517: Chapter 517 While sharpening their knives, they also decorated their homes with lanterns and streamers.

That afternoon.

Several Disciples of the Tianshu Sword Sect disguised themselves as Loose Cultivators and began to "inadvertently" spread news in a market near the Tianyan Sect.

"Have you heard? People from the Hehuan Sect are hiding in the Tianyan Sect!"

"For real? The Tianyan Sect is a major Sect of the Righteous Path; how could they harbor demonic heretics?"

"It's absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes! Leng Ningshuang, the Eldest Disciple of the Hehuan Sect, and the Grand Elder of the Hehuan Sect are both at the Tianyan Sect. I even heard she's going to marry the Eldest Disciple of the Tianyan Sect!"

"Marry? Isn't that collusion? What is the Tianyan Sect trying to do?"

"Who knows? Anyway, the news has already spread. I reckon it won't be long before other Sects come knocking on their door."

The news spread like it had wings, quickly traversing the entire Cultivation World.

North Pole Ice Soul Palace.

Master Xuanming sat cross-legged in an ice cave, surrounded by swirling cold Qi. A Disciple rushed in, knelt on the ground, and said in a hurried voice, "Palace Master, this Disciple has received news that the remnants of the Hehuan Sect are hiding in the Tianyan Sect!"

Master Xuanming snapped his eyes open, a cold light flashing within them. "Is the news reliable?"

The Disciple said, "I have already sent people to investigate and confirmed that the Tianyan Sect has indeed taken in a group of outsiders.

Among them are the Hehuan Sect's Eldest Disciple Leng Ningshuang and their Grand Elder. It is said that Leng Ningshuang is to marry the Eldest Disciple of the Tianyan Sect tonight."

Master Xuanming stood up, the cold Qi around him intensifying. The temperature in the ice cave plummeted, making the Disciple tremble with cold.

"Very well, Shen Biyun, you certainly have some nerve." His voice was as cold as ice. "A dignified major Sect of the Righteous Path actually colluding with demonic heretics.

Pass down my orders: assemble all Disciples and set out immediately for the Tianyan Sect. I will personally wipe out the remnants of the Hehuan Sect!"

The Disciple hurriedly replied, "Yes!"

Master Xuanming added, "Furthermore, spread the news to the other Righteous Path Sects.

Tell them the Hehuan Sect remnants are hiding in the Tianyan Sect and are forming a marriage alliance tonight. Let them all come and join this grand occasion."

The Disciple took the order and left.

Master Xuanming stood at the entrance of the ice cave, looking at the sky outside, a cold, sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

The last time they besieged the Hehuan Sect, they had come up empty-handed, which had left him brooding. This time, the Hehuan Sect was right there in the Tianyan Sect; they wouldn't escape.

Meanwhile, other Righteous Path Sects also received the news one after another.

The Tianxuan Sect, Tianji Sect, Tianquan Sect... one major Righteous Path Sect after another dispatched Disciples to head toward the Tianyan Sect.

Teams set out from their respective mountain gates, flying on swords in a grand, sky-obscuring procession.

The sky of the Cultivation World had never been so lively.

Inside the Tianyan Sect, however, all was peaceful.

No one knew that danger was approaching.

Shen Biyun stood in the Sect Master Hall, watching the sun gradually sink in the west, and instructed the Disciples beside her, "The wedding will be held tonight.

Time is tight, but it must be grand.

Go, hang up the red silks, light the lanterns, and set out the banquet."

The Disciples took their orders and left.

The entire Tianyan Sect suddenly became busy.

Some Disciples hung red silks, some lit lanterns, some arranged tables and chairs, and some prepared food and wine.

The atmosphere of celebration was everywhere.

Leng Ningshuang was arranged to stay in an exquisite guest room.

The room was filled with wedding robes, jewelry, and cosmetics, all sent by Shen Biyun. Several maidservants surrounded her, helping her try on the wedding dress and do her hair and makeup.

Leng Ningshuang sat before the bronze mirror, looking at herself, but there wasn't a trace of joy in her heart.

The wedding dress was bright red, embroidered with gold-thread Phoenixes, magnificent and solemn.

The jewelry was pure gold, inlaid with gemstones that shimmered brilliantly.

The cosmetics were of the highest quality and fragrant. But looking at it all, she only felt a sense of alienation.

She thought of the Hehuan Sect, of Xu Ruyu, of Xiao Nianyin, and of those Junior Brothers and Sisters still waiting in the mountains.

She didn't know how they were doing, whether they had been brought in by the Tianyan Sect, or if they had enough to eat and wear.

"Miss Leng, does this wedding dress fit well?" a maidservant asked cautiously.

Leng Ningshuang snapped back to reality, glanced at herself in the mirror, and said faintly, "It fits."

The maidservant asked again, "What about this jewelry? Should we change to another set?"

Leng Ningshuang shook her head. "No need."

The maidservants exchanged glances, not daring to ask further. They could feel that Leng Ningshuang was not happy, but they didn't dare say or ask anything.

One maidservant whispered, "Miss Leng, don't worry. The First Senior Brother is a very good person; he will treat you well."

Leng Ningshuang didn't speak, only staring at herself in the mirror.

She knew Shen Ao was good to her and that he truly liked her.

But she didn't like Shen Ao. She had agreed to this marriage not for herself, but for the Hehuan Sect.

For the sake of those Junior Brothers and Sisters, she was willing to sacrifice herself.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the stray thoughts in her heart.

"Continue," she said.

The maidservants hurriedly continued with her makeup.

On the other side, Shen Ao was also preparing for the wedding.

He stood before a bronze mirror, trying on the groom's attire. The robe was deep red, embroidered with golden auspicious clouds, paired with a jade belt, making him look heroic and spirited.

A smile was on his face, but within that smile was a trace of indescribable bitterness.