After speaking, Zuoqiu Ming glanced at Tao Lingwan once more and added, "Junior Niece Tao probably won't mind either."
Tao Lingwan lowered her head without a word, her cheeks flushing red.
Chen Xiu quickly waved his hand. "She won't mind, she won't mind. The more people, the livelier it'll be."
Zuoqiu Ming nodded slightly and looked at Yang Kai. "As for the wedding date, Junior Nephew, you may decide for yourself. When all your partners are gathered and you have the time, simply give our Yin Yang Heaven advance notice. We will certainly organize a grand wedding for you."
Yang Kai clasped his fists in gratitude. "Many thanks for the Sect Leader's kindness. This junior is eternally grateful."
Zuoqiu Ming stroked his beard. "We're family — no need for such pleasantries. Though your background may be somewhat lacking, when it comes to ability, none of this generation's disciples from the Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands can compare. Having you marry into our Yin Yang Heaven is a great fortune indeed."
Chen Xiu chimed in from the side. "Indeed. While this generation of Grotto-heaven disciples has produced many fine seeds who will no doubt become the pillars of their respective Grotto-heavens, when it comes to achievement, no one thus far can hold a candle to you, Nephew Yang. Senior Brother Xu truly had a keen eye, and Junior Niece Qu is most fortunate."
Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "Sect Leader, regarding the matter of marrying in, this disciple has an immodest request."
"Mm, go ahead," Zuoqiu Ming gestured.
"If this disciple were all alone, it wouldn't matter. Marrying into Yin Yang Heaven and taking shelter beneath its towering canopy would be a blessing I could only dream of. But the Sect Leader knows my situation — as the master of Void Land and the Palace Master of Lingxiao Pavilion, with hundreds of thousands of people under my care, it probably isn't suitable for me to marry into Yin Yang Heaven."
"In what way is it unsuitable?" Zuoqiu Ming asked.
Yang Kai said, "May I ask, Sect Leader — if I were to marry in, what would become of Void Land and Lingxiao Pavilion?"
Zuoqiu Ming replied, "They would naturally become subordinate sects of Yin Yang Heaven."
Chen Xiu added from the side, "A situation like yours isn't without precedent, Nephew Yang. Many of our Yin Yang Heaven's subordinate sects were established by sect masters who married in. So there's no need to worry — if you marry in, Void Land and Lingxiao Pavilion will still be under your control. Yin Yang Heaven won't interfere in the slightest; you'd simply have a nominal superior sect. Moreover, with Yin Yang Heaven's protection, Void Land and Lingxiao Pavilion will be even safer. That's a good thing."
Yang Kai shook his head. "Let's set aside Void Land for the moment. For other forces, Void Land might be impressive, but against the backdrop of the Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands, it's still far too small to mention. Lingxiao Pavilion is different. The World Tree in the Star Realm has drawn the attention of the entire Three Thousand Worlds. Every major Grotto-heaven and Blessed Land has established a dojo within the Star Realm, each sending experts to seek out disciples of outstanding talent and aptitude — Yin Yang Heaven among them. If Lingxiao Pavilion were to become a subordinate sect of Yin Yang Heaven, wouldn't the Star Realm itself become Yin Yang Heaven's territory? Even if I were willing to agree, I doubt the other Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands would accept it."
Zuoqiu Ming said, "If that's the concern, there's no need to worry, Junior Nephew. Yin Yang Heaven will handle it properly and leave the others with nothing to object to."
Yang Kai shook his head again. "That won't do."
No matter how nicely Zuoqiu Ming and Chen Xiu put it, once Void Land and Lingxiao Pavilion truly became subordinate sects of Yin Yang Heaven, they would inevitably be bound by others' authority. As the master of both sects, Yang Kai naturally had to consider the welfare of his people.
More importantly, he still harbored ambitions of developing either Void Land or Lingxiao Pavilion into one of the Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands. If they truly became Yin Yang Heaven's subordinate sects, that goal would forever be out of reach.
Zuoqiu Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. "Then what does Junior Nephew suggest?"
"I wouldn't presume to offer suggestions," Yang Kai said modestly. He had long anticipated this situation and naturally came prepared with his own words. "What this disciple means is — I will not marry into Yin Yang Heaven. Instead, I wish to take Senior Sister Qu as my bride and bring her back to my sect!"
Zuoqiu Ming's long eyebrows arched upward.
Chen Xiu also looked at Yang Kai in surprise. "Nephew Yang, throughout history, while there have been cases of Yin Yang Heaven disciples marrying out, those were marriages arranged with other Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands. Outside of that, anyone wishing to wed a Yin Yang Heaven disciple has only one option — marrying in. This applies even to ordinary disciples, let alone Junior Niece Qu, who is a Core Disciple of Yin Yang Heaven with an altogether different standing."
Zuoqiu Ming nodded. "Throughout history, Yin Yang Heaven's Core Disciples have never married out. This isn't unique to Yin Yang Heaven — the other Grotto-heavens and Blessed Lands are the same. Junior Nephew is welcome to inquire; if such a precedent exists, this Sect Leader will have nothing more to say."
Those who become Core Disciples are all cultivators who enter directly into the Sixth Grade of the Heaven Opening Realm, with hopes of eventually advancing to the Eighth Grade Supreme Elder rank.
Which Grotto-heaven or Blessed Land would be willing to let such disciples go? Naturally, they all hold on tight.
"Precedents have to be created by someone," Yang Kai reasoned.
Zuoqiu Ming shook his head. "Yin Yang Heaven will not make an exception for Junior Nephew."
His attitude was resolute — clearly not one to be swayed by a few words from Yang Kai. Yang Kai hadn't expected to sway him either.
Chen Xiu asked from the side, "Has Nephew Yang discussed this matter with Junior Niece Qu?"
Yang Kai shook his head. He hadn't spoken with Qu Huashang about this yet, but he believed that after having gone through nine lives of reincarnation together, she would support whatever decision he made.
"Then perhaps Nephew Yang should ask Junior Niece Qu's opinion first? If she's willing to marry out, we can discuss it further."
"No need!"
It wasn't that he didn't respect Qu Huashang's opinion — but asking her about this would only plunge her into an impossible dilemma. On one side stood the partner to whom she was engaged, with whom she had shared nine lives of reincarnation; on the other stood the sect that had raised her. No matter how she chose, it would be a decision that haunted her for the rest of her life.