49: Wedding

Five days later.

Outside the Xu Residence, a long line of carriages blocked the street, and the clamor of gongs and drums soared into the sky.

A servant boy shouted, "Fifth Young Master sends a pair of pearls and jade, a pair of South Sea Merman Pearls..."

"The Cui Family sends a jade ruler and a golden scale..."

"Eldest Young Master sends... sends..."

The servant boy choked here, rubbing his eyes vigorously, almost thinking he had misread.

The surrounding guests all turned to look, curious about what the Eldest Young Master would send.

Xu Sanyan, who was greeting guests nearby, turned to look. The servant boy, with a mournful face, handed him the gift list, "Master, please take a look."

Xu Sanyan took it and saw written on it:

"One human skin mask, taken from the facial skin of a sixteen-year-old maiden, flayed alive, boiled and soaked in human oil until soft, then covered with bone powder and dried in a cool place."

"One right leg prosthetic, taken from a maiden's leg bone, slender and smooth. One left arm prosthetic..."

The Eldest Young Master's gift list not only described the gifts but also their origins and methods of production.

Xu Sanyan looked up at Yang Xinyu, who had come to deliver the gift, and said calmly, "Please thank the Eldest Young Master on my behalf."

Yang Xinyu's expression was somewhat awkward. He naturally knew what the Eldest Young Master had sent.

It was well known that Yang Qiyuan was ugly and had spasms in her right leg and left arm, yet the Eldest Young Master insisted on sending these items, the underlying meaning self-evident.

"Please," Xu Sanyan cupped his hands at Yang Xinyu.

Yang Xinyu said helplessly, "I won't go in. I wish the two of you a hundred years of harmony. Farewell."

With that, he hurried away with his people.

Ever since Xu Sanyan had cut down Wang Chengming in front of him, he always felt unconsciously guilty when facing Xu Sanyan.

Seeing this, the guests' eyes flickered, and some began to excuse themselves and leave.

In a short while, less than half of the guests remained, most of them having left their congratulatory gifts and found excuses to depart.

Xu Sanyan's expression was calm and unconcerned. He knew these people were afraid of offending the Eldest Young Master.

"Prince has arrived!"

Just then, a loud shout came from the street corner. Xu Sanyan turned to look and saw a large sedan chair appearing at the street corner. Everyone quickly made way, bowing in greeting.

Prince Rui calmly stepped out of the sedan, followed closely by the Princess Consort.

"Greetings, Prince, Princess Consort." Xu Sanyan saluted.

"Haha... Rise. From now on, we are family, no need for such formality."

The Prince was very amiable, personally stepping forward to help Xu Sanyan up. He turned to look at the surrounding guests, frowning slightly, but said nothing more.

Everyone entered the residence.

Next, the bride was brought out, and under the guidance of the officiant, a series of rituals were performed, followed by a banquet for all the guests.

After everything concluded, the courtyard returned to tranquility, with only the Prince and Princess Consort remaining.

Prince Rui waved his hand and said to the Princess Consort and others, "You may leave first."

"Yes."

Prince Rui took a sip of tea and sighed, "Now that you've married my daughter, we are no longer outsiders. There are some things I should tell you."

Xu Sanyan listened attentively.

"The front line is in a very bad situation. The court's six hundred thousand strong army is advancing fiercely, Silver Mountain Pass is in imminent danger, and other passes are also struggling to hold on."

Xu Sanyan frowned. If they weren't ready, why did they hastily raise the banner of rebellion?

Prince Rui continued, "This Prince has decided to personally lead the expedition, departing in ten days. You and my daughter have just married, so I won't take you on this campaign. You will remain to guard Xiang City."

Xu Sanyan nodded silently, "Then the Eldest Young Master..."

"He will also stay." Prince Rui's eyes flickered, wondering what he was contemplating.

Then Prince Rui took out a booklet and a wooden box from his sleeve, placing them gently on the table. "This Cultivation Technique is a method for Cultivating to Immortality. This wooden box contains three Medicinal Pills, which can help your Cultivation advance further. Consider them my daughter's dowry."

Xu Sanyan sighed inwardly. These two items were useless to him. He already had a Cultivation Technique for Immortality, and he dared not take the Medicinal Pills.

But his face still showed excitement, "Thank you, Prince."

Prince Rui stood up and specifically reminded him, "The Cultivation Technique has no errors. Immortal Dao Cultivation Technique is just like this; you can Cultivate with confidence."

With that, he rose and left.

After seeing everyone off, the courtyard became quiet. Xu Sanyan, dressed in a crimson wedding robe, sat on a chair and casually picked up the Cultivation Technique to flip through it.

""Heart Slaughtering Yin Devouring Skill""

Xu Sanyan frowned, what an evil name. He continued to flip through:

"To Cultivate this Cultivation Technique, one must nurture a murderous heart and an evil heart, entering the Great Dao through slaughter and using evil as sustenance."

"Those who devour hearts will have five exquisite orifices. Those who devour livers will have eyes like torches. Those who devour lungs will be as strong as a Dragon."

"To devour a heart, one must swallow it whole, accompanied by a qi-clearing powder. To devour a lung, one must grind it into powder..."

The latter part detailed how to consume internal organs for Cultivation.

Xu Sanyan instinctively narrowed his eyes. This Cultivation Technique was even more sinister than The Supreme Truth and Serenity Scripture of Eliminating Illusion and Attaining Reality he Cultivated, actually guiding people to cannibalism!

He finally understood why Prince Rui had specifically mentioned that the Cultivation Technique had no errors. No one would think this was a method for Immortal Ascension.

He composed himself and continued to read:

"Those who devour hearts will form a Heart Python Dao Foundation and can transform into the body of a Heart Python. Those who devour livers will form a Hundred-eyed Dao Foundation and can transform into the body of a Hundred-eyed creature. Those who devour lungs will form a Barren Worm Dao Foundation and can transform into the body of a Barren Worm."

The Cultivation Technique still only recorded up to Foundation Establishment Completion, with no subsequent content.

Xu Sanyan closed the book and pondered with closed eyes. This Cultivation Technique also formed three types of Dao Foundations, but the difference was that these three Dao Foundations seemed to have no hierarchy.

Unlike the Cultivation Technique Xu Sanyan Cultivated, where the lowest level was the Blood Demon Dao Foundation, followed by the Turbid Water Dao Foundation, and finally the Dao Foundation forged with heaven and earth treasures, the superiority and inferiority were clear at a glance.

Moreover, this Cultivation Technique always gave him a feeling of... incompleteness.

It seemed to be deliberately hiding something.

Xu Sanyan shook his head. It didn't matter if it was incomplete; he had no intention of changing Cultivation Techniques anyway.

Then he opened the wooden box, which contained three Ascension Spirit Pills.

Xu Sanyan touched the Blood-colored Small Knife tightly wrapped in his bosom and couldn't help but wonder what kind of Dao Foundation would be forged if he used this item for Foundation Establishment?

"Soon... soon..."

Xu Sanyan murmured to himself. As long as he accumulated enough "Qi," he could Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment in one go!

Putting the items into his bosom, Xu Sanyan turned and went to the inner quarters.

Creak—

The sound of the door opening rang out. Yang Qiyuan, with her head covered by a veil, sat upright on the bed, her body trembling slightly, feeling a subconscious sense of inferiority.

She had heard her mother say that her husband was not only outstanding in Cultivation but also exceptionally handsome, which made her feel even more unworthy of him.

Xu Sanyan casually sat beside her, then got up and took two wine cups from the table, filling them with wine. This was his first marriage in both his past and present lives, and he hoped it would be as perfect as possible.

"My wife, don't be nervous. Come, let's drink a cup of cross-cupped wine." Xu Sanyan noticed her tension and gently comforted her.

Yang Qiyuan's hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched slightly. She extended her right hand to take the cup, "Yes, husband."

Her voice was clear, with a slight tremor.

Their arms intertwined, they raised their wine cups and drank them in one gulp.