Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’
Chapter 265: Aquarium Dating Event: The Ice Block is About to Enter the Scene

The sky blazed with light, casting a golden halo around the Suspended Temple atop Golden Summit Mountain, creating a breathtaking spectacle of grandeur.

At the foot of Golden Summit Mountain, the scene was bustling as usual, with numerous demon clans gathered, the air thick with tension—just like every other year.

But this time, the reason for the tension seemed... a little off.

The fishbone boat slowly drifted toward the shore. Little Li the Heavenly Serpent gazed at the sky, as if searching for something in the distant horizon.

Murong Feng’s bald head gleamed so brightly that one might mistake him for a monk descending from the Suspended Temple.

Wu Qing and Murong Feng stood tall and proud, their chests puffed out. Seeing the aquatic clans waiting there, they couldn’t help but feel that the Mingjiao Clan was no longer what it used to be.

"Aunt Wu, can we take a detour?"

"All aquatic clans must wait here for the monks of the Suspended Temple to guide them in. We are cultured serpents—we can’t just barge in and break the rules."

Li Mo observed the grand spectacle nearby.

He had imagined that if his human identity were ever exposed, he might be torn apart by the demon beasts.

But now, even before his identity was revealed, that risk seemed all too real.

"When I was your age, I was already with Xiao’s mother," Murong Feng said with a chuckle. "If you meet the right one, it’s best to settle down early."

Wu Qing blushed and lightly smacked her husband’s arm.

"How did you and Aunt Wu get together back then?" Li Mo couldn’t help but ask, curious.

Murong Feng looked at his wife and child with tenderness, reminiscing:

"In my youth, I was full of ambition, determined to journey to Central Divine Land, testing my sword against the world’s heroes and witnessing the wonders of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Along the way, I met Xiao’s mother."

"We roamed the rivers and lakes together, righting wrongs, robbing the rich to aid the poor. Qing was far stronger than me—she even made it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking and once deciphered the Hengyun Sword Mark."

"Do you know of the Hengyun Sword Mark?"

Murong Feng stroked his beard, lost in nostalgia for his younger days.

Wu Qing, too, recalled the sunsets of Yun Province, the days of running freely under the setting sun...

"Ahem... Sword Mark? What sword mark? Never heard of it."

Li Mo decided it was best to play the ignorant country serpent.

He couldn’t very well say, Uncle, Auntie, your youth is now just a hammer...

"What happened next?"

"On our way back to the Eastern Wasteland, my wife and I discovered something unusual in a temple—someone was using the ‘Observe Oneself as Divinity’ technique to siphon the faith of mortals to nourish their spirit. It drew the pursuit of the Demon Summoning Sect."

"To save me, my wife had no choice but to reveal her true form. That was when I learned she wasn’t human."

Li Mo nodded.

He could almost guess how things unfolded afterward. Discovering that his beloved was one of the so-called "disaster beasts," Murong Feng must have been shocked, wrestled with his conscience, but ultimately chose love over convention, defying the world’s scorn.

Truly, the man had guts.

"After finding out Aunt Wu was a serpent, Uncle must have faced an incredibly difficult decision, right?"

"Not really."

"Huh?"

"He got even more excited."

Wu Qing shot her husband a reproachful glance.

And thus, Murong Xiao was born.

Li Mo: "......"

A tiny question mark popped up above Little Li’s head, refusing to fade.

Murong Feng declared proudly, "My wife and I have lived happily ever since. So when it comes to true love, species shouldn’t be a dealbreaker."

"......"

Li Mo decided words were unnecessary and simply gave a thumbs-up.

You really have the right to be proud. You’re something else.

Murong Feng glanced at the distant commotion and added, "As for quantity..."

"Hmm?"

Wu Qing narrowed her eyes, her vertical pupils flickering as her smile turned unnervingly serene.

"We’ll let quality triumph over quantity. A real man should be devoted to one!"

At that moment, the fishbone boat docked at the shore.

Li Mo stepped off, intending to slip away unnoticed. But before he could make his escape, a cold voice rang out from nearby.

"Wu Mo, you’ve finally arrived!"

"Shut your beak."

Little Li the Heavenly Serpent clenched his fists.

The speaker was a golden-armored, golden-haired, golden-eyed youth. His feathered wings and aura marked him unmistakably as a member of the Roc Clan, with several other Roc clansmen flanking him—though none matched his power.

His emotionless golden eyes carried a faint trace of bloodlust.

The feud between the Roc Clan and the Mingjiao Clan was common knowledge throughout the Southern Border, so this confrontation was expected.

Yet, at this moment, no one cared about their rivalry.

"Is that Wu Mo? Not only does he have majestic horns, but his features are strikingly handsome too."

"No wonder they say he carries the bloodline of a True Dragon. Look at his horns, his scales."

"I suspect he doesn’t just have a trace of True Dragon blood."

"Oh?"

"He is a True Dragon in the flesh—a peerless Heavenly Serpent!"

The aquatic clans buzzed with excitement.

The allure of the True Dragon bloodline was too great.

Take, for example, an ordinary clan of conch and mussel demons from the South Sea. By some stroke of fortune, they once caught the favor of a True Dragon, inheriting its bloodline.

That clan, now known as the Jiaotu Clan, had thrived ever since.

Then there were the Qiu Niu... Ba Xia... Chi Wen...

These mighty demon clans, all flourished after receiving the Dragon’s blessing.

If not for the fact that this was the Suspended Temple’s territory, where no demon dared cause trouble, some would have already lunged at Little Li to drag him away by force.

What was supposed to be a tense battle for the Celestial Jade had turned into a frenzied aquatic matchmaking event.

It was all... rather sudden.

"The Rock Shrimp Clan has prepared ten chests of rare treasures, hoping to invite the Heavenly Serpent of the Mingjiao Clan for a chat!"

The Rock Shrimp Clan specialized in burrowing through earth and stone, hiding within it.

Thus, they had suddenly emerged from the ground near the docks—clearly having lain in ambush for this very moment, eager to be the first.

"Sorry!"

Looking at the shrimp maiden, Little Li felt a headache coming on.

The Rock Shrimp Clan was reluctant to give up, trailing closely behind.

"Wait! If your True Dragon bloodline merges with our Rock Shrimp lineage, the offspring will surely be extraordinary! We’ve even picked a name—"

"Lobster!"

"......"

Little Li quickened his pace to escape.

Before the other aquatic clans could swarm him, a group of towering figures—muscular even in human form, standing half a head taller than ordinary men—barged through the crowd with brute force.

Their garments were strung with clattering seashells, blocking out the sunlight as they stood there.

"My name is Guo Jing. The Giant Whale Clan’s bloodline is already mighty. If we join forces, it’ll be a union of powerhouses."

The muscular maiden Guo Jing spoke shyly.

She, too, was a genius of her clan, bearing the bloodline of a Dragon Whale. She wasn’t just looked strong—she could truly lift mountains with her might.

With them blocking the way, the other aquatic clans couldn’t get close.

Wu Qing and Murong Feng exchanged intrigued glances, though they kept their thoughts to themselves.

"We’re... too different."

"Different how?"

Li Mo’s lips twitched.

Sister, are you blind?

Your arms are thicker than my thighs—and that’s in human form. If you shifted to your true body...

Meanwhile, twenty miles outside the Suspended Temple...

From this vantage point, the massive golden ring atop Golden Summit Mountain could already be glimpsed in the distance.

Under the clear sky, the Qingluan Clan soared through the heavens, their presence adding a touch of splendor to the boundless, cloudless expanse. Among the many avian tribes and bird demons journeying toward the Hanging Temple, none dared obstruct their path.

At the forefront of this noble and graceful clan was a young maiden.

It was as if the sky itself had cleared just for her.

The name "Divine Maiden of the Qingluan" had long echoed across the Southern Border, earned through her countless battles against calamitous beasts and malevolent demons.

Her serene, distant eyes rippled faintly as she gazed toward the Hanging Temple.

Was she anticipating the sight of the Celestial Jade from beyond the heavens—or perhaps...

Something else entirely?