The Day of the Grand Wedding

A week after Jiang Rongyue descended the mountain, all the residents of Chao Xian City knew about a supernatural event of immense magnitude.

--The Immortal Chi Yuan is getting married.

At first, the residents and tourists who heard this "rumor" thought it was just a joke that disrespected the Immortal Chi Yuan.

Those are immortals, beings who ascended to immortality long before the ancient times of Shenzhou ancestors. Would such a person get married in this dynasty after thousands of years?

If they were both immortals, why not have created a beautiful story beforehand?

If the other party were merely a mortal, what right would they have to be chosen by the ageless Immortal Chi Yuan?

That's utter nonsense!

Although the myth of a celestial being who fell to earth, married a mortal, and became a devoted wife and mother is indeed widespread and numerous across Shenzhou.

However, the original inhabitants of Chao Xian City have believed since childhood that their ancestors have been protected by immortals for generations. Under the propaganda of [Chaoxian], this concept has been further deepened. Their thinking has gradually changed from expecting immortals to protect them to believing that they must work hard in their own way in order not to be abandoned by the immortals in this chaotic world full of demons and war.

These people can't be considered die-hard die-hard fans, but out of respect for the Immortal Chi Yuan's many years of slaying demons and monsters in the world, they find it utterly distasteful and an insult to apply such a peach story to him.

Therefore, the residents of Chao Xian City were initially indignant that someone was spreading rumors, and feared that the immortals would be even more displeased upon hearing the rumors, and would no longer show mercy to the common people and protect the world.

So, in a short time after the news spread, almost the entire city wondered who dared to spread rumors in Chao Xian City, a place that held immortals in such high esteem, and it even caused a brief period of unrest.

However, it was later discovered that this seemingly absurd "rumor" actually came from the mouth of the Sect Master of Chao Xian.

Everyone knows that Jiang Rongyue was the first disciple the immortal openly accepted, which is why she started to create the [Chaoxian] faction.

[Chaoxian] is essentially a semi-religious organization.

If the Immortal Chi Yuan is equivalent to God, then Jiang Rongyue is the only saint in the mortal realm who can proclaim divine words. In addition, her image, which she has cultivated through her ability to foresee the future, is almost unfathomable. Even if the most unbelievable news comes from her mouth, people's first reaction is not to question, but to believe.

So although this news is quite revolutionary and beyond the imagination of ordinary people, it came from the mouth of a disciple of an immortal, and we mortals have no right to criticize it. We may not be able to accept it immediately, but we shouldn't cause trouble or question it.

Jiang Rongyue and Li Shishi had anticipated this, since others were different from them and had no opportunity to get close to the Immortal Chi Yuan, let alone understand her relationship with Su Qing'an.

This relationship is extremely unfamiliar and alien to the world, like a strange piece of history that has been cut in, which is naturally hard to believe and difficult to understand at first.

Therefore, if you want to hold a wedding ceremony in Chao Xian City, you need to do a good job of publicizing and laying the groundwork. Otherwise, for beings like Su Qing'an and Immortal Chi Yuan who can see through the hearts and emotions of the entire city through various means, it will be difficult to feel the sincere blessings and the warm atmosphere of heartfelt joy when they get married here.

To avoid such an embarrassing situation and render the wedding in Chao Xian City meaningless, it is necessary to stir up public opinion in advance, weave relevant stories, and lay the general tone.

Therefore, the two of them felt from the beginning that it would take some time before they could give each other good news.

After all, decorating the entire Chao Xian City, establishing public opinion, spreading the news, deciding on the specific procedures for the wedding ceremony, and preparing the wedding dress and dowry all require a considerable amount of time.

Fortunately, the chosen auspicious date meant the wedding wasn't in a rush. As long as everything went well, making the long-lived immortals in their eyes wait a while wasn't too difficult.

As for how to exert public opinion and fabricate a history and story that even they themselves find difficult to imagine, they first bring out the real stories they can find.

Thus, the gossip surrounding the current "Number One Under Heaven" and "One Sword Sinks the River" spread like Capital City. It is said that five years ago, this person, who was extremely famous in the martial arts world, was a renowned Courtesan in the capital.

Although this is a well-worn story among those who follow Li Shishi, when it resurfaces now, some people are focusing on a detail that has been the subject of much debate but has never been resolved.

That is to say, the news that Li Shishi had gone far away with an immortal to slay demons and monsters, spreading throughout the entire Capital City, begs the question: who is the real person behind it all?

Some say it was the Immortal Chi Yuan, but because there were so many people present at the time, almost a million people in the entire Capital City could testify that it was definitely not a woman's voice, but rather the voice of a young boy who sounded quite young.

At that time, the world was in an uproar. Leaving aside the reaction of the current emperor and the group of powerful officials, Zhen'an Ward became even more prosperous thanks to this strange publicity.

Coupled with the fact that she was taken away by an immortal to slay demons, everyone assumed that Li Shishi must have obtained the immortal's knowledge, which led to her being portrayed as the Number One Under Heaven, and no one questioned this background.

Most of the headbands that Li Shishi deliberately left in the room are still untouched, and even the attic where she used to live remains empty, regularly cleaned and left there.

Li Yun had no idea that the so-called immortal was none other than the Master Su from back then, and she was also completely bewildered by Li Shishi's departure in this manner.

If this former Courtesan were to become a ruthless woman and come back to take her head, no one in the entire Capital City would dare to do anything to her.

Anyone who witnessed the awe-inspiring presence of the immortals would find it hard to imagine that they could be their enemy.

Although Granny Li knew that the other party wasn't ungrateful, otherwise she wouldn't have kept the money as a token of her affection, this action indicated that their past relationship was settled, and there was no need for reconciliation should any future conflicts arise. Therefore, she couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy.

The people of Chao Xian City were unaware of the inside story, but since public opinion was being manipulated, there were shills guiding the narrative, waiting for the incident to unfold in a few days.

Jiang Rongyue then stated frankly that Li Shishi's "master" and the Immortal Chi Yuan were old friends from a thousand years ago, but due to some reasons, they had sealed themselves away and only regained their consciousness in this era. Now that they are coming together and about to get married, it is a great joy that mortals would hardly be able to witness even after several generations of reincarnation.

Although the story contained no details and only outlined the general plot, the fact that famous storytellers in Chao Xian City began to compile different versions of the touching tale still captivated many onlookers.

The storytellers who initially started making up the story were naturally bribed to work so hard, but after about half a month, the entire storytelling market was taken over by this set of stories. Forced into a work environment where they hadn't received any benefits, the other storytellers had no choice but to follow suit or create new stories about the Immortal Chi Yuan and Su Qing'an.

No way.

The cultural environment here inherently dictates that the key to wealth lies in the elements related to the Immortal Chi Yuan; it's just that people's thinking about this has been limited in the past, and there has been a natural reverence for it.

But now that production is under official permission, it's a completely different story, and it has received an enthusiastic response immediately.

At the same time, corresponding storybooks and novel collections were also sold in shops under the [Chaoxian] camp, and there was even a subtle trend that they were gradually becoming special products of Chao Xian City and flowing into various parts of Shenzhou through caravans.

In this era, the efficiency of this series of operations can be described as almost maximized.

The opinions within the city were even more varied:

"I've heard that immortals can ride the wind and roam freely across the world, but I never imagined that their love could transcend thousands of years. It truly makes one sigh that true lovers are eventually united."

"The Immortal Chi Yuan's lifespan is endless. I've heard from my ancestors that she was willing to interact with us mortals in her younger days, but the difference in lifespan always brought her sorrow, so she remained alone. This time, she has finally found a home, which is truly a joyous occasion."

"Yes, I am truly happy for the immortals."

Two months after the initial announcement of the immortals' upcoming wedding, [Chao Xian] once again announced exciting news to the entire city.

That is to say, the wedding ceremony of the Immortal Chi Yuan will be held in Chao Xian City.

This bombshell news would be extremely newsworthy and generate a lot of buzz anywhere, let alone in a place like Chao Xian City, which has been deeply influenced by related cultures.

This immediately caused a great uproar and sparked much discussion.

Once the specific date was set, it generated even more buzz.

Who could remain calm amidst such a mythical announcement of their impending arrival in the world, especially during a ceremony as significant and memorable as marriage?

Offering sincere blessings on the day of an immortal's wedding is clearly more effective and direct than making heartfelt offerings in a Buddhist temple.

The clay sculptures and gilded statues enshrined in the hall have never revealed their true form, so how can they compare to the Immortal Chi Yuan truly vanquished demons and protected all living beings on the land of Shenzhou?

The news, once it was released, caused a sensation, like a burst of fireworks from a drop of hot oil, making the whole world boil.

Even in this chaotic world of constant war, there are still many who yearn for such a once-in-a-millennium spectacle and wish to attend the banquet on that day.

However, since no one was sure about the attitudes of Immortal Chi Yuan and the Sect Master of Chao Xian, this trend did not really take off in the first few days. It was only after Chao Xian City issued a banquet, inviting people from all over the world to come and congratulate them on their wedding day, that it began to stir up waves of excitement, even overshadowing the tense battlefield at the front.

Whether it was the Liao Dynasty, the Great Song, or the Jurchen Tribe behind them, their supreme rulers were all very sensitive to this extraordinary existence that was rarely seen in history. Compared to the wars that seemed to determine the fate of the world today, the actions of immortals, who were above the world, could cause one side to lose all its previous efforts.

Even though all parties know that according to past rules and principles, and the inherited traditions, Chi Yuan, as the only true immortal in Shenzhou, has never interfered with the world's rule, it can be said that he is excessively low-key.

But the other party had never displayed its presence so openly before.

Even under the guise of a grand wedding, it's hard not to make those in a ruling position have reservations.

Is this true immortal, having reached a point of extreme stillness, now yearning for change and wishing to break free from their previously habitual behavioral patterns?

Assuming there are no so-called divine laws or truly effective rules, they all understand that their previous logical methods are merely "shackles" that can be broken at the whim of the other party, and the expansion and dispersal of the [Chaoxian] force seems to be an ominous sign.

Chao Xian City is located within the territory of the Great Song. For the powerful and noble people in the court, it is natural to imagine that the Immortal Chi Yuan is personally using the marriage as a pretext to support the [Chaoxian] force and legitimize its existence.

Imagine an organization whose internal military force is so powerful it could cause a river to overflow – that's dangerous enough.

If we add the clear close relationship with the only immortal true immortal, then besides directly proving that the immortal's chief disciple, who was previously only certified by the martial arts world, is indeed the real deal, it also means that [Chao Xian] is a direct subordinate force of the Immortal Chi Yuan.

Combining this with the mysterious immortal who caused such a stir five years ago, and the news that has been released now, the one who married the Immortal Chi Yuan is indeed him.

To summarize, [Chaoxian] is a mortal representative force jointly established and developed by immortals. Even though the power it wields is insignificant to the Great Song and Liao dynasties, it is essentially detached from worldly affairs and can be considered something not to be trifled with.

Therefore, regardless of what the immortals intend to do, no matter which power controls the sovereignty of Shenzhou in the future, they will all have to give way to this organization to some extent.

Under this premise, whether it was the High Command of the Great Song, the nobles of the Liao Dynasty on the other side, or even the Jurchen Tribe who were not as well-informed as the two, they all had to consider one issue.

That is, assuming the opponent establishes a close relationship with [Chao Xian] first, or even becomes a community of interests, will the factors for victory in the past completely shift from the battlefield to a more fantastical position?

Simply put, do the other parties still have the courage to completely defeat it?

--A system of checks and balances must be established.

The key lies in this wedding banquet.

They must ensure that they send appropriate gifts on the immortal's wedding day before their rivals, and before that, they must deepen their relationship in various ways.

The minimum goal is to avoid getting too close to [Chao Xian], but also to prevent the other party from progressing further than you. Otherwise, what used to be a life-or-death battle will become insignificant.

What army in this world could possibly be compared to a mere wave of a celestial being's sleeve?

Ultimately, it's a difference between humans and gods, a stark contrast.

Some of our predecessors have already served as scouts, probing ahead. If mortal forces can gain favor with immortals, then it's unlikely that the divided regimes of this era will have the opportunity to attack them.

That is the only true immortal who lives forever and lives as long as the heavens.

Beyond the respect due to her, what secrets does Chi Yuan hold? How can one attain immortality alongside her? How can one possess the same power to ride the wind? Have no one in thousands of years truly been curious about these things, or even coveted them?

That's impossible.

There is no bottom line to the inherent flaws of human nature.

However, I am powerless to do so, so I can only remain silent about my thoughts.

For example, when the First Emperor, who proclaimed that there were no immortals or gods in the world, led an army of 100,000 to besiege Mount Taixu, did he truly believe that there were no immortals or gods in the world, or did he intend to uncover the secrets of immortals and gods for his own enjoyment?

It's likely that the latter is more common, or a combination of both.

But now, with political power fragmented Shenzhou the land, no one has the audacity to venture into the secrets of immortality.

Jiang Rongyue had anticipated this. Under these circumstances, both the Great Song and Liao kingdoms, which were at war, and the Jurchen Tribe, who were preparing to reap the benefits and fish in troubled waters, realized that the original rules and elements of victory were gradually changing the chessboard, and naturally they would not sit idly by and wait for their doom.

She originally intended to fish for opportunities, hoping that various forces would help expedite the details and affairs of holding the wedding in Chao Xian City.

With its current resources, [Chaoxian] can certainly host a wedding venue without any problem, but making it perfect and satisfying for both parties is quite a difficult task.

Moreover, the wedding date has already been set, and if this auspicious day is missed, it will have to be postponed until next year. Therefore, it is not easy to do everything properly without delay.

Especially regarding the wedding dress and the city's scene design, as well as the event arrangements, where could the professionals in the city compare to the skilled craftsmen painstakingly recruited from the Capital City?

By reaping benefits from all three parties, the scheme subtly implies different demands and goals, achieving the balance of power desired by the other party, and ultimately avoiding excessive involvement with any one party.

In this way, Jiang Rongyue can better complete the tasks assigned by her master, and all three parties can confirm that the rules of the game remain unchanged, which can be described as a win-win situation.

Late summer, autumn chill.

Amidst the mountains and rivers, towering gable walls stretch one after another, their dark tiles gleaming like a poem in the sunlight, subtly bearing the marks of time and carrying the spirit of the newly born Chao Xian City.

At this moment, approximately three months have passed since Jiang Rongyue descended the mountain.

Alone on the high building, gazing at this thriving ancient city, she couldn't help but think of a line of poetry.

--The cloth is made of white silk, and the silk is made of brocade in spring.

Undyed silk, in its most basic color, interspersed with dark tiles, adorns the city, bathed in the sun's rays, showcasing a timeless charm.

But the most eye-catching thing was the red lanterns hanging in every household.

Although these items were supposed to be hung up on the wedding day, the people seemed quite impatient and prepared them in advance.

One can imagine the magnificent panorama that would unfold across the city if lanterns were lit in the night.

The day of the wedding.

Everything is ready; all that's missing is the protagonist of this grand event.