Chapter 876: Great Ceremony

"Connect with my sect's Nine Heavens Immortal City," Ye Qing offered proactively, just as Chen Mobai hesitated.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist," Chen Mobai replied. Since Ye Qing had already spoken, Chen Mobai naturally wouldn't refuse.

Remaining closed off from the Eastern Lands would benefit him in silently developing the Five Elements Sect's strength in the three border regions of the Eastern Continent. However, upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, most of the necessary resources could only be acquired from the Eastern Lands. For instance, several main ingredients for the Infant Nurturing Pill, and even the medicinal herbs required for the Nascent Soul Cultivation Pill and the Nascent Soul Transformation Pill. After integrating the territory of the Xuanxiao Dao Palace, the Five Elements Sect needed to establish contact with the Eastern Lands, the core of the Eastern Continent, to advance further. With a large-scale teleportation array directly connected to the Seven Great Immortal Cities of the Eastern Lands, the Five Elements Merchant Guild would certainly flourish, and Yue Zutao wouldn't need to make the round trip only once every decade or so. After careful consideration, the benefits clearly outweighed the drawbacks.

After settling the most crucial details, Zhang Pankong took Chen Mobai's map. He needed to conduct an on-site inspection of the locations for the two large-scale teleportation arrays. Chen Mobai immediately summoned E Yun and Yi Shaoqing from the Formation Department; the former was in charge of hospitality, and the latter handled technical matters.

According to Chen Mobai's instructions, the existing medium-sized teleportation array would remain unchanged. A new Tier 4 spiritual vein would be established in another suburb of Beiyuan City, and the large-scale teleportation array would be set up there. The Five Elements Sect had already used teleportation arrays to drive up property values and various economic activities before, so this time they were even more skilled at it. Originally, this matter was supposed to be kept secret, but Chen Mobai instructed E Yun to publicize it.

Soon, upon hearing that a large-scale teleportation array would be set up in Beiyuan City's newly developed suburb, many cultivation families and rogue cultivators sought connections to inquire about pre-booking houses or shops. The property prices in the suburb with the medium-sized teleportation array were now so high that even cultivation families would feel a pang of pain to buy there. Many rogue cultivators who were among the first buyers had seen their net worth increase five or six times over. If they were to sell just this one property, it would be enough for them to live very comfortably in the major markets of the Nineteen Eastern Wild Counties.

However, no one was selling now. This was because as the Five Elements Sect's influence grew, property prices in Beiyuan City were rising every year.

Soon, by pre-selling houses and shops, the Five Elements Sect earned enough spirit stones to cover the cost of a Tier 4 spiritual vein and half a teleportation array. Sun Huanglong and the cultivators from the Dongyi forces witnessed the entire process from beginning to end, all of them utterly dumbfounded. "Are spirit stones really so easy to earn?" they wondered.

It's important to note that in their territories, although they also had immortal cities and markets built by their own sects, many cultivators, after acquiring assets, would leave, preferring to find a spiritual vein in a small place to live in seclusion rather than reside long-term in an immortal city. Only when their cultivation resources ran out and they had no other option would they come to an immortal city market. Only cultivation families and sects with some power would settle there permanently.

"What was the difference here?" These individuals, having been sent to attend the grand ceremony, were all prominent figures or leaders from their families or sects. After visiting some of Beiyuan City's residents, they quickly identified the problem within their own territories: they couldn't guarantee the safety of cultivators.

In Beiyuan City, as long as you bought a house and didn't violate the rules set by the Five Elements Sect, no matter who came knocking, the Five Elements Sect would guarantee your safety. Moreover, the Five Elements Sect severely cracked down on rogue cultivators; once discovered, they would be hunted down to the ends of the earth, relentlessly until death. Even if a Five Elements Sect disciple committed such acts, they would be dealt with directly, without mercy.

At this thought, representatives from the various powers fell into deep contemplation. They all knew their own foundations; occasionally collaborating with rogue cultivators for robbery and murder was certainly not uncommon. After all, the profits from markets and immortal cities belonged to the sects, but anything plundered from robbery belonged to the individual. And even if an incident occurred, as long as they offered a portion of the ill-gotten gains to the elders investigating the matter, they could usually get away with it.

It was precisely for this reason that rogue cultivators persisted despite repeated prohibitions, because many of the perpetrators were their own people.

The Sacred Lands of the Eastern Lands didn't concern themselves with such minor matters, so many cultivators acted without restraint. Witnessing the excellent atmosphere in the Eastern Wilds this time, several individuals had already decided to learn from the Five Elements Sect upon their return and see if they could create a small Beiyuan City.

Finally, the day of the grand ceremony arrived.

At the foot of Mount Beiyuan, the heart of the entire immortal city, lay a spacious plaza. Chen Mobai, controlling a cloud of five-colored radiance, descended from the sky with Qing Nü. He wore a long red robe and a golden crown, cutting a dashing figure, while Qing Nü was draped in a light emerald-green veil, adorned with a phoenix crown and embroidered ceremonial robes, appearing stunningly beautiful. Led by cultivators from the Fengtian Sect, the two held incense burners and offered incense to all creation, expressing their reverence for heaven and earth and their desire for blessings. During this process, Chen Mobai also announced his successful cultivation of the Nascent Soul, paying homage to heaven and earth.

After bowing to heaven and earth, they paid respects to their elders. Although neither set of parents was present, this ritual was still indispensable. Chen Mobai had long prepared two plaques for his parents and placed them on the mountain. He and Qing Nü bowed together in the direction of the mountain.

Finally, came the bows between husband and wife, symbolizing their spiritual bond and eternal unity from then on. After the ceremony, Chen Mobai and Qing Nü held hands and smiled at each other.

At this moment, melodious music filled the air. Dozens of female cultivators with cool temperaments and beautiful faces, led by Xueting, performed an elegant dance. These were former disciples of the Chuxue Palace, offering their dance to Chen Mobai from the bottom of their hearts. Of course, after their performance, each of them received a considerable amount of spirit stones.

Meanwhile, atop the city walls of Beiyuan Immortal City, brilliant ceremonial fireworks, lit by the Five Elements Sect cultivators, transformed into vibrant explosions of color, and the entire city began to immerse itself in a festive and joyous atmosphere. All cultivators in the city emerged from their homes to watch the grand ceremony. Amidst a shower of colorful confetti and petals, Chen Mobai and Qing Nü descended and began to toast each guest individually.

The first table, naturally, was where Ye Qing and Zhang Pankong were seated. Besides them, there were Ren Qiu, Sun Huanglong, Liu Nansheng, Yi Chenghan, and Yu Shuji. Considered the most distinguished guests, Chen Mobai and Qing Nü also had their seats here.

As the sun set in the west, the grand ceremony drew to a close. After Chen Mobai and Qing Nü toasted the last table, they returned to their seats and shared a final drink with Ye Qing and the others, marking the successful conclusion of the Daoist Couple Grand Ceremony. Ye Qing and Zhang Pankong were the first to bid farewell, and Chen Mobai had E Yun see them off on his behalf.

"Everyone, please forgive any inadequate hospitality," Chen Mobai said to the assembled guests. After saying this, he and Qing Nü also returned to the mountain.

Watching the couple depart, Luo Yixuan and Yin Qingmei, seated together, again drank a toast in unison. Liu Wenbai, witnessing this scene, was somewhat perplexed, as he distinctly remembered their relationship not being very good.

"It's a pity that Junior Martial Brother is in secluded cultivation for Core Formation and missed this grand ceremony," Zhuo Ming said with some regret, setting down her chopsticks. Jiang Zongheng was undergoing Core Formation in Loquat Valley, so naturally, no one could force him out of seclusion for this event.

"With Junior Brother Jiang's talent, he will certainly succeed in Core Formation this time. Alas, as the eldest second-generation disciple of the Xiaonanshan lineage, I've been surpassed by you junior brothers and sisters one after another..." Liu Wenbai and Zhuo Ming had entered Chen Mobai's tutelage at the same time, and their bond was even stronger than that of siblings, so he openly expressed his inner frustrations to Zhuo Ming.

"Senior Martial Brother, as long as you follow Master's instructions, you will definitely succeed in Core Formation as well," Zhuo Ming offered words of encouragement. Besides these second-generation disciples, Han Zhiling, Song Huangda, and Duan Shuyu, three third-generation disciples, were also at this table. Among them, Han Zhiling had already broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and Song Huangda was close. Duan Shuyu had only recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage. Because he started cultivating at an older age, he was the youngest but had white hair.

"I heard that Grandmaster bestowed the Heavenly Roc Mountain Villa upon you?" Song Huangda, who had a good relationship with Han Zhiling, began speaking to her, seeing Master Liu Wenbai talking with Zhuo Ming.

"Not at all," Han Zhiling repeatedly shook her head in denial. "I was merely asked to look after the medicinal fields and spiritual plants there." Places with Tier 4 spiritual veins were few and far between in the entire Five Elements Sect; many Core Formation cultivators didn't even have access to one. How could she, at her current Foundation Establishment stage, be so high-profile?

"What about you?" Han Zhiling asked. "I heard that Grandmaster assigned an important project to you. It was previously managed by Martial Uncle E, the current acting sect master. It seems Grandmaster thinks highly of you." Han Zhiling's words made Song Huangda, who was drinking, nearly choke.

"The position of sect master? I've never dared to even think about it. Don't speak nonsense; if word gets out, it will make things difficult for me..."

Just as the two were talking, Zhou Ye from the neighboring table suddenly stood up, and Green Pearl beside him immediately followed, holding a wine pot. The two walked over to the first table.

After Chen Mobai, Qing Nü, Ye Qing, and Zhang Pankong had left, only Ren Qiu, Sun Huanglong, Liu Nansheng, and Yu Shuji remained at the table. Yi Chenghan, disliking Liu Nansheng of the Bathing Sun Sea, found the table where Nu Jiang and Sheng Zhaoxi were and went to drink with them.

"Patriarch Sun, I've long admired your reputation," Zhou Ye said, toasting everyone individually, then, with a smile, sat next to Sun Huanglong.

"You are..." Sun Huanglong naturally sensed that Zhou Ye's cultivation was no less than his own, and he asked hesitantly.

"Zhou Ye of the Earth Vein of the Five Elements Sect."

"It's an honor to meet you!" Sun Huanglong was aware of the Five Veins of the Five Elements and had heard of Zhou Ye's name, so he immediately responded politely. But he didn't know that Zhou Ye and his Sun family were sworn enemies.

"It seems Patriarch Sun has forgotten," Zhou Ye said, somewhat disappointed, then put down his wine cup and left with Green Pearl.

Sun Huanglong watched his departing back, frowning slightly, unsure of what Zhou Ye's words meant.

On the mountaintop, Chen Mobai and Qing Nü arrived together in their meticulously prepared bridal chamber. Incense candles burned brightly, the bed was adorned with a red quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water, and various auspicious decorations were placed around, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

"Wife!" Chen Mobai called out, following local custom. Qing Nü's fair cheeks immediately flushed crimson, and she shyly lowered her head.

Before long, she was on the celebratory quilt, her fair body, set against the red, seeming to glow with a soft, jade-like radiance. The sky was already dotted with stars. On this special night, the crisp jingle of bells continually resonated.