“Zhao Gongming’s wedding?”
In the Jade Void Palace of Mount Kunlun, at the waterfall pavilion behind the mountain.
Guangcheng Zi looked at the invitation before him, his eyes showing hints of hesitation.
In the pavilion, nine of the Twelve Golden Immortals were present, missing were Taiyi and Yu Ding, who were temporarily stationed at Chen Tang Pass.
Chijing Zi stroked his beard and said: “The Severing Sect holding a wedding at this time must have some scheme.”
Manjusri nodded in agreement and said:
“Indeed, who would start planning a wedding right after a battle ends?
And Holy Mother Jin Ling with Zhao Gongming?
Could it be that the Severing Sect has internal divisions between outer and inner disciples, and they want to use this wedding to unite them closely?
If so, we must consider this carefully.”
To the side, Yun Zhong Zi, though not among the Twelve Golden Immortals but quite active recently, couldn’t help but stroke his beard and sigh.
He said: “This poor Daoist had heard long ago about Jin Ling and Gongming’s relationship. They kept their previous affairs secret, but they’ve been Dao partners for many years. This wedding might not have any twists and turns, but simply be to resolve some matters of the heart before the Great Tribulation.”
Guangcheng Zi said: “Let’s not dwell on why this wedding is being held.
The Severing Sect has sent us an invitation with sincere words. If we don’t respond, it would weaken our teacher’s face.
Do my junior brothers and sisters have any strategies for handling this?
If we send people, how can we ensure they return safely?”
The immortals were immediately stumped by this question.
The initial battle between the Enlightenment and Severing Sects had just ended, with both sides completely split. At this time, whoever went would seem like they were going to cause trouble for the Severing Sect.
The Severing Sect had many people with loose tongues, including skilled speakers like True Person Taiyi. If a few wrong words led to fighting, not only would the attending immortals be in danger, but people would say the Enlightenment Sect deliberately went to cause trouble.
It was truly quite difficult.
The Dao Xing Heavenly Worthy smiled and said: “Senior Brother, this poor Daoist has an idea.”
“Speak.”
“In our Jade Void Palace, don’t we have two disciples said to be closely related to the Great Tribulation? One is called Jiang Shang, and one tiger is named Shen Bao. Their current cultivation is passable. Shen Bao has already passed the Golden Immortal tribulation, and Jiang Shang…”
Dao Xing Heavenly Worthy paused in his speech, puzzled: “Has he become immortal yet?”
“Not yet,” Chijing Zi couldn’t help but hold his forehead with one hand. “This poor Daoist was tasked by our teacher to guide his cultivation. He’s truly stu- ahem, well, not exactly stupid, he’s that kind of… that kind of very special cultivator. You might not meet one in several kalpas, the type who’s in danger of cultivation deviation at any moment, yet might accidentally achieve the Earth Immortal realm through tribulation at any time. Truly…”
“Haha!”
The slightly younger Grand Master of Spiritual Treasure clapped and laughed lightly, but then noticed the serious expressions of his fellow sect members, so he shrank his neck and stopped laughing.
Wasn’t that funny?
Yellow Dragon Daoist said: “This poor Daoist will go. I didn’t fight in the previous battle, and as long as my face is thick enough, I won’t acknowledge anything they say.”
“This is truly a difficult task.”
“Not necessarily,” Guangcheng Zi smiled and said, “Junior Brother Changshou will certainly attend, and with him there to look after things, Junior Brother Yellow Dragon need not worry too much. Oh yes, Jiang Shang has another identity, he should go together with Junior Brother Yellow Dragon. The Severing Sect wouldn’t dare make things difficult for him.”
Chijing Zi said: “Shen Bao was a cultivator of Golden Tortoise Island in his previous life, he can go too.”
“Then it’s settled,” Guangcheng Zi’s expression turned serious. “Later prepare a generous gift, to be taken by Junior Brother Yellow Dragon, Junior Brother Shen Bao, and Junior Brother Jiang Shang together to congratulate the Severing Sect.”
The immortals all nodded, all agreeing it was good.
Soon after, Chijing Zi and True Person Yellow Dragon went to the back mountain to find Shen Bao and Jiang Shang.
Shen Bao was cultivating beside a mountain stream, faint pure qi floating around him, his dao rhythm perfectly balanced, his features free of any demonic qi, his graying temples adding to his immortal bearing.
To be professional, these were crane-frost temples.
When Chijing Zi spoke of going to congratulate the Severing Sect, Shen Bao showed hesitation, as he knew the Enlightenment and Severing Sects had already begun their great battle.
But after thinking it through, he still agreed.
Though it was like voluntarily going to the chopping block, perhaps he could play some role in maintaining harmony between the Three Schools, and make them remember old friendships when fighting in the future.
So, Chijing Zi and True Person Yellow Dragon went to find Jiang Shang.
Jiang Shang was in a corridor beside the Jade Void Palace, discussing the Dao with several immortals who had only joined the Jade Void Palace a few hundred years ago. He sat in a somewhat corner position, currently with eyes closed in concentration, contemplating the way of dreams and methods of entering villages.
He was dozing off.
Chijing Zi and True Person Yellow Dragon exchanged glances and approached with smiles.
The discussing Jade Void immortals stopped talking, and one hurriedly used immortal power to push Jiang Shang, who jerked awake with a start.
He opened his eyes, still confused, and instinctively cupped his hands and smiled, saying: “This poor Daoist once had thirty-two wives and concubines, why don’t we discuss the great dao of human desires.”
Chijing Zi and True Person Yellow Dragon’s steps faltered, their foreheads covered in black lines.
So this was the root of his tendency toward cultivation deviation!
Someone among the Jade Void immortals laughed, and soon the corridor was filled with waves of laughter, adding more male immortal joy to the Jade Void Palace.
…
Time passed like a white colt glimpsed through a crack, and a month and a half went by in the blink of an eye.
Those of the Severing Sect who needed to return from the Five Continents had already come back, and news of Zhao Gongming and Holy Mother Jin Ling’s impending wedding had spread throughout the four seas.
Due to the Great Tribulation’s involvement, the Severing Sect didn’t send out many invitations, to avoid drawing non-Severing Sect immortals who had connections – ahem, friendships – with the Severing Sect into the tribulation’s fate.
Besides the invitation to the Enlightenment Sect, letting them handle it themselves, the Severing Sect’s invitations went to four powers.
First, naturally, was the Heavenly Court.
The Severing Sect’s Senior Brother Duo Bao formally sent out invitations, inviting Taibai Star-Lord, the Old Man under the Moon, and several other proper deities to drink the wedding wine.
Originally there was an invitation prepared for a certain marshal of the Heavenly Court, but the Severing Sect wasn’t sure how many generations the Jade Emperor’s avatar had updated to, whether it was still that Quanmei, and feared sending it would be pointless, so they simply didn’t.
Second were the Immortal Alliances of the Three Thousand Worlds, with all vice-presidents receiving invitations, handled by Lu Yue.
Lu Yue had initially worried these vice presidents might not give a face to their Severing Sect and thought about putting some rare poison on the invitations, with the antidote at the wedding feast.
But in the end, he chose to be a good immortal and suppressed such professional yet crazy thoughts.
Half of the Immortal Alliance vice-presidents agreed to come, while half needed to watch over their duties, as the Immortal Alliance was now one of the top powers in the Three Thousand Worlds, so they naturally had to be careful.
The third power to receive invitations was their neighbor, the Dragon Clan.
However, the Dragon Clan had just suffered the wound of Chen Tang, and was quite depressed now, likely only sending a few hundred treasure chests without any important figures attending.
The fourth power was unknown to outsiders.
Zhao Gongming had invited all members of the Little Qiong Peak card room, as well as his mount and chief cook Bai Ze.
His days of freeloading at Black Pool Peak of the Degree Immortal Gate had been quite carefree and memorable, so these invitations were more personal.
But this involved a slight risk.
Bai Ze was no concern, being good at avoiding misfortune and tough-skinned.
The focus was on Ling E leaving the mountain.
Zhao Gongming’s invitation wrote out Lan Ling E’s name, and when Ling E received it from her senior brother, she was quite anxious.
“Senior Brother, can I… go?”
“Go if you want to,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “Don’t think too much about other things. If you want to attend Elder Brother Gongming’s wedding, I’ll naturally take you along.”
Ling E said thoughtfully: “Then perhaps I shouldn’t go, Senior Brother would need to look after me.”
“Come along,” Li Changshou raised his hand and pinched Ling E’s cheek, making her puff up her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Li Changshou smiled and said:
“Later I’ll go to the Doushuai Palace to request a set of brushes and ink from the Old Lord, as a congratulatory gift from the Human Sect to Elder Brother Gongming.
If anyone causes trouble at Gongming’s wedding, they’ll be making an enemy of my Human Sect.
With Uncle Master Tongtian presiding nearby, do I need to worry about looking after you?”
“Really?”
Ling E rose on her tiptoes, her small hands making little wing motions at her sides, almost as if about to fly.
Li Changshou smiled and said: “Just don’t get stage fright, the Azure Lotus Palace will surely be filled with powerful beings.”
“Mm!”
Ling E agreed, then pointed behind Li Changshou.
“Senior Brother, Lingli was headbutted by a cow and went flying!”
Li Changshou instinctively turned to look, only to see the spirit beast pen peaceful and quiet. Just as he was about to turn back, he felt something lightly touch his face.
When he fully turned back, Ling E had already transformed into a streak of light and flown to the other end of Little Qiong Peak…
Ah, this.
How old was she, still playing such naive tricks?
Li Changshou shook his head and walked toward the pill room with his hands behind his back, contemplating the ultimate improvements to the heart-fire-burning method.
On the day of Gongming and Jin Ling’s wedding, Li Changshou changed into clean Daoist robes, using his original appearance but adding several seals to reduce his charm.
No other reason – while he needed to show sincerity, he couldn’t steal the spotlight from his elder brother.
In his previous life, wasn’t it a rule among groomsmen that they should look proper but not more handsome than the groom?
Xiong Lingli stayed home to watch the gate, while You Qin Xuan Ya had a mission to slay demons and monsters, regrettably missing this joyous occasion.
From what Li Changshou knew, Ninth Uncle, under the name of Bai Ze’s disciple, had already gone ahead to Azure Lotus Palace…
To help in the kitchen.
She wasn’t afraid of being recognized, after all, the famous name and characteristics of the Approaching Heaven Palace’s Holy Maiden were well known throughout the Three Realms.
Though he understood the reasoning, how could immortals possibly?
Ahem, stay healthy, and civilized, and cultivate new traditions.
“Ling E?”
Li Changshou called out, and a response came from Ling E’s thatched cottage: “Wait a moment, Senior Brother, I’m not ready yet!”
Li Changshou’s divine sense swept over but was rejected by the Chaos Bell’s dao rhythm.
This Chaos Bell was quite bold.
He waited quietly for a while until he heard two light rings, and the restrictions set by the Chaos Bell gradually dissipated. The wooden door of Ling E’s thatched cottage opened, and the carefully dressed fairy maiden jumped out.
Li Changshou couldn’t help but smile in amusement.
Ling E had taken great pains with her appearance. Her dress style was rather common, a slender gown in light green with touches of cyan, a pure white bodice embroidered with elegant orchids, and a jade belt cinching her delicate waist, highlighting her graceful figure.
Her light makeup today was exquisite, even her eyelashes curved upward just perfectly.
Her fair skin put mutton-fat jade to shame, her beautiful eyes outshone a hundred flowers.
Light rouge on her lips carried fragrant air, and dark hair cascaded like flowing poetry.
The horizontal jade hairpin was naturally a gift from Sister Yun Xiao, while the jade fragments around her neck were from her Senior Brother.
Seeing Li Changshou, she first made a face, then lowered her head and took small steps to shuffle over, standing slightly behind her Senior Brother.
Shy.
Li Changshou chuckled softly and said gently: “I’ll summon the clouds.”
“Mm,” Ling E agreed, following behind Li Changshou, her small hand carrying a delicate flower basket containing her wedding gift for Jin Ling.
As they left Little Qiong Peak and emerged from the Taibai Palace, they naturally drew the attention of many immortals and deities along the way.
Those of insufficient cultivation realm naturally couldn’t see anything special.
But those of slightly higher cultivation, upon seeing Ling E, all changed expression dramatically, then looked at Li Changshou with deep admiration, their dao hearts trembling.
Was this the true foundation of Taibai Star-Lord?
How frightening!
After leaving the Heaven Gate, Li Changshou calculated the time and felt it wouldn’t be good to arrive too late, so he pointed forward.
Space collapsed layer by layer inward, forming a seven-colored path of light, its end reaching above Golden Tortoise Island, where streams of immortal light could be seen flowing gently, gathering countless immortals.
This divine ability was a technique used by Suiren.
Because Li Changshou had diligently studied escape techniques, he had made some minor, unremarkable achievements in the way of space and time. When he saw it once, he pondered it briefly and mastered it.
This was also a type of escape technique, which he named — Door Opening Escape.
One could say it showed his cultural foundation, matching his poetic nature.
As soon as the senior-junior pair arrived, gazes from both the upper and lower regions of Golden Tortoise Island immediately turned toward them.
Currently, four huge sword shadows hung faintly in the air of Golden Tortoise Island, slowly rotating around its perimeter — naturally the projections of the Four Demon-Slaying Swords.
Above Golden Tortoise Island, a cloud gate and a stretch of connected palaces showed Azure Lotus Palace already filled with guests.
The wedding venue was thus divided into inner and outer areas, upper and lower layers, all neat and orderly.
As soon as Li Changshou and Ling E appeared, Zhao Gongming, who was guarding the cloud gate, became greatly energized.
Wearing his wedding robes, he spread his arms in welcome and burst into laughter.
“Ahahahaha! Your elder brother has been waiting anxiously, waiting anxiously indeed!”
Li Changshou cupped his hands and smiled: “Congratulations, Elder Brother, felicitations! Finally joining in marriage with Senior Sister Jin Ling!”
Zhao Gongming continued laughing heartily, affecting a particular tone as he called out:
“Hahaha!
Such a wonderful union, all thanks to worthy brother’s help. Today’s joyous occasion is much indebted to worthy brother’s gifts~”
Li Changshou was truly amused by Zhao Gongming, who kept winking and making faces. When they drew close, they clasped hands, their laughter full of unspoken joy.
Zhao Gongming smiled: “Ling E, quick… come… uh.”
Ling E blinked, somewhat puzzled by Zhao Gongming’s strange behavior, but still curtsied and said softly:
“Congratulations to Senior Brother Gongming and Senior Sister Jin Ling on their union, wishing you happiness and harmony.”
“Hahaha!”
Zhao Gongming quickly suppressed his oddness, looking at Ling E with deep emotion as he laughed:
“Thank you, thank you, quickly, please come inside!”
Thereupon, Zhao Gongming led the senior-junior pair into Azure Lotus Palace, where crowds of immortals came forward to welcome them, including various Severing Sect disciples and guests who had come to offer congratulations.
But when these guests took a careful look, their expressions were quite uniform — first stunned, then quite wary, their gazes filled with envy when looking at Ling E.
Ling E was confused inside, tugged at her Senior Brother’s clothes, moved closer to him, and transmitted:
“Senior Brother, what’s going on? Why is everyone looking at me strangely?”
Li Changshou: …
“First put away the small bell hanging at your waist.”
“Ah, when did Sister Bell come out!”
The Chaos Bell transmitted a feeling of consciousness, giggling nonstop in Ling E’s mind.
At this point, Ling E couldn’t very well hide the ‘bell’ at her waist, so she might as well display it openly.
She was just the Chaos Bell’s bell-washing little sister, there was no pressure about being unworthy of treasures.
Just as they were about to enter the main hall of Azure Lotus Palace, a light laugh was heard as Yun Xiao arrived on the clouds with Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao.
Yun Xiao, who rarely adorned herself, had also carefully applied makeup today, but her makeup wasn’t meant to enhance her beauty. Rather, it was to cover her usual cold temperament, adding several touches of ‘commonness’ to avoid overshadowing the bride’s radiance.
Even so, she still shone brilliantly. With the added touch of mortal air, she was even more impossible to look away from.
Vermillion hairpins swaying gently, cloud-like hair in graceful coils.
Yun Xiao stepped forward and gave Li Changshou a slight bow, saying softly: “We couldn’t come out to welcome you.”
Li Changshou returned a Daoist salute and smiled: “It’s good just to see you.”
Yun Xiao’s eyes carried hints of laughter as she nodded slightly to Li Changshou, then took the initiative to pull Ling E aside.
Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao also came forward to bow, sweetly calling him “Brother-in-law” in delicate voices. Li Changshou returned their salutes, exchanging smiles with Zhao Gongming.
After the Three Xiao Sisters led Ling E away, crowds of immortals immediately surged forward.
Li Changshou returned their greetings one by one without putting on airs, exchanging pleasantries with whoever came, positioning himself as Zhao Gongming’s brother, and continuously thanking the guests.
Giving Elder Brother Zhao plenty of face.
An Immortal Alliance vice-president stirred things up: “Lord Star-Lord, when will your wedding be?”
Li Changshou smiled and said: “No rush, no rush, that depends on when His Majesty the Jade Emperor gives me leave.”
In a corner to the side, a certain Heavenly Court general sitting beside the Old Man under the Moon’s eyes lit up and was about to speak when some unknown immortal power covered his mouth, making him glare around with wide eyes.
In another corner, True Person Yellow Dragon occasionally looked toward where Ling E and the female immortals were, seeing the small bell hanging at Ling E’s waist.
He couldn’t help but lower his head and sigh, nearly moved to tears.
This was too crushing for a dragon!
Just then, immortal music suddenly rang out in waves as hundreds of flowers danced through the air. All the Severing Sect fairy maidens led Ling E toward the outside of the hall.
Qiong Xiao called out: “Our Senior Sister Jin Ling has arrived!”
Zhao Gongming instinctively grabbed Li Changshou’s arm, his lips trembling: “Wh-what do I do?”
“What else? Go quickly! Help him on both sides!”
Li Changshou couldn’t help but laugh and cry, calling Lu Yue, Qin Wan, Zhao Jiang, Wang Mo, Yang Sen, and a group of Severing Sect immortals to come forward together, pushing Zhao Gongming toward the outside.
In a lively crowd at the hall entrance, the male immortals pushed together with force, directly propelling Zhao Gongming out of the great hall.
The female immortals guided from both sides outside the hall, leading Holy Mother Jin Ling forward gracefully.
The two naturally attracted each other, falling into an embrace, Zhao Gongming’s old face flushing red as he held Holy Mother Jin Ling.
Lu Yue burst into laughter from behind, and the immortals immediately joined in with continuous laughter, teasing, congratulations, and jokes. Cheers echoed from far across Golden Tortoise Island, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Duo Bao appeared at the right moment, cleared his throat, and called out:
“The wedding begins! Please welcome the Master!”
The crowd of immortals quickly stopped laughing and bowed toward the high platform inside the hall.