I create patterns, regardless of your level of expertise.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the entire Song family was already busy.

As the focus of everyone's attention, their move naturally drew the attention of all the guests in the city.

For first- and second-tier powers, this is a major event that will influence the future of the Yue Kingdom. However, for lesser powers, they are mostly just watching the show.

Or to be more precise, wait for notification.

The real reason is that they have absolutely no say in matters at this level; what can they do besides wait for notification?

I'll just watch the show.

Therefore, it was not until dawn that it was time to go out to welcome the bride.

The entrance to the Song residence, and even the street leading from the residence to the inn, was already crowded with people.

At the entrance of the Song residence, Song Baicheng was already holding Song Yuqi's hand, giving her final instructions before departure, while onlookers on both sides of the street were also discussing the matter.

"I never imagined that the Song family would one day rise to such heights. Their luck is truly incredible."

"What's going on? I just came out of seclusion and received an invitation. Good heavens, it's an invitation from the Qingyun Sect. It gave me quite a fright."

"You don't know? Song Yushu, the eldest son of the Song family, was murdered last month. Somehow, it is said that a senior in the Earth Soul Realm borrowed his body. In order to repay the kindness, he arranged the marriage between Song Yuqi and Shen Lingyan."

"What?! There's a Soul Realm expert in our little town?"

"Yes, everyone says the Song family is lucky. Such a legendary figure actually appeared and is even willing to repay the Song family's kindness. The Song family's ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke."

"Hey! They're coming out! Make way!"

"Wait a minute, those two people carrying the sedan chair, why do they look so familiar?"

"Good heavens! Isn't that Zhou Hongtu, the third elder of the Zhou family! The sixth-ranked expert in Yue Kingdom, why is he here carrying a sedan chair?"

"Holy crap, that's that rogue cultivator who only reaches the Core Formation stage! Wasn't he supposed to be incredibly elusive and difficult to find? How come he's here carrying a sedan chair too?!"

"Heavens! Two Core Formation experts are here to carry a sedan chair? I've never seen anything like this in my life!"

"Is this the work of a Soul Realm expert? Even the sedan chair bearers are Core Formation Realm cultivators. If I were sitting in that sedan chair later, I'd be willing to die!"

"Bro, aren't you a man?"

On the second floor not far away, Shuiyuelu watched the wedding procession disappear into the distance through the window, her teeth clenched tightly.

"This Li Hao, he made such a big fuss back then, refusing to let me come no matter what, and in the end he just had to carry the sedan chair?!"

"Just because of such a trivial matter, the Water Ripples Palace wasted this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

"hateful!"

Shuiyuelu slammed her fist on the table in anger, feeling indignant.

Across from them, a beautiful woman in a dazzling long dress handed them a cup of hot tea.

"Master, things have come to this point, there's no point in continuing to get angry. You'll only harm your health if you stay angry."

This is Shui Xi, the current palace master of Shui Lan Palace and Shui Yue Lu's adopted daughter.

Shui Yuelu took the hot tea but didn't drink it. Instead, she slammed it heavily on the table and angrily said, "How can I calm down?"

"Caixi, your talent far surpasses that of your mother. If you can obtain the Yin Locust Wood this time, you have a chance to break through to the Yin Extreme Realm within a hundred years. At that time, our Shui Lan Palace will no longer need to be subservient to anyone in the entire Yue Kingdom!"

"No, this matter cannot be left like this."

"Although the royal family didn't come ahead of time, they will definitely come today for such an important event, and I will go and make contact with them then."

Shui Xi looked surprised: "Mother, are you planning to join forces with the royal family?"

Shuiyuelu's expression was solemn as she said, "It's not certain, but it's still an opportunity."

"Don't underestimate the royal family too much. They have ruled the Yue Kingdom for thousands of years. Their foundation is unimaginable."

"No matter how powerful Li Hao was in his previous life, he is now only at the Dilemma Realm. Even if he has extraordinary abilities, he may not be able to use much of them."

"With the wedding approaching, the royal family will either have to soften their stance and come to offer their congratulations, or they will have to prepare a strong response to solidify their position. Since the royal family hasn't come, it's highly likely to be the latter."

"The royal family must have some trump cards. I'll test them first. If they really intend to break off relations, then Shui Lan Palace will stand with the royal family."

Shui Xi looked worried and said, "But if that's the case, if the royal family loses, we're finished too. If the royal family wins, Shui Lan Palace will be the next Qingyun Sect, and will suffer the same suspicion from the royal family."

Hearing this, Shui Yuelu gently cupped Shui Caixi's face and said softly, "Suspicion is inevitable. The Qingyun Sect prides itself on its high position and is unwilling to compromise, which is why it has strained its relationship with the royal family so much."

"If this succeeds, Shui Lan Palace will be credited for presenting the treasure. The royal family, respecting their status, won't do anything openly. We just need to maintain good relations, and we won't have to worry about the royal family's pressure for the next hundred years."

"And if it really happens, we'll be the first to stand with the royal family, and we'll definitely be eating our fill."

"My child, your talent far surpasses your mother's. With ample resources and a hundred years to spare, you have at least a 40% chance of breaking through to the Yin-Yang Realm. Even if the royal family becomes suspicious then, so what?"

Shui Xi's gaze gradually hardened from hesitation to determination, and she asked in a low voice, "Then, Mother, do I need to break the seal?"

Shuiyuelu shook her head: "No, you still have to keep hiding."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, as if she had made up her mind.

"This time, regardless of victory or defeat, you are not allowed to reveal your identity. If you win, all will be well; if you lose, I will do everything in my power to protect your life. You will be the chance for Shui Lan Palace to rise again, understand?"

Shui Xi took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "Understood, so now we..."

Upon hearing this, Shui Yuelu once again peered through the window crack at the Song family's gate diagonally opposite.

"The wedding procession has set off, and the guests are beginning to enter."

"We need to be prepared for both possibilities: to go and give gifts, and to give generous gifts."

"In case you fail, this gift will be your life-saving bargaining chip."

As she spoke, she took off a ring and handed it to Shui Caixi.

"Go ahead, you go in first, I'll go check on the bride."

Shui Xi took it and left.

Song House.

The Grand Elder himself was acting as the accountant at the entrance, looking radiant and full of vigor.

Not long after they sat down, Zhou Luo, the head of the Zhou family, came over with a cheerful smile.

Now that Zhou Hongtu is carrying the sedan chair, the Zhou family has essentially latched onto the Song family's coattails. With the crisis resolved and the future promising, he is naturally overjoyed.

"Senior Qingfeng, congratulations on this joyous occasion for the Song family."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Elder Song Qingfeng immediately stood up: "Oh? Patriarch Zhou? You've come so early?"

Generally speaking, it's the smaller forces that enter first. Even top-tier forces like the Zhou family, with a Core Formation expert in charge, only arrive close to noon.

The elder was quite surprised that Zhou Luo arrived before the ceremony had even begun.

Zhou Luo smiled broadly and said, "Now that we are fortunate to have your protection, we are all one family from now on, so it doesn't matter if we arrived a little early."

"It just so happens that the Zhou family has several women of marriageable age, and I see that the Song family, especially the collateral branches, also has quite a few men of marriageable age."

The elder's eyes lit up, but since he couldn't make the decision, he didn't say anything, only saying, "Then, Patriarch Zhou, please come in."

Zhou Luo clasped his hands in a fist salute, then wiped his hand on his storage ring. In an instant, a burst of light appeared, and more than a dozen gift boxes were placed on the table.

"It's just a small gift, nothing to brag about," Zhou Luo said, handing over the gift list.

The First Elder, Song Qingfeng, took the gift and glanced at it, then exclaimed in surprise, "Patriarch Zhou, this is no small gift! How come you've even brought out a fourth-grade spiritual herb, the White Jade Ginseng?"

"As my senior said, the purpose of inviting everyone here today is simply to join in the fun. The gifts don't need to be expensive; the sentiment is what matters."

In fact, Li Hao added that no matter how rich you are, you are not as rich as him, but such a statement was too offensive, so the Grand Elder naturally ignored it.

Zhou Luo smiled and waved his hand: "Hey, this is just a token of my appreciation, and also a wish for the newlyweds to have a long and happy marriage. In the future, our Zhou and Song families should also keep in touch."

Since things had already come to this point, the Grand Elder could only nod and instruct the waiting maid to escort Zhou Luo inside, while loudly announcing the proper etiquette.

"Zhou Luo, head of the Zhou family of Hexi, presents: a 4th-grade spiritual herb, White Jade Ginseng; a pair of mid-grade Xuan-level treasures, Frost Flower Jadeite Earrings; a cluster of Water Spirit Coral; and a low-grade Xuan-level treasure, a Water Condensation Realm cultivator..."

The crowd that had been watching the departing wedding procession started whispering among themselves, but when they heard the noise, they all turned to look.

"What the hell?! White jade ginseng? Giving away a fourth-grade spiritual herb? Has the Zhou family gone mad?!"

"You only heard about a white jade ginseng? You've brought out a mid-grade Xuan-level treasure."

"These are over a dozen items, worth at least three million spirit stones. Is the Zhou family really trying to curry favor with the Song family? They've completely shameless!"

"Why did the Zhou family arrive so early? Could it be that these two families are also planning a marriage alliance?"

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Zhou Luo was led to the inner area by a maid.

Although there were many people invited to the banquet, and the Song family had booked the entire city, there were still separate venues for the banquet and the banquet hall.

Those in the outer area were all unimportant forces; to them, they were simply there to eat and watch the show.

The real focus is inside the Song family mansion.

Given Zhou Luo's status, he was naturally qualified to enter the inner area, drawing envious glances from many people.

Just then, someone with sharp eyes noticed something and exclaimed, "Isn't that the Palace Master of Shui Lan Palace? Why is she coming this way?"

Many people turned around to look, and sure enough, they saw Shui Caixi walking slowly towards the Song family's gate.

"Congratulations."

Shui Xi didn't say much. After offering her congratulations, she took out the gifts and a gift list.

Judging by the sheer number, they were no less than, if not more than, the Zhou family's!

I just don't know what level it is.

The Grand Elder was taken aback for a moment, but fortunately he recovered in time and accepted the gift list.

I only glanced at it, but I couldn't help but gasp.

"Please come in, Palace Master."

The elder quickly gave a wink, signaling for a maid to bring Shui Xi into the room, while he himself held up the gift list and announced the ceremony.

"Palace Master Shui Cai Xi of Shui Lan Palace presents: Ten catties of Heavenly Dew! A high-grade Xuan-rank treasure, the Ice Soul Hairpin!..."

The crowd erupted in uproar after the elder spoke.

"Heavenly Dew? Did I hear that right? It's the Water Palace's secret treasure, used to nourish meridians and heal injuries. Even the royal family covets it and spends a lot of spirit stones every year to buy it. Heavenly Dew?"

"Yes, and they bought ten catties at once. Isn't it said that this stuff can only produce one catty a year? Shui Lan Palace must have really gone all out this time."

"High-grade Xuan-level treasures are quite valuable, but compared to Tianyi Ninglu, they seem to be lacking."

"Is Shui Lan Palace also going to form a marriage alliance with the Song family?"

"The Qingyun Sect has already allied with the Song family, and now with the Zhou family and the Shuilan Palace added to the mix... Originally, there was also the Lei family, but it seems they were wiped out by that senior. So, all the strongest forces in the Yue Kingdom, except for the royal family, are now aligned with the Song family!"

"From now on, the rule of Yue will probably not belong to the Zhao family, but to the Song family."

Although they knew that today would determine the future of the Yue Kingdom, they did not expect that they would drop two trump cards so early in the game.

Inside the Song residence, Li Hao and Song Baicheng listened to the discussions outside, and were somewhat surprised.

"Senior, didn't you say that Shui Lan Palace is petty and that you had some grudges with them before? Would they cause trouble today? They brought such a generous gift; it doesn't seem like they're here to cause trouble."

Li Hao was also a bit confused at this moment, and said, "I don't know either... but I didn't say that Shui Lan Palace is petty, Gao Yuanfan said it."

"Did they really misjudge? Or did they weigh the options and swallow their anger?"

Song Baicheng replied, "Now it seems that this is indeed the case."

As they were talking, Shui Xi was led in by a maid. When she saw Song Baicheng and Li Hao, she took the initiative to bow and greet them.

Although nothing was said, the goodwill extended was very clear.

The maid then led her inside. Li Hao glanced at her but didn't bother with her anymore.

"The main event today isn't the Water Palace, let them do whatever they want... Still no news from the royal family?" Li Hao asked.

Song Baicheng shook his head: "Not yet."

Just then, another gasp rang out from outside.

"Look at the sky over there!"

"This is a fifth-tier spirit beast, the Sky-Walking Horse? Who has the audacity to use a spirit beast comparable to a Core Formation expert as a mount?"

"Are you blind? Look at that flag behind you!"

"What?! The people from Danta are all here!"

Upon hearing this, Song Baicheng, who was chatting with Li Hao inside, could no longer sit still.

He truly hadn't expected that Danta would come too!

Seeing his reaction, Li Hao immediately said, "The Pill Towers scattered across the continent are said to be a super power with Martial God level experts in charge. Without a doubt, they're coming for me. What are you panicking about?"

Song Baicheng said, "That's why I'm flustered!"

After all, the Song family is nothing compared to the Dan Tower. Would an ant worry about an elephant coming to kill it?

But Li Hao is different. The Song family's current glory depends entirely on Li Hao. If something happens to Li Hao, won't the Song family be finished?

"What's meant to be will be, so stay calm."

"Let's go take a look."

After Li Hao finished speaking, he walked out the door, and Song Baicheng quickly followed.

Outside, the crowd of onlookers all craned their necks to look at the horizon, where a huge, winged, pure white horse, its hooves treading on white flames, was pulling a carriage as it approached.

Soon, the carriage landed, and the driver hurriedly got off and placed a stool on it. Then the curtain was pulled open, and a portly, rather wealthy-looking man stepped down from the carriage.

Song Baicheng was half a step behind Li Hao. The man could tell at a glance that this was the one in charge, so he immediately took the initiative to come over.

"Chen Jinbao, the steward of the Medicine Pagoda branch, has come to offer his congratulations."

"This must be Senior Li Hao, right?"