The Xu family's encampment was established on Jade Wall Mountain.
Jade Wall Mountain stood five hundred zhang tall, sheer and precipitous, impossible to climb without the aid of flight to reach its peak.
A small spiritual river flowed on either side of Jade Wall Mountain, surrounded by numerous spirit herbs and medicines, the very foundation of the Xu family's prosperity.
The Xu family was one of many affiliated clans that depended on the Tai Yi Immortal Sect.
In the cultivation world, their influence was roughly that of a medium-sized cultivation family.
...
The matter of the eldest son of the Song family, a large cultivation family, coming to propose marriage was naturally considered a significant event within the Xu family.
Regarding this, the Xu family was divided into two factions.
One faction, comprising Xu Sheng's father and uncles, viewed this as an incredibly fortunate development.
They believed that by marrying Xu Sheng to the youngest son of the Song family's current patriarch, their Xu family would, in effect, form an alliance with the Song family, reaping immense benefits.
The other faction, compared to the naive individuals above, was considerably more pragmatic.
So what if he was the youngest son of the Song family's current patriarch? Would marrying into their family truly yield great benefits? They shouldn't forget that Xu Sheng possessed excellent talent and had the potential to reach the Core Formation stage in the future.
If Xu Sheng truly reached Core Formation, the outcome of who gained or lost would remain uncertain.
Xu Zongshi, the Xu family's current patriarch and a cultivator at the mid-Core Formation stage, listened to the arguments below with an unparalleled air of authority.
"Enough!"
He struck the blood sandalwood long table before him, and the entire hall fell silent.
This scene, from a different angle, demonstrated the old man's absolute control over the Xu family.
"My Xu family has a legacy spanning a thousand years. While not an exceptionally large family, we are not a weak force either."
"When did we start treating the women of our family as tools for transactions? But as the saying goes, a person without integrity cannot stand. Since a promise was made, how can we retract it now?"
Xu Zongshi's words caused the other clan members in opposition to lower their heads, fearing they would become targets and be attacked by everyone.
Speaking of this, Xu Yanghua, seated to Xu Zongshi's left, hesitated before addressing him. "Brother, it is not my place to meddle, but the youngest son of the Song family's current patriarch, Song Le, has always been a controversial figure among the major cultivation families. His temperament is reportedly not very good. Marrying Xiao Sheng to Song Le would truly be unwise. I implore you to reconsider, Brother."
Xu Liwei, on the right, nodded in agreement.
At this moment, the only ones daring to openly contradict Xu Zongshi were the other two early-Core Formation cultivators in the Xu family.
Glancing at his two younger brothers, Xu Zongshi showed no sign of pleasure or displeasure on his face, simply stating calmly, "This matter is settled. No objections will be tolerated."
Hearing this, the Xu Yanghua and Xu Liwei brothers had no choice but to comply. After all, Xu Sheng was Xu Zongshi's own granddaughter.
If their grandfather had spoken, what could they, as elders, do?
Among the older generation of the Xu family, most doted on Xu Sheng. When Xu Zongshi initially proposed marrying Xu Sheng off to Hua Shan, others had dismissed it as a joke.
However, Xu Zongshi had his reasons.
Currently, the external situation for the Xu family, while appearing stable on the surface, was actually strained by frequent territorial disputes with the Yang family, another medium-sized cultivation family, in recent years.
And the Xu family's greatest backing, the Tai Yi Immortal Sect, felt somewhat detached, viewing both sides with equal concern.
While the disputes between the Xu and Yang families were not major, the underlying conflict was apparent.
Therefore, the Xu family needed to prepare in advance to ensure their security.
This was something Xu Zongshi, as the patriarch, had to consider.
Initially, the Xu family would not have feared a rival of similar size. However, the Yang family was unlike other medium-sized cultivation families. Their family was renowned for artifact refining and maintained good relations with numerous other families, meaning an attack on one would draw repercussions from many.
The current head of the Yang family, Yang Gaozhou, was a well-known figure among the major cultivation families, possessing great ambition.
Under Yang Gaozhou's leadership, the Yang family had made significant progress in all aspects over the years, their prestige soaring.
While the Xu family had not deteriorated significantly, their growth was outpaced by others. The feeling of being under constant threat was extremely unpleasant.
Just as Xu Zongshi was deeply troubled by this, Song Dao'yi, the current patriarch of the Song family,
personally came forward, expressing his desire for a closer relationship through his youngest son, and proposing that his youngest son marry Xu Zongshi's granddaughter, Xu Sheng, thereby forging an alliance between the two families.
Xu Zongshi deliberated for several days before ultimately deciding to betroth Xu Sheng to the youngest son of Song Dao'yi, the current patriarch of the Song family.
Firstly, it would help win over the Song family, a large cultivation family, which would be instrumental in suppressing the Yang family. Secondly, his granddaughter was also of marriageable age.
...
After convincing the other members of his family, Xu Zongshi sought out his granddaughter, Xu Sheng, intending to break the news to her personally.
Xu Zongshi sighed deeply, looking at his granddaughter with an inexpressible emotion in his eyes.
"Grandfather? What's wrong? Is something the matter???"
Xu Sheng, with her inherently pure nature, was unaware of the turmoil in Xu Zongshi's heart at that moment.
Looking at his granddaughter, Xu Zongshi finally spoke, "Sheng'er, do you remember the Song family?"
"The Song family? You mean the Song family of Qingzhou, a large cultivation family?" Xu Sheng, being over thirty years old, had some knowledge of the major cultivation families in Qingzhou.
"That's right, it's that Song family. I've come here to inform you of something..."
Xu Zongshi sighed faintly and said, "Sheng'er, we have arranged a marriage for you with the youngest son of the Song family's current patriarch, Song Dao'yi. His name is Song Le. And now, the Song family has sent word that Song Le intends to come and formally propose..."
Upon hearing Xu Zongshi's words, Xu Sheng froze. It all came so suddenly, the news of marriage from her grandfather was like a thunderclap, leaving Xu Sheng utterly stunned.
Bitter tears streamed down her pretty face, reaching below her neck. The events of the past still swirled in her mind, and Xu Sheng found it impossible to accept this reality.
The shrewd old Xu Zongshi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Xu Sheng and sighing, "Sheng'er, I don't care who you liked before. From now on, please forget him, for the good of the entire family!"
Xu Sheng tilted her head up, tears glistening in her eyes, and spoke with profound sorrow, "Then why me? We have so many unmarried girls in the Xu family, can't it be someone else?"
...
"If it could be someone else, why would I have to play the villain? But the Song family patriarch, Song Dao'yi, specifically named you. Therefore, you must marry the Song family's young master, Song Le."
Seeing this, Xu Zongshi's heart churned with a mixture of emotions, but for the sake of the Xu family, he had to be resolute.
Meanwhile.
Xu Sheng bit her red lips, so hard that blood beaded on them, yet she refused to yield.
Her eyes were on the verge of tears as she pleaded, "For the past ten years, I've only loved this one person. Why must you force me to marry into the Song family, Grandfather? If it comes to this, my heart will be dead..."
Hearing this, Xu Zongshi transformed into a streak of light and vanished from the spot.
He dared not listen any longer, fearing that he might relent and refuse the marriage alliance with the Song family.
Xu Sheng suddenly felt an immense distance separating her from Wu Tao, as if he belonged to another world.
This fated helplessness gave her a sudden urge to end her own life.
The next day.
When Wu Tao arrived at a pavilion in Kunyu Mountain, a famous mountain in Qingzhou, at Xu Sheng's invitation, he heard the faint sound of a girl sobbing nearby. Looking up, he saw Xu Sheng sitting on the marble stone stool of the pavilion, weeping softly.
Hearing Wu Tao's footsteps, Xu Sheng looked up. Her beautiful eyes were swollen and red from crying. She gazed blankly at Wu Tao, no longer possessing her usual optimism and carefree spirit.
"Sheng'er, what's wrong?" Wu Tao hurried to Xu Sheng's side.
Wu Tao had known Xu Sheng for over a decade and had never seen her like this. In his memory, Xu Sheng had always been cheerful and unrestrained, a girl who loved to laugh.
Although Xu Sheng was not exceptionally stunning, and paled in comparison to peerless beauties like Zhang Wan'er, Lin Yue'er, and Shang Yuyi, she was by no means unattractive.
Xu Sheng was the type of girl who was pleasant to look at and grew more so with prolonged observation. Some women might be strikingly beautiful at first glance, but they couldn't withstand close scrutiny.
Xu Sheng was entirely different. Moreover, Xu Sheng was never coy or reserved; she was naturally innocent and genuine, precisely the kind of girl Wu Tao liked.
Wu Tao quickly crouched down and asked softly, "Sheng'er, what's wrong? Why are you crying so sadly?"
Xu Sheng stopped her tears and said softly, looking down, "I'm getting married."
Wu Tao felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning, his ears buzzing, his mind in utter chaos. Only one thought echoed incessantly in his head, "How could this happen? How could this happen?"
Wu Tao, nearing forty years old, and Xu Sheng, in her thirties, had developed deep feelings for each other over the past decade.
The primary reason why Wu Tao and Xu Sheng had never officially become a Dao companion for over a decade lay with Wu Tao.
It wasn't that Wu Tao was an unfeeling cad who didn't want to take responsibility.
Rather, Wu Tao's sense of responsibility was so strong that he feared he could not give the woman he loved true happiness, which was why he had delayed for so long.
Wu Tao had originally planned to hold a grand and magnificent wedding ceremony with Xu Sheng after successfully forming his Core. He intended to invite many friends and relatives, allowing countless people to witness their happiness.
But unexpectedly, this situation had arisen.
Wu Tao, who was usually resolute, was completely stunned by the cruel reality.
...
Seeing Wu Tao's devastated expression, Xu Sheng felt a pang of bitterness, and tears flowed down her eyes once more.
Taking a deep breath and forcibly calming himself, Wu Tao looked at the tearful Xu Sheng with red-rimmed eyes. He felt such heartache that he disregarded everything else and reached out to gently embrace Xu Sheng.
As Wu Tao embraced Xu Sheng, a faint blush spread across Xu Sheng's face.