Corrupt Creations

On the next day, morning slowly arrived, but there were already many people taking their dutiful posts at the Lion's Pride Golden Palace. The relatively "normal" practitioners that lived there, were all working extra hard today, since it would be a very important date for the whole sect. 

The entire Lion's Pride Golden Palace, was already full of ornaments and festive things, but the area where the wedding ceremony was going to happen, the Main Golden Palace, was practically unchanged. 

There wasn't a need to put any more ornaments there, since the entire building was a huge palace made out of gold and golden decorations. It was so majestic, that some people used to kneel down and worship it from time to time. That building alone, was already enough to show the rest of the world how rich and mighty the Lion's Pride Golden Palace really was. 

As time passed, the guests kept entering the main palace, where they were able to see five of the eight Lion Guardians, standing straight at the back of a huge altar. From the initial eight, three of them were missing. But that was due to the fact that the eight and seventh Lion Guardians, were serving as keepers at the outside gate and the one ranked first, unfortunately died a few months ago. 

Ranked guardians weren't something so easy to come by, so the ranks haven't been updated yet, maintaining the Lion Guardians at the number seven for now. 

Qiao Bao finally arrived at the main palace, where he walked all the way towards the golden altar in order to wait for the bride. He was wearing his golden armor, showing his almighty status and power for everyone that was watching him, but inwardly, he was feeling nervous. He was feeling an anxiety like he never felt before and most of his concerns, were centered around the possibility of the bride not showing up. 

A few minutes later, at that huge golden hall where the ceremony would be happening, Qiao Xuan finally appeared. There were many women following behind him, as they were his wives. Naturally, the one walking almost beside him, was Qiao Bao's mother, while the other, were his concubines. They were secretly eyeing the main wife with envy and cursing Qiao Bao inwardly. 

Qiao Bao's parents looked at him as they entered the hall, moving towards the main seats at the front row. 

This show was for Qiao Bao to shine, so Qiao Xuan decided to stay low-key, watching everything together with his family. 

At the outside area, a black carriage finally arrived. The driver "First Shadow", opened the door for the princess and watched as she descended. 

Her silver hair immediately obfuscated the golden ornaments around the whole place and both Lion Guardians keeping watch at the entrance of the sect, lost their ability to think properly. 

Serene was really a perfect jewel, but unfortunately, she was being influenced by that purple energy inside her soul. 

By herself, she walked towards the Lion's Pride Golden Palace, where she just entered alone. The Lion Guardians had even forgotten to properly guide her, admiring her beauty by the side. 

First Shadow didn't accompany her and instead of entering, she just vanished. She did it right before the nose of two Lion Guardians, but they didn't notice anything, since they were in a trance, looking towards the figure of a legendary beauty moving away. 

Serene was actually wearing a black veil, and if not for that, they would have been completely bewitched by her. However, even though she was wearing a plain black dress and a black veil, the sight of her beautiful silver hair alone, was enough to move any man. When people looked at her, it was like they were directly looking towards the silver moon in a dark sky. It was the only point they could focus on. 

As if she already knew the way, she went past every single guard, every single guest, moving towards the Main Golden Palace, where the ceremony would be held. When she finally arrived near there, a sudden silence took control over the whole environment. 

Gasp! 

Everyone started to gasp after just a single look towards her. It was like a silver and black jade, polished by the perfect hands of the creator, was moving towards them. Some of the guests even started to think it was a blasphemy to let her marry someone like Qiao Bao. He was not worthy of her. But of course, no one dared to voice out their thoughts.

When Qiao Bao saw her silhouette arriving at the entrance of the hall, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated. From there onwards, he turned into a fool that couldn't take his eyes off of her. 

Serene didn't stop walking forward even after being eyed by so many people, she moved slowly but steadily, just like a precise tool. There were close to a thousand people looking at her at that moment and most of them were very strong and capable cultivators that belonged to the Lion's Pride Golden Palace. 

That scene would certainly put pressure on anyone in her position, but Serene just mildly walked her way through the hall. 

When she arrived before the golden altar, Qiao Bao was already out of breath. He was living a golden dream up until now. 

Suddenly, the Ceremony Master walked in and started to say some things. The ceremony started and a ceremonial music started to be played by a group of talented bards. 

The Ceremony Master told the future couple to do some things and at the same time, he recited some phrases according to the culture of the people living at the Lion's Pride Golden Palace. Since Serene would be joining into their ranks, she had to follow the ceremony and do everything that the Ceremony Master told her to do. 

Suddenly, the man conducting the ceremony turned to Qiao Bao and said: "Young Master Qiao Bao, it's time for the rites." 

Qiao Bao was still looking at Serene's face, trying to see through her veil and discover the mystery behind it and he wasn't able to hear the Ceremony Master's words. 

"Young Master Bao..." 

"Ah, uhhh..." 

"The rites..." 

Qiao Xuan and Qiao Bao's mother felt a bit embarrassed, but Qiao Bao quickly returned to normal and corrected his posture. 

"Ah sorry, I forgot about it. Uhhh... I swear that I will always protect my wife, like a Lion King. I will always strive to get stronger and live a long life guiding her to the peak. As the future Lion King, I will raise capable descendants and make the next generation flourish and conquer new heights!" 

After he finished speaking, everyone started to hail him for his impressive speech. The values the people from the Lion's Pride Golden Palace followed, were kind of twisted. Throughout his whole speech, he didn't say that he would love her forever, or keep by her side till death did them part; however, there were phrases pointing that he would be the king that would bring her riches and guide her to the flourishing future. Twisted values that were not supposed to be the base of a relationship. 

After the excitement died down, the Ceremony Master turned towards Serene and said: "Young Lady, it's your time now...."