The wedding was livestreamed by the sister, revealing his identity as a Taoist priest.

Taiqing Palace, main hall.

The discussion lasted for half an hour.

Three manuscripts were spread out on the long table. They were all "selection lists of second-tier betrothal gifts" compiled by the elders overnight, totaling twenty-six pages.

Master Xuanmo held the first copy, read it from beginning to end, put it down, and stroked his beard.

"The first item is the Azure Jade Chime, a supreme treasure of Taoist ritual music, which has been used by successive Celestial Masters when opening altars..."

"In the underground palace of Taiqing Palace, the energy of the entire Taoist temple is suppressed. If it is taken away, the protective array will be half destroyed."

The elder who brought this up immediately shrank back.

"Secondly, the Nine-Turn Profound Yellow Cauldron can refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, allowing one to abstain from grains for a hundred years..."

Master Xuanmo raised his eyes.

"Where are you now?"

"It's been lost."

The elder raised his hand, his expression sincere.

"It's been gone for three hundred years. I'm just suggesting an idea and expanding on the direction."

The hall was silent for a second.

Chen Shidu sat on the Dharma seat, his right thumb subtly twirling the old red string on his wrist, without saying a word.

Master Xuanmo turned the first list over and picked up the third one.

"Seven-Star Dharma Lamp"

As soon as those four words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the hall subtly changed.

Ying Fei, the chief elder of the Golden Register Hall, put down his teacup and raised his eyelids.

"The Seven-Star Lamp, one of the four sacred artifacts of Taoism?"

Master Xuanmo nodded.

The origin of the Seven Star Lamp is not a secret in Taoism.

Before the Celestial Master ascended to heaven, he forged the wick with the fire from seven meteorites and watered it with the spiritual energy of the blessed land. Once lit, it would burn for a thousand years and illuminate both the Yin and Yang realms.

It has been used exclusively for the highest-level religious ceremonies throughout history.

If burned at a wedding, it signifies "eternal flame, abundance year after year, and the brilliance of the sun and moon," visible throughout the three realms and witnessed for ten thousand years.

An elder became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice trembling.

"Using the Seven Star Lamp to illuminate the Celestial Master's wedding is an unprecedented act; the lighting of the lamp signifies the fulfillment of this destiny, witnessed by heaven and earth..."

Several elders nearby nodded in agreement, nodding faster and faster.

"suitable."

"This is it."

"Nothing could be a better match!"

They were all talking at once, as if they were judging the best project of the year.

Chen Shidu looked up and his gaze lingered on the list for three seconds.

"The Seven-Star Dharma Lamp."

The hammer falls.

The twelve elders responded in unison.

Chen Shidu stood up, walked to his desk, picked up his pen and laid out paper.

He finished writing the letter in one go, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

He put down his pen, folded the paper, picked up the Celestial Master's seal, and pressed it down.

The moment the golden mark settled, the lights in the hall flickered simultaneously.

"Where are the Seven Star Dharma Lamps now?"

Yingfei stood up.

This chief elder of the Golden Register Hall, nearly seventy years old and having cultivated for fifty years, is known for his composure and rarely speaks; when he does, it is always for something important.

"Reporting to the Celestial Master, the Seven Star Dharma Lamp is currently being held at Yunze Gate."

He said it calmly.

"Master Lin Shouzhen is an old acquaintance of mine. He is a man of principle and etiquette. If I were to visit him in person, it would be three times better than sending a messenger."

Master Xuanmo nodded.

"It would be most appropriate for the elder to go in person."

Chen Shidu handed over the letter.

Thank you for your trouble.

Yingfei accepted it with both hands and was about to take his leave.

Chen Shidu spoke again.

"Take some candied fruit with you on the way."

Yingfei paused for a moment.

"What is the Celestial Master doing...?"

"Last time I passed by Yunze Sect, I heard a few junior disciples finish chanting scriptures and run off to steal dates from the trees."

Chen Shidu's expression remained unchanged.

"Bring some candied fruit, in case you fall while climbing the tree again."

Yingfei remained silent for a moment.

Then he bowed, performing the salute with utmost care.

"Yes, ma'am."

Several elders in the hall lowered their heads and twitched their shoulders slightly, seemingly doing something.

……

Yunze Gate is located at the eastern foot of Qingcheng Mountain.

It is smaller than Taiqing Palace and the terrain is not as steep, but there are twenty acres of bamboo forest on the back mountain. In the early morning, the thin mist flows down along the bamboo tips, and the disciples meditate in the bamboo shadows, as quiet as an unsigned ink painting.

The sect leader, Lin Shouzhen, liked this quiet atmosphere.

He guarded Yunze Gate for thirty years, living a simple and honest life without vying for anything.

When Yingfei's carriage entered the mountain gate, Lin Shouzhen was already waiting outside.

After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, the tea had just been poured when Ying Fei took out a note from his sleeve and handed it to him with both hands.

"Upholding righteousness is a great matter. The notes are here; please read them first."

Lin Shouzhen took it, his gaze sweeping over the mark on the seal, his fingers pausing slightly.

Celestial Master's Seal.

He took a deep breath and opened it.

Inside the main hall were several elders of the Yunze Sect. Seeing that the sect leader had accepted the letter from the Taiqing Palace, they curiously turned their heads and saw the mark.

Then everyone fell silent.

Lin Shouzhen finished reading line by line, raised his head, looked at Ying Fei, his lips moved slightly, but he did not speak immediately.

Elder Wu, who was standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer.

"Elder Ying, what brings you from afar?"

"For the Celestial Master's wedding," Ying Fei said, "the second betrothal gift is for the Yunze Sect to lend us the Seven Star Dharma Lamp."

You could hear a pin drop in the main hall.

The expressions on the elders' faces were hard to decipher: shock, awe, and a hint of... embarrassment.

Elder Wu, on the far left, leaned back in his chair without making it obvious.

Elder Zhao on the right gently placed the teacup back on the table without making a sound.

Lin Shouzhen gripped the note, and the veins on the back of his hand twitched slightly.

"Elder Ying."

He spoke, his tone remarkably steady.

"The wedding of the Celestial Master is a grand event in the history of Taoism. Our Yunze Sect is deeply honored and should do our utmost to help."

"only……"

He stopped.

Yingfei's gaze sharpened.

"Just what?"

Lin Shouzhen did not answer immediately, his gaze lingering on the notes on the table for a moment.

"The location beneath the Seven Star Lamp," he lowered his voice by half an octave, "does Elder Ying know?"

It shouldn't be a shake of the head.

Elder Wu added a sentence, his voice unusually low.

"The Seven Star Lamp was moved into the Qingyuan Ridge Ancient Tomb by our sect three years ago and suppressed within it."

"Qingyuan Ridge".

Ying Fei frowned; he was familiar with this place name.

Lin Shouzhen stood up, walked to the side window of the main hall, and turned his back to Ying Fei.

Outside the window, the bamboo grove rustles in the wind.

He remained silent for almost the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

"Elder Ying," he turned around, speaking slowly and deliberately, "it's not that Yunze Sect is unwilling."

"We all know the significance of the Seven Star Lamp for the Celestial Master's wedding. It is an unparalleled honor. If Yunze Sect can participate, it will be a prestigious event for the past three hundred years."

"but……"

"Three years ago, the earth veins of Qingyuan Ridge trembled, and yin energy suddenly gathered, causing the evil spirits sealed in the ancient tomb to break out on a large scale."

His voice was flat, as if he were talking about something that happened in a very far place.

"Our Yunze Sect used the Seven Star Dharma Lamp to suppress the strange movement inside the tomb."

"The Dharma lamp has been buried for three full years."

"Within three years, the ancient tomb remained peaceful, and in the surrounding thirteen villages, no one went missing, no livestock were harmed, and no evil spirits made any moves."

He looked at Ying Fei, something struggling in his eyes.

"But if the Seven Star Lamp is taken away..."

For the first time, Lin Shouzhen's voice carried a hint of uncontrollable heaviness.

"The evil spirits that have been accumulating for three years will break free from the grave the moment the Dharma lamp leaves its place."