This round of drinks was hearty, reckless, and thoroughly joyful for the brothers.
Over at the Great Xia Sword Sect, however, Lu Kangnian was shouting so much his throat was practically smoking!
"What are you gawking at?! Pull out two spirit veins from over there!
"Crush them into powder on the wedding day and mix them into the fireworks to scatter across the sky!
"Hey, someone go into the Mysterious Crane Secret Realm and round up all the cranes! When the time comes, have them fly across the skies scattering flower petals from their beaks!
"And bring out all the spirit spring jade marrow—refine it into jade wine cups!"
Lu Kangnian hovered midair, barking orders without pause.
"Pave the entire mountain path with Dao comprehension stones!
"And hurry up and hang those lanterns over there! Where's the red carpet?! Where is it?!
"Come on, rip up the flagstones here and replace every single one with tiles carved from high-grade spirit stones!
"Qin Xian! Where are you?! Did all the invitations get delivered properly?!
"Ling Daoyan?! Anyone from the Ethereal Immortal Domain or the Ancient Clans who doesn't have an invitation, tell them to get lost! They'll show up just to crowd the place if you let them!
"For the guest viewing area, make ten thousand chairs to start, and make the viewing platform grand and magnificent!
"Right, Guanqi mentioned guests are coming from the Seventh Domain. Set aside a separate area for them—the weakest among them are at least Mahayana realm cultivators...
"Betrothal gifts! Are the betrothal gifts ready?! Clear out the entire treasury for me!
"Contact Feihua Valley! Are the robes for proposing and welcoming the bride finished yet?!"
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Qin Xian reported, "The shuttle threads of the female cultivators at Feihua Valley are already smoking... They've guaranteed they'll finish in time.
"This is Guanqi's wedding, after all. Even the Valley Master of Feihua Valley is weaving with her own hands...
"Without exaggeration, everyone there is so busy right now that even stray dogs on the road are being dragged in to haul spools of gold thread."
As night fell, the Great Xia Sword Sect was ablaze with lights, bustling with construction.
Festooned with lanterns and banners, the grounds overflowed with festive cheer.
Every disciple was frantically occupied, each absorbed in their assigned task.
Even sect elders and peak masters were down on their hands and knees laying paving stones.
Lu Kangnian clutched his hands inside his sleeves, licking his dry lips as he muttered, "What are we still missing... No, I need to think harder.
"The betrothal gifts still aren't enough. We must display our sect's magnificence. If we're stingy, Guanqi will lose face."
Hearing this, Qin Xian couldn't help but say, "Sect Master... there's really no need to fret so much.
"With Guanqi's current cultivation realm, whatever he presents is more than enough.
"Besides, Guanyun Pavilion has already sent over a massive collection of betrothal gifts—rare treasures gathered from across the entire world."
Lu Kangnian glared at him. "That won't do! Guanyun Pavilion is Guanyun Pavilion, but we are his true home! We have to stand tall behind Guanqi!
"Say no more. I'm going to the treasury myself."
The Great Xia Sword Sect's foundations were in no way inferior to sacred lands and ancient clans that had endured for thousands of years.
One could even say that across the Six Domains, or even including the Ethereal Immortal Domain and the Ancient Clans, few could match the Great Xia Sword Sect in heritage and resources.
Guanyun Pavilion had supplanted the Tianji Pavilion to command the world's intelligence, and the Guanyun Chamber of Commerce spanned all Six Domains.
Clans and powers everywhere clamored to forge ties with the Great Xia Sword Sect.
At Dan Peak, home to the flame seed of the world's number one holy flame, even seventh-tier alchemists had to pay and wait in line.
If sword cultivators across the realm wished to view the Sword Stele Li Guanqi had left behind, the price in spirit stones was astronomical.
Did the Great Xia Sword Sect lack money?
Impossible...
How could the world's foremost sect be short of money?
As for whether the Great Xia Sword Sect truly was the greatest sect beneath the heavens...
What other sect possessed an Ascension realm powerhouse along with five or six cultivators in the Tribulation Transcendence realm?
It was fair to say that under Lu Kangnian's leadership, this generation of the Great Xia Sword Sect had reached the absolute zenith of its history!
Every disciple took immense pride in their sect. When venturing into the outside world, they were prudent in speech and action, yet stood tall and unyielding.
Even against the so-called sacred clans of the Ethereal Immortal Domain or the Ancient Clans, if faced with injustice, they had the courage to draw their swords without hesitation!
That confidence was given to them by the Great Xia Sword Sect!
Thus, with Grand Elder Li Guanqi's grand wedding approaching, every single disciple was thrilled, throwing themselves into the preparations as though it were their own family affair.
Yuhu Peak was revered by countless disciples.
The towering statue standing on the sect plaza caused every passing disciple to pause and gaze upon it for a long time.
The cracked stone at the plaza's edge stood as enduring proof of the day they raised their swords against Ziyang Palace when the sect had been at its lowest.
Nowadays, the sect's recruits were no longer limited to prominent clans of the Six Domains.
Disciples from the Ancient Clans and great families of the Ethereal Immortal Domain came to join as well.
Yet the Great Xia Sword Sect remained true to its roots. Even ordinary youths from the mortal markets were accepted so long as their character and temperament met the standard.
It would never bend its principles for the extraordinary talents of noble scions.
The sect rules were iron law within the Great Xia Sword Sect!
Anyone who violated them would face punishment without exception!
Once, an initiate from an Ancient Clan had scoffed at the rules, only to be executed on the spot by Lu Kangnian himself!
Afterward, that Ancient Clan hadn't dared utter a single complaint, much less come knocking to demand an explanation.
Lu Kangnian had often drunk alone in his study late at night, filled with profound emotion.
The soaring ambitions within him that had never truly faded were reignited only after he met Li Guanqi.
One could say that Li Guanqi and the sect had uplifted each other to achieve today's towering prominence!
So when he first heard news of Li Guanqi's wedding, excitement had kept him tossing and turning through the night.
The Great Xia Sword Sect was like a reticent father watching his boy prepare to marry the love of his life.
All he could do was pour everything he had into giving Li Guanqi the greatest pride and honor!
In the second half of the night, the Great Xia Sword Sect was still bustling.
Every pavilion and hall was being repainted with fresh red lacquer.
In the deep hours, Lu Kangnian sat atop Tianjian Peak, drinking alone.
There was gratification in his wine, and deep reflection.
The smile on his face looked more and more like that of a father.
Like a father keeping watch at home while his children fought their battles out in the world, having them tell him that his son was formidable now.
There was no need for the family to worry or support him so heavily anymore.
Though proud, a faint sliver of melancholy lingered.
The fledgling had grown wings and become an eagle, soaring through the boundless sky, returning only rarely.
Qin Xian arrived, accompanied by Ling Daoyan.
"What's this? Sitting here all by yourself, having a drink and secretly wiping tears?"
Qin Xian dropped down beside Lu Kangnian, snatched the wine gourd, tilted his head back, and took a swig.
The little old man lowered his head and murmured softly, "Someday... after the Sect Master ascends, this old man wants to go out and see the world too..."
Lu Kangnian said nothing, which meant he had no intention of stopping him.
Ling Daoyan chuckled. "Chen Xiaotian will be suited to serve as the shadow in the future. In the light, Wu Bing will be enough.
"Right, do you have a candidate in mind for Discipline Master?"
The corner of Qin Xian's mouth curved slightly upward.
"I do. The Smiling Tiger, Li Sheng'an!
"A sharp fellow with brains to match."
Lu Kangnian gave a slight nod; he also remembered that elder.
"Speaking of which... Li Sheng'an joined the sect in the same intake as Guanqi, didn't he?"
Qin Xian threw his head back in laughter.
"Exactly! Back then he was just a crafty slacker looking for easy ways out. Later on, someone beat him up, and when he went looking to Guanqi for help, Guanqi gave him a thorough scolding instead.
"From that day on, the kid seemed to become an entirely different person.
"It's good. It's very good now.
"Zhou Zhi, Zhong Lin, and the others are doing well too. They can shoulder heavy responsibilities."
Chapter 1505