Elder Yin, who was present, felt admiration for Tan Yanyi, who was still fighting fiercely in the training grounds. Truly worthy of being her direct disciple; even from so far away, without even meeting, she just knew what her master was thinking. Deciding to become cultivation partners so quickly, without any delay, as if fearing their partner would fly away if they waited a moment longer.
The others weren’t as mentally prepared as she was, and couldn’t help but feel surprised. Mainly, in their perception, everything happened too quickly, too dazzlingly.
From Jingting Dao Lord matchmaking the two at the Grand Sect Competition, to the two sects’ disciples returning from the secret realm and their intimacy being witnessed, and now, while the two sects’ disciples were fighting bloody battles in the training grounds, the two masters were about to become cultivation partners?
Yes, although it was highly likely they had already become a couple before Jingting Dao Lord played matchmaker, it hadn’t been for too long. At least during the disciple acceptance ceremony, Jijin Sword Sovereign was still unilaterally targeting Qingxiao Immortal Venerable.
Given Jijin Sword Sovereign’s acting skills, it was absolutely impossible for her to portray playful flirting as sharp antagonism. On this point, everyone was quite confident!
And why did Sword Sovereign and Immortal Venerable, along with their disciples, have to be so tied to the Grand Sect Competition?
The masters’ romance progressed strictly according to the Grand Sect Competition’s schedule. The disciples were not to be outdone: revealing their true colors on the arena, winning against all odds, being confirmed as a half-yao and executed on the spot, causing trouble in the secret realm, wiping out other disciples by putting them all in a collective wet dream, nearly causing the Sword Sect and Dao Sect to die out…
It was so lively it made people deeply resent having only one pair of eyes, unable to take it all in. Once distracted, they would miss so much of the plot.
Ancestors above, are Jijin Peak and Qingxiao Peak their masters and disciples’ hibernation spots?
As soon as they leave Jijin Peak and Qingxiao Peak, they go all out stirring up trouble, one thing after another, giving no one a moment’s rest.
So they don’t harm their own homes, right?
However, looking at Jijin Sword Sovereign, who held her chin high, and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable, whose face was calm, they felt there was nothing to be surprised about. Given Jijin Sword Sovereign’s patience, being eager to hold the cultivation partner ceremony and formalize their status was the most normal thing.
One could only say that Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable had long cultivated a deep emotional foundation, and everything was natural.
After all, a relationship that could last for twelve hundred years and still not be enough was truly rare.
Jiang Fengmian thought a bit too much. She wondered who had told her that things like love and romance were more tedious than ancient texts in the scripture pavilion. Was she forgetting her roots that badly?
How wonderful! These two won’t need her, the middleman, to relay messages for them anymore if anything happens!
Jiang Fengmian refused to consider the possibility of these two quarreling or having disagreements in the future. There was no such possibility; they had to be deeply in love and devoted to each other, otherwise, everyone else’s lives would become unbearable!
Everyone expressed high approval and congratulations for this matter. For a time, shouts of congratulations and well wishes filled the hall.
Even Jingting Dao Lord was smiling, no longer acting disrespectfully like an old elder, spoiling Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue’s good mood.
“It’s been a long time since the cultivation world had such a grand celebration.”
“Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s cultivation partner ceremony should naturally be celebrated by all.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
The Dao Sect elders were already discussing which date would be auspicious, which forces and grand cultivators to invite for the ceremony, and whether to cross the Three Realms Mountain and raid the Demon and Yao races to let them share in the joy…
Sword sovereign Xiao Xiang and Sword sovereign Jun Xing listened and started to feel something was wrong. No, these Dao Sect elders are directly assuming the Sword Sovereign and Immortal Venerable’s cultivation partner ceremony will be held in the Dao Sect?
When cultivators formed a bond, there was no concept of marrying in or out; both parties were equal. It wasn’t about background or status, but about the person themselves. If so, why wouldn’t it be held in the Sword Sect?!
They were both in Ringing Jade Domain, both among the Nine Great Immortal Sects. What was wrong with their Sword Sect?!
Sword sovereign Xiao Xiang and Sword sovereign Jun Xing, despite being outnumbered, eagerly joined the discussion, rallying for the Sword Sect and arguing fiercely over the location of the ceremony.
Their own Sword Sovereign was about to become cultivation partners with her beloved, yet the ceremony would be held in the Dao Sect. Not to mention what other immortal sects, especially Divine Mechanism Sect and Spring Rejuvenation Valley, who owed them, would say to ridicule the Sword Sect. Even the Sect Master wouldn’t approve.
Jingting Dao Lord resolved their struggle with one sentence, addressing the triumphant Li Jin’an, “Some unpleasant things happened when the disciple acceptance ceremony was held here before. Don’t you want to overwrite those unpleasant memories?”
Li Jin’an’s expression instantly changed.
Sword sovereign Xiao Xiang and Sword sovereign Jun Xing inwardly sighed in despair, knowing that the Sword Sect would not get to make a grand display in front of the cultivation world. Who could blame Jingting Dao Lord for being so shrewd and knowing how to manipulate Sword Sovereign’s thoughts!
Even if the Sword Sect Master and Chixin Sword Lord came personally, the outcome would be the same. After all, Qingxiao Immortal Venerable’s third disciple’s acceptance ceremony wasn’t held in the Sword Sect!
As expected, Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue exchanged glances, and Li Jin’an, beaming, said, “I stay in the Dao Sect daily; it’s not an exaggeration to say I’m half a Dao Sect person. It’s perfectly fitting for the cultivation partner ceremony to be held in the Dao Sect.”
“Besides, I’m not a petty person. Those minor matters are not worth me remembering; they were merely coincidences.”
“So it’s settled, the cultivation partner ceremony will be held in the Dao Sect!”
A hush fell over the hall. Regardless of whether they were elders of the Sword Sect or the Dao Sect, everyone, at that moment, put aside their differences, and their internal thoughts aligned perfectly.
Give me a break, you are petty and hold grudges!
How can someone say things so earnestly that are contrary to the truth? Does she really believe she’s a magnanimous person?
How is this not unwavering conviction?!
Xie Huaixue spoke up at the opportune moment, “At that time, we will trouble Venerable Lord and all the elders. Qingxiao and Jijin are immensely grateful.”
Li Jin’an narrowed her eyes, looking at others. Her expression wasn’t fierce, but her eyes held an inherent sharpness, as if searching for who was so presumptuous as to expect her partner’s gratitude.
“…Immortal Venerable jests. To be able to assist you two, we too feel honored,” an elder said, laughing awkwardly and trying to smooth things over.
“Oh, right, don’t forget to inform your master,” Jingting Dao Lord reminded.
When Jingting Dao Lord mentioned Chixin Sword Lord, it inevitably reminded the other elders of the love triangle between these two and Yinyue Monarch. Unfortunately, during their mutual exposing of secrets that day, Jijin Sword Sovereign was vague, and later, the widespread gossip was all about Sword Sovereign and Immortal Venerable. Not a single word about the grievances and affections of the previous generation was revealed.
However, they were overthinking it. Li Jin’an also didn’t know what had truly happened between the three elders. She only remembered that profound statement.
In this matter, it was evident that an unknown force had intervened, strictly controlling the spiritual world of mortals and cultivators, preventing any inappropriate thoughts from appearing in their minds. Just as Li Jin’an had said she would use her status and position to declare books about her and Xie Huaixue as forbidden, it was a dishonorable tactic, but very effective.
Li Jin’an didn’t connect it to the love and hate of the three Venerable-ranked figures. She simply nodded in agreement, and felt that Jingting Dao Lord only behaved like an elder now.
After both official and personal matters concluded, Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue left the Sect Main Hall and returned to Qingxiao Peak, having no intention of lingering outside for a date. The intense public viewing from last time had left Li Jin’an with a psychological shadow; she was afraid that before her lips even touched Xie Huaixue’s, she would turn her head and see a crowd of people staring intently.
The first thing they did upon returning home was to press their mouths together.
Afterward, Xie Huaixue sat reading with an upright and composed demeanor, while Li Jin’an lay sprawled on the bed without any semblance of grace. After sending messages via paper crane to Chixin Sword Lord and the Sword Sect Master, she propped her head up and watched Xie Huaixue turn pages, her eyes fixed on a point in the empty space for a long time.
She suddenly thought of Jingting Dao Lord’s expression when she spoke in a roundabout way to get them to hold the ceremony in the Dao Sect, and a realization dawned on her.
“Venerable Lord wants us to hold the ceremony here so that Yinyue Monarch will know you and I have become cultivation partners.”
It should have been a questioning tone, but Li Jin’an spoke with extreme certainty.
The book Xie Huaixue was turning paused. She lowered her eyelids, confirming Li Jin’an’s conjecture, “Master had a meeting with Venerable Lord before she passed away. Perhaps she told Venerable Lord to take good care of us, but Venerable Lord…”
It was inappropriate to speak ill of an elder behind her back, so Xie Huaixue left the sentence unfinished.
Li Jin’an picked up the conversation seamlessly, “Venerable Lord, that elder, forcibly interpreted ‘taking care of me and you’ as ‘getting us together,’ believing that only then would she not have failed Yinyue Monarch’s dying wish?”
Xie Huaixue smiled, “Yes.”
Although Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue’s union had nothing to do with Jingting Dao Lord’s matchmaking efforts, they still had to thank her for her persistent efforts…?
Not a single bit of thanks was due. Jingting Dao Lord not only misinterpreted Yinyue Monarch’s intentions but also tried to impose her will on the younger generation. Not a good person!
“How wonderful,” Li Jin’an rolled over, propping her head on her arm and lying flat on the bed, saying happily, “If Yinyue Monarch could see this moment, she would surely praise me fiercely.”
“Mmm.”
Li Jin’an sprang up from the bed, crossed her arms, and said, “‘Mmm’ is useless; I need an actual reward.”
Xie Huaixue changed her tone, “Mmm?”
Li Jin’an put her hands on her hips, “First, praise me ten times. Let me test if your skills have deteriorated.”
“…Alright.”
“Don’t agree so reluctantly!” Li Jin’an eyed her suspiciously.
As for a half-yao who was already dead, the vast majority of Dao Sect disciples were uninterested. Compared to that, they were more interested in the upcoming cultivation partner ceremony of Jijin Sword Sovereign and Qingxiao Immortal Venerable, as well as their past and their grievances. They were all excitedly discussing which prominent figures would attend from the Dao Sect.
In a secluded part of the Dao Sect, Lan Ci, her face grim, set up a barrier to ensure that no outside movement was detected before she turned to Ning Zhufeng, who had a childlike face but dark eyes.
“Now we can discuss the future events, Your Venerable Self.”
Lan Ci’s address of “Your Venerable Self” was extremely sarcastic, as if implying that a Demon Lord was nothing special.
Although Ning Zhufeng was useful to her, Lan Ci clearly did not want to give her a good look.
“Ling Xu,” Ning Zhufeng softly uttered Lan Ci’s future Daoist title, then said bluntly, “You should know that a great disciple who has lost all face is no different from a half-yao second disciple in master’s heart. So why be so anxious?”
Lan Ci laughed in extreme anger, “Do you think you’re some good person? Demon… Lord… Sir.”
Ning Zhufeng, who considered herself to possess a portion of future memories, paid no mind to her senior sister’s exasperation. She leaned close to Lan Ci and whispered, “My true body is in the demon realm; this is merely a wisp of split spirit. Even Zhong Fei had two lives, but senior sister, you cannot afford to die.”