Amidst waves of congratulations, dusk gradually receded and night fell. The area before the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's council hall was instantly illuminated with bright lights and hanging lanterns, illuminating the entire plaza—no, the entire sect—as brightly as daytime.
The sect's disciples had not a moment of leisure, all making final preparations for the engagement ceremony that had entered its countdown.
Tonight, Chen Junting and Ning Tian would hold their engagement ceremony here. One was the chief of the sect's young generation, the other was the sect's young sect master; they were also the continent's peerless heavenly prodigies. Therefore, the entire Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was filled with joy.
These celebratory atmospheres continuously permeated the air, even carrying a trace of sweetness in the very air itself.
Attendants moved through the crowd, carrying exquisite gift boxes in their hands.
These were congratulatory gifts from various major powers, of considerable value.
Not far away, musicians tuned their instruments, and melodious strains floated through the air, heralding the beginning of the engagement celebration.
Chen Junting was dressed in a white long robe, his clothes fluttering in the wind. On his handsome face was a gentle smile. At this moment, his gaze frequently looked toward the distance, waiting for his beloved's arrival.
Soon...
Ning Tian arrived in a magnificent palace dress, her skirt trailing behind her, walking with light and graceful steps. In her delicate and beautiful appearance, her eyes sparkled with light.
The two met at the center of the hall, their gazes intersecting.
At that moment, everyone seemed to hold their breath. The surrounding clamor had vanished, as if only the two figures remained.
And Ning Bowen stepped forward, also representing the beginning of the engagement.
"Two surnames joined in marriage, one hall for the covenant; good fate forever bound, matching and equally called. See this day peach blossoms burning bright, suitable for the sect and family; divine the coming years melon vines continuous, you flourishing and thriving. May all guests bear witness together!"
Solemn and blessing-filled words rang out, drawing unanimous response from the crowd and thunderous applause. Under this, Chen Junting gently held Ning Tian's hand, his eyes full of deep affection.
What responded to him was Ning Tian's shy smile.
Accompanied by abundant dishes being served, delicacies filled the table and fine wines flowed continuously. Guests raised their cups in congratulations, and laughter and joyful voices never ceased. Amidst everyone's blessings, Ning Tian's smile was no longer shy. She held Chen Junting's hand with one hand while raising a wine cup with the other, drinking together. At this moment, the wine liquids merged.
The engagement celebration's continuous continuation made the banquet truly peaceful and prosperous with song and dance, the music melodious—a scene of celebration.
However, little did they know that beneath this joyful and celebratory scene, killing intent lay hidden in all directions, like a volcano about to erupt.
...
At this moment, outside Nine Treasure City.
Tonight's night was very quiet. The whistling wind blew past, and patches of dark clouds blocked the star and moonlight, making the earth appear even darker. And under the dark night and high winds, a team quietly approached, even using the Evil Eye Tyrant clan's methods to shield themselves from the surveillance of the ultra-high altitude detection soul tools above the city.
Looking at the brightly lit city ahead, many people's faces flashed with a trace of astonishment. Among them, one person even looked with disbelief at the silver short-haired middle-aged man beside him, asking, "Sect Leader, are we going to attack the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"No, not attack."
The man called "Sect Leader"—that is, Zhongli Wu.
He looked at that city ahead from which faint cheers could still be heard, a cold smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, "It's extermination."
These words, were like a thunderclap from flat ground exploding in everyone's hearts.
Almost no one present had expected this to be the true purpose of this operation. From the very beginning, they had been kept in the dark.
Zhongli Wu currently had no intention of paying too much attention to everyone's astonished emotions. He only swept his gaze over them—the cold and killing intent contained within made the Holy Spirit Cult group instantly shiver and suddenly sober up. "This operation is called 'Soul Hunt,' its purpose being to exterminate these two major powers: Shrek Academy and the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But to prevent spies from exposing this message and letting them prepare early, I kept it hidden from everyone until just now."
"I trust, none of you are spies, right?"
A drop of cold sweat simultaneously slid from everyone's temples.
One had to admit, Zhongli Wu's gaze was truly too frightening. And after his cultivation breakthrough, this frightening degree was even greater—seemingly capable of swallowing people alive.
"Sect Leader jests."
The one speaking at this moment was the Holy Spirit Cult's Second Elder, Nangong Wan.
Facing Zhongli Wu's man-eating gaze, even when facing him, Nangong Wan also summoned his courage and wiped sweat that didn't exist. "Are spies truly a thing? Or could it be..."
"It seems you trust your brothers more."
After one sentence, Zhongli Wu no longer paid attention to Nangong Wan. He only continued staring at Nine Treasure City, waiting for the signal from within the city.
Meanwhile, inside Nine Treasure City.
Due to the engagement ceremony, tonight's Nine Treasure City was also like a festival, brightly lit with laughter and joy.
This made the soldiers responsible for patrol tonight, looking at the playing common people on the streets, unable to help but reveal expressions of hope on their faces.
They also wanted to take leave!
"Really now."
One of the soldiers kicked a stone on the ground in boredom, gazing into the distance with longing, "Why hasn't the shift change come yet? Could it be they forgot the time while having fun?"
"Exactly."
Another soldier looked up at the moon just covered by a cloud, saying with some dissatisfaction, "I see it's already quite a while past the shift change time. I originally wanted to take my family out to have fun."
But just at this moment, he suddenly shivered.
Followed by a, "Achoo—"
"What? Caught a cold?"
One soldier, seeing this, asked with concern.
After all, they were only Soul Grandmasters. Their physiques were indeed stronger than ordinary adults, but also limited. So if they really caught a cold from the chill... although rare, it did happen.
"Perhaps..."
The "caught cold" soldier rubbed both arms, "I always feel my body is especially cold, and it's the kind without any reason."
"Especially cold? Does it get hot?"
"Hot, not really. It's just..."
"Enough, no more 'justs'."
The listening soldier was also the impatient type. Seeing his teammate give a general situation, he drew a conclusion, "You're probably having chills. In my view, you should go back and rest well first. Otherwise, ordinary doctors won't be able to cure you later. Perhaps you'll even have to spend a large sum to find a healing-type soul master to treat you."
"But this post..."
Another soldier showed some hesitation, but another soldier's words made him change his view. "I'll watch for you. Anyway, today is the sect's big day—who would come looking for trouble?"
"So tonight, I alone can patrol."
Then, this warrior gave another warrior's chest a punch, laughing and cursing, "But I'm telling you, you'll have to thank me later. Regardless of anything, good wine can't be lacking."
"Then thanks."
But not long after the other soldier departed, a figure once again walked out from the darkness. Just as this remaining soldier thought it was his comrade who had just left, about to open his mouth.
In the next moment, ice-cold chill had already drilled into his back from his vest, directly piercing through his chest, shredding every one of his internal organs.
"He... heh—"
A sound like a broken bellows came from this warrior's mouth.
At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind.
Enemy attack!
Only the dimming of his gaze and the weakness of his body undoubtedly indicated he had no chance to give the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect any warning.
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