The cup drained, the feast officially began.

Twenty tables lined the great hall; the first two tables seated figures akin to Hu Yijun and Gao Xiu or those extremely close to them. The individuals at the first table shared a close relationship, while those at the second table were more distant.

Contrary to the lively crowd inviting friends and calling out cheerily outside the hall, the atmosphere inside was noticeably less enthusiastic, with several close circles forming among those with good rapport.

This was normal, considering these figures have lived for hundreds if not thousands of years. They were only present because of Hu Yijun and Gao Xiu's invitation; it's inevitable that there could be grudges or enmities among them.

Only when Hu Yijun and Gao Xiu went around to toast did the atmosphere slightly enliven.

...

As the hour of the boar arrived, the banquet ended.

People left their seats one after another, guided by disciples of Dingfeng Mountain to stay in their respective cave abodes and guest rooms.

Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan also returned to their guest room.

The many elites seated at the first two tables followed Hu Yijun and Gao Xiu as they departed together.

...

At night, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan rested peacefully in their room, faintly sensing waves of magical power emanating from the mountain peaks.

Even with deliberate suppression, the strength of those involved was too mighty, causing magical power to inadvertently break through the bindings and spill out.

...

Next morning, as Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan left their room, they realized that all the guests had departed before dawn.

Today's ceremony was a private family affair.

Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu stepped out, offering tea to four elders in the great hall, marking the complete success of the wedding.

...

"Good!" Hu Yijun drank a cup of tea, his tiger eyes widening, nodding with a smile, "From now on, Dingfeng Mountain and Feixiong Mountain are family."

Either others had numerous offspring or disciples, yet Dingfeng Mountain and Feixiong Mountain were ruled by one person per mountain, both having only children.

How coincidental is that?

With Hu Zhou and Gao Junyu wed, they truly became a family.

Well, not absolutely—what if they each have another child in the future?

Lu Zheng stroked his chin, already envisioning a host of melodramatic storylines.

...

The few gathered in the hall, now relating differently than before, casually chatting.

"Now that everything's settled, it's rare to have Miss Liu here; feel free to explore around and don't rush to leave." Hu Yijun said.

"Indeed, no rush—we plan to stay here half a month before returning." Lu Zheng replied with a smile.

"That's perfect." Wang Yuzhi laughed, "I can escort sister around to enjoy the scenery."

Gao Xiu and Wang Muran then said, "We'll not accompany, there's mundane affairs in the mountains, we'll head back first."

...

After seeing off Gao Xiu and Wang Muran, the few returned to the hall, where Hu Zhou eagerly asked, "Dad, did someone make a move on the mountain top yesterday?"

Hu Yijun chuckled, nodded and said, "The Golden Dragon Temple and Mist God Valley; two monks didn't see eye to eye and exchanged a move."

Hu Zhou widened his mouth, while Gao Junyu gossiped, "What was said to even lead to fighting?"

Logically, everyone attended Hu Zhou's wedding out of respect for Hu Yijun, hardly needing to resort to combat unless things became extreme.

"They mentioned last time when besieging the Demon; Golden Dragon Temple was nearly wiped out, Monk Long Sheng broke his vow of rage, and acted against Monk Caodeng."

"Besieging the Demon?" Hu Zhou looked baffled.

Gao Junyu's eyes sparkled, "Great Black Heaven Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor?"

Hearing this name, Hu Yijun's expression turned grim yet nodded, "That's him."

"Who is he?" Hu Zhou asked.

"Isn't he dead?" Gao Junyu couldn't help but inquire.

Hu Yijun sighed, "Unfortunately, he may not be dead."

"What!?" Gao Junyu was taken aback.

"Master Hongchang visited Great Jing once; hearing about Demon Cultivators during Central Plains' flooding, he investigated, noting the methods which confirmed it's that True Desire Demon Ancestor's doing."

"Demon Cultivator?" Lu Zheng's gaze flashed.

Hu Yijun glanced at Lu Zheng, "What, did you also hear?"

"We heard about it!"

Lu Zheng nodded, then shared with Hu Yijun the news he heard from Daoist Yuting at Shaotong Mountain.

"Exactly." Hu Yijun nodded, "Previously, failing to completely slay the True Desire Demon Ancestor let him escape and possess, now even entering Great Jing."

Seeing Lu Zheng's questioning look, Hu Yijun explained, "Southern Border, decades ago, there was a Celestial Demon Divine Thought Rebirth claiming Great Black Heaven Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor, preaching and widely spreading magic attempting to change heaven and earth."

"Decades ago?" Upon hearing, Lu Zheng jumped in surprise.

Being so recent, how did the Great Jing Dynasty not receive information?

Could it be...

"Also fortunate, that Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor's enlightenment site thirty years ago was noticed by Golden Dragon Temple within its territory, sparking a major battle, greatly wounding Golden Dragon Temple's Primordial Qi, seeking assistance from all directions."

Hu Yijun spoke, "Golden Dragon Temple is south of Dingfeng Mountain, I was the first to rush there and witnessed that True Desire Demon Ancestor's prowess."

"Sacrifice inner desires, having no heart within, entering true desire into demon, generating demonic desire naturally." Gao Junyu said.

Hu Yijun nodded, "Indeed, it's the core philosophy of Heartless True Desire Demon Dao, using one's mind as a guide, attracting Demonic Qi, altering heaven and earth."

"When Golden Dragon Temple discovered him, he had already transformed a banned mountain range into a Demon Cave, Demonic Qi rampant over a thousand miles, swiftly assimilating heavens and earth."

Lu Zheng's pupils contracted suddenly.

He knew the concept of a Demon Cave too well, having experienced Jiming Temple's small secret realm.

Demonic Qi rampant a thousand miles—that's almost half of Yizhou Prefecture.

"Monk Long Sheng wasn't a match, several formidable monks died at that Demon Ancestor's hand; even he was gravely injured, seeking assistance everywhere."

"Elder Hongchang, Old Ghost Duan, Monk Caodeng, and Brother Qingyang all went as well."

"Nobody knew how long the Demon Ancestor had reincarnated, truly formidable; for us six to besiege, finally exchanging injuries to eliminate the reincarnated form."

"Yet I too was gravely injured, and I have numerous foes in Southern Border, thus receded into the Central Plains to recover."

Hu Yijun looked at Wang Yuzhi, "So I met Jade Reishi there, and had Zhou'Er."

Lu Zheng nodded understandingly, mentally placated considering Hu Yijun's magnitude; pondering who could have wounded him so severely, understanding now it was a Celestial Demon reincarnation made sense.

Although Lu Zheng didn't know exactly what strength a Celestial Demon held, he was aware of the Huaxia System Immortal legends.

This Heartless True Desire Demon Ancestor, if capable of Divine Thought Rebirth, the original form might at least possess strength akin to the Twenty-eight Constellations... perhaps?

Well, let's assume that first.

Facing such a legendary figure, Hu Yijun and the others joined forces to slay the reincarnated form, merely sustaining grave injuries—truly impressive.

In other words, it's akin to Kang Jinlong descending for cultivation, then being together taken down by Lower Realm cultivators.

Can you believe it?