The allied realm rules over a territory spanning several states, with the Wuning Basin just being one of its northern areas.
However, this great power itself is not strong, it is merely regarded as the ultimate form of some consensus by the great cultivators, and has become a platform for the great cultivators to rule over their domains and seek the greatest common denominator of benefits.
The alliance is powerful not because of its inherent power, but because it contains the power under its wing.
There are no immortals with pills of gold or above in the alliance, and due to the uniqueness of the new method of Purple Mansion, the absolute status gap between great cultivators in the Purple Mansion and pill of gold immortals in the alliance is not too great — at least not as great as the gap between Purple Mansion and foundation establishment.
At one time, facing the situation where Yuan Zheng was driving with his cultivation abilities, leading the pursuit of Jie Xiu to kill, Wang Tower managed to escape victory with only dunning speed.
In the realm of the alliance, the interest struggle between the Purple Mansions and Pill of Gold is also like this. The Purple Mansions can only harvest the value of stabbing at their place on the Summit of Immortals because they are tough enough.
After all, if a new method Purple Mansion is willing to stir things up, the Pill of Gold immortals who are periodically struck by lightning every few years will only be wasting that precious time in their frantic escapades.
Therefore, the great cultivator like Zhou Fujie in the Purple Mansion, whether in Hongdengzhao or in the alliance of immortals, has a status and treatment as a prominent cultivator.
But, the situation with Old Zhou is somewhat special now.
As the direct daughter of a top-tier family in the cultivation world, Zhou Yingxi's life was full of characteristics of family offspring, practicing qigong at a young age and gaining an advantage on the starting line.
At the same age of about 10-15, Wang Yulou was still struggling to draw in qi, not being able to practice even a little more each day, but Zhou Yingxi had already achieved success in practicing qigong.
Many solo cultivators could only dream of the inner disciple slots at Hongdengzhao, which she easily secured, and after becoming a foundation setter, she would even directly advance to the true transmission.
All of this, including Zhou Yingxi's successful life, is all thanks to the boundless true abilities of Zhou Fujie. With the old ancestor of the Zhou family present, Zhou Yingxi has an effortless life that allows her to run freely in the wilderness.
However, the World of Zhou had collapsed.
Many things began to change. The Hongdengzhao family line that Zhou Yingxi once knew, the ones she was familiar with, started to look at her with a strange gaze.
Zhou Yingxi understood that those people were not looking at herself, but at the slowly setting sun of the Zhou family.
However, each Purple Mansion was not a fool, and Zhou Fujie was an absolute hero among heroes and a tyrant among tyrants.
After the world collapsed, he became the most influential Purple Mansion in Hongdengzhao — all other great cultivators were secluded within their world for cultivation, while he was actively involved outside every day. Therefore, he naturally became the most influential Purple Mansion.
Thanks to the years of activity by Master Zhou Fujie, the Zhou family has soared upwards even amidst the cold glances of many.
In just a few decades, there were seven foundation establishment among the direct line of the Zhou family, and Zhou Yingxi also reached the peak of practicing qigong. She was only a step away from becoming a foundation setter after refining her cultivation to perfection.
But the more it happened, the more indescribable fear she felt in her heart.
Although Master Zhou Fujie became a disciple of Mu Xiang, it seems to have secured a future peace for the family after he leaves, but can she really become a Purple Mansion?
Not every cultivator has the grand goal of achieving immortality and becoming the founder of the Dao. Zhou Yingxi understood that her yearning for cultivation was far from as high, which might be because she had always wanted everything to be too easy.
However, to speak of her inner thoughts, Zhou Yingxi had some resistance to becoming the center of the whirlpool.
However, the equal fate questions every unstable soul, and Zhou Yingxi, who wants to refuse becoming the center of the storm, cannot escape from her family's responsibility and the old ancestor's favor.
That cannot be done.
The first lesson a descendant of a great family learns is patience, and the second is that you have to repay the future of the family you've taken on.
Zhou Yingxi has no right not to repay the protection and care of the family and the old ancestor, so she can only apologize to Wang Yulou, her friend.
One cannot be truly free until they escape from the cycle of suffering.
Zhou Fujie's helplessness in the face of the collapse of his realm, and Zhou Yingxi's helplessness in the face of her family's arrangements, are both tangible representations of the cycle of suffering.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yingxi stood up from the quiet room.
She now lives in the rear garden of Zhi Bao Zhenren's mansion, and lives in the most luxurious place.
This place was originally prepared by the alliance as a place for cultivation for the Zhi Bao Zhenren of the Western Sea.
However, Zhou Fujie no longer needs to practice. Her old ancestor lies in the water every day, only to nourish the corpse of the dragon with water qi.
It seems that in order to show his favor to Zhou Yingxi, the old ancestor has handed over the place prepared by the alliance for him to practice.
Outside the gauze curtain, the verdant fruit, who was looking at a picture book, hurriedly put away the book and got up when he saw Miss coming out.
"Miss, today's ceremony is not very complicated. There's no need to start preparing so early."
After ten years, the Guo also grew up. Her cultivation had reached nine layers of qigong refinement, and it was not far from breaking through qigong cultivation. But in front of her mistress, she still acted as the little girl she used to be.
Zhou Yingxi and Wang Yulou's wedding ceremony invited all the prominent figures in the Western Sea City, but the ceremony itself was not very complicated.
Zhou Fujie does not believe in ceremonies, and Wang Yulou does not care about them either.
These two, one her ancestor and the other her future husband, Zhou Yingxi could only observe their attitudes and force herself to act indifferent — only then could she appear as a cultivator with ambition.
No one knows or can define what the most powerful cultivator is like, but everyone is working towards becoming the person they want to be.
This is manifested in Zhou Fujie's "decision to face death," unwilling to let life disappear so carelessly, not wanting the road of Dao to be interrupted. Even if it means becoming a slave under his old enemies, he would not hesitate.
This is manifested in Wang Yulou's "hidden sharpness and wisdom," not allowing his true self to be easily revealed. In order to go further, he even has to endure great humiliation.
The first lesson taught by the Purple Mansion families is endurance. The Wang family does not have that kind of height, but Wang Yulou, by chance, has inadvertently stepped onto the same path. That path is the correct one.
If you can't bear it, how can the established interests in the world give you an opportunity?
Is it because of your talent?
Forget about it. The ancient methods that relied on talent have been eliminated by the times. Great cultivators with exceptional gifts stand at the peak of heaven and earth, aborting the path of reversal that belonged to the geniuses.
"Have you prepared the things I've asked you to prepare?"
The tone of Zhou Yingxi's voice was indiscernible.
Guo knew that this was a sign of her mistress being in a bad mood.
She could vaguely understand that the increasingly bizarre atmosphere within the Zhou family over the years was caused by her old ancestor, but she was just a small servant and couldn't do anything.
Therefore, she pretended to answer cheerfully in the hope that her mistress's mood would improve.
"Everything is ready, and I'm sure Wang Yulou will like it when the time comes."
The pretty peach blossom eyes moved slightly, and Zhou Yingxi solemnly instructed.
"Don't call Wang Yulou. After that, he will be called uncle. Be ready and go. Come with me to walk around the city of immortals."
"Miss, isn't it going to be a bother to go out at this time, which might delay the important event this afternoon?"
"What can it be delayed for? The ceremony is just an empty ritual. You don't understand."
"Ha ha, Guo actually understands, isn't it the old ancestor who wants to use this opportunity to... er, Guo has said too much."
"No matter, the old ancestor won't care what a little servant girl like you says."
The master and servant duo walked out of Zhi Bao Zhenren's backyard through the rear door. As soon as they left, they ran into Zhou Fangming, who was passionately embracing and kissing a female cultivator named Yue Mingyue at the rear door.
"Yingxi, why are you here?"
Seeing Zhou Yingxi suddenly emerge from the back door, Zhou Fangming awkwardly let go of the female cultivator named Yue Mingyue in his arms and made an uncertain greeting.
Although he was a foundation setter, he was already over one hundred and forty years old when he became one. Without the full support of Master Zhou Fujie, he couldn't possibly receive the resource allocation from his family.
Compared to Zhou Yingxi, who has a promising future, Zhou Fangming, who lives for the moment and drinks for today, is the true representative of the Zhou family. Zhou Liangzhuo, who looks unlike Zhuoliang's Zhouruo and is even the pillar of the Zhou family.
"Mm, just going out for a walk." nodding to this family elder, Zhou Yingxi and Cui Guo left together.
Seeing Zhou Yingxi walk away, Zhou Fangming reached out to embrace the female cultivator named Yue Mingyue.
"Fifty spirit stones are not a small amount. How much can you earn in a year? I'll give this batch of spirit stones to you directly, but Yue Mingyue, they're all yours."
"No, Zhou Jia, she is still a little girl." The female cultivator named Yue Mingyue pretended to be shy and carelessly broke out laughing.
Whether she is a little girl or not, Yuehua Sect has its own secret methods, and even a ninety-year-old old woman who has given birth to eighteen children can become a 'little girl'.
Hearing the bewitching words from the beauty in his arms, Zhou Fangming's eyes lit up immediately. He swallowed his saliva and said.
"Then let's say fifty-five, sixty, or even sixty. That should be enough, right?"
"How could he do such things, behaving in such a manner outside the Zhi Bao Zhenren's mansion? It's too much!"
Cui Guo, walking beside Miss, said with indignation.
Zhou Yingxi did not answer. Many things, she couldn't say, and she had no qualifications to say.
The realm of Zhou Fujie was not collapsed in a day. The entire process lasted for many years.
Over those years, Zhou Fujie was busy saving the realm, and had no time to manage the younger generation of the family.
Therefore, Zhou Liangzhuo and other several generations of Zhou Fangming were so improper.
"Let's go to the donkey meat restaurant. Guo, you used to pick up the food for me from the flavor pavilion. It's always so expensive, and I thought you might have secretly taken some. Now, I..."
Ah? Miss? How can you suddenly defame someone's innocence?
Hearing Zhou Yingxi's words, Guo felt like her world was coming to an end. She might just be craving for food and ate two bites first, how could she be greedy for spirit stones?
"No, no, no. I just found out yesterday that the head chef of the Zhiwei Pavilion in the Western Sea Immortal City is a traitor. The extra spirit stones I gave were all taken by that chef."
Zhou Yingxi smiled to explain.
"Miss, are you saying that the chef deliberately charged me extra spirit stones and then took them for himself?"
"Yes."
Guo immediately became agitated.
"That's it! Seize her immediately! She must refund the spirit stones we overpaid!"
Nodding her head at Guo's face, looking at Guo's lively expression, Zhou Yingxi could feel her mood improving.
"It has been refunded. Your uncle-in-law is a powerful person. In the future, you should respect him as you do me."
"What does he have to do with it?" Guo was puzzled.
Zhou Yingxi smiled but did not explain; instead, she pulled Guo into a jewelry shop.
As a naturally beautiful woman, she had always disliked such complicated things, but the lady teacher from Wang Yulou's sect, Ms. Lin, was particularly stunning and knew how to dress up very well. Ah.
It's difficult to be a Dao mate, even more difficult to be a Dao mate of a powerful cultivator, and it's especially hard to be one of the many Dao mates of a powerful cultivator.
And Wang Yulou is just that kind of extremely powerful cultivator.
Although Wang Yulou's cultivation is not high, compared to the old masters, he is already one of the outstanding talents among his peers.
Well, that would have been fine, but Wang Yulou's most distinctive point is the mysterious aura surrounding him. Zhou Yingxi is absolutely certain that she has never understood Wang Yulou.
He rarely shows his true emotions, as if he fears that revealing them might have some consequences.
The same was true over ten years ago, and it is still true today.
Although he is a full-fledged cultivator in his prime, he lives as if he were an old man.
Zhou Yingxi thought that perhaps, this composure and cultivation were also one of the reasons that helped Wang Yulou step by step to where he is today.
Cui Guo saw that her Miss just stood there with a pale purple bracelet, holding it seriously, and looking at it for a long time before reluctantly putting it down.
"Let's go, have some food."
Following her Miss's footsteps, Guo asked carefully.
"Miss, don't you want to buy it?"
Now, the Zhou family has a special condition. It's that they appear normal, but their hearts are in great sorrow. Sometimes they would be unexplainably immersed in a bitter silence.
The attendants and maids of the Zhou family, too, have been infected with this condition, and they serve with great caution.
"There's nothing good to buy."
Hearing Zhou Yingxi's words, Guo took it as if she had an episode. She dare not say more and thought about ordering an extra dish of donkey intestines when they arrived at the Zhiwei Pavilion.
In fact, Zhou Yingxi doesn't have a real heart problem; she just can't manage to be as indifferent as Zhou Fujie or treat things as ordinary as Wang Yulou does.
Marry, a lifetime companion in the Dao.
Succeed in the Dao, using Wang Yulou's Dao foundation to establish her own Purple Mansion.
Accomplish, the old ancestor's arrangement actually fulfilled her wishes.
But when these three things are mixed together, Zhou Yingxi knows that it is difficult for her to cope with them.
She was not ready. She didn't want it to be so fast, she didn't want it to be so hasty.
But Zhou Fujie was impatient. No one dared to ask how many more years the old ancestor could live, not even Zhou Fujie's most favored descendant would dare to ask.
So, Zhou Yingxi had no choice but to accept the old ancestor's edict and marry the person she had always looked down upon in her heart, with such haste.
With Guo, Zhou Yingxi wasn't in a hurry. She slowly walked from the north side of the city to the south side. The Zhiwei Pavilion in Western Sea Immortal City was located in the south city.
But just outside the entrance of the Zhiwei Pavilion, she suddenly stopped. Guo, following behind her, didn't notice and accidentally bumped into her Miss's back.
"AHHHHHH!"
"HUSH~" Zhou Yingxi hides behind the wall and whispers softly.
Suspicious, Guo rubs her forehead and looks in the direction of her Miss, only to see Wang Yulou standing at the entrance of the Zhiwei Pavilion chatting with several cultivators.
Yingxi's gaze was restrained, while Guo didn't know how to conceal her sight. As soon as she began to size up the others, Wang Yulou and another dark-skinned cultivator in tattered magic armor looked right back at her.
"Zheng uncle, wait a moment. I'll be right back." Wang Yulou turned his gaze and addressed Zheng Yan.
"You are free to do as you wish, hahaha."
Wang Yulou called him uncle, but Zheng Yan just listened; he dared not put on any airs of a foundation setter.
Close to say, Wang Yulou is the leader of the next generation of the Wang family, and his leadership will be in the future.
Far to say, Wang Yulou will soon marry a woman from the Zhou family and become the true successor of Hongling Zhaoshuo, an achievement that he can never achieve in his lifetime.
Wang Yulou's call of "uncle" was a formality. If Zheng Yan really dared to act as a senior or elder, he wouldn't be able to achieve foundation cultivation.
Great families can cultivate Zhou Fangming, Zhou Liangzhuo, and the like into foundation cultivators, but for scattered cultivators, those who are slightly dull or obscure may not even be able to achieve cultivation.
Seeing Wang Yulou walking towards her, Zhou Yingxi didn't hide anymore. She gracefully approached and took the hand that Wang Yulou extended to her voluntarily.
"Wife, how about we put on a performance together?"
"After all, any man seeing a beautiful woman would feel happy. Just in terms of appearance and demeanor, Zhou Yingxi is still quite good."
Following Wang Yulou's lead, Zhou Yingxi walked towards the people he had just talked to. She even smiled and nodded slightly to them.
Although Zheng Yan couldn't see Zhou Yingxi's face, he still managed to discern her meaning from the movements of her bright peony eyes and the nodding gesture, and quickly nodded in return as a greeting.
"Master, you have the command. Zhou Yingxi dares not disobey."
Holding his soon-to-be Dao mate in front of Zheng Yan, Wang Yulou briefly introduced them before taking Zheng Yan and his handpicked hunting demon spirit cultivators into the second floor of the Zhiwei Pavilion.
Today, it was Wang Yulou who was treating everyone, with Wang Rongwen accompanying him and Wang Rongchuan serving. Zheng Yan, a non-surnamed foundation cultivator of the Wang family, was the guest of honor, and his subordinates, the hunting demon cultivators, were responsible for sitting on one side and eating and drinking at no cost.
"Old Zheng, hunting demons, is the grand plan of the Alliance for a thousand or ten thousand years. But you and I are both aware that this grand plan of the Alliance has nothing to do with us these small cultivators."
To delve into the Western Sea for hunting demons is mainly for two things: one, military merit, and the other, materials from the demons.
The former can be exchanged for cultivation techniques, as well as many precious items in the temple, while the latter can be exchanged for cultivation resources.
But hunting demons is inherently dangerous, and I have always disliked taking risks. After so many years of cultivation, I have never initiated a fight with either humans or demons.
Zheng Yan thought, you don't like taking risks. With the protection of the Wang family and future protection of the Zhou family, you don't need to take risks.
But why don't I practice under the protection of my family like you do? Is it because I don't like it?
"You're right, Wang Yulou. Hunting demons is indeed dangerous, but for us scattered cultivators, joining the Wang family is one of the best paths we can take."
"Like me, Zheng Yan, I have lived for over a hundred years and know nothing else but hunting demons. Even if I wanted to change, it would be difficult."
Kingdoms like Wang are the buffer zone between sects and scattered cultivators under the rule of the Alliance, serving as a buffer. Zheng Yan, who has achieved foundation cultivation, can join the Wang family at a lower cost to make up for his own shortcomings. He can obtain some organizational support while his responsibilities are much smaller than joining a sect.
Therefore, joining the Wang family is not a choice that's out of line. Scattered cultivators are clear about their own limits and won't have delusions of achieving something big like establishing a Purple Mansion by joining a sect.
"The opportunity to change is now. My marriage with Zhou Yingxi was arranged by Wang Fuzhao, and you know that there are two Realm-level cultivators of the Hongling Sect in the Western Sea now: Wang Fuzhao and Haikuo."
"There are only three Realm-level cultivators in the Alliance in the Western Sea..."
While guiding the conversation, Wang Yulou also helped Zhou Yingxi pick a piece of donkey intestines.
Looking at the donkey intestines, Zhou Yingxi was very angry in her heart - I am a respectable beautiful woman, how can I eat donkey intestines?
The more she thought about it, the more angry she became. She immediately pinched Wang Yulou's thigh.
Sigh.
The pain was severe, but Wang Yulou's expression management still hadn't lost control in the slightest.
He also understood that he had completely devoted his heart and soul to something as worthless as donkey liver and lungs.
No, even a dumb donkey knows to neigh after eating grass, and Zhou Yingxi, having received the donkey intestines, twisted Wang Yulou's thigh as if it were nothing.
She's worse than a donkey!
"Wang Yulou, what do you mean?"
In front of him are all the dishes he doesn't dare to eat usually, but Zheng Yan has no appetite at all. Wang Yulou didn't promise anything, but he asked a question that even scattered cultivators like him, who usually don't think about it, couldn't have imagined.
Yes, there are only three Realm-level cultivators in the Alliance in the Western Sea. Now, two of them are from Hongling Sect. How can this be accidental and random?
Information is priceless in the world of cultivators, and the fact that the information about establishing a Purple Mansion has been completely monopolized is a case in point. As a disciple of Mengxiang sect, Wang Yulou has access to information that Zheng Yan, a foundation cultivator, could never have imagined.
For a scattered cultivator like Zheng Yan to achieve foundation cultivation and truly understand the daily edicts and rules of the Alliance is already quite impressive.
However, Wang Yulou pointed out the unusual circumstances surrounding Zhou Wujiang and Li Haikuo's appointment to the Western Sea, which were crucial insider information.
Perhaps such relatively easy-to-discover insider information will be noticed in the future, but at this moment, Wang Yulou's remark can be said to clear up the clouds for Zheng Yan.
But the clouds have cleared, and the sun has emerged. What Zheng Yan sees is indeed a scorching sun, its brilliance extending for ten thousand miles. The exact appearance of the sun belongs to the category of being unclear and indistinct.
"The two Realm-level cultivators of Hongling Sect entering the Western Sea is our time to shine, as the followers of the sect."
I invited Old Zheng over today, not only to meet him well, but also to invite him to attend the grand wedding ceremony of Zhou Yingxi and me.
Although Wang Yulou has been appointed as the overall manager of the Wang family's affairs in the Western Sea, there are still many difficulties in carrying out many things.
However, the old ancestor has agreed to take me as a disciple. Once Wang Yulou is included in the ranks of the Hongling Sect's true disciples, some things will become easier."
After slightly diverting his gaze, Zheng Yan drew it back. From the familiar embrace between Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi, he realized a lot.
He doesn't know Wang Yulou well, but he understands that Wang Yulou's words are not a request or an invitation, but a demand.
Yes, it's a demand.
"I understand, Old Zheng is getting old. Many things are beyond my comprehension. I hope you can point out the flaws in my thinking, Yulou."
Saying this, the non-surnamed foundation cultivator of the Wang family lifted his cup, and even stood up to toast Wang Yulou.
Cultivating in the Dao, this is indeed cultivating.
What is the Dao?
At least Wang Yulou and Zheng Yan don't know.
For Wang Yulou, establishing a good foundation in the Western Sea, even if it's forced to become a cauldron, is the Dao. It is a Dao that can provide support for oneself and the family if needed.
True immortals' attention and big cakes may not truly end up in your mouth, and the development of many things is not necessarily as expected by people——for example, the cultivation path arranged for Wang Yulou by his family has been completely disrupted by the ancestor's unexpected move.
For great cultivators like the Meng Xiang, Sheng Guang, and Qing Rui, being at the top of the world means manipulating the destinies of all people, and extracting all resources within their power. Only in this way can they live up to their status as great cultivators.
Otherwise, why would they spend years and years pushing themselves upwards?
In such a complex and difficult-to-proceed world of cultivation, Wang Yulou wants to go far, he must make more preparations and make preparations early.
Even if the current preparations may not be used in the future, this decision is problem-free when viewed in the present.
As long as you haven't become an independent head of the great cultivators, everything is not certain, but all things are possible directions. This point, you have to accept it whether you want to or not!
Does a great cultivator's edict being able to change the destiny of a small cultivator mean that small cultivators don't have to persist in achieving their own goals?
No, on the contrary, the more so, the more one should strive and struggle.
Struggle to create change, struggle to create value!
For Zheng Yan, he knows even less about what Dao is.
Even, the period before he broke through to the foundation cultivation level was the most desolate moment in his long journey of cultivation.
Scattered cultivators don't understand the rules of the Alliance and the harshness of great cultivators. Only when Zheng Yan stood at the threshold of foundation cultivation did he realize that his path might be a dead end.
But he had struggled for half his life and had already reached the threshold of foundation cultivation. Could he just let it go and not try to break through it?
It's not possible, and he still has to break through.
But this breakthrough can't change the fact that he has no other options, so he chose to join Wang's family, a marginal force, to complete the missing knowledge in the secret methods and then came to the Western Sea with a team of demon hunters to earn a living.
Wang Yulou can see the direction of Dao, while Zheng Yan is foundation cultivation and can't see it.
The way he stood up to toast Wang Yulou looked ridiculous, but he knew for himself that he had never been laughable.
The difficulty of a scattered cultivator's struggle cannot be explained in a few words. Every step they take is filled with scams and sharp weapons.
By today, Wang's family has become the most disciplined force that Zheng Yan has ever come into contact with. Naturally, he wants to seize this opportunity.
He doesn't understand why Hongling Sect sent two Realm-level cultivators to the Western Sea, but Wang Yulou, who is young and at the peak of Qi cultivation and married into the Zhou family to become a true disciple of Hongling Sect, understands.
Therefore, Wang Yulou at this moment is the most clear direction of the Dao that Zheng Yan can see.
He raised his cup to toast, not to Wang Yulou, but to his own yearning for Dao.
A mayfly cannot shake the heavens and earth, but every scattered cultivator who has risen from the bottom has never given up on charging against the shackles of fate.
Zhuo Wujiang's "living death" applied to Zheng Yan would not demean this word at all. He has walked from the front lines of demon hunting to today, how could it not be a form of living death?
Zheng Yan was charging against the shackles of fate, from an ordinary Qi cultivator hunting demons in the Western Sea, to an outsourced foundation cultivator of Wang's family, he still wants to keep going.
Wang Yulou is also charging against the shackles of fate. He doesn't know what the outcome of his efforts will be, but he still holds onto hope.
As Wang Yulou sends off Zheng Yan, Yingxi said, "I understand that I'm being used as a tool by Wang Yulou."
"Getting married this afternoon, you're still out at noon. Aren't you afraid of missing the timing?"
On the way back with Yingxi, Wang Yulou sniffed the refreshing scent on the beauty's body and asked with a smile.
"You're not the least bit eager, are you? I learned it from you."
Wang Yulou's hands were very proper, simply lightly supporting his waist, but Zhou Yingxi still had an inexplicable fire in her heart.
There is care because there is anticipation.
Because Wang Yulou gave him mutton intestines and twisted his big waist, it was because he cared. At this moment, because Wang Yulou was calm, he pushed back with equal intensity.
Yulou understood that this girl was still the same as before, and her feelings for him may not have reached the level of love, but there was certainly care.
"Xiao Xi, reach out."
Hearing Wang Yulou's slightly ambiguous address, Zhou Yingxi forced herself to suppress the agitation in her heart and raised her left hand. Her right hand was still somewhat uneasily pressed on the back of the Green Hair Fox.
The embrace will not necessarily bring one hundred percent security, and Zhou's heart still harbors a degree of caution towards Wang Yulou at this moment.
It is the exchange of emotions, but just because two exchanges have occurred does not mean they can be completely intimate. Zhou Yingxi does not understand Wang Yulou and therefore cannot fully trust him. The right hand that presses on the back of the Green Hair Fox is a testament to this lack of trust.
Zhou Yingxi could feel that Wang Yulou's hand had also left her waist, and it seemed that he had taken out something.
Then, a beautiful silver mirror charm bracelet was placed on her left wrist by Wang Yulou.
The bracelet is incredibly beautiful. Wang Yulou is a genuine master of fire law and gold and stone refining Dao, or at least half a master.
In summary, he is proficient in the refining of fire law and gold and stone Dao, inheriting the famous foundation security technique of Wu Nang, and has also mastered the mosquito leg artifact refining technique of Hong Mei.
This mirror silver bracelet given to Zhou Yingxi looks no different from the bracelets worn by ordinary female cultivators, the same slender, the same beautiful, and it is decorated with many finely divided gemstones.
But it is actually a real artifact, and even has six layers of restrictions.
"The evening ceremony is for outsiders. This is a gift I'm giving you. Little Xi, no matter what the reason for our connection is, there's always some fate involved. Becoming my Dao companion, I won't treat you unfairly."
Twirling her wrist, the silver bracelet emitted a faint glow. Zhou Yingxi's lips curled slightly upwards, but she asked.
"How much does this bracelet cost?"
"It's priceless. Look at those scattered gemstones on it. They are all the materials I accumulated piece by piece after my refining attempts failed."
It looks like just an unremarkable bracelet, but in fact, it holds the path I took to come here.
From the Qingxi Fang of ten years ago to the Xihai Divine City today, we have also walked together on many roads.
"We will walk together on many more roads in the future, Little Xi. Will you accompany me?"
Zhou Yingxi knew that he was lying, but not all lies are inherently evil, foolish, immoral, or meaningless.
The world cannot do without lies. Lies are the inevitable product of human weaknesses, escapes, foolishness, and greed. It is the necessary result of competition and a means of survival and development.
Isolating, fragmented, and mechanical negation of the significance of lies will, in another direction, approach stupidity, cowardice, escape, and greed.
In summary, Zhou Yingxi understands that Wang Yulou is lying, and Wang Yulou also understands that Zhou Yingxi understands that he is lying. However, the two intelligent offspring of the Great Families both tacitly cooperate, performing a sentimental act of ignoring the lie.
Zhou Yingxi saw Wang Yulou's attitude in his lie, so she loosened her right hand and leaned her body completely against the chest of Yulou.
"Wang Yulou"
When she was about to speak, Zhou Yingxi didn't want to act anymore.
In the silence, Yulou reached out and took Zhou Yingxi's left hand in his own.
Her hand is very slender, like five thin white celery roots.
Under Yulou's big hand, it looked a bit powerless. Zhou Yingxi tried to struggle and escape but failed. She then stopped moving.
The steps of the Green Hair Fox were very gentle, and the two people on it—one gazing deeply ahead, the other with a complex look at the bracelet, or possibly at Wang Yulou.
And the Green Fruit was panting behind, already imagining beating Wang Yulou a hundred times in her heart.
"Meet in the afternoon?"
At the entrance of Zhi Bao True Man's residence, Wang Yulou smiled and bid farewell to Zhou Yingxi.
Zhou Yingxi jumped off the back of the Green Hair Fox and walked up the steps of the mansion, giving a somewhat high-and-mighty instruction.
"Don't be late. Even if it's just a formality, do it properly."
"Understood."
The two bid farewell, and Green Fruit finally caught up with the young lady of the family.
Zhou Yingxi entered the mansion and walked without stopping all the way back to her chamber.
"Miss, why do you have to walk so fast?"
Green Fruit dissatisfiedly whispers, she and Zhou Yingxi have an excellent relationship.
However, Zhou Yingxi did not reply to her.
Green Fruit took a look and saw that her young lady was looking at a bracelet with great interest.
"When did you buy it, I don't remember?"
"It's not bought, it's picked up." Zhou Yingxi put down the bracelet and explained.
Green Fruit was even more confused.
"Ah? Where did you pick it up?"
Zhou Yingxi smiled and answered.
"One day, I saw a dog pass by the side of the road, and a bracelet fell off its body. I picked it up and brought it back. After all, it's still a real artifact."
At first, Green Fruit was puzzled, but then she suddenly understood.
It's just that Mr. Gao gave it to you, Miss, always like this with your mouth.
Previously, it was 'there are four more like you'.
Now you're saying 'a dog dropped it by the roadside'.
Perhaps this is a kind of interest between Dao partners?
Green Fruit didn't understand, so she took out the book of paintings and continued to look at it.
——
In the afternoon, all the respectable cultivators of Xihai gathered at Zhi Bao True Man's residence.
Initially, Xihai Hu said that Zheng Xinjie was holding a wedding ceremony for his daughter in order to collect tribute.
This matter, looking back, cannot be said to be the main purpose of Master Fu Jiao, but it is definitely one of the purposes.
The team led by Wang Yulou is long.
The leading force consisted of two foundation cultivation practitioners riding spirit beasts. One was the red lamp from the Western Sea Outer Academy, a descendant of Wang Jingyi's elder brother, and the other was a foundation cultivation practitioner from Yan's family, an alliance of Wang's family. Both were considered as Wang Yulou's 'elders' and played a role in clearing the way.
With two senior foundation cultivation practitioners leading the way, riding on large demon mounts, the air of majesty was extraordinary in itself.
As the groom, Wang Yulou was even more special. The robe he wore was only available to disciples of Honglongzhao, and the spirit beast he rode was a demonic black horse.
The black dragon horse carried the Wang family's celestial genius, dressed in a golden robe, followed by a group of over a hundred people carrying various gifts, heading towards Zhi Bao True Man's residence.
In Xihai Divine City, many shops directly lost their customers - everyone came out to see.
However, both Wang Yulou in the procession and Wang Jingyi at the rear understood that the ceremony was just a formality.
As they reached the residence of Zhi Bao True Man and arrived at the main hall, Wang Yulou dismounted from the black dragon horse.
Mucun Zhuang had already stood in the middle of the hall, looking majestic and commanding.
The two foundation cultivation practitioners who paved the way for Wang Yulou and the people from the Zhou family had a brief exchange, and the gifts brought by them were arranged outside the main hall.
One by one, the boxes made of spiritual wood were placed there, with the contents of the boxes plus the spiritual wood boxes themselves totaling 10,000 spirit stones. It was excessive, and Wang Yulou feared being at a loss.
Only after all communication was completed was Wang Yulou summoned into the main hall by Mucun Zhuang.
The main hall was the central hall of Zhi Bao True Man's residence, with an extremely large interior space, but it was now filled with people.
Wang Yulou stepped forward step by step.
The place closest to the main hall door was occupied by lower-level disciples from the core circle of Xihai Divine City, including Qiu Lianpu, Mo Yunshu, and others from the Western Sea Outer Academy of Diushihole. The people who came to support Wang Yulou also gathered here.
Wang Yulou nodded slightly to them and then continued forward.
As he continued forward, he saw Feng Jianxian and Xihai Tiger among the core forces of Xihai Divine City.
Senior foundation cultivation practitioners like these would not stand at the front here, a manifestation of the hierarchical order in the alliance of cultivators.
Only those close to the True Men are considered the true core of the cultivator alliance.
And, without a Purple Palace, one remains an appendage and a beast of burden.
Wang Yulou walked more slowly here, greeting his predecessors and peers on both sides.
Continuing forward, it was the realm of the true influential figures of Xihai Divine City.
The leader, Mucun Zhuang, was a disciple of Zho Wu Jiao under the Western Sea Red Lamp and a key figure in the Western Sea's Thunderous Elephant lineage.
On the left, the first one was a senior foundation cultivation practitioner with a clear and bright temperament, accompanied by two other senior foundation cultivation practitioners. One looked like a fierce general, while the other had a kind and gentle face.
The three were known as the West Sea's Breeze, the West Sea's Dragon and Tiger, and the West Sea's Loyalty.
West Sea Breeze, the owner of Zhen Yao Building, a disciple of a celestial being, and the Grand Elder of Qingshan Hall.
West Sea Dragon and Tiger, who held the Southern City Expansion Bureau, is a disciple of a celestial being, and the Second Grand Elder of Qingshan Hall.
West Sea Loyalty, the owner of the Wàn Fǎ Yuán Liú Shū, a disciple of a celestial being, and the Third Grand Elder of Qingshan Hall.
Fourth from the left, there was an old man with a slightly exhausted look, wearing the uniform of the city's law enforcement team. Wang Yulou knew clearly that this was Zhangheng.
Zhang Heng, the commander of the attachment city's law enforcement team, and the alliance leader of the scatter cultivation alliance. He was not a disciple of a celestial being, but everyone knew he was a person under a celestial being.
On the right, first was the junior disciple of the True Man Li Haikuo of Miao Feng Mountain, Ji Quy. This foundation cultivator had some connections with Wang Yulou. In the past, when Wolong Lane was attacked, he was the leader of the guard cultivators in Wolong Lane.
Now he has indeed become a foundation cultivation practitioner and followed Li Haikui to Xihai. He currently works at Miao Feng Mountain's Western Sea Branch, acting as an ear and eye for True Man Li.
Second from the right was a foundation cultivation practitioner named Mo Xunzhou, who was the subordinate of Wang Yulou. He was the Deputy Seal Bearer of Feng Wen Hall.
Third from the right was Gu Qilang, the owner of Gu family's tea house in Xihai Divine City. Behind him was the Gu family led by True Man Gu Qiyuan.
The four powers, from the divine being Shuangguang, to Thunderous Elephant, to the local true men and even the neutral special forces Gu family Tea House.
The complexity of the situation in Xihai can be seen in general.
The people from the Shengguang Celestial Being were lined up on one side, and the remaining people, put together, were just about equal in number to those from the Shengguang Celestial Being. (Here we are taking representative individuals and not going into detail.)
However, Wang Yulou realized through his observation of the guests that something was amiss - Jinshan from Longhun True Man's group was not present!
Such a great cultivator would not have any grievances with someone like Wang Yulou, so the only possible answer is that Zhou Fu Jiao and Li Hai Ping are not favored by Jinshan.
Jinshan used to argue with Li Haikuo, indicating that many things had already shown hints at that time.
Thinking about the secret disputes among these great cultivators, Wang Yulou was pondering how to find an opportunity from them.
At the same time, his body was moving according to the program step by step. The formality still had to be gone through.
After a while, the relatively simple ceremony was completed.
Mucun Zhuang pulled his daughter and, with a hint of sadness, addressed Wang Yulou.
"Yulou, you grew up under my eyes. Now that you and Yingxi have become spiritual partners, I am glad to see it happen."
"You are a smart child, Yingxi sometimes makes silly mistakes. Please be more tolerant of her, okay?"
In the words, Mucun Zhuang showed his reluctance and concern for Zhou Yingxi.
Wang Yulou naturally agreed and then stood beside Zhou Yingxi.
This time, the beauty did not wear a veil but covered herself with a red silk cloth, and she held a red flower in her hand. Even the petals of the flower had a faint trace of dew on them.
Taking a deep breath, Yulou reached out and raised the red veil of Yingxi's friend.
The worst concern did not happen. Behind Yingxi's friend's veil, there was neither a pig nose nor a deer nose, but a normal human nose, which allowed Yulou to breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, it's a human nose! It's a human nose after all!
He had many opportunities to look at the true appearance of Zhou Yingxi through his spiritual awareness, but it would be impolite, so he had never looked. Now that he saw the true face of the beauty for the first time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Brilliant, cool, seductive, fragile, grand.
Zhou Yingxi's current mood was obvious when she looked at Wang Yulou.
The radiant beauty was a restrained radiance, blooming but restrained, as she feared her bloom would be shattered by fate.
The coldness came from her fear, which caused her to subconsciously reject the world around her. Therefore, she became cold, yearning for warmth.
The seductiveness came from her ambition. After all, she came from a great family and had seen the world's most beautiful things. In the whirlwind, she seems to have found her own goal, so she wants to move forward. Her exposed ambition was transmitted through her stunning appearance, making her seductive.
The fragility came from her deep understanding of how difficult this path was. Preserving wisdom under her desire became taking a risk and moving forward. Her heart longed to reach the end of this path, but her body feared the unknown storm ahead, making her appear fragile.
The grandeur was the demeanor cultivated over a long period of time. She was an intelligent girl who understood what was right and wrong. She knew how important the responsibilities of the family and her own future were. As the most favored descendant of Zhou Fu Jiao, she naturally had a dignified bearing.
She noticed Chen Ning in Wang Yulou's eyes and thought to herself, "In front of such an imposing Chen Ning, my nervousness seems somewhat weak." Therefore, she slightly lowered her eyebrows.
"One salute to the alliance of cultivators."
"Second bow to heaven and earth."
"Third bow to the elders at home."
"The ceremony is complete!"
The ceremony was a formality for outsiders, and the process was as simple as that. Wang Yulou's task, however, was more complicated; he still had to offer wine to his friends and elders who had come to attend his wedding ceremony.
Zhou Yingxi held the wine pot and carried the fruit platter, while Wang Yulou drank one cup after another.
Zhou Fu Jiao's face was too large. The guests who arrived today were more than seven hundred people, all of whom were core figures of the alliance of cultivators in Xihai. Yulou dared not be negligent and could only respect one table after another.
After everything was settled, the nearly inebriated Wang Yulou, who could hardly walk, was helped by Zhou Yingxi into their chamber.
During this time, there were some people who didn't have a good sense of timing and wanted to help. They were all turned away by Cui Guo's eyes.
The young maidservant did not know how complicated the relationship between Wang Yulou and Zhou Yingxi was; she only understood that Miss had been in love with this stepson-in-law for over a decade.
Inside the bridal chamber, Yulou sat in a chair, and Zhou Yingxi looked at Cui Guo and surprised herself.
"Today"
"Hurry up!" Zhou Yingxi said with determination.
Wang Yulou immediately became interested - what does "directly" mean in this context?
It's not completely impossible, as Wang Yulou also has the strength to fight while drunk.
However, just as he was pulling his newlywed consort's small hand to take a further step, Cui Guo returned, bringing along ten beautiful young girls.
These young girls were all exceptionally beautiful, at least on par with Qin Chu Rán, and had their own unique charms. After entering the room, they stood shyly in the middle.
"These people are all the daughters of the vassal families of my Zhou family. They are at least fourth spiritual roots and will be able to practice Qi in the future," Zhou Yingxi said.
Cultivators often have to be apart, and so do spiritual partners. In the future, when we can't be together, there will always be someone by your side.
Therefore, I plan to give you two of them as your concubines. Please choose."
Looking at the beautiful and shy young girls, Wang Yulou turned to his friend Yingxi and asked.
"Can only choose two?"
Zhou Yingxi's eyebrow furrowed, realizing that the problem was not simple.
"What? Do you want more?"
"All!" Wang Yulou smiled and said.
Zhou Yingxi's fist hardened instantly.
Wang Yulou, you're a brute!
