"Exactly, Senior Sister! Once Xian'er comes out of seclusion, how about we hold the Dual Cultivation Ceremony?" Li Xiaoya hurriedly chimed in. Then he noticed the hesitation on Zhang Hong's face and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Senior Sister?"
"Mother! Junior Brother!" Zhang Hong pursed her lips and took a long moment before saying, "I want to wait until I reach the Nascent Soul Realm before holding the Dual Cultivation Ceremony..."
"After you reach the Nascent Soul Realm?" Li Xiaoya and Mother Li exclaimed in unison, unsure what Zhang Hong meant.
"Yes. Xian'er and Junior Brother are both in the Nascent Soul Realm... while I'm only at the Golden Core Stage..." Zhang Hong faltered, then suddenly added, "How about you and Xian'er hold the Dual Cultivation Ceremony first, Junior Brother? I can have mine later." "What?" Li Xiaoya said in surprise and confusion. "What does advancing have to do with the Dual Cultivation Ceremony? Senior Sister, you-"
"Ah! In that case, let's discuss it once you reach the Nascent Soul Realm!" Mother Li interrupted him hastily. Li Xiaoya might not understand Zhang Hong's concerns, but how could she, a woman who had been through it all, fail to see them? The other two were both in the Nascent Soul Realm. If Zhang Hong joined them as a Golden Core Stage cultivator, she would inevitably invite gossip and ugly remarks behind their backs, damaging Li Xiaoya's and Liu Xian'er's reputations.
"Oh! How foolish of me!" Li Xiaoya caught on after hearing his mother's words. With a wry smile, he said, "Then let's wait until Senior Sister reaches the Nascent Soul Realm!"
"But... will Xian'er mind?" Zhang Hong asked hesitantly.
"Oh, come on! We've already waited over a hundred years. Besides, you'll advance soon, Senior Sister. It won't be much longer!" Li Xiaoya