Chapter 1584: Green Hills Remain, Clear Waters Flow Long

The Ning Clan's sixth-transformation immortal had been about to intervene when he heard the announcement, causing him to freeze in his place.

The surrounding cultivators exchanged stunned glances. Whether they were guests or members of the Ning Clan, everyone was jolted by the sheer weight of those two names.

"Enlightenment God Palace... Killing Spiritual Division... core disciples!?"

"Is this for real!?"

"How could core disciples from those two places end up attending a wedding celebration for a newly ascended Immortal Sovereign?"

Disbelief hung heavy in the air. Although the Ning Clan was renowned in the Fangcun Realm, it was only a first-tier force, and the gap between the top-tier forces and first-tier forces was insurmountable.

In the Fangcun Realm, organizations like the Enlightenment God Palace were like the sun in the sky, their light illuminating the entire realm. Compared to them, the Ning Clan was merely a common, dim star.

The first-transformation immortals who had previously shared a table with the duo looked at one another before collectively turning their gaze toward Ning Xun.

"Cousin Ning Xun, who exactly are those two?" asked someone urgently.

At that moment, Fang Chen and Huang Qingque were working in tandem, treating Zhang Xizhou like a leather ball as they kicked and struck him back and forth through the air. Zhang Xizhou, despite being a second-transformation immortal, was utterly powerless to resist!

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The crowd watched in horror. Even if those two hadn't made their declaration, Zhang Xizhou was still an external cultivator of the Ten Thousand Star Palace. Normally, one wouldn't subject him to such humiliation. The fact that they were doing so only proved that their claims were genuine. In the Fangcun Realm, there likely wasn't a fool alive brave enough to impersonate core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace and the Killing Spiritual Division.

"Those two are indeed core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace and the Killing Spiritual Division," said Ning Xun. "They share a deep friendship with Cousin Ning Beiyou and came to attend his wedding. They simply prefer to keep a low profile and don't want a grand announcement."

Meanwhile, the cultivators at Ning Heng's table were also stunned. Ning Heng immediately began searching the crowd. When he found Ning Xun and rushed over, he overheard those words before he could even ask. His face had already turned deathly pale.

Noticing Ning Heng's arrival, Ning Xun glanced at him and gave a thin smile. "Cousin Ning Heng, I've already apologized to those two on your behalf twice. If it weren't for Cousin Ning Beiyou, I suspect you would be in massive trouble right about now."

Ning Heng sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, leaning in to whisper, "Those two... are they truly—"

Ning Xun said, "In this world, who would dare impersonate a core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace or the Killing Spiritual Division? Besides, I saw their Immortal Boats with my own eyes. They are a perfect match."

"What a mess! I am doomed! You have to introduce me to them later. I need to give them a proper apology," muttered Ning Heng, his face green with bitterness.

The onlookers had strange expressions. They had all seen that Ning Heng had taken the two men's seats earlier. A mere fourth-transformation immortal had dared to demand that core disciples of two top-tier powers yield their seats. If word of this got out, it would be a legendary tale to boast about for ages.

"Tell me... are those two really core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace and the Killing Spiritual Division?" the sixth-transformation immortal from Tianshui Manor whispered as he drifted over to the side of the Ning Clan's sixth-transformation immortal.

"I—"

He was about to say he didn't know, but then seemed to recall something and quickly turned to Ning Beiyou. "Beiyou, what are their backgrounds?"

"Ancestor, Daoist Fang is a core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace, and Daoist Huang is a core disciple of the Killing Spiritual Division. We were colleagues during my time in the Lower Six Realms," said Ning Beiyou with a respectful bow.

His words caused not only Xu Linjun to look strange, but also the two sixth-transformation immortals and everyone present.

A fifth-transformation immortal of the Ning Clan murmured, "The Lower Six Realms... produced two dragons like these?"

"Had I known, I would have sent my boy to the Lower Six Realms for training long ago..."

Upon hearing Ning Beiyou's confirmation, the Ning Clan's sixth-transformation immortal beamed. He smiled at the Tianshui Manor's sixth-transformation immortal and said, "Old friend, there's no need to worry anymore. This matter won't bring any trouble upon us."

The Tianshui Manor's sixth-transformation immortal nodded. "Indeed..."

His heart hammered at his chest. The more he looked at Ning Beiyou, the more favorable his impression became. Who could have imagined that Tianshui Manor's son-in-law possessed such connections and such a background?

"You... you people..."

Zhang Xizhou spat out a mouthful of blood. Finally unable to withstand the assault, he waved his hand weakly. "Stop... stop hitting me..."

Fang Chen and Huang Qingque exchanged a glance and stopped.

Huang Qingque said indifferently, "Today is my brother's wedding. What kind of trash are you to come here and cause trouble? Did you really think that becoming an external cultivator of the Ten Thousand Star Palace and getting a shot at an assessment made you invincible within the Nine Mortal Realms?"

Zhang Xizhou clutched his chest, gasping. "Who... who exactly are you?"

He circulated his immortal essence to stabilize his injuries while staring fixedly at Huang Qingque.

Huang Qingque replied flatly, "Huang Qingque, core disciple of the Killing Spiritual Division. Remember my name. I'll allow you to seek me out for revenge. Ideally, we'll cross paths in the Ancient Forbidden Zones one day."

He paused, then added, "But I fear you won't even make it to core status. If we meet then, you'll be nothing more than an ordinary expedition team captain at best and hardly qualified to speak with me."

Dread flashed in Zhang Xizhou's eyes.

A core disciple of the Killing Spiritual Division!

While the Killing Spiritual Division's overall strength was far inferior to the Ten Thousand Star Palace, a core disciple was still a core disciple. Possessing a Formation Heart made them the highest level of existence within the Nine Realms.

Zhang Xizhou turned to Fang Chen, his gaze even more wary. "Then you are...?"

"A Killing Spiritual Division core disciple isn't enough for you?" joked Fang Chen. "You won't quit till you know my identity too?"

"Since I have received your 'guidance' today, I should at least know who you are so I can seek further instruction in the future," said Zhang Xizhou.

"Very well. Fang Chen, core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace, ranked ninth."

Huang Qingque pointed at Fang Chen and laughed at Zhang Xizhou. "In the battle for the Great Thunder Sound a few years back, he killed a core disciple of the Rulai Monastery and used Immortal Boat Formation Techniques. Are you sure you want to cause trouble for him?"

"Ranked ninth!? Killed a Rulai Monastery core disciple!?"

Zhang Xizhou nearly fell from the air in shock. Even the sixth-transformation and fifth-transformation immortals present understood what that meant.

"I had heard long ago that a genius had emerged from the Enlightenment God Palace. To think he is that core disciple ranked ninth, capable of performing Immortal Boat Formation Techniques!"

"I never expected to meet such a figure here in the Linglong Constellation..."

"The green hills remain, and the clear waters flow long. We shall meet again," said Zhang Xizhou.

He cupped his fists, turned, and left.

Since his Immortal Boat had been blown to bits, he would need to get a new one before he could leave the constellation.

At that moment, Huang Qingque flew up once more and delivered a parting kick to Zhang Xizhou's backside. "With your status, what right do you have to say the green hills remain!"

Zhang Xizhou was sent flying a great distance. He used the momentum of the kick to accelerate his departure, not daring to linger long enough to utter another word.

Seeing that, the Ning Clan's sixth-transformation immortal hurriedly shouted, "Let the wedding celebration continue!"

He immediately stepped forward with great enthusiasm to converse with Fang Chen and Huang Qingque, inviting them to the main table. Since their identities were already out in the open, the two didn't stand on ceremony. They called Ning Xun over to sit with them as well.

Upon learning that Ning Xun had been hosting the two all along and had only kept quiet to respect their wish for anonymity, the sixth-transformation immortal's gaze toward Ning Xun became filled with immense pride and approval.