Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Grand Wedding VII

Chapter 139: Grand Wedding VII

The speech struck everyone like lightning.

The initial reluctance was entirely incinerated, replaced by a surging tide of wild excitement, greed, and profound pride.

To crush the arrogant elites of Mirravele City and elevate their own powers with Rare-Grade techniques?

"We swear our absolute loyalty!" the old sect leader of Green Bamboo Sect roared, his face tinged red with excitement. "We are wholeheartedly ready to serve the Azure Cloud Sect!"

Satisfied with their fanaticism, Rhain’s gaze drifted through the crowd until it landed on the sweating, chubby figure of Fenwick Luo.

"Mr. Fenwick," Rhain called out.

Fenwick jolted, hurriedly waddling forward and bowing. "Y-Yes, Supreme Elder?"

"If possible, I wish for you to relocate to Mirravele City," Rhain said. "You possess exceptional business acumen. The Azure Cloud Sect will soon be trading with multiple sects and clans across the entire Outer Frontier, funneling massive quantities of resources. We need a brilliant, trustworthy mind to handle all of those commercial affairs. In my opinion, you are the absolute best man for the role."

Fenwick’s small eyes widened to the size of saucers.

He was completely and utterly shocked.

He knew this was Rhain’s way of rewarding him for the intelligence he had provided earlier, but he never expected an honor of this magnitude!

Rhain was indirectly asking him to join the Azure Cloud Sect’s inner circle—which effectively meant joining Rhain’s own trusted faction.

Moreover, to manage the trading affairs of the entire Azure Cloud Sect? A sect that would soon hold influence over the entire Outer Frontier, dominate Mirravele City, and perhaps one day even establish a footing in the Inner Province that could influence the whole dynasty?

The power that came with such a position was staggering. As the sect’s commercial reach expanded, the man who controlled its trade networks would hold leverage over every faction that dealt with them.

It was an opportunity that Fenwick could never have achieved in hundred lifetimes.

The rotund merchant slowly rose from his chair. Despite his comical appearance, there was nothing humorous about the expression on his face as he bowed deeply to Rhain.

"Supreme Elder Rhain," Fenwick said, his voice filled with genuine conviction, "I will honor your trust with my life. I swear I will not disappoint you."

Beside him, Declan smiled warmly and also stood up, bowing to Rhain. "Thank you, Rhain. Thank you for providing such a grand opportunity to my friend."

Rhain turned his gaze to Declan, "I will be needing your help as well, Declan."

Declan straightened his posture, his expression turning solemn. "Whatever you need."

"Vulcan and I will be leaving for the Inner Province soon," Rhain stated, "Once we are gone, you will be the strongest person left here. Moreover, you have lived in Mirravele City for years; you are the most familiar with its intricate underworld and political webs. If the Azure Cloud Sect is to safely establish themselves there, it will not be possible without your help."

Rhain’s dark grey eyes locked onto Declan. "Besides, I need you to keep my sect protected from the retaliation of the two great clans while I am gone."

Declan didn’t hesitate for a single heartbeat.

"I have already told you that I will obey whatever you command," Declan said with resolute gaze, "You only had to ask once. I promise you, Rhain. I will keep the Azure Cloud Sect safe for as long as I draw breath."

Rhain nodded, then reached into his spatial ring.

With a flash of light, several luminous pills materialized in his palm.

Each one radiated a dense, intoxicating medicinal fragrance, and etched beautifully across their surfaces were the swirls of perfect Pill Veins.

"You have been stuck at the peak of Spirit Manifestation Realm for years," Rhain said, sending the pills to Declan with a wave of his arm, "These will help you break through to the Core Formation Realm."

Declan carefully caught the hovering pills with both hands.

Although he was not an alchemist himself, his decades of running the Gilded Sparrow—the top information hub in Mirravele City—had granted him an extraordinarily vast range of knowledge.

The moment his eyes landed on those perfectly round pills and the beautiful leaf-like patterns swirling across their surfaces, his calm face showed an expression of deep shock.

Epic-Grade! And adorned with flawless Pill Veins!

He raised his head to look up at Rhain, a flash of realisation struck his mind like a bolt of lightning.

He had already been suspecting that Rhain had some hidden connections with the legendary Grandmaster Alchemist who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to turn Mirravele City upside down. But looking at these pills now, the pieces of the puzzle clicked together flawlessly. Rhain didn’t just have an implicit connection to the Grandmaster; their relationship must be extraordinarily profound for him to hand out such priceless treasures so casually!

"Rhain... you..." Declan opened his mouth, but before a single syllable could escape his lips, Rhain’s dark grey eyes silenced him.

Declan shut his mouth, swallowing his shock in his stomach, offering only a nod in return.

Meanwhile, the visiting sect masters and clan patriarchs were staring at the pills in Declan’s hands with intensely envious glances.

They were merely overlords of the remote Outer Frontier; they did not know the exact rank of those pills, for they had never really seen an Epic-Grade pill in their entire lives, not to mention the legendary Pill Veins.

But the overwhelming, intoxicating medicinal fragrance wafting through the hall was driving their instincts mad.

Their bodies screamed with an insatiable hunger, tempting them to abandon all reason, walk right up to Declan, and violently snatch those pills directly from his hands.

But they controlled their instinct, not daring to move an inch.

Snatch treasures from a peak Spirit Manifestation expert? It was tantamount to begging for their entire bloodlines to be eradicated!

But the sheer desire in their hearts did not fade; it merely transformed into a burning, fanatical ambition.

If simply following Rhain’s orders could yield such heaven-defying treasures, then the promises Rhain had made earlier were absolutely true!

They secretly swore to themselves right then and there: they must help the Azure Cloud Sect with the best of their abilities.

They would serve as the sharpest swords and the most loyal dogs, just to gain a fraction of such a miraculous reward!

Rhain observed the shifting expressions of the crowd and smiled faintly.

The seeds of absolute loyalty and ambition had been successfully planted.

He picked up the wine glass from the table and raised it toward the gathered leaders.

"I leave the future expansion of the Outer Frontier in your capable hands," Rhain spoke politely, exchanging a few more courteous words and toasts with the visiting dignitaries and the Azure Cloud elders.

The atmosphere remained warm and festive, the wine flowing freely and the laughter genuine.

But eventually, Rhain rose from his seat.

"I must thank all of you once more for honoring us with your presence tonight," Rhain said, offering a final bow to the hall. "Please, continue to enjoy the feast. The Azure Cloud Sect’s hospitality is yours for as long as you wish to stay."

He paused, and a rare, warm smile crossed his usually composed face.

"But I hope you will forgive me, I have kept my bride waiting long enough."

A chorus of hearty laughter and warm blessings erupted from the table.

"Hahaha! Go, Supreme Elder! Do not let Lady Seris wait any longer!" Torin laughed joyously.

With a final round of enthusiastic congratulations and respectful bows from the entire hall, Rhain left the hall.

He stepped into the moonlit night, heading straight toward his private courtyard, where the most important person in his world was waiting for him.

_________________

The corridors of the inner sect were quiet and peaceful.

Most of the inner disciples were still out there, enjoying the feast.

The path leading to his private courtyard had been also transformed.

Fresh flower petals — white and crimson — carpeted the ground beneath his feet.

He approached the wooden door of his bridal chamber, which was now adorned with golden characters spelling "Eternal Joy."

He pushed them open and stepped inside.

The entire courtyard, and specifically his bedchamber, had been meticulously decorated.

Luxurious crimson silk draped elegantly from the wooden ceiling beams.

The scent of a high-grade, calming spirit incense flowed through the air, mixing with the natural, intoxicating fragrance of the flowers decorating the room.

At the center of the wooden table, a pair of massive Dragon and Phoenix essence candles burned brightly, bathing the entire room in a soft, flickering golden-red glow.

But Rhain’s dark grey eyes did not linger on the extravagant decorations.

Right in the absolute center of the massive bed, sitting quietly amidst the embroidered silk sheets, was a delicate figure.

She was still wearing her magnificent, trailing crimson bridal gown.

Her small, snow-white hands were resting neatly on her lap, her head lowered shyly.

Her pale purple eyes were fixed entirely on her own tightly interlaced fingers.

Hearing the wooden doors opening, her delicate shoulders flinched.

Her body visibly trembled for a fraction of a second.

She didn’t dare to raise her head, but the rosy blush that had visited her flawless cheeks so many times today rushed back on her face.

Rhain quietly closed the door behind him, entirely sealing away the outside world.

He approached the bed slowly.

As he drew near, Rhain reached up and unfastened the intricate clasps of his red and gold ceremonial robes. With a fluid motion, he took down his upper garments, letting the fabric slide away to reveal his perfectly sculpted, muscular chest, forged to absolute perfection by the Abyssal Sovereign Physique.

Hearing the soft rustle of fabric falling away, Seris’s heart hammered so wildly against her ribs that she felt it might leap straight out of her chest.

The mattress dipped slightly as Rhain sat down on the edge of the bed.

He looked at his beautiful bride, his dark grey eyes overflowing with profound tenderness.

"I am sorry," Rhain murmured softly, his deep voice wrapping around her like a warm breeze, "My wife had to wait so long for me."

Hearing his gentle apology, Seris mustered up every ounce of courage in her trembling heart.

She slowly looked up, her pink lips parting slightly as her beautiful eyelashes fluttered. "Rhain..."

But the moment her eyes met his gaze, her line of sight unavoidably fell upon his broad, naked chest.

With a soft, embarrassed gasp, she hurriedly lowered her head again, giving a tiny, shy nod as her face burned hotter than a furnace.

Rhain let out an indulgent chuckle.

He reached out, placing his index finger gently under her delicate chin.

With utmost care, he slowly raised her face back up so she was forced to meet his intense, dark grey eyes.

"You still calling me Rhain," he teased with an endlessly tender smile on his lips. "Shouldn’t you change how you address me now?"

He leaned in slightly and whispered.

"Call me husband."

Seris felt so overwhelmingly shy that she desperately wanted to bury her face in her hands and hide forever. But held captive by the bottomless affection in his dark grey eyes, she could only nod her head shyly and obediently murmur in a voice as soft as a mosquito.

"H-Husband..."

The single word snapped the last thread of Rhain’s restraint.

He leaned in abruptly, capturing her soft lips in a long, deeply intoxicating kiss.

The kiss was no longer gentle or restrained like the one on the ceremonial altar. It was deep, consuming, and overflowing with all the longing and possessiveness he had held back for so long.

"Mmm..."

A soft, helpless gasp escaped Seris’s lips as she was entirely overwhelmed by his dominant warmth. She closed her eyes, her slender arms wrapping tightly around his neck, passionately returning his affection with everything she had.

When he finally pulled back, her chest was heaving softly, her lips still slightly parted slightly, trying to catch her breath.

Rhain didn’t give her a single second to recover.

He gathered her delicate figure into his strong arms, lifting her incredibly soft, feather-light body effortlessly.

With utmost care and absolute tenderness, he gently laid his otherworldly fairy bride down against the petal-covered silk sheets.

A gentle wave of invisible essence swept across the room.

The essence lamp extinguished, and the room returned to darkness.

Outside the window, the moon silently drifted behind the clouds, leaving the two solitary souls to finally merge into one.