The Grand Ceremony Begins
At this moment, Dongfang Yueming also noticed Lin Qingyao.
[Exquisite Grotto-Heaven...]
Listening to the discussions around him, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
[Back in the Great Xia, although I knew she had an Bufan background, I never expected... she would actually come from a holy land in the Central Domain!]
[and...]
His gaze lingered for a moment on the middle-aged man beside Lin Qingyao.
[Soul Formation cultivator!]
[It seems that the Exquisite Grotto-Heaven truly possesses profound cultural significance.]
He withdrew his gaze, pondering to himself.
That book, "Nine-Turn Coiled Dragon Force," really helped me a lot back then.
I'll remember this favor.
[If she encounters any trouble in the future, I will naturally lend a hand if I can.]
[As for the rest...]
He shook his head.
[It seems they don't need my help.]
Well then... let it be.
Just then!
"Snort!"
A cold snort, clearly tinged with jealousy, rang in his ears.
Dongfang Yueming turned his head and saw Qin Rushuang looking at him with a half-smile. Her clear, cold eyes were filled with the message, "Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely."
"Another... confidante?"
"Ahem... We're just ordinary friends, ordinary friends," Dongfang Yueming quickly explained.
However, at that very moment!
A fragrant breeze wafts by!
"Handsome young man~"
Shui Yan'er's energetic voice rang out again!
Like a joyful butterfly, she fluttered to the other side of Dongfang Yueming and affectionately took his arm.
"You're finally here! I've missed you so much!"
Dongfang Yueming: "..."
Qin Rushuang: "..."
Looking at the two stunning beauties on his left and right, Dongfang Yueming felt a headache coming on.
Is this... the legendary battleground of annihilation?
Shui Yan'er, seemed completely oblivious to Qin Rushuang's murderous glare. She leaned close to Dongfang Yueming's ear and whispered mysteriously in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Handsome young man~"
"My mother said... since she's already 'cultivated' with you..."
"I want one too! I want one too!"
"Puff--!"
Dongfang Yueming nearly coughed up blood!
"Dual cultivation... dual cultivation?!"
He stared wide-eyed at the girl who was always so outrageous.
[When did I ever cultivate with your mother?!]
You can eat anything, but you can't say anything!
Although Qin Rushuang didn't hear the specifics, seeing the intimate posture of the two and Dongfang Yueming's constipated expression, her suspicions deepened!
After Shui Yan'er finished speaking, she winked playfully and ran back to her seat in the Water and Fire Sect.
Dongfang Yueming sighed helplessly, turned his head, and met Qin Rushuang's scrutinizing gaze.
"Um... actually... I just helped Sect Master Shui break through a bottleneck."
"Breakthrough bottleneck?"
Qin Rushuang frowned slightly upon hearing this.
[Sect Master Shui is at the Nascent Soul Perfection...]
[Another breakthrough... wouldn't that mean...?]
[Soul Formation?!]
[He... he's only a Golden Core (on the surface), yet he managed to help Nascent Soul Perfection cultivator break through to the Deity Soul Formation?!]
In an instant, the jealousy in her heart was replaced by endless shock!
Meanwhile, the onlookers, seeing Dongfang Yueming enjoying the bliss of having two women on his left and right, were filled with envy that almost made their eyes turn red!
[Just who is that pretty boy?!]
[How could he simultaneously gain the favor of successors from both the Martial Sect and the Water and Fire Sect, two great holy lands?!]
Heavens above! Is there no justice left?!
"Snort!"
Seeing Dongfang Yueming surrounded by women on both sides, Feng Wuhen was so angry that his teeth itched, and he crushed the wine glass in his hand!
"That good-for-nothing... what merit does he have?!"
From his seat of honor, Feng Xiaotian also noticed the commotion.
He frowned slightly, and an aura of power belonging to Nascent Soul Perfection at the peak of his cultivation silently pressed down towards the Water and Fire Sect!
"Sect Master Shui," he spoke calmly, a hint of warning in his voice, "Today is the grand alliance ceremony between Storm Mountain and Purple Thunder Sect. I hope... you will keep your daughter in check and prevent her from behaving improperly."
Shui Yan'er was about to retort when she was Shui Qingrou beside her.
Shui Qingrou slowly raised her head, looking directly into Feng Xiaotian's aggressive gaze, a cool smile curving her lips.
"Sect Master Feng, it seems... it's not your place to dictate how my Water and Fire Sect should operate."
"Hmm?" Feng Xiaotian's eyes turned cold. "Sect Master Shui... is he going to make an enemy of Storm Mountain for the sake of an outsider?"
"Boom--!"
Before he could finish speaking, an even more vast and terrifying pressure, even carrying a trace of... the power of law, erupted from Shui Qingrou!
Soul Formation!
"Wh... what?!"
Feng Xiaotian's pupils constricted sharply, and his face instantly turned extremely ugly!
He never expected that Shui Qingrou, whom he had always regarded as an easy target, would actually... actually break through to the Soul Formation Realm!
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
"Soul Formation?! Sect Master Shui has actually broken through to the Soul Formation?!"
"My goodness! The status of the Water and Fire Sect is about to rise dramatically!"
Feeling the real pressure from the Nascent Soul Formation stage, Feng Xiaotian's contempt vanished instantly, replaced by deep apprehension!
[Damn it! How could she suddenly break through to a higher level?!]
[but...]
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.
[I'm just one step away! As long as I get the ' God-Breaking Pill,' I can break through to the Soul Formation!]
[At that time...]
He snorted coldly, withdrew his oppressive aura, and stopped dwelling on the topic.
"Now that Sect Master Shui has broken through, he is naturally qualified to instruct your daughter."
"The auspicious hour has arrived! The ceremony... begins!"
Seeing this, Shui Qingrou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
[Fortunately... it deterred them.]
Although she has broken through to the Soul Formation, she is only at the initial stage. Moreover, Storm Mountain has the support of the Upper Realm. If they really break off relations, the Water and Fire Sect will not benefit either.
With Feng Xiaotian's command, the grand alliance ceremony officially began!
Offering sacrifices to heaven, swearing oaths, presenting gifts...
After a series of elaborate and solemn ceremonies, the atmosphere in Storm Mountain reached its climax!
"From this day forward, Storm Mountain and the Purple Thunder Sect are sworn allies! We will share both glory and shame!"
Congratulations, Sect Leader Feng! Congratulations, Sect Leader Lei!
Below, countless leaders of top-tier forces affiliated with the two sects rose to offer their congratulations, their eyes filled with awe and... helplessness.
They knew that from this day forward, the landscape of the Central Domain was about to change.
Feng Wuhen stood on the high platform, basking in the glory of being the center of attention, his pride practically overflowing!
This is the might of Storm Mountain!
Just wait! Once my father breaks through to the Soul Formation, the entire Central Domain will submit to us!
Just then, Feng Xiaotian spoke again.
"This is a day of great joy, a day for the whole world to celebrate!"
"Our Storm Mountain has specially set up an arena for talented individuals from all sides to exchange skills and techniques!"
"Anyone with a bone age under one hundred years old and a cultivation level below the Early Nascent Soul may step onto the stage!"
"The ultimate winner will receive..."
With a wave of his hand, a precious umbrella radiating dazzling golden light floated in mid-air!
"A fourth-tier magic weapon—[Primordial Umbrella]!"
"Hiss--!"
A collective gasp filled the entire arena!
"A... a fourth-tier magic weapon?!"
"What a grand gesture!"
"This is a treasure that only Nascent Soul cultivator can use! And they're using it as a prize?!"
An intensely burning light shone in everyone's eyes!
But soon, some shrewd people realized what was going on.
They looked at Feng Wuhen, who stood proudly on the stage, and immediately understood.
[Under 100 years old? Early Nascent Soul?]
[This Feng Wuhen; doesn't it perfectly fit the criteria?]
[This isn't a friendly sparring match; it's clearly just handing out equipment to his own son!]