Chapter 674: Dao Debate with Hong Ling; Astronomical Demands; Bridal Chamber and Spirit Pills for Betrothal (I)

The grand ceremony officially began. Although the highlight of such a ceremony had never lain in the ritual itself but rather in what preceded it, formal procedures still had to be observed.

Soft melodies filled the air as dancers swayed gracefully to ethereal music. Cups clinked together while cultivators exchanged insights and pleasantries. In this manner, time quietly slipped away.

From start to finish, Luo Chen carried himself with steady poise. It was nothing like the rough edges expected of one who had once been a rogue cultivator. Of course, the credit for this belonged to Sima Huiniang and the others—after attending a number of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Ceremonies, they had become familiar with the etiquette. And with the guidance of Fairy Ruthless, Luo Chen ensured that not a single misstep marred the occasion. He remained composed and unhurried, as steady as Danxia Peak itself.

Until, at last, someone could not hold back.

"Fellow Daoist Luo Chen, I have long heard that you were unrivaled in battle during Foundation Establishment. In fact, if I'm not wrong, you were reputed as the foremost Initiate of the Jade Cauldron Domain. I wonder whether that has changed now that you have formed your core."

The lively atmosphere fell instantly still. Every gaze shifted to the speaker—Hong Ling, the Golden Core sword cultivator.

Luo Chen had anticipated this. After every breakthrough ceremony, there would always be someone eager to test the newcomer's strength. It was a customary way to determine whether one was qualified to be acknowledged as a peer. Precisely for this reason, exchanges rarely centered on victory or defeat; it was well understood that a newly advanced cultivator did not yet have full command of their new powers. Even so, a poor performance would inevitably diminish one's standing in the eyes of others. Clearly, Hong Ling had every intention to cause Luo Chen's standing to diminish.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Ling, today is Fellow Daoist Luo's joyous occasion. There is no need for blades to clash. Moreover, he is an esteemed alchemist; such displays of force would hardly suit the moment. Why not engage him in a discussion of alchemy instead? Should that exchange be recorded and passed on, it would surely become a tale worth retelling."

It was Qu Xibai who had spoken to ease the tension, and his words quickly drew murmurs of agreement. A few Adepts even volunteered to spar in Luo Chen's place. Only Ye Xiang of the Divine Talisman Sect, Fengyue of Windflower Palace, and Jin Buque of the Five Elements Divine Sect stayed silent and watched with keen interest.

Under the weight of countless gazes and conciliatory voices, Hong Ling kept her eyes fixed on Luo Chen. "Fire Spirit Lord, you are the host today. If you do not wish to act, I will not insist."

You will not insist?

Luo Chen smiled at that. If the other upper sect representatives had not been present, she would likely have challenged him the very moment she set foot on the peak. To restrain herself until now had definitely taken no small effort. Besides, she had called him by his Dao title Fire Spirit Lord. No one could miss the provocation.

Very well. Since it's customary, I will see it through

, Luo Chen thought.

In fairness, it seemed to him that this woman bore him no true malice, only the intent to fight. Her hostility was merely the surface of a grievance she wished to resolve. Pang Renxiong had perished at Dahe Market, and Luo Chen had emerged from that same place. Such coincidences could not escape discerning eyes. Even if he had played no part, as Pang Renxiong's personal disciple, she probably carried a thorn of resentment within her heart. If a friendly exchange could draw that thorn, it would serve them both.

He smiled warmly and spread his palm. "If that is your wish, I shall not refuse."

Hong Ling's eyes brightened. She stepped lightly into the air. "To spare your ceremony from ruin, shall we fight in the sky?"

Luo Chen shook his head. "As everyone said, fighting would only spoil the mood. Besides, this ceremony also marks my union with my two wives. For that reason, I will not agree to a full battle."

"

Hm

?" Hong Ling frowned.

Luo Chen raised a single finger. "One move. You and I shall each strike once. Win or lose, we end it there and part in peace."

It was not a negotiation but a decision. Since this was his venue, Hong Ling could not press. She drew a deep breath. "Very well, I will agree. I have long wanted to see what power you possess that allowed you to steal Senior Brother Lin Qingxuan's glory as the foremost Initiate."

Luo Chen raised a brow.

Eh, that was the problem?

He knew Lin Qingxuan. Years ago, that man had ranked first among the ten immortal cities on the Debate Platform's Elite Prodigy Board. At the time, he was truly the most powerful Initiate of the Jade Cauldron Domain. But when the two upper sects later went to war, Lin Qingxuan entered seclusion to break through to the Golden Core Realm. During that period, Luo Chen fought battle after battle to claim the title.

This woman...

Luo Chen smiled freely and lifted his right hand.

"Be ready," he called.

His right fingers began forming seals. Streams of mana circulated and gathered around his fingertips. His movements were not quick, yet every motion was carried with steadiness and strength, and he stood upright and unmoving like a mountain. His crimson robes rustled, though no wind stirred the air.

Spellcraft!

At the moment he gathered his breath and formed the seals, everyone realized what Luo Chen was about to cast a spell. And indeed, it was not an enchanted treasure but his spell casting abilities that had brought him fame.

Is it going to be a fire spell?

The next instant, his palm suddenly pressed downward.

Wummmmmm.

A deep hum filled the air. High above, a vast azure hand emerged in the sky. At first, it was transparent, but it solidified in a heartbeat as waves of mana poured into it. Even the fingerprints seemed lifelike. Azure spirit energy surged, yet it did not even cause wind to stir, a clear sign that its power had been condensed to the limit.

It was not fire-element but wood!

Jin Buque narrowed his eyes and blurted out, "The Great Handprint of Primordial Qi!"

At that moment, the hand moved forward. The air shuddered as it swept through the void.

In midair, Hong Ling had already transformed her sword orb into a sword. Sword energy streamed from her body in a dazzling torrent as she hovered above. Each motion flowed with grace and precision, and she appeared like a wandering dragon treading on clouds.

When she saw the azure hand descend, she let out a sharp cry. "Break!"

A flash of sword light pierced upward with unstoppable might. The two forces collided in an instant. A tearing sound rang out as a black hole appeared at the center of the handprint; the sword energy was weakened but still streaked straight toward Luo Chen.

"Brother Chen, be careful!"

"Dear!"

Two anxious voices rang out. But Luo Chen just smiled slightly, and the right hand he was still holding out was shrouded in a blue gleam. He closed his fingers, and the strand of sword energy was crushed to fragments in his palm.

Jin Buque sprang to his feet in astonishment. "Glazed Skyveil! Among second-tier spells, it is the most intricate of water-element defenses, yet you have mastered it to the point of casting it instantly."

Luo Chen inclined his head and turned to Hong Ling. "You truly live up to your sect's name; as expected, few can face a sword cultivator in battle. That one strike of yours was enough to pierce through ten thousand things. To meet it, I had to use two moves. I lost."

Hong Ling's robes were disheveled. It appeared they'd almost been torn by fierce wind. She brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, her complexion wavering between flush and pale. After a long pause, she shook her head.

"No, I lost," she said. "Though my sword pierced that hand manifestation, the remaining force still bound me. I could not have escaped. You withdrew your mana in that instant and spared me the harm. Had this been an actual battle, my sword would not have touched you, while you would have trapped me completely. The next strike would have left me gravely injured. My momentum was lost, and you seized the initiative. For a sword cultivator, that is defeat."

The way of the sword lay in momentum. A sword cultivator's heart ought to read the opponent in an instant, and their sword ought to swing but a single time to break through all techniques. By that measure, she had indeed lost. Also, she had formed her core a while before Luo Chen. Had he had the same amount of experience as an Adept, how would the match have ended?

This exchange had been brief and swift. To the Initiates below, it had been nothing but a blur. However, the Adepts had seen clearly who had held the edge.

Luo Chen smiled faintly. "I may have taken the advantage with the first move, but you forced me to use a second one. We have both gained from this fight. Let us call it a draw."

Hong Ling gave him a surprised look. She had genuinely meant to concede, yet under so many eyes, she refrained from pressing it. Today, she stood here not for herself, but on behalf of the Sword Sect, and the sect cared deeply about honor and victory. Since Luo Chen had offered her a way out, she was not foolish enough to decline it. With a polite salute, she returned to her seat.

When Hong Ling returned to her seat, the atmosphere in the hall grew lively once more. Jin Buque also sat down, but his gaze lingered on Luo Chen, and he could not stop praising him. "Before coming, I heard that your fire arts were extraordinary. Now I see those rumors were far too narrow in scope."