The Qin family spent a month preparing for the migration of their clan, and now it was time for the official ceremony of settling in the Eastern Domain at Jiari Island.

This included the ancestral worship ritual to inform their ancestors that their clan’s territory had moved here, so they wouldn’t mistake the location when they came to bless their descendants.

The Qin family decided to combine the celestial and ancestral worship ceremonies with a grand banquet on the same day.

The schedule was for guests to first attend the worship ceremony and then proceed to the feast.

The worship ceremony was held on the newly built altar on Jiari Island.

The altar was originally a small hill—a description by Qin Ruqing, though it was actually a small mountain, the highest point on Jiari Island.

The Qin family had transformed it into a ceremonial altar.

The steps of white jade, layered and stretching endlessly, led up to the altar.

At the peak stood a large bronze cauldron emitting faint green smoke.

This was the symbol of the Alchemy family and now represented the Qin family of Jiari Island in the Eastern Domain.

When it came time to replace the family plaque, Qi Rong repeatedly struggled to get used to calling the Qin family of Jiari Island, still unable to adjust.

“It’s so hard to change the way I speak…”

Qin Ruqing said, “There’s no need to force it. Over time, you’ll get used to it.”

As she spoke, she was stretching her arms while several maidservants fastened the belt of her ceremonial robe.

After her attire was arranged, Qin Ruqing turned around, adopting a rare solemn expression and asked Lu Wei and the others, “How do I look?”

Qi Rong was initially taken aback by Qin Ruqing’s appearance, his mouth slightly open, before giving a thumbs-up.

“It makes one feel like bowing in respect.”

Having been around Qin Ruqing and Lu Wei’s beauty for a long time, Qi Rong had grown somewhat immune to it, but his reaction still pleased Qin Ruqing.

However, “feeling like bowing in respect? What an odd description.”

She checked herself in the mirror, feeling she looked quite striking today.

Lu Wei stepped forward with a smile, adjusting Qin Ruqing’s hair that fell down her back.

She gently said, “It’s rare for Xiao Wu to wear such formal and splendid attire. Today, it suits your demeanor very well. This kind of brilliance deserves the attention of everyone.”

Qin Ruqing felt a flutter of pleasure inside. Indeed, it was her second sister who knew how to compliment her.

She counted the people present and noticed that Tang Zifeng hadn’t given his opinion yet.

She turned and spread her arms, making it easier for him to see.

“Tang Zifeng, what do you think?”

If it weren’t for the long and heavy train of the robe, she might have twirled around to show him.

At the moment Qin Ruqing turned, Tang Zifeng, perhaps due to the dazzling gold thread of the robe or some other reason, awkwardly looked away.

However, as a seasoned grand refiner, he quickly regained his composure.

He fixed his black eyes on Qin Ruqing and said seriously, “Beautiful.”

His compliment, though brief, seemed somewhat sparse and a bit shabby.

Yet, his earnest expression and naturally trustworthy demeanor made his two words carry more weight than a thousand praises.

Qin Ruqing was quite pleased.

She wasn’t sure why, but Tang Zifeng’s “beautiful” made her feel completely satisfied with the hour-long effort spent on her appearance.

She took a deep breath, the belt of her robe feeling a bit tight, and then straightened her back, saying, “The auspicious time is approaching. Let’s go!”

The reason for dressing so formally and wearing such grand attire was that Qin Ruqing was chosen as the leader of the Qin family for this worship ceremony.

She was to lead the Qin family members up the altar, light the sacred incense, and perform the ancestral worship and celestial ritual.

Unlike the usual family ceremonies where elders and ancestors stayed away from the altar, this time, the ancestors insisted on having the younger generation take the stage.

The elders and ancestor themselves would not ascend the altar.

Ancestor Wenxuan said, “The future lies with the younger generation. What’s there for us old folks to show? Let the young ones offer incense and worship the heavens, with Qingqing leading. We’re not worried about her managing the occasion.”

With Qin Ruqing leading, there was no doubt the ceremony would be well-managed.

Coinciding with the Qin family’s promotion to a higher rank, an exceptionally splendid ceremonial robe had been custom-made for Qin Ruqing.

Other younger members also had brand new, custom-made ceremonial robes, all dressed to impress, showcasing the vibrant image of the Qin family’s younger generation.

Among the younger participants on the altar was a special guest, Tang Zifeng.

Though he wasn’t technically a Qin family member, holding a position among the elders, he should have been standing with them.

But Qin Ruqing insisted that Tang Zifeng join her on the altar, standing just one position behind her, alongside Qi Rong and the others.

In her mind, Tang Zifeng was like family and should be part of the ceremony with them, fitting for such an important ritual.

When the elders heard this, their expressions varied, but no one dared to refute.

Ancestor Wenxuan, even more so, said nothing, only stating, “It’s only right.”

Where exactly it was right, no one could say, but they instructed to prepare sacrificial items for Tang Zifeng that were the same as those for the Qin family’s direct line.

Thus, the current scene was formed.

As the sacrificial ceremonial bells rang, the younger generation of the Qin family, led by Qin Ruqing, slowly appeared and ascended the altar.

Their attire was in striking red and indigo, extremely solemn.

The garments were adorned with golden thread embroidered with abstract patterns of medicinal furnaces and swirling clouds of smoke.

Qin Ruqing’s outfit was even more special, with a dazzling red base and large blooming lotus flames.

As this excessively vibrant group slowly climbed the altar, the guests couldn’t help but hold their breath.

They were undoubtedly captivated by such grand beauty.

Their gaze inevitably fell on the person at the very front of the procession.

Her face was exquisitely crafted, perfectly intricate. Yet beauty was only the first impression; they were soon overwhelmed by another kind of awe.

They were struck by her calmness.

She looked at the mountain top calmly.

Even though she was climbing, she seemed to be walking on flat ground.

They were amazed at how effortlessly she moved!

Despite the long and arduous journey, why was she already so close?

They were also struck by her ambition.

As she looked to the heavens, her stunning eyes revealed not awe but a desire to control.

They were even more shocked by her youth.

She had so much time to hone her skills! Even now, she had no apparent weaknesses.

She walked forward with ease, even turning to scrutinize them.

She smiled at them freely.

That smile was full of understanding.

Understanding what?

Of course, she understood their inner darkness and the fear they were unwilling to face.

They actually feared her!

And thus, she stepped into everyone’s sight with such a shocking presence, like a storm, never to be ignored again.

Feng Qinxue and the Fifth Sheng stood side by side. They looked ahead, silent for a long time.

Feng Qinxue quickly detached herself from this emotion.

She said, “It’s a good thing to have such a person emerge.”

The Fifth Sheng nodded and then sighed wistfully.

He knew it was a good thing.

But… but…

There were so many buts. It was hard to put into words!

Feng Qinxue ignored him, focusing on Qin Ruqing, who had ascended the altar, lit a large incense burner, and was reciting the sacrificial prayers.

After the prayers were finished, Qin Ruqing knelt and bowed.

Qin Luwei then stepped forward, lightly waved her sleeve, and ignited the huge bronze medicinal furnace.

Soon, Jie Ri Island was filled with a pleasant and fresh medicinal fragrance.

The Fifth Sheng suddenly grasped the meaning behind the name Jie Ri Island.

He said to Feng Qinxue, “This island matches the Qin family… matches her atmosphere very well!”

In fact, he was not praising Feng Qinxue, nor was he praising Qin Ruqing.

He was subtly mocking Feng Qinxue for catering to their preferences.

And further mocking her lack of the integrity expected of an immortal.

Feng Qinxue seemed to not understand, giving the Fifth Sheng a plain look and then turning her gaze away.

“I just think that an island with such ambition should be matched with someone of ambition.”

She had no intention of engaging in pointless mutual sarcasm with the Fifth Sheng.

As the sacrificial ceremony was nearly complete, Feng Qinxue waved her hand to signal the people behind her to present the gifts to the Qin family.

The person behind her was Feng Mingyue.

The elder responsible for the recitation looked at the famous Feng Mingyue from the Feng family presenting the gift list and couldn’t help but feel a bit startled.

He quickly composed himself and opened the gift list.

“From the Feng family, the gift includes a map of Jie Ri Island and a boundary marker…” When he reached the words “boundary marker,” the elder hesitated.

His face showed shock.

The shock was not limited to just him.

Qin Ruqing, descending the altar, halted in her steps, revealing a meaningful expression.

If presenting the Jiari Island map was not enough proof, then presenting the boundary stone made the intent very clear—the Feng family was effectively gifting the entire Jiari Island to the Qin family.

The boundary stone was known to almost everyone in the cultivation world, though rarely seen.

It was a mystical spatial stone capable of measuring space and defining territorial boundaries.

The boundary stone, infused with the laws of heaven and earth, defined territories recognized by the Heavenly Dao.