Myriad Daos of the Heaven

Qingyun Tower in Cyan Moon City. It was the largest restaurant in the Celestial Pearl Country, its fame so widespread that it was known by all.

The tower stood nine stories tall, a majestic structure of magnificent and exquisite beauty. Usually, only the most influential figures of Cyan Moon City were permitted entry, and even they could ascend no higher than the seventh floor!

The eighth and ninth floors of Qingyun Tower were opened even more rarely; very few were ever granted the privilege of setting foot on them.

Typically, the floors below the eighth were bustling with excitement while the eighth and ninth floors remained quiet and empty.

But today, the situation was reversed: the lower floors were deserted, while the top two floors were livelier than ever.

Everyone in Cyan Moon City now knew that the various Sects and Noble Families of the Celestial Pearl Country were hosting a banquet for the envoys of the Celestial Wind Country’s Feng Family on the eighth and ninth floors.

But what everyone was truly discussing was another matter entirely: the marriage of Feng Tianxing, the Young Master of the Celestial Wind Country’s Feng Family, to Jiang Ling’Er!

"The Young Master of the Feng Family is actually interested in Jiang Ling’Er? Doesn’t that mean the Spirit Moon Sect and the Jiang Family are about to soar to prominence? They might just become the top Sect and leading Noble Family in the Celestial Pearl Country overnight."

"If the marriage is for real, Jiang Ling’Er will transform from a common sparrow into a soaring phoenix. Plus, with the Young Master’s influence, it would only take a single word from him to make the Spirit Moon Sect replace the Mountain Sect as the top Sect, or to raise the Jiang Family into the leading Noble Family of the Celestial Pearl Country."

"That may be true, but I heard the marriage is a one-sided affair on the Young Master’s part. What’s more, the four Elders of the Jiang Mansion already agreed to the engagement with the Feng Family without ever getting Jiang Ling’Er’s consent."

"If that’s the case, then she has no choice but to agree. Besides, she’s representing the Spirit Moon Sect this time, so her attendance is mandatory!"

"Heh heh... What woman in all of Cyan Moon City wouldn’t want to be the Young Master’s? All the major Noble Families and Sects have called back their most heavenly beauties to attend this banquet. The Four Beauties of Qingcheng, Qingya, and all the other famously stunning women are here. So if Jiang Ling’Er refuses, she’s just putting on airs!"

...

Cyan Moon City was far from peaceful. Everyone was talking, and rumors filled the air. All eyes were fixed upon the eighth and ninth floors of Qingyun Tower.

The eighth floor was a gathering place for the young powerhouses, and it was where the Feng Family’s Young Master would be welcomed. Everything revolved around him; even the Prince of the Celestial Pearl Country would be in attendance.

The ninth floor was where the older generation from the major Noble Families and Sects would receive the senior envoys from the Feng Family. It was said that even the Old Emperor himself would be there in person!

To put it bluntly, one floor was for the young generation, and the other for their elders.

At that moment, in a room on the eighth floor of Qingyun Tower, Jiang Ling’Er stood by the window, her expression impassive. She gazed silently at the distant Moonlight Forest.

Behind her stood the four Elders of the Jiang Family, three Elders from the Spirit Moon Sect, and her master.

The Grand Elder, Jiang Qingshan, spoke gently from behind her. "Ling’Er, for the sake of the Jiang Family, what do personal feelings matter? Besides, marrying the Young Master of the Celestial Wind Country’s Feng Family is a supreme honor. Therefore, we have made this decision for you. Everything I have done is for the good of the Jiang Family!"

The Second Elder, Jiang Qingyun, was not so gentle. He said coldly, "Jiang Ling’Er, the Feng Family has made their wishes known. You will agree, whether you want to or not. Otherwise, you will be the doom of the Jiang Family and your sect. You had better think clearly about the consequences of refusing."

Jiang Ling’Er’s master from the Spirit Moon Sect, a middle-aged woman who still retained a graceful charm, sighed and spoke helplessly. "Ling’Er, if it were only me, my life or death would be of no consequence. But the fate of the entire Spirit Moon Sect is at stake, so... you should just agree to it!"

...

Listening to their pleas, she could have dismissed the Grand Elder and the Second Elder. But her master was the person she was closest to, aside from Jiang Jichen. How could she possibly refuse?

’Feng Tianxing... he was just someone I met while traveling years ago. I thought he was just a transient figure in my life and had long forgotten him. I never imagined he would show up on my doorstep one day, let alone as the Young Master of the Wind Country’s Feng Family.’

’That title—Young Master of the Feng Family—is enough to decide the survival of countless Family Sects in the Celestial Pearl Country. And all it would take is a single word!’

’I have almost no memory of Feng Tianxing. We just traveled together in an adventuring party for a while. But he actually claims it was love at first sight? I really want to just laugh in his face!’

’If I didn’t have people to worry about, people I cared for, my personality is such that I would have refused him outright. But now, I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.’

"The Feng Family envoys have arrived!"

The voice boomed from a Sound-Amplifying Jade, audible throughout the entire city of Cyan Moon.

The arrival of the Feng Family’s envoys meant that the banquet was about to begin.

"Ling’Er, we will head out first. This eighth floor belongs to your generation. The Young Master of the Feng Family will be arriving soon. You should prepare yourself."

The Grand Elder and the others knew Jiang Ling’Er would make the "correct" choice, as any resistance on her part would be futile. So, having said what they needed to say, they all withdrew from the room.

Jiang Ling’Er didn’t turn around, but she had already withdrawn her gaze from the Moonlight Forest.

’Chen’Er... he probably won’t be back today. He doesn’t know about this...’

If Jiang Jichen had been alone, he naturally would not have known. But as he was walking out of the Moonlight Forest, he ran into Ding Xiaodao.

Ding Xiaodao, Luuo Xue, and Qingya had all exchanged Sound Transmission Jades.

Quite coincidentally, when Ding Xiaodao relayed the news that Jiang Jichen had left the Moonlight Forest to Luuo Xue and Qingya, they, in turn, told Jiang Jichen every single detail about the situation with Jiang Ling’Er and Feng Tianxing.

Finally, Qingya asked, "So, you big swindler, what are you going to do?"

Jiang Jichen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked back, "Miss Qingya, what do you think I should do?"

Qingya’s voice came through the Sound Transmission Jade, uncharacteristically serious. "Feng Tianxing’s own cultivation is at the Innate Sixth Middle Realm. The weakest of the samurai with him are at the Innate Third Layer. As for those old geezers from the Feng Family, they supposedly have two Minor Grandmasters with them! And that’s not even the main issue. The biggest problem is the power backing him—the top Noble Family in the Celestial Wind Country! So, if you want to stay alive, you’d best do nothing at all!"

Jiang Jichen just chuckled. "Miss Qingya, you’ve analyzed Feng Tianxing’s strength so thoroughly, as if you were afraid I didn’t know. Are you worried I’ll go and get myself killed? Sigh, you care about me so much!"

"You... Who cares about you! I just don’t want you to die too soon! I haven’t even gotten back the pill you tricked me out of yet. If you have to die, at least wait until our score is settled!"

Qingya’s voice came roaring through the Sound Transmission Jade.

Jiang Jichen knew in his heart that Qingya was genuinely concerned for him; she was just being stubborn and trying to save face. But he had to go to Cyan Moon City, and he had to go immediately. He had to arrive before the banquet began.

Jiang Jichen then spoke calmly, "Don’t worry, Miss Qingya. I, Jiang Jichen, am going to become the strongest person in the world. No one can kill me. As for that Feng Tianxing... just wait for me at the banquet and watch how I crush him!"

Just then, Luuo Xue’s voice came from another Sound Transmission Jade: "Brother Jichen, take care!"

Her voice was almost a whisper, perhaps only audible to herself and to Ding Xiaodao, who stood behind Jiang Jichen.