Following the standard procedure for engagement ceremonies between Daoist couples of the Sect, what comes next is the introduction of qualifications and achievements, followed by the expression of future aspirations, and then vows exchanged by the couple.
As Yi Jiang and Han Xiaonu stepped into the center, before the Ceremony Elder could speak, Yi Jiang strode to the seated figures of Desolate God Sect Master Qiao Sha and Luoshen Palace Master Liu Yinyu, and knelt down abruptly:
"Yi Jiang earnestly asks the two elders to decide for me."
Qiao Sha frowned, clearly disliking Yi Jiang’s way of acting without regard for status or context.
He knew very well that today’s main event wasn’t Yi Jiang and Han Xiaonu’s engagement but something far more significant.
Otherwise, even he, Qiao Sha, with his great face, couldn’t have invited so many people. Let alone him, even if Ji Xinting had come, he might not have been able to invite people like Yi Qianxing and Shi Qi Qiu.
But today was also his chance to bolster his own prestige, so he still moderated his tone:
"Yi Jiang, today is not only a significant day for you and Han Xiaonu, but also a momentous occasion for both our Desolate God Sect and Luoshen Palace. In front of so many guests, do not forget the proper etiquette."
It was Luoshen Palace Master Liu Yinyu who said indifferently:
"Speak what you have to say."
"Yes."
After responding, Yi Jiang said:
"My junior’s father was ambushed by a degenerate of the Taoist Realm. I beg the two seniors to stand for this junior and root out that scum so he can no longer harm the Taoist Realm and endanger others."
Clearly, Yi Jiang intended to say more than this, but only by raising this issue could he grab the attention of the two great Sects.
Only then could he continue with what was more important—that was to support Yi Jiang as the new Sect Master of Yanyue Sect.
"Mr. Wan Dao was ambushed?" Qiao Sha exclaimed in surprise, then turned his gaze to Hu Wuxin, Sect Alliance Hierarch of the Taoist Cultivation World Sect Alliance, who was seated among the guests.
Hu Wuxin immediately stood up, cupped his fist, and then sighed before speaking:
"I too only learned of this after arriving in the Ascension Realm and meeting with Ms. Pang Xiangxiang. I never expected that upon arriving in the Ascension Realm, I would be forever separated from Brother Wan Dao by the heavens and earth. It’s truly regrettable."
"What exactly happened?" Qiao Sha asked again.
Since his own disciple brought up the matter in front of many Sect guests, the intention was to affirm the situation.
Although it somewhat felt like pressuring him, his teacher, if this disciple could ascend to be the new Sect Master of the Desolate God Sect, the strategic planning that his disciple had provided was key, making this disciple still very useful to him in the future.
Hu Wuxin naturally wouldn’t fall for that; he sighed again:
"I’ll have to investigate this thoroughly when I return. Alas, I am truly unfit to be the Alliance Hierarch. Twice I left the Taoist Realm, and both times, troubles arose in the Taoist Realm."
Anyone who was smart could understand the subtext of Hu Wuxin’s words, suggesting that he was indeed a competent Alliance Hierarch.
The two times when he was absent from the Taoist Realm, troubles arose, but when he was present, the Taoist Realm was without issues.
"Who knows the specific details of this matter?" Qiao Sha’s gaze surveyed the Sect Masters who had ascended from the Taoist Realm.
No one stood up.
Nobody would believe Hu Wuxin was ignorant about this matter; since even the Alliance Hierarch of the Sect Alliance openly professed ignorance, why should they add chaos to the mix?
"Elder Pang, why don’t you tell us? You have just come from the Taoist Realm," Qiao Sha’s gaze fell on Pang Xiangxiang.
From afar, Yi Jiang also bowed respectfully to Pang Xiangxiang; the news of the Sect Master’s murder was brought by Elder Pang Xiangxiang and Elder Gu Youchang.
Pang Xiangxiang stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then said:
"This matter has a lengthy background, I shall try to be brief—"
What Pang Xiangxiang didn’t expect was that Luoshen Palace Master Liu Yinyu, who had been silent until now, interjected:
"There’s no need to be brief, be detailed, tell the whole truth."
"Yes."
After responding, Pang Xiangxiang slowly began:
"This issue started when certain Sects from the Taoist Realm went to the Mortal World to recruit disciples. Ding Huan had no talents, so no Sect took interest in him.
However, Ding Huan’s determination to go to the Taoist Realm was unwavering, and he somehow ended up at the Jin family in Daye City, becoming a chef for Guan Pou..."
"Who is Guan Pou?" Liu Yinyu asked.
Pang Xiangxiang hesitated but still said:
"Guan Pou is the young miss of the Jin family, fond of delicacies, so she specifically sought a chef to accompany her to the Taoist Realm."
Hearing this, Yi Jiang felt a cold sweat breaking on his forehead; he wished he could rush down immediately and shut Pang Xiangxiang’s mouth.
If you’re going to talk, just talk; why bring up these irrelevant things?
But now it was his master Qiao Sha and Luoshen Palace Master Liu Yinyu who asked Pang Xiangxiang to elaborate, and he felt helpless.
"Heh, this Guan Pou, a disciple yet to be initiated, seems to enjoy her luxuries. Tell us, what’s her background and how does she have such influence?" Liu Yinyu chuckled.
Pang Xiangxiang dared not look up at Yi Jiang:
"Guan Pou is the designated wife of Yanyue Sect’s Young Sect Master, giving her some privileges..."
Liu Yinyu’s gaze turned to Yi Jiang:
"You’re quite bold, already having a Young Sect Master’s wife yet still seeking an engagement with my disciple Han Xiaonu?"
"Senior, there seems to be some misunderstanding here, that Guan Pou has long since fled Yanyue Sect..."
Yi Jiang panicked, cursing Pang Xiangxiang for not being able to tell a lie, and had no choice but to quickly step forward to explain.
Liu Yinyu ignored Yi Jiang and said to Pang Xiangxiang, "Continue. Xiaonu, come sit by your teacher’s side."
"Yes." Han Xiaonu, who had been standing silently in the middle of the great hall, hurriedly responded and then sat down next to Liu Yinyu, sighing in relief.
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Yi Jiang, plain in appearance and merely at the Qi Cultivation level, how could she possibly marry Yi Jiang? She had only reluctantly agreed because her teacher had stated it was one of Luoshen Palace’s possible ways out.
Pang Xiangxiang continued to speak:
"That Ding Huan is indeed talented. When the various Great Sects entered the vast ravine, nearly all were completely annihilated or only a few people managed to escape the danger.
Yet he was able to lead the people of Yanyue Sect safely across the vast ravine..."
"Aunt Pang, Yanyue Sect also lost half of its people, and Elder Qu of Dual Soul Sect also perished due to his schemes."
Yi Jiang, seeing that Pang Xiangxiang seemed not to have the intention to smear Ding Huan, quickly interjected a reminder.
Pang Xiangxiang seemed unaware of Yi Jiang’s intent.
"The reason why Yanyue Sect lost half of its people was that the half who died did not listen to Elder Gu and Ding Huan’s advice, insisting on following Deacon Qiong and thus met their fate."
"Is that so?" Qiao Sha’s expression was not very pleasant now, and he still looked towards Gu Youchang.
Gu Youchang quickly stood up and performed a respectful salute:
"Yes, that is exactly the case. If it weren’t for Ding Huan, I, Gu Youchang, would not have had the life to stand here today."
Let alone Yi Wandao being killed, even if Yi Wandao stood here, he, Gu Youchang, would not speak ill of Ding Huan against his conscience.
"It seems that he is a capable mortal, continue," Qiao Sha said, gesturing for Pang Xiangxiang to continue speaking.
Pang Xiangxiang recounted, word for word, how Ding Huan had led everyone out of the great ravine, then out of Lost Swamp, and had eventually fled due to fear of being schemed against by Deacon Qiong over a Condensing Star Bamboo he did not wish to give up.
Liu Yinyu snorted coldly:
"Yanyue Sect is indeed full of scum. After all, Ding Huan saved that Deacon Qiong’s life. Instead of being grateful, Deacon Qiong attempted to kill his savior over a piece of Condensing Star Bamboo that the benefactor wasn’t willing to give. How is he any different from a beast?"
Pang Xiangxiang continued:
"After Ding Huan fled, more than a year later, he was found by Liu Yinzhu, an elder of Purple Mist Valley..."
"Wait a moment..." Liu Yinyu interrupted Pang Xiangxiang:
"You said the elder of Purple Mist Valley is named Liu Yinzhu? Is there a portrait?"
Pang Xiangxiang replied in haste:
"Yes, it is Elder Liu Yinzhu. As she spoke, she conjured the image of a woman in the void."
Pang Xiangxiang’s power was limited, so the woman’s image was quite blurred and scattered after a while.
But upon seeing this image, Liu Yinyu’s fingers trembled slightly, yet she quickly regained her composure and said:
"Her name is indeed similar to my own. Continue, please."
Pang Xiangxiang, thinking of Guan Pou being helped by Ding Huan, had no intention to be biased towards Yanyue Sect:
"Elder Liu Yinzhu invited Ding Huan to Purple Mist Valley..."
She not only spoke of Ding Huan’s residence in West Wind City and the laws he made but also mentioned the destructive fight between Nine Sounds Sect and Purple Mist Valley, both suffering heavy losses.
When Purple Mist Valley was gone, Ding Huan and Elder Liu Yinzhu luckily survived and then established a new sect, the Blue Star Sect.
At that time, Tan Yanxiao, the Sect Master of Dual Soul Sect, Yi Wandao, the Sect Master of Yanyue Sect, and Hong Tiao, the Sect Master of Ten Thousand Beast Sect, together with more than a dozen True Pill cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators, attacked Blue Star Sect.
The result was that these invaders were slain to the last man upon breaking into the Protecting Array of Blue Star Sect.
Not only that, but the dead were nailed outside the sect by Ding Huan, the Sect Master of Blue Star Sect.
"A ruthless character indeed."
A Sect Master from the Ascension Realm chuckled upon hearing this.
Palace Master Liu Yinyu of Luoshen Palace stared coldly at Yi Jiang:
"Your Sect Master Yi Wandao led people to bombard another’s sect and broke their Protecting Array. When your Sect Master was killed in response, do you have any grievances?
Or do you lament that they didn’t go as far as exterminating Yanyue Sect altogether?"
Hearing this, Qiao Sha’s face turned grim—this was leaving him without any face as the Sect Master of Desolate God Sect.
He also understood Liu Yinyu’s intention—that after the failed marriage alliance, Luoshen Palace had given up on expecting anything from Desolate God Sect and was no longer sparing any face. Women, indeed, are quite pragmatic.
Yi Jiang’s face turned a deep shade of purple:
"Senior Liu, that Ding Huan usurped Purple Mist Valley and set up underhanded traps to plot against my late father. If such a villain is left unaddressed, then the Taoist Realm will be engulfed in corruption."
The disdain in Liu Yinyu’s eyes grew even more pronounced:
"Usurped Purple Mist Valley? Pang Xiangxiang has just made it quite clear: Purple Mist Valley was already annihilated.
Furthermore, when Ding Huan founded the Blue Star Sect, Elder Liu Yinzhu of Purple Mist Valley was also present. How does that amount to usurpation?
It seems to me that it may be someone else who covets Purple Mist Valley, thinking it unfair for a mortal from the Mortal World to obtain it, wishing to take Purple Mist Valley back under the pretext, right?"