Let me explain, it's not what you think.

Before Lu Chen could ask a question, the commotion outside had already rushed in.

The sounds were mixed, including lion roars and human voices.

Zi Yao stood up from his arms, the softness on her face vanishing in an instant, replaced by a coldness that Lu Chen had never seen before.

Her purple eyes gleamed slightly, and the golden bell on her ankle moved without any wind.

She didn't speak, but walked towards the palace gate, each step heavy, the golden bells ringing louder and louder.

Seeing this, Lu Chen quickly followed to see what had happened.

The moment the palace doors opened, Lu Chen saw that the open space outside the palace was filled with a dark mass of lions.

Some retain their human form, while others reveal their true forms directly, with gold, silver, black, and white manes billowing in the wind.

Zi Yao stood at the top of the steps, her bare feet on the amethyst stones, her purple dress fluttering in the wind.

Her gaze swept over the dark mass of lions, but she didn't speak; she simply stood there.

But at this very stop, the voices of those young lions seemed to be choked by something, and they instantly fell silent.

Some lowered their heads, some took a half step back, and some simply lay down on the ground, even breathing softly.

Her century-long reputation wasn't built by shouting; it was earned by Zi Yao, claw by claw.

"What brings you to my palace? Do you think your lives are too long?"

No lion dared to raise its head.

There is only one exception.

Zi Yao's gaze was fixed on the Crimson Heart Jade Lion at the very front of the pride.

The lion maintained its human form, was extremely tall, dressed in white, and had a somewhat effeminate appearance.

"Lord Ziyao."

The white-clad lion bowed slightly, his posture respectful, but the light in his eyes was anything but respectful.

"We already know that you are now a member of a human's harem. As per the rules of our Lion Clan, don't we have the right to challenge him?"

Zi Yao's purple pupils narrowed slightly.

She never expected that things would be exposed so quickly!

And standing in front of her is a lion of the same clan as Jiang Yu. Could it be that this exposure is related to Jiang Yu?

But at this moment, she clearly couldn't care less about Jiang Yu; she had to face the lions.

"According to the rules of the Lion Clan, you are indeed entitled to challenge him."

"However, my king is currently only at the Golden Core stage, so among you, only the lions at the Golden Core stage can challenge him. Humans, no!"

"Of course, Lady Ziyao, please invite that human. Our purpose is precisely for you and Lady Jiangyu! After all, who in the entire Lion Clan doesn't admire you two fairies?"

"If we allow a mere human to possess you two, where will our lion race's face be?"

"Yes! Where is the face of our lion clan?! Bring that human out here, we want to duel him!"

Spurred on by the white-clad lion, many lions began to eagerly anticipate Zi Yao's arrival, their eyes filled with greed as they looked at her.

Upon seeing this commotion, Zi Yao instinctively wanted to shield Lu Chen behind her, but he gently pressed her shoulder and shook his head.

If it's just the Golden Core stage, then there's still something to say about him.

After all, he possessed the primordial yin power of Su Ningxin and Zi Yao. In recent days, he had also received some guidance from Zi Yao, and his strength had improved by leaps and bounds. He was no longer someone who could be easily defeated by Tantai Qingxue.

Seeing that Lu Chen had come out on his own initiative, Zi Yao did not dare to disobey him. Instead, she stepped aside and whispered in his ear.

"My lord, rest assured. If... if you are no match for them, I would rather die than be taken away by them. I will be yours for life!"

"Snapped!"

In front of everyone, Lu Chen hit Zi Yao's ( ).

"Stop saying discouraging things. You really don't believe in my abilities?"

"Hmm... I understand!"

Zi Yao lowered her head and looked down, not daring to say a word, completely like a wronged little wife.

Their appearance in public and their demeanor behind closed doors left everyone speechless, and then they went even crazier.

Although they didn't know what Zi Yao said that made Lu Chen hit her, she was the fairy Zi Yao in their hearts!

"Damn humans, you're not allowed to lay a hand on Lady Ziyao!"

"I'm going to kill you! You've ruined my image of Lady Ziyao!"

However, no matter how much they cry, it doesn't change anything.

Thus, the lions at the Golden Core stage all stepped forward, determined to fight Lu Chen.

A male lion with a pure white coat took the first step, his body agile and his eyes burning.

"I'll go first! A hundred years ago, my uncle proposed to Lady Ziyao, but was rejected. Today, I want to see what kind of man can make her bow her head!"

Before he could finish speaking, a black lion next to him rammed him aside.

"Who the hell do you think you are? It was your uncle who was rejected a hundred years ago, not you. Now you want to steal it? I've admired Lady Ziyao since I was a child. It's my turn to go first."

Silver Lion stumbled from the impact, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.

"You're fucking asking for it!!"

The two lions instantly began to wrestle.

"Stop it, all of you!" roared the white-clad lion.

The silver lion and the black lion stopped fighting at the same time, but the resentment and malice in their eyes did not diminish at all.

"What's the point of arguing? They're both at the Golden Core stage, it doesn't matter who goes first. Why not... let this human choose for himself?"

The pride of lions was quiet for a moment, then erupted into chaos.

"Why should he get to choose?"

"Exactly! Who does he think he is?"

"I won't do it! I'll be the first one to do it!"

"You son of a bitch, are you a spy hired by the humans? And he even provoked you? Say another word, and I'll beat you up too!"

……

Lu Chen stood on the steps, watching the young lions shove, roar, and bare their teeth at each other over who would go first.

He was speechless.

But the pride of lions didn't care about Lu Chen's feelings. It's unclear which two lions struck first, but then came the third, the fourth, the fifth...

The lions at the Golden Core stage exploded like a powder keg that had been lit.

No one cared about Lu Chen anymore.

They only had eyes for each other. One said that Lady Ziyao should belong to me, and the other said that you are not worthy. The more they fought, the bigger the fire became, and the spiritual light exploded. Roars and screams were mixed together.

Lu Chen: "..."

He turned to look at Zi Yao, and Zi Yao looked back at him, her purple eyes filled with helplessness.

She never expected things to unfold in such a strange way.

She looked to the side and saw that Jiang Yu had also come out at some point, dressed in a plain white Buddhist robe with a cold expression.

With such a commotion outside, she naturally couldn't stay hidden inside the house forever.

However, she did not expect that her appearance would cause an even bigger riot.

"It's Fairy Jiangyu! Fairy Jiangyu is here too; she's also part of that human's harem!"

"Aaaaaaah! Humans, I will never forgive you!"

"For Lady Jiangyu's sake, I will definitely defeat you damned competitors!"

"For Lady Ziyao's sake, I absolutely cannot let you succeed!"

"I think you're talking nonsense! Ziyao and Jiangyu are both mine, mine!"

……

"Hmm, so this is the younger generation of your lion clan? Why do I feel... a bit repressed?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Yao blushed and covered her face as she walked into the palace.

Even Jiang Yu was the same, looking down at her feet.

"Alright, you guys continue. I'll wait for your winner inside," Lu Chen said to the pride of lions.

"Remember to call me when you're done."

After saying that, he turned around and walked back into the hall, catching up with Ziyao.

The lions just ruined my plans, so I need to make amends and calm them down.

He liked Ziyao's submissive nature the most.

Purple twin tails, a mature face, and her natal magic weapon.

……