Chapter 663 Immortal Tablet, Not an Edict (3)
Time flew by like a white steed, and before anyone knew it, it was the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). The guests finally started to feel that something was amiss.
“It’s already the hour of Hai, have you guys seen the bride?”
“No, perhaps she has already entered the mansion?”
“How is that possible? When the bride enters the gate, there are always firecrackers and gongs. We wouldn’t not notice anything at all.”
“That’s right, it seems the bride hasn’t arrived yet.”
“This is truly strange. There’s only one hour left until tomorrow, why hasn’t she arrived?”
“The emperor isn’t worried, but the eunuch is. The people of the Lu Mansion haven’t said anything, so why are you making such a fuss? It’s not your bride.”
“Yes, we’re just onlookers. It’s even better if the bride hasn’t arrived, as this means there will be more excitement to watch.”
The guests began to stir.
The members of the Lu family were also getting impatient. In the past, even if a woman didn’t want to marry into the Lu family, she wouldn’t delay until the last hour. After all, even ants value their lives.
The most anxious among them was the second master of the Lu family, Lu Ze.
Lu Ze was Lu Dao’s younger brother. According to common sense, in order to compete for the position of clan leader, he should not want Cheng Hong Ling and Qi Huang to marry Lu Yi. In fact, he had tried to obstruct them in every way from the beginning. It wasn’t until a certain incident that his attitude changed 180 degrees.
Lu Ze’s strength had reached the late stage of the Shentong Realm, only one step away from the Heavenly Punishment Realm. Once he broke through, his lifespan would immediately be extended by a hundred years. Conversely, he would only have a few decades left to live.
At this moment, his elder brother’s family spread the word that on the day of Lu Yi’s grand wedding, Zhuo Shi’s maiden family would present a “Jihuo Dan” as a congratulatory gift. And “Jihuo Dan” would be of great help to those who were breaking through the Shentong Realm!
Therefore, Lu Ze had not caused any more trouble in the past six months.
Moreover, he had been monitoring the gift register all day, wanting to confirm the truth of this matter.
Heaven bless Lu Ze, his gamble paid off. When Zhuo Shi’s maiden family arrived, they did indeed present a “Jihuo Dan,” which immediately caused a stir throughout the Lu Mansion.
Lu Ze was so excited that he almost shed tears. This was because, in the entire Lu clan, he was currently the only one qualified to take this Jihuo Dan. As soon as his elder brother died, he could claim it for himself. Once he broke through to the Heavenly Punishment Realm, the Lu clan would be under his control.
Unfortunately, ideals are often plump, but reality is often skinny. Firstly, that “Jihuo Dan” was fake, entirely a play by Zhuo Shi’s maiden family in coordination with Lu Dao’s family. Secondly, Qi Huang and Cheng Hong Ling had no intention of coming at all.
Seeing that it was already the hour of Hai and the bride was nowhere to be seen, how could Lu Ze not be anxious? If the marriage could not take place, all the congratulatory gifts would have to be returned in their original form.
“Elder Brother, what is going on? Where is the bride?”
Lu Ze, with a flushed neck and red face, rushed to ask his elder brother’s family, as if it were his grandson who had been stood up.
“Who knows! Does she really want to use death to prove her resolve?”
Lu Dao said with a gloomy expression.
Lu Ze also fell into silence. After all, such things had happened before. If this were the case, then he would have rejoiced in vain. What was a little Cheng Hong Ling compared to the “Jihuo Dan”?
There was another possibility: Cheng Hong Ling felt she had enough value and believed that the Lu family would not dare to harm her, so they would strike her name at the critical moment. Thus, she was fearless.
Lu Gao suddenly interjected. The “value” he mentioned naturally referred to that mysterious method of strengthening spiritual sense.
“There’s also this possibility!”
Several family members around nodded in agreement.
“If she still hasn’t arrived by the hour of Hai, what do you plan to do? Strike her name, or let Lu Yi continue to pursue her?”
Lu Ze asked.
“Pursue my foot! Who does she think she is? If she wants to die, then fulfill her wish.”
Lu Yi cursed. As a pampered young master, he naturally wouldn’t bow to a woman, no matter how beautiful she was. He had thousands of beauties in his harem anyway.
“That’s right. If she acts like this, it’s a complete lack of self-awareness. The dignity of an immortal family is above all else. If we compromise today, how can we establish ourselves in the Cultivation World in the future?”
Lu Dao chimed in.
“Father is absolutely right.”
Lu Gao also agreed.
Lu Ze wanted to say something but stopped. He finally gave up, thinking that Lu Yi, that playboy, would always get married, and that “Jihuo Dan” would be his sooner or later. If he couldn’t wait for that day, then it could only be fate.
“Father, if Cheng Hong Ling really doesn’t arrive before the hour of Zi (11 PM – 1 AM), how should we deal with those guests? Someone might take the opportunity to gossip.”
Lu Gao asked with a headache.
“No need. Just invite them to watch the magnificent spectacle of the Immortal Tablet activating for free. That way, no one will dare to gossip, and then all the congratulatory gifts will be returned.”
Lu Dao calmly ordered.
“Yes!”
Lu Gao was overjoyed and then rushed out of the door as if carried by the wind.
Lu Ze also felt embarrassed to stay any longer and quickly found an excuse to leave.
“Hmph, this old guy is actually concerned about my marriage. What a weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken!”
Lu Yi cursed without restraint.
“It’s all because of that Jihuo Dan. If you don’t get married today, his duck in hand will fly away.”
Lu Dao mocked.
“Tsk tsk, he doesn’t know it’s fake yet, does he?”
Zhuo Shi had a playful smile on her face.
Meanwhile, in a dense forest about four to five li east of Hua Rong Sect, Qi Huang and Cheng Hong Ling were quietly waiting for the hour of Zi to arrive.
“This time, the Immortal Tablet confrontation will definitely not be like the last time where it stopped at a mere touch. It will be a fight to the death.”
Qi Huang said.
“Isn’t that stating the obvious? If they don’t kill us, how will the Lu family maintain its face?”
Cheng Hong Ling said with a blank expression.
“What do you think the full power confrontation of the Immortal Tablet will be like?”
Qi Huang looked at the sky and said.
“I think the power might be greater than the Heavenly Tribulation in the Cultivation World. After all, all Immortals have gone through Heavenly Tribulations, so their immortal might will naturally be stronger than Heavenly Tribulations.”
Cheng Hong Ling analyzed.
“Yes, but it’s only the Heavenly Tribulation of the Cultivation World.”
Qi Huang added.
“What do you mean?”
Cheng Hong Ling frowned.
“Do you know? Actually, cultivators still have to face Heavenly Tribulations after ascending to the Immortal Realm.”
Qi Huang deliberately played coy.
“What? You still have to face Heavenly Tribulations after ascending to the Immortal Realm?”
Cheng Hong Ling’s interest was successfully piqued.
“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? Above the Immortal Realm is the Heavenly Realm. If you want to continue ascending, naturally you’ll have to go through the Heavenly Realm. The Heavenly Tribulations of the Immortal Realm are far more powerful than any immortal might.”
Qi Huang said profoundly.
“So what? You’ve said a lot, what exactly do you want to express? That you’re learned and talented?”
Cheng Hong Ling lost her patience.
“Since that’s the case, have you ever thought about why the descendants of those Immortals who have reached the Heavenly Punishment Realm, when they ascend, their immortal might doesn’t help them resist heavenly tribulations?”
Qi Huang continued to play coy.
“Are you an idiot? You yourself said that most of the Immortals in the Immortal Realm have submitted to the Heavenly Dao. Heavenly Tribulations are the Heavenly Dao’s things. Do they dare to resist? Doing so might even implicate themselves.”
Cheng Hong Ling immediately playfully glared at her clone.
Qi Huang’s attempt to act profound failed, so she changed the subject: “Let’s get back to the point. If the Immortal Tablet confrontation is stronger than the Heavenly Tribulation, the shockwaves it unleashes might be unbearable for us, so we can’t just wait here unprepared.”
“Then do you have a method?”
Cheng Hong Ling finally became serious. Qi Huang showed a smug smile and extended her fair, tender hands, producing over a dozen storage rings.
“Where did you get so many storage rings?”
Cheng Hong Ling was utterly shocked.
“I got them by killing people… killing bad people and helping the poor. The materials used to make these storage rings are exceptionally strong. When the Immortal Tablet confrontation begins, we will hide in the storage rings. If one isn’t enough, use two. If two aren’t enough, use three. I don’t believe that even more than ten storage rings can’t block the aftermath.”
Qi Huang revealed her countermeasure.
“That’s a good idea. How did you come up with it?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked in surprise.
“Hehe, of course, I thought of it myself.”
Qi Huang said shamelessly. In fact, this method was told to her by Mu Ruoyi. When Shuiyu Valley was destroyed, Wen Yunmei relied on this method to save her daughter and Elder Zhou.
A peculiar light flashed in Cheng Hong Ling’s beautiful eyes, lingering for a long time.
…
As the hour of Zi gradually approached, the Lu family was in an uproar. All the guests were asking what had happened and whether the wedding would still take place.
“I apologize, everyone! It seems that the so-called daughter-in-law of our family does not intend to enter the gates today.”
Lu Gao, who was full of confidence, walked into the courtyard and shouted loudly.
