Chapter 866: Chapter 866

Seeing Ding Huan walk into the hall, Yan Zhuo's expression was somewhat displeased.

First, because Ding Huan was indeed ugly, and secondly, because his late arrival by two rounds of ceremonial tea was absolutely unforgivable.

The guests on both sides of the hall all looked at Ding Huan with peculiar expressions.

Ding Huan immediately understood; it seemed was another scheme by Yan Jiuyue.

This woman must have deliberately informed Qi Qi to let him know late, and since Qi Qi also delayed him a bit, this resulted in his tardy arrival.

The union of cultivators into a couple of shared ideals is divided into two types.

One is the woman marrying out, a complex ceremony that takes years to complete.

The second is becoming a live-in son-in-law.

This ceremony is extremely simple, where the woman's elders, friends, and congratulatory guests arrive first.

Once everyone is seated, the live-in son-in-law is then allowed to arrive.

After arriving, the live-in son-in-law must first pay respects to all the guests, friends, and elders.

Moreover, the timing of the live-in son-in-law's arrival is crucial and must be after the first round of ceremonial tea.

Tea serving involves the host and guests complementing each other before inviting them to sip the first cup of dao tea. Chapters first released on novelFirｅ.net

Yan Zhuo, being the Sect Master of the Blue Star Sect and a Fifth Step Great Dao Strongman,

was naturally opting for the second type of ceremony for his daughter's grand wedding today.

Ding Huan was not only a live-in son-in-law, but an accompanying live-in son-in-law,

which ranked even lower than a live-in son-in-law.

In this situation, Ding Huan had to serve tea and perform the highest ceremonial tea ceremony.

This involved kneeling to Yan Zhuo and following other appropriate ceremonies for the other guests.

But at the very least, he had to kneel on one knee.

Seeing the current state of the sect hall, Ding Huan understood that this was at least the third round of ceremonial tea.

All eyes were on Ding Huan.

Being an accompanying live-in son-in-law, Ding Huan held the lowest status here.

Thus, he had to bring out his best dao tea and respectfully serve it to everyone from top to bottom.

To apologize for being late, Ding Huan had to kneel and serve tea to everyone.

Ding Huan glanced at the presence in the hall.

Here, the strongest were at most Fifth Step, most were below the third step.

Indeed, one's strength determines one's circle.

As Sect Master of the Blue Star Sect with Fifth Step cultivation, Yan Zhuo's friends were mostly at this level.

As if oblivious to his role as an accompanying live-in son-in-law who should first serve tea to each person, Ding Huan first offered a simple cultivator greeting to Yan Zhuo, then walked over to Jia Baihe's side.

The seats were already full, leaving him no place to sit.

According to the supporting ceremony process, after serving tea to each person, Ding Huan could stand in the last position on the lower side.

With no seat available here, it was not deliberately aimed at Ding Huan.

An accompanying live-in son-in-law had only the right to stand, not to sit.

Everyone stared blankly at Ding Huan.

Just a simple cultivator greeting to Yan Zhuo and then…

Wasn't he too arrogant?

Seeing Ding Huan not only neglect to kneel and serve tea but even greet Yan Zhuo with only a simple cultitvator formality shocked everyone present.

Many eyes focused on Ding Huan as if looking at a monster.

How arrogant must one be, for an accompanying live-in son-in-law to behave this way?

Yan Zhuo's face was livid with anger.

Although Ding Huan was merely for accompanying, temporarily acting as Baihe's live-in son-in-law, such conduct was intolerably underwhelming.

"Who are you? Who let you come here?" Yan Zhuo demanded angrily.

No matter how much he wanted to save face for his eldest daughter Yan Jiuyue, he couldn't allow his younger daughter Jia Baihe's face to be spoiled .

This guy was damaging not only the dignity of his younger daughter Baihe but also his own reputation as Sect Master.

With Yan Zhuo's question, everyone understood he intended to replace his younger daughter's dao partner.

Not everyone knew that Jia Baihe's dao partner was just for temporary escort during the ceremony.

So seeing Yan Zhuo so readily considering replacing his adopted daughter's dao partner was somewhat unbelievable.

"Ding Xiaotu, Jia Baihe's dao partner." Ding Huan cupped his fist in greeting, his tone neither overbearing nor servile.

Yan Zhuo looked at Jia Baihe, with a much softer tone, "Baihe, do you recognize this man? He claims to be your dao partner, is he?"

He was well aware that Ding Huan was brought in by his eldest daughter Yan Jiuyue just for temporary ceremonial support.

As a father, Yan Zhuo could understand Yan Jiuyue's feelings.

Since adopting these two daughters, Yan Jiuyue had always been outshone by Jia Baihe.

And this was with Baihe having some cognitive issues; otherwise, Yan Jiuyue couldn't even look up to Baihe.

Baihe never needed to say or do anything,

and she could effortlessly overshadow Yan Jiuyue.

Today was mainly Jiuyue's wedding; she had some personal motives, letting Baihe be wronged for a day by finding a useless male cultivator to assist, giving Jiuyue some face, which he ignored.

But this ant was exceedingly impudent.

This, he couldn't tolerate.

So his inquiry carried the intention of helping Baihe find another temporary dao partner for the ceremonial accompaniment.

In any case, whoever they found, it wasn't going to be Baihe's real dao partner.

As for Ding Huan, he was certain Baihe didn't know him.

Because he himself didn't know him.

Jia Baihe looked up at Ding Huan, the excitement in her eyes flashed then disappeared, and she revealed a kind of bewildered expression:

"He... Xiao Tu... is my Dao companion..." Jia Baihe looked at Ding Huan in confusion, though her words were somewhat disjointed, everyone heard it clearly.

Ding Huan was contemplating whether to send a message to Jia Baihe.

Because he knew that once he sent a message to Jia Baihe, the consequences would be hard to predict.

The main reason was Jia Baihe's reaction.

There were no weaklings here, and once someone like Yan Zhuo saw Jia Baihe's reaction, he would definitely become suspicious of him.

Now hearing Jia Baihe's words, Ding Huan was overjoyed, immediately dismissing the idea of sending her a message.

Ding Huan was indeed Jia Baihe's Dao companion; Jia Baihe had personally admitted it.

Even Yan Jiuyue stared at Jia Baihe in astonishment and uncertainty.

This Ding Xiaotu was clearly someone she randomly grabbed to embarrass Jia Baihe.

Besides embarrassing Jia Baihe, she wanted to take away Jia Baihe's Dao Body.

She wasn't sure what kind of Dao Body Jia Baihe had, but she was certain it was an extremely rare Heavenly Dao Body.

But why would Jia Baihe admit that Ding Xiaotu was her Dao companion?

Since she had known Jia Baihe, Jia Baihe had always been so aimless and careless.

Yet, no matter how aimless, she never compromised when it came to her bottom line.

Because of this, she could hardly gain any advantage in front of Jia Baihe.

In terms of cultivation, Jia Baihe was stronger than her.

Regarding Yan Zhuo's attitude towards them, it was generally the same, maybe even more biased towards Jia Baihe.

Making this Ding Xiaotu her Dao companion should have been Jia Baihe's bottom line.

Instead of seeing Jia Baihe embarrassed, she admitted it.

Yan Zhuo was also taken aback.

Yan Jiuyue was helping Jia Baihe find a Dao companion, which Jia Baihe disapproved of.

He also understood this righteous daughter Jia Baihe, whose Primordial Spirit was damaged, sometimes aimless, yet never compromised on issues regarding her bottom line.

For Jiuyue's perfect wedding today, he specifically talked to Jia Baihe before, informing her that all of this was fake.

After Jiuyue's wedding, she could continue doing whatever she needed to do.

Why now, when he intended to object, did Bai He agree instead?

Ding Huan stood beside Jia Baihe, noting the fleeting look in her eyes and the subtle Dao Rhythm fluctuations around her.

Jia Baihe acknowledging him as her Dao companion allowed Ding Huan to understand that even with her damaged Primordial Spirit, she had not lost her memory.

Not only that but Jia Baihe had always clearly understood her situation.

This made Ding Huan breathe a sigh of relief.

No wonder Yan Jiuyue was always jealous of Jia Baihe but unable to do anything to her.

Jia Baihe had lived two lives, experiencing far too much; she was no mere greenhouse flower.

Yan Zhuo had to reluctantly acknowledge Ding Huan's current status upon hearing Jia Baihe's words.

He raised the wine glass in front of him and stood: "Today, my eldest daughter Yan Jiuyue is marrying Xi Changmei, and my younger daughter Jia Baihe is accompanying with Ding Xiaotu, while disciples Yan Xunlan and Fan Yikong accompany them…"

"I hereby wish the three couples ascend another step on the Great Dao, and remain united forever."

After speaking, Yan Zhuo downed the wine in his hand.

All the guests raised their glasses and drank in one go.

After Yan Zhuo sat down, an elder stood up and said, "Now, let's invite the three couples out to receive everyone's blessings."

In the middle of the hall, a golden arch appeared.

In the Cultivation World, this door was also called the Door of Shackles.

It was symbolic, meaning to step through the Door of Shackles of the Great Dao.

Becoming Dao companions, rather than passing under this Door of Shackles, they were to walk over it.

Yan Jiuyue was the first to walk to the top of the arch from the right, while a handsome man also stood up, walking to the top of the arch from the left.

The two met on top of the Door of Shackles, their hands tightly clasped, indeed like a divine couple.

Ding Huan's gaze fell on Yan Jiuyue's Dao companion, Xi Changmei.

Xi Changmei had long hair over his shoulders, a distinctly contoured face, bright eyes; he was extremely handsome.

Standing on the Door of Shackles, his state of extreme elegance attracted the attention of many women.

Ding Huan was sure he had never seen this guy, but always felt he looked familiar.

Moreover, Xi Changmei's age was definitely not great.

He could sense the subtle changes in Xi Changmei's Dao Rhythm, which might not be much older than him.

However, Xi Changmei's cultivation appeared stronger than what was currently shown, a Sixth-turn Saint...

Something's off, Ding Huan's Divine Will immediately fell upon Xi Changmei, feeling the Law Fluctuation around him.

This guy, like him, had concealed his cultivation.

The opponent was even stronger than him.

At least an Inference Realm strongman.

A Great Dao Strongman of such a young age, becoming Dao companions with someone as dim-witted as Yan Jiuyue?

How could he possibly believe it?

Because Ding Huan and Jia Baihe, and Yan Xunlan and Fan Yikong, were the two pairs of accompanying Dao companions.

They too had to walk up from either side of the Door of Shackles, then stand on either side of Yan Jiuyue and her Dao companion Xi Changmei.

Ding Huan reached out and grabbed Jia Baihe's hand, also walking towards the Door of Shackles.

Yan Zhuo furrowed his brows slightly.

He knew quite well the character of his daughter Jia Baihe.

Moreover, he was certain Bai He had never seen Ding Xiaotu before.

Previously, it was odd for Bai He to say Ding Xiaotu was her Dao companion, but now, without any resistance, she was holding hands with Ding Xiaotu to walk upon the Door of Shackles; this was even stranger.

(Goodnight, fellow cultivator!)