Chapter 91
On the day of the Taoist Couple Ceremony.
Countless magical instruments of various shapes and forms, carrying the leaders and elders of various sects, came from all corners of the world and headed towards Kunlun Mountain.
In the vast sky, figures of monks riding flying swords and breaking through the wind can be seen everywhere.
The Linshen Sect, which had activated the sect protection formation for several months, finally withdrew most of the defense formations on this day, leaving only the most basic manpower patrols to ensure safety and welcome the arrival of guests.
Early in the morning, members of the special operations team pulled out a two-meter-high modular speaker from the warehouse and began playing dynamic music from different countries, while also testing whether the speaker and microphone were damaged.
As a speaker specially designed for concerts with tens of thousands of people, even people at the foot of the mountain can hear it clearly at the highest volume setting.
Jin Xuan picked up the microphone: "Ah - test, test, captain, can you hear me?"
The leaves around her were rustling due to the sound waves. Gong Ming, who was standing right under the speaker, covered his ears with a look of pain and despair on his face.
He felt like his eardrum had suffered damage that it shouldn't have to endure.
"Mr. Jin, which captain are you calling?"
"Teacher Gong, you're here too?" Jin Xuan looked down at him in surprise, then bared her big white teeth at him, "Of course it's our Yi Team. Teacher Gong, although you are the captain of the second team, I'm not a member of the technical team."
"What do you want to do with him?" Gong Ming rubbed his ears and said helplessly, "He should be with Gu Liang now. Don't disturb the young couple on such an important day."
"That's why I'm worried because it's important." Jin Xuan muttered.
The reason why she was looking for Yi Yan was simple: she remembered that when everyone was having a meeting in the room last night, and when Yi Yan sat down, Gu Liangyi beside him inadvertently revealed a gloomy look.
To be honest, this look really scared her at the time. If it weren't for Gu Liang repeatedly assuring them after the meeting that there was no problem on his side, and if Jin Xuan knew the relationship between the two very well, she would have even thought that there was some deep hatred between them.
Could it be that the influence of inner demons on people is so great?
"Is Captain Yi okay?" She thought for a moment, then jumped down from the speaker and asked Gong Ming with some concern, "I remember that you, Mr. Gong, have been in charge of doing psychological assessments for the two of them recently. I won't ask about Gu Liang, but how is Captain Yi?"
Even she, an outsider, could feel the murderous intent flashing in Gu Liang's eyes. As his closest half, Jin Xuan didn't believe that Yi Yan would not have any feelings.
"You know, my relationship with Yi Yan is just average." Gong Ming shrugged. "He is very wary of me. In fact, I told him a long time ago that there is no need to be so wary. I have no ill will towards Gu Liang."
Jin Xuan: "...I don't mean to say that, Mr. Gong, you really are like a mad scientist sometimes."
How could someone as perceptive as Yi Yan fail to detect the scrutiny and evaluation in Gong Ming's eyes? Even if he pretended to be friendly and reliable on the surface, even Gu Liangyi, who was skeptical about him at first, gradually opened his heart to him later. However, Yi Yan would never take Gu Liangyi's affairs lightly.
Even if this vigilance was completely unnecessary, he would never give Gong Ming 100% trust.
"Really?" Gong Ming, who was always at ease, widened his eyes and looked shocked. "I thought everyone thought I was a very easy-going teacher... So this is what my classmates think of me?"
Jin Xuan said expressionlessly, "You're overacting, Teacher Gong."
Gong Ming returned to normal in a second. He coughed and said, "In short, although classmate Yi is obviously hiding something from me, as a professional psychologist, I can guarantee that there won't be any major problems for the time being."
"……temporary?"
"Until the end of this Taoist Couple Ceremony," Gong Ming kindly gave a qualifier, "After that, let them resolve it internally. Teacher, I'm still single, and I really don't want to be fed dog food. I think you can understand this, Mr. Jin?"
Jin Xuan recalled the sticky state between Guliang and Yi Yan in Fenggu some time ago - well, not sticky, they were just eating and living together in the camp normally.
But the aura between lovers is different from that between ordinary friends! Although the parties involved may not feel it, Jin Xuan, as a bystander, saw it very clearly. Captain Yi's eyes were glued to Gu Liang at that time!
"If you are so worried," Gong Ming gave her a suggestion, "it's still early for the ceremony to officially begin, and only one-third of the guests invited by Lin Shenzong have arrived. In this case, why don't you go back to your residence first?"
Jin Xuan thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay. Then the equipment here..."
Gong Ming said politely, "I'll just help you keep an eye on it."
Jin Xuan immediately and happily put the microphone into his hand: "Then thank you, Mr. Gong! I just tested it casually just now. If you are not sure, you can also use it to sing!"
Gong Ming pondered for a moment, but did not refuse immediately. Instead, he held the microphone with a thoughtful look on his face.
A member of the special forces team passing by: “…………”
No, you two don't want to poison the ears of the monks in this world, do you?
Don’t think he doesn’t know that Teacher Gong is a complete tone-deaf!
In fact, there was no need for microphones and audio equipment for the Taoist Couple Ceremony, but the command center decided to make a name for itself at this ceremony just in case.
If you want to make a plan, you have to make it thorough. What if something goes wrong in this operation, or the energy accumulated by the thunder tribulation cannot meet the needs of the light screen, and they have to stay in this world for a while?
Therefore, they must establish an image for Mo Da that "someone cannot be provoked" at this grand event attended by the entire cultivation world - and transmitting sound through the air and amplifying sound are skills that only cultivators above the Spirit Transformation Stage possess, so naturally they have to make arrangements.
In addition, the atmosphere group including lighting, dry ice, etc. must also be in place to create the image of the boss of all the members in Mo Da!
Jin Xuan hummed a little tune and went over the next steps in her mind. As soon as she returned to her residence, she saw a young man in a white wide-sleeved Hanfu at the door, looking down and fiddling with something. The familiar back made her eyes light up, and she shouted over there:
"Gu Liang!"
Gu Liangyi, who was struggling with his belt, turned around in response.
After seeing Jin Xuan, the corners of his lips slightly raised, and he showed her a faint smile: "Senior sister, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Jin Xuan suddenly took a half step back and covered her chest uncontrollably: "No, don't talk to me with a smile like this, otherwise I'm afraid I will fall in love with you and Boss Yi will kill me."
Gu Liang:?
He gave an awkward but polite smile: "Senior, stop joking."
"I'm not kidding," Jin Xuan said seriously, "Gu Liang, has anyone ever told you that you are really suitable for wearing ancient costumes?"
Apart from this modified version of the Hanfu made of Lin Shenzong's special material, Gu Liang didn't do much decoration today. He wasn't really here to get married, so he didn't need to put on makeup or do his hair. However, the young man's foundation was not bad, and he was bathed in the spiritual energy every day in Kunlun Mountain these days, so his appearance was naturally fresh and refined. It was no wonder that Jin Xuan said such words.
But Gu Liangyi thought that the senior was teasing him as usual. He sighed and changed the subject: "Speaking of which, wasn't the senior in charge of testing the sound system at the ceremony? Why did you come back so suddenly?"
"I came back to see you guys," Jin Xuan walked up to him, nudged him with her elbow, and asked slyly, "How is it, groom? How does it feel to be getting married?"
"…Not a marriage!"
Although Gu Liangyi has said this sentence more than eight hundred times during this period, his cheeks still turn red. Jin Xuan was originally teasing the cute junior with a smile, but when she saw the haze, patience and confusion that flashed across Gu Liangyi's face, her smile gradually faded.
"Guliang," she asked again, "are you really okay?"
"Don't worry, senior sister." Gu Liangyi understood what she wanted to ask. He rubbed his solar plexus and said, "In fact, it is much better than the worst case scenario I imagined. I am just occasionally affected by the subconscious of my secondary personality."
Jin Xuan thought for a moment, "That is to say, you are still awake and can distinguish the difference between illusion and reality, right?"
Gu Liang nodded: "Yes. But because I was worried about any accidents, I didn't let him get close to me these days... ahem, I mean, appear in front of me."
Jin Xuan glanced at him and said, "Has it come to the point where you can't even mention your name?"
Gu Liangyi: “Not really…” Just in case.
Jin Xuan stared at him for a long time and suddenly shook her head.
"Ah, you see, a young couple who were about to get married are now like a middle-aged couple who are separated for seven years," she sighed, "This is definitely a work-related injury."
Gu Liangyi: “…………”
In fact, he felt a little sorry for Yi Yan, and he felt even more guilty after hearing this: "Really? Then I'll go apologize to him after this is over."
"It was just a joke, why did you take it seriously?" Jin Xuan reached out and rubbed his head without any hesitation. "Guliang, I thought you would be smarter after so long in school, but you are still so stupid! I even suspect that Captain Yi used some trickery to get you."
The corner of Gu Liang's mouth twitched.
You know what, it seems to really exist.
At the beginning of the school year, Yi Yan obviously cared about him to death, but he had to pretend to be a cool guy who didn't know who he was. Gu Liang didn't react before, but now that he thinks about it, this guy must really enjoy his secret admiration and attention, right?
"By the way, Senior Sister," Gu Liang remembered something and asked hurriedly, "Can you help me go back to my room and get my mask?"
The Taoist Couple Ceremony was originally evolved from the ancient witchcraft tribe's wedding ceremony. During the process, the witch in charge of the ceremony would put on a witchcraft mask made of 17 kinds of bird feathers, 15 kinds of beast teeth and 11 kinds of reptile mucus for the newlyweds, and pray to the heavens, hoping that the heavens would bless the couple. Over time, the custom of wearing masks when concluding a Taoist couple was continued in later generations.
According to the knowledgeable second elder, this thing is not really feudal superstition, because the technology of making this kind of mask has been lost for a long time. What has been passed down to the present day are all precious relics left by the witchcraft tribes in ancient times.
Although no one knows what its specific effects are, the only cultivator who has survived a thunder calamity so far wore this mask at the Taoist Companion Ceremony.
Gu Liangyi was not interested in the buff of the mask to increase his survival rate. The main reason he wore the mask was to use it to block Yi Yan's face - otherwise, he was worried that You, who had entered the state of inner demon, would stab Yi Yan's kidney before they could form a Taoist couple.
Although he... ahem, doesn't really care about that kind of thing, a man's kidney is still very important! You has sharpened his knife several times in the conscious world, saying that if he sees Fu Jingyan again, he will definitely make him pay!
Gu Liang couldn't help but shudder when he thought of the sinister smile on You's face when he spoke.
It was the first time he knew that his face could show such a terrifying expression.
After getting the mask from Jin Xuan, Gu Liang went to the ceremony with her. He saw Zong Qinyuan communicating with a group of big clients in white clothes, no, representatives of monks from various sects, and he couldn't help but admire the dedication of Zong Qinyuan.
Seize every opportunity, even the last second before leaving to close a deal with the customer. Principal Zong's sales level is comparable to the gold medal sales of Mobei Heavy Industry!
But although Gu Liangyi admired him, he had no intention of going over to talk to him.
One could easily guess that Zong Qinyuan would affectionately pull him aside and enthusiastically introduce this person to every cultivator present as the protagonist of this Taoist Companion Ceremony, one of his "favorite disciples."
Just thinking about that picture, Gu Liangyi felt like he was suffocating.
...He really couldn't handle this kind of situation.
"Want to eat?"
Jin Xuan handed him a handful of melon seeds that she had gotten from somewhere.
Gu Liangyi hesitated for a few seconds, but still took it.
So, when Yi Yan and the other team members packed up and came to the ceremony site, what they saw was the Taoist partner with whom they were about to sign a contract today, wearing a flowing, fairy-like white robe with wide sleeves, and another female agent who was dressed like she had just stepped out of the set of 007. The two of them were sneaking behind a rockery next to the grove, each holding a handful of melon seeds, and eating them with great enthusiasm.
Yi Yan: “…………”
Even though he was well-informed and calm, he was still shocked by this refreshing scene for a few seconds. After standing there for a while, he took the mask from the team member and put it on, then strode towards them.
"Gu Liang."
The low voice made Gu Liang, who was indulging in eating melon seeds, turn his head suddenly, but after doing this, he secretly thought that it was not good - if You saw Yi Yan's face now, wouldn't it be terrible?
Fortunately, all he saw was a hideous witchcraft mask. Gu Liangyi breathed a sigh of relief, and only then did he have the energy to look at Yi Yan's outfit today.
Unlike a pure mage like him who could cast spells regardless of what he wore, Yi Yan was still a man of action. So the command center designed him a set of clothes similar to those worn by the Jinyiwei of the Ming Dynasty, which was easy to move around in. The dark brocade robe moved with his steps, and in the light, dark patterns of mountains and beasts flashed faintly.
Although his face was obscured by the mask, his imposing manner and tall stature when he walked perfectly supported the suit. With a dagger on his waist and black leather boots striding towards him, Gu Liangyi felt as if he was the emperor who had escaped from the palace to sleep with prostitutes and was caught by the head of the Jinyiwei who was responsible for patrolling the imperial city.
He silently pressed down the half of the mask that was opened when he was eating melon seeds to cover the expression on his face.
I have to say, it’s a bit... well, pretty handsome.
Yi Yan pretended not to notice his little action. He stretched out his hand to Gu Liangyi and said, "What are you doing here? The ceremony is about to begin. Zhou Qingzi is looking for us."
Gu Liangyi quickly threw away the melon seeds in his hand, and subconsciously wanted to wipe his hands on his body, but suddenly remembered that he was wearing white clothes today, and he froze for a moment.
Yi Yan sighed, not caring about his dirty hands, pulled Gu Liangyi up from the ground, picked up a bottle of mineral water from the side, unscrewed it, and carefully washed the melon seed shells remaining between his fingers.
"This guy is not bad," Gu Liangyou said. Although his consciousness was dazed now, he was still able to sense the outside world to a certain extent. "In terms of consideration, he is barely qualified."
Gu Liang paused for a moment: "You, are you awake?"
"Didn't you wake me up?" Gu Liangyou was very surprised, "I was going to ask you what's the matter."
He felt a little awkward because this situation had never existed between him and the main personality before.
At that time, they were in tune with each other's minds, and the other personality could know everything they were thinking without them having to ask.
But Gu Liangyou didn't want to ask why the main personality had been hiding things from him after he woke up this time, because he could sense the main personality's inner apology and persistence.
Anyway, Xiaoyi will tell him the truth sooner or later, he thought.
Regarding this, Gu Liangyou has 100% trust in Gu Liangyi.
Gu Liangyou always believed that he was born for the person called "Gu Liangyi".
Even if the main personality wishes him to disappear or merge with him completely one day, he will not have any complaints, because Xiaoyi's wish is his wish - playful quarrels don't count, but when something serious happens, how can a person deny his own decision?
"Actually, I was just thinking about it in my mind. I didn't expect you to be able to do it all at once." Gu Liangyi said.
Gu Liangyou sensed that he had something to say to her, and couldn't help but frown in her conscious world: "Just say it straight, when did we need to be so secretive?"
"Okay," Gu Liangyi said, "but it's not a big deal. You can come and participate in the ceremony when it's halfway through."
"You still care about this?" Gu Liangyou laughed at him, "We are one person, I won't be jealous of you."
Gu Liangyou felt that the master's personality was really wrong. Asking such a question was just like the right hand protesting to the left hand why it worked so hard every day while the other did not work. They clearly shared the same brain, so such a thing did not exist at all!
"Come on." But Gu Liangyi still insisted.
"……All right."
Gu Liangyou: "But you have to tell me the process. Let me make it clear first, if there is a kiss in public, I won't do it unless you open your memory to me."
"No!" Gu Liangyi's face suddenly turned red. "You clearly know this is not a wedding. It's ok for others to tease us, but you are the one who is talking nonsense!"
Because most of his energy was invested in communicating with You, Yi Yan in the outside world clearly felt something was wrong. He paused slightly, tilted his head to look at Gu Liangyi, and asked with his eyes: Is everything okay?
Gu Liang shook his head at him.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion sounded on both sides of the road where they were!
Yi Yan subconsciously clenched his hands, but did not react too much - because the explosion came from the fireworks that the special operations team had arranged long ago, and was not an attack from others.
Although there are some villains who intend to take advantage of the Linshen Sect's withdrawal of the sect protection formation to cause trouble secretly, the automatic cruise defense system of Moda is not for show.
Each invitation letter sent by Lin Shenzong contains a chip specifically used for identity recognition. Those who come uninvited will be warmly received by Xiaomo, a classmate with a gentle voice.
Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky, and the gorgeous fireworks show of various colors lasted for more than twenty minutes. Although all those present were monks who could cross mountains and seas, they could not help but look up and exclaimed in amazement.
Seeing that the guests around him had all taken their seats, Zhou Qingzi waved his long sleeves, and the breeze magic blew away the mist. With the cry of the fairy crane spirit beast, countless birds flapped their wings and flew out from the mountains and forests, soaring and singing around the peak of Kunlun Mountain.
A rough and simple altar was located in the center of the ceremony site. In addition to the most basic three-legged bronze beast tripod for offering sacrifices to the sky in the Taoist Ceremony, what surprised the guests was that the entire altar was surrounded by something similar to iron thorns.
Their length even stretched to the sky, completely covering the sky where the altar was located.
It’s not that no one has asked, but the answer everyone got was just the elders’ meaningful smiles and silence.
In fact, the elders of the Linshen Sect were not very clear about these things, they only knew that they were arranged by Mo Da in advance. But Zhou Qingzi had a vague guess, maybe it was a replica of the "iron cage" that Daoist Gu Liang had made when he helped the Sect Master to survive the thunder tribulation?
But he guessed right about this.
These are indeed used for conducting electricity, and they ultimately point to the two pieces of blood ore placed in the bronze tripod.
In addition, the command center has conducted more than a hundred simulation experiments on Earth, using the world's most advanced lightning impulse voltage measurement technology, with full monitoring and security in place to ensure that Gu Liangyi and Yi Yan inside the altar will never be harmed in any way.
Everything is ready, only the east wind is missing. A bluestone slab road extends all the way to the feet of the two young men standing side by side. In the eyes of the crowd, some are looking at them, some are smiling and blessing them. Even though he has repeatedly prepared himself mentally before, Gu Liangyi's mood suddenly became nervous.
But when he felt the hot temperature and firm strength of Yi Yan's hand holding his under the wide sleeves, his stiff shoulders gradually relaxed.
——This time, he is no longer alone.
"Let's go." Yi Yan whispered to him.
Gu Liangyi took a deep breath:
"Um."
Students who were far away at the Qinling Dongtian Campus were also watching the live footage of the Taoist Couple Ceremony via drone broadcast.
They expressed extremely strong, dark and indiscriminate jealousy towards every member of the special forces team who was able to attend the event.
"Damn it! If I had known earlier I would have signed up for the special forces team!"
"I regret it so much! I finally got this opportunity to travel through time and bring honor to my family, but when I went to register excitedly, I passed all the tests, but was eliminated in the last round because I failed the physical examination!"
"...Could the guy above be the unlucky reserve who was passed by Instructor Jiao because of hemorrhoids, as has been rumored for a long time on our Moda forum?"
"Ahhhhhh let me die!"
"Hahaha, what a grudge! It seems like it's right. But this guy is really miserable. Hemorrhoids are not a disease, but the pain can be fatal. Listen to my advice, get it removed sooner and enjoy life sooner."
"No, why did the topic turn to hemorrhoids? Is no one paying attention to the scene?"
"It's no use caring about it. We can't go anyway, so we can only watch the live broadcast like billions of people. Moreover, the camera arrangement and the clarity are probably not as good as the live broadcast on a light screen."
"As expected, students who stay on campus have always suffered the most. When I return to Earth, I will blackmail them for some wedding candy. If they don't hold a wedding banquet for a thousand people, I will make a scene!"
"That's right! Let's count the more than 30,000 people in our Mo University. Excluding those who can't attend due to some matters, there are still at least 10,000 or 20,000 people. By then, they can receive hundreds of millions just from red envelopes! Do it, we must do it!"
Billions of people on Earth also held their breath, looking at the newlyweds - or should we follow the local customs, it would be more appropriate to describe them as Taoist couples. Although everyone knew the real purpose behind this grand event, most people couldn't help but smile and wish them well when they saw the two young people walking side by side in the picture.
“Really…”
Even Lu Lang, who had been thinking calmly and monitoring every corner of the scene, pursed his lips with a complicated expression at this moment.
Regardless of whether they are heroes of humanity, a couple with a mutual understanding, or simply two young students who have supported each other all the way to where they are today, he sincerely hopes that they can continue to stay together like this.
Until the last moment.
Zong Qinyuan presided over the ceremony for them. He lit the firewood in the bronze tripod, opened the ancient parchment scroll, and recited the obscure and mysterious spell on it. All the cultivators present were horrified because they felt the fluctuation of the rules of the heaven in the dark.
Gu Liangyi also frowned slightly and looked at the cloudless sky.
This feeling...
It was as if there was an invisible giant eye in the sky, casting a cold gaze on them. Gu Liangyi could feel Yi Yan's tense body beside him, and it seemed that he should have also noticed the invisible presence.
However, figuring out the mysteries of the way of heaven is not their goal today.
Gu Liangyi quickly gathered his thoughts, and gently cut his index finger with the sterilized dagger handed to him by Zong Qinyuan, and smeared a drop of blood on the bronze tripod that was not yet completely hot. Yi Yan, who was standing beside him, also followed suit.
At that moment, both of their bodies shook.
Gu Liangyi's hair stood up from head to toe in an instant, as if an icy shackle had wrapped around his body and seeped into every pore of his body.
This feeling is not comfortable and may even be a little offensive.
No wonder no one in the world of cultivating immortals was willing to sign a Taoist couple contract. He thought that this was simply a robbery contract set by the heavens. If they hadn't also had other intentions, Gu Liangyi would have wanted to quit right now.
"The contract has been signed," Zong Qinyuan closed the parchment scroll in his hand and smiled at them, "Oh, now the bridegroom can kiss the bridegroom."
Gu Liangyi: “…………”
There is no such link at all! Principal Zong, please stop making a fuss!
He turned to Yi Yan silently, calling You in his heart and asking with his eyes: Do you want to take off the mask yourself, or do you want me to help you?
Yi Yan paused for a moment, let go of Gu Liangyi's hand, and took off the mask on his own initiative.
During the entire planning process, the command center's biggest concern was that Gu Liang's inner demons would not have strong enough emotions when he saw Yi Yan. Or, to be more specific, their emotions were not strong enough to meet the standards for heaven to send down a thunder tribulation. What should they do then?
——However, this problem no longer exists.
Jin Xuan, who was sitting in the audience, watched the Kunlun Mountains, which were sunny and clear just a second ago, gather dark clouds like overlapping mountains in the blink of an eye. There were also purple thunderstorm lightning that looked very bad surging in the clouds. She couldn't help but look at the tense white figure in front of her, and a question that puzzled her emerged in her mind:
How did you two get together in the first place?
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