongyu was not only no less attractive, but in fact strikingly beautiful.

Unlike the beauty of the Human Race,

it was a savage, wild beauty—supremely heroic!

Nor could it be said this was Xu Yang’s sole taste alone; even in Daqian, countless men would be stunned.

"Husband has astonishing talent in martial arts, and is a fourth-rank Alchemist. Even if it is but a formality, I will make this formality real!" Tuoba Hongyu stared intently at Xu Yang, enunciating every word.

Xu Yang frowned slightly. "Is this truly necessary? I will cooperate. Between you and I—"

"I do not care!"

Tuoba Hongyu abruptly cut him off, her voice faint: "If husband is unwilling, I may simply resort to force."

"..."

Xu Yang stared blankly at Tuoba Hongyu, then slowly shut his mouth.

No point in further talk.

Resort to force?

You are the Barbarian Princess, after all.

Though the Barbarians are said to be wild, this still entirely upends his expectations.

Rumble!

A figure crashed wretchedly into the mountain gorge.

Immediately after—

The Blood Marquis Puppet flung a body over.

Helan Ying was in a pitiful state, battered and miserable.

A single Blood Marquis Puppet would not have been enough—but with the furious Wuo Longyue aiding, it was another matter entirely.

As a division chief, Wuo Longyue’s strength was no less than his own!

To speak truly, Wuo Longyue could very well have wanted to kill Helan Ying outright.

Things had been well enough—Xu Yang could have long remained within the Kunwu Division, refining endless pills and lending it strength!

But because of Helan Ying, Tuoba Hongyu had been drawn here!

When he first learned Xu Yang’s identity, he had been stunned.

But after gathering his wits, he truly didn’t care.

Whatever his identity—so long as he could do alchemy, it sufficed.

But now, Xu Yang could not possibly stay in the Kunwu Division any longer.

To the Kunwu Division, it was a staggering loss!

Helan Ying—truly deserved death.

Looking upon Helan Ying, a chill flashed through Xu Yang’s gaze.

"Your Highness, he—must die!" Helan Ying fought to lift his head, glaring at Tuoba Hongyu without the slightest hint of weakness.

"May I kill him?"

Xu Yang suddenly spoke.

Helan Ying’s face did not change, but he stared fixedly at Xu Yang, murderous intent ablaze.

Tuoba Hongyu was momentarily startled, then slowly shook her head. "He cannot die."

If Helan Ying were killed, not to mention losing a Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse, both the army and the Helan Division would face massive upheaval.

These past years, Helan Ying had not only earned immense prestige in the military, but was also of the utmost importance to the Helan Division!

Were Helan Ying to be slain, the Helan Division would surely be thrown into chaos.

Xu Yang was unreconciled.

To let Helan Ying off just like that?

Judging from the man’s still unbowed air, if given the chance, he would no doubt strike again.

"Leave it to me."

Tuoba Hongyu cast Xu Yang a brief smile, then strode to Helan Ying; her lips moved, but no sound could be heard.

Moments later—

Helan Ying’s eyes went wide in shock. "How could this be?"

Tuoba Hongyu said blandly, "True or false, General Helan will see soon enough."

"Of course, I advise General Helan not to act foolishly again. Otherwise—even should disaster follow—I will show no mercy!"

Helan Ying’s face changed again and again; at last, he cast Xu Yang a sullen glance, then slowly lowered his head.

Some matters that impacted the larger picture, he understood his place.

"Your Highness, may Mr. Xu remain in the Kunwu Division a few more days?" Wuo Longyue at last could not hold back.

He was truly loathe to see Xu Yang go so soon.

Having tasted sweetness, to return to blandness—who could accept it?

Easy the road from frugality to luxury, hard from luxury to frugality indeed!

Tuoba Hongyu shook her head. "Mr. Wuo, since my husband has suffered assassination attempts in the Barbarian lands, and we have not even completed the ceremony, I cannot leave him outside any longer. I trust Mr. Wuo will understand."

At her words—

Everyone present wore sour expressions.

Calling him "husband" at every turn; those who didn’t know would truly think them lovers, soul-deep in feeling!

Even Wuo Longyue turned his head aside, his face fixed in a stiff, bitter smile.

How am I to respond to all this?

Xu Yang was now thoroughly speechless.

He wanted to protest, but recalling Tuoba Hongyu’s earlier show of dominance, to be honest, he truly feared being forced.

Gazing at Helan Ying, Xu Yang suddenly said, "May I say a few words to him?"

Tuoba Hongyu glanced at Xu Yang, smiling gently: "Of course."

The smile was most discomfiting.

Xu Yang ignored it completely.

Striding to Helan Ying’s side, Xu Yang covertly gave Wuo Longyue a look.

Wuo Longyue was briefly startled; the next moment, his heart pounded.

"You’re disappointed you didn’t kill me, aren’t you?"

Xu Yang crouched down, grinning at Helan Ying.

Helan Ying scowled, silent!

By now, he could only accept reality.

Suddenly—

Wuo Longyue vanished from where he stood.

"Chief Wuo?"

Tuoba Hongyu called out instinctively.

Boom!

Unprepared, Helan Ying was struck to the ground by a palm from Wuo Longyue.

Had he been at full strength, he might have resisted!

But grievously wounded as he was, he could not muster the slightest fight.

"Stop!"

Tuoba Hongyu’s face changed dramatically, her urgent voice ringing with fury.

Yet Xu Yang and Wuo Longyue hesitated not in the least!

With one palm, Wuo Longyue pinned Helan Ying, while with the other seized his right arm directly.

Swish!

Xu Yang summoned the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod with a single thought, left hand gripping the tripod, right hand a saber.

The Demon Dragon Saber uttered a shrill keening, and hacked fiercely toward Helan Ying’s right arm.