I Am Overlord c1-962
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When the many disciples heard, envy filled them. Many even cursed, saying, "That damn fatty has gotten lucky."
If Zhuge Zhantian heard those words, he would probably spit blood from sheer rage. Sure, he was somewhat chubby, but he definitely didn't consider himself fat! While the academy's preparation for the holy maiden's visit was in full swing, the holy maiden in question was leisurely traveling in the embrace of a handsome young man.
This time, she was no longer traveling on Old Urchin's shabby donkey carriage. Rather, she was seated on a carriage pulled by eight dragonblood horses. The curtain around the carriage, surrounded by maidservants, gently rippled about. A hundred and eight mounted guards were also traveling alongside the carriage. It was quite a luxurious and high-profile procession.
It was a shame that right in front of them was a shabby donkey carriage, completely destroying the procession's image. It was as if an entire pot of fine porridge had been spoiled by a clump of rat feces.
"Holy son-in-law, won't going to the academy in this manner be too high profile? Why don't we send them all back? Just Grandpa Urchin alone is enough," said Tuoba Wan'er while feeding Xiang Shaoyun some spirit fruits.
The pair was displaying the scene of a loving couple that could invite jealousy everywhere they went.
Xiang Shaoyun smiled and replied, "You are the holy maiden, and this is your first visit to the Dragon Phoenix Academy. Only by being high profile can you show how extraordinary you are. If you go on Senior Urchin's carriage, I bet you won't even get through the academy gate."
"No wonder the first elder made it clear that I should bring all these guards with me. So that was why," said Tuoba Wan'er.
"Yes. As the holy maiden, you need to show the splendor of a holy maiden," said Xiang Shaoyun. Inwardly, however, he thought, Shit, this is too high profile. How am I supposed to explain this if Caidie saw this?
Although it was normal for a man to have multiple wives, Yu Caidie and Tuoba Wan'er were the type of women that would take a man all his luck to get. No men would reject them even if the cost was a reduction of their lifespan by 100 years.
Meanwhile, Xiang Shaoyun had two of them for himself. But he was afraid that the two holy maidens would clash with each other, causing him to suffer.
Suddenly, a large group appeared and surrounded the procession. The newcomers were bandits, and there were more than 500 of them. They did not look weak.
"Audacious criminals! You dare block the Holy Hall's procession? You are courting death!" shouted the commander.
Instantly, the guards assumed a battle stance. Their weapons were drawn as they braced for battle. As for Old Urchin, he was still humming his Great Donkey Driving Technique song, completely disregarding the bandits.
"I don't care who you are. Kill all the men and capture all the women. We will properly taste them later. Brothers, go!" commanded the bandit leader.
The pitiful bandit leader did not seem to have good eyes. He was unaware of the scariness of the group before him. He thought he would have the advantage due to his superior numbers, and he was completely oblivious to the fact that he was akin to a lamb that had stumbled right into a tiger's den.
As Xiang Shaoyun looked at the bandits, his battle intent soared. He charged out of the carriage and shouted to the guards, "Protect the holy maiden. These bandits shall serve as my target practice."
The guard commander naturally did not wish to see Xiang Shaoyun endanger himself. But Old Urchin suddenly said, "Listen to the holy son-in-law. Let us witness the holy son-in-law's splendor as he fights a multitude of enemies all by himself."
His words rendered the commander helpless. The commander looked at Tuoba Wan'er, waiting for the holy maiden's decision.
"Follow the holy son-in-law's command. If things get dangerous for him, it won't be too late for us to help," said Tuoba Wan'er after some hesitation.
At this time, Xiang Shaoyun had already arrived before the bandits. He shouted, "Bandits, prepare to die!"
A powerful gravity field broke out and enveloped the bandits. The heavy pressure instantly caused their mounts to collapse, and numerous palms that looked more like slabs slammed down at the bandits.
At the same time, the bandit leader roared, commanding the bandits to attack Xiang Shaoyun, "Kill, kill him!"
The bandit leader was merely a peak Emperor. Although there was a decent number of Emperors among them, they were nothing in Xiang Shaoyun's eyes.
Xiang Shaoyun was simply unstoppable. As he sent forth Major Slab Palms, he smashed dozens of bandits into mincemeat. Wails rang out repeatedly, and the desert was dyed red with blood.
The guards were overwhelmed with shock as they witnessed Xiang Shaoyun's might. They found it hard to believe that the holy son-in-law was only a sixth-stage Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator. In fact, they felt like this was the kind of strength that belonged to a Sovereign.
They sighed, "The man that has caught the holy maiden's eyes is indeed extraordinary."
Chapter 821: That Bastard
Today, the sun was shining brightly while the sky was blue and clear. Clouds drifted about, with a gentle breeze in the air. The weather was calm and pleasant.
The Dragon Phoenix Academy was fully prepared to welcome the honored guest. The numerous disciples stood in a tidy formation, separated into two sides. The men were heroic, the women were charming. Each disciple shone like the brightest sun, full of youthful vigor.
Not all disciples were a part of the welcoming group. Only about 1,000 of them were selected to be in the formation. That was enough to express the importance they were attaching to this guest. If all disciples were utilized, it would seem like the academy was trying to fawn on the Holy Earth Hall. They had to exercise moderation in this welcoming ceremony.
The 1,000 disciples were all picked from the Overlord Legion, once again demonstrating their current status in the academy.
Of course, they were the ones picked mainly because Zhuge Zhantian was the main commander for this exercise. Since he was an Overlord Legion member, he had long developed good teamwork with his fellow members. Thus, they were the perfect choice.
The academy gave Zhuge Zhantian full control in the arrangements, ignoring what the other disciples had to say.
Of the disciples, some were envious while some viewed them with disdain. The envy was due to the opportunity for the Overlord Legion members to show up, gaining a chance to win the holy maiden's favor. As for the disdain, it originated from the fact that they did not need to keep rehearsing the welcoming ceremony like what the Overlord Legion members had been made to do.
Whatever the disciples thought, the Overlord Legion members fully cooperated with Zhuge Zhantian. Although rehearsing the welcoming formation was boring, it also had strict requirements on position, movement, and presence. Every practice they went through deepened their understanding of formations, allowing them to quickly understand the war formations utilized during wartime. Even when faced with different formations in the future, they wouldn't be going in completely blind either.
Only the Overlord Legion members understood the benefits of participation. Furthermore, Zhuge Zhantian was most likely a successor of the legendary Zhuge Clan. Befriending him was the equivalent of befriending a future formation grandmaster.
Atop the jade steps at the academy's entrance, a group led by an elder stood waiting for the holy maiden's arrival. The observing disciples in the area started engaging in curious discussions.
"Even an elder is here. Which organization is this holy maiden from to be worthy of such respect?"
"Yeah, they wouldn't even welcome my sect master in this fashion if he visited personally."
"Perhaps this organization is related to the academy. The academy won't do all this otherwise."
"We'll know soon. I hope she doesn't disappoint."
...
Soon, a group appeared at the teleportation before the entrance. The first thing everyone saw was a shabby carriage pulled by an old
donkey and a sloppy old man seated lazily on it while humming a song. He looked like someone from the countryside who had just arrived at a big city, appearing completely disharmonious with his surroundings.
The disciples nearly broke out in laughter. If it wasn't for the impressive group that appeared immediately after the carriage, they would have definitely left and not bothered to continue watching. This impressive group was most definitely the visitors from the Holy Earth Hall.
The commander leading the group was mounted on a handsome steed. Facing the academy's elders, he announced loudly, "The Holy Hall's holy maiden is here to visit the Dragon Phoenix Academy."
"Welcome, holy maiden. Please enter. The welcoming banquet is ready," said an elder.
The Holy Hall people naturally weren't arrogant enough to enter immediately. They all dismounted, and even Tuoba Wan'er, the main character of this visit, got off the carriage. It would seem too disrespectful otherwise.
"Holy son-in-law, shall we go together?" said Tuoba Wan'er.
Xiang Shaoyun quickly used voice transmission, "You can get off alone. I'll stay here, or the academy fellows will recognize me, and it won't be good."
"What's not good about it? I will declare that you're my husband!" said Tuoba Wan'er with a trace of smugness on her face before pulling Xiang Shaoyun off the carriage.
Xiang Shaoyun was left with no choice. He couldn't exactly twist his hand free, or he would hurt her heart. He could only brace himself as he thought, Screw it. I shall bravely face my death.
The only thing he feared was Yu Caidie finding out about him becoming the holy son-in-law. He did not know how to explain himself to her.
First, Qiu Yue and Qiu Shui got off the carriage. They stood there, attending to Tuoba Wan'er and Xiang Shaoyun as they alighted the carriage.
The disciples were completely dazed at the sight of Tuoba Wan'er. They had been wondering how the holy maiden would look, and her beauty surpassed all their imaginations. She was simply a flawless woman.
Her face was enchanting, her hourglass figure was perfect, and her temperament was filled with grace. It was as if the world lost all splendor in her presence. The male disciples were fully focused on her and completely disregarded everyone else.
After a long while, they finally woke up from their daze. They then saw Tuoba Wan'er holding the hand of a man. The sight caused them to start wailing.
"Gods, how can such a beautiful woman exist? In our academy, only Yu Caidie is comparable to her."
"What is her name? I must know her name! I must obtain her! She is mine! She's too beautiful!"
"Hey, who's that man she's holding hands with? He seems familiar?"
"Isn't he the dead Xiang Shaoyun? Why is he with the holy maiden? Had he stolen her before any of us? That bastard! He's unforgivable!"
"That is definitely the case. Look how intimately they are holding hands. The holy maiden is even leaning on him. This is not fair!"
...
The disciples grew restless. It wasn't easy for people like them to take a liking to a woman, but they found that she already had a lover. They couldn't accept that. More importantly, that man was actually someone from their academy, and he was rumored to be in a relationship with Yu Caidie!
How could that fellow be allowed to own two perfect beauties?
Excitement filled the Overlord Legion members among the welcoming group. They had the urge to rush forward and greet Xiang Shaoyun, but Zhuge Zhantian's voice rang out, "Welcome to the Dragon Phoenix Academy, holy maiden!"
Along with his shout, the entire disciple formation instantly turned solemn. They raised their swords uniformly and sent an outburst of sword energy into the sky. The scene was gorgeous, as though a flower was blooming right before their eyes.
The rain of swords consisted of non-destructive sword energies mainly used for ceremonial purposes, and it served as a demonstration of the Dragon Phoenix Academy's splendor.
While Xiang Shaoyun and Tuoba Wan'er were walking toward the jade stairs, a lithe figure suddenly appeared in their path.
Chapter 822: Fairies in Conflict
Xiang Shaoyun had been praying that Yu Caidie wouldn't see him and Tuoba Wan'er here. He would then find some time to explain himself to her. Alas, human proposes and heaven disposes.
They had barely taken a few steps from the carriage before Yu Caidie appeared before them. He was so frightened his heart nearly popped out of his mouth. This was akin to the clash between the sun and the moon. What should he do now?
The surrounding people widened their eyes when they saw this scene. They had long heard of the rumor about Xiang Shaoyun's relationship with Yu Caidie, but that rumor had never been substantiated. With Yu Caidie appearing soon after Xiang Shaoyun returned with a beauty, they had no choice but to believe the rumor.
At the same time, they also rejoiced at Xiang Shaoyun's misfortune as they thought, It will be for the best if the two fairies can dump him. That way, I will have a chance!
Among the welcoming disciples, Tang Longfei slapped his forehead as he thought, Well,this will be troublesome for Shaoyun.
Of course, he was mostly filled with relief over Xiang Shaoyun's safe return. The other Overlord Legion members shared the same feeling. As for Lady Shura, when she saw Xiang Shaoyun by Tuoba Wan'er's side, her heart ached. Inwardly, she sighed, Perhaps I should take even more initiative.
Lady Shura did not mind Xiang Shaoyun having other women. After all, she could never control an outstanding man like him. However, she did not wish to end up forgotten.
"Caidie, I..." Xiang Shaoyun did not know what to say.
Beside him, Tuoba Wan'er felt some sort of sense as she tightened her arm around Xiang Shaoyun's arm and asked, "Husband, who is this little sister?"
Tuoba Wan'er had always been sweet-tempered, but that did not mean she was ignorant. On the contrary, she was incredibly intelligent. She wouldn't have been able to reach the Soul Foundation Realm before 40 years old otherwise.
The woman before her equally matched her in terms of looks. From how the woman was behaving, it was obvious she was a love rival. Thus, an appropriate response was required.
From how Tuoba Wan'er was reacting, it was evident how important Xiang Shaoyun was to Tuoba Wan'er now.
Xiang Shaoyun nearly fainted when Tuoba Wan'er called him husband publicly. Inwardly, he cried, It's over.
He was confident Yu Caidie would turn back and leave, or perhaps she would give him a slap before severing all contact with him. He shut his eyes, awaiting the incoming storm. The storm did not arrive, however, and everyone found it unreal.
Yu Caidie stepped to the other side of Xiang Shaoyun, ignored Tuoba Wan'er, and said with worry in her eyes, "I heard you encountered a super sandstorm at the Desert of Despair. I thought something bad had happened to you. I was worried sick. Now that you're back, I'm relieved."
Xiang Shaoyun was touched to hear the concern in her voice. He gently replied, "Caidie, sorry for making you worried. I'm back."
"Um. It's good that you're back. You haven't forgotten the promise between us, right?" asked Yu Caidie, blinking her big eyes.
"What promise is that? Tell me about it, husband," said Tuoba Wan'er. She was extremely dissatisfied with how Yu Caidie was ignoring her, but it wouldn't be proper to flare up then and there. Instead, she had to make her presence known to prevent Yu Caidie from snatching her man.
Before Xiang Shaoyun could say anything, Yu Caidie answered, "That's a secret between him and me. We can't let unrelated people know."
This time, Tuoba Wan'er was truly furious. How did she become an unrelated person? She decided to ignore Yu Caidie and said to Xiang Shaoyun, "Husband, your academy's elders are still waiting for us. We can't be lacking in manners and make them wait."
She emphasized the word husband, as though she was afraid Yu Caidie wouldn't hear it. Her voice was filled with provocation.
Xiang Shaoyun braced himself and suggested, "Wan'er, why don't you go ahead?"
<
br /> Truthfully, Yu Caidie was the most important woman to him. He felt that she was the woman he loved most as decreed by fate, a feeling he had had since their first meeting. It was as though they had been together in their previous life.
Xiang Shaoyun was sure Yu Caidie shared the feeling, but she had never shown it. She wouldn't have agreed to his courtship and set up the promise with him otherwise.
"No. We're here together. How can I go alone? This is half your home. How can you not show your wife around?" Tuoba Wan'er pulled Xiang Shaoyun's hand and started throwing a tantrum.
The disciples around them were nearly driven crazy from envy. Nobody could resist a woman like that speaking in such a tone. Alas, she wasn't speaking like that to them.
Xiang Shaoyun felt like dying as he cursed inwardly, If I had known this would happen, I would have returned alone.
Tuoba Wan'er thought she could chase Yu Caidie away with that, but Yu Caidie seemed not to mind it. Instead, she brazenly hugged Xiang Shaoyun's other arm and said, "Why didn't you inform me before taking a concubine? It's not like I'm a conservative woman."
The surrounding disciples almost fainted when they heard the exchange.
Those words had obviously proved her relationship with Xiang Shaoyun. She was the goddess of all the academy's disciples. They couldn't accept her destroying her image like this.
Tuoba Wan'er shot Yu Caidie a hostile look as she pinched Xiang Shaoyun's waist. On the other side of his waist, Yu Caidie was doing the same. He felt like he was being tortured by fire and ice at the same time, his face filled with awkwardness.
"Hehe, it's good to be young and full of passion. Don't just stand there, come on in," said the welcoming elder with a laugh.
Those words had obviously saved Xiang Shaoyun, filling his heart with gratitude.
And thus, Xiang Shaoyun entered the academy flanked by two beauties. The surrounding disciples showered him with glares that could most certainly riddle him with holes if eyes could kill.