Inside the Tianyuan Holy Land, festive decorations adorned every corner. Crimson silk carpets covered the ground, while palatial buildings were decorated with joyous lanterns and tassels. Every disciple wore bright red ceremonial robes, bustling about joyfully to welcome guests from all directions.
After all, this was the wedding ceremony of their Sect Leader, the number one on the Celestial Phenomenon List, the “Proud Young Master” Dugu Ao!
Even more remarkably, his bride was the Holy Maiden of the Azure Lotus Holy Land. Her sect had practically offered its entire inheritance as dowry. The significance of this union was immense—it symbolized the complete submission of another holy land.
At the mountain gate, crowds bustled as representatives from various factions across the world arrived to offer their congratulations.
Numerous martial arts magnates and powerful figures were far from naive; rather, they were seasoned schemers who could clearly see the profound implications of this wedding. Through this marriage alliance, the Tianyuan and Di Ji Holy Lands had already united, and now with the addition of the Azure Lotus Holy Land, there were hints of a unified power rising in the martial world, akin to the ancient martial dynasties.
Therefore, despite their inner resentment, and secretly hoping that Dugu Ao would perish from a martial mishap, the leaders of various factions still had to come respectfully and with smiling faces, fearing that any slight negligence in etiquette would lead to them being the first targeted for retribution.
“San Yang Sect from Xingwu Prefecture, ‘Flaming Palm’ Ding Jiao has arrived! Presents include three millennium ginseng roots and fifty pairs of flawless jade discs…”
With the announcer’s loud proclamation, Ding Jiao followed by two disciples entered the mountain gate, his expression somewhat dazed.
“Ah, it’s Master Ding Jiao! Please this way!”
The person greeting guests was merely an ordinary disciple. Though his face bore a warm smile, his youthful features and the downy hair on his lips were unmistakable.
“What grandeur the Tianyuan Holy Land displays, sending such an immature child to greet an old man like me!”
Though Ding Jiao felt disheartened, he could do nothing about it and maintained a smile: “Lead the way!”
He was well aware that for a colossal power like the Tianyuan Holy Land, a sect like his, confined to a single prefecture and led only by a Martial Heaven cultivator like himself, was practically insignificant.
Of course, if it weren’t for his own martial prowess and influence, he probably wouldn’t even have been allowed through the gate today.
Inside the Tianyuan Holy Land, the crowd was thick and lively, with numerous guests attending the celebration. Following the young disciple through a series of winding paths, Ding Jiao suddenly found himself standing before a vast square. Hundreds of banquet tables were packed tightly together, with rare delicacies and exquisite wines being continuously served.
“Master Ding, your seat is here!”
The disciple led him to a banquet table near the front. From there, looking inward, one could see a magnificent palace where attendants, with beaming smiles, continuously escorted individuals or small groups inside.
“Inside the palace, I suppose only those from other holy lands or Celestial Phenomenon cultivators can enter…”
Ding Jiao dismissed the disciple with a wave, somewhat self-mockingly: “Well, this spot isn’t too bad either. At least one can clearly see inside the palace. Though not top-tier, it’s still among the upper second-tier.”
“Ah, Master Ding!”
A blue-robed, overweight man on his left greeted him. Recognizing an old acquaintance, Ding Jiao immediately smiled: “Mr. Lan, you’ve come too?”
“How could I miss the wedding of Young Master Ao?”
Though Mr. Lan’s face was wreathed in smiles, Ding Jiao keenly noticed the hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.
“Master Ding, I’m from Qinghe Prefecture…”
One after another, the people to his left and right were local notables from nearby prefectures, all of whom had met Ding Jiao on several occasions, and now they approached to exchange greetings.
As the leader of a sect, Ding Jiao naturally possessed a smooth and versatile demeanor. He greeted each person with grace and precision, showing no signs of oversight or rudeness. After all, martial artists valued honor and reputation highly, and offending any of these influential figures might bring serious consequences later.
The formalities were indeed tedious. By the time Ding Jiao finally retook his seat, he noticed that all the guests had already arrived. As the auspicious hour approached, the musicians began to play, bells and drums sounded together, and the harmonious melodies of zithers and flutes filled the air, melodious and enchanting.
“I’ve long heard that the Azure Lotus Holy Maiden is the most beautiful woman in the martial world. Today, I shall finally see her…”
The blue-robed man beside him chuckled.
Ding Jiao knew this fellow’s peculiar martial arts traits—he carried an inherent yang energy and was known for his lecherous tendencies. Though he hadn’t committed any indecent acts, he had accumulated numerous concubines and was quite notorious. Ding Jiao joked: “Mr. Lan, inspired by the scene, are you planning to take another concubine when you return?”
This was a well-known jest, for every time Mr. Lan took a concubine, he would make a grand spectacle of it, widely distributing invitations, collecting generous gifts, and practically extorting surrounding martial sects, causing many to suffer financial ruin or even relocate entirely.
“Precisely so!”
The blue-robed man grinned proudly: “I’ve already chosen a woman and will take her as my seventy-second concubine on the fifteenth of next month. Brother, you must come and share a humble cup of wine!”
Ding Jiao’s smile faltered slightly as he recalled having given a hundred taels of gold for the man’s previous wedding, which had already pained him financially.
This man placed great importance on wealth and face, so offending him with such a gift might risk angering a Martial Heaven expert—a consequence certainly not worth the cost. But if each concubine required a hundred taels of gold, then seventy-two concubines would amount to 7,200 taels!
This was even after Ding Jiao had repeatedly reduced the gift amount in later instances. Still, if he went too low, he feared the man might take offense. Agreeing at that moment, he felt his heart bleed.
Though he was the leader of a sect and controlled an entire prefecture, with thousands of martial artists relying on him, he could not afford to squeeze them dry. Indeed, even a landlord’s house might run out of surplus grain.
“I’ve heard this blue fellow lives like a king without the burdens of a sect, enjoying absolute freedom… Alas… I could never emulate him…”
Ding Jiao sighed inwardly.
As the conversation continued over wine and food, they finally turned to serious matters.
“This wedding of Young Master Ao has prompted some sects to practically bankrupt themselves in attempts to curry favor, even forsaking their ancestral teachings and dignity!”
A dark-skinned man beside them nodded toward the front tables: “Have you seen those tables up front? They’ve offered their sect’s most sacred treasures and treasured martial arts manuals as wedding gifts. It’s truly disgraceful and utterly shameless!”
“Is that so?”
Ding Jiao had initially thought his own generous gift was a significant sacrifice, but now, hearing this, his hand involuntarily trembled slightly around his wine cup. Secretly, he mused: “Among these sects submitting to Tianyuan, eight out of ten are likely planted agents or secretly cultivated forces of Tianyuan. By doing this, they’re setting trends and leading the way. If we don’t submit, calamity will surely follow… Truly deserving of extermination!”
“And those Black-Faced Brothers, who are they from?”
The blue-robed man’s pupils flickered with a trace of azure as he casually asked.
“I’m with no one…”
The dark-skinned man laughed heartily, sipped from his wine cup, and spoke mysteriously: “But among the remaining holy lands, could it be that all are willing to merge into the Tianyuan Holy Land? So let’s not speculate too much. We’ll just watch and see…”
He intentionally lowered his voice while speaking.
“Could you have some inside information?”
The martial artists’ interest, including Ding Jiao and Mr. Lan, was immediately piqued.
They naturally lacked the courage to directly oppose the combined might of the Tianyuan Holy Land, Di Ji Holy Land, and Azure Lotus Holy Land.
But if there were leaders willing to take the initiative, especially if those leaders were also from other holy lands, then the situation would be entirely different. In such a case, they wouldn’t mind secretly supporting and encouraging such movements.
After all, better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox!
As martial artists, they naturally possessed such pride.
Even those not martial artists themselves, once having tasted the pleasures of absolute power, would hardly be willing to bow their heads to another again.
“The Azure Lotus Holy Maiden has arrived!”
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the front, spreading like wildfire. The entire square fell silent, thousands of eyes fixed on the mountain gate.
Ding!
Eight successive zither notes rang out, dreamlike and ethereal.
Two rows of young women in azure robes entered gracefully, holding palace lanterns and waving round fans, their appearances charming and captivating. Many martial arts magnates raised their thumbs: “It’s said that the women of the Azure Lotus Holy Land are refined and otherworldly. If even the ordinary female disciples are like this, what kind of grace must the Azure Lotus Holy Maiden possess?”
As they mused, a faint fragrance wafted over, serene and pure, carrying a hint of Buddhist serenity.
Surrounded by nine Lotus Attendants, the Azure Lotus Sect Leader entered, holding the hand of the Azure Lotus Holy Maiden.
The crowd collectively held its breath.
The Azure Lotus Sect Leader was a middle-aged noblewoman, wearing a phoenix hairpin, a long robe of golden green, with trailing tassels, exuding elegance and grandeur. One could easily imagine that she had once been a beauty who captivated the world in her youth.
The Nine Lotus Attendants were no ordinary beauties either. Ten exquisite women, like orchids in spring and chrysanthemums in autumn, each possessing their unique charm, yet all overshadowed by the young girl at the center.
She wore only a simple azure robe, excessively plain, with only the two red silk ribbons on her shoulders indicating her status as a bride. Her face bore a light makeup, veiled with a thin gauze that concealed half of her exquisite features. Yet her eyes, bright as stars, embracing all things, seemed to contain all the beauty of the world, worth the entire journey alone.
The arrival of the Azure Lotus Holy Maiden was like a clear spring flowing gently, a lotus rising from clear water, naturally pure and unadorned, embodying the most pristine “natural beauty.”
“Excellent!”
Though they had not seen her entire face, merely glimpsing her graceful figure and her eyes was enough for everyone present to be convinced of her peerless beauty. Thoughts arose in their minds: “This young lady is indeed a perfect match for Young Master Ao, a truly destined and harmonious couple!”
…
“My bride has arrived!”
Behind the grand hall, Dugu Ao, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stretched out his arms as Bi Qiu carefully smoothed every wrinkle from his attire.
“Master, congratulations on your wedding. If your late father and mother could see this, they would surely be delighted!”
Bi Qiu fastened Dugu Ao’s sash and hung a red sachet on it, accompanying him all the way to the door.
As Dugu Ao strode out, he glanced back unintentionally and saw Bi Qiu leaning against the door, like a stone waiting for her husband. A flicker of pity crossed his heart: “Once the Azure Lotus Holy Maiden officially joins our sect, I should give her a proper status.”
This thought flashed briefly before he forgot it entirely, his face lighting up with smiles as he strode forward to greet his bride.
That was where his true battlefield lay today!
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