Xu Ziqing felt a tremor in his dantian, as though something intangible had taken shape there. Though formless and without substance, he knew with faint certainty that it existed.
He immediately understood that this was the seed of their oath, to be planted within his Dao. Should he violate the vow, it would instantly turn against him.
The seed remained so distinct because the oath had not yet been fully completed. And to complete it entirely… Xu Ziqing blushed faintly and refused to think about that.
They should finish the ceremony first. Everything else could wait.
Hand in hand, Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing bowed toward the Heavenly Dao in the void, kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times. They then turned toward Perfected Qiu He and repeated the three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Only afterward did the two look at one another. Yun Lie produced a dual metal-and-wood spirit fruit, divided it into two with sword intent, and gave one half to Xu Ziqing.
Xu Ziqing accepted it, and they ate the halves together.
Only now was the ceremony truly complete.
Xu Ziqing felt more settled than ever, and his gaze toward his senior brother held even deeper affection.
Yun Lie’s expression remained unchanged, but his aura softened, becoming noticeably gentler than usual.
With the oath and ceremonial rites completed, Perfected Qiu He waved his sleeve, put away the precious cauldron, and descended to the ground.
Looking fondly at his two disciples, he handed them two storage rings. “I haven’t yet congratulated you on your marriage. Please accept these gifts as a small token of your master’s affection.”
Xu Ziqing hurried to accept his ring. “Thank you, Master,” he said warmly.
Yun Lie also accepted his ring and offered thanks.
Perfected Qiu He grew happier still. With another sweep of his sleeve, he went to find a seat among the banquet guests.
The feast now began in earnest. Everyone enjoyed the fruits and delicacies, talked among themselves, and celebrated with great pleasure!
Because Yun Lie’s presence was icy and his cultivation far surpassed that of most guests, many presented their gifts to Xu Ziqing rather than approaching Yun Lie.
Xu Ziqing accepted each gift with a smile and word of thanks, storing them in his ring.
At the same time, balls of spiritual light were cast down from numerous positions in the air, speeding toward them like falling stars.
They were the gifts of the powerful cultivators concealed above. Though the givers did not show themselves, they directed every streak of light toward Yun Lie.
It was also a small exchange of skill, a test of sorts.
Yun Lie swept his sleeve and gathered every ball of light inside. He seemed to expend almost no effort, finishing the task as casually as if it were nothing.
Most of these great cultivators had attended only out of courtesy toward a newly promoted ancestor, paying little heed to Yun Lie’s former reputation. But after seeing this display, they thought more highly of him, and their interest in his celebration became more sincere.
While the two Dao companions attended separately to their guests, a ripple abruptly appeared in empty space amid the laughter and conversation.
A handsome youth in a scholar’s robe appeared, standing in the void with his hands clasped behind his back and smiling down upon them.
In an instant, many people stopped what they were doing and looked up.
Several more ripples followed, and numerous figures emerged from the void.
They were the great cultivators who had remained hidden until now!
All of them regarded the scholarly youth with respect, cupped their fists, and greeted him. “Greetings, Sect Master.”
The guests below were stunned. The Sect Master?
The Sect Master of the Wuling Immortal Sect was an exalted figure who spent his years cultivating in seclusion on the main peak and rarely emerged except for matters of great importance. Yet he had come to the oath ceremony of a junior who had only recently formed a Nascent Soul. Could the two men exchanging vows truly command such respect?
Even the powerful cultivators above, let alone the guests below, found it almost unbelievable.
Whenever sect members formed Dao-companion bonds, they were expected to send an invitation to the Sect Master as a sign of respect. But instances of his attending personally were extraordinarily rare, even when two Nascent Soul ancestors were marrying.
And this was only the ceremony of a young Nascent Soul cultivator and a Golden Core Perfected One. Yet the Sect Master had actually come…
Of course, the great cultivators could tell that this was not the Sect Master’s original body but an incarnation.
Still, even for major sect affairs, he typically dispatched an incarnation. His true body remained hidden somewhere unknown, devoted to ceaseless cultivation, and would scarcely appear unless the sect faced destruction.
Clearly these two young disciples, or at least Peak Master Yun, were highly valued by the Sect Master.
Perfected Qiu He sensed many of his old friends’ gazes fall upon him and coughed lightly.
He had certainly not expected his disciples to receive such an honor, but there was no need to put his pride and delight into words.
He simply accepted the envious and jealous looks without acknowledging them.
After nodding to the powerful cultivators around him, the scholar-robed youth opened his palms, revealing two simple, ancient wooden boxes.
With a flick of his fingers, the boxes flew separately toward Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing.
Both men immediately summoned their power to catch them.
The youth smiled kindly. “Yun Lie formed his Nascent Soul before the age of two hundred, and Xu Ziqing formed his Golden Core before one hundred. Both are exceptionally gifted disciples of our sect. Continue cultivating diligently so you may one day ascend to immortality and bring honor and glory to our school.”
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie bowed. “Yes. We will remember your instructions and do our utmost.”
The Sect Master smiled once more and let his gaze pass over them.
Though he did not speak aloud, each man now heard his voice transmitted privately.
“Your cultivation method is unusual and seems to contain inexhaustible life force. I am giving you a Sumeru Mustard Seed, recovered from ancient ruins, whose vitality is almost exhausted. If you can revive it, the benefits will be boundless. Use it wisely.”
Xu Ziqing’s fingers tightened involuntarily.
A Sumeru Mustard Seed!
Ancient records spoke of the boundless Mount Sumeru contained within a mustard seed. Such an object was a miraculous relic of antiquity, outwardly like an ordinary mustard seed but actually a seed of extraordinary nature.
This seed contained the laws of a world and could accommodate an entire realm. If refined into one’s own magical treasure, it could even nurture life within!
In short, a Sumeru Mustard Seed could evolve into a world. It was comparable to a divine artifact!
If an ordinary cultivator obtained one, completing its evolution might take countless years. Using it merely as a storage treasure would be a waste, and only someone who comprehended spatial laws could easily make the fullest use of it.
But Xu Ziqing was different. If he fused the Sumeru Mustard Seed into his dantian, then even while still at Golden Core, he might become capable of comprehending the embryonic Purple Palace inner world, just as his senior brother had!
He exhaled slowly and steadied his stirred emotions.
He could hardly contain his joy, for the seed might save him ten thousand years of effort.
Xu Ziqing’s Great Art of Myriad Woods Heart-Planting let him transform myriad plants into extensions of himself and command them. Eventually, however, those plants would have to move into his Purple Palace inner world and become living beings within it, allowing that small world to develop into a true world filled with ever greater vitality.
It was not difficult for ordinary cultivators to place beings into their inner worlds. What was difficult was giving those beings genuine vitality, allowing them to become truly alive.
Most cultivators’ inner worlds could not evolve into real worlds. They remained personal domains. Even if the cultivator established rules within, the world could not develop independently.
But if Xu Ziqing used a Sumeru Mustard Seed to establish his embryonic inner world, he could let the seed evolve alongside it and continuously generate life force. Later, when his myriad plants entered the Purple Palace, the Mustard Seed, itself a thing of vegetation, would not repel them. Their vitality could intermingle and replenish itself without end.
Eventually, he might create an actual world!
A true world possessed the strength of an entire realm. Even after one ascended to immortality, its uses would be limitless!
As for the seed’s vitality being nearly extinguished, that was hardly insurmountable.
However difficult the task, Xu Ziqing would have to restore its life force. The essence of Yi-Wood flowed within his flesh and blood, so surely there was at least some possibility.
The Sect Master’s gift was extraordinarily generous.
Yun Lie naturally noticed Xu Ziqing’s delight.
The Sect Master’s transmitted message to him had been only, “Cultivate more diligently and benefits will follow.” Sweeping his spiritual sense over his own wooden box, Yun Lie discovered a sword manual inside, said to have been left by a sword cultivator who had ascended to immortality. It would be useful for his own study, and was a fine gift.
Yet judging by his junior brother’s reaction, Xu Ziqing’s gift seemed to be something quite different.
An instant later, Xu Ziqing privately transmitted the nature of his gift to Yun Lie.
Yun Lie understood at once.
The Sect Master had taken great care over both their gifts. Such generosity of spirit and broad-mindedness were exceptionally rare.
Given the Sect Master’s cultivation, he would probably ascend to immortality before too many more years passed.
As he and Ziqing were members of the sect and had received such generous treatment, they naturally ought to contribute to its strength.
Neither dwelled upon this. Both thanked the Sect Master again.
The Sect Master gave them one last smiling glance, turned slightly, and disappeared into the void.
Only then did the guests below break into astonished chatter. The powerful cultivators remained for a little while longer before departing as well.
They had attended, drunk the wine, and enjoyed the fruits and delicacies, giving this newly advanced ancestor every courtesy. Having now revealed themselves, there was no need to stay and celebrate alongside the junior disciples.
After the ancestors departed, Yun Lie stood to one side, responding to congratulations with the occasional slight nod.
Perfected Qiu He and his disciples and granddisciples mingled with the Golden Core Perfected Ones, sharing wine and conversation. Xu Ziqing, meanwhile, greeted his old friends and caught up with them one by one.
Su Xin and the other people from the Haotian Small World were affectionate toward him, offering warm congratulations as they raised their cups. Xu Ziqing smiled and drank a round with them. Luo Yao, whose hostility had been plainly visible earlier, restrained it when he met Xu Ziqing. Long Xuan, Yue Jun, Du Zihui, and the others raised their cups as well, and Xu Ziqing received them all with equal warmth.
They were friends, however, and did not intend to make Xu Ziqing drunk as mortals might at a wedding feast. They simply shared a modest round of drinks and left it at that.
Only at the end did Xu Ziqing approach the white-robed youth who had been drinking alone all this time. He smiled gently. “Brother Nan Zheng, you’ve come too.”
Nan Zhengya raised his head and smiled softly. “You two and I share a bond from the past. It is only natural for me to come offer my congratulations.”
Xu Ziqing smiled more broadly. “You helped us greatly back then, Brother Nan Zheng. Let me toast you.”
He raised his cup as he spoke.
Nan Zhengya lifted an eyebrow and drank with him.
Neither said much more. Xu Ziqing smiled and moved on.
The feast continued for quite some time, until the guests gradually dispersed and the surroundings finally fell quiet.
The disciples cleared away the remains of the celebration, while Perfected Qiu He had already returned to his own peak.
At last the newly married Dao companions returned to their cave abode.
Yun Lie swept his sleeve and activated the cave’s restrictions, plunging the chamber into silence.
Xu Ziqing looked up at the senior brother beside him. A sudden nervousness stirred in his heart.