300: On the eve of Chapter 300

Over half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Mu Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. The white jade boulevard stretching from the city gates of Tianluo City to the main hall of Mu Mansion was lined with large red lanterns on both sides. Hundreds of brand-new black-bottomed, gold-patterned war banners intertwined with red silk, fluttering in the morning breeze. Invitations had been sent to the major powers of the Great Thousand World half a month in advance. Mandala personally oversaw the wedding preparations—this adopted daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, who had lived for over forty thousand years, handled matters with swift and decisive action. From the banquet menu to guest seating, from spirit array arrangements to reception etiquette, she handled every detail personally, keeping everyone in Mu Mansion busy running around. Jiu You was in charge of receiving foreign guests; her fiery red hair was particularly conspicuous at the city gate. She had mobilized the Undying Bird Guard to serve as the honor guard, and they all stood straight-faced and ramrod straight. Old Ancestor Xuantian coordinated security; the old man had set up seventy-two layers of warning spirit arrays inside and outside Tianluo City, so not even an extra fly could fly in.

Guests from all sides arrived one after another, each with a grander display than the last.

Lin Dong from Martial Realm arrived first with Ling Qingzhu, Ying Huanhuan, and Lin Jing. Lin Dong was still wearing that black martial outfit, and as he strode into the main hall, his laughter was boisterous: "Brother Hun! Your disciple is getting married, how could I, his uncle, not come!" Ling Qingzhu and Ying Huanhuan followed behind him, one gentle and graceful, the other cold and detached, exchanging greetings with Qing Yanjing and Cai Lin who came up to meet them. Lin Jing held her mother's arm, her lively eyes darting around. She soon spotted Jiu You, who was patrolling with her team. The two girls met each other's gaze from a distance; Lin Jing waved at her, and Jiu You nodded coldly in response.

The Green-Shirt Sword Saint from Sword Domain did not come in person but sent the head of his thirteen sword masters to offer congratulations on his behalf. As the white-robed sword master stepped into the hall carrying a long sword on his back, the subtle sword intent around him made many experts present glance sideways for a moment.

The West Heaven Battle Emperor personally led the four great war kings to the event. This battle-crazed War Emperor patted Mu Chen on the shoulder the moment he entered, laughing heartily: "Kid, you were just a fledgling back at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, and now you're getting married! Come to my West Heaven War Palace another day, and this Emperor will personally spar with you!"

Luo Shen Clan Patriarch Luo Tianshen sat there smiling from ear to ear, leaning on his cane. His granddaughter was getting married, and to none other than the master of the Tianluo City Mu Mansion, the inheritor of the heavenly emperor sword, and an Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme—this prestige made him stand a little straighter in front of the guests from all sides.

Saint Son Xuan Luo represented the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan in his capacity as Saint Son, his attitude respectful. After presenting the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan's congratulatory gift, he took the initiative to step aside and scanned the hall—he saw Qing Yanjing standing in the center of the main hall directing the maids to set up the offering table. In her plain white dress, her golden vine-shaped headpiece glowed with a warm luster under the candlelight. That composure and nobility made all the other women present pale in comparison. Xuan Luo withdrew his gaze, sighing inwardly: The Supreme Elder who was once imprisoned in the Futu Realm was now the wife of the Hall Master of the Soul Hall and the biological mother of the master of Mu Mansion. The weight of this identity was far more daunting than that of a mere goddess. The Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan probably wouldn't even dare to mention what they had done to her back then.

The other three ancient clans also sent core figures. The Mohe Ancient Clan did not send anyone—it wasn't that they didn't want to come, but they didn't dare to. The clan leader's own brother had been burned to ashes by Hun Feng in public, and the clan's sacred treasure was still in Hun Feng's hands; in such a situation, they would rather play dead. The Black Heaven Ancient Clan and the Huanggu Clan were very respectful; Young Master Huang Xuan even came in person, cupping his fists and smiling at Mu Chen: "I offended you quite a bit outside the Heavenly Palace back then; I am here today to apologize." Mu Chen smiled and bumped fists with him, and the past was wiped clean.

The most eye-catching arrival was the Great Thousand Palace. Although the Palace Master did not come in person, he sent Elder Lu, the Chief Elder, to bring congratulatory gifts. Elder Lu had white hair and beard, and his moon-white robes were spotless. As he stepped into the main hall, all the guests consciously cleared a path. For the Chief Elder of the Great Thousand Palace to personally offer congratulations was a rare honor that hadn't happened many times in tens of thousands of years. Elder Lu exchanged pleasantries with Hun Feng, and after sweeping his gaze through the hall, it fell on Mu Chen, and he nodded slightly: "Master of Mu Mansion is a young talent, and the heavenly emperor sword's legacy is in good hands. The Palace Master asked this old man to convey—among the younger generation of the Great Thousand World, you, Master of Mu Mansion, are the cream of the crop." Everyone present could weigh the significance of these words.

As the side of the master, the Spirit Hall contingent, led by Hun Feng, arrived at Mu Mansion three days early with his seven wives and seven daughters. At this moment, he was leaning back in a chair in the side hall, legs crossed, drinking tea. Cai Lin sat beside him, flipping through a guest list. Yao Yao and Xun'er were nearby, checking the list of congratulatory gifts. Yun Yun and Cao Ying were helping Mandala arrange the banquet. Xiao Yi Xian was unusually not reading a book, but instead organizing the clothing and accessories for several flower children. The seven daughters were each assigned tasks—Xiao Xiao was responsible for greeting guests; her fiery red flowery dress was particularly striking at the city gate, and no matter how high their cultivation was, guests would instinctively restrain themselves when they saw the pair of swords at her waist. Hun Muying and Hun Muqing were responsible for guiding guests to their seats; Hun Muxian and Hun Muling were responsible for counting the gifts from various parties; Hun Musheng was responsible for spirit array maintenance; Hun Mulan followed Qing Yanjing, helping out, and was occasionally sent running back and forth between the halls.

Qing Yanjing presided over internal affairs in her dual capacity as Mu Chen's biological mother and one of Hun Feng's seven wives. She stood in the center of the main hall of Mu Mansion, her plain white dress glowing with a faint pearlescent light under the candlelight, her golden vine-shaped headpiece worn perfectly on the top of her head. Her voice was soft but every word was clear as she directed the maids to set up the offering table, each instruction delivered just right. That composure and nobility made all the forces present turn their heads—the former Supreme Elder of the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan, a Saint-Rank Heavenly Sovereign, was now the wife of the Hall Master of the Soul Hall. This woman's weight was heavier now than it had been back in the Futu Realm.

After dinner, the guests settled down. Lin Dong dragged Hun Feng away to drink, but was pulled back by Ling Qingzhu on the grounds of "We still have to attend the wedding tomorrow, don't get the Hall Master of the Soul Hall drunk." Elder Lu returned to his guest room early to rest, and Jiu You and Old Ancestor Xuantian were still patrolling the city walls at night.

Mu Chen walked out of the main hall alone, following the familiar path behind the mountain to the edge of the cliff. The night wind blew up from below the cliff, causing the hem of his black ink-colored robe to flutter violently. He looked down at the mountains below the cliff, which were dyed silver-white by the moonlight, and suddenly remembered many years ago at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, when he had also stood alone on the cliff edge like this, looking into the distance, not knowing where his future lay. Back then, he was just a "sinner" being hunted by the Ancient Floating Pagoda Clan, a young boy in the Sovereign Realm who didn't even understand his own background. Now, he was an Immortal Grade Heavenly Supreme, the master of Mu Mansion, the inheritor of the heavenly emperor sword, and tomorrow he would marry Luo Li as his wife.

A very light sound of footsteps came from behind him. He did not turn back, just reached out, and that hand was grasped by a cool, familiar palm.

"What are you thinking about?" Luo Li's voice came from his side, still as cold and calm as ever, but with a hint of tenderness in her tone that only he could hear. She had changed out of her formal attire from the day and was wearing a simple, light moon-white dress. Her silver hair fluttered slightly in the night wind, and the moonlight fell on her face, plating her cold, delicate features with a soft halo.

"I was thinking about the first time I met you back at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy." Mu Chen squeezed her hand, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand, "Back then, I was just a boy who didn't understand anything. You were as cold as a block of ice, and you wouldn't even pay attention to me when I talked to you."

"I'm paying attention to you now." Luo Li curled her lips slightly, resting her head gently on his shoulder, her silver hair brushing against his arm. The two stood side by side on the edge of the cliff, the night-light grass under the cliff emitting a faint blue fluorescent glow in the darkness, echoing the stars above. Tomorrow, she would be his wife.