Chapter 555: The Tragedy of Longyu Hall

Inside Longyu Hall, just as the Engagement Ceremony was about to be held, Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu walked in hand in hand, their figures pausing at the hall entrance.

Everyone in the hall looked with astonishment at the suddenly appearing Lv Qingzhu.

Lv Qingzhu was dressed in ceremonial robes and a phoenix crown, bright and moving, like a fairy.

But... this Lv Qingzhu had just flashed in from the hall entrance!

Then who was the person standing there at this moment, wearing a Red Bridal Veil, about to perform the Engagement Ceremony with Li Ruozhou?

The moment Chu Qiushan saw Lv Qingzhu flash in, his expression sank; he flicked his sleeve, whipping up a gust of wind that blew away the veil on Shen Mizhi's head.

As the veil flew up, Shen Mizhi was suddenly startled!

Seeing Shen Mizhi, everyone let out another gasp. "Who is this?"

Neither Li Yunjing nor Li Ruozhou recognized Shen Mizhi.

Zhu He, sitting there, recognized Shen Mizhi at a glance as the woman who had been following Duan Rong; he suddenly narrowed his eyes at Duan Rong, and by now he had discovered that Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu were both wearing brand-new ceremonial robes, and the two had entered holding hands.

Zhu He's thoughts churned like a tide!

As soon as Duan Rong saw Shen Mizhi's veil lifted, he immediately called out, "Mizhi, come here!"

Shen Mizhi then darted forward, flashing behind Duan Rong under the watchful eyes of all.

Chu Qiushan's eyes glared at Duan Rong as if spitting fire, and he roared, "Duan Rong! What are you doing?!" Duan Rong had entered with Lv Qingzhu first, then called that woman to hide behind him; he was clearly the one in charge.

Chu Qiushan was furious to the extreme, his roar like rolling thunder!

Those with weaker cultivation in the hall all felt their eardrums go numb!

Duan Rong, however, remained unmoved, saying loudly, "Sect Master Chu, Elders, just yesterday, I already became husband and wife with Lv Qingzhu!"

Once these words were spoken, the hall fell into a dead silence.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiushan felt his whole body grow cold; he had already noticed that Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu were both wearing ceremonial robes and standing hand in hand, and the anger in his eyes had dissipated by half as he turned his head to look at Lv Qingzhu, asking, "Qingzhu, is what he says true?"

Lv Qingzhu said, "What my husband says is naturally true!"

"Husband?!"

A commotion immediately erupted in the hall. Li Yunjing's pupils even constricted as he glared at Duan Rong!

At this moment, Zheng Yi, sitting at the Elder's table, suddenly stood up, looking at Duan Rong with meaningful eyes, and asked, "Nephew Duan, if Zheng remembers correctly, you already have a wife; how can you marry Lv Qingzhu again?"

Zheng Yi's meaning was obvious; he felt the two were intentionally causing trouble. He was in the camp of Lv Zhongtang, and the marriage alliance between Lv Qingzhu and Li Ruozhou was clearly beneficial to Lv Zhongtang's bid for the next Sect Master, and it was also related to his own interests, so he naturally had to make trouble at this time.

Hearing this, the people in the hall also quieted down, their gazes fixed on Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu, who stood there hand in hand.

Just as Zheng Yi said, Duan Rong already had a wife. He had previously risked violating the Sect Iron Law to go to the Tower Forest to save Xiao Yu, a matter known to everyone in the Sect.

Duan Rong did not answer Zheng Yi's words, but Lv Qingzhu said, "I have married my husband as a secondary wife; Xiao Yu is the primary, and I am the secondary!"

As soon as this was said, the hall was in an uproar!

Everyone's gaze was focused on Lv Qingzhu.

"This Lv Qingzhu is actually unwilling to marry the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect, but is instead willing to marry Duan Rong as a secondary wife!?"

"What kind of romantic fortune has this Duan Rong cultivated!?"

"Lv Qingzhu is actually willing to be his concubine? Is she not afraid of divine retribution?!"

Amidst the uproar, at the high seats, the expressions of Li Yunjing and Lv Zhongtang were the ugliest in the room.

That Lv Qingzhu would rather be someone's concubine than marry his Tianyan Sect's Young Sect Master was equivalent to slapping his Tianyan Sect in the face; listening to the many noises in the hall, Li Yunjing's heart was furious to the extreme.

Lv Zhongtang's body could not stop trembling at this moment, his face even somewhat twisted, terrifyingly ferocious!

He stood up like an angry leopard, his fists clenched tightly, his body still unable to stop trembling.

Lv Zhongtang looked at Lv Qingzhu, almost word by word, and asked, "Qingzhu, have you really married him as a concubine?"

Lv Qingzhu looked at her father; she could feel her father's strangeness.

"Father, Duan Rong and I have pledged our hearts to each other; I don't care about being a concubine or not?! This is merely a worldly title!"

"Good, good, good! A fine 'pledged our hearts to each other'!" Lv Zhongtang's face turned deathly pale, and he still asked with a ferocious gaze, "I am asking if you have really married him as a concubine?"

Lv Zhongtang seemed very stubborn at this moment, as if he had to hear Lv Qingzhu say it himself before he could believe it.

Lv Qingzhu said, "Yes! Duan Rong is my husband now!"

Lv Qingzhu's gaze was firm; she was completely unmoved by the overwhelming words in the hall!

Lv Zhongtang looked at his daughter, and a flash of unfamiliarity suddenly crossed his eyes; his whole body's trembling stopped instantly.

Lv Zhongtang suddenly said coldly, "Since that is the case, you are no longer my daughter."

Upon hearing this, Lv Qingzhu's lips could not help but tremble.

Lv Zhongtang said, "Lv Qingzhu, I raised you, and now I am going to kill you, you disgraceful thing!"

Lv Qingzhu gave a miserable smile and said, "Then I shall return this life to you! We will be even!"

"Good!"

As soon as Lv Zhongtang shouted the word 'good', he suddenly flew up, and with a palm strike in mid-air, he slapped down toward Lv Qingzhu's head!

The event happened in haste, and the speed of a Dongming Realm expert was truly swift!

Almost with just a flicker of his figure, the spatial ripples had already pressed down from the air!

Lv Zhongtang was furious to the extreme, feeling that this Lv Qingzhu had caused him to lose all face; if he did not kill her in public, what face would he have to live in this world?

Duan Rong suddenly pulled Lv Qingzhu behind him, and in that instant, murderous intent erupted from Duan Rong's entire body!

He moved his mind, and the Yinlu Cicada hanging on his neck suddenly let out a low, chirping sound!

That low, chirping sound was very ear-piercing in the silent hall!

"Yinlu Cicada!?"

The expressions of everyone at the Elder's table changed drastically!

Just at this moment, a gust of wind suddenly rose!

Where the wind passed, a figure was already standing between Duan Rong and Lv Zhongtang!

Without seeing that person make any move, in that instant, Duan Rong felt his Divine Soul connection with the Yinlu Cicada suddenly vanish.

He could actually no longer perceive the existence of the Yinlu Cicada!

And the Yinlu Cicada he had originally been driving did not erupt either, but instead fell into silence!

At the same time, the spatial ripples Lv Zhongtang had struck out also vanished abruptly; he landed in a rush, his footsteps stumbling!

The person who appeared where the wind had risen was naturally the Taiyi Sect Ancestor, Lv Yinlin!

"Ancestor!" Lv Zhongtang called out.

"Greetings, Ancestor!" Everyone in the hall knelt down.

Duan Rong turned his head to look at Lv Qingzhu; her complexion at this moment was extremely sorrowful!

Duan Rong felt a pain in his heart and, pulling her, knelt down toward Lv Yinlin.

Lv Yinlin turned his head to look at the kneeling Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu behind him; seeing their tightly clasped hands and their brand-new ceremonial robes, Lv Yinlin could not help but knit his brows.

Just a moment ago, Duan Rong had blocked directly in front of Lv Qingzhu! Lv Yinlin had naturally seen it!

Everyone in the hall had seen it too!

Between life and death, how many people in this world are willing to protect you behind them?

Lv Yinlin suddenly flipped his hand; Duan Rong did not know why he felt his body lose its balance and was flung through the air. By the time he regained his senses, he was already at the side of Zhu He.

Lv Yinlin glared angrily at Zhu He and said, "Keep a good watch on this disciple of yours!"

"Yes, Ancestor!" Zhu He immediately called out.

Lv Yinlin then turned his head to look at Lv Qingzhu.

Duan Rong knew that Lv Yinlin was going to coerce Lv Qingzhu and immediately wanted to go over. At this moment, he had to stand by Lv Qingzhu's side; he could not let her, a girl, face this overwhelming storm alone!

But just as he was about to move, he was already held fast by Zhu He.

Spatial ripples floated around Duan Rong's body, fixing him directly in place; in that instant, he was as if struck by an Immobilization Technique.

Lv Yinlin said, "Lv Qingzhu, today is the auspicious day for your engagement to Li Ruozhou; go change into the ceremonial robes and phoenix crown, and perform the ceremony!"

The phoenix crown Lv Qingzhu was wearing at this moment was a concubine's phoenix crown, missing one bright pearl compared to a legal wife's phoenix crown!

Lv Qingzhu raised her head, her gaze as firm as a rock, and said, "Ancestor! Qingzhu has already married! A woman does not serve two husbands; Duan Rong is my only husband in this life!"

Lv Yinlin said, "Marriage is a matter of the parents' command and the matchmaker's word; how can you make private arrangements!"

Lv Qingzhu said, "The Ancient Rites cannot be deceived! Heaven and Earth are supreme, with the sun, moon, and gods as witnesses!"

Lv Yinlin could see Lv Qingzhu's firmness and asked with a fixed gaze, "Ancient Rites? Which kind of Ancient Rites are you talking about?"

Lv Qingzhu said, "Last night's ceremony was performed by the History Supervisor of the Inner History Department, Jiang Yaozhang, according to the Ancient Rites. Mr. Jiang, answer the Ancestor: was yesterday's ceremony performed according to the Ancient Rites?"

Jiang Yaozhang was kneeling at the hall entrance; at this moment, he could not help but break into a cold sweat. He raised his head slightly.

Lv Yinlin had already looked over with cold eyes.

As soon as Jiang Yaozhang made contact with Lv Yinlin's gaze, he could not help but tremble.

Lv Yinlin looked at him and asked, "You are Jiang Yaozhang?"

Jiang Yaozhang said, "Reporting to the Ancestor, this humble one is!"

"Good! You tell me! Does the wedding of Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu count?" Lv Yinlin's voice was like a great bell, shaking Jiang Yaozhang's head until it buzzed.

Lv Yinlin wanted to use Jiang Yaozhang's mouth to force Lv Qingzhu into submission.

In his view, a mere small History Supervisor of the Inner History Department, would he dare to defy the will of him, the Sect Ancestor?

Jiang Yaozhang saw the situation in the hall very clearly; he was just preparing to answer, but at this moment he suddenly caught a glimpse of Lv Qingzhu's profile.

Not far away, Lv Qingzhu was kneeling there; for that instant, he could feel Lv Qingzhu's firmness. Just like at the ceremony last night, she had performed the rites with great reverence.

So-called etiquette: only when there is something within the heart will it manifest in one's demeanor.

The scenes from last night's ceremony flowed through Jiang Yaozhang's heart once more like a clear spring.

He believed in the Ancient Rites and had dedicated his life to the Ancient Rites!

Could it be that at this critical juncture, he would instead betray the Ancient Rites to seek a safe haven?

He recalled a sentence he had comprehended at the ceremony last night, and his heart suddenly brightened, as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through.

"The world lacks rites because the human heart has lost its way!"

Jiang Yaozhang's panicked gaze suddenly became firm!

He cupped his hands and said loudly, "Reporting to the Ancestor! According to the Ancient Rites, Duan Rong and Lv Qingzhu are already husband and wife! Heaven and Earth are the witnesses, the sun and moon are the matchmakers! The rites cannot be abandoned; their wedding naturally counts!"

Lv Yinlin stood there stunned, and the hall fell into immediate silence.

Lv Qingzhu turned her head to look at Jiang Yaozhang, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes.

Over there, Taiyi Sect Elder Zheng Yi suddenly raised his head and said, "Jiang Yaozhang, you are a small History Supervisor, yet you actually dare to lecture the Ancestor; who gave you the guts?"

As Zheng Yi spoke, he could not help but glance at Zhu He as if making an insinuation.

Duan Rong was Zhu He's disciple, and Jiang Yaozhang was even more so a person from Zhu He's Inner History Department; Zheng Yi's words were clearly intended to implicate Zhu He.

Zhu He's face was a mix of shifting expressions, but he did not say a single word.

Facing Zheng Yi's questioning, Jiang Yaozhang said in a deep voice, "Yaozhang is naturally of low status, but the rites are the great principles of human relations between Heaven and Earth. The ancients said: 'Strive for the rites, yield to no one when it comes to benevolence!'"

Zheng Yi was stunned by these words from Jiang Yaozhang and stood there awkwardly, speechless.

In the crowd, the white-haired and white-bearded Xiao Dezao was already streaming with old tears; his lips trembled as he muttered to himself in a low voice, "Good, good... Yaozhang! Your teacher did not teach you in vain! What a line: 'Strive for the rites, yield to no one when it comes to benevolence!' The younger generation is to be feared! The Dao of Rites will not be abandoned! The Ancient Rites have hope..."

Just at this moment, Lv Yinlin let out a cold snort and said, "Strive for the rites, yield to no one when it comes to benevolence? Then I shall let you seek benevolence and obtain it!"

After Lv Yinlin finished speaking, he suddenly waved his hand; a gust of wind passed, and Jiang Yaozhang turned into a mist of blood, drifting out of the hall with the wind.

"I haven't come out in years! These juniors are truly lawless! Who exactly is in charge of this Taiyi Sect?!" As Lv Yinlin spoke, he swept his cold eyes across, looking at Duan Rong with murderous intent.

If it were not for Duan Rong's extraordinary talent, and the possibility that he might even advance to the Original Spirit Realm, Lv Yinlin would have already killed him in the hall!

Jiang Yaozhang's death and the murderous intent Lv Yinlin surged toward Duan Rong shocked Lv Qingzhu's heart.

Lv Yinlin turned his head to look at Lv Qingzhu and said coldly, "Lv Qingzhu, will you change your ceremonial robes now and hold the engagement ceremony, or must I destroy Duan Rong before you are willing to go?"

Lv Yinlin had no intention of killing Duan Rong at all; he was merely using this moment to coerce Lv Qingzhu.

A flash of panic flickered through Lv Qingzhu's resolute gaze.

She stared blankly at Duan Rong not far away. Duan Rong was trapped within the spatial ripples in a strange posture, his eyes moving incessantly...

Lv Qingzhu suddenly said, "Grandfather, you have loved Qingzhu the most since I was small. How can you bear to force me to this point?"

Hearing Lv Qingzhu call him Grandfather, Lv Yinlin's heart stirred slightly, but this touch of emotion passed in a flash, and he said with a cold face, "The marriage between the two sects is a major matter for the Sect! Qingzhu, do not be willful!"

Lv Qingzhu sneered and said, "The hall is full of people dressed in fine clothes, yet today I have only seen two men of spirit! What use is there in keeping such a Sect?!"

"Miss Qingzhu, watch your words!" Xiao Dezao raised his head from the crowd, his eyes filled with worry. He had just lost his beloved disciple and did not want to see another tragedy in this hall.

At this moment, a Nanny had already walked over, looked at Lv Qingzhu, and said, "Miss Qingzhu, will you please come with me to the inner hall to change into your ceremonial robes?" This Nanny was actually unable to bear it in her heart and was trying to persuade Lv Qingzhu.

Lv Qingzhu's gaze was vacant, and she followed the Nanny toward the inner hall like a walking corpse; as she walked, Lv Qingzhu suddenly stopped, because she had reached a spot not far from Duan Rong.

Lv Qingzhu turned her steps and walked toward Duan Rong. Seeing Lv Qingzhu suddenly walk in that direction, the Nanny frowned, but she did not speak.

Lv Qingzhu reached a point half a zhang in front of Duan Rong and could no longer move forward; the floating spatial ripples blocked her path.

She looked at Duan Rong not far away and smiled lightly; even at this moment, her smile was still so bright and moving, like ice flowers thawing.

"Duan Rong, thank you for marrying me! You are very brave!"

"Thank you for shielding me behind you! Qingzhu will never forget!"

"Duan Rong, you must live on well! In the next life, let us be husband and wife again!"

Duan Rong was trapped in the spatial ripples; he stared blankly at Lv Qingzhu, a bad premonition surging in his heart.

After Lv Qingzhu finished speaking, two lines of clear tears finally flowed from the corners of her eyes. She had not shed a tear in this hall today, but at this moment, she was physically and mentally exhausted!

Lv Qingzhu stood there, turned her head, and looked at Lv Yinlin who was standing there; Lv Yinlin also looked at her.

Lv Qingzhu suddenly shouted, "Grandfather, I hate you!"

When she shouted these words, the veins on her forehead bulged, and she instantly spat out a mouthful of blood!

Lv Qingzhu had actually severed her own meridians!

She had used her Qi to snap three of her major meridians! And at this moment, the primordial Qi within her body was still reversing and flowing backward!

The cultivators of the Dongming Realm in the hall saw Lv Qingzhu's state and instantly knew what had happened.

"Qingzhu!" Lv Zhongtang's eyes turned red, and he shouted as he flew over!

But as a gust of wind rose, just as Lv Qingzhu was about to faint, she was caught by the Ancestor, Lv Yinlin.

Lv Yinlin reached out and quickly tapped several major acupoints on Lv Qingzhu's body, immediately stopping the primordial Qi reversing within her meridians.

Then he stuffed a Medicine Pill into Lv Qingzhu's mouth, and almost the instant the Medicine Pill entered, he wrapped Lv Qingzhu up, turned into a gust of wind, and vanished from the hall.

(End of this chapter)