Chapter 132: Ascension Ceremony

Chapter 132: Ascension Ceremony (Combined Three Chapters)

Perhaps due to the earlier demise of Song Shidi, the sect mobilized unusually quickly this time.

Besides Mei Yong, Elder Fu arrived only two steps behind, joining the group in haste.

But they were undeniably late—the battle had already concluded.

Xiao Chen first used his mana to snatch the storage bag from Ding Sanlei’s waist, tucking the spoils into his sleeve.

Only then did he step forward with Elder Liu to greet them: “Senior Sect Brothers Mei and Fu, we’re unharmed. The demonic cultivator who caused the disturbance has been eliminated.”

Huh?

Mei Yong’s expression shifted to surprise as he noticed Elder Liu deliberately trailing half a step behind Xiao Chen.

He glanced backward to confirm no enemies remained before relaxing. “Good. Did you identify where the demonic cultivator came from?”

Elder Liu volunteered, “The enemy used the Eight Demon Blood Refining Formation—likely a henchman of the Divine Flame Cult.”

“This time, we owe our victory to Xiao Chen’s timely arrival and decisive strike against their leader.”

In an instant, all three turned their gazes toward Xiao Chen.

Huang Haoran, in particular, looked utterly baffled.

You said you were just going to “observe the situation” earlier!

Xiao Chen downplayed it: “I was simply fortunate. I happened to have studied a cultivation technique that countered theirs.”

“And when I arrived, Elder Liu was already halfway through battling them. I merely finished the job.”

Timing-wise, this explanation held weight.

Mei Yong interpreted it as Elder Liu having already subdued the demonic cultivator, so he nodded in understanding. “Ah, I see.”

Earlier, Huang Haoran’s description had suggested dire straits.

Mei Yong had assumed Xiao Chen single-handedly turned the tide, puzzling him.

But if the enemy was someone even Elder Liu couldn’t defeat, Xiao Chen would’ve been powerless too.

Now, the explanation made sense.

Huang Haoran also relaxed, realizing he must’ve misjudged the situation.

Most likely, when Xiao Chen arrived, Elder Liu wasn’t losing—so they’d combined forces to kill the enemy.

Recalling Xiao Chen’s earlier encounter with Ding Silei, he indeed possessed the ability to threaten Late-Stage Foundation-Building cultivators.

Reflecting on his sword technique, it had been remarkably formidable.

Huang Haoran wasn’t a sword cultivator, so he merely found the technique unusual.

But Elder Fu was a true swordsman.

Upon arrival, he immediately noticed traces of clashing sword qi.

The sword technique near the cave was clearly superior—its lingering aura carried a chilling, martial pressure even now.

Yet judging from the shattered trees, the enemy had still lost.

Given Elder Liu’s reputation for specializing in spells—particularly wood and fire magic—rather than swordsmanship, the conclusion was inescapable:

The swordsman who defeated the demonic cultivator could only be… Xiao Chen!

Realization dawned, and Elder Fu’s gaze sharpened with newfound intrigue.

“Just a lucky finish?”

That’s probably not the whole story.

Elder Liu, overhearing, felt equally perplexed.

He knew full well that Xiao Chen had single-handedly slain Ding Sanlei.

Why, then, was Xiao Chen downplaying his role?

Elder Liu’s first thought: Could he be sparing my dignity?

After all, he’d failed to retreat promptly upon realizing his mana was draining, leaving himself nearly overwhelmed and in mortal danger.

Was Xiao Chen hiding the truth to protect his pride?

But that didn’t fit.

Ordinarily, cultivators would boast about such feats to showcase their strength.

Reflecting further, Elder Liu recalled the few rumors he’d heard about Xiao Chen over the years—always about others speaking of him, never self-praise.

Despite breaking cultivation records repeatedly, Xiao Chen never flaunted his achievements.

Ah!

Elder Liu suddenly grasped it—this was simply Xiao Chen’s nature.

He was inherently reserved, preferring to conceal his strengths.

The proverb “A gentleman hides his talents” came to mind.

By keeping his power secret, he remained unpredictable to enemies.

Elder Liu felt he’d uncovered the truth.

He swallowed his praise and deliberately shifted the topic, playing along with Xiao Chen’s humility.

Truth be told, this suited him fine.

The fewer people who knew Xiao Chen’s true strength, the fewer rivals he’d face when courting his favor.

The five of them scoured the area, destroying residual talisman formations.

They rescued several solitary cultivators bound in wooden barrels before returning to the sect.

This matter wasn’t over, of course. With the Divine Flame Cult involved, careful deliberation was needed.

The Song family mourned their lost Foundation-Building expert, their entire clan seething with rage.

They began rallying elders to discuss aiding Hezhou’s cultivators in combating the demonic threat.

Yet ultimately, whether to confront the Divine Flame Cult hinged on Mingyan Zhenren’s will—not theirs to decide.

Several Song family members joined the Chu Mo Dian, taking missions seemingly to vent their fury on the Divine Flame Cult.

Their Foundation-Building experts naturally backed them.

Had the Chu Mo Dian offered suitable positions, the family might’ve gained two more Foundation-Building cultivators.

With the Song family’s relentless support, tasks and clues were swiftly handled.

Xiao Chen, ironically, found himself with more free time than ever—no duties to perform.

He spent his days in Cuiwei Valley, cultivating in peace.

Naturally, he didn’t neglect inspecting the storage bags taken from Ding Sanlei and Ding Silei.

Strangely, the two bags contained a paltry 339 spirit stones combined—astonishingly few.

Xiao Chen suspected they’d deliberately spent their wealth before coming to Li Zhou.

Unlike typical storage bags cluttered with random items, these were unusually sparse—no spirit herbs, mining tools, clothing, or rations.

The only survival supplies were bigu pills.

Instead, they carried combat essentials: pills and talismans.

Gushing Spring Pills to restore mana, Fire Mana Pills to boost fire affinity, and stacks of elemental spell talismans.

The talismans came mostly from Ding Silei’s bag—unused when Xiao Chen killed him, becoming spoils.

Thankfully, Ding Silei also carried a vial of jade nectar.

This rare treasure formed only in agate mines—accumulating a small globule every century.

Even after extracting it, the mine required decades to regenerate.

A single vial required over 300 years to form.

Even major sects with multiple mines needed decades to produce one.

Jade nectar functioned both as a medicinal herb and a direct tonic, enhancing cultivation for cultivators of any spirit root—including mutated ones.

Its market value remained sky-high.

Naturally, Xiao Chen had no intention of selling it—reserving it for his own use.

With this addition, his resources for rapid cultivation over the next two months were secured.

The remaining loot: two small manuals, a formation diagram, a storage box, and a pill formula.

Xiao Chen examined them one by one, starting with the manuals.

Unfortunately, they contained only mid-tier spells—not the Yellow Spring Path’s demonic techniques.

Next came the formation diagram—the Eight Demon Blood Refining Formation’s layout.

Its reverse side detailed the crafting requirements for formation flags and array materials.

The drawback? Activating the formation consumed vital blood, with further blood sacrifices needed for reinforcement.

Though Xiao Chen possessed the Blood Extraction Art and others’ blood could suffice, he dismissed it as distasteful.

He tucked the diagram away and opened the storage box.

Items stored here were rarely ordinary.

Indeed, inside lay a rare second-tier selfheal sage—a century-old specimen with a light purple, bell-shaped calyx.

According to pill manuals, this herb withered after summer solstice, embodying pure yang energy that faded with yin.

Selfheal sage contained yang essence tempered by a trace of yin, preventing excessive intensity.

It was typically used as an auxiliary ingredient in specialized pill formulas.

“Strange. Why preserve this herb? Could it relate to the pill formula?”

Xiao Chen picked up the handwritten formula.

It described an extraordinary cultivation pill—the Triple Revolving Xuan Yuan Pill.

Its effect was brutally simple: aiding breakthroughs.

For cultivators below Foundation-Building Ninth Layer, the first dose could instantly advance one minor cultivation stage.

Theoretically, it was ideal for shattering major bottlenecks like Foundation Formation’s Fourth Layer or the Seventh Floor’s minor bottleneck—saving years or decades of arduous practice.

Even Foundation-Building Eighth Layer cultivators could use it to reach Ninth Layer’s peak.

Of course, such pills shared two inherent flaws.

First, diminishing returns: subsequent doses offered negligible effects despite their abundant spiritual energy.

Second, rarity. The required herbs were notoriously demanding.

Xiao Chen scanned the formula. Most auxiliary ingredients were manageable—available at Lihuo Bazaar.

But the three primary ingredients were absurdly demanding.

The first required a spirit herb containing all five elements simultaneously.

The second primary ingredient required a Yang-Infused Yin—a Spirit Herb inherently Yang in nature but containing a trace of Yin essence within.

The third ingredient demanded the opposite: a Yin-Infused Yang.

“Hmph… Are these requirements too extreme?” Xiao Chen muttered, staring at the three criteria, his mind reeling.

Still, after a moment’s contemplation, he realized something. If he aimed to refine the Triple-Revolving Xuan Yuan Pill, he already possessed two of the three primary ingredients.

The Jade Nectar, which contained the quintessence of all elemental attributes, could easily serve as the first ingredient. As for the second, the selfheal sage herb he’d previously acquired—a second-tier Spirit Herb—was perfectly suitable.

“Hmm… Maybe this is actually feasible?”

At this rate, he only needed to locate a Yin-Infused Yang Spirit Herb to complete the trio. Xiao Chen felt hope flicker anew.

He first visited Lihuo Bazaar, but as expected, found nothing. Then he headed to the Merit Hall, only to be disappointed again.

This time, however, he’d learned his lesson. Without needing Steward Chen’s reminder, he went straight to Elder Chen.

“Master, do you have a second-tier Yin-Infused Yang Spirit Herb?”

Elder Chen had just returned from the Alchemy Hall. As he poured tea, he shook his head. “A second-tier Yin-Infused Yang? I don’t. The only second-tier Spirit Herb I know of is the Rockheart Ophiopogon.”

“I’ve only heard of it myself—never seen one. Why do you need something so unusual?”

Slightly disheartened, Xiao Chen explained, “I’ve been studying a second-tier pill formula that mentions a Yin-Infused Yang Spirit Herb. Master, how hard is it to find Rockheart Ophiopogon?”

Elder Chen shook his head again. “Difficult, I’m afraid. I’ve only heard whispers of its existence in recent years.”

Xiao Chen’s heart sank. It seemed he’d have to abandon this lead.

But Elder Chen added, “If you truly need it, you might try inquiring at the upcoming Ascension Ceremony.”

“The Ascension Ceremony?” Xiao Chen frowned. “What’s the connection?”

Elder Chen explained, "It’s not just a ceremony—it’s a rare grand trading event. Think about it: Li Zhou’s Foundation-Building cultivators are usually scattered, but this event gathers them all in one place."

Xiao Chen caught on. “So cultivators can exchange resources and fill gaps in their cultivation?”

“Exactly.” Elder Chen nodded. “Moreover, no one dares provoke bandit cultivators during this time. Everyone avoids causing trouble, lest they offend the newly anointed Golden Core Zhenren.”

“Thus, many rare treasures emerge for trade, attracting even more cultivators. Someone might just have a Rockheart Ophiopogon.”

Xiao Chen’s eyes widened. He’d initially wondered if he could skip the ceremony, sending his regards through others. But now he understood—this wasn’t just a celebration; it was Li Zhou’s most prestigious trading event, drawing nearly every Foundation-Building cultivator.

“If my breakthrough goes smoothly, it’ll happen within these days,” Elder Chen mused. “Avoid hunting demonic cultivators for now.”

Xiao Chen nodded. “Thank you, Master. I understand.”

Truthfully, he’d only taken the Manager title as a formality—he rarely attended duties, barely knew his fellow Chu Mo Dian disciples, and had mastered the art of coasting.

By the 28th day of the first lunar month, Mei Yong finally received a gilded invitation from Qianzhu Bazaar. The Ascension Ceremony for Mingyan Zhenren would be held on the 30th, inviting Lihuo Sect’s elders and Foundation-Building cultivators.

“Hmph…” Mei Yong exhaled after reading the letter. At 161 years old, Gu Lihui had truly succeeded in forming a Golden Core. Li Zhou would soon welcome another Golden Core Zhenren.

He promptly notified the sect and sent a message via a specialized sound-transmitting Flying Sword to Mingyan Zhenren.

Xiao Chen also received the news, learning that all congratulatory messages must read: “Congratulations to Mingyan Zhenren on achieving Golden Core cultivation!”

He’d heard the elder’s nickname was “Moonlight Saber,” likely the origin of his title.

“Does that mean Mingyan Zhenren excels in fire magic?” Xiao Chen mused.

Curious, he bought a premium sandalwood box worth ten spirit stones and retrieved a four-leaf golden peach gifted by Duyan. Though missing one leaf, it was still a worthy gift despite no longer qualifying as a Foundation-Building Spirit Herb.

On the morning of the 30th, at the hour of Chen, over ninety Foundation-Building cultivators gathered at the sect plaza. Representing Lihuo Sect collectively, they boarded a massive spiritual vessel.

The Five Great Families, honorary elders, and supervisors of external sect assets attended, except those indispensable.

Xiao Chen stood among the Chen family ranks, observing unfamiliar peers—most had been assigned to manage sect assets long before his arrival. He memorized their faces to avoid future awkwardness.

He noticed Jiang Cungang in the Jiang family line, now Foundation-Building. Meanwhile, Su Ruihe, the Su family’s ancestral founder, was absent, with Su Huaitao leading instead—an oddity.

Elder Chen approached with a middle-aged cultivator. “This is Xiao Chen. Meet Chen Zhixuan—he cultivates medicinal herbs in Shidao Valley.”

“Xiao Chen, you may call him Senior Sect Brother,” Elder Chen advised. “Zhixuan is the eldest of the Zhi generation, while you’re the youngest.”

Elder Chen chuckled. “You’re twenty-two, right?”

“Twenty-three,” Xiao Chen corrected.

“Ah, Zhixuan is one hundred and twenty-three. A century apart—a rare bond indeed.”

Xiao Chen blinked but greeted politely. Elder Chen then introduced two more cultivators, explaining their roles.

“Though our duties are light, we rarely leave during festivals to prevent bandit cultivators from exploiting the chaos.”

Xiao Chen nodded, finally understanding why he’d never seen others during past New Years.

Before introductions finished, a colossal flying vessel soared overhead. A stern voice echoed: “Board the vessel.”

The cultivators ascended in unison. At the bow stood a white-robed figure gazing into the distance.

As the vessel launched like an arrow, Xiao Chen glimpsed Mingyan Zhenren—no longer exuding pressure, appearing almost mortal save for his levitation.

In two hours, they crossed four thousand miles to Qianzhu Bazaar near Li Zhou’s southeast corner. The speed was staggering.

No wonder Foundation-Building cultivators in the Three Great Sects avoided conflict—retaliation could arrive within a day.

Meanwhile, solitary cultivator families across Li Zhou rode spirit carriages or small flying vessels toward Qianzhu Bazaar.

The ceremony unfolded at Qianzhu Zhenren’s Thousand Bamboo Pavilion, divided into three areas: Private Banquet (for Golden Core Zhenren on the ninth floor), Inner Banquet (for Foundation-Building guests on the third), and Outer Banquet (an open feast on the street).

At noon, as the announcer called out arriving families—“Fuyu Town Fu Family… Yuebei Town Yue Family… Changshi Town Wei Family…”—the Crimson-robed Mingyan Zhenren paid little heed.

Beside him, Qianzhu Zhenren in purple robes chuckled. “Junior Sect Brother, no need to memorize names. The Three Great Sects always arrive together.”

As if on cue, three titanic spiritual vessels pierced the clouds above Qianzhu Bazaar, hovering without landing.

Each vessel, dozens of zhang tall and hundreds long, cast shadows over half the bazaar.

Lihuo Sect, Cangyan Sect, and Sihai Sect cultivators descended behind their Golden Core Zhenren, sword beams slicing the sky like a thousand immortals paying homage.

“Lihuo Sect/Cangyan Sect/Sihai Sect… Congratulations to Mingyan Zhenren on achieving Golden Core cultivation!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end