162: Grand Wedding Ceremony

Xiao Chen glanced at him, feeling slightly surprised; this was the first time he had ever met someone so eager to have a Slave Seal placed on them.

However, he could tell that the man was indeed a true man of his word.

"Wait!"

Illusory Spirit jumped out again, bowing as he said, "Reporting to the Sect Master, this action is inappropriate! Planting a Slave Seal to control one's mind inherently goes against the heavens, not to mention he is a Holy Envoy of the Sect."

Xiao Chen couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Which of you Elders of the Soul Refining Sect doesn't have hands stained with blood?

Refining Yin Spirit, creating Corpse Puppets, and exterminating entire clans at the drop of a hat—does that not go against the heavens?

I plant just one Slave Seal, and suddenly it's against the heavens?

What a bunch of double-standard hypocrites!

"This Sect Master has said before: since it was a duel, one must bear the consequences of failure, whether he is a Holy Envoy or an Elder."

"Yes."

Illusory Spirit lowered his head obediently. He could naturally tell that the Sect Master's words were a clear warning to him: do not rely on the authority of the Elder Council to overstep his bounds.

"For your secret interference in the duel just now, this Sect Master shall fine you six months of your stipend as compensation for the Saint. How about it?"

Illusory Spirit's face was full of fear. He wanted to object, but when he looked up and saw Huan Ningshang's unquestionable gaze, the words were forced back down his throat.

"Yes."

Afterward, with a look of extreme pain on his face, he shifted his mind, and a bag of Spirit Stones appeared in his palm, flying toward Xiao Chen.

"Oh!"

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately caught it. Probing it with his Divine Sense, he found there were actually 2 million Spirit Stones inside; it was practically a windfall from the heavens.

Thus, without further hesitation, he stepped forward, sent a strand of Divine Sense into the Vajra Holy Emissary's Sea of Consciousness, and swiftly planted the Slave Seal.

After this incident, everyone returned to the Hall of Assembly, and the way they looked at Xiao Chen had undergone a world-shaking change.

Defeating a Nascent Soul Cultivator renowned for defense with only a Golden Core Stage Perfection cultivation was something they had never heard of.

Little did they know that at this moment, Xiao Chen's cultivation was not at Golden Core Stage Perfection, but merely at the Golden Core Stage Fifth Level.

In the fiercely competitive demonic Sects, strength was often the sole criterion for measuring a person's power.

And the strength Xiao Chen displayed by fighting across major realms was unmatched by anyone.

With such a Sect Master leading the Soul Refining Sect in the future, the heights they could reach would be unimaginable.

Huan Ningshang scanned the crowd and announced with a serious expression:

"From this day forward, Illusory Destruction (the Black Dragon Holy Envoy's original name) is the Saint of the Sect in name and in fact. If anyone dares to question this again, do not blame this Sect Master for showing no mercy!"

"We obey the Sect Master's command!" everyone responded in unison with solemn expressions.

Through this event, Xiao Chen had finally established his initial prestige within the Soul Refining Sect.

"The matter of Mu Feng is concluded for now. Whether he is alive or not is no longer important. Next, let us discuss the matter of the Grand Elder."

Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Xiao Chen, felt an incredibly heavy heart.

The Sect's Grand Elder, a Peak powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Stage Ninth Level, had perished so mysteriously, and they didn't even know where he had died.

This was undoubtedly the greatest loss since the founding of the Soul Refining Sect.

"Before the Grand Elder's soul lamp was extinguished, did any of you see him?" Huan Ningshang's eyes flickered with wisdom as she scanned the room.

"We all saw him," Huan Xiangzi said after a brief thought. "Just before the Grand Elder's accident, we had just finished a core Sect meeting."

"So, all of you saw him?"

"Um... not exactly. The Saint did not participate in the core meeting," Illusory Spirit replied after thinking for a moment.

Hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon Xiao Chen, making his heart tighten involuntarily.

Huan Ningshang cast a sharp glance at Xiao Chen. "Then, why did the Grand Elder not notify the Saint to attend the core Sect meeting?"

"This subordinate does not know," Illusory Spirit said in a low voice, and everyone else present shook their heads as well.

Hearing this, Xiao Chen stood up and said with a calm expression, "Everyone should be aware that before returning to the Sect, I unexpectedly captured a woman with a Water Spirit Body."

"The Grand Elder gave this Opportunity to me. The Saintess was also present at the time. For the past few days, I have been in my Immortal Cave refining her Water Spirit Source Power."

While Xiao Chen spoke, Huan Ningshang kept her eyes fixed on his, trying to find even a trace of a lie.

Fortunately, Xiao Chen's heart was as calm as water, and he did not show the slightest flaw.

However, Holy Envoy Nian Hua cast a strange look at him.

Clearly, she didn't quite believe that Xiao Chen would so decisively seize the Water Spirit Source Power.

"Then after the core meeting ended, did the Grand Elder say where he was going?" Huan Ningshang looked at the crowd again.

Illusory Spirit bowed and said, "The Grand Elder said he was going to handle a small matter, but he did not specify where, and we do not know what that small matter was."

Seeing that no clues could be gleaned, Huan Ningshang stood up and waved her sleeve.

"Pass down the order: send out the hidden guards to search for any traces related to the Grand Elder. Report any clues to me immediately."

"Additionally, the plan to attack the four major Sects is postponed. The specific time will be announced by me later."

"We obey the Sect Master's command!"

"Alright, you are dismissed! In a few hours, it will be the wedding ceremony of the Saint and Saintess. Go down and prepare."

"Yes."

The crowd said in unison and then filed out of the hall.

Huan Ningshang glanced at Xiao Chen's retreating back, a trace of imperceptible suspicion appearing in her eyes... The much-anticipated grand wedding ceremony arrived amidst great expectation.

Outside the Sun Moon Hall, people were bustling about.

From ordinary Disciples at the Qi Refining Stage to Nascent Soul Elders, everyone was beaming with smiles, immersed in joy.

The entire Soul Refining Sect was exceptionally lively, with the sound of clamor constant in the air, and hundreds of mountain Peaks were draped in red decorations.

Inside the hall, the Sect Master of the Soul Refining Sect leaned lazily against her throne, with the core high-level members of the entire Sect gathered below.

Xiao Chen was dressed in a red embroidered Python Robe, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. This could be considered his first formal wedding since transmigrating to the Cultivation World.

He never imagined it would be with a Saintess of a demonic Sect.

This was completely beyond his expectations; it seemed fate truly was mysterious!

Meanwhile, the Saintess, Huan Meng, was radiant and elegant, wearing a red phoenix crown and a ceremonial robe with a trailing hem over three feet long.

The two of them walked through the air hand-in-hand, drawing waves of cheers like mountain cries and ocean roars from the surrounding Soul Refining Sect Disciples.

Everyone craned their necks in anticipation, watching the pair of beautiful people arriving through the sky.

Stepping onto the large red carpet adorned with dragon and phoenix patterns, under the envious gazes of everyone, Xiao Chen took that soft, delicate hand and slowly walked into the hall.

Sect Master Huan Ningshang looked at the couple walking toward her, her beautiful eyes seemingly clouded with mist.

Scenes from the past unconsciously surfaced before her eyes, which she then heartlessly banished from her mind.

The Second Elder, Illusory Spirit, was currently the most senior Elder in the Sect and acted as the wedding officiant:

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

..."Second bow to the parents!"

..."Husband and wife bow to each other!"

..."Send them to the bridal chamber!"

...