Chapter 505 - 169: Do You Have Feelings For Him? You Will Be the Main Wife, a Plot For the Saint Noble Family

"Besides, from the way he came to visit you in person today, he does seem to care a great deal about you, Qing’Er."

Tantai Qing remained silent.

"Are you fond of him?" Tantai Xu asked suddenly.

Tantai Qing was taken aback, then shook her head. "In this life, I only wish to pursue the Great Dao. I have no room in my heart for romance."

Tantai Xu sighed. "That truly is a pity."

Tantai Qing raised her eyes, looking at him with a hint of confusion.

"Failing to kill Helian Wen is a trivial matter," Tantai Xu said. "Before long, the Helian Family will cease to exist anyway. A mere Helian Wen can’t make any waves at all."

"The most important thing now is the family’s future foundation. I have considered it carefully. And seeing today that Jiang Lan’s concern for you doesn’t seem to be an act, I’ve decided that for the sake of the family, we can only ask you, Qing’Er, to make a sacrifice."

Tantai Qing was stunned, finding his words utterly baffling.

’How did this suddenly become about me making a sacrifice?’

"Grandfather, what do you mean by that?" she asked, her brows furrowing.

Tantai Xu turned to face her. "The family may need a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister’s Mansion."

Tantai Qing’s heart dropped as a sudden realization dawned on her.

"Grandfather, I am supposed to become a Saint in the future, bear the family’s glory, and lead us to a new peak. Don’t tell me you intend for me to form a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister’s Mansion? What’s more, Jiang Lan has already married the Empress of Great Xia. Are you telling me to go over there and be his concubine?" The shock and disbelief in her eyes were unconcealed.

"The Empress of Great Xia is but a puppet. Pay her no mind. When you marry him, you will be the principal wife. Following the recent disturbance in the Demon Abyss, the seal within will crumble in half a year at the earliest, or three years at the latest. When that time comes, the Demon Calamity will erupt. Not even Immortal Ascension Island will be left, let alone the three great Noble Families."

"If we had a hundred years, it would be enough time for you to mature. But we are out of time. Before the Demon Calamity breaks out, we must exhaust every option to ensure the family can retreat. You are clever; you know who is the only one in the world today who can help our family." Tantai Xu sighed, his voice tinged with helplessness.

If they had any other choice, why would the Tantai Family ever discard a Celestial Pride who had the potential to become a Saint?

Only they knew how much effort and how many resources they had poured into Tantai Qing over the years.

They could, in theory, abandon the Little World that housed their clan territory and retreat. But without a Little World to serve as their foundation...

...could a Noble Family of a Saint still call itself that? How would they be any different from any other powerful, influential family?

Tantai Qing clenched her teeth. She was no fool. The moment Tantai Xu said the Demon Calamity would erupt in three years at the latest, she understood the consequences.

’There was no time. No time for me to grow.’

’To become a Saint in three years? It was nothing but a pipe dream.’

’And that didn’t even account for other incidents that might cause the Demon Calamity to erupt sooner.’

"Isn’t there any other way besides a marriage alliance? If we offer enough benefits, we could surely persuade that expert from the Taiyi Sect to take action."

"And how can you guarantee, Grandfather, that the Tantai Family won’t be slowly devoured and absorbed by the Prime Minister’s Mansion after the alliance?" Tantai Qing was still unwilling to accept this fate.

"As long as you become a Saint in the future, Qing’Er, that situation will not happen. That is why you are the most suitable candidate." Tantai Xu looked at her, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Resentment and anger filled Tantai Qing’s eyes. "That’s just the best-case scenario. How can one allow another to sleep soundly in one’s own bed? Why would the Prime Minister’s Mansion ever allow me to become a Saint?"

"But that’s where Jiang Lan comes in, isn’t it?" Tantai Xu said. "You saw how much he cares for you, didn’t you? Helian Wen was hailed as the future hope of the Helian Family, yet you had him wrapped around your little finger. Why would Jiang Lan be any different?"

Tantai Qing was suddenly at a loss for words, her slender hands clenching into fists. ’Me, wrap Jiang Lan around my finger? It remains to be seen who would be wrapping whom around their finger.’

’She felt that her grandfather was still gravely underestimating Jiang Lan’s true power and methods.’

’But some things were better left unsaid, to be buried deep in her heart—just like her secrets and her ambition.’

"We’ll leave it at that for now. The family hasn’t made a final decision yet, but once I make my position known, the matter will be settled. You can also try to think of a way out yourself." With a wave of his hand, Tantai Xu left the courtyard.

"I will not be a pawn for anyone. Not even for my family."

Tantai Qing watched Tantai Xu’s departing figure, a cold glint in her eyes as her fists clenched.

Meanwhile, as undercurrents surged within the Tantai Clan Territory...

In the outside world, news of the assassination attempt on Tantai Qing by Helian Wen, the former sixth son of the Helian Family, soon spread across Immortal Ascension Island, causing a massive uproar.

With the Tantai Family deliberately fanning the flames, the story spread through every street and alley in just half a day.

Many people didn’t know who Helian Wen was at first, but they were soon informed of his identity by the local residents of Immortal Ascension Island and left utterly shocked.

The sixth son of the Helian Family, a Celestial Pride of his generation, and also Tantai Qing’s fiancé.

Unfortunately, after being exposed for stealing a Holy Object from the Elder Pavilion, he had fled to the Demon Abyss Zone and plunged into its depths.

The incident had become a stain on the Helian Family’s reputation, and countless people had secretly sneered at them for it.

For a great Noble Family of a Saint to produce such a figure was a complete and utter embarrassment.

The Helian Family had expended immense effort to suppress the scandal back then, to the point that it had become a taboo subject.

But who could have known that after all these years, Helian Wen, a man thought long dead, would suddenly reappear and launch a sneak attack on Tantai Qing, leaving her severely injured...