Following that announcement.
In the entire front courtyard of the Ma Residence, whether it was the Yao Race clinking cups or the Human Race Cultivators forcing smiles, everyone froze in unison.
The next moment.
The massive crowd stood up from their seats in unison.
Whether human or Yao, all faced the gate of the residence, expressions respectful, standing with hands hanging down.
Even the notoriously hot-tempered Demon Kings were exceptionally well-behaved at this moment, fearing that their breathing might be too loud and displease that Demon Emperor.
This deathly silence lasted for the duration of an incense stick.
From beginning to end, the bone carriage parked outside the residence gate did not move a single inch.
After an incense stick's time.
The curtains of the bone carriage were finally lifted by a slender hand.
First to step out was a black-gold boot.
Immediately following, the entire figure stepped out from the carriage.
It was a deer.
It was completely different from the two Deer Demons greeting guests at the entrance.
This deer had a slender figure, its body covered in white fur like satin, with towering antlers seven or eight feet long, wrapped in pale golden patterns.
Its eyes were narrow and long, with pupils like vertical lines.
It had already transformed into mostly human form, yet it insisted on keeping that deer head.
A black-gold robe was draped over its shoulders, the hem trailing three feet on the ground.
Behind it, two Deer Demon attendants followed with bowed backs, tidying its robe hem.
It truly had the air of looking down on the world, arrogant and unyielding.
He stopped.
His narrow eyes swept coldly across the courtyard.
His gaze passed over the trembling Human Race Cultivators without a hint of lingering.
Finally, it landed on the few Demon Emperors at the main table.
After a long time.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor finally curled his lip, revealing a mouthful of bone-white sharp teeth: "Actually, this Emperor does not want to deal with these superficial things... It is just a concubine, there is no need for such a grand display."
Having said this, he paused.
His vertical pupils narrowed slowly, looking indifferently in a certain direction.
"But these Human Race are always keen on these tedious formalities. Getting married or marrying off a daughter, they want to announce it to the whole world. Even when this Emperor takes a concubine, it is made into such a spectacle. It is truly... pfft..."
He did not finish his sentence.
He simply sneered.
But the meaning in that sneer was self-evident.
Upon hearing this.
The Human Race Cultivators in the courtyard all had dark expressions, their fists tightly clenched within their sleeves.
Yet no one dared to speak out in rebuttal.
It would be one thing for a woman of a prestigious Cultivator clan to marry a demon... but to be humiliated like this.
This was not just looking down on the Ma Family.
It was clearly looking down on the entire Human Race!
But what could they do?
All emotions, in the face of absolute strength, turned into deep powerlessness.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor ignored the reaction of the Human Race Cultivators and turned to look at the Demon Kings and Demon Emperors.
The coldness on his face dissipated slightly, replaced by warmth.
"However."
"On second thought, it has been a long time since I gathered with all of you fellow Daoists."
As he spoke, he stepped forward a few paces, casually picked up a wine cup from the table, and raised it from afar.
"Just in time to use this excuse... let today's wine be a small gathering among us brothers. Everyone, drink to your heart's content, do not hold back!"
As his voice fell.
The demons in the courtyard immediately erupted into earth-shattering cheers.
"Lord Demon Emperor speaks the truth!"
"Many thanks to the Demon Emperor for the wine!"
Ma Dewang stood to the side, his old face flushed red.
These words were undoubtedly tearing the Ma Family's face off in front of everyone and throwing it on the ground to be trampled.
But he did not dare to show even the slightest dissatisfaction.
He even had to put on a smiling face.
The Old Man hurried forward, picked up the wine pot, and respectfully prepared to pour wine for Jue Chen Demon Emperor.
"The Demon Emperor is right. For the Demon Emperor to take a liking to my daughter is a blessing the Ma Family cultivated over eight lifetimes... To be able to use this opportunity to have all you great kings gather at the Ma Residence makes this humble home shine."
"It is just that... the auspicious time has arrived, can the ceremony... begin?"
He only prayed to finish this formality quickly, send away his granddaughter and that hot-potato treasure, and completely end this disaster.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor glanced sideways at Ma Dewang.
He picked up the wine cup and took a light sip.
"You old dog... you are quite sensible. Then let us begin."
Having received the nod.
Ma Dewang felt as if he had been granted amnesty.
He immediately turned around and shouted at the top of his lungs: "The auspicious time has arrived!"
Following that shout.
The music that had paused began to play again.
The festive music was deafening.
Firecrackers blared in unison.
The demons in the courtyard lifted their wine bowls and cheered loudly.
The Human Race Cultivators could only force smiles and raise their cups as well.
The entire front courtyard of the Ma Residence fell into an extremely strange and distorted liveliness.
When a prestigious Human Race Cultivator clan marries off a daughter, there should be many complicated rituals.
Even if it is just taking a concubine, the procedures of crossing the fire basin, bowing to heaven and earth, and serving tea to listen to instructions should at least be performed in the main hall.
The Old Man Ma Dewang, in order to preserve the last shred of the Ma Family's dignity, had already prepared everything in the main hall.
He only hoped that this overlord would have the patience to sit there for a while.
To let the Ma Family keep a shred of dignity in front of the Human Race Cultivators in the Region.
But how could Jue Chen Demon Emperor care about these trivial formalities?
He did not even look at Ma Dewang, strode forward with his long legs, passed the respectfully standing Ma Family members, and swaggered toward the main seat in the front courtyard.
The old steward in charge of the ceremony opened his mouth, but forced the rest of the words back into his stomach.
He could only watch helplessly as this great Yao Race power sat openly on the main seat.
At the main table.
It was already filled with several notorious Demon Emperors from around the Yu Mountain Great Range.
Seeing Jue Chen sit down, this group of giant demons who usually dominated their own territories restrained their wild behavior.
A Demon Emperor with a dragon head and green scales was the first to raise a large wine vessel, offering congratulations in a rough voice.
"Congratulations to Brother Jue Chen for getting your wish today and winning the beauty. That eldest Young Miss of the Ma Family is said to be very pretty. Brother Jue Chen, you have good fortune."
"Come, come, come, a toast to the Demon Emperor."
Flattery and sycophancy rose one after another.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor leaned back in his chair, casually clinking cups with this group of so-called brothers.
After three rounds of wine.
A Bear Demon sitting on the left, the most burly of them all, finally could not suppress the doubt in his heart.
He lowered his voice and leaned in a bit closer.
"Actually, brother, I really do not understand... We all know what kind of place the Yu Mountain Great Range is... In this place, whoever has the biggest fist is the boss. When the Yao Race acts, if we take a fancy to a Human Race furnace, or crave someone's blood food, we just take them back to our Immortal Cave. Which Human Race clan dares to say a word?"
"You, Demon Emperor, are at the Ascending the Tower Perfection, and behind you is the origin of the Xirang Lineage. Even if you slaughtered the Ma Family on the spot, who could do anything to you?"
"Why give the Ma Family the status of a legitimate concubine..."
Once these words were spoken.
The other Demon Emperors at the table also stopped their wine cups and pricked up their ears.
Who among the Demon Emperors present did not know what Jue Chen Demon Emperor's usual style was?
But today was indeed too unusual...
As for the so-called gathering for everyone... that kind of nonsense is just for listening, who would take it seriously?
The principle that when something is unusual, there must be a demon behind it, they understood better than the Human Race.