Many children, many blessings; the twelve ancestral witches forced marriages throughout the primordi

The Heavenly Court, the Lingxiao Palace.

Haotian was sitting on the dragon throne, staring blankly, with the flattened crown on his head.

He's been truly miserable these past few days. His daughter is gone, his reputation is ruined, even his crown has become a flat-topped pot lid, making him a laughingstock throughout the three realms.

Venus walked in cautiously, holding a gold-embossed invitation in his hand.

"Your Majesty..." Venus's voice trembled, "People have arrived from the Pangu Palace."

Haotian shuddered: "Who? Xing Tian is here?"

"No...it's not Xing Tian." Taibai Jinxing swallowed hard. "It's...it's that guy, oh right, it's Kuafu. He said he came to deliver an invitation."

"An invitation?" Haotian was taken aback. "What invitation?"

"It is said...it is said that the thirteenth ancestral witch, Lin Xuan, is going to marry Princess Longji, and invites Your Majesty to come...to attend the wedding banquet."

"Snapped!"

Haotian slammed his hand on the dragon table, trembling with anger.

"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Haotian roared. "He stole my daughter and now he wants me to attend his wedding? Is he trying to humiliate me in public? I won't go! I'd rather die than go!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Venus said with a bitter face, "The Great Shaman Kuafu is still waiting outside. He said... he said if you don't go, he will plant that peach wood staff on the South Heavenly Gate, and everyone who enters or leaves will have to pay a toll."

Haotian's vision went black.

These witch clan thugs!

"Tell him to get lost! I'm unwell and can't go!" Haotian said through gritted teeth.

Just as Venus was about to go out to reply, a massive aura suddenly rushed into the Lingxiao Palace.

"Oh dear, His Majesty is ill? Then I, Old Xing, must come and pay him a visit!"

A gruff voice rang out, followed by Xing Tian's imposing figure swaggering in. He carried his signature axe, the blade still stained with the blood of some unfortunate monster.

Haotian was so startled that he jumped up from his dragon throne: "Xing...Xingtian? Weren't you in the Pangu Palace?"

"I'm here to welcome His Majesty." Xing Tian grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth. "The Thirteen Ancestral Witches said that Princess Longji is, after all, His Majesty's own daughter. On such a joyous occasion, it would be inappropriate for her father-in-law not to be present. If word got out, people would think that our Witch Clan doesn't know etiquette."

Haotian stared at the gleaming axe and cursed Lin Xuan's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind.

When did your witch clan ever learn about etiquette?

"I...I really don't feel well." Haotian clutched his chest, trying to feign illness.

"Feeling unwell? That's because your blood and qi are not flowing smoothly." Xing Tian brandished his axe. "How about I draw some blood from His Majesty? That should clear up the qi and make him feel better."

Haotian's face twitched: "No...no need. I feel...a bit better."

"That's good." Xing Tian stepped forward and grabbed Hao Tian's shoulder with such force that it almost broke Hao Tian's bones. "Let's go, Your Majesty. The carriage is ready—the Nine-Dragon Sandalwood Carriage, specially borrowed by our Wu Clan. Quite impressive!"

Haotian's eyes rolled back as he was being strangled: "Wait... I... I still need to prepare a gift..."

"Gifts?" Xing Tian slapped his forehead. "Right, right, I almost forgot. The Thirteen Ancestral Witches said that His Majesty is the Heavenly Emperor, so he'll definitely be generous. Don't bring out ordinary innate spiritual treasures; it'll be beneath him. I heard there are a few peaches that ripen once every nine thousand years in the Heavenly Treasury? And some kind of star essence? Bring them all; the more the better."

Haotian's heart was bleeding.

That was his savings that he had accumulated over a long period of time!

But under Xing Tian's "enthusiastic" gaze, Hao Tian could only nod with tears in his eyes: "Take...take them all."

Half an hour later.

The Heavenly Court's procession set off.

Haotian sat in the Nine Dragons Incense Chariot, with Xingtian beside him, grinning maliciously. Behind them followed a long line of heavenly soldiers and generals, carrying large and small boxes of gifts.

This isn't going to a wedding banquet; it's being kidnapped to pay a ransom!

"Your Majesty, cheer up." Xing Tian patted Haotian on the back. "Today is your daughter's big day. Who are you going to look at with that long face? Smile!"

Haotian forced out a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

"That's more like it." Xing Tian nodded in satisfaction. "When we get there, remember to praise my Thirteenth Ancestral Witch. If you say something wrong... hehe, my axe has been a bit dull lately, and I was just thinking of finding something hard to sharpen it."

Haotian shrank back, completely resigned to his fate.

At this moment, the Pangu Palace was already a sea of ​​red.

Since Lin Xuan renovated the Pangu Palace, this place is no longer that gloomy and terrifying cave, but a magnificent and spectacular immortal city.

Everywhere was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and red silk was laid out for miles.

Many powerful figures came to offer their congratulations.

The Tongtian Sect Leader arrived in a grand procession, riding on the Kui Niu and accompanied by Duobao and a host of disciples.

"Haha! Brother Lin Xuan, congratulations!" Tongtian laughed heartily, casually tossing out a storage bag. "This is a gift for the bride, a few innate spiritual treasures. Take them and play with them!"

Duobao watched from behind, feeling a pang of heartache; his master was being far too extravagant.

Taiqing Laozi also came. He didn't want to come, but he was afraid that Lin Xuan would cause some trouble against the Human Sect again, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and come to give gifts, and also to see if he could ease the tension.

As for Yuanshi Tianzun? He's still sulking in Yuxu Palace, having gone into seclusion and refusing to see any guests, pretending he doesn't know anything about it.

Just then, the welcoming shaman at the entrance shouted loudly: "The Jade Emperor of Heaven has arrived! He brings ten baskets of nine-thousand-year-old peaches! One hundred bottles of star essence! Two top-grade innate spiritual treasures!"

The entire room fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked towards the doorway.

Haotian walked in stiffly, "supported" by Xingtian.

The flat-topped crown on his head gleamed in the sunlight, making him look particularly comical.

"Hey, isn't this Junior Brother Haotian?" Tongtian Sect Leader was the first to speak up and tease. "This look is quite unique. Where did you get it done? I'd like to get one too."

Haotian's face turned a deep shade of liver, and he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Lin Xuan, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, came out to greet them with a beaming smile.

"Oh my, Father-in-law is here!" Lin Xuan's address of "Father-in-law" was incredibly affectionate. "Please, take a seat! Xing Tian, ​​what's wrong with you? How could you let your father-in-law walk in? Go and get a chair!"

Haotian looked at Lin Xuan's smiling face and felt a mix of emotions.

This is the man who pushed himself to the brink.

But now, looking at the hall full of guests and this grand scene, Haotian suddenly felt that marrying Longji to him... might not be so bad? At least it's better than marrying that tentacle monster, right?

Thinking of that tentacle monster, Haotian suddenly remembered the rumors he had heard on the way.

I've heard about that Cundi from the West...

"Lin Xuan," Haotian took a deep breath, trying to appear dignified, "Now that I'm here, I accept this marriage. I only hope that you will... treat Longji well in the future."

"Don't worry." Lin Xuan put away his playful smile and nodded solemnly. "To me, she will always be a princess."