22: People from the Immortal Sect

Chen Xu sized up Lin Wan'er for a few moments, then nodded, a faint smile appearing on his Face: "Dao Xuan has good taste. It's our first meeting, and I don't have much to give. Take these Talismans for self-defense when you're moving around the Sect."

As he spoke, he casually took out a stack of Talismans from his Storage Pouch and placed them on the stone table.

The stack of Talismans looked unremarkable, tied only with an ordinary red string.

Chen Daoxuan initially didn't pay much attention, but when his Divine Sense swept over the stack of Talismans, his expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Father! These... these are all Intermediate Spiritual Talismans?!"

As an Inner Sect Disciple of Qingyun Sect, he naturally recognized their value.

This stack of Talismans contained at least forty or fifty pieces.

Each one emanated astonishing Spiritual Power fluctuations; they were all Low Grade Intermediate Fire Phoenix Talismans!

The price of a single Fire Phoenix Talisman in the Sect's market was at least three hundred Spirit Stones.

And they were rarely available.

This stack was worth more than ten thousand Spirit Stones!

Lin Wan'er was even more startled by this number, covering her small mouth.

Her beautiful eyes widened, looking at Chen Xu in disbelief.

She came from an ordinary Cultivation Family, and the combined assets of her entire Family probably couldn't buy this stack of Talismans.

Yet, this legendary Uncle Chen just casually gave them away as a meeting gift?

Just what kind of person was he?

"Take them..."

Chen Xu's tone remained calm: "I drew them myself; they're not worth much."

"I drew them myself..." This sentence brought even greater shock to Chen Daoxuan and Lin Wan'er than the stack of Talismans itself.

Chen Daoxuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something!

He had always thought his Father was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who relied on some business acumen to provide resources for his children who Cultivated in the Sect.

Only now did he realize how superficial his understanding of his Father was!

A Foundation Establishment Stage Intermediate Talisman Master who could casually produce dozens of Intermediate Spiritual Talismans!

His strength and wealth probably far exceeded his imagination!

Sitting in a distant corner, Chen Qingqing's fingers, holding a book, also loosened slightly.

She knew better than anyone what a Talisman Master capable of consistently drawing Intermediate Spiritual Talismans meant.

It wasn't just wealth.

It was a strategic power capable of making any force wary...

The marriage between the two families was quickly settled.

The Lin Family was just a small Family, so being able to marry into the Chen Family was naturally something they eagerly sought.

Several months later, a grand wedding was held in Ninghai Town.

The entire Chen Family Courtyard was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, and guests flocked in like clouds.

All the prominent figures in Ninghai Town were present, and various families from Shangya Prefecture City, including Li Shichang, the Li Family Head, also brought generous gifts and came personally to offer their congratulations.

Li Shichang looked at the bustling scene before him, his heart filled with emotion.

In just a few short years, the Chen Family had transformed from a wealthy household tucked away in a corner to a Cultivation Family that no one in the entire Shangya Prefecture dared to underestimate.

And all of this stemmed from that unfathomable man.

At the banquet, everyone raised their cups and exchanged toasts, and the atmosphere was lively.

Just then, outside the courtyard, a powerful Spiritual Pressure descended from the sky.

The guests' expressions changed, and they looked up to see a massive azure flying boat slowly hovering above the Chen Family Courtyard.

On the flying boat, a banner embroidered with the characters "Qingyun" fluttered in the wind.

"It's... it's the Immortal Boat of Qingyun Sect!"

Someone recognized the flying boat's origin and exclaimed in surprise.

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, the cabin door opened, and an old man dressed in Qingyun Sect Elder robes, with crane-white hair and a youthful Face, and a cultivation level as high as the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, slowly walked out, surrounded by a group of Disciples.

"It's Elder Wang of the External Affairs Hall!"

Li Shichang's pupils constricted; he had once seen this Elder from afar.

That was a truly powerful figure who held real authority within Qingyun Sect!

Elder Wang actually came in person to congratulate a Disciple on his wedding?

This was simply unbelievable!

"This old man, Wang Yuan, has been ordered by the Sect to specially congratulate the Chen Family on this joyous occasion!"

Elder Wang's voice was booming, echoing throughout the entire courtyard.

He waved his hand, and the Disciple behind him immediately presented a jade box.

"A humble gift, a small token of respect."

The entire hall of guests instantly fell silent.

Everyone's gaze instinctively converged on the man at the head table.

Chen Xu slowly stood up and bowed towards Elder Wang in the sky: "Elder Wang's esteemed presence honors us greatly. Chen is sorry for not greeting you sooner; I hope you will forgive me."

At this moment, everyone understood.

Qingyun Sect's action was not giving Face to Chen Daoxuan, but to his Father, Chen Xu!

This Chen Family Head of Ninghai Town.

He already possessed the qualifications to be taken seriously even by a behemoth like Qingyun Sect!

One must know that an Elder of Qingyun Sect's External Affairs Hall, a Cultivator of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, was such a figure.

Ordinarily, such individuals only existed in the legends of the various Cultivation Families in Shangya Prefecture.

Yet today, he personally arrived in Ninghai Town to congratulate a Disciple on his wedding; this itself was an immense Face.

Li Shichang and the other Family Heads from the Prefecture City had even more tumultuous thoughts in their hearts.

They increasingly felt how wise their decision to ally with the Chen Family had been.

However, Elder Wang's next words once again left everyone stunned.

"This old man is merely acting on orders. The one who truly wishes to congratulate the Chen Family is Elder Liu of Tian Yue Peak of our Sect."

Elder Wang's voice carried a hint of genuine respect.

Tian Yue Peak? Elder Liu?

The guests present, including Chen Daoxuan and Lin Wan'er, who were from Qingyun Sect, exchanged bewildered glances, their Faces full of confusion.

Only Chen Xu, at the head table, upon hearing the three words "Elder Liu," paused slightly with the wine cup in his hand.

And in a corner, Chen Qingqing, sitting in her wheelchair!

Visibly, her eyes showed disbelief.

Liu Jingyao?

It was her?

A name sealed deep in his memory stirred ripples in Chen Xu's heart.

His thoughts seemed to travel back decades, returning to that youthful and imaginative age.

At that time, he was still just an Outer Sect Disciple of Qingyun Immortal Sect.

He struggled daily for a few Low Grade Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones, unable to see the direction of his future.

And she was the brightest star among the Inner Sect Disciples.

A favored daughter of Heaven, as cold and clear as the moon.

They were originally people from two different worlds. Their only intersection was once when he was gathering herbs in the back mountain.

He accidentally stumbled upon her being besieged by Yao Beasts.

At that time, although she had outstanding talent, she was young after all and lacked practical combat experience.

She was forced into a perilous situation by several cunning First-Tier Yao Wolves.

He didn't think twice, grabbed his woodcutting axe, and charged forward.

The result was naturally that he was beaten half to death, but his fearless bravery also bought her precious time to cast powerful Spells.

Afterward, she saved him with precious healing Medicinal Pills and even scolded him coldly for being "foolish."

He, however, just grinned foolishly.

From then on, a subtle, almost imperceptible connection formed between them.

He would place the prettiest wildflowers he gathered at the entrance of her Immortal Cave.

She would occasionally offer him a few pointers on basic Cultivation methods during her Cultivation breaks.

He knew the gap between them was like an unbridgeable chasm and never harbored any unrealistic fantasies.

Until one day, they had a loud argument over something.

From then on, they were like strangers in the Jianghu.

Chen Xu thought he had long forgotten this youthful past completely.

Yet, he never expected to hear her name again today, in this manner.

"Rumble—"

The azure Immortal Boat in the sky opened its cabin door again.

A terrifying Spiritual Pressure, hundreds of times more powerful than Elder Wang's, poured down like a collapsing celestial river.

It instantly enveloped the entire Chen Family Courtyard.

Under this Spiritual Pressure, all Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage found it difficult to breathe, their legs turning to jelly.

It was as if an invisible mountain pressed down on their hearts.

Even Elder Wang, a Cultivator of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, immediately bowed, his demeanor utterly respectful.

A cold and elegant figure slowly emerged from the Immortal Boat, standing in mid-air.

It was a woman dressed in a purple palace gown, tall and graceful, with unparalleled beauty.

Her appearance seemed to have not changed at all compared to decades ago.

She had only shed the innocence of youth.

And gained an added nobility and majesty tempered by the years.

Her Phoenix eyes swept indifferently over the crowd below, as if looking at a group of ants.

Golden Core Immortal Master!

These two words exploded like thunder in everyone's minds!

The entire Shangya Prefecture had not seen a Golden Core Immortal Master for nearly a hundred years!

This was a truly great figure standing at the pinnacle of the Cultivation World!

"Greetings, Elder Liu!"

Elder Wang, along with all the Qingyun Sect Disciples, bowed in unison.

Their voices were filled with awe.

All the guests, every single one of them, stood up from their seats.

Following Elder Wang's example, they bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Venerable Liu!"

A sound like mountains roaring and seas surging echoed through the sky.

Li Shichang trembled with excitement; he never dreamed.

That in his lifetime, he would actually witness a living Golden Core Immortal Master with his own eyes!

Chen Daoxuan and Lin Wan'er were even more profoundly shaken.

Why would this lofty Golden Core Immortal Master attend the wedding of an unknown nobody like him?

Everyone's gaze ultimately converged on the Chen Family Head.

Chen Xu slowly put down his wine cup and stood up.

He looked up at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the sky, his heart a mix of emotions.

He could feel that her indifferent gaze lingered on him for a moment.

He straightened his robes, then bowed towards the sky, his voice calm.

"Chen Xu greets Venerable Liu."

There was no subservience, no trepidation, just like greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

A ripple flashed in Liu Jingyao's eyes.

She moved her lotus steps lightly, her figure like a purple cloud, silently drifting down to the main seat in the hall.

The terrifying Spiritual Pressure also receded with her arrival.

Only then did everyone feel as if they had received a great pardon, letting out long breaths of relief, yet still not daring to look up.

"You're... doing well."

Liu Jingyao looked at Chen Xu, her cold voice sounding, revealing no discernible emotion.

Then, her gaze swept over Bu Yifan and others beside Chen Xu, and she asked faintly: "Are these your wife and children?"

"Yes."

Chen Xu nodded.

Although Bu Yifan was nervous, as the matriarch of the Chen Family, she knew she couldn't be disrespectful.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed gracefully to Liu Jingyao.

"Bu Yifan greets Immortal Master."

Liu Jingyao's gaze fell on Bu Yifan. In her Phoenix eyes, there was no disdain or contempt.

Only curiosity.

She could tell that this woman was a low-level Cultivator!

Her Spiritual Power fluctuations were only at the Qi Refinement Stage!.

Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This subtle movement did not escape Chen Xu's eyes.

He calmly took a step forward, shielding Bu Yifan behind him, and said: "Venerable Liu has come a long way; why not take a seat and have a cup of wine?"

Liu Jingyao withdrew her gaze, looked back at Chen Xu, and nodded: "Very well."

A wedding banquet that was originally lively became incredibly oppressive due to Liu Jingyao's arrival.

No one dared to speak loudly, and even the sound of chopsticks touching bowls and dishes was carefully muffled.

Liu Jingyao simply sat quietly, occasionally sipping tea, not touching her chopsticks.

But her presence itself was an invisible pressure.

After the wedding banquet ended hastily, the guests, knowing their place, bid farewell and left.

When Li Shichang and the others left, their gazes at Chen Xu had changed from awe to admiration.

To be able to converse calmly with a Golden Core Immortal Master, and even have an Immortal Master personally attend the banquet.

The background of this Chen Family Head had already exceeded the limits of their imagination... Deep in the night.

In the pavilion of the back courtyard, Chen Xu and Liu Jingyao sat opposite each other.

On the stone table, a pot of clear tea was placed.

"Decades unseen, you've certainly learned to enjoy life."

Liu Jingyao was the first to break the silence.

Her gaze swept over the exquisite pavilions and terraces of the Chen Family Courtyard.

"With the Immortal Path hopeless, one must always find something to do."

Chen Xu said lightly.

"Immortal Path hopeless?"

Liu Jingyao chuckled softly: "If even Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is considered hopeless for the Immortal Path, then ninety-nine percent of Cultivators in this world might as well end their own lives."

Chen Xu's heart tightened.

He knew that the anomaly during his Foundation Establishment could be hidden from others, but certainly not from a Golden Core Immortal Master.

"You certainly surprise me."

Liu Jingyao looked at him: "What have you been doing all these years? I heard you have many children and grandchildren, and have already become a grandfather?"

"Yes, twenty-four children, three grandsons."

Chen Xu answered truthfully.

Even with Liu Jingyao's calm heart, upon hearing this number, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but twitch.

She looked at Chen Xu with a strange gaze, and after a long while, she finally said: "You've certainly enjoyed all the blessings of a Mortal."

This statement was neither praise nor criticism.

"Back then..."

Chen Xu was about to say something.

"The past is past; there's no need to bring it up again."

Liu Jingyao interrupted him directly: "Our Dao paths are different, and our choices are different; there's no right or wrong."

She picked up her teacup and took a light sip: "Now that you've returned to the Immortal Path, your Foundation is so profound that even I can't quite see through it. We... are no longer strangers after all."

Chen Xu remained silent.

"The old friend has been met. Since there are no other matters, I shall take my leave!"

"I'll see you..."

Chen Xu was about to speak.

Liu Jingyao's figure transformed into a purple rainbow, soaring into the sky, instantly disappearing into the night.

"Sigh ~!"

Seeing this, Chen Xu could only let out a long sigh.

As soon as he returned to the inner courtyard, Bu Yifan, Sun Xiaoyue, and Zhao Linger surrounded him.

"Husband, confess!"

Sun Xiaoyue put her hands on her hips, pretending to be fierce as she asked: "Who is that beautiful Heavenly Immortal-like Venerable Liu? Is she an old lover of yours?"

"Yes, Husband, I saw that her gaze towards you was quite extraordinary."

Zhao Linger also chimed in from the side.

Only Bu Yifan gently straightened his collar and softly asked: "Is everything settled?"

Chen Xu smiled and nodded, embracing them: "You all... you all!"