In the era of Tai Shang, the Southern Border was a place of towering mountains and dense forests, often shrouded in miasma, with wild beasts and venomous creatures roaming freely.
Demonic cultivators also roamed unchecked, preying on humans, which made the area sparsely populated, with only the Pure Lotus Zen as the sole Immortal Sect.
After the end of the Tai Shang era, cultivators, under the guidance of Huoxin Palace, moved into the Southern Border, reshaping the land and establishing sects.
As the number of cultivators grew, their families settled in new cities, leading to a transformation of the Southern Border from a desolate and cold place to a thriving region.
Huoxin Palace, once a major sect of the Demon Sect, adapted to the changes under the orders of Li Jingyu during the era’s transition.
It remained powerful, firmly holding its position as the leader of the Southern Border.
However, the disciples of the palace did not expand outward during this time, instead occupying only the former territory of the Demon Sect, appearing unchanged from the past.
A carriage, its presence concealed, sped along the path.
It wasn’t until they entered the territory of Huoxin Palace that Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang emerged from the carriage.
Handing their identity tokens to the confused disciple on guard, they patiently waited outside the sect.
After the end of the Tai Shang era, when Li Jingyu and Shi Qingchen entered the great river of the Dao, Huoxin Palace was led by Feng Yuan.
Many disciples had come and gone since then, and the new disciples no longer recognized Li Jingyu.
Shortly after the tokens were handed over, a figure rushed out like a gust of wind, stopping abruptly in front of Li Jingyu.
“Senior Sister? You’ve returned to Jiuzhou?!” Feng Yuan’s voice was filled with uncontrollable excitement.
If not for seeing Li Jingyu frown, she would have clung to her.
Her appearance drew the attention of many disciples.
Although they had never seen Li Jingyu, they often heard stories about her.
Upon hearing the words “Senior Sister,” they immediately realized it was the “Ji Yue” who had long since left.
They were a bit afraid but couldn’t suppress their curiosity, sneaking glances at Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang.
Li Jingyu looked at Feng Yuan and smiled, “You’re the head of a sect now, be more composed.”
Feng Yuan responded, “This is just how I am.” She examined Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang for a while before turning to the gathered disciples, scolding, “Shoo, shoo, have you finished today’s lessons?” Although the disciples wanted to see Ji Yue, with Feng Yuan’s words, they dared not linger, reluctantly leaving while glancing back frequently.
Li Jingyu had a faint smile on her lips.
She looked up in another direction, where clouds and mist surrounded a mountain peak.
In her eyes, the seemingly unreachable Ling Mountain was almost unobstructed.
Her eyes flashed as she asked, “Is the Buddhist Child still on Ling Mountain?” After the end of the Tai Shang era, the Buddhist Child left Huoxin Palace to reopen the Ling Mountain Dao tradition.
Feng Yuan naturally couldn’t stop her, but after all these years, with the Buddhist Sect likely having excellent disciples to succeed her, why hadn’t she let go?
Feng Yuan was taken aback, frowning as she replied sourly, “She’s now the Buddha Seat of Ling Mountain, how could she remember little Huoxin Palace?” After complaining, she added, “She said she’d come in ten years.”
Li Jingyu chuckled, “Huoxin Palace isn’t small.”
“Forget it, let’s not talk about this troublesome matter.” Feng Yuan waved her hand, then asked, “Senior Sister, how long have you been back in Jiuzhou? Have you visited other places?” Having been back in Jiuzhou for some time, the question of “old friends” was tricky to answer.
Before Li Jingyu could respond, Ji Yutang smiled slightly, “We’re here to hold the Dao Ceremony.”
“You haven’t held it yet!” Feng Yuan spoke quickly, and when Li Jingyu gave her a sideways glance, she smiled sheepishly, “Why not at Dragon Palace or Tianshui City?”
Ji Yutang replied, “I don’t like Tianshui.” As for Dragon Palace—though she was a true dragon, she was ultimately human and had to consider others.
Feng Yuan understood, smiling, “It’s been a long time since Huoxin Palace had a joyous event.
Rest assured, Senior Sister, I’ll take care of it.” She paused, then added, “Ji Yue’s cave is still there.”
Ji Yue’s cave.
The water in Dragon Pool was crystal clear, with a faint dragon aura lingering around.
“You used to like it there,” Li Jingyu pointed to Dragon Pool, smiling.
Ji Yutang gave her a sideways glance, dissatisfied, “Did I like it? I was forced by you.”
Li Jingyu reached out to caress Ji Yutang’s face, brushing aside a strand of hair.
She smiled, “Weren’t you unyielding? Since you yielded, it means you wanted it in your heart.” Seeing a blush on Ji Yutang’s face, she added, “At least the true dragon playing with the pearl was from your heart, right?”
“Stop it,” Ji Yutang didn’t want to hear her nonsense.
She remembered the past well enough, not needing Li Jingyu’s reminders.
Li Jingyu “followed the advice,” moving past the topic.
She sat on a stone bench, resting her chin on her hand, looking at Ji Yutang, “Why didn’t you mention the Dao Ceremony before? Are you that eager?”
Ji Yutang, having been teased by Li Jingyu many times, glanced at her smiling face and huffed, “If you don’t want to, we can cancel it.”
Li Jingyu: “You have no heart.”
Ji Yutang said leisurely, “Didn’t someone say they didn’t want my heart before?”
Li Jingyu: “You really know how to twist my words.
And why remember things from a thousand years ago so clearly?”
Ji Yutang gazed at Li Jingyu, “Should I forget?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Li Jingyu stood up, crossing her arms, “I’ll be in your memory forever.”
Ji Yutang: “Yes, yes, yes.”
In Huoxin Palace, the treasury was filled with treasures, making it easy to hold a grand Dao Ceremony.
However, Feng Yuan was troubled about the “guests.” It wasn’t that they didn’t want to come, but too many would be problematic.
After all, both Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang were from above, and Ji Yutang was the ruler of this era.
Who wouldn’t want to see them? What if they gained enlightenment in the process?
Li Jingyu, after receiving the guest list, directly marked some close friends, saying, “They can come to Huoxin Palace to witness, as for the others, let them celebrate on their own.”
Feng Yuan’s eyes flickered, “Is this—”
Ji Yutang answered for Li Jingyu, “We came from Jiuzhou, so we must give back to this world.”
Without needing them to say more, the cultivators of Jiuzhou understood what to do.
After all, in ancient texts, they had worshipped the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers.
They knew how to pray to the heavens and how to please and bless the gods.
On the day of the Dao Ceremony, not only Huoxin Palace but the entire Jiuzhou was lively.
Every household used lights and dance as a medium to celebrate the couple’s marriage.
Unlike mortal weddings, the Dao Ceremony of cultivators was simple, without many formalities.
In the Tai Shang era, many cultivators would use Tai Shang as a witness when signing the contract, but now Tai Shang had long disappeared, so this step was omitted.
As for the new era’s ruler—Ji Yutang couldn’t very well witness for herself.
In the hall, Ji Mingcheng, Ning Huaizhen, and Huai Wanxiu sat, connected by karma, the only ones who could receive Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang’s bow.
Initially, Ji Mingcheng and his wife thought of inviting Cangzhen, as Li Qingxun was her last transformation.
However, after resolving her karma, she retreated to the Great Luo Heaven for further cultivation, pursuing a deeper and farther path, ignoring worldly matters.
After Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang bowed to each other, Ji Mingcheng and Ning Huaizhen exchanged a glance, their smiles deepening.
Who could have imagined this scene at the beginning? Huai Wanxiu looked at her disciple in red, full of relief.
She once feared Li Jingyu would walk the path of “Tai Shang Dao Mother,” a road of no return, and kept her from the “Heart of the Great Dao.” But this disciple had her own ideas, everything within her control.
Now that they had achieved their goal, it meant she could let go of her last bit of attachment.
At the banquet, the wine was a spirit wine aged for hundreds of years, rich and intoxicating.
Feng Yuan and her group raised their cups, congratulating the couple weaving through the crowd.
Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang, tired of the formalities, slipped away, leaving the matters to Feng Yuan.
Under the clear moonlight, with lanterns as bright as day, on a high peak not far from Huoxin Palace, Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang looked down at the world.
Lanterns floated in the wind like countless fireflies gathered together.
The mountain breeze carried a faint song of blessing: “Graceful as the moon, gentle as spring.
Bright are our gods, newlyweds…”
Li Jingyu turned to Ji Yutang, smiling, “The mountains and rivers, the sun and moon do not witness our vows, let the people of this world be our witnesses, how about that?”
