456: Chapter 456 The ceremony is completed

At the White Rock Holy Land, before the main peak's great hall. The auspicious hour was approaching, the square was crowded with people, and their fine robes were as numerous as clouds.

The bell chimed nine times, its sound vibrating through the mountains.

The ceremony began; the process was not complicated. Neither Ling Hao nor Shi Qingxuan liked tedious formalities, so they cut out every process they could.

The prelude of announcing to Heaven and Earth and inspecting whether their fates, Spiritual Roots, and Dao paths were compatible? All omitted.

Would they not form the covenant if they weren't compatible?

What remained were the Proclamation to Heaven and Reading the Covenant, and Forming the Pact and Taking the Dao Vow...

Upon the sacrificial altar, Ling Hao and Shi Qingxuan finished their Dao Vows.

Supreme Elder Lu Yao activated the Formation patterns, and as the spiritual energy merged, the spiritual light took form.

The Dragon and Phoenix circled while the sun and moon shone together; auspicious signs lit up half the sky.

Below the stage, the Elders and Disciples of the White Rock Holy Land looked up at the phenomena, discussing them fervently.

"The Dragon and Phoenix bring prosperity, the sun and moon shine together... a sign of great fortune!"

Shen Yunjie's gaze fell upon Shi Qingxuan, and she smiled.

"I have never seen Revered Master look so beautiful or have such a happy moment."

"Indeed! Indeed!"

Cen Xi echoed,

"Revered Master used to always have a cold face. She changed a lot after meeting Shigong. Last time we even saw Revered Master and Shigong..."

"Second Junior Sister!"

It was only after Shen Yunjie's scolding that Cen Xi remembered they were in public and some things were better left unsaid.

She scratched her head, her gaze falling on Supreme Elder Lu Yao and Supreme Elder Zhou Zhi on either side of the high platform, and she sighed:

"The two Supreme Elders are also very beautiful today, as if they've dressed up meticulously. It wouldn't even feel out of place if they were to join this Dao Companion ceremony."

"On such a grand occasion, one must naturally dress up meticulously."

Jiang Shiyu chimed in,

"As for joining the ceremony... that wouldn't be in accordance with etiquette, would it?"

"What etiquette?"

Cen Xi giggled,

"Rules are dead, but people are alive. With great strength, what's the harm in having several wives and concubines? Haven't you noticed? Revered Master has already cut many processes. Ordinarily, those Elders who are stubborn about etiquette would have jumped out and shouted long ago. Look at them today, Junior Sister; which one of them has uttered a single word of protest?"

Everyone near Shen Yunjie and her sisters quietly turned their gazes toward the conservative Elders in the front row.

Sure enough, each one sat upright with a normal expression, their mouths closed tighter than clam shells.

If this were a Dao Companion ceremony for a True Disciple, these Elders would surely insist that "the ways of the ancestors cannot be changed."

But now...

A thin Elder with a white beard leaned into the ear of the colleague beside him and lowered his voice:

"Old Zhang, just how wealthy is that Moonshadow Sect? Those Daoist gifts are simply... insane!"

Old Zhang stroked his beard, feeling the same way:

"Five Immortal Grade Cultivation Techniques, five Immortal Artifacts, dozens of top-tier High Grade Dao Artifacts, dozens of bottles of Grade Nine and Grade Eight Medicinal Pills, and Grade Seven Medicinal Pills are actually weighed by the pound... I've lived for three thousand years, and this is the first time I've seen such heavy Daoist gifts."

"...Then if the gift-announcing segment is removed, let it be removed."

"Exactly. Never mind other Sects, I feel like the Daoist gifts our White Rock Holy Land prepared are a bit embarrassing to present." The thin Elder sighed.

Another Elder chimed in with a sigh:

"With these Daoist gifts, it wouldn't be excessive even if Moon Shadow Sect Master formed five or six more covenants."

"Old Thief Hong, you've gone too far!"

The thin Elder glared, "How can you objectify the female cultivators of our Sect like that?"

After a pause, he lowered his voice,

"But then again, I have a granddaughter, only three hundred years old, with outstanding Aptitude and a decent appearance..."

"You old thief! You just said we can't objectify them!"

"I'm doing this... for the sake of the Sect!"

The conservative Elders nearby watched this scene and shook their heads.

Moon Shadow Sect Master gave far too much... cough, it's not that they wanted to go against the ancestors' decisions.

They looked up at Ancestral Master Yue Xinlan sitting at the very top. After all, the Ancestral Master had said that everything should follow the Sect Master's requirements.

How could we be considered to be going against the ancestors' decisions!

In the area where the Moonshadow Sect was located, it was entirely composed of women, a lively scene of beauty with a permeating fragrance.

Xiao Chan was dressed in a light green gauze dress, sitting poised in her chair. Beneath her hem, a pair of plain white silk socks wrapped her feet, the skin showing through like a thin mist. She looked at Shi Qingxuan on the sacrificial altar, who was dressed in brilliant red, her eyes full of envy.

"So beautiful... I also want to dress like that and walk through this Dao Companion ceremony with the Sect Master."

A Moonshadow Sect Disciple beside her covered her mouth and giggled.

She wore a pale yellow short jacket, and her chest was so voluptuous it almost burst through the garment.

With such features, she was clearly a Disciple of Mianyu Tower.

"Elder Xiao, didn't you also form a contract with the Sect Master at the Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony? And during the Winter Ceremony, the Sect Master personally massaged your feet and cleared your Meridians. Are you still not satisfied? We Disciples haven't even had that yet."

Xiao Chan scolded with a smile:

"You brat, don't worry. Once you have the reality of Dual Cultivation with the Sect Master, it will naturally happen."

"Yes, no need to worry."

Another charming Disciple chimed in, her eyes sparkling,

"The Sect Master won't give up on any of us."

"Can't we just design and tailor our own and wear them on the day of the Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony?"

"Yes, yes! Wait until next year's Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony..."

For a time, the Moonshadow Sect's side was filled with laughter and joy, full of expectations for the future.

Chi Wanhe crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the red figure on the sacrificial altar, her mouth slightly pouting.

"Hmph... Revered Master has never held such a grand ceremony for us."

Qin Zhaoxue stood by her side with a smile on her lips but did not respond.

Shui Liuli leaned in and lowered her voice:

"Big Senior Sister, feeling jealous?"

"Who's jealous?"

Chi Wanhe stubbornly retorted, then suddenly grabbed Shui Liuli,

"It seems I went too easy on you just now, making you feel like it didn't even hurt, Little Junior Sister."

"Help! Murder! Help!"

"Alright, alright, you two stop fooling around. Although this area is protected by a Formation and outsiders can't hear us, they can still see you bickering. This could easily affect the image of the Moonshadow Sect!"

Chi Shuying walked over at some point to stop the farce.

She glanced at Chi Wanhe and the others with a half-smile:

"If you want, once we return to the Moonshadow Grotto-Heaven Cave-Heaven Small World, let alone a ceremony, no one would stop you even if you consummated your marriage right there on the streets of Yujing City."

Tushan Bailing followed behind, her fox-like eyes shifting as she said with a seductive smile:

"Exactly. When the time comes, you can hold as many ceremonies as you want, and you can have your wedding night every day."

"On... on the street, this... this is too..."

"Good idea!"

"How shameless!"

...

The ceremony proceeded to the fifth step: Serving Tea.

Ling Hao and Shi Qingxuan each held a cup of Dao Tea and walked side-by-side to Shi Yunyu.

Ling Hao and Shi Yunyu's eyes met. A curve formed at the corner of his mouth as he picked up the teacup, offered it with both hands, and bowed slightly:

"Mother-in-law, please have some tea."

Shi Yunyu sat poised in her chair, her moon-white cloak draping down, her expression as gentle as ever.

For some reason, this call of "Mother-in-law" gave her a peculiar sense of excitement.

As she reached out to take the tea, Ling Hao's fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushed across the back of her hand, giving it a light stroke.

Shi Yunyu's fingers curled slightly, and she raised her eyes to give the bold man a reproachful look.

"Good."

She took the teacup, took a light sip, and lowered her eyelids to hide the ripples in her eyes.

Ling Hao then turned to Yue Xinlan and offered tea:

"Ancestral Master, please have some tea."

Yue Xinlan was small, sitting in her chair with a youthful face and an expression as calm as water.

She took the teacup and nodded slightly: "Mm."

After the tea serving was finished, Ling Hao and Shi Qingxuan returned to the sacrificial altar.

The three little ones had slipped to Shi Yunyu's side at some point.

You Ruo lay by Shi Yunyu's knees, looking up with her amber beast pupils flashing:

"Mother, are you unhappy?"

"Mother is happy."

Shi Yunyu reached out to stroke the top of You Ruo's head, while quietly caressing the back of the hand that Ling Hao had just touched.

She looked at the two figures who had returned to the sacrificial altar—their bright red wedding robes were as brilliant as fire. That man stood beside her daughter, his eyes full of smiles, looking handsome and elegant.

The corners of Shi Yunyu's lips curved slightly, but there was a hint of melancholy deep in her eyes.

He had just called her—Mother-in-law...

She could give herself to him in secret, but... perhaps she would never be able to hold such a ceremony with him before the world.

Yue Xinlan sat to the side, her dark eyes staring deeply at the sacrificial altar.

She suddenly turned her head and looked at Yue Xinxi beside her:

"Sis... Sister, what you said last night about the Moonshadow Sect's Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony, was it true?"

Yue Xinxi was slightly taken aback, then nodded: "Mm."

At that time, she had thought the whole world was beyond saving.

Now, after being with that lecherous Sect Master for a long time, both her horizons and... had been expanded, and she had become accustomed to it.

Yue Xinlan was silent for a moment, then turned her head back, her gaze falling on Ling Hao again, wondering what she was thinking.

Finally, the two of them would join hands and step down from the Altar of Heaven, circling the square once to receive the collective congratulations of the Disciples from both Sects.

Supreme Elder Lu Yao and Supreme Elder Zhou Zhi watched as Ling Hao took Shi Qingxuan's hand and slowly walked down the high platform along the Spirit Stone Path.

Supreme Elder Lu Yao said softly:

"The Sect Master has found a good home."

Supreme Elder Zhou Zhi nodded with a smile: "Yes."

The two smiled at each other, looking at each other's meticulously dressed attire, sharing a tacit understanding.

Once the procession ended, the ceremony was declared over.

The grand banquet began.

Between the spiritual peaks, jade tables and brocade stools stretched on endlessly. Spiritual fruits, immortal brews, and the spiritual meat of Yao Beasts filled the long tables. Cups were clinked, and laughter filled the air. There were sword dances, immortal music, and congratulatory gifts from Spirit Beasts...

When night fell.

Spiritual Fireworks exploded across the night sky like fiery trees, turning into patterns of the Dragon and Phoenix bringing prosperity and the sun and moon shining together, illuminating the entire White Rock Holy Land.