PFC Chapter 295 The Grand Ceremony of Conferment
Chapter 295 The Grand Ceremony of Conferment
Sect Master Murong Yan sat upright in the main seat, his moon-white Daoist robe spotless, his face calm as water, but his eyes deep as an abyss.
On the left and right sides sat eight Supreme Elders, all of whom were old men with white hair and beards and whose auras were as deep as the sea.
An elder, dressed in a purple-gold Taoist robe and with a stern face, slowly spoke:
"The alarm bell tolls nine times, signaling the birth of a holy son. This is an unprecedented event in the history of our Xuantian Sect. The investiture ceremony must be held, and it must be a grand affair!"
His gaze swept over the crowd, decisive and resolute:
"Not only should we hold the event, but we should also widely invite all the major powers in the Eastern Wilderness, so that the whole world knows that the fortune of our Xuantian Sect has not run out and a holy son has emerged out of nowhere!"
"Brother Gu Yue is mistaken."
Another elderly man with white hair and a kind face shook his head in opposition:
"Although Wudao is a pure Yang holy body with extraordinary talent, he is still young and his cultivation is still shallow."
If a grand investiture ceremony were held, with many guests invited, wouldn't that put him in the spotlight?
He paused, his expression grave:
"Now that my Xuantian Sect is no longer as prosperous as it once was, to establish a Holy Son at this time, especially one with a Pure Yang Holy Body... I'm afraid it will attract unnecessary trouble, or even... death."
"Junior Brother Qingsong is being too cautious!"
Master Gu Yue said in a deep voice, "Although my Xuantian Sect is no longer as glorious as it was in ancient times, it is still a first-class sect in the Eastern Wilderness!"
If even our own holy son dares not openly and honestly bestow titles, wouldn't we become a laughingstock to the world? Wouldn't it dishearten our disciples?
"But what about Wudao's safety..."
"Can't our sect even protect a holy son?"
The two argued back and forth, each sticking to their own version of events.
The other elders in the hall also spoke up, some advocating for a high-profile event to enhance the sect's prestige, while others advocated for a low-key approach to prevent unforeseen circumstances.
Nangong Cheng listened quietly, his face remaining expressionless.
After the argument subsided, he spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"The investiture ceremony must be held. The position of Holy Son is related to the sect's inheritance and the rise and fall of its fortunes, and cannot be taken lightly."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "But Qingsong's concerns are not without merit."
"How about this?"
Nangong Cheng pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The investiture ceremony will be held only within the sect, without inviting any outside guests or publicizing it to the outside world."
Once Wudao has fully matured and achieved mastery of his cultivation, an even grander ceremony will be held in the Eastern Wilderness at a later time.
This is a compromise.
After a moment of silence, most of the elders in the hall slowly nodded.
But then Murong Yan, who had been silent all along, looked worried: "I'm afraid... there are no secrets in this world."
The hall fell silent.
He sighed, his eyes flickering uncertainly:
"The strange phenomena of the Illusionary Demon Tower and the nine rings of the Warning Bell have caused too much of a stir. Even if we repeatedly issue orders to block the news, it will be difficult to silence the public."
The news of the Pure Yang Holy Body's emergence has likely already spread like wildfire, quietly reaching the ears of all factions.
"The day of the investiture ceremony... may not be peaceful."
Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became heavy.
.......
The scene shifts to outside the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate.
The setting sun dyed the layered mountains a golden red, and the clouds and mist flowed between the peaks like an inverted Milky Way.
Along the mountain path, unnamed wildflowers swayed in the wind, emitting a faint fragrance.
Li Wudao and his entourage walked slowly up the bluestone steps, their pace leisurely, as if they were going on a spring outing.
Wang Zhao was completely sober.
He was being supported by Akiko Minoru as she recounted his "great achievements" while drunk.
"Don't...don't say anymore..."
A rare blush appeared on Wang Zhao's usually carefree face as he waved his hand awkwardly, "Next time... I promise I won't drink so much next time!"
Everyone laughed.
Li Nanzhi walked beside Li Wudao, her smile as radiant as a flower.
Sometimes she would bend down to pick wildflowers by the roadside and weave them into wreaths to wear on her head; other times she would point to a bird flying in the distance and call out to the crowd with delight.
That bright smile shone brightly in the setting sun.
Jiang Churan was no longer angry.
She walked quietly at the back of the group, her cool and aloof face softened by the afterglow of the setting sun.
However, the glances she made at Li Wudao still revealed a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.
A mountain breeze carries the fragrance of grass and trees.
In the distance, the waterfall roars like thunder, while nearby, the stream murmurs like a zither.
This peaceful and serene scene allowed everyone to temporarily forget the dangers and conflicts on the path of cultivation.
Time slipped away quietly amidst laughter and joy.
When the group returned to the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate, the sky was already ablaze with rosy clouds.
The sunset glow, like a sea of clouds ablaze, dyed the entire sky a magnificent purplish-red, breathtakingly beautiful.
Passing through the majestic mountain gate, we stepped onto the bluestone avenue within the sect.
Ancient trees can be seen reaching for the sky on both sides, and birdsong can be heard.
Disciples would occasionally fly by on their swords, or travel in twos and threes. When they saw Li Wudao and the others, they would stop and bow, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.
Li Wudao suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Li Nanzhi beside him:
"By the way, Sister Nanzhi, since you've decided to stay at the Xuantian Sect to cultivate, have you decided which peak you want to join?"
Li Nanzhi blinked her beautiful eyes and said with a smile, "Wherever you are on the peak, that's the peak I'll be on."
These words were spoken so naturally, yet they made Jiang Churan's heart skip a beat.
A barely perceptible ripple crossed the girl's cool and aloof face.
Her fingers, which were hanging in her sleeves, curled slightly, and her gaze involuntarily turned to Li Wudao.
A hint of nervousness, which she herself was unaware of, flashed in her eyes.
Upon hearing this, Li Wudao shook his head.
He pondered for a moment, then said gently, "Misty Peak is not suitable for you. The cultivation methods practiced by this lineage are not suitable for women, and... the conditions on the peak are rudimentary, with only a few bamboo huts..."
He looked at Li Nanzhi and asked earnestly, "What is your direction in cultivation?"
Li Nanzhi thought for a moment and said, "I have been practicing swordsmanship since I was a child, and I prefer the light and swift style."
"Then let's go to Jade Sword Peak."
Li Wudao immediately made the decision, "The peak master of Jade Sword Peak cultivates the way of the sword, and the peak master 'Jade Sword True Man' is one of the top sword masters in the sect."
There are quite a few female disciples on the peak, so you'll have someone to look after you if you go."
After finalizing the decision, Li Wudao turned to Wang Zhao and Qiu Zishi:
"You two take Sister Nanzhi to the Internal Affairs Hall to register and enter the inner sect of Jade Sword Peak as a temporary measure. I'll go find the sect leader later and discuss this matter with him."
With Li Nanzhi's talent, she was more than qualified to enter the inner sect. If the Great Yu Dynasty hadn't been so resource-poor, her cultivation level would have been far greater than this.
Wang Zhao and Qiu Zishi readily agreed.
Wang Zhao patted his chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, Godfather! Leave this to us, we'll handle it perfectly!"
Qiu Zishi smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, Brother Li."
The two immediately led Li Nanzhi away excitedly, heading towards the Inner Palace along another fork in the road.
Soon, only Li Wudao and Jiang Churan remained in the same spot.
The setting sun cast long shadows of the two people, which overlapped on the bluestone ground.
The surroundings suddenly fell silent, with only the faint sounds of disciples talking and laughing in the distance, and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
The atmosphere became inexplicably awkward.
Li Wudao coughed lightly, breaking the silence: "Um... I have something to discuss with the sect leader, so I'll take my leave first."
With that, he turned and started walking towards the main peak.
"and many more."
Jiang Churan suddenly spoke.
The voice was very soft, but it made Li Wudao pause in his steps.
He turned around in surprise and saw the girl's beautiful face glowing softly in the setting sun.
Those eyes, as cold as a deep pool, were now silently watching him, a hint of... panic flashing in them?
"I……"
Jiang Churan avoided his gaze and said softly, "I also want to go see the Master and ask him some questions about cultivation."
Li Wudao paused for a moment, then smiled: "That's perfect, we're going the same way."
The two walked side by side, slowly making their way up the main peak along the tree-lined path.
This scene was witnessed by many passing disciples, who all cast astonished glances at it.
Jiang Churan, the number one fairy of Xuantian Sect, was walking side by side with the holy son Li Wudao?
The subtle, almost imperceptible atmosphere between the two only fueled the imagination.
Whispers drifted in the wind.
"Those are Senior Sister Jiang and Senior Brother Li..."
How did they end up together?
"I heard that during today's Demon Tower trial, Senior Brother Li triggered the Warning Bell tolling nine times..."
"What a perfect match..."
Jiang Churan's ears turned slightly red, but she forced herself to remain calm and kept her eyes straight ahead.
Li Wudao, on the other hand, remained calm, ignoring the stares of those around him and completely unconcerned.
The two walked quietly.
The glow of the setting sun pierced through the gaps in the forest, casting its light upon the girl's beautiful and flawless face, making her skin appear even more like jade and her eyebrows and eyes even more exquisite.
The mountain breeze stirred her black hair and clothes, making her appear ethereal and otherworldly.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Churan finally couldn't help but speak.
She pursed her lips and hesitated slightly before saying:
"I don't understand... Why did you defend Wu Shaotian in front of the Illusion Demon Tower? What those five disciples said was clearly true, and this matter is inseparable from him."
Li Wudao stamped his foot and glanced at her sideways.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, the girl's face was as clear as a lotus emerging from the water, and her eyes were looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Instead of answering directly, he asked in return, "What do you think of Wu Shaotian?"
Jiang Churan was taken aback, somewhat surprised.
She pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This person appears gentle and kind, but in reality, he is extremely cunning and far from being as upright as he seems."
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Wudao's eyes.
He hadn't expected that Jiang Churan would have such keen insight, also noticing Wu Shaotian's odd behavior.
Hesitated for a moment.
Li Wudao's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice:
"If I told you... that Wu Shaotian is very likely a spy planted by the Demon Clan in the Xuan Tian Sect, would you... believe me?"
He stared intently at Jiang Churan, wanting to see her reaction.