Chapter 18: Reward

After that, Enzo pushed the book back toward Bryan, who clearly hadn’t expected his reaction.

"There’s no need to regret a failure. There will still be plenty of opportunities in the future." He was forced to offer some words of comfort.

"Don’t worry. I’m already used to this," Enzo replied with a light chuckle.

He didn’t show the slightest trace of a burden.

The others watching also fell silent.

If they talked about this afterward, they couldn’t help but mention his determination.

Bryan forced a smile, nodded, and left with his book.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our main event is about to begin. Groom, please proceed to the altar." The host spoke again.

Enzo immediately stood when he heard that.

The altar was in the middle of the hall, atop a small stage practically surrounded by the guests’ dining tables.

He walked there alone, accompanied by soft music.

An elderly priest was waiting at the altar. He looked extremely old, yet he was still healthy, with his back and neck remaining perfectly straight.

Enzo wasn’t sure where the Stanley Family had found this priest.

Soon, he reached the altar and stepped onto it.

"Boy, you’re very lucky." The elderly priest immediately spoke.

Hearing that, Enzo wasn’t sure how to react. He wondered if priests usually said that to men about to get married.

"I am lucky..." he replied with a forced smile.

"And now, let’s welcome the bride with a round of thunderous applause..." the host announced again.

At that moment, the curtains behind the stage parted in two, and red rose petals began falling onto the stage.

A dark corridor opened behind the curtains before beams of light illuminated it one after another.

A woman in a long white off-shoulder wedding gown stood there, holding a bouquet of flowers in various colors.

People initially applauded, but the moment they saw her, more and more of them fell silent in awe.

Her purple hair was elegantly tied up, adorned with a silver tiara covered in sparkling red gemstones.

All of it became even more beautiful because of her flawless face, leaving no room for criticism.

Her chin was naturally raised slightly, revealing a long, pale-white neck with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin.

People could only feel that their understanding of beauty had been expanded after seeing her.

Two young women with purple hair and blue dresses stood behind her, helping lift the long train of her wedding gown.

Both were clearly stunning, even possessing an aura that surpassed every other young woman among the guests. Yet, they attracted no one’s attention.

At this point, Enzo could only say that he was more than lucky. Luck alone wasn’t enough to explain this.

Miya might have naturally cold features, but she was still smiling, seemingly enjoying the moment.

"Bride, please proceed to the altar and meet your groom..." the host announced.

Miya stepped forward, descending the stage first with her eyes fixed on Enzo.

She gave him a private smile when their eyes met.

Wherever she passed, roses continued to fall.

And the people she happened to pass by held their breaths, afraid that even their breathing might disturb her.

They respected her beauty, but they respected her strength even more because she could destroy everyone here.

That was why she was the leader of the Stanley Family.

She was simply that powerful.

Even Lords of Earth had differences in strength.

Like Isabel, she was extraordinarily talented for becoming a Lord of Earth at such a young age. However, Miya had already reached the upper echelons of the Lord of Earth realm at the same age.

The closer she got to the altar, the more Enzo realized just how beautiful this woman was.

Her real appearance couldn’t compare to what the cameras captured.

She stepped onto the altar, and the two young women made sure her dress wasn’t stepped on.

They didn’t come up onto the altar themselves.

Only when the woman stood directly in front of him did Enzo become confused about what he was supposed to do.

"Are you nervous?" the woman asked in a gentle tone mixed with her naturally cold undertone, making her voice sound even more pleasant.

"Of course I’m nervous..." Enzo didn’t deny it.

He needed to control himself so his breathing wouldn’t become erratic.

"Yeah, that’s understandable since there are so many people here. I’m sure you won’t be nervous anymore once no one else is watching."

"I might still be nervous," Enzo replied.

"By the way, I brought a family heirloom ring..." Her voice became softer as she said that.

"A ring..." Miya nodded. "You certainly have to give me a ring."

"Ehmm..." The elderly priest suddenly cleared his throat.

"Wait until I bless the marriage before exchanging the rings," he said.

"Master, please do it quickly," Miya replied.

Enzo was surprised to hear that.

Miya called him Master.

Of course, it was impossible for this elderly priest to be her employer.

The only possibility was that he was her cultivation master.

"Hahaha, Miya, you’re really impatient. It seems this young man has truly been keeping you awake."

"I have indeed had trouble sleeping these past few days. Having a man in my life brings more excitement."

"You really..." The elderly priest shook his head.

"Priest, please bless this marriage..." the host spoke once again.

Perhaps no one here truly knew who this elderly priest was.

"Enzo Muller, Miya Stanley, do you promise to remain faithful to each other forever and always accept your partner’s shortcomings?" The elderly priest asked, looking back and forth between Enzo and Miya.

"Yes, of course..." Enzo, as the man, felt that he should answer immediately.

That made Miya smile, and she merely nodded lightly.

"Very well. I now pronounce you husband and wife, and I pray that the two of you will be happy together forever..." he announced loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"Now you may give your wife the ring," he added to Enzo.

At that moment, Miya extended her right hand, covered by a long, thin white glove.

Enzo’s left hand immediately moved to take hers, feeling its warmth.

He then opened his right palm, revealing a shiny golden ring with a bright red stone set on top.

Compared to the rings worn by the female guests, this ring might have looked like the most modest one of all, yet Miya stared at it without blinking.

The two young women beneath the altar exchanged strange looks.

Enzo didn’t hesitate and immediately slipped the ring onto Miya’s ring finger.

"Congratulations to the two of you on officially becoming husband and wife! Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and raise your glasses to them. Let us wish them everlasting happiness and a lifetime of love!"

Clang!

Everyone immediately raised their glasses toward the altar they surrounded, followed by thunderous applause.

DING!

(You have given your wife something that made her happy. Her happiness level has reached 99%, equivalent to giving her something beneficial to her cultivation. You have received a soul enhancement reward from the System. Your soul has been upgraded from Normal Human Soul to Supreme Human Soul!)

(Supreme Human Soul; an incredibly resilient soul that drastically enhances your ability to absorb Spiritual Energy, improves your ability to master techniques, and grants you the ability to directly destroy a Normal Human Soul two levels above you and a Weak Human Soul three levels above you with nothing but your will, provided you also possess a Supreme Human Body!)

[Body:

- Perfect Human Body]

[Soul:

- Supreme Human Soul]

"Now you may embrace and kiss each other," the elderly priest said, leaving Enzo no time to process the System notification.

Right now, of course, wasn’t the right time to shift his attention to anything else, especially with Miya’s eyes fixed on his.