Both men, Wei Qiang and Zhang Yuxuan, stared directly into each other's eyes as the atmosphere around them gradually became heavier. Neither of them spoke for several breaths, yet the tension between the two cultivators was enough to make the surrounding air seem almost stagnant. Their auras began to leak from their bodies, first only faintly, but soon becoming powerful enough to produce a low, resonating hum that spread throughout the ruins.
The spiritual pressure from the two experts swept outward like invisible waves, causing the robes of nearby cultivators to flutter violently. Several weaker cultivators instinctively took a few steps backward, their expressions becoming tense as they realized that merely standing too close to the two men could potentially put them in danger.
"Truly We can't Compare to these Big wigs," one cultivator whispered to another, his voice barely audible beneath the oppressive atmosphere.
Similar whispers soon spread throughout the surrounding crowd, with cultivators discussing the two men in hushed voices while carefully watching their confrontation. Nobody wanted to become involved in a conflict between representatives of two of the Four Major Sects, especially when neither side appeared willing to back down.
For several moments, Wei Qiang and Zhang Yuxuan continued staring at one another, their auras pressing against each other in the middle of the ruins. The confrontation felt almost like a silent battle, with neither man willing to be the first to lower his presence.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pressure disappeared.
The oppressive spiritual energy surrounding the two men gradually settled, and the tense atmosphere that had gripped the nearby cultivators finally began to loosen.
However, what happened next left many of the spectators completely bewildered.
Wei Qiang, the enormous red-haired man whose expression had previously looked as though he were preparing to fight, suddenly threw his thick arm around Zhang Yuxuan's shoulders as though the two men had been lifelong friends. A broad grin immediately spread across his face, completely replacing the intimidating expression he had worn moments earlier.
The sudden change was so drastic that several nearby cultivators almost wondered whether they had imagined the confrontation.
Wei Qiang was well known for being a loud-mouthed and easily angered man, someone whose temper could flare over the smallest matters. Yet at this moment, his expression was so carefree that the hostility from moments earlier seemed to have been nothing more than a test.
"How's It going Old Yu," Wei Qiang said out loud, his deep voice echoing across the surrounding ruins like the roar of a bear.
Zhang Yuxuan remained remarkably composed despite having a large arm wrapped around his shoulders. His expression barely changed as he glanced sideways at Wei Qiang, though a faint trace of helplessness could be seen within his eyes.
"I see you remain unchanged Elder Qiang," Zhang Yuxian more Direct, his expression unchanging, other than a small sweat as he tried to pry Zhang Yuxuan's off his shoulder.
Despite his calm appearance, Zhang Yuxuan clearly wanted to remove Wei Qiang's arm from around him. Unfortunately, Wei Qiang's strength was far greater than his carefree attitude suggested, and the red-haired man seemed completely oblivious to Zhang Yuxuan's attempts to free himself.
Wei Qiang only laughed, his enormous voice once again carrying across the gathering.
"Why so distant, brother in law!" Wei Qiang said outloud, his voice and every word that came out like a bear making it's presence known.
The moment those words were spoken, the surrounding cultivators immediately erupted into another wave of whispers.
The relationship between the two men had clearly attracted the attention of everyone nearby, and those who had recognized Zhang Yuxuan and Wei Qiang were already beginning to piece together the reason behind their familiarity.
"I had heard that Elder Yuxuan of the Azure Moon Sect had married the Third Beauty Of the Azure Moon Sect, Wei Ruo," One Cultivator Murmured.
Another female cultivator standing nearby covered her mouth slightly as she whispered to her companion, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked toward them standing before the ancient bronze gate.
"Truly a heavenly match, Two Geniuses, there is none better than this under the heavens," One female Cultivator nearby whispered.
The gossip continued spreading throughout the enormous gathering.
Some cultivators discussed Zhang Yuxuan's strength, while others spoke about Wei Ruo's beauty and talent. A few even began speculating about what kind of powerful descendants could potentially be born from the union of two geniuses belonging to the Four Major Sects.
Even the more experienced cultivators couldn't help but pay attention.
After all, Zhang Yuxuan was an extraordinary talent of the Azure Moon Sect, while Wei Qiang was a renowned expert of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Their connection through marriage meant that their relationship was far more complicated than a simple meeting between two sect elders.
Yet while the surrounding crowd continued discussing the two men, neither Wei Qiang nor Zhang Yuxuan seemed particularly concerned with the attention.
Wei Qiang continued grinning as he kept his arm firmly around Zhang Yuxuan's shoulder, while Zhang Yuxuan maintained his usual calm expression, seemingly accustomed to dealing with Wei Qiang's overbearing personality.
The atmosphere around them had finally relaxed, and the tension that had existed moments earlier seemed to have vanished completely.
However, just as the two men continued their reunion, a voice suddenly rang out from somewhere within the crowd, cutting straight through the surrounding gossip and drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
The voice interrupted Zhang Yuxuan's and Wei Qiang's Reunion.