Nine Star Hegemon Body Art

Chapter 5854: Liu Changtian

Long Chen had not expected Liu Xihua to be Liu Ruyan’s mother. No wonder Lan Yin’s proposal to Liu Ruyan had enraged the Undying race so thoroughly.

In human terms, Liu Ruyan was essentially the princess of the Undying Willow race. For the Devil Eye Water Lily race to want her to marry Lan Yin? That was a blatant provocation—practically courting death.

Initially, Long Chen had assumed that Liu Ruyan’s high status stemmed purely from her immense power and talent. But this revelation added a deeper layer to her identity.

Shaking her head, Liu Ruyan replied, “It doesn’t matter. If this is Miss Xihua’s decision, then it is correct.”

There was clearly some estrangement between this mother and daughter. Liu Ruyan didn’t seem close to her mother at all—her words were formal, devoid of warmth.

Long Chen was startled. Liu Ruyan’s origins had always been shrouded in mystery. The fact that she had appeared in the lower world in the first place never made much sense. Could there be a deeper secret behind it all?

With her personality, Liu Ruyan wouldn’t leave enemies behind to sound the alarm. There was no point in showing mercy to people who would never be grateful. Worse, if they were released, the Undying race’s strength and internal affairs would be partially exposed. For her, it was better to directly kill them and make sure that their enemies knew nothing of them.

But Liu Xihua was the leader of the Undying race. Since she had given the order, opposing it would be equivalent to publicly challenging her authority. So, Liu Ruyan remained silent.

Liu Xihua seemed to have long since grown accustomed to Liu Ruyan’s frosty attitude and didn’t take it to heart. Instead, she turned toward Long Chen, scanning him from head to toe.

Liu Xihua’s soft expression stiffened, and her gaze grew cold. There was even a flicker of anger in her eyes.

Long Chen had just been about to pay his respects when he heard that… and he instantly froze.

Marriage agreement?

Only then did he realize that when Liu Ruyan said she was “engaged,” she had been referring to him.

But when had that happened?! Not to mention a formal marriage contract—they had never even spoken such words!

Liu Xihua’s tone and expression were that of a mother scolding a man who had deceived her daughter. Long Chen suddenly felt like a swindler caught red-handed.

The surrounding Undying race experts also turned their gazes on him, their previously favorable impressions evaporating in an instant.

“So it’s him? That despicable swindler from the human race?!” exclaimed someone.

Long Chen cursed silently. How did I become a swindler in all this?!

He turned to Liu Ruyan, but she simply stared at him without speaking.

He then glanced at Chu Yao. She gave him a subtle wink and squeezed his hand, signaling something he didn’t quite grasp.

Am I supposed to take the blame for this?

Though confused, Long Chen instinctively sensed that he probably had no choice but to accept the blame.

Could it be... Liu Ruyan used this marriage as an excuse to reject another arrangement that the Undying race had made for her?

Faced with Liu Xihua’s sharp gaze, Long Chen shamelessly straightened his spine and replied, “Calling me a swindler seems a bit harsh. Love between a man and a woman is a mutual matter. You can’t force it. How can you say that I swindled her?”

His words denied nothing while cleverly leaving room for maneuver. If his guess was right, this might be the best way to play along.

Liu Xihua’s eyes narrowed, her gaze like a blade slicing into his soul. Any ordinary person, if guilty, would have been cowed by that stare.

However, just who was Long Chen? He was the unmatched scoundrel of the new era, with a face as thick as a city wall.

Most importantly, Long Chen didn’t feel any guilt. What was there for him to fear?

And besides... Liu Xihua was stunning. Despite her age, time had not dulled her beauty. Unlike a maiden’s innocent charm, she exuded a mature, refined allure. No man should fear her stare.

“Do you hate me?” she asked suddenly.

Her stern expression melted into a smile, taking even Long Chen off guard. The surrounding Undying race members were equally stunned.

“Why would I hate you? Weren’t you the one who saved me just now?” Long Chen replied, shaking his head.

Liu Ruyan’s expression changed the moment those words left Long Chen’s mouth. She seemed furious.

In truth, when Long Chen had failed to kill the elder from the Daluo Azure Lotus race in his sneak attack, Liu Xihua had a clear opportunity to act—but she hesitated. That brief delay nearly cost Long Chen his life, it hadn't gone unnoticed by him.

The delay wasn’t due to her lack of reaction speed—it was a deliberate pause because of an internal conflict. If Long Chen died, the so-called engagement would be rendered void, and Liu Ruyan would be free of the burden.

But in the end, Liu Xihua couldn't bring herself to let him die.

Others hadn’t sensed Liu Xihua’s hesitation, but Long Chen had. His battle instincts were too sharp to miss it. Based on timing alone, she should have followed up the moment he struck. At the time, he was curious why she had been so slow.

But now that he knew there was such a marriage agreement, everything made sense.

“I hate you!” Liu Ruyan suddenly shouted and then vanished.

“Ruyan!”

Chu Yao instinctively wanted to chase after her, but she was currently healing Long Chen and couldn’t move.

Liu Xihua sighed helplessly. “Ruyan simply has that kind of temper. Don’t worry about her. You should bring Long Chen back so he can rest.”

“Yes.” Chu Yao respectfully bowed before preparing to leave with Long Chen.

But Long Chen interjected, “Wait. Let me clean up the battlefield first.”

He didn’t stand on courtesy. With a wave of his hand, he swept all the broken limbs and corpses on the battlefield into the primal chaos space.

These were the bodies of powerful experts, and even in death, they retained their human form. Hence, collecting them was easy.

After that was done, Chu Yao dragged him away.

Liu Xihua watched as they left. She then gave a few orders before also vanishing.

…

Within a hidden underground palace, Liu Xihua knelt respectfully before a throne.

She said, “I have a report for his majesty…”

A man sat there with his back to her, surrounded by endless flowing runes. His figure radiated boundless power and a weight that seemed to crush the air.

It was vaguely possible to see that his hair had started to gray.

This man was Liu Changtian—the supreme leader of the Undying race and also their highest figure of faith. He was a living fossil who had survived even the primal chaos war.

As Liu Xihua reported the events—the annihilation of the Devil Eye Water Lily race and the Daluo Azure Lotus experts—he showed no reaction.

But the moment Long Chen’s name was mentioned, the runes around him exploded with killing intent, filling the entire palace with pressure.

“My daughter will not marry a human.”

His voice was calm, but beneath it seethed murderous intent.

“Give him three days. If he doesn’t leave... kill him.”