Bai Liwei was adorning herself in front of the mirror.
As the number one beauty in the world, she was truly remarkable. Her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyebrows delicately brushed, and her beautiful eyes carried a hint of noble aloofness.
However, she wasn't completely cold and distant. Instead, there was a captivating charm emanating from her seemingly indifferent demeanor.
With just a glimpse, it could enthrall and linger in one's soul, making it unforgettable.
Bai Liwei picked a golden hairpin from the jewelry box held by a maid beside her. The long strands of pearls hung by her temples, swaying in the air with her movements.
"Do you think Zhou Siwei will really come?" Bai Liwei murmured as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
In the mirror was such a stunning beauty. Her face was as radiant as a blooming lotus, seemingly capable of extracting water. With a slight pursing of her lips, a trace of sorrow appeared in the mirror.
The maid, who kept her head lowered, plucked up the courage to console her. "Of course, he will come."
No matter what kind of man he was, when a peerless beauty whom he once admired was about to marry, he would come no matter what.
Unless... he simply didn't like women at all.
Bai Liwei received reassurance, and the hint of sorrow at the corner of her mouth transformed into a calm determination.
Bai Liwei prepared for the final touches. She picked up a brush from the dressing table, dabbed it with some pigment, and painted a lotus flower on her forehead. This added a touch of grace to her already unparalleled beauty.
"Is everything ready?" Bai Liwei suddenly spoke, her voice extremely soft, as if afraid of being overheard.
"Everything is ready," the maid replied, also lowering her voice.
Bai Liwei stood up, wearing the dignified attire of White Jade Capital, with a long train trailing behind her.
"Let's go."
Two maids entered the room. Both of them had the cultivation level of Golden Core stage, but in front of Bai Liwei, they only had the qualification to hold the train of her dress.
Bai Liwei walked at the forefront, dressed in exquisite attire with delicate makeup, heading to meet her fiancé.
Her wedding was not to be taken lightly—it was not only a wedding but also a trap filled with intricate schemes.
The celestial maiden's wedding would last for half a month. On the first day, major sects would come to present their congratulations. The gifts would be announced by a specially assigned child, and the news would be spread to every corner of White Jade Capital through the ubiquitous wind chimes.
"Penglai Immortal's emissary—"
As the child announced, the person who walked out was Tan Jingfang, the most outstanding disciple of the current generation from Penglai Immortal.
This young man had gained some reputation among the new generation, and all the disciples had heard of Tan Jingfang's name. When they heard the name, they all turned their attention towards him.
During these past few days, the young man seemed to have grown taller. Wearing the pure white attire of Penglai Immortal, he already looked like a dependable man.
Tan Jingfang was not alone. Behind him, there was a young girl who was not very old. He deliberately paused, waiting for the girl to catch up with his steps. "Yunxi."
"Here I am!" Jiang Yunxi jogged to catch up.
Having lived in Penglai Immortal for some time, Jiang Yunxi had shed her appearance of a country girl. Her once sun-kissed skin had turned into a healthy fair complexion, and faint traces of resemblance to Jiang Rongyi could be seen in her features.
"Emissary from Shangyan Sect—"
This title received even more attention than the previous Penglai Immortal.
Not because Shangyan Sect was the number one sect in the world, but because of the past history between the Sect Master of Shangyan Sect and the celestial maiden of White Jade Capital—a story that couldn't be ignored.
Whispers spread among the crowd.
"Could it be their Sect Master who won't come?"
"I think it's highly unlikely. The Sect Master of Shangyan Sect hasn't appeared for a hundred years, right?"
"Would he just let his woman marry someone else without doing anything?"
Amidst the fragmented remarks of others, the emissary from Shangyan Sect finally walked out of the teleportation array.
It wasn't the Sect Master they had speculated, but an ordinary-looking man dressed in the attire of a disciple from Shangyan Sect.
Though he appeared ordinary, many people recognized him. Disciples from White Jade Capital approached him and greeted him warmly.
There were also some well-connected and gossipy disciples from White Jade Capital who discreetly asked, "Your Sect Master?"
It wasn't a secretive question, and the disciple from Shangyan Sect answered truthfully, "News came a few days ago that our Sect Master is at the Zhaixing Tower."
The Zhaixing Tower connected with White Jade Capital, so it's possible that he had already arrived in White Jade Capital during his stay at the Zhaixing Tower.
Those who heard this news couldn't help but speculate that perhaps he wanted to avoid an awkward encounter with someone from his past, so he concealed his identity and only wanted to secretly take a look at the wedding of his old acquaintance.
Truly a pair of unfortunate lovebirds.
Some perceptive female cultivators even discreetly teared up.
However, what they didn't realize was that Zhou Siwei, the number one figure in the righteous path, could have anyone he wanted if he truly desired it. Who in the world could stop him?
It was simply a matter of not wanting.
Afterwards, disciples from various sects arrived one after another, but none could compare to the attention garnered by the emissary from Shangyan Sect.
The celestial maiden of White Jade Capital's grand wedding was the biggest celebration in nearly a hundred years.
The disciples from the other five righteous sects all sent representatives, and the teleportation array of White Jade Capital had been constantly active these past few days.
The usually quiet White Jade Capital became lively, with the bustling sounds of people that even the cold white walls and laurel trees couldn't suppress.
Since this grand event would last for half a month, White Jade Capital prepared accommodations for the distant guests.
The best courtyards were naturally arranged for the disciples of the six major righteous sects who came to celebrate, while the next level was allocated to affiliated sects with closer relationships.
Jiang Rongyi, who found the wedding invitation by the roadside, and Zhou Siwei were also assigned to a slightly secluded courtyard.
Although it was described as slightly secluded, it had flowing streams, pavilions, and towers, offering a complete scenic experience.
Jiang Rongyi walked around and pointed to a room, saying, "You'll stay here."
Zhou Siwei refused, "No."
"Then where do you want to stay?" Jiang Rongyi glanced at him.
Zhou Siwei looked at Jiang Rongyi eagerly and said, "Wherever you're staying, I'll stay there too."
Jiang Rongyi found it strange.
Wasn't he just insisting on maintaining some distance before?
Why did he now want to stay together?
Jiang Rongyi didn't think too much about it. Given Zhou Siwei's personality, even if he disagreed, he would still sneak over at night. It was better to just agree.
Night quickly fell, and Zhou Siwei was still waiting to share the same bed with Jiang Rongyi. But after waiting for a long time, Jiang Rongyi, who had been asleep all along, was still wide awake.
After holding back for a while, Zhou Siwei couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going to sleep?"
Jiang Rongyi replied, "Cultivators don't necessarily need to sleep."
Zhou Siwei, "..."
Such a great opportunity, and he wasn't going to sleep!
Seeing that he might miss the chance, Zhou Siwei asked again, "Aren't you tired?"
It was strange indeed. After being in a deep sleep for so many days, Jiang Rongyi surprisingly didn't feel any fatigue. "If you want to sleep, you can go ahead."
Zhou Siwei seized the key point, "And what about you?"
"I'll go out for a walk." Ever since stepping into this courtyard, Jiang Rongyi had a mysterious feeling.
It was difficult for cultivators to make predictions, but once they sensed something, the predicted event was bound to happen.
Therefore, it was highly possible for danger to occur in White Jade Capital.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Siwei immediately dropped the topic of sleeping and stood up, following Jiang Rongyi. "I'll go with you."
The night in White Jade Capital was beautiful.
The round moon hung in the sky, casting silver moonlight that fell upon every corner of White Jade Capital.
The tender yellow buds of the laurel blossoms held the refreshing moon dew, emitting a faint glow.
Sleep was indeed not a necessity for cultivators. They preferred to use their sleeping time to meditate and cultivate. On such a grand occasion, it was natural to take a stroll through the historically significant White Jade Capital under the moonlight.
Speaking of which, the world of cultivation was not so different from the mortal realm. There were still couples walking hand in hand, street vendors hawking their wares, and pickpockets looking for easy targets.
The special product of White Jade Capital was laurel, and the most popular item among the vendors was small bowls of laurel honey candy ice.
Sold for three spirit stones per serving, it was considered expensive, but still, people flocked to buy it.
Jiang Rongyi joined in the excitement and bought a serving. The palm-sized bowl was made of ice, but it didn't feel cold when held in the hand. Inside, there were crushed ice flakes topped with a spoonful of laurel honey.
The golden honey flowed through the gaps in the crushed ice, with a few fresh laurel blossoms floating on top, emitting a delightful fragrance.
Scooping up a spoonful, it was icy cold and sweet, bringing a refreshing sensation throughout the body with each bite.
Zhou Siwei had been keeping an eye on the person beside him. Seeing him taking three mouthfuls of crushed ice, he immediately snatched the ice bowl away. "You're not in good health, you shouldn't eat too much of this."
Jiang Rongyi licked his lips, which were coated with sticky honey, and raised a finger, bargaining, "Just one bite."
Zhou Siwei hesitated for a moment, but seeing Jiang Rongyi's pitiful appearance, he immediately softened. He scooped up a small spoonful and brought it to Jiang Rongyi's lips.
Jiang Rongyi wasn't picky and took the spoon into his mouth, holding it with Zhou Siwei's hand. He smiled mischievously and said, "I want more."
This time, Zhou Siwei didn't fulfill his request. With a thought, the ice bowl in his hand evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace behind.
This infuriated Jiang Rongyi, and he exclaimed, "Er Gou!"
Zhou Siwei ignored this strange nickname and held Jiang Rongyi's hand. He was already weak, and after eating the ice, he couldn't find a warm spot in his body.
"Take care of yourself," Zhou Siwei earnestly reminded him, wanting to warm up the pair of hands in his palms.
Jiang Rongyi quieted down.
Between the two of them, Zhou Siwei was slightly taller, and Jiang Rongyi's gaze reached his chin. Whenever he raised his head, he could see Zhou Siwei's eyes.
It was like a calm sea surface hiding turbulent waves underneath. Only for a moment did the emotions show, both gentle and doting.
It felt as if a claw had scratched Jiang Rongyi's heart, leaving him unsure of how to respond.
Fortunately, this strange state didn't last long. Jiang Rongyi's attention was drawn to a firework that burst open in the sky.
The colorful sparks illuminated the entire White Jade Capital, as if daylight had descended in an instant.
Jiang Rongyi watched the fireworks while Zhou Siwei watched him.
Then, in a strange impulse, Zhou Siwei lowered his head, intending to kiss the reddened lips that had been frozen.
His movements were extremely slow, and just as they were about to make contact, the brilliant fireworks behind them slowly faded away.
Perhaps the captivating scenery before them caused Jiang Rongyi to remain still and silently consent to Zhou Siwei's action.
However, the two of them still didn't come into contact.
After the sky returned to darkness, a trembling voice of a youth rang out.
"A-A messenger from Qianhun Ridge."
As soon as the words "Qianhun Ridge" were heard, the entire crowd erupted in commotion.
While White Jade Capital stood aloof from worldly affairs, it was still one of the six major righteous sects. It was unexpected that the demonic Qianhun Ridge would dare to openly come to this place.
The welcoming youth swallowed nervously, his eyes fixed on the teleportation array.
The spirit stones embedded in the array shimmered for a moment, but no one emerged. Only a trace of demonic energy seeped out.
The youth thought he might have been mistaken. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the display on the teleportation array, which clearly showed the words "Qianhun Ridge."
After hesitating for a moment, the youth approached to investigate the situation. Before he reached the formation, he heard a chilling hissing sound.
Thick black qi emanated, followed by the appearance of a snake tail. Its scales were dark purple, with sharp edges gleaming along the edges.
The youth stood frozen in place, not daring to move, feeling a chill rising from his heart.
The snake tail was extremely long, extending more than ten meters, and then a man emerged from it.
He had dark purple hair, a pair of snake-like golden eyes, and a androgynous appearance that made it difficult to discern his gender.
"Where are the snakes?" The youth thought he would be surrounded by countless snakes. He glanced down, only to find that the terrifying snake tail had disappeared without a trace.
The youth discreetly looked at the man's lower half and saw a pair of feet instead of a snake tail.
"Qianhun Ridge—" She Xiangyan scanned the scenery of White Jade Capital. As he spoke, the people around him prepared themselves for battle. However, to their surprise, he only said, "May the heavenly maidens of White Jade Capital have a harmonious union for a hundred years."
Upon receiving this message, an elder from White Jade Capital hastily put on a smile. "You've come from afar, you've come from afar."
The elder only knew that a demonic cultivator from Qianhun Ridge had arrived but didn't know the exact identity. When he saw the newly appointed Demon Sovereign, She Xiangyan, the smile on his face almost faltered.
He glanced at the youth who had brought She Xiangyan, seemingly asking why they hadn't made it clear that it was the Lord of Carnage who had arrived.
The youth felt somewhat wronged. With his low cultivation, he had never seen a demonic cultivator or a Demon Sovereign before.
The elder barely maintained a hospitable demeanor. "Demon Sovereign, you've come from afar. The journey must have been long. Please rest for a moment."
In reality, ever since the death of the Ten Prison Masters a hundred years ago, the demonic path was no longer as fearsome, and young cultivators hadn't even seen what a demonic cultivator looked like.
As a result, the animosity between the righteous and demonic paths was not as intense as it had been a hundred years ago.
She Xiangyan, as the newly appointed Demon Sovereign, dared to venture alone, which could be considered a display of great courage and confidence.
The elder led the way while the person behind him remained silent. The elder had been speculating for a long time and finally couldn't resist turning around to take a look.
She Xiangyan followed closely behind, his golden vertical pupils filled with interest as he observed the scenery of White Jade Capital.
Vertical pupils, that's right. The true form of this newly appointed Demon Sovereign was the Nine Nether Serpent that reached the heavens, containing a deadly venom that could turn corpses floating for thousands of miles.
The elder was lost in his thoughts when She Xiangyan silently arrived in front of him.
"Demon Sovereign..." The elder felt a chill at his neck.
She Xiangyan's vertical pupils slowly rotated. "Who has recently arrived in White Jade Capital?"
The elder suddenly lost his resistance, his gaze became unfocused, and he absentmindedly replied, "Many people."
She Xiangyan let out a snake-like hiss, and the elder's recent memories turned into a thread that was pulled out of his mind and entered She Xiangyan's mouth.
He savored the elder's memories but didn't find the figure he was looking for.
With his golden vertical pupils turning again, the elder snapped back to reality.
The elder didn't notice anything amiss and continued to lead the way, bringing She Xiangyan into the courtyard designated for esteemed guests.
The true wedding ceremony in White Jade Capital would only begin when all the guests had gathered.
White Jade Capital's lineage traced back to immortals, and the wedding procedures were exceedingly complex.
First, a resounding phoenix cry marked the beginning.
Feathers radiated with a myriad of colors, and their steps exuded radiant light.
A phoenix soared into the sky, its swaying tail feathers leaving a trail of dazzling light. Following behind were magpies, buntings, larks, and white-eyebrowed birds, forming various auspicious patterns on their own.
Moreover, the birds' chirping harmonized with one another, ultimately blending into a melodious piece of music.
Though the phoenix wasn't a true divine creature, it could be considered a grand display of "a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix."
It was meant to be a magnificent opening. The phoenix was supposed to land on the tall platform made of white jade, leading to the next segment of the ceremony.
However, She Xiangyan, sitting in the honored guest seat, stared at the phoenix with a hint of greed in his eyes.
The phoenix sensed the presence of a natural predator nearby and refused to land. It circled in the air and swiftly departed, as if its feathers were being scorched by fire.
As a result, a gap appeared in the wedding ceremony.
"Apologies." She Xiangyan's gaze continued to follow the phoenix's figure. "Instinct, couldn't resist."
The Heavenly Nine Yin Serpent preys on phoenixes.
The people of White Jade Capital had rehearsed the ceremony many times, believing that they wouldn't make any mistakes. However, they hadn't anticipated the sudden arrival of She Xiangyan.
What could they do? They couldn't blame the Demon Sovereign. They could only grit their teeth and accept it, quickly instructing the people below to proceed to the next segment.
Next was White Jade Capital's Sky Dance, performed by cultivators in the Golden Core stage. They were able to soar and dance in the sky using their cultivation, a level of power that could dominate in other places. However, in this grand event, they were merely performing for the audience's enjoyment.
Many disciples from affiliated sects had never witnessed such a spectacle before.
A disciple who had been taken out to broaden his horizons exclaimed, "Even our elders are only in the Golden Core stage."
A more knowledgeable senior explained in a low voice, "Their cultivation is only achieved through the use of pills, nothing to fear."
But they didn't say one thing: White Jade Capital loved grandeur and had cultivated dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators using pills. For them, it was nothing extraordinary.
Jiang Rongyi was also watching the Sky Dance. Their position wasn't the best, and they could barely see half of the performance.
"That female cultivator didn't fix her nose properly when she advanced to the Golden Core stage," Jiang Rongyi commented while watching.
When each cultivator advanced to the Golden Core stage, they could reshape their bodies. That's why this group of dancers had extremely similar appearances. It was clear that they were purposely cultivated for pleasure.
Jiang Rongyi found it amusing, while Zhou Siwei remained upright, refusing to look at them more than necessary, resembling an ascetic monk.
"Which one do you think looks good?" Jiang Rongyi poked the person next to them.
Zhou Siwei looked up at the graceful dancers in the sky, then turned to look at Jiang Rongyi. "I think you look good."
Jiang Rongyi fell into a momentary silence.
"You..." Jiang Rongyi stumbled, unsure of what to say.
Should he say that Zhou Siwei had poor taste, or that there was something wrong with his own mind?
But then again, Jiang Rongyi realized that Zhou Siwei had seen the number one beauty in the world. How could he be interested in these people?
No sooner had they thought of it than they saw a figure approaching from afar.
"Greetings—Heavenly Maiden!"
The voices of thousands of people overlapped, creating a resounding momentum.
Bai Liwei was wearing her wedding attire today.
She usually adorned herself with cool colors, but for once, she wore a vibrant red, unexpectedly accentuating her beauty.
A mix of aloofness and beauty, she could only be described as unparalleled in the world.
With exquisite jewelry and a fiery wedding gown, she held a dark red cloak in her arms.
Bai Liwei rode in a carriage, pulled by a precious spiritual beast with the bloodline of a qilin.
The carriage stopped above the White Jade Platform, and Bai Liwei leaped down, stepping slowly onto the white jade steps.
She stood at a vantage point, taking in the view below.
Everyone inexplicably stopped what they were doing and looked at the number one beauty in the world.
Bai Liwei's gaze swept across the area, first searching for the seat of the disciples from Shangyan Sect.
There, only a meek disciple sat, not the person she wanted to see.
Bai Liwei didn't show any disappointment. She gracefully turned her footsteps and carefully searched among the thousands of guests for the person she was looking for.
This pause lasted for a quarter of an hour.
The elders below anxiously asked, "What's going on? Where is the groom?"
This elder was the one presiding over the wedding. He was determined to showcase the strength of Bai Yu Jing in front of the major sects. With these consecutive mishaps, even a cultivator who had long surpassed the Five Decays of Heaven and Man was sweating in distress.
The disciple replied, "I-I don't know."
The elder stomped his foot in frustration, realizing that asking was futile. He went straight to the whereabouts of the groom himself, searching for the tardy bridegroom.
The guests initially thought it was part of the program and eagerly waited.
After a considerable amount of time passed, Bai Liwei was still standing alone up there, looking nothing like a bride about to be wed.
Finally, someone reacted and whispered to another person.
"The Heavenly Maiden is getting married, why isn't the Heavenly Emperor appearing?"
"Forget about the Heavenly Emperor not appearing, he's known to go into seclusion for hundreds of years. But why isn't the groom showing up?"
Bai Liwei naturally heard these doubts and queries and raised both of her hands. The cloak on her arms swayed slightly in the air. "Please wait a moment, everyone."
The Heavenly Maiden of Bai Yu Jing spoke, and everyone stopped their conversations, plunging the place into silence once again.
Then, a loud sound shattered the tranquility.
"There he is... the groom!"
The announcement echoed throughout the entire wedding venue.
The guests thought that the groom had finally arrived and looked up to the sky, eager to catch a glimpse of the fortunate cultivator who could marry Bai Yu Jing's Heavenly Maiden, the world's most beautiful woman.
However, after searching for a while, they couldn't even spot the hem of the groom's robe.
Some guests even began to wonder if the Heavenly Maiden was teasing them.
They turned their heads back to Bai Liwei.
A gentle and affectionate smile appeared on her face. "Zhou Siwei, are you not coming out yet?"
Author's Note: Zhou Siwei, unexpectedly targeted: Huh?