The Corruption Dragon God: Lust System Chapter 482 - We are old acquaintances

"Seraphine? Excellent! I've been eager to arrange a marriage for that girl for ages! Hahahaha." The elderly man burst into even louder laughter.

This response from him caught everyone present completely off guard. Could Lucios truly hold such high regard for that youth?

He paid no attention to the stares coming from the surrounding thrones, nor to the requests seeking approval to discipline Qingyi.

In his view, they amounted to nothing more than pesky insects, and that's precisely how he regarded them.

The bronze dragon soaring overhead let out a mighty roar, quieting the entire assembly. It was wiser not to press the issue while the elder remained in high spirits.

Indeed, should his temper turn foul, nobody in attendance would wish to linger nearby or provoke his wrath in any way.

'Ah... Naturally, Seraphine turns out to be one of his granddaughters...' Qingyi mused inwardly.

He had overlooked the fact that the old man's backing of the present patriarch of the draconic elves and ruler of the Grand Duchy of Vaeldrinn wasn't without cause.

Lucios was indeed his father.

This revelation only complicated matters further in eliminating that scoundrel.

The striking youth clenched his jaw, staying resolute and keeping his chin lifted defiantly.

Lucios settled back onto his throne, his gaze fixed on Viola, the protector of Seraphine.

"Are you in agreement with this decision?" He inquired.

Viola shuddered, her legs nearly buckling, yet she merely lowered her head in contemplation.

"Yes, Lord Lucios!" Viola proclaimed with firm resolve, lifting her gaze.

Thus, the matter was settled. Not a soul among them would venture to claim Qingyi from her grasp.

She merely wished this choice proved correct.

"Fine then, ready the subsequent bout." The aged Lucios gestured toward the fighters, jolting them from their daze.

Qingyi inclined his head, descending from the stone stage that promptly started to mend itself.

He took a seat in the shadows, disregarding the envious and covetous glances aimed his way. overtures of camaraderie received only icy indifference. Even those with seemingly genuine motives were dismissed, as Qingyi lacked the energy to distinguish them from the rest of the scheming, avaricious crowd.

For an unexplained reason, his pulse raced quicker than usual.

"Is this anxiety gripping me?" Qingyi pondered.

So many years had passed since his form last buzzed with genuine nervousness that the sensation felt utterly alien.

Maybe it stemmed from the joy of soon erasing the sorrow from his cherished Elize's soul. He understood that on that occasion, her eyes would brim only with joyful tears, free forever from the pain of separation.

What worth did he possess as a husband if he failed to grant such solace to his devoted partners?

Letting out a breath, Qingyi observed the clashes with a listless demeanor.

None of the remaining skirmishes held a candle to the intensity of his showdown with Lux.

A few thrones even arched brows in mild interest, though that marked the extent of it.

Ultimately, they stood in formation, with each throne picking its favored contender in haphazard sequence.

Bids flared over the standout talents, including the still-unconscious Lux as a prize of desire, yet these rivalries stayed contained beneath Lucios' unyielding watch.

The youths gathered couldn't hide their letdown upon noticing the formidable twelfth-ring fighter showed no intent to select a champion following Qingyi's earlier rejection.

Of course, none dared display it openly.

Eventually, fifty victors were chosen swiftly, while the others were ushered toward the departure with gloomy stares.

All trailed their fresh overseers, and Qingyi followed suit, aligning with Viola.

The sentinel offered no words to him. Under her dark iron visor, her features appeared tangled in conflict.

In quiet, she led the way to the vast dais.

With Qingyi beside her, a potent rift in space engulfed their forms, the ambient mana warping instantly around them.

By the time Qingyi registered it, they had arrived in an entirely new realm. The mana concentration enveloping him surged dramatically, the very breath he drew cleaner than ever.

They stood before a manor encircled by vibrant, meticulously tended gardens, despite the structure itself lying forsaken for years. Ordinarily, Viola would escort him straight to the patriarch, but she opted for a brief diversion.

At once, Qingyi caught the sharp clash of metal on metal. A refined and graceful elven blade entered his sight, poised at his neck.

"What drives your interest in Lady Seraphine?" Viola pressed, angling the edge firmer to coax a thin line of blood.

Much to her astonishment, Qingyi stayed motionless, his flesh unyielding.

The weapon seemed powerless to pierce him.

She pulled back a touch, yet Qingyi offered no response.

After brief reflection, the appealing youth answered curtly,

"We share a history as acquaintances."

"Acquaintances? With Lady Seraphine? How long have you known one another?" Viola probed, her expression deepening with doubt.

How could she accept that this outsider had prior ties to her lady?

"Pose that query to Lady Seraphine directly, not to me. She'll reveal all that's necessary." Qingyi's tone sharpened, tinged with annoyance.

He possessed neither the patience nor the desire to entertain this woman's foolish suspicions.

Viola clamped her jaws, clutching her blade with greater force.

She kept the steel against Qingyi's throat a beat longer before withdrawing.

She could delay no further.

With a flick of her fingers, the spatial runes underfoot activated, teleporting them anew.

This occasion placed them amid an vast expanse of stone; opulent estates and bastions, each fortified meticulously, with vigilant sentries roaming the pristine avenues.

Qingyi spotted numerous highborn elites and several dragons, all converging toward one edifice: a shadowy fortress.

It loomed so grand that its spires harbored a massive creature with crimson hide. Its hide bore countless marks of battle, its right socket housing a blaze of emptiness.

"This has to be RedDeath..." Qingyi echoed silently to himself.

He observed the bronze dragon alight next to the scarlet one,

the pair trading furious bellows prior to dismissing each other entirely.