135: Chapter 94 The Grand Wedding

In the early spring of the third year since the founding of Wanyao Immortal City, Chen Xuan opened his eyes in the quiet room.

The five-colored light of the Purple Mansion in his Dantian was blazing, and the image of the City Wall Earth had condensed into a physical form; a miniature ancient city wall the size of a palm floated in the center of the Purple Mansion, with every brick on the wall glowing with a dim yellow light.

Foundation Establishment Fifth Stage.

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, which condensed into a white streak and struck the wall of the quiet room, making a dull thud.

Three years of bitter cultivation, from Foundation Establishment Third Stage to Foundation Establishment Fifth Stage—it was frighteningly fast.

Combined with his mastery of the four arts—Talisman, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Formation, all at the second grade—this record was enough to make anyone shut up.

Chen Xuan stood up and pushed open the door of the quiet room.

The morning light shone in and fell on his face.

Three years had passed, and his appearance hadn't changed much; his sword-like brows and starry eyes remained, his features refined, but his gaze was deeper, like an unfathomable ancient well.

Liu Lili stood in the courtyard, holding a bowl of hot soup.

Seeing Chen Xuan come out, she paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Foundation Establishment Fifth Stage?"

"Foundation Establishment Fifth Stage."

Liu Lili placed the soup bowl on the stone table, walked over, and punched him in the chest.

"Do you have any idea how many people came to send gifts while you were in seclusion for the past half month?"

Chen Xuan picked up the soup bowl and took a sip; it was still spirit chicken soup, with thousand-year-old ginseng slices and hundred-year-old goji berries added, the taste exactly the same as three years ago.

"Who all came?"

Liu Lili counted on her fingers.

"President Liu Yishou of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce sent a set of second-grade Spiritual Artifacts as a congratulatory gift. Elder Wang Ling of the Fusheng Sect sent a pair of jade ruyi, made of third-grade spirit materials; they are priceless. Fellow Daoist Daoist Heshan of the Qingcang Sect sent a pair of Qingcang Linglong Birds, second-grade Spirit Beasts, saying they can guard the house."

She paused, her voice lowering a bit.

"There is also the Southern Sky Zhang Clan. Zhang Chongyuan, the father of Zhang Fan, came in person and sent a third-grade life-saving Talisman, saying it was an apology."

Chen Xuan's hand holding the soup bowl paused.

Zhang Chongyuan, the head of the Southern Sky Zhang Clan, a Golden Core Master.

Zhang Fan's father.

Regarding the incident three years ago where Zhang Fan was eroded by Maitreya, the Zhang Clan had never made a public statement.

Sending a third-grade life-saving Talisman now, the meaning was very clear.

Past grievances, wiped clean.

Chen Xuan took a sip of the soup without speaking.

Liu Lili continued.

"There is also the Xiao Family of Bihai Immortal City. Xiao Ye came in person, bringing ten crates of second-grade spirit materials, saying it was a small token of the Xiao Family's heart. Liu An, the son of Liu He, also came. He has reached Foundation Establishment—seventeen years old and already at Foundation Establishment, cultivating at the Dao Academy in Wanyao Immortal City. He specifically asked for leave to come over this time, saying he wanted to thank you in person."

Chen Xuan put down the soup bowl.

"Liu An has reached Foundation Establishment?"

"Reached Foundation Establishment, Earth-Dao Foundation Establishment." Liu Lili's tone carried a trace of surprise. "That child has good Aptitude and good Heart-Nature. He has been cultivating at the Dao Academy for three years, with constant Opportunity, rushing from Qi Refining Fourth Stage to Foundation Establishment. His speed is even faster than mine was back then."

Chen Xuan nodded.

If Liu He had a spirit in heaven, he should be gratified.

"Who else?"

Liu Lili thought for a moment.

"There is also Yao Shuang. He sent someone to deliver a crate of Medium-Grade Spirit Stones as a congratulatory gift. But President Liu Yishou said he has been very close to people from the White Lotus Sect recently, so he asked me to remind you to accept his gift but be careful of the man himself."

Chen Xuan drank the last of the soup and put the bowl back on the stone table.

"We'll talk about Yao Shuang after the ceremony."

Liu Lili nodded and took a Jade Slip from her Storage Pouch, handing it to him.

"This is the procedure for the ceremony, decided by the Central Province Liu Clan. Take a look and see if there is anything that needs changing."

Chen Xuan took the Jade Slip, and his Divine Sense probed inside.

The Dao Companion ceremony was set for the 15th of the third month at the central square of Wanyao Immortal City.

At the hour of the Rabbit, Chen Xuan would lead the wedding procession from the Inner City, circle the Immortal City once, and arrive at Liu Lili's residence at the hour of the Dragon.

At the hour of the Snake, the two would ascend the high platform in the central square hand in hand, with Master Liu Yun presiding, to perform the three bows.

At the hour of the Horse, the banquet would begin, and guests from all directions would take their seats.

At the hour of the Rooster, the banquet would end, and the newlyweds would enter the bridal chamber.

The process was very traditional, nothing that needed changing.

Chen Xuan returned the Jade Slip to Liu Lili.

"Let it be this way."

Liu Lili took the Jade Slip and bit her lip.

"Junior Brother, are you nervous?"

Chen Xuan looked at her.

"Not nervous."

"Why?"

"Because marrying you is something I decided long ago." Chen Xuan's tone was very calm. "For a decided matter, there is no need to be nervous."

Liu Lili blushed and reached out to pinch his arm.

"You only know how to say nice things."

Chen Xuan smiled but did not speak.

The 15th of the third month, Wanyao Immortal City.

Before dawn, the streets of the Immortal City were already crowded with people.

The Cultivators of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce had built a high platform in the central square; the platform was made of third-grade spirit material, Azure Jade, three zhang high and five zhang wide, with the surface covered in the fur of second-grade Spirit Beasts.

The high platform was surrounded by flags of the Liuyang Sword Sect, which snapped in the morning breeze.

The sides of the square were filled with tables and chairs, with spirit fruits and spirit tea placed on the tables, and the names of the guests posted on each chair.

The first to arrive were representatives of some small and medium-sized Families.

Xiao Ye of the Bihai Immortal City's Xiao Family sat in the front row, wearing a green brocade robe, with the Low Grade Spiritual Artifact Chen Xuan had gifted him hanging at his waist.

His cultivation had reached Qi Refining Perfection, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Liu An, the son of Liu He, sat next to him; the seventeen-year-old youth had refined features and clear eyes, his Foundation Establishment Early Stage aura steady and rounded.

He looked at the high platform, his eyes full of anticipation.

Next to arrive were the heads of the major Families of the Southern Region.

Wang Ling of the Fusheng Sect led Wang Quan, Wang Qingfeng, and Chen Xuanji into the venue. All four were Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Wang Ling, walking at the front, had an aura as thick as a mountain; his False Core had already formed.

After taking the inner core of the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle, he had spent a year in seclusion. When he emerged, he was already a False Core Immortal Master. Although not a true Golden Core, his Lifespan was a thousand years, and his magic power was thick; in the Southern Region, he was already top-tier combat strength.

Wang Quan followed behind him, his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation solid and steady.

Wang Qingfeng walked in the third position, her Foundation Establishment Early Stage aura gentle and harmonious.

Chen Xuanji walked at the very back, her Foundation Establishment Middle Stage aura sharp as a sword, with the "Zhanyun" sword Chen Xuan had gifted her hanging at her waist.

She walked to her seat but did not sit down; instead, she turned to look in the direction of the high platform, her gaze calm.

Then came the guests from the Qingcang Sect.

Daoist Heshan led the way, followed by seven or eight Inner Sect Disciples of the Qingcang Sect; there were Humans and Yao Race, yet they walked together without any sense of dissonance.

Daoist Heshan was now at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and his crane-headed human-bodied appearance looked even more like a crane than three years ago, but his eyes remained clear.

After he was seated, he took a pair of green jade bottles from his Storage Pouch and placed them on the table; that was the congratulatory gift from the Qingcang Sect to the newlyweds.

Then came the Southern Sky Zhang Clan.

Zhang Chongyuan came in person.

Although the aura of the Golden Core Master was restrained, when he approached, the surrounding Cultivators couldn't help but make way.

He was followed by two Foundation Establishment Cultivators carrying a large chest, with the Zhang Clan's crest carved on the surface of the chest.

Zhang Chongyuan sat down at the main guest table with a calm expression, showing neither joy nor anger.

His son, Zhang Fan, did not come. After returning from Bihai Immortal City three years ago, Zhang Fan had been locked in the Zhang Clan's ancestral land for recuperation.

Although the Maitreya mark had been cleared, his Divine Soul was severely damaged and had yet to recover.

The last to arrive were the guests from the Central Province Liu Clan.