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

Yunze Gate, in front of the mountain gate.

As dawn broke, the thin mist lingered.

Lin Shouzhen led the three elders to stand at the top of the stone steps, watching Ying Fei and his group's figures disappear into the bamboo forest.

The Seven Star Dharma Lamp was carefully placed in the Xuan Tie Box and guarded by two disciples of Taiqing Palace.

The area in front of the mountain gate was eerily quiet.

Only when the last dark blue figure completely disappeared into the mist did Elder Wu swallow hard.

"Sect Leader."

Lin Shouzhen did not turn around.

"Those evil spirits...are they really gone?"

Lin Shouzhen's gaze remained fixed on the depths of the bamboo forest.

The moment the eighteen talismans were activated, the golden dome pierced through the depths of the earth's veins with the power of the heavens.

The evil and dark energy that had accumulated for three years vanished silently the moment the golden light shone through.

It was not suppression.

It's not a seal.

It means complete extinction.

Even the inexhaustible channel of Yin energy underground was cut off, sealed off, and welded shut by Fu Zhensheng.

Ying Fei is right.

Two hours?

It wasn't even a quarter of an hour.

"That's all."

Lin Shouzhen spoke, his voice dry and hoarse like sandpaper.

"Not only are the evil spirits gone, but even the earth's yin energy source has been severed, completely severed."

He turned around.

The three elders were all taken aback when they saw his expression.

Lin Shouzhen's eyes were red.

"Sect Leader... what exactly are those eighteen talismans?"

Elder Zhao's voice was very soft, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

Lin Shouzhen remained silent for a long time.

So long that Elder Wu thought he wasn't going to answer anymore.

"Celestial Seal Talisman".

The four words that came out of his mouth were heavier than the last.

Elder Wu's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Tian Gang... isn't that a lost technique recorded in the ancient books of the Golden Register Academy? It's said that it requires three cultivators at the Great Completion of the Golden Register realm to activate it simultaneously in order to draw one?"

"right."

"The three of us work together to draw one."

He paused for a moment.

"He painted eighteen of them all by himself."

The air in front of the mountain gate seemed to freeze.

The rustling sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves became the only noise.

Elder Zhao opened his mouth.

"This... how is this possible? Even with extraordinary cultivation, the art of talismans emphasizes 'the intention guides the brush, and the unity of heaven and man.' The mental energy required for a single person to activate a Heavenly Gang Talisman is equivalent to controlling the consciousness streams of three people simultaneously..."

"so."

Lin Shouzhen interrupted him.

He raised his head and looked in the direction of Taiqing Palace.

The Taoist temple perched atop the cliff was now hidden in the sea of ​​clouds.

"This celestial master's talent has exceeded the scope of our understanding."

There was an almost pious tremor in his voice.

"The Heavenly Gang Sealing Origin Talisman has remained undrawn for six hundred years, not because no one possessed sufficient cultivation, but because the talisman's requirements for the 'divine sense' of the drawer are almost equivalent to..."

He stopped, as if he dared not utter the word.

Elder Wu took over for him.

"...equivalent to the Tao itself."

The four stood in front of the mountain gate, and no one spoke.

The bamboo forest rustled, and the morning mist swirled beneath their feet.

After a long while, Lin Shouzhen let out a long breath, his voice carrying a hint of indescribable emotion.

"A celestial master who appears once every three hundred years."

He glanced back in the direction of Qingyuan Ridge.

"No, not three hundred years."

"It's a thousand years."

……

Qingcheng International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The exhibition hall was completely buzzing with excitement.

After Fang Shouye unveiled it, the replica of the Seven Star Lamp was like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, creating a huge wave throughout the exhibition hall... no, throughout the entire internet.

Crowds flocked to the area, completely surrounding the circular exhibition area.

Flashes went off one after another, and the sound of camera shutters filled the air.

The reporters were practically running.

"Did you get a picture? Did you get a picture?"

"High-resolution image! It must be a high-resolution image! The editor has asked me three times!"

"Post it! Post it now! Reserve a top spot for me!"

In less than five minutes, photos of the Seven Star Lamp began to go viral online.

It was pushed out simultaneously by major news apps.

[Stunning! National-level experts have spent thirty years replicating the Taoist treasure, the Seven-Star Lamp!]

[Illumination Without Light? The Grand Finale of the Qingcheng Ancient Lantern Exhibition Stuns the Audience!]

[Fang Shouye's masterpiece, the culmination of thirty years of effort, is revealed for the first time, causing a sensation in the art collecting world!]

Chen Xiaoyu's live stream viewership has now surpassed five million.

I could look at this lamp for a lifetime!

[The fake is so beautiful! Where's the real one?! I want to see the real thing!]

[Grandpa Fang dedicated thirty years to making this one lamp; that's true craftsmanship!]

Wait, did anyone notice Shen Nianqing's expression? She kept staring at that lamp.

[If we bought this as a second betrothal gift, what an amazing scenario that would be!]

[Tilting head and smiling, "My brother works a low-paying job, he probably can't afford it!"]

Next to the display case.

Gu Xingluo grabbed Shen Nianqing's arm, her eyes shining, and her mouth never stopped talking.

"Nianqing, look at that wick! The color is changing! It was blue a moment ago, but now it's green!"

Shen Nianqing nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Pei Jingchuan stood five steps away.

The three people behind him—the eldest grandson of the He family, the second young master of the Lu family, and the one from the Zhou family—all remained silent.

The boast I just made: "I'll bid a nine-figure sum and give it to you."

Looking back now, it seems like a joke.

Gu Xingluo seemed to have just remembered something, turned her head, and her gaze fell on Pei Jingchuan.

The corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

"Oh! Young Master Pei."

Pei Jingchuan's jawline tightened slightly.

Gu Xingluo's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the people in the front row to hear.

"Didn't you just say you were going to buy the grand finale? And you prepared a nine-figure sum?"

She pointed to the lamp inside the glass case, its light shimmering softly, tilted her head, and smiled innocently.

"It's right here, go ahead and buy it."

Pei Jingchuan's facial muscles twitched visibly.

The eldest grandson of the He family lowered his head and pretended to look at the shoes.

The Zhou family member turned around and pretended to look at the explanatory board on the wall.

Young Master Lu simply took two steps away, distancing himself from them.

The live stream chat exploded instantly.

Haha! My best friend is awesome!

[A single, decisive blow! Gu Xingluo, you are my god!]

[I've saved a screenshot of Pei Jingchuan's expression; I'll look at it whenever I'm in a bad mood.]

The three words "You buy it?" can be deadly!

[So, you're using capital to subvert expectations? How come you're the one getting subdued?]

Pei Jingchuan pursed his lips into a thin line.

He ignored Xingluo, walked past her, and strode towards Fang Shouye.

"Old Fang."

He spoke, his voice low but each word clear.

"I'll offer two hundred million."

The entire audience erupted in a buzz.

Two hundred million?

Fang Shouye turned around, looked at Pei Jingchuan, and remained calm.

"Young Master Pei."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire exhibition area.

"The bronze body of this lamp was made from fragments of Han Dynasty bronze ingots unearthed in the Nanyue Kingdom. It has been extinct on the market for forty years."

"The lamppost has seventy-two cloud-script runes. I hired three top bronze casting masters, and it took nine years to complete. The discarded copper filled half a warehouse."

"The heartwood of Hainan rosewood for the base was the last complete piece of material purchased 23 years ago; there will never be another piece like it."

"I spent fourteen years collecting seven natural alexandrite wicks, each over five carats, from seven different mines."

Thirty years.

Fang Shouye finally looked at Pei Jingchuan.

"It's not a 30-year construction period, it's a 30-year lifespan."

His voice was flat.

"Not for sale."

Two words.

Sharper than a knife.

The last trace of color drained from Pei Jingchuan's face.

There was a two-second silence in the exhibition hall.

Then He Changsun Mo took a step back and turned to walk towards the exit.

The Zhou family member followed.

Young Master Lu took the bracelet out of his pocket, twirled it twice, and finally turned and left.

【Cool!】

【Cool!】

【Cool!】

Pei Jingchuan: I have money. Fang Shouye: What's it to me?

This is what you call a true game-changer; some things money can't buy.

[You've been slapped in the face for the second time today, haven't you? The first time was the second betrothal gift, the second time is this lamp. Young Master Pei, are you coming again? I suggest collecting all three to summon the dragon.]

[Wait! I suddenly realized something! Master Fang said this is a replica, a replica of the foremost of the Four Sacred Artifacts of Taoism! What about the real one? Where is the real one?]

The genuine item is definitely in the hands of the Taoist sect. Just like the first betrothal gift, wasn't that Taiyi Star Paper also a Taoist item?

What are you thinking... No way... The second betrothal gift... It can't really be the Seven-Star Lamp, can it?

[Impossible! This is a supreme treasure of the Daoist sect! Even the imitations are already incredibly powerful, how could the genuine article be used as a betrothal gift!]

[But isn't the Taiyi Star Paper also a supreme treasure of the Daoist sect? Didn't they bring it out anyway?]

The discussion in the comments section became increasingly heated, with various speculations emerging one after another.

Shen Nianqing stood in front of the display case, her fingertips unconsciously touching the ring on her ring finger.

She did not participate in any discussion.

She remembered the letter that had been delivered to Taiqing Palace that day.

The second betrothal gift.

He said he would treat her with the same courtesy as always.

Just now.

From the direction of the exhibition hall entrance, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

Uncle Liu appeared at the entrance.

He stood at the doorway, his voice carrying throughout the entire exhibition hall.

"Young Miss!"

Shen Nianqing turned her head.

Uncle Liu took a deep breath.

"The second betrothal gift..."

"arrive!"