Meanwhile, at the Exquisite Sanctuary.

As the Grand Ceremony commenced, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. Countless floating platforms of varying sizes ascended slowly into the sky, arranged like stepping stones to the heavens. Each platform was laden with elegant tables, carved screens, golden platters, and jade goblets.

Female disciples of the Exquisite Sanctuary, dressed in splendid silks, moved among the guests. They tread upon the air with ripples spreading beneath their feet, flitting between the floating platforms like colorful butterflies to pour wine and serve delicacies.

The ceremony followed a strict hierarchy. Representatives from the various factions first presented their gifts to the host sect, then took turns paying respects to the star of the show: Qiao Liying, the newly ascended Great Ascension cultivator.

Afterward, guests were ushered to their assigned seats.

Even in the cultivation world, status was everything. Top-tier powerhouses like the Seven Great Sanctuaries claimed the central, highest platforms, enjoying the finest spiritual food and the richest Qi. Medium and small sects were relegated to the periphery, so far away they couldn’t even see the face of the Exquisite Sect Master.

Having completed the formalities on behalf of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, Qi Yuan was personally guided by an Elder to a VIP platform.

This platform floated at the very heart of the formation, draped in shimmering mermaid silk curtains and powered by a dedicated spirit-gathering array. With its carved jade railings and opulent decor, it was clearly reserved for the Holy Scions of the Seven Great Sanctuaries.

As he landed, Qi Yuan immediately spotted the Exquisite Holy Maiden.

Xiao Yueni wore a complex, floor-length gown that resembled rosy clouds. Her raven hair, usually cascading to her waist, was swept up into a high bun adorned with a Seven-Treasures Phoenix Crown. Pearls and emeralds framed her face, chiming softly with her movements.

She was already a beauty capable of toppling cities; in full ceremonial regalia, her dignity and grace were suffocating.

Sensing a gaze on her, Xiao Yueni looked up. Upon seeing Qi Yuan, her porcelain cheeks flushed a faint pink. She quickly composed herself, suppressing her embarrassment to perform a graceful, formal bow.

“Holy Scion of Supreme Mystery, please come this way.”

Acting the perfect hostess, she led Qi Yuan to his seat.

Qi Yuan glanced around the table. The Holy Scions of the other Sanctuaries were already seated, but Qin Lingxue was notably absent.

Though puzzled, he kept his expression neutral, smiling as he greeted his peers.

“Apologies for the delay. Qi Yuan pays his respects to all Fellow Daoists.”

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qi.”

“You are too polite. We just arrived ourselves.”

Aside from Ji Tianpeng, the Holy Scion of the Purple Sun Sanctuary, who let out a cold snort, everyone else responded with warm, almost overly enthusiastic smiles.

Yet, Qi Yuan felt a strange weight in the air. Every single one of them seemed to be scrutinizing him. One gaze, in particular, burned with thick, suppressed hostility—jealousy.

It came from Zhuang Qingyun, the Holy Scion of the Boundless Sacred Ground. Last time, this man had been friendly. Now, he looked ready to draw his sword.

Ji Tianpeng’s disdain was expected, but Zhuang Qingyun’s sudden shift was odd.

Is the influence of that rumor really this strong?

Qi Yuan ignored the ambiguous stares, lifting his cup of spiritual wine and draining it in one go to hide his thoughts.

Suddenly, a sharp elbow nudged his ribs.

Piao Genshuo, seated next to him, winked dramatically and projected his voice directly into Qi Yuan’s mind.

“Brother Qi! You absolute legend. I never thought you’d actually tame a high-and-mighty woman like Xiao Yueni. You are truly a role model for our generation! My admiration for you flows like a mighty river, endless and surging…”

Qi Yuan frowned, transmitting back, “Where did you hear this garbage?”

Piao Genshuo let out a wretched, knowing chuckle.

“Come on, we’re brothers here. Why hide it? Tens of thousands of eyes were watching. Do you really think your little ‘affair’ with Xiao Yueni could be kept secret?”

“Think about where we are,” Piao continued, his eyes gleaming with gossip. “The Exquisite Sanctuary is full of lonely, repressed women. Their favorite pastime is discussing romantic entanglements. They can stir up a storm without a breath of wind. Now that actual scandalous news has dropped? They’re practically foaming at the mouth!”

“It hasn’t even been half a day, but I guarantee even the stray dogs in the sect know about it. Heck, the Joyous Union Sect is probably already printing illustrated editions of your ‘exploits’ as we speak…”

Qi Yuan felt a headache building behind his eyes. No wonder Xiao Yueni had spent so much time disguising herself this morning, looking like she wanted to burrow into the earth. She knew what was coming.

Terrifyingly, despite her precautions, they had been spotted. And within an hour, the rumor had infected the entire sect.

Over a hundred thousand women gossiping at once… the destructive power is unimaginable.

Qi Yuan took a deep breath and replied with righteous severity.

“Brother Piao, my relationship with Fairy Xiao is purely platonic. We are fellow Daoists, nothing more. Do not spread idle slander. If you damage Fairy Xiao’s reputation, I will settle the score with you personally.”

Piao Genshuo shrank back, intimidated, and lowered his mental voice.

“Alright, alright. But Brother Qi, you’ve had a stroke of luck, but you’ve also invited trouble. Most people are fine, but look at Zhuang Qingyun. That guy is a fanatic pursuer of Xiao Yueni.”

“He’s sinister, cunning, and loves scheming. Watch your back around him.”

Piao shook his head, sighing with the air of a seasoned veteran. “To be honest, Xiao Yueni is beautiful, but she’s not my type. As the saying goes: new shoes pinch, but old shoes fit just right. Give me a mature woman who has weathered the storms of life any day. They know how to take care of a man…”

A short distance away.

Zhuang Qingyun, the Holy Scion of the Boundless Sacred Ground, stared gloomily at Qi Yuan. He gritted his teeth and sent a mental transmission to the man beside him—Tu Ruoxu, the Holy Scion of the Eternal Sacred Ground.

“Senior Brother Tu, what do you make of these rumors?”

Zhuang Qingyun and Tu Ruoxu were close friends. Whenever Zhuang faced a dilemma, he sought Tu’s counsel.

The world knew Tu Ruoxu as the “Wisdom Star”—a man of exceptional intelligence who allegedly never miscalculated. His judgment was gospel.

Hearing the question, Tu Ruoxu narrowed his eyes, adopting an expression of profound, detached wisdom.

“Junior Brother Zhuang, your heart is clouded by emotion. You are failing to see the essence of the problem.”

“Huh?” Zhuang Qingyun paused, stunned. “Forgive my dullness, Senior Brother Tu. Please enlighten me.”

Tu Ruoxu looked toward the main hall of the Exquisite Sanctuary, his face radiating absolute confidence.

“Put your mind at ease. The more these rumors spread, the more it proves that Qi Yuan and the Holy Maiden are innocent. The current situation is clearly a political play. The Exquisite Sanctuary is using this to target the Supreme Mystery Scion.”

“If my deduction is correct, in the name of protecting the Holy Maiden’s reputation, the Exquisite Sanctuary will soon make a move.”

“They will pressure Qi Yuan, forcing him to make significant concessions to ‘atone’ for the scandal. It is a classic suppression tactic.”

Zhuang Qingyun looked relieved but then frowned again. “But… I heard Ancestor Feihuang of the Exquisite Sanctuary favors Qi Yuan heavily. I’m afraid—”

Tu Ruoxu waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off with a smirk.

“Smoke and mirrors. The higher a cultivator climbs, the more indifferent they become to human emotion. Cheng Feihuang is a Great Ascension Grandmaster. Why would a titan like her suddenly care about a junior from another sect?”

Tu Ruoxu’s eyes flashed with the gleam of a detective solving a murder.

“The truth is only one: The Exquisite Sanctuary now has four Great Ascension cultivators. Their ambition has swelled. They are using this ‘scandal’ to beat down the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary and seize more authority in the cultivation world!”