All three stood upon three-foot green blades.
Sword Qi soared into the sky, piercing through layers of mist and landing steadily on the widest white jade tile in the center of the ferry crossing.
The leader was a middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back.
His face was lean, his expression cold, and an air of aloofness radiated from between his brows.
Behind him, trailing by half a step each, followed two young people, a man and a woman.
Both wore arrogant expressions, looking straight ahead, completely disregarding the bustling crowd of Cultivators and demons around them.
The three were dressed in cyan-blue robes; the moment the noisy ferry crossing saw this attire,
the commotion instantly ceased.
A full three breaths of time passed.
After the silence, the crowd erupted into a clamor.
"Jieqing Sect!"
"It's the Cultivators from the Jieqing Sect!"
"Why would they come here?!"
Jieqing Sect.
One of the Nine Great Dao Sects.
In the vicinity of this Fifty Thousand Li Great Marsh, they were the absolute overlords.
As the orthodox Nine Great Dao Sects of the Human Race, it was one thing for them to normally ignore the life and death of ordinary Loose Cultivators oppressed by demons.
But now,
they had actually set foot on Guanlan Island so openly.
To offer birthday congratulations to a demon?!
What the hell is the meaning of this?!
Among the crowd, many Human Cultivators had complex expressions, with an irrepressible sense of sorrow and indignation flashing in their downcast eyes.
Yet, not a single person dared to speak up.
In front of the ferry crossing,
the Carp Demon, who had been insufferably arrogant moments ago, was now also wearing a dazed expression.
Its bulging fish eyes stared fixedly at the three cyan-robed Sword Cultivators before it.
Although the Immortal Lord was backed by the Southern Immortal Palace and could call the wind and summon the rain in this Great Marsh,
at the end of the day, he was still just a Loose Cultivator demon; even the Little Palace Mistress didn't dare to come in such a grand manner to support her husband's prestige...
After all, while there were secret dealings, showing it so openly would truly be a disgrace to the Southern Immortal Palace.
But these three before it were genuine members of one of the Nine Great Dao Sects.
Normally, even the great demons of the Southern Immortal Palace would be somewhat wary when meeting people from the Jieqing Sect.
Why would they deign to descend upon Guanlan Island today?
Thinking of this,
the Carp Demon swallowed hard, suppressing the shock and doubt in its heart.
It hurried forward, its straightened back unconsciously hunching over as it cautiously probed, "The arrival of the three Immortals is a great honor, please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner... May I ask what business brings the three Immortals to Guanlan Island?"
Upon hearing this,
the leading cyan-robed man stood with his hands down, his expression calm as his thin lips parted slightly, "We have come to offer birthday congratulations to your Immortal Lord. Why? Are we not welcome?"
"..."
A sentence spoken as light as a feather,
yet it made everyone's scalp tingle with shock as it reached their ears.
After a brief dead silence,
the Carp Demon's entire body shuddered violently, its breathing instantly becoming rapid. "Welcome! Of course, you are welcome!"
It then shouted at the top of its lungs.
The sound was so loud it almost echoed across the entire Guanlan Island.
"The Immortals of the Jieqing Sect have arrived to offer birthday congratulations to my Immortal Lord!"
"This is a matter of immense joy!"
"Quickly! Please invite the three Immortals to the inner hall's seats of honor!"
This was one of the Nine Great Dao Sects of the Human Race!
Even if it were just a few Disciples, they still represented the face of the Jieqing Sect.
Now they had personally come to the island to offer birthday congratulations to its Immortal Lord!
What an incredible honor this was?!
If the Immortal Lord knew, he would surely be ecstatic.
In this Fifty Thousand Li Great Marsh, who would ever dare to say a single word against Guanlan Island in the future?
The Carp Demon was beyond excited and hurriedly bowed to lead the way.
"Three Immortals, please follow this humble general onto the island. My Immortal Lord was unaware of your arrival and did not welcome you personally; please forgive us..."
The cyan-robed man nodded slightly and said no more.
Leading the two young people behind him, he strode along the mountain path paved with red silk.
Wherever they passed,
whether they were demons or Human Cultivators, everyone moved aside, lowering their eyes and restraining their gazes.
No one dared to look directly at their sharp edge.
Jiang Yuechu stood quietly in place, indifferently watching the three cyan backs as they gradually disappeared at the end of the mountain path.
She had originally intended just to see the world, but now, things seemed to have become interesting...
Withdrawing her gaze,
she silently shook her head.
She cautioned herself in her heart.
Jiang Yuechu, oh Jiang Yuechu.
You are no reckless fool!
Investigate the situation clearly first before making a plan.
Restraint.
Must exercise restraint...
If I can avoid taking action, then I won't!
...
On the mountain path paved with red silk,
the chatter of the leading Carp Demon rang out, "Actually, my Immortal Lord has long admired your noble Sect, constantly speaking of its splendor. He only lamented having no way to pay his respects at your mountain. If he learns of your arrival today, he will surely be so overjoyed he won't know what to do with himself..."
The three cyan figures walked steadily, ignoring this noisy talk.
At that moment,
there was a sudden commotion.
A large crowd of aquatic demons surrounded a figure, hurrying down to meet them.
Before the person even arrived, hearty laughter had already spread across the mountain path.
"The Immortals of the Jieqing Sect have arrived; this humble Cultivator is remiss for not welcoming you sooner. My apologies, my apologies!"
As the distance closed, the figure gradually became clear.
The leader was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a gentle face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes—truly an elegant and poised figure.
If not for the few fine, pale gold scales near his ears and cheeks, and the faint aquatic Demonic Qi surrounding him,
judging by his bearing alone, it would not be an exaggeration to call him a handsome Young Master from some prestigious orthodox Sect.
This physical vessel had indeed been crafted with great effort.
No wonder he could leave the Little Palace Mistress of the Southern Immortal Palace so infatuated...
The middle-aged man shook his head with a hint of sarcasm and said with a fake smile, "The Immortal Lord is too kind... We have come uninvited; I hope the Immortal Lord does not take offense."
Immortal Lord Guanlan waved his hands repeatedly, keeping his posture extremely humble.
"Not at all. The arrival of the Jieqing Sect brings great light to this marsh."
"May I ask your honored name..."
The middle-aged man's expression was flat as he said casually, "I am a Deacon of the Jieqing Sect, Linghan."
Having said that, he turned slightly and pointed to the two young people behind him.
"These two are Personal Disciples of my Jieqing Sect."
"He Wuya."
"Tang Wanyin."
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Immortal Lord Guanlan's eyes, but the smile on his face grew even broader.
"So it is Deacon Linghan and your two brilliant Disciples. Please, come in!"
They exchanged pleasantries and continued along the mountain path toward the inner hall.
Tang Wanyin, walking at the back, lowered her eyes indifferently.
As her gaze swept over the surroundings, a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes.
Her red lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
"Senior Brother He... what exactly do the Sect elders mean? Why would they have us come to offer birthday congratulations to a demon?"
The Jieqing Sect is an orthodox human Sect.
There is no reason for us to personally offer birthday congratulations to a demon.
Although they didn't care about such things... being gossiped about behind their backs would still be somewhat annoying.
Even if we were to offer congratulations, it should be done secretly. Why make such a grand display of it..."
He Wuya's expression remained unchanged as he replied via Qi transmission.
"The Sect has its own profound reasons for its actions."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Immortal Lord Guanlan ahead.
After a moment's hesitation,
he still cautioned, "However, today's Birthday Banquet... there's an eighty or ninety percent chance we'll be making a move later. Do not let your guard down."