Chapter 1556: The Auspicious Hour Has Arrived

Zhao Xing's face was filled with an overbearing aura, leaving no room for dissent.

These old men had all survived brutal battles, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Which one of them wasn't a seasoned veteran, a regional overlord, or a powerful figure in their own right?

To put it bluntly, each of these old men had blood on their hands.

The number of demons they had slain likely surpassed the amount of rice the people of Wusheng Mountain had eaten in their lifetimes.

If one were to judge right from wrong, none of them could be considered good people—they were all formidable and ruthless.

Chen Dahai was so terrified that he was practically pissing himself, tears streaming down his face.

His legs trembled uncontrollably.

He knew that even if his father were here now, he would have no choice but to kneel and beg for mercy.

"Get down on your knees!" Zhao Xing barked.

The other old men continued drinking and chatting, completely unfazed by the commotion.

"I'll kneel, I'll kneel! Please don't kill me! Don't kill me!"

Chen Dahai scrambled to the wall, sobbing as he knelt down.

He was filled with regret and humiliation.

In his entire life, he had never suffered such a disgrace.

He felt that he had completely lost face—not just his own, but also the face of Wusheng Mountain.

He believed he had failed his father and his sect, and though he wished he could die to escape the shame, he lacked the courage and resolve to do so.

Chen Dahai wept bitterly.

He regretted provoking Situ Taili and incurring the wrath of someone—or something—that neither he nor Wusheng Mountain could resist.

He longed for the days when he could strut around Wusheng Mountain, barking orders and living like a king.

After much soul-searching, he vowed never to leave the mountain again, hoping only to survive and return to Wansheng Mountain to live out his days in peace.

Those present who had suffered under Wusheng Mountain's tyranny were all in high spirits, cheering loudly.

The wedding had already proven to be worth it, and it hadn't even started yet—this drama was just the beginning.

The people of Huacheng had also heard the rumors and learned of Wansheng Mountain's misdeeds.

They were disgusted by Wansheng Mountain's duplicity—acting one way in public and another behind closed doors—and felt that Chen Dahai and his ilk had gotten what they deserved.

Situ Taili and Cang Sheng stood by the table.

Watching the scene unfold, the father and son couldn't have been more pleased.

"Grandfathers, the ceremony is about to begin. I'll head to the stage now," Cang Sheng said respectfully.

"Go ahead, grandson."

"Mm."

Cang Sheng nodded, his heart pounding with nervousness, but he maintained a calm smile as he made his way to the stage.

Situ Taili didn't dare to slack off.

He stayed behind to entertain the big shots, fearing that if any of them were displeased, they might destroy Huacheng with a single slap.

Situ Taili shakily poured wine and offered toasts to each of the old men.

Though most of these old men were eccentric, they were relatively polite to their new in-law.

"Hey, you two, stop whispering! Can't you see the in-law is offering a toast? Are you blind?!"

"Sorry, sorry, we didn't notice. Our apologies, in-law."

Situ Taili forced a stiff smile and raised his cup. "No worries, no worries. It's my fault for interrupting your conversation."

"Not at all, not at all. We're here for Cang Sheng's wedding and to meet his family."

Hearing this, Situ Taili broke out in a cold sweat.

The pressure was overwhelming.

Soon, the auspicious hour arrived.

Yi Feng, acting as the officiant, slowly ascended the stage and stood beside Cang Sheng.

When the old men saw Yi Feng take the stage, they immediately set down their cups and sat up straight, as if they were being inspected.

Seeing how respectfully these old men behaved, Situ Taili's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Yi Feng's status was even higher than these elders?!

The surrounding guests, noticing the solemnity of the powerful figures, all fell silent.

Not a single word was spoken, and even the slightest sound was avoided, lest it provoke the wrath of these mighty beings.

The scene became eerily quiet, so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone turned their gaze to the stage, as if paying their respects.

"The auspicious hour has arrived. Please welcome the bride to the stage," Yi Feng announced solemnly.

His voice wasn't loud, but it resonated like a divine proclamation, reaching the ears of everyone present and filling them with awe.

Situ Qingyi, veiled in red and dressed in a magnificent wedding gown, was escorted onto the stage by her maids, her steps graceful and measured.

Cang Sheng stepped forward, took his beloved's hand, and led her to the center of the stage.

Then, Yi Feng continued the ceremony.

"First bow to heaven and earth!"

The young couple bowed deeply toward the east.

"Second bow to the parents!"

Situ Taili stepped onto the stage and sat on a chair made of golden nanmu wood, with Yi Feng on one side and Situ Taili's wife on the other.

The newlyweds kowtowed to the three of them.

To the couple, Yi Feng was like an elder brother and a father figure, deserving of their respect.

"Husband and wife, bow to each other!"

The couple faced each other and bowed.

"The ceremony is complete. Lift the veil and serve the tea!"

The warm sun shone gently, and a soft breeze blew.

The sunlight illuminated Cang Sheng's chiseled features, making his smile even more radiant.

The breeze caressed Situ Qingyi's wedding gown, accentuating her graceful figure.

Cang Sheng gently lifted the red veil from his bride's head, revealing her delicate and charming face.

Situ Qingyi gazed up at her husband, her eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Seeing this, the twenty-something old men were moved—some clapped wildly, some smiled broadly, and some were lost in thought.

They had thought their lives would end in misery.

But then their master had appeared and saved them.

Not only that.

Their master had brought them Cang Sheng, a wonderful grandson, filling their lives with hope for the future.

Watching Cang Sheng lift the veil was even more exciting than their own weddings had been.

They saw Cang Sheng as the continuation of their generation, a beacon of hope for a bright future.

At that moment.

The steward brought tea, and the couple respectfully served it to Situ Taili and his wife.

"Darling, we should also offer a cup to Brother Yi Feng."

"Yes, I was thinking the same."

"That's the right thing to do," Situ Taili said.

Yi Feng smiled warmly as he accepted the tea and the couple's bows, witnessing the union of their lives.

After drinking the tea offered by the couple, Yi Feng stood up.

He announced loudly, "The ceremony is complete! Thank you all for witnessing this joyous occasion. Please enjoy the feast and make yourselves at home!"

The crowd erupted into cheers once more.

A lavish spread of delicacies and fine wines was served, and the guests indulged in the feast, drinking and eating to their hearts' content.

Yi Feng led the couple down from the stage.

The group of old men all stood up respectfully and bowed to Yi Feng.

"Greetings, Master!" they chorused.

Their voices boomed like a great bell, silencing everyone present.

The scene fell into a deathly silence once more.

All eyes turned to Yi Feng, as if they were gazing upon the ruler of all creation.

Yi Feng was somewhat exasperated but didn't mind too much. However, seeing the commotion, he waved his hand, erasing the memory of that moment for most people to restore calm. Then, he smiled at the crowd and said, "No need for formalities. Let the couple offer you a toast, and then the bride will return to her chambers."

The old men raised their hands, and cups of fine wine flew toward them.

Cang Sheng and Situ Qingyi smiled sweetly as they followed Yi Feng's instructions, offering a toast to the group of grandfathers.

The old men lavished praise on their new granddaughter-in-law, making Situ Qingyi blush like a little apple.

Situ Taili, watching from behind, was utterly stunned.

He knew Yi Feng was powerful, but he had no idea Yi Feng was the master of these mighty figures.

What kind of status and position did that entail?

When Yi Feng had waved his hand earlier, Situ Taili had felt as if he were witnessing a divine act.

At that moment, Situ Taili felt as insignificant as an ant on the ground.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of existence Yi Feng was.

After the initial shock, Situ Taili was overcome with joy.

He knew that the Situ family had benefited greatly from Cang Sheng's connection to Yi Feng.

With Yi Feng and these powerful figures on their side, the Situ family's future was bound to flourish.

Not just flourish—the Situ family would reach heights he had never dared to dream of.

Truly, their ancestors were watching over them, and the heavens had blessed them!

After the toasts, Situ Qingyi returned to her chambers, while Cang Sheng busied himself with receiving guests.

The outdoor wedding banquet was lively, with guests clinking glasses and enjoying themselves.

As time passed, the guests began to leave one by one.

News of the dozens of powerful figures attending the Situ family's wedding spread like wildfire as the guests departed.

This explosive news sent shockwaves throughout the Qianlong Empire.

The behavior of Wusheng Mountain's young master at the banquet also became widely known.

That night.

After the banquet, Chen Dahai returned to his mountain stronghold, filled with resentment and humiliation.

Just as he thought he had escaped unscathed and was venting to his father.

The elite forces of the Qianlong Empire descended from the sky.

In an instant.

Wusheng Mountain was engulfed in flames, the sounds of battle, clashing weapons, explosions, and roars echoing everywhere.

An hour later.

Wusheng Mountain, which had ruled the region for a century, was completely annihilated.

The once-thriving mountain was now a charred wasteland.

No one from Wusheng Mountain survived; the scene was gruesome.

In stark contrast, the wedding festivities continued the next day.

The luxurious and joyous celebration carried on, with guests reveling in the feast.

The crown prince of the Qianlong Empire arrived in person.

The gifts he brought were staggering in their extravagance.

Among them were the heads of Chen Dahai and his father from Wusheng Mountain.