This clash had not been entirely without gains—at least they now knew Daoist Qingfeng cultivated both the sword path and physical refinement, possessing astonishing attainments in each.
It was just that the price had indeed been rather steep.
A bet was a bet!
Accepting his defeat, Shang Lu lacked the face to demand the return of his python banner. He turned and flew off the arena platform, returning to his cloud couch. With his expression as calm as ever, he paid no mind to the surrounding gazes, sitting down to regulate his breath without uttering a single word about the three snow pythons.
Seeing Lineage Master Shang behave with such magnanimity, Qin Sang was rather surprised. Without the slightest hesitation, he stowed the demon cores and the python banner into his Qianjun Ring, feeling a twinge of regret that he hadn't captured one alive.
Qin Sang actually found himself admiring the man a little—assuming Shang Lu truly had fought for the sake of love.
After this modest interlude, under the watch of all manner of gazes, Qin Sang and Liuli walked hand in hand back before the cloud altar to finish the wedding ceremony.
Standing side by side, they accepted the heavenly incense together from Shi Xue's hands, faced the ritual altar, and completed the rites with three bows.
With this, the wedding ceremony finally drew near its close.
This was already after Qin Sang and Liuli had simplified the proceedings, omitting many tedious liturgical rituals; otherwise, it likely would have taken another half hour.
Before long, disciples of the Snow Listening Tower brought out steaming plates of fragrant spiritual python meat.
Shi Xue led Qin Sang and Liuli to greet the guests, raising cups and conversing merrily.
Qin Sang became a familiar face among them.
Some of Xuantian Palace's Nascent Soul cultivators had not attended, as they were confronting the demon army, and Tong Lingyu and the others would also have to rush back to the front lines that very night.
Even so, just the experts gathered here made this the strongest sect Qin Sang had ever seen since embarking on the path of cultivation.
Facing the newlyweds, the guests heaped praise upon Liuli while looking at Qin Sang with eyes full of curiosity and scrutiny.
Shang Lu had disregarded his status as a Lineage Master to cause trouble at the wedding, only to fail to steal a chicken and lose the rice used to lure it into the bargain. This bridegroom certainly had not exerted his full strength, leaving one to wonder just how many methods he kept hidden.
They suddenly realized something: in the entire Xuantian Palace, those who could reliably prevail over this Daoist couple were probably only the Palace Master and the Grand Elder who wielded the spirit treasure.
The Snow Listening Tower had originally lacked top-tier powerhouses and was gradually in decline, but now no one dared look down upon them again.
Amid the clinking of cups and warm toasts, Qin Sang and the others arrived before Luo Wan.
Luo Wan raised her cup in celebration and drained it in a single draught. Glancing up at the hour, the corners of her mouth curved into a teasing smile. "The night is already deep, and an exquisite evening is precious. I wonder which cave dwelling Lineage Master Shi has prepared for Junior Sister and Brother-in-law?"
Yet in her heart, she harbored some doubt.
During the duel just now, she had felt no resonance of the Goddess Heart Scripture from either Qin Sang or Liuli.
She did not know whether they had not cultivated the technique, or were merely holding back.
Shi Xue looked down and pointed. "None other than Mount Taisu, where Master once cultivated!"
Before her voice had faded, a troupe of disciples and flower spirits flew out from a peak near the main peak. Fluttering around the peak, they scattered sweet dew, causing the vegetation on the mountain to burgeon wildly and flowers to burst into vibrant bloom.
This peak stood close to the main peak and was situated over one of the finest spots along the Snow Listening Tower's spirit vein.
In the blink of an eye, the lower slopes were draped in lush splendor, creating an exquisite vista.
The mountain's summit, however, remained blanketed in pristine white snow.
Hall Master Jiang strolled over, smiling. "Allow me to gift you a cave dwelling as well."
With that, he pressed his palm downward.
A speck of azure light descended from the sky, landing atop the mountain.
The azure light expanded rapidly, transforming into palaces and pavilions that seamlessly locked into place.
Qin Sang and Liuli both favored quiet over ostentation. The cave dwelling appeared quite unadorned, yet lacked none of the essential functions and came equipped with its own protective restrictions—meticulously prepared by the Snow Listening Tower.
In the future, they could stow the dwelling away at any time and take it elsewhere.
Once the dwelling had settled in place, Tong Lingyu walked over as well, looking Qin Sang and Liuli up and down with a beaming smile. "You are both rising talents with boundless prospects; the future of the sect rests upon your shoulders. Naturally, the sect cannot let this pass without a gift..."
Saying so, Tong Lingyu brought out several small banners. With a wave of her jade hand, they turned into streaks of light and planted themselves across Mount Taisu. She then handed them the jade disc used to control the formation.
"This is the Azure Cloud Ocean-Calming Formation."
Looking down, everyone saw a sea of clouds billowing across Mount Taisu, ethereal as an immortal realm—truly a wondrous array.
Qin Sang and Liuli voiced their thanks to each of them.
"Go on. Do not squander such a fine night."
Smiling, the guests watched the newlyweds depart.
Boys and girls carrying censers led the ceremonial retinue, escorting the pair to the front of the cave dwelling before bowing and taking their leave.
With this, the wedding ceremony came to an end.
However, the thousands of Red Luan Lanterns were not extinguished; they would burn until morning, illuminating all directions throughout the night.
Qin Sang and Liuli stepped into the dwelling.
As the Azure Cloud Ocean-Calming Formation was activated, the power of the array covered Mount Taisu, shutting out the outside world's prying eyes and barring all the bustle beyond.
After the clamor faded, all that remained was silence.
Without a word, they walked side by side into the dwelling, their shadows stretching out behind them.
Inside, the dwelling was fully appointed with alchemy chambers, artifact-refining rooms, and everything one could need, including two grand halls designated specifically for cultivation.
One stood on the left and one on the right, situated at opposite ends of the dwelling.
The cultivation methods they practiced were different; while Qin Sang had few requirements regarding his environment, Liuli was not the same. Cultivating too close together risked interfering with each other.
Reaching the central corridor, the two halted their steps, exchanging a silent glance with nothing to say.
Nodding to each other, they turned away in silence, one to the left and one to the right, backs to each other as they walked toward their respective chambers, leaving behind two solitary figures.
***
Before long, the guests dispersed.
The Snow Listening Tower gradually settled into quietude, with only the flickering lanterns shimmering in concert with the river of stars above.
Word of this grand wedding ceremony spread far and wide, remaining a topic of avid conversation among disciples of the Snow Listening Tower and across the various branches of Xuantian Palace for a long time to come, inspiring dreams that they too might one day hold such a wedding.
Yet in Qin Sang's heart, all traces of the grand wedding were quickly wiped clean.
He immediately sealed his chamber and focused on cultivation, helping the Heavenly Eye Butterfly stabilize her realm and refining the lingering soul shadows within his external incarnation to prepare for the opening of the Sacred Ground in one year's time.
Imperceptibly, time drifted by.
The Heavenly Eye Butterfly's cultivation stabilized.
Having broken through a minor realm, she had not comprehended any new divine abilities, but her concealment, Heavenly Eye, and Heavenly Eye Divine Light had all seen improvement.
Furthermore, the aura of the tribulation lightning she wielded had grown much richer; though still more form than substance, it was drawing closer to the real thing.
To have the Heavenly Eye Butterfly assist him in crossing a heavenly tribulation was still a long way off, and Qin Sang did not know whether he would ever reach that stage, but he would not abandon hope.
Right at this moment, Qin Sang suddenly sensed someone touching the chamber's restrictions. This was the first time he had been disturbed since entering secluded cultivation.
Qin Sang calculated the time in his head; there were still two months before the Sacred Ground was due to open.
Ending his cultivation art, he opened the cave dwelling and found that the visitor was Shi Xue.
Her face was grave as she said, "The Grand Elder sent word. The demon race's movements have grown increasingly frequent, and they are very likely to launch another offensive before the Sacred Ground opens."
Qin Sang frowned slightly. "Will the Sacred Ground be affected?"
Shi Xue nodded. "The opening likely won't be postponed; the various branches have waited for so long that their patience has worn thin. However, if war breaks out, at least half of the Nascent Soul cultivators must remain outside. The Grand Elder has convened the branches specifically to discuss this matter."
Chapter 1481