173: A Hundred Sects Offer Their Congratulations, Dragons and Phoenixes Dance; Soaring Straight to the Longevity Sect

With hearts united, they become a pair of mandarin ducks, blooming together like twin flowers of longevity.

If you wish to borrow good news from the east wind, Changchun cordially invites distinguished guests.

The eighth day of the fifth lunar month was the auspicious day for the Changchun dao companion of the Evergreen Sect.

The union of a False Core Great Cultivator and Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator is a major event in the Cultivation Family, causing a sensation for thousands of miles around and attracting many cultivators to join the excitement.

Not to mention that these two were cultivators from the Evergreen Sect.

Anyone with eyes can see that after the Changchun dao companion gets married, they will go to the Longevity Sect, where they will achieve great success.

If you don't establish connections now, it will be much harder to do so later when the Evergreen Immortal Couple both reach the Golden Core stage.

As a result, not only the Immortal Sect Dao Gate invited by the Evergreen Sect, but also some surrounding Cultivation Family that were not invited, all rushed to offer their congratulations.

For a time, the scene from the Evergreen Sect's Mountain Gate all the way down to Changle Workshop at the foot of the mountain was spectacular and grand.

Inside the Mountain Gate, a celebratory banquet for a thousand people had been prepared. Below the Mountain Gate, there were various performances, including spirit beasts such as the Foundation Establishment Water Dragon and Foundation Establishment Luan Bird brought by the Beast Taming Sect to celebrate, symbolizing auspiciousness. Everywhere was filled with the lively atmosphere of gongs and drums.

Inside the Evergreen Sect's Mountain Gate.

Dressed in a festive red robe, Chen Dengming smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the patriarchs of some Cultivation Family and representatives of some sects.

"The Ma family head has sent such a generous gift; it's incredibly kind of him. We've spent all our money; let's have a few more drinks later."

"Oh! Sect Leader He, I never expected you to come in person. It is truly an honor for me."

"Old Chen, you still have such a sweet tongue. I'm the deputy sect leader, and I'm here on behalf of the sect leader to congratulate you. Please don't flatter me any further."

Chen Dengming laughed heartily, bowed, and said, "Please come into the VIP hall and take a seat."

As he was speaking, he saw another disciple announce that someone from the Cultivation Family had come to offer their congratulations. He had never even heard of such Lineage, let alone knew them.

"Is this a case of 'wealth attracting distant relatives even when one is deep in the mountains'?"

Chen Dengming wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, patted his bulging Storage Bag, and felt both tired and happy.

It's truly unexpected. I originally intended to hold a low-key wedding banquet, but now dozens of various forces, large and small, have come to offer their congratulations, with the smallest gift being ten High-grade Spirit Crystal.

Just then, a disciple's voice came from afar, announcing the arrival of someone at the gate.

"The Wonderful Sound Sect sends its congratulatory gifts! Wishing the immortal couple of Evergreen Immortal Couple a long and happy life together, embarking on the path to the Golden Elixir!"

"The Wonderful Sound Sect?"

Chen Dengming was taken aback.

Who in the Wonderful Sound Sect is joking? The soul of Han Yongxu, the sect leader of the Wonderful Sound Sect, is still inside his Soul Guiding Banner, and his intelligence is almost completely worn away.

Someone actually sent a congratulatory gift?

Are you here to cause trouble?

He looked over and saw a Foundation Establishment cultivator with high cheekbones and three long wisps of beard on his chin, and another rather handsome young Foundation Establishment cultivator approaching together.

"Hou Wanzong?"

Chen Dengming was surprised, not expecting that among the people from the Wonderful Sound Sect was Hou Wanzong, whom he had met once on the Battlefield.

He had inquired about the Luo Family and Lüo Bing from this person at the time, and it was then that he found Jiang Qiang.

Ultimately, I only met this person once, yet they were so enthusiastic that they traveled a long distance to give me a gift.

"Brother Hou! I didn't expect you to come too. You didn't even inform me beforehand, so I could have made arrangements to receive you immediately."

Chen Dengming smiled, stepped forward, and bowed politely.

"Fellow Daoist Chen! How could I possibly ask you to take time out of your busy schedule to remember me, Xiao Hou? I am already extremely pleased."

When Hou Wanzong saw Chen Dengming, he became quite nervous and hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Chen Dengming is now False Core Great Cultivator, and he also knows that his sect leader once made things difficult for Chen Dengming, but was later defeated by the patriarch of the Longevity Sect.

When he first met Chen Dengming, he only knew the name Chen Ming; now he knows everything about him.

"Fellow Daoist Chen!"

The middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator with three long wisps of beard also politely bowed to Chen Dengming, then took out a Storage Bag and smiled.

"This is a congratulatory gift presented on behalf of the chief of our Wonderful Sound Sect. The chief said, 'Brother Dao, you are an old friend from years ago. On this auspicious day of your wedding, I present this gift to express my heartfelt wishes.'"

It's a pity that the Chief is preoccupied with important matters and therefore unable to come to offer his congratulations in person. Please forgive him, Fellow Daoist Chen.

"Oh?"

Chen Dengming raised an eyebrow, a slight thought flashing through his mind, and said apologetically, "Who is the leader of your sect?"

Hou Wanzong immediately laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, the chief of our sect is none other than Chief Lüo Bing!"

"Oh?"

Chen Dengming suddenly realized, but his expression remained unchanged. After expressing his gratitude, he sent a disciple to escort the two into the VIP room.

"Lüo Bing."

Chen Dengming lowered his head to look at the Storage Bag in his hand, frowned slightly, and then opened the Storage Bag, only to find twenty High-grade Spirit Crystal and a token inside.

Looking at the token engraved with the character "Luo," Chen Dengming's eyes flashed, and he slowly put it away in his Storage Bag, storing it separately.

At that moment, Chen Dengming noticed a gentle gaze from not far away.

Turning my head to look, I couldn't help but smile.

"Weiwei, here, take it back."

Chen Dengming beckoned to Xu Wei, who was over there, and handed her another Storage Bag already filled with congratulatory gifts.

"So much?"

Xu Wei clicked her tongue, not mentioning a word about the people from the Wonderful Sound Sect who had just arrived. She covered her mouth and smiled brightly, saying, "Sister Yu doesn't bother with dressing up anymore; she just stays in her bridal chamber counting spirit crystals."

Chen Dengming blinked and smiled, "This is quite profitable. How about we get married again next time?"

Xu Wei was taken aback, then her eyes narrowed unnaturally into a crescent-shaped smile. "How can you do this? You're going to bankrupt other people by giving them gifts. Aren't you just scaring them away?"

"So what? It's not like we won't return the courtesy."

"I'm not going to tell you. I'm going to deliver something."

Chen Dengming watched Xu Wei run away like the wind, his smile gradually fading, and the joy in his heart diminished.

On the other side, Xu Wei's joy gradually faded as she ran away, her heart filled with a bittersweet mix of emotions, including a sour, spicy, and astringent feeling, but also deep emotion.

If the paper doll had tears, then at this moment her tears would surely fall like beads from a broken string.

Because she was a paper doll with low aptitude, and she knew her lifespan was short.

Therefore, even if Chen Dengming took the initiative to speak, she was unwilling to face it, not wanting to affect Chen Dengming as a result.

She also envied the union of He Yingyu and Chen Dengming, and sincerely wished them well and offered her support. She had even fantasized about being the one wearing the bride's dress today.

But the thought of others' criticisms and surprised looks made her feel inferior, and she was even more afraid that this would make others look down on Chen Dengming.

That evening, flowers, candlelight, fine wine, and music added to the festive atmosphere of the grand banquet.

Under the witness of Qu Yinghua, a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator from the Longevity Sect, and Qiu Feng, the Evergreen Sect Master, two great Golden Core Great Cultivator.

Under the moonlight, Chen Dengming and He Yingyu, one riding a dragon and the other a phoenix, drank a toast together in mid-air.

Finally, the Black Cloud Leopard appeared amidst a grand display of fireworks, boldly displaying the writing on its body. It brought a cart full of flowers and spiritual fruits, which it showered down from the sky, filling the entire wedding banquet with flowers and spiritual light.

This day.

The Evergreen Sect lasted all night.

Inside the cave abode.

In the dead of night, spring's beauty shines through the green gauze, and the east wind carries dreams to the evening glow.

The sound of a jade flute has just faded, and a white cloud has fallen on an apricot blossom.

Afterwards.

He Yingyu was filled with tender affection, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes were red and moist as if they were about to drip water. She was secretly annoyed that Chen Dengming was too much of a troublemaker.

Chen Dengming sat outside the hall, comfortably soaking in the hot spring in the cave abode, while listening to Xu Wei report on the congratulatory gifts he had received.

"We received a total of over three hundred High-grade Spirit Crystal, twelve second-tier Law Artifact, and more than ten other kinds of pills and other items of varying value. So many?"

After hearing the report, Chen Dengming turned around in astonishment to look at Xu Wei. After receiving a look of affirmation and a sly smile from her, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

"What's the big deal? Junior Brother, we're quite well-known in the Eastern Region now. Below the Golden Core Great Cultivator, we're the most famous, and as cultivators of the Evergreen Sect, naturally many people will come to offer congratulatory gifts."

He Yingyu walked out of the room, speaking casually, but the corners of her lips were slightly upturned, clearly indicating that she was not at peace inside.

Chen Dengming laughed, "Now that we calculate it this way, we've accumulated over eight hundred High-grade Spirit Crystal. That's enough to last us a long time."

He Yingyu shook her head, "You forgot, we still need to save money in the future to forge a top-tier second-order spirit boat, or buy one directly. That will cost at least four or five hundred High-grade Spirit Crystal."

Chen Dengming was stunned.

Now that you mention it, eight hundred High-grade Spirit Crystal really don't seem like much.

The initial excitement vanished instantly.

People who got married in their past lives all worried about saving money to buy a house and a car.

Even in the Cultivation World today, people are worried about the money to buy a spirit boat.

However, if one has the ability, a spirit boat is indeed an indispensable 'essential item for cultivating immortality'.

The speed of the spirit boat far surpasses that of flying swords of the same level, and it only requires spending money to embed spirit crystals, so it can fly without having to transfer its own Spiritual Qi.

Secondly, the spirit boat is also a symbol of prestige.

He Yingyu herself does have a small spirit boat, but it's only a low-grade second-tier spirit boat, and its speed is comparable to that of a high-grade second-tier flying sword. Now that the two are married and about to go to the Longevity Sect, they do need to change to a new spirit boat.

"Why not just go all out and buy Third-tier Spirit Boat? After all, once it starts up, all you need to do is store spirit crystals."

With my current Core Power, I should be able to activate Third-tier Spirit Boat. Third-tier Spirit Boat is much faster; even Golden Core Cultivator without a corresponding spirit boat might not be able to catch up."

Chen Dengming walked out of the hot spring.

He Yingyu shook her head again, "Forget it, there's no rush. Eight hundred High-grade Spirit Crystal might not be enough to buy a good Third-tier Spirit Boat."

"We've finally managed to accumulate this much wealth. When we go to the Longevity Sect, we'll need to cultivate, visit fellow disciples, and bribe the seniors. All of that costs money. For now, let's be frugal."

Xu Wei echoed, "Sister Yu is right. It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality."

The world is not peaceful; the warmongering Tiandao Sect has once again invaded the Western Regions.

Today I heard from the guests who came to celebrate the birthday that many Immortal Sect around the Longevity Sect are clamoring for revenge. Things could change drastically at any time. The world is in chaos, so we need to hold onto as much wealth as possible."

Chen Dengming looked at the two women using abacuses and couldn't help but find it amusing.

You were the one who suggested buying the Lingzhou boat, and you're the ones who talked about being frugal. Ultimately, you're all women who know how to manage a household.

He felt quite satisfied, but also a little ashamed, as He Yingyu had married him in poverty.

The two had accumulated a lot of wealth, but it was still very little for a large Cultivation Family or a Golden Core Great Cultivator. It wasn't even enough to buy a decent and impressive spirit boat.

"When I have money in the future, I must buy a Third-tier Spirit Boat. Not only will it be fast to travel, but it will also be spacious. I must buy one."

Half a month later.

With fellow disciples and many other members of the Evergreen Sect lining the way to see them off, Chen Dengming and He Yingyu boarded the spirit boat, preparing to depart for the Longevity Sect.

"Senior Brother Liang, take care! I will come back to the sect to visit often."

In a solemn and sorrowful atmosphere of parting, Chen Dengming raised his hand in a gesture of respect, looked solemnly at Liang Yunsheng, and said...

Liang Yunsheng laughed heartily, his slightly aged face displaying an indescribable generosity and magnanimity. He said casually, "Junior Brother Chen, Junior Sister He, you're only going to the Longevity Sect, not to the Southern or Western Regions. We're already close by, and we're all family, so there's no need for this farewell between us."

Upon hearing this, He Yingyu's somber expression softened into a smile, and she retorted playfully, "Senior Brother, have you been waiting for this day for a long time? You couldn't wait for me to go to the Longevity Sect."

Liang Yunsheng laughed heartily, but inwardly he was filled with emotion.

If it weren't for the fact that you, my Junior Brother, are so outstanding, he really wouldn't want to send you to the Longevity Sect. He would lose two more close Junior Brother by his side, and the sect would inevitably be less lively.

After a short while, thousands of disciples bowed and saw them off.

"Disciple Changchun respectfully bids farewell to our two seniors on their journey to longevity, and wishes our two senior uncles a long and prosperous life together!"

Amidst a grand farewell, the spirit boat scattered its spiritual light and swiftly departed.

The Longevity Sect is located in the northern part of the eastern region, only about 4,000 li away from the Evergreen Sect, which is indeed not far.

With He Yingyu's spirit boat moving at great speed, the two arrived at the Mountain Gate of the Longevity Sect an hour later.

At the entrance of the Longevity Sect Mountain Gate, several Foundation Establishment cultivators and a False Core Great Cultivator were already waiting to be guided.

Chen Dengming saw the Foundation Establishment cultivators from afar and introduced them to He Yingyu with a smile.

"Senior sister, those are Junior Brother Sang, Junior Brother Zheng, and Junior Brother Ouyang. They are all junior Junior Brother from the Longevity Sect whom I mentioned before. With the help of these acquaintances, we can adapt to the Longevity Sect quickly."

He Yingyu smiled and praised, "Junior Brother, you have always handled interpersonal relationships with great care."

Although the two had become husband and wife and Daoist dao companion, they still addressed each other as Junior Brother sister, which was simply a matter of habit.

In Chen Dengming's words, even long-married couples call each other "Husband" and "wife" in a rather affectionate way, which is probably a form of mutual respect.

"Senior Brother Chen, Senior Sister He, hahaha, you've finally arrived!"

As the spirit boat descended, Sang Tianrong immediately smiled and waved, only turning away with a chuckle when he noticed the gaze of the fake Alchemist beside him.

The fake Alchemist, with his flowing sleeves, took the initiative to leap forward, smiling and bowing as he introduced himself.

"My name is Qi Yanbing. I have met my two Junior Brothers. I have truly heard of the renowned names of you two Evergreen Immortal Couple."

Chen Dengming, carrying He Yingyu, flew off the spirit boat and politely returned the greeting, saying, "Not at all, not at all. My wife and I have truly heard of Senior Brother Qi's Flying Cloud Piercing Mist Sword. Meeting Senior Brother today is truly a case of regretting that we haven't met sooner."

Qi Yanbing was taken aback. He hadn't expected that the newcomer, Chen Dengming, would actually have heard of him and seemed to admire him greatly. His smile became more friendly, and he immediately exchanged pleasantries with him.

Sang Tianrong and the other two exchanged glances, all suppressing a laugh.

What's so great about Senior Brother Qi's Flying Cloud Piercing Mist Sword? It can't compare to the Evergreen Immortal Couple's reputation.

After all, the Longevity Sect has always advocated non-competition. Even though the fake core cultivators in the sect have experienced many battles, they are not as famous as the Tiandao Sect, where every fake core cultivator has made a name for themselves. The Flying Cloud Piercing Mist Sword is just something their own sect boasts about. They were the ones who revealed this name to Chen Dengming.

After Chen Dengming's commercial flattery, everyone became extremely polite and courteous upon entering the sect.

With the help of Sang Tianrong and others running errands and guiding them, Chen Dengming and He Yingyu quickly finished their registration for joining the sect and receiving their sect assessment tasks.

Joining the Longevity Sect doesn't mean that they can simply show up in person, register, and immediately receive a robe, cave abode, an identity token, and other benefits.

Before joining the sect, one must complete a sect assessment task.

Although these tasks are mostly just formalities, they are still indispensable. They test the individual abilities, strength, and character of the disciples, and are recorded so that the sect can refer to these records when appointing people in the future to arrange appropriate matters and positions.

Originally, Chen Dengming planned to wait until He Yingyu also broke through to the Pseudo-Core stage before joining the Longevity Sect together.

However, after being reminded by Sang Tianrong and others that war has broken out again in the Eastern and Western Regions, and to avoid the Longevity Sect being drawn into it in the future, since the assessment mission would involve the Battlefield, the two decided to come to the Longevity Sect in advance to avoid future trouble.

"Senior Brother Chen, you see, the current sect assessment tasks are already quite troublesome, but thankfully, they don't involve warfare."

On Yunshou Peak Longevity Sect, Sang Tianrong invited Chen Dengming and his companion to his cave abode and politely explained the assessment task to Chen Dengming.

Chen Dengming looked at the assessment task he had received and shook his head slightly. He then glanced at He Yingyu's task and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's alright, Junior Brother Sang. Look, her assessment task should be easier than mine, right?"

Sang Tianrong reviewed He Yingyu's assessment task, smiled and nodded, "Not bad, Senior Sister He's task is much simpler than Senior Brother Chen's. However, Senior Brother Chen, you are, after all, False Core Great Cultivator, so the more capable you are, the more tasks you'll be given, and the difficulty of the task will definitely be different."

Chen Dengming nodded, indicating his understanding.

His assessment task was to go to a pioneering area near the Western Regions, guard it for three months until the pioneering work was completed, and then he could return.

The so-called land reclamation is the preparation to cultivate a previously uninhabited area.

This area was most likely intended for sects heading to the Battlefield to build War Zone cities and fortresses, similar to the former Jiamu Pass and other similar areas.

From the assessment tasks of the Longevity Sect, it can be vaguely seen that the Longevity Sect is just going through the motions.

Perhaps the Longevity Sect was invited by sects such as the Tiandao Sect when they attacked the Western Regions.

The Longevity Sect's higher-ups naturally refused, but perhaps out of consideration for face, they still got involved in logistics, just going through the motions, showing that they had contributed something.

He Yingyu's task was relatively simple: to escort a batch of supplies to a temporary War Zone point on the edge of the Eastern Region. Once the supplies were delivered, the mission would be complete.

After expressing their gratitude to Sang Tianrong, the two went to their temporary cave abode within the Longevity Sect.

Although they haven't completed the assessment yet, the two can still reside in the Second-Rank Spirit Vein cave abode of the Longevity Sect, so it doesn't affect anything.

At night, the two floated together above the cave abode, overlooking the entire Longevity Sect.

Thirteen Peaks of Longevity.

From south to north, they resemble thirteen beautiful women sitting side by side.

Not only is the scenery beautiful, but it is also a vast and precious land of immortals formed by the convergence of six First-Rank Spirit Vein, four Second-Rank Spirit Vein, two Third-Rank Spirit Vein, and one Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein.

Twelve branch veins, originating from the Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein, surround the main peak, Longevity Peak, which possesses the Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein, like stars surrounding the moon. This imbues Longevity Peak with a rich Spiritual Qi aura, and the Longevity Hall, shaped like a tortoise and snake, atop the peak, is magnificent and imposing, giving people a sense of vastness and profound history.

"Senior sister, after we complete our assessment, we'll be settling An Family here for a long time to come."

"Yes, wherever you are, that's home."

Near the cave abode below, some eyes occasionally glanced at the two people embracing in mid-air. Some were envious, while others felt resentful and bitter, cursing under their breath.

Evergreen Immortal Couple, a pair of adulterers.

They've only been here for one day, and they're already showing off their love late at night. How can these lonely travelers, enduring solitary trials, possibly stand it?

(Nearly 12,000 words today, to congratulate the Evergreen Immortal Couple! Also, please give me some celebratory monthly votes)