The ceremony for Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan's marriage was a grand affair, the first of its kind in the ten thousand years since the founding of the Hehuan Sect! The Hehuan Sect never formed marriages, and the chosen candidate was the former head disciple of the Xuantian Sect, drawing attention from the entire cultivation world.
Sect Leader Shi looked down on Xiang Wentian because of the murder of her disciple, and now she was overjoyed to have snatched Xiang Wentian's former top disciple. Xiang Wentian was blind to talent, choosing someone like Huo Chongjun as his successor, almost causing a disaster and making a complete fool of himself. But she was different; she had found a treasure in this son-in-law, and naturally she wanted to show off.
After everyone arrived, Xu Zifan, hand in hand with Shi Yunxuan, flew in from the horizon like celestial beings descending from heaven. Both were dressed in red, their exquisite wedding attire making them even more radiant, their faces beaming with joy.
Sect Leader Shi smiled and nodded to them, then raised his voice, "Zhengyang, ten years ago you saved Yunxuan, and everyone in the Hehuan Sect is deeply grateful to you. But I never considered the idea of you two becoming Daoist partners. In these ten years, you and Yunxuan have traveled far and wide, experiencing countless dangers and opportunities. In times of danger, you never abandoned Yunxuan and escaped alone; when opportunities arose, you never monopolized them, but instead insisted on sharing them with Yunxuan. Ten years is like a fleeting moment for cultivators, but it has allowed me to see your true character, and I feel at ease entrusting my daughter to you. Zhengyang, everyone in the Hehuan Sect sincerely accepts you. You must treat my daughter well and not let me regret my decision today."
Xu Zifan bowed respectfully and earnestly replied, "Please rest assured, Mother, in this life, I will definitely share life and death with Yunxuan and never abandon her."
Sect Leader Shi's gaze softened, and she looked at Shi Yunxuan again. "Yunxuan, you've always been decisive and have your own desired life. You've also had your own principles in choosing a partner for cultivation, and you don't allow others to interfere. I didn't agree with your ideas before, waiting for you to change your mind after hitting a wall. Who knew you would meet Zhengyang, choose him, and then decide that he would be your Daoist partner? I think your judgment is correct, but after today, your life will be tied to Zhengyang. Are you truly willing, without any reluctance, and won't you regret it?"
Shi Yunxuan smiled, her expression devoid of unease, only filled with trust and anticipation. She exchanged a glance with Xu Zifan, then looked at Sect Leader Shi and said, "Mother, the person I trust most is myself. I've spent ten years with Zhengyang and understood him for ten years. My trust in him isn't impulsive; it's because I understand him. I don't know what might happen in the next few hundred years, or if I'll regret it, but since meeting Zhengyang, I've wanted to be his Daoist partner more and more each day. I stand here sincerely and without any reluctance."
"Very well, in that case, you two shall become Daoist partners under the witness of Heaven and the guests from all the sects!" Sect Leader Shi sat upright in the main seat, smiling at them.
Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan stood facing each other, holding each other's hands, their eyes only for one other person.
"By the grace of Heaven, today disciple Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan become Daoist partners, cultivating the Great Dao together. In this life, husband and wife will be of one heart, share both fortune and misfortune, live and die together, and never abandon each other."
The two simultaneously uttered their vows, and as soon as they finished speaking, a burst of music suddenly drifted across the clear blue sky, followed by the chirping of hundreds of birds and the blooming of hundreds of flowers, as if they had received the approval of the Heavenly Dao!
Traditionally, the Daoist couple's wedding ceremony requires the newlyweds to make a vow, which can be said in any way, and is witnessed by the Heavenly Dao. However, legend has it that if the vows are sincere and truly fulfilled, they will receive the Heavenly Dao's approval and blessing. Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan have received this approval, so wouldn't their vows just now be true?!
The cultivation world is fraught with dangers, and countless people have lost their Daoist partners. Everyone cultivates in search of immortality, so who would die for their Daoist partner? Even if they did, they would be extremely rare. It seems that Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan are truly sincere towards each other. The men and women present immediately felt envious, envious that they could have such a relationship.
The guests erupted in cheers and blessings. Shi Yunxuan beamed with delight, pointing to the cranes flying overhead and urging Xu Zifan to look. Xu Zifan put his arm around her shoulder and looked up with her, whispering a promise only she could hear: "I will never let you down in this life."
Xiang Wentian was also invited to the ceremony. Looking at the sky filled with cranes and birds, at the envious expressions of the crowd, and at the perfect couple among them, he felt an overwhelming sense of regret. If his daughter had married Xu Zifan, would she have received such true love? Now, Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan were like a match made in heaven, while his daughter had become nothing but withered bones. If this was a tragic fate, he was the one most at fault.
This legendary Daoist ceremony was the talk of the cultivation world for months. Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan, the newlyweds, had long since vanished without a trace to continue their travels. At their age, they were still considered children in the cultivation world; Sect Leader Shi could hold her position for at least another hundred years—no rush.
The couple traveled extensively and made a name for themselves. After Shi Yunxuan gave birth to a daughter, Xu Zifan no longer suppressed his cultivation and advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. Shi Yunxuan also advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, greatly increasing the strength of the Hehuan Sect and significantly enhancing its status among various sects. Whenever the sect faced trouble, the two of them would always return to provide support. Moreover, their teamwork was excellent, and their combat power was extremely strong, allowing them to defeat opponents of higher levels. Few dared to provoke them.
The rumor that Xu Zifan possesses a pure Yang physique is still circulating, but previously, people couldn't find him, and now they can't defeat him. Trying to capture a Nascent Soul stage cultivator for some purpose is a price most people simply can't afford.
After Xu Zifan mastered alchemy to a certain level, he began learning formation techniques from Shi Yunxuan, whose skill in formations was only considered average. After learning them, he sought out more skilled individuals to learn from, exchanging rare items he found during his travels for instruction. As a result, his learning progressed relatively smoothly, though it took a very long time—nearly a century to master them all.
After he had mastered the formations, Sect Leader Shi decided to step down and go into seclusion to attempt to break through to the Mahayana stage. They returned to the Hehuan Sect, where Shi Yunxuan received...
Upon assuming the position of sect leader, he originally intended to manage the Hehuan Sect together with Xu Zifan. However, Xu Zifan avoided involvement in the sect's affairs to avoid suspicion and instead went to learn how to draw talismans. After learning the sect's techniques, he went to learn more advanced talisman techniques from a talisman master. He gave away many good things and naturally learned a lot in return.
By this time, Xu Zifan had become a renowned figure in the cultivation world. A Nascent Soul stage cultivator with a lightning-elemental spiritual root and a pure Yang body, he was proficient in alchemy, formations, and talismans. Countless people sought his help, and who dared to offend him? His mere reputation made him the most prized possession of the Hehuan Sect, even surpassing the former status of Chu Duan. The Hehuan Sect rapidly expanded, rising to become one of the top three in the cultivation world. Meanwhile, the once-dominant Xuantian Sect had been replaced by the Qianjian Sect. Lacking a capable successor, and with Xiang Wentian losing his spirit, its decline was only a matter of time before it was saved by a talented individual.
After learning talisman drawing, Xu Zifan began collecting various cultivation techniques, trying to understand their mysteries and create his own. This was difficult, but once he grasped the essence, it seemed not so hard, just like those martial arts masters who, upon reaching a certain level, could create a technique best suited to themselves. He was the same; he spent fifty years creating the Thunder Technique, twice as powerful as his previous techniques, and once again made a name for himself.
At this moment, Sect Leader Shi failed to break through to the Mahayana stage. Nine bolts of heavenly lightning struck the back mountain of the Hehuan Sect. Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan rushed there and saw Sect Leader Shi unable to withstand the heavenly tribulation, shattered to pieces. They only had time to exchange one last glance with Sect Leader Shi, who left behind a smile, filled with relief and no regrets. She failed to overcome the heavenly tribulation, her body perished, and she was reincarnated. Clearly, she had no attachment to becoming an immortal or achieving longevity, hence her lack of regret and remorse.
"Mother—" Shi Yunxuan rushed to the place where Sect Leader Shi had disappeared, knelt down and cried bitterly.
Sect Leader Shi had been in seclusion for decades, but her true disappearance was still unbearable. The cultivation world shouldn't be so sentimental, but Shi Yunxuan would never learn to be detached from desires. Xu Zifan waved for the others to leave, knelt beside her, and embraced her, letting her vent her emotions to the fullest.
After a long time, Shi Yunxuan was still unable to pull herself out of her grief. Xu Zifan gently comforted her, "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. The only thing we can be thankful for is that we are the only ones suffering now. Mother has passed away and can't feel this pain at all."
Shi Yunxuan nodded vigorously, "I know, I just... I just regret not having more time to be filial to her."
When a person dies, everything vanishes like smoke. All resentment, regret, hatred, and happiness disappear without a trace. Only the living remember and suffer. This isn't the first time Xu Zifan has lost a loved one, so he has already experienced this pain and accepted it over the years. Shi Yunxuan is losing a loved one for the first time, and he will be there for her, helping her slowly emerge from depression, because life must go on.
Their daughter had grown up to be capable of handling things independently. When Shi Yunxuan was heartbroken, she took over the Hehuan Sect. Afterwards, seeing how well she managed the sect, Shi Yunxuan simply passed the leadership to her and went on to travel the continent with Xu Zifan again. The Hehuan Sect's treasure trove grew ever larger, filled with treasures the couple had found for their daughter. Their daughter also became increasingly accomplished, determined to make the Hehuan Sect shine brightly, becoming the leading righteous sect and changing the world's perception of it.
Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan didn't comment on her dream; they had always supported her. Shi Yunxuan's cultivation stopped at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage, and there was no further progress. Breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage was too dangerous, so she gave it up. She wasn't obsessed with it and valued the pleasures of life more. A Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage allows one to live for 1500 years, and she had nothing to be dissatisfied about, using that much time to do everything she wanted with Xu Zifan.
When Shi Yunxuan reached the end of her life, Xu Zifan handed over all his treasures and cultivation to his daughter. He then took Shi Yunxuan's body and self-destructed in a cave filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, instantly returning to the void.
In this life, he spent almost all his time exploring and learning, never meddling in other people's affairs. Even his missions were accomplished by seizing opportunities and succeeding in one fell swoop, without causing any dramatic incidents. He was remarkably detached from worldly affairs. His legend spread throughout the cultivation world, and the life of Daoist Zhengyang was nothing short of legendary. He had become a benchmark in the cultivation world and an example for future generations, something he had never expected. Now, he has left that world, taking with him only countless pieces of knowledge, completely content.