“It seems the two young ones are getting along quite well.” Nangong Wan observed them with a smile in her eyes, her gaze lingering for a moment on Wei Zhaoli’s slightly reddened earlobes.

Wei Mingyuan stroked his beard and chuckled, “Zhaoli is usually the most reserved child. It’s rare to see her so lively today.”

He cast a meaningful glance at the slightly warm talisman plaque at his daughter’s waist. “It seems she finds Master Shen quite congenial.”

The two elders exchanged a knowing smile. Nangong Wan said softly, “Since the two young ones are so compatible, why don’t we set a date for the engagement?”

“Exactly my thought,” Wei Mingyuan nodded. “Both children need to return to their sect. The sooner, the better.”

In truth, the Shen and Wei families had already privately agreed upon this matter long ago. This meeting was merely an opportunity to formalize it. Now that they saw neither party objected, they naturally went with the flow.

Across from them, Shen Xian and Wei Zhaoli simultaneously looked at each other. One had laughter in his eyes, the other had a blush coloring her cheeks.

The next day.

As both families had long been prepared, the engagement ceremony commenced early.

However, this engagement was not overly ostentatious.

Firstly, to the outside world, Ye Qingxian was still Shen Xian’s principal wife; she had merely gone to the Northern Region for cultivation. Therefore, Wei Zhaoli was only a secondary wife and would not receive the treatment due to a principal wife.

Secondly, making a grand spectacle at this juncture would inevitably cause some loss of face for the Ye Family, who were allies.

Thus, only important figures from both families attended this engagement ceremony.

Inside the Shen Family ancestral hall, sandalwood incense wafted gently.

Outside the hall, Wei Zhaoli approached slowly. She wore a moon-white gown with flowing cloud patterns, a green jade silk ribbon tied at her waist, and a pair of silver bells adorned her wrists. Her almond-shaped eyes were clear and bright, curving slightly at the corners when she smiled, exuding an innate scholarly air.

Ancient texts say: Marriages are made in Heaven, yet their success depends on human effort… How long would this marriage last?

Shen Xian stood composedly inside the ancestral hall, dressed in an indigo brocade robe. On his right index finger was the Purple-Gold Ruby Ring symbolizing his status as heir to the Shen Family. A dragon-shaped jade pendant at his waist gleamed brilliantly.

Seeing Wei Zhaoli, he raised the corner of his mouth slightly and made a gesture of invitation.

“The auspicious hour has arrived!” the master of ceremonies announced loudly.

Wei Zhaoli stepped inside gracefully, her skirt hem perfectly still. Only the jade hairpin in her hair shimmered with a lustrous glow under the morning light.

She bowed gracefully to the Shen Family elders, her demeanor impeccably dignified.

“Good child,” Nangong Wan stepped forward with a smile and fastened a green luan jade pendant at her waist. “This Heart-Protecting Jade can automatically shield its master. Today, I gift it to you.”

Seeing this pendant stirred something in Shen Xian’s heart.

Over at someone else’s place, there was another pendant from the same source, shaped like a phoenix.

Wei Zhaoli lightly touched the pendant with her fingertips, feeling its warm spiritual energy. Her almond eyes brightened. “A gentleman compares his virtue to jade. Zhaoli will certainly treasure it.”

This somewhat scholarly remark endeared her even more to Nangong Wan. Such a woman was suitable for carrying on the Shen Family lineage.

Beside them, Wei Mingyuan stroked his beard with a smile and similarly presented a jade box to Shen Xian. “This Azure Thunder Talisman Pen is crafted from thousand-year-old Soul-Nourishing Wood. I hope Master Shen will not find it unworthy.”

Shen Xian accepted the talisman pen. Upon touching it, he felt a surge of pure spiritual energy. “Uncle Wei is too kind.”

His gaze swept over the faint thunder patterns on the pen tip. He knew this was at least a high-grade magical artifact that only a Golden Core cultivator could refine.

The ceremony was simple yet solemn, concluding in just half an hour.

[Congratulations Host on successfully binding a Dao Companion!]

[Dao Companion: Ye Qingxian — Current Multiplier: 20]

[Dao Companion: Wei Zhaoli — Current Multiplier: 50]

Once the engagement was confirmed, prompts appeared before Shen Xian’s eyes.

Wei Zhaoli had smoothly become Shen Xian’s second Dao Companion. But the multiplier left Shen Xian utterly astonished.

“Fifty times?”

He couldn’t help but look at the woman beside him.

[Name: Wei Zhaoli] [Cultivation: Early Golden Core Stage] [Aptitude: Heavenly Spiritual Root, Same Heart Tribulation Body…] [Summary: Legitimate daughter of the Wei Family, sixth in line. First apprenticed under Zhao Wuya, Supreme Elder of the Divine Wood Sect. Enjoys ancient texts…]

“Is it because of her realm?” Shen Xian’s gaze fell on the words “Early Golden Core Stage.”

When he first became Dao Companions with Ye Qingxian, she was in the Qi Refining Realm, hence the tenfold multiplier. Later, when she advanced to Foundation Establishment, it became twentyfold.

It seemed that for Golden Core, it was fiftyfold.

He wondered what the multipliers would be for subsequent realms?

Shen Xian felt a flicker of anticipation. This also made him realize that if he found Dao Companions who were sufficiently powerful, he might even achieve thousandfold or ten-thousandfold multipliers directly!

After the engagement, the elders withdrew, leaving only the two youngsters strolling beneath a long corridor.

They walked side by side, each lost in their own thoughts, neither speaking.

Upon reaching Shen Xian’s residence, Wei Zhaoli immediately spotted the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat sprawled on a stone table. Her beautiful eyes lit up.

“What an adorable little cat,” she said quickly as she approached.

The Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat instantly bristled its fur, emitting a powerful aura of rejection that startled Wei Zhaoli into pausing.

“Its temper isn’t very good,” Shen Xian offered an awkward smile.

This little creature only acknowledged Ye Qingxian; it didn’t even pay him any mind.

“It’s alright,” Wei Zhaoli gave a shallow smile. Her almond-shaped eyes carefully observed the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat, filled with fondness. “What’s its name?”

“Xiao Bai,” Shen Xian said casually.

Ye Xian’er had given it that name originally; they had simply kept using it until now.

Wei Zhaoli nodded slightly just as Shen Xian retrieved a plain white talisman from his sleeve. The edges of the talisman paper emitted a faint cyan glow as he handed it over. “I prepared this carefully; I believe you’ll like it.”

Wei Zhaoli looked at the talisman. As a spirit talisman master herself, she recognized it immediately as a “Heart-Clearing Spirit-Focusing Talisman.”

This item perfectly complemented that talisman plaque she had refined earlier.

She lifted her gaze to meet the man before her; ripples stirred within her heart.

He was quite considerate.

“Thank you,” she said, accepting it.

The moment she took it, prompts appeared before Shen Xian.

[Host gifts Dao Companion with third-grade low-tier Heart-Clearing Spirit-Focusing Talisman. Received fiftyfold blessing return. Reward: Fourth-grade mid-tier Shadowless Trackless Talisman. Claim?]

Seeing the grade of the returned item, his smile widened further. The quality brought by fiftyfold truly was extraordinary!

Afterward, they conversed for a while longer. Though now engaged, for both of them, some awkwardness remained unavoidable. After all, there was no emotional foundation between them yet.

Once the conversation wound down sufficiently, Wei Zhaoli departed with her father. Due to sect matters awaiting her, she needed to return earlier, while Shen Xian’s departure for the sect was delayed a few more days because his elder brother Shen Xing was still outside vanquishing evil beings.

Following those days, Shen Xian maintained his usual leisurely routine.

Sleeping until the sun was high in the sky each day, rising after the noon meal, and reclining beneath the wisteria trellis in the courtyard, carefully reading through the ancient text gifted by Wei Zhaoli.

This Records of Strange Tales from Lin Yuan indeed suited his tastes, recording many strange tales and anecdotes from ancient times.

Among them, legends regarding the “Heaven Beyond Heaven” were particularly captivating, claiming that besides the several continents within this world, there existed even vaster heavens…

Shen Xian read engrossed, even forgetting to drink the spirit tea Xiang’er brought over.

“Young Master, this is new tea sent over by Miss Wei,” Xiang’er said softly. “She said it is Cloud Tea produced from the Divine Wood Sect and specially wanted you to taste it.”

Though this legitimate daughter of the Wei Family had already departed, she constantly kept her attention on him.

Only then did Shen Xian lift his head from the book, accepting the teacup and taking a sip.

The tea fragrance was pure and cool, carrying a unique grassy herbal aroma indeed different from ordinary spirit tea.

“Miss Wei also sent a message,” Xiang’er continued. “She said she awaits you within the Divine Wood Sect.”

Saying this, Xiang’er wore a smile on her face. Since childhood, this was the first time she had seen the Young Master receive such regard from an outsider. Moreover, she could sense the other party’s genuine feelings toward the Young Master.

Thus, even if the Young Master went to the Divine Wood Sect, he needn’t worry about being bullied by others.

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow, smiling noncommittally.

These past days, Wei Zhaoli had indeed been diligent, not only sending spirit tea but also successively sending several similar ancient texts along with various information regarding the Divine Wood Sect.

Naturally, he saw this sincerity within his heart.

Sunset dipped to the west. Shen Xian closed the book, gazing at the distant evening clouds, lost in thought.

I wonder what interesting events await on this journey to the Divine Wood Sect…