Shu Xin naturally noticed Pei Qiyun’s gaze as well.
She simply pretended not to notice.
After all, it was impossible for a Core Formation cultivator to detect the divine sense of a Dao Infant cultivator.
Shu Xin had even taken the time to compare Pei Qiyun’s and Xi Fu’s divine senses out of sheer boredom, and arrived at a conclusion everyone already knew.
The two of them really were well suited to each other.
Their cultivation levels were similar, their constitutions were compatible, and they could even be said to be well matched in status.
As for anything else, Shu Xin couldn’t remember.
The Sword Spirit couldn’t remember either.
Still, the arrival of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect’s delegation caused the atmosphere throughout Busi Manor to change dramatically.
First, the manor’s entire administrative structure began to be taken over by people from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect. Almost all the lucrative positions—such as accepting gifts, managing the warehouses, and handling purchases—were replaced. Meanwhile, the exhausting jobs, such as guarding, patrolling, and logistics, remained the responsibility of Busi Manor.
Then there were the preparations for the dual-cultivation ceremony, the banquet, the etiquette, the clothing, and everything else—each of them was changed several times over.
Naturally, these actions provoked widespread resentment throughout the manor.
Even the spirit stones, spirit fruits, and other supplies that should have been provided to Shu Xin were reduced accordingly.
Whenever anyone asked, the answer was that everyone had to tighten their belts to prepare for the dual-cultivation ceremony.
What kind of ridiculous excuse was that?
It wasn’t her dual-cultivation ceremony, so why should her expenses be cut?
They didn’t include her when handing out wealth and glory, but they remembered her when it was time to practice thrift?
Even if the people from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect had come knocking on the manor’s gates, Shu Xin wouldn’t have been this angry. But when it came to touching her spirit stones, she absolutely could not swallow her anger.
“Hey, hey, hey. Weren’t you the one who said you were going to keep a low profile for a while?” the Sword Spirit said with no small amount of mockery.
It had only been a few days, yet Shu Xin already couldn’t restrain herself from going to cause trouble for Pei Qiyun.
“I can tolerate anything else, but not this.” Shu Xin clenched her fists. “It’s not that I’m short of these spirit stones. I just can’t stand being treated this way. I hate it when people dock my meager allowance for no reason. Do you have any idea how hard I work to earn this little bit?”
For other cultivators, perhaps it really was difficult. But for you, aren’t these spirit stones yours as soon as you acknowledge a godfather?
The Sword Spirit really wanted to say that, but seeing how angry Shu Xin was, it decided not to push the matter.
Perhaps Shu Xin simply had certain principles of her own.
As one of the central figures of the dual-cultivation ceremony, Pei Qiyun naturally had to meet Xi Fu.
Neither of them had any real feelings for the other. In fact, they could be considered complete strangers.
“After we marry, we will engage in dual cultivation as normal. Once we both successfully break through to the Grotto-Heaven realm, we can go our separate ways,” Pei Qiyun said bluntly. “Therefore, while you are cultivating with me, I hope you will devote yourself to studying the dual-cultivation technique and refrain from associating with anyone else. If you cannot help me break through, then this marriage will be utterly meaningless.”
There was not the slightest hint of affection in the way Pei Qiyun looked at Xi Fu.
All Xi Fu could see was the way she appraised him as if he were an object.
How interesting.
Xi Fu had interacted with female cultivators from prominent families and major sects before, but someone like Pei Qiyun was precisely the type he least wanted to deal with.
For people like Pei Qiyun, who devoted themselves entirely to cultivation, as long as it could improve their cultivation, they would not hesitate to dual-cultivate with someone. If they were certain that becoming someone’s cultivation cauldron would help them advance, they would offer themselves up without hesitation.
To them, cultivation was everything. Every other sacrifice and hardship was something they were meant to abandon.
Trying to talk about feelings with such people was simply courting death.
They might even think you were obstructing their path and kill you to prove their Dao.
“I understand, of course.” Xi Fu looked at Pei Qiyun curiously. “To cultivate to the Grotto-Heaven realm, the most important thing is to overcome the Three Winds and Four Fires. With Senior Sister Pei’s talent and comprehension, what kind of tribulation could have kept you from successfully breaking through all these years?”
“That has nothing to do with you.” Pei Qiyun met his gaze coldly. “Haven’t you also lingered at the Dao Infant realm for many years? If you had spent the time you waste on romance and seduction on cultivation, you wouldn’t need to dual-cultivate with me now.”
Xi Fu merely smiled and did not respond. Instead, he cupped his hands and took his leave. “Take your time cultivating, Senior Sister Pei. I’ll be going now.”
He wondered whether Pei Qiyun’s expression would still look like this on the day of the dual-cultivation ceremony.
A heavenly prodigy like her would surely add quite a bit of luster to the Blood Spirit Pearl.
Shu Xin went to look for Xi Fu first, but she couldn’t find him, so she had no choice but to continue on to Pei Qiyun.
Beforehand, Shu Xin had even prepared an entire speech. She intended to properly persuade this female cultivator from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, explaining the dozens of reasons why the spirit stones allocated to her could not be reduced.
Who would have thought that after she merely submitted a calling card, planning to return and wait for Pei Qiyun to “deign to receive her,” the woman’s maid would invite her inside?
Shocking. Had the inner disciples of prestigious orthodox sects become this approachable nowadays? Could it be that, thanks to her affection for Xi Fu, Pei Qiyun was extending that favor to his adopted daughter, even though she was only a Core Formation cultivator?
Shu Xin was a little bewildered, but she followed the maid inside all the same.
“Miss, does True Person Pei really intend to see me?” Shu Xin asked the maid with an innocent expression. “She didn’t say anything else?”
The maid seemed to know what Shu Xin was worried about and laughed. “Our mistress is in a good mood. Perhaps she simply wants you to keep her company and dispel her boredom.”
Shu Xin thought it over and prepared herself to have a serious fight with the other woman.
She felt that perhaps Pei Qiyun had discovered something amiss. At worst, she could abandon this identity and return a few days later as Shu Xin of the Seeking God Sect.
“Miss, Miss Xi has arrived.” The maid offered a brief greeting, then quickly left after receiving Pei Qiyun’s nod.
Shu Xin wore a smile and looked at Pei Qiyun with an innocent expression.
Pei Qiyun quietly looked back at her.
After a long while, Shu Xin noticed that Pei Qiyun kept repeatedly studying her face. Only then did she hear Pei Qiyun ask slowly, “Why has Miss Xi come to see me?”
“It’s nothing much.” Shu Xin felt that this female cultivator was a little strange. “It’s just that Busi Manor has been cutting expenses everywhere lately to prepare for the banquet. I’m currently attempting to break through to the Dao Infant realm, so I can’t do without a certain amount of spirit stones. I wanted to ask you, True Person Pei, to make an exception and refrain from reducing the expenses for my residence for the time being. As you know, when one is attempting to reach a higher realm, spirit stones are indispensable, and…”
“You may have them.”
Before Shu Xin could finish, Pei Qiyun had already agreed directly.
Huh?
That easily?
Shu Xin was stunned.
You could have said so from the beginning. If you were going to agree so readily, why did I prepare all those reasons?
Perhaps the confusion on Shu Xin’s face was too obvious. Or perhaps she felt that Shu Xin resembled someone from her own memories. In any case, Pei Qiyun’s attitude toward her unconsciously softened somewhat.
“I don’t know what relationship you have with Xi Fu, but when the banquet officially begins, the crowd will be mixed and disorderly. It’s better for you to have a little more power to protect yourself.”
“True Person Pei is truly considerate. Thank you, thank you.” Shu Xin immediately cupped her hands in thanks. “In that case, my daughter will not disturb you any longer. I’ll take my leave.”
Pei Qiyun nodded.
Shu Xin turned and left.
“Wait.” Pei Qiyun suddenly called out to her again.
Shu Xin turned back in confusion.
Pei Qiyun had shifted her position and was now standing right in front of Shu Xin. She then walked around to look at Shu Xin’s back. “From the front, you only look a little alike, but why is your back so similar?”
Shu Xin gave an awkward laugh. “Who does True Person Pei think I resemble?”
Pei Qiyun merely lowered her head and fell into thought without answering.
Shu Xin was now caught in an awkward position. She could neither leave nor stay.
“A hundred years ago, did you ever visit Cave Immortal Estate?” After hesitating for a while, Pei Qiyun finally asked.
“What is Cave Immortal Estate?” Shu Xin asked curiously.
“Nothing but a demonic den that borrowed the name of a cave immortal to commit all kinds of evil.” True Person Pei dejectedly waved her hand. “A female cultivator once saved me there. You look somewhat like her.”
“But how could you be her? She used a sword.” Pei Qiyun had not seen the slightest trace of a sword cultivator in this Xi Shuangshuang.
Shu Xin left with her head full of confusion.
Could there be something wrong with Pei Qiyun’s mind?
“Sword Spirit, do you remember anything about Cave Immortal Estate?” Shu Xin asked curiously.
Pei Qiyun had said that a female cultivator who used a sword had once saved her. Shu Xin could not help wondering if that woman had been her.
【I have no impression of it whatsoever.】The Sword Spirit chimed in as well. 【Besides, we wiped out so many demonic dens back then. Who could possibly remember all their names?】
“That’s true.” Shu Xin thought for a while but found no clues, so she simply stopped dwelling on it.
She had saved so many people casually back then. How could she possibly remember every single one?
However, with Pei Qiyun’s approval, the spirit stones Shu Xin had previously been allotted were not only restored but even increased slightly.
Everyone believed that her adoptive daughter had won Pei Qiyun’s approval. In the future, she might even become the true eldest miss of Busi Manor, so it was only right to curry favor with her in advance.
Shu Xin was delighted.
She was in no hurry to do anything else. Every day, she either went shopping or amused herself, or else visited her good adoptive father. As a result, everyone who had harbored doubts about her could not help but begin doubting themselves instead.
This Xi Shuangshuang… She didn’t seem to have any plan at all.
Happy times always passed especially quickly.
Before long, only two days remained until Pei Qiyun and Xi Fu’s dual-cultivation ceremony, and all the cultivators who had replied that they would attend had arrived one after another.
“Qu Yougu of Myriad Dao Sect has arrived—!”
“Xie Xianzhi of Nine Heavens Dao Sect has arrived—!”
“Situ Jian of Longevity Dao Sect has arrived—!”
The master of ceremonies called out the names one after another, then proceeded to announce several long lists of gifts. Many cultivators present widened their eyes and secretly marveled at how wealthy these major sects were.
Although the dual-cultivation ceremony had yet to officially begin, the banquet had already been laid out two days in advance. The cultivators who had come to Busi Manor could also get to know one another and discuss the Dao ahead of time. In this way, Xuanling Dao Sect and Busi Manor were providing everyone with a platform and forming good connections.
Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran of Nine Heavens Dao Sect were among them as well.
They saw their junior fellow disciple chatting enthusiastically with Situ Jian of Longevity Dao Sect and Qu Yougu of Myriad Dao Sect. The three of them had even arrived at almost the same time, which was truly intriguing.
Zhuang Heze knew his junior fellow disciple’s temperament. To put it kindly, he was simple and innocent. To put it less kindly, he was foolish and had a terrible way with words, often offending people without realizing it.
Zhuang Heze had not expected Xie Xianzhi to encounter the chosen disciples of two other Dao Sects after only briefly parting from them.
He and Li Pianran exchanged a glance before deciding to step forward and make their acquaintance.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, this is Fellow Daoist Situ, and this is Fellow Daoist Qu. We met on the way here.” When Xie Xianzhi saw his senior brother and senior sister approaching, he happily introduced them.
Situ Jian and Qu Yougu gave one another a slight cupped-hand salute, acknowledging each other’s presence.
“Your reputations precede you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” Zhuang Heze wore a courteous smile. “Our junior fellow disciple is still young. If he has been discourteous in any way, please be generous and overlook it.”
“I actually think Fellow Daoist Xie is straightforward and easy to get along with.” Qu Yougu could not be called especially scheming, but as a chosen disciple, he had experienced his fair share of struggles. At a glance, he could tell that Xie Xianzhi’s senior brother and senior sister were not sincere toward him.
If they truly cared about him, why had they remained at Busi Manor instead of hurrying to reunite with their junior fellow disciple?
As for Situ Jian, there was even less to say. He had already investigated Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran’s backgrounds thoroughly.
They were merely using familiar tricks.
He had seen it all before.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, these two fellow Daoists are both incredibly formidable. I asked about them, and they’re actually a little younger than me. Fellow Daoist Situ is especially amazing—he’s only a hundred and twenty years old this year. That’s incredible. When I was a hundred and twenty, I was still only in the late Dao Nascent stage.” Xie Xianzhi continued praising them. “Moreover, Fellow Daoist Situ’s cultivation is already comparable to the mid-stage Grotto-Heaven realm. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, you might not even be able to defeat him.”
Although Xie Xianzhi was a little older than Situ Jian and Qu Yougu, he had grown up in the world created for him by Nine Heavens Dao Sect. As a result, his personality and temperament were considerably more innocent, and he spoke much more directly.
He was like a child who had just made new friends and could not wait to show off to his family how wonderful and impressive those friends were.
What he had overlooked was that his senior brother and senior sister had never been his family.
Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran’s expressions turned somewhat unpleasant.
They were much older than Situ Jian, and now their own junior fellow disciple was saying that their cultivation was inferior as well. Naturally, they were in no good mood after being belittled so thoroughly.
“Fellow Daoist Xie is exaggerating.” Situ Jian waited until Xie Xianzhi had finished before pretending to stop him. “Before I came, I had already heard of Fellow Daoist Zhuang and Fellow Daoist Li. One once stood unrivaled in the Heroic Talents Competition, while Fellow Daoist Li once swept through an entire demonic sect with a single sword. Their deeds are truly inspiring.”
Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran’s expressions improved considerably. “Those are all things of the past. They’re not worth mentioning.”
Which cultivator who could reach the Grotto-Heaven realm within several hundred years was not an outstanding genius among their peers?
Yet the Dao had no limit. There would always be someone more talented and younger than you appearing in this world.
“Could the three of you be Fellow Daoists Situ Jian, Qu Yougu, and Xie Xianzhi? I am Liu Chen of Azure Mountain Sect…”
After the first cultivator came forward to strike up a conversation, the others who had come specifically to meet Situ Jian and the rest also stepped forward one after another to introduce themselves.
As for Xi Fu and Pei Qiyun, they did not actually care about them at all.
They had come purely to make the acquaintance of Situ Jian and the others.
After all, it was incredibly difficult to see three heavenly prodigies like these gathered in one place. Being able to get acquainted with them now was already the best possible outcome.
Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran were quickly pushed aside.
Under normal circumstances, as core disciples of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect, the two of them would also have a crowd gathered around them. But in front of those three, they were like the faint glow of fireflies, utterly unable to compete with the brilliance of the sun and moon.
Only the cultivators who could not squeeze their way to Situ Jian and the others settled for getting to know them instead.
But people like that were hardly worth Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran’s attention.
Once upon a time, they too had been surrounded by crowds. But ever since Xie Xianzhi had risen to prominence, he had firmly overshadowed all the young cultivators of the Nine Heavens Dao Sect. Nearly every cultivator under a thousand years old was compared to Xie Xianzhi.
Some people could accept such a disparity. Others simply could not.
“Senior Zhuang, Senior Li, thank you both for coming to my dual cultivation ceremony.” Xi Fu had arrived in front of Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran at some point.
He wore a bright red ceremonial robe and looked handsome and debonair. The auspicious hour had not yet arrived, so he had come out early to mingle with the guests. Pei Qiyun was likewise dressed in a red ceremonial robe and was chatting with several cultivators she knew.
This was the dual cultivation ceremony of the two of them, so all the guests needed to meet the newlyweds.
“Daoist Xi, aren’t you going to pay a visit to my junior brother?” Zhuang Heze had not yet fully suppressed his emotions, and his words were inevitably edged with sarcasm.
“Haha, there are too many people gathered around Daoist Xie and the others, so there’s no need for me to hurry.” How could Xi Fu fail to see their disappointment? He found it rather amusing, but not the slightest trace of it showed on his face. “Even if everyone says that I’ll be able to break through to the Grotto-Heaven realm after cultivating with my Dao companion, I’m still only at the Dao Infant stage for now. I’m not an ambitious man, and I know that my cultivation has reached its limit. The only reason I can form a marriage alliance with the Profound Spirit Dao Sect is that I’m of use to True Person Pei.”
The looks Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran gave Xi Fu softened considerably.
Indeed, he was like them—a person destined to make wedding garments for someone else.
To put it nicely, it was dual cultivation. To put it bluntly, wasn’t it simply energy absorption?
It was just that the title of dual-cultivation partners sounded far better than “energy absorption.”
As members of an orthodox sect, they naturally could not engage in dual cultivation and energy absorption as openly as the cultivators of the Hehuan Sect did.
“Daoist Xi, you shouldn’t belittle yourself. Dual cultivation has both benefits and drawbacks, and Junior Sister Pei is a woman of extraordinary talent and beauty who has devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Dao and never experienced romantic entanglements. The benefits you gain from cultivating with her will certainly be substantial.” Li Pianran was speaking frankly. If Pei Qiyun had not needed to absorb his cultivation, she would still be a maiden who had never given herself to anyone, while Xi Fu had long since lost his original yang essence. Clearly, Pei Qiyun was the one losing more. But since Pei Qiyun was the one absorbing his essence, Xi Fu would receive fewer benefits.
Xi Fu merely gave a bitter smile. “Ah, if I could successfully break through to the Grotto-Heaven realm, that would be wonderful. Otherwise, in a few years, I’m afraid the two of you will have to attend another dual cultivation ceremony.”
Only then, the groom would not be him.
Hearing Xi Fu say this, Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran inexplicably felt a sense of kinship with him.
Before they knew it, they felt as if they had known Xi Fu for years. There seemed to be many things they could not tell anyone else, yet could pour out freely in his presence.
“This is just a little trinket I obtained before. It isn’t worth much, but I hope you’ll both accept it.” Xi Fu took out two boxes and presented one to each of them. “You two and I hit it off at once. Such a connection is truly rare, so please don’t refuse.”
“Of course, of course.”
Zhuang Heze and Li Pianran accepted the gifts without hesitation, not sensing anything amiss.
Or rather, they had not noticed anything wrong at all.
Similar scenes were unfolding throughout the villa.
There were always cultivators using the excuse of making acquaintances to begin handing out gifts.
And in such circumstances, hardly any cultivator would refuse something offered to them.
After bidding farewell to Zhuang Heze, Xi Fu also went over to Situ Jian and the others. He first introduced himself, then presented each of them with a gift.
Xie Xianzhi opened his gift directly and found only a bottle of relatively precious medicinal pills inside. Seeing no apparent problem, he accepted it.
As for Situ Jian and Qu Yougu, they accepted their gifts in public, but secretly threw them away the moment they turned around, without attracting the slightest notice.
Shu Xin waited until the banquet hall was at its busiest before quietly entering.
The instant she stepped inside, two gazes suddenly fell upon her.
One belonged to Situ Jian. The other, naturally, belonged to Qu Yougu.
However, the two quickly looked away, pretending they had not noticed Shu Xin’s presence.
Xie Xianzhi sensed that something was off and wanted to ask about it, but by then his two friends had already shifted their gazes away.
He recalled the direction they had been looking in and saw only a charming young female cultivator.
She looked rather ordinary.
But anyone who could draw the attention of both Situ Jian and Qu Yougu was probably someone they knew.
Xie Xianzhi was puzzled, but he held back and did not ask.
“See? I told you to change your face. You only did a simple disguise, so of course you were noticed right away,” the Sword Spirit said irritably.
“It doesn’t matter. Most of the people here won’t be able to leave anyway.” Shu Xin swept her gaze across the room. “Quite a few people already have Blood Triggers on them. Do they really think they can collect everything they need in a place where orthodox cultivators have gathered in such numbers?”
The most important thing in refining a Blood Spirit Pearl was the Blood Trigger. It allowed the pearl to continuously draw in vital essence and blood throughout the refining process.
What Blood Demon Sect cultivators liked to do most was pretend to befriend someone and give them a gift. If the person actually used it or carried it on their person, the cultivators could track them down, and they might even become a living blood supply.
These cultivators knew very well that they should not casually accept things from strangers when they were outside. Yet here, they had apparently forgotten all about it.
“There are still traces of spellwork lingering here, but they’re incredibly faint. Anyone who isn’t especially sensitive to demonic cultivators wouldn’t be able to detect them.” The Sword Spirit sniffed. “Your Little Fox should be able to notice them. Otherwise, there probably aren’t more than a few people here who can. Xi Fu also seems to have changed somehow. He’s not quite the same as before.”
The Sword Spirit’s eyes were exceptionally sharp.
Although Xi Fu had been shrewd and calculating before, one could still see traces of a young cultivator in him.
But now, he moved effortlessly among the various groups, a faint smile always playing across his face.
He looked much the same as before, yet inwardly, he had already become an entirely different person.
