Chapter 2806: The Tea Ceremony Approaches

"Senior Li actually came! He rarely leaves the Endless Frontier, traveling about it and creating astral charts in order to provide even a slight advantage for humanity in the war. It’s said that everyone who traveled with Senior Li across the Endless Frontier have died, and that only Senior Li was lucky enough to survive, though he lost all of his limbs and even the ability to speak. All that he remains capable of moving on his body are his eyes."

"Even though Senior Li’s cultivation was not that high, being only a third-stage Demi-Immortal, he even lost his cultivation before being given a gift by the Great Sovereign and invited to the tea ceremony. The Great Sovereign is truly kind."

"Over there is the heir of the Qianzi family. The entire family was once framed as spies, yet they managed to sneak onto the Endless Frontier, where they fought until the last survivor was an infant heir. Fortunately, Senior Sovereign Ninth Lotus helped them, and the slander was cleared away. The heir was returned, and became one of Sovereign Ninth Lotus’s disciples, and was even invited to the tea ceremony."

"Typically, there are two types of people who are allowed to attend the tea ceremonies; those with sufficient strength or reputation, and those with outstanding achievements. The entire Qianzi family fought until there was but one survivor. Even though they did not succeed in causing much damage to the Aeternals, they never backed down or allowed the Aeternals’ slander to endure. This qualified their heir to attend the tea ceremony.”

"Look! Senior Xu Heng and Senior Xu Leng! Both of them have become peak powerhouses, according to the Voidforce Universe’s cultivation method. They also showed up."

"I'm so jealous! Both of them managed to break through, and they are even a couple! Their story will definitely spread through the Sixverse Association."

"Hey, Senior Xiu Ci also came."

Outside of the Heavenly Gate, Xiu Ci and the man with the small mustache had arrived. The mustachioed man’s name was Mu Tao, and he was from the Arboreal Realm. Due to the conflicting facial hair, Mu Tao was naturally Xiu Ci’s rival.

"Senior Xiu Ci." Xu Heng and Xu Leng quickly bowed when they saw that Xiu Ci had arrived.

The older man smiled at the pair. "You also came. You are truly lucky to be able to attend a tea ceremony so soon after your breakthrough. Listen carefully, as not everyone can accept Senior Great Sovereign’s teachings."

"We are aware." The two were very polite.

They had a good relationship with Xiu Ci. Even though their master, Xu Yi, had competed with Xiu Ci, the two had been both rivals and fast friends. Xu Yi’s body had even been returned by Xiu Ci.

Mu Tao praised the couple, "Are you Xu Heng and Xu Leng? Not bad, not bad at all. I'm quite envious, as both of you have managed to break through."

The two glanced at each other in confusion. Not all peak powerhouses knew each other.

Xiu Ci introduced his friend, "This big mustache is Mu Tao, and he comes from the Arboreal Realm. He has been fighting in the Gourd Universe for many years, so it’s understandable that you don't recognize him."

The two of them quickly bowed a greeting to the man, as they were unquestionably the juniors.

Mu Tao smiled. "I heard you two were able to defeat Xiu Ci, the bearded freak. That’s good, wonderful, even, haha!"

Xu Heng quickly replied, "We managed a draw, and it was even the two of us against even one of him, which is quite shameful."

Mu Tao’s smile never left. "What is there to be ashamed of? You are so much younger than the old guy. When you reach his age, instead of two against one, just one of you might be able to force the old man to call for help, haha."

Xiu Ci gave a small smile. "Sounds good. I'll call you."

"As long as it makes you look bad, I don't mind giving you some help."

Several people entered the Heavenly Gate together as they chatted and laughed.

A short time later, Shan Gu, the Lost Clan’s Great Elder, arrived with a woman called Shan Yan. She was another of the lost clan’s peak powerhouses, and had mastered a three star Immemorial card. She was even more powerful than Shan Pu.

Shan Pu did not attend the tea ceremony.

Mu Ke also arrived, still wearing his blindfold, and at the same time, Sovereign Shao Yin arrived.

Upon seeing Mu Ke, Sovereign Shao Yin’s eyes glinted. "I had thought that you had given up on the Lost Clan’s power, yet you attended the last Shangsan Festival. How did it go? Were you able to exchange your card?"

Mu Ke walked past the Sovereign without saying a word, passing straight through the Heavenly Gate.

Many people stared at Mu Ke from a distance, only to quickly duck their heads. They did not dare stare or even watch as Sovereign Shao Yin was blatantly ignored.

Sovereign Shao Yin's expression fell, and he stared at Mu Ke’s back with a cold glare. The man was far too arrogant.

"Why don't you go in?" Sovereign Ninth Lotus asked when she arrived.

Sovereign Shao Yin's expression recovered as he turned to look at his fellow Sovereign. "Didn’t you go to the Inorganic Universe? How were you able to return?"

Sovereign Ninth Lotus replied, "Shaman God fled, which allowed me to come back."

Sovereign Shao Yin was surprised. "It appears that more old friends that usual will be attending this tea ceremony, though I don't know if he will come back."

Sovereign Ninth Lotus replied, "Probably not. The disagreements between him and Master have never been reconciled."

Sovereign Shao Yin shook his head. "We might all be Sovereigns, but the gap between me and him is so vast. He can ignore Master, while I need to obey-"

At this point, the Sovereign abruptly cut off, not daring to say anything further.

Sovereign Ninth Lotus stared at the man. "Do you also want to ignore Master like him?"

Sovereign Shao Yin immediately denied the allegation, "Of course not."

Another person arrived, and when they saw Sovereign Shao Yin and Sovereign Ninth Lotus, they immediately bowed low.

The person was a young man who looked exceptionally young, yet he was also qualified to attend the tea ceremony.

The young man had the fortune of having ancestors who had accomplished something of great service, and that contribution to humanity had granted the clan to attend every tea ceremony. Logically, by frequently attending the tea ceremonies, even a fool could become a genius. As generations passed in this same manner, the clan should rise up to become a monster, and yet it had never changed. None of their descendants had ever shown any exceptional degree of talent.

Sovereign Shao Yin glanced at the young man. "Go in."

The young man pursed his lips. "Yes."

"Master gives this good-for-nothing family a seat at every tea ceremony. What a waste," Sovereign Shao Yin muttered softly.

Sovereign Ninth Lotus started moving towards the Heavenly Gate. "Master has reasons for every decision."

The bells rang again, and both Lord Xu and Lord Wei arrived.

Mu Shen also arrived. He was an ordinary-looking old man who wore green clothes that seemed completely untouched by any dust.

The Voidlord and Lord Wei both treated Mu Shen very respectfully. He was an ancient figure, and had even fought in several battles in the Origin Universe, witnessing the fall of the First Mainland and the creation of the Sixverse Association. He was an old man who had witnessed human history. .

The staircase rose up, connecting the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. There were flowers blooming in the sky, one flower for each seat. There were ninety-nine seats, and the flowers were scattered across the Nine Heavens.

Of them there were nine seats that sat above the others.

There was no order to these nine seats, but many people acknowledged the seat that was furthest to the left as being the first seat. Throughout history, the first and second seats had always remained vacant, while the third seat had always belonged to Mu Shen, followed by Lord Xu, Shan Gu, and Lord Wei. The following seat was left vacant, and the next two belonged to Sovereign Ninth Lotus and Sovereign Shao Yin. These were the first nine seats.

However, Mu Shen and several others had already taken their seats, yet while Sovereign Shao Yin had also arrived, he could only take a lower seat, as his customary seat at the front had been given to Lu Yin.

Many people were aware that the ninth seat had been assigned to Lu Yin, and they gave the Sovereign odd looks.

There was a calm expression on Sovereign Shao Yin's face that revealed nothing of what he was thinking or feeling.

Bai Xian'er arrived and calmly sat down in a seat rather close to the front.

Chu Jian arrived, but his aura felt different from the past. Sovereign Shao Yin immediately turned to look at the young man. "Have you had a breakthrough and become an Ascendant?"

Chu Jian nodded before looking at the ninth seat. "Dao Monarch Lu hasn't shown up yet?"

Sovereign Shao Yin calmly replied, "He is the Heavens Sect’s Dao Monarch. It’s expected for him to arrive late."

Chu Jian just laughed, completely unconcerned.

Becoming an Ascendant had caused Chu Jian’s strength to soar. While he was still far from being comparable to Sovereign Shao Yin, the young man understood the strength of those at that level. His master had told Chu Jian that he needed to remain undefeated after becoming an Ascendant. With his new strength, how could Lu Yin possibly be able to measure up to Chu Jian?

There were more people arriving and taking one of the ninety-nine seats, but it was impossible for all of them to be filled. As for the 9.99 million people who were allowed to observe the tea ceremony and listen to the Great Sovereign’s teachings, not one opening remained. They stared at the ripples in the void and the people in the ninety-nine seats with eyes full of envy.

The most desirable positions were the first nine seats, which were the closest to the Great Sovereign.

Sage Yuan arrived. He was supposed to be serving on the Endless Frontier, but the Aeternals had suddenly retreated just before the start of the tea ceremony, so the Sage had returned and he took a seat, though not one that was at all close to the first nine seats.

When Sage Yuan saw the vacant ninth seat, as well as Sovereign Shao Yin’s face, Sage Yuan sneered. That brat from the Lu family would not have an easy time of things. From what Sage Yuan knew of Sovereign Shao Yin, this tea ceremony would be used to create trouble for Lu Yin.

The only question was whether or not the Lu brat would bring the jiao.

If Master is pleased with that mount, the bastard just might have a chance to survive

.

I can’t wait to see how things play out! It’s impossible for you to come away from this without being targeted, after being granted the ninth seat. This will be the greatest moment of your life, but this will also be the moment that sees you dragged to hell, you Lu bastard!

Behind the Sage sat the young man who Sovereign Shao Yin had seen arrive.

The young man looked quite nervous, seeing how he was frequently glancing around and biting his lips. The auras of everyone attending the tea ceremony made the young man quiver. Was he really qualified to sit with them?

In particular, the man sitting directly in front of the young man had an aura that was so oppressive the young man could not even breathe.

Next to the young man sat a middle-aged man, though half of his face was missing. He looked particularly terrifying.

Noticing the young man’s gaze, the man gave a gentle smile, though his ruined face caused it to look quite vicious, which startled the young man.

"Don't be afraid. This is just a wound," the middle-aged man said in a hoarse voice.

The young man grunted and gulped. "Greetings, Senior."

The middle-aged man continued to smile as he said, "Just calm yourself. This is a rare opportunity. I only received this opportunity myself after completing great achievements on the Endless Frontier."

The young man nodded.

Sage Yuan turned around and ordered, "Silence!"

The middle-aged man's face turned pale and he bowed low. "Forgive me, Sage Yuan."

The young man followed suit, also bowing deeply.

Sage Yuan felt disgusted. There were peak powerhouses in front of him, and trash right behind him. The idea of meritorious service or outstanding achievements was pure nonsense. Sitting with such pathetic wastes would tarnish the Sage’s identity.

All of this was because of that Lu bastard. Sage Yuan had never sat so far from the front before.

Damn you, you Lu bastard!

Further ahead, someone turned around to smile at Sage Yuan. "You seem rather unhappy, but remember that this is Senior Great Sovereign’s tea ceremony."

Fear appeared in Sage Yuan’s eyes as he looked at the man, and he forced his expression to relax as he put on a smile. "I understand, Mr. Daheng."

Mr. Daheng has an elegant demeanor, and gave off the impression of a teacher. He seemed a bit separated from the common world.

To the side, Bureau Director Gan spoke up with a smile, "How is it that Mr. Daheng has the time to attend this tea ceremony? In the past, you were unable to attend most of the tea ceremonies."

Mr. Daheng answered with his own smile, "When I encounter a bottleneck in my cultivation, naturally I attend the tea ceremonies in order to hear Senior Great Sovereign’s teachings. In the past, even if I did not attend the tea ceremony, I would always at least listen to those teachings."

Someone sitting on the other side interjected, "The same is true for us. Without Senior Great Sovereign’s teachings, there is no way we would be able to possess our current strength."

Various peak powerhouses chatted with each other, creating a lively atmosphere for the tea ceremony.