Chapter 1491: The Most Handsome in the World

Zu An nodded. Time was pressing, so he quickly stated the purpose of his visit.

The Great Elf King typically exuded a cool and handsome demeanor. However, upon hearing what Zu An had to say, his expression instantly became incredibly animated, nearly transforming him from an aloof, handsome middle-aged man into a master of exaggerated facial expressions.

"Assist the Little Prince..." After hearing the full story, the Great Elf King remained noncommittal. Instead, he turned to the Little Demon Empress and the others, asking, "May I speak with Zu An alone for a few moments?"

"Of course," the Little Demon Empress replied. Their reaction did not surprise her. She nodded with a smile to the others, then gracefully walked out.

The Great Elf King felt no stir in his heart at her enchanting smile and peerless beauty. The Elf race had no shortage of handsome men and beautiful women; it was less shocking than seeing himself in the mirror every morning.

Soon, the others followed the Little Demon Empress to the outer room. Qiao Xueying initially wanted to stay, but the Great Elf King said, "Xue'er, you should go out too."

Qiao Xueying was startled. "Father, don't bully Ah Zu."

The Great Elf King was a Grandmaster cultivator, so Zu An being alone with him was somewhat risky.

The Great Elf King's face darkened, confirming the saying that a grown daughter won't stay home. "He just saved my life. Is your father the kind of person who repays kindness with enmity?"

Qiao Xueying stuck out her tongue, then pouted and left, looking back every few steps. It was hard to tell if she was reluctant to leave her father after a long time apart, or her lover.

After everyone else had left, Zu An cupped his hands to the Great Elf King. "Uncle, is there something you wish to discuss with me?"

The Great Elf King said coldly, "You've already gotten my daughter into bed, and you still call me 'Uncle'?"

Zu An was speechless.

*Xue'er told her father about this?*

As if seeing through his thoughts, the Great Elf King said, "Xue'er cast the 'Half-Life Bond.' As the Elf King, I naturally understand the conditions for casting it. Throughout history, few elves have been willing to sacrifice half their lifespan to perform it. I had originally imagined she would find a handsome young man unmatched in heaven or on earth..."

He finished by appraising Zu An from head to toe. "Now it seems, you're just... ordinary."

Zu An was speechless.

Then the Great Elf King added, "Never mind. Though you're a bit ordinary, you're still much better than most of the ugly people in this world. Since Xue'er was even willing to give you the Half-Life Bond, I suppose you must be a decent person. I trust my daughter's judgment."

"Thank you, Father-in-law," Zu An said, exhaling in relief. He thought, *I finally passed this hurdle. Indeed, meeting parents is never easy, no matter the world.*

Hearing the words "Father-in-law," the Great Elf King's eyelid twitched. "You haven't officially married yet, so for now, call me 'Uncle'."

Zu An was speechless.

*Didn't you just object to being called 'Uncle'?*

"We'll discuss your matter with Xue'er later," the Great Elf King said, his expression suddenly turning very serious. "You mentioned assisting the Little Prince earlier. Are you serious?"

Seeing Zu An nod, his voice rose a few octaves. "That's not a wise idea. The Little Prince is still so young; how could he become the Demon Emperor? Asking me to stake the entire Elf race on his ascension is essentially asking the entire Elf race to go to their deaths."

Zu An explained, "Crown Prince Golden Crow and I have an irreconcilable feud. If he ascends the throne, he won't spare me, and it would also be disadvantageous for your Elf race."

The Great Elf King was aware that Crown Prince Golden Crow had previously pursued his daughter. In fact, many within the tribe had advised him to agree to the marriage, as it would be a great honor. If Xue'er became the Demon Empress, the entire Elf race would naturally rise in status, surpassing the other two great royal clans.

However, he had his own hidden troubles. Xue'er had already formed a 'Half-Life Bond' with another man and was no longer a maiden. If she were to truly marry into the imperial family, the truth would surely come out. At that point, it would not only be a misfortune for the Elf race but a disaster of epic proportions.

That was why he had initially disagreed to Xue'er marrying the Crown Prince. As it concerned the "Half-Life Bond," the greatest secret of the Elf royal family, he couldn't speak plainly.

This led the Demon Emperor to believe he was challenging his authority, so he had him imprisoned under a fabricated excuse to teach him a lesson.

However, not supporting the Crown Prince didn't necessarily mean he had to support the Little Demon Empress and her son.

Zu An reiterated his previous reasons, then added, "Choosing the Little Prince is a last resort. Besides, his youth is a disadvantage, but it's also an advantage."

"An advantage?" The Great Elf King frowned. "I don't see any advantage."

Zu An explained, "When a young emperor ascends the throne, he will inevitably rely on the assistance of respected elder statesmen. At that time, throughout the entire demon race, who would be more suitable for that role than you?"

The Great Elf King said with some displeasure, "Laboring over court affairs will make my skin loose and dull, causing premature aging and affecting my peerless appearance."

Zu An: "???"

He never expected such a reply from the other party. *You're already so old, and all this time, you're actually a narcissist?*

He had no choice but to change his approach. "Uncle, even if you view power as dirt, you must consider the Elf race. I imagine you wouldn't want to be thrown into the Celestial Prison like this again, with the entire Elf race teetering on the brink."

Seeing that the other party remained somewhat unmoved, an idea suddenly struck Zu An. "Furthermore, if you truly become the top power broker in the demon race, with the merit of supporting the new emperor, then all the tribute treasures from across the demon race, even the supreme treasures hidden in the imperial palace, and the rare items exchanged with the human race—you would be able to enjoy them all first. Many of these have miraculous effects for skincare and beauty."

Upon hearing this, the Great Elf King's eyes immediately lit up. "Hmm, I do need to consider the well-being of the entire Elf race. In that case, we shall support the Little Prince."

Zu An was speechless.

*It seems I've found the way to deal with this narcissistic father-in-law.*

The two soon walked out together, looking pleased. Seeing the smiles on their faces, the initially tense Little Demon Empress breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she wondered privately how Zu An had persuaded the Great Elf King, who was known for his carefree and detached nature.

This matter was of great importance. Even with his close relationship with the Elf Princess, the Great Elf King wouldn't be swayed so easily, would he?

*I'll have to thank Zu An properly later. He has done too much for me.*

After stepping out, the Great Elf King's gaze fell upon Yu Yanluo, his eyes showing some surprise. "Oh, such beauty! Could you be the new Medusa Queen?"

Yu Yanluo smiled and nodded. "Greetings, Great Elf King."

The Great Elf King showed a hint of nostalgia. "You truly resemble your mother. Your mother was one of the few individuals whose beauty I felt could rival my own."

Everyone was speechless.

Qiao Xueying, standing by, was dumbfounded. *Could it be that Father was a suitor of Yu Yanluo's mother back then?*

*Oh dear, this is so embarrassing for me.*

Fortunately, the Great Elf King quickly snapped back to attention and said to the Little Demon Empress, "Next, I will return to organize my tribal subordinates. This will still require some time. You all should try to gather more support in the meantime. Relying solely on the strength of our two families may not be enough to influence the current situation in the royal court."

"Thank you, Great Elf King!" The Little Demon Empress nodded slightly, but felt a pang of distress in her heart. *Who else can I win over now?*

Her gaze fell upon Zu An, and seeing his confident demeanor, her somewhat flustered heart gradually settled.

"Xue'er, come back with Father. Father needs your help," the Great Elf King beckoned to Qiao Xueying.

He had been imprisoned in the Celestial Prison for so long that he wasn't fully aware of the latest tribal affairs, so he needed his daughter to accompany him.

Qiao Xueying was somewhat reluctant to part with her lover, but she also knew how important the day's events were. She could only follow her father, albeit with lingering reluctance.

After exiting the Celestial Prison gates, the Great Elf King saw Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue and was momentarily stunned. "Oh, the human race actually has beauties comparable to us elves? Xue'er, you're so thoughtless!"

Qiao Xueying was taken aback. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Elves are naturally more beautiful than other races, and you have me, the most handsome father in the world. Yet your beauty is merely on par with theirs. It's truly a disgrace to your father," the Great Elf King said with displeasure.

Seeing Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue's gazes, which were akin to looking at an idiotic pervert, Qiao Xueying covered her face, desperately wanting to say that she had no relation to this man.