Chapter 453: The Sect-Founding Ceremony

At dawn, Huai Jing, Shi Qianzhang, and Liu Yunzhi arrived at the Pure Yang Sword Faction. As soon as they reached the mountain gate, Shi Qianzhang shouted, "Brother Sheng!"

The two off-heritage sect members guarding the gate were startled. After all, in the entire cultivation world, only Shi Qianzhang dared address Wang Sheng by that name.

Wang Sheng, who was now in his rather showy sect uniform, responded to the call. The words printed on his back made the three visitors pause and look on with envy.

The trio had come early to see if they could help with anything, like moving tables, hanging banners, or putting up "double joy" posters[1].

Naturally, Wang Sheng refused to let his friends do any real work. Everyone who came today was a guest. Moreover, after half a month of preparation, almost everything was already set up. There was little left to rush.

He took the three on a short tour through the Pure Yang Sword Faction. Although the sect had grown in size, it still could not compare to the heritage of the Longhu Mountains or Mount Mao.

Shi Qianzhang rubbed his hands together and leaned closer."Brother Sheng, do you have any insider information for us? How many disciples is your sect recruiting? Two of our Daoist masters' grandsons want to join. They heard Daoist Master Bu Yan would personally select students today. Are there any specific requirements?"

Wang Sheng glanced at Shi Qianzhang. The latter immediately backed away a little, looking guilty.

"There isn't a strict standard." Wang Sheng smiled. "I'm not trying to be secretive. It's just not that easy to explain. Simply put, there will be a trial, and disciples will be chosen based on how well they perform."

Huai Jing and the others nodded in understanding. They had roughly expected as much.

"This way." Wang Sheng led them to a nearby cottage. "There's nowhere else to rest, so let's have some tea and relax here."

Huai Jing smiled. "Is this where the lessons will be held? I haven't been here in a while. A lot has definitely changed."

Shi Qianzhang sat upright at the teacher's spot. With a solemn expression, he mockingly tried to sound serious. "Little Liu, come sit and listen to the lecture."

Liu Yunzhi reached into his sleeve and pulled out two talismans specifically meant for Shi Qianzhang. Shi Qianzhang flinched, then quickly jumped down from the platform.

Shen Xiaomin, who was in her sect uniform, quickly ran to the kitchen. Soon, she carried a tray over to the four and said in a slightly nervous tone, "Senior Brother Wang, allow me to serve you and your guests some tea."

"No need to be shy. They're my friends. Anyway, let me handle it." Wang Sheng took the tray. On it were four cups, a teapot, and two small plates of seeds.

Shen Xiaomin nodded quickly, then stole a few glances at Liu Yunzhi. Worried she'd lose composure and embarrass the sect. She bowed and hurried away.

Huai Jing chuckled. "Is that one of the people you recruited from yesterday?"

"

Mm,

" Wang Sheng replied, a hint of disappointment in his expression. After arranging the tea set, he invited them to sit on the floor mats. "I was planning to recruit a few Golden Core Realm cultivators, but most of the applicants yesterday had shady backgrounds."

"Unaffiliated practitioners have it tough." Shi Qianzhang laughed.

Meanwhile, Liu Yunzhi skillfully poured the Hundred Fragrance leaves tea, which was brewed in mountain spring water. As a delicate aroma spread through the cottage, the four chatted leisurely.

Around half an hour later, Fei Lianzi arrived with his two disciples to attend the ceremony. Since his spiritual perception had sensed the round-faced Daoist master's presence long before, Wang Sheng was already at the gate to greet and lead them to the cottage.

Shen Xiaomin and Zhang Weiyu soon brought over more tea and sunflower seeds. Afterward, Fei Lianzi asked when the ceremony would begin so he could notify the Shu Sword Sect's sect master.

Not quite sure himself, Wang Sheng went to ask his master. He found him standing in a soundproof array in a corner of the main palace, reading loudly into his phone.

Wang Sheng subtly extended his spiritual perception into the array. Due to the gap in their cultivation, he could eavesdrop undetected.

"Esteemed seniors of the cultivation world, I would like to thank you all for clearing your busy schedules to bear witness to the founding of the Pure Yang Sword Faction on this fair and bright day..."

After reciting for a while, Qing Yanzi shook his head.

"

Mm,

not concise or natural enough. I'll just start from scratch."

Wang Sheng's mouth twitched. Still, he just quietly waited.

***

After a while, Wang Sheng finally got an answer: the ceremony would officially start at noon. He passed the message to Fei Lianzi around the same time as the news was posted on the Righteous-Qi Alliance's website.

A little after nine, Daoist masters started flocking in from the skies. The ones from nearby Daoist sects came earlier as a sign of respect to the Pure Yang Sword Faction. Those from farther regions, like Mount Lao and Mount Changbai, could make their way over any time they wanted for as long as they arrived before the ceremony began.

Wang Sheng's parents also video-called to ask him to show them around the sect.

Later, Qing Yanzi instructed Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan to welcome guests at the mountain gate.

Making the first and seventh cultivators on the recently updated Heavenly Ranking personally greet guests was a clear sign of respect. Mu Wanxuan had been placed seventh because she hadn't fought publicly in a long time. Though everyone knew that she had already formed her Nascent Soul, her cultivation realm remained a mystery.

Around 10:00 AM, almost all representatives of the Daoist heritages had arrived. Cultivators gathered in large numbers, filling the space inside and outside the great palace and around the cottage. Those who arrived late had to wait outside the main palace area.

Experts, along with the young adults and children that they had brought, crowded the entire mountain of the Pure Yang Sword Faction. The profound influence that Qing Yanzi had built in the cultivation world over the years was now fully apparent.

Every member of the sect got their hands full. Qing Yanzi and Jingyun handled the main reception. Wang Xiaomiao, Chi Wen, and the six off-heritage sect members rushed around serving tea and water, tiring their legs out.

Xi Lian wasn't just sitting around either. She quietly guarded the hidden setup of the illusion arrays, ensuring that no one would mistakenly trigger them and disrupt the upcoming selection.

At 11:30 AM, over ten of the major Daoist heritages' sect masters flew in. Everyone who stood by Qing Yanzi's side during the Immortal Dao Conference essentially came in person. Their presence added a sense of grandeur to the ceremony.

A sect-founding ceremony did not really require any special rituals. They were certainly not going to bring out a red cloth and scissors for the Celestial Master and the others to perform a ribbon-cutting.

At noon, Qing Yanzi stood before the great palace and announced the formal establishment of the Pure Yang Sword Faction to the cultivation world. He expressed the sect's resolve to uphold the righteous Dao and righteous qi. Afterward, he spent ten minutes reviewing history and speaking about the future.

Behind him, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan stood quietly. They had planned to remain silent like decorations, but their master clearly had other ideas. Near the end of his speech, Qing Yanzi appeared reluctant to stop.

"It is thanks to my second disciple that we were able to form the Pure Yang Sword Faction. I believe you all know that I myself am not skilled in sword arts. On the contrary, my second disciple is a genius of the Dao of the Sword. I am ashamed to admit that, apart from a few pointers in his first two years, he has been making tremendous progress and constantly improving along the Dao of the Sword entirely on his own.

"Now that the Pure Yang Sword Faction has a complete core Daoist heritage, and the Pure Yang Sword Song was brought back by him, I, too, wish to hear what he has to say on this day of our founding. Little Sheng, come say a few words."

Smiling broadly, Qing Yanzi turned and gestured to Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng looked calm, but deep down, he was annoyed at his master. This was nothing short of throwing him into the fire. He had been given no warning whatsoever before being asked to speak.

Countless eyes turned to Wang Sheng. The nearby Daoist elders smiled with interest.

Still, Wang Sheng didn't feel even slightly nervous. He took half a step forward, clasped his hands, and bowed to the gathered cultivators. He already had a speech in mind.

With his chest straight and head held high, he delivered the speech he had in mind, each word reaching far and wide.

"Esteemed seniors of the cultivation world, I would like to thank you all for clearing your busy schedules to bear witness to the founding of the Pure Yang Sword Faction on this fair and bright day..."

Beside him, Qing Yanzi's mouth twitched slightly. If not for the crowd, he would have smacked his second disciple on the head.

Isn't that the draft I discarded earlier?!

After expressing his gratitude, Wang Sheng felt that he shouldn't waste this opportunity. Hence, he asked, "Let me ask you all a question: where do you think the path of our cultivation will lead us?"

The reactions varied greatly, but only a few grasped the deeper meaning behind his words and waited thoughtfully. Most were simply puzzled as to why he would suddenly ask such a question.

"Right now, Earth has abundant primal qi, but that's only because it has built up over a thousand years. That's also why it seems so dense. Eventually, we'll dry up our supply. The primal qi will gradually return to what it was a thousand years ago, and our cultivation will slow down again. A single year of grueling cultivation now may require ten or twenty years in the future.

"Moreover, all Daoist heritages and the cultivation world in general are ceaselessly growing. The cultivation world's population has become almost impossible to control due to the internet's influence. In just a few centuries, our planet's primal qi will no longer be able to sustain our cultivation. Have any of you considered what will happen then?"

Many Daoist masters now looked deep in thought. Most finally realized that Wang Sheng was speaking of the dangers that their cultivation world would face in the future.

A Daoist master from the Longhu Mountains laughed. "You don't have to talk as though we're doubting you, Fei Yu. You now stand at the top of the Heavenly Rankings and the cultivation world. Your realm is far beyond ours, too. We'll naturally take whatever you say to heart."

Wang Sheng cupped his hands again and continued, "It is no secret that the immortal arts we practice here on Earth came from the ancient Heavenly Court. Currently, only two paths lie before us. One of them is to forcibly reduce the number of cultivators and maintain the cultivation world's size within the limits that Earth can sustain.

"The other is to find a new source of primal qi. Simply put, we'll follow the route that the Heavenly Court had once taken when it descended on Earth. This means going against the current and leaving the Realm of Exiled Immortals.

"Beyond the Realm of Exiled Immortals may lie dragon lairs, tiger dens, mountains of blades, and seas of fire. We can also come across countless powerful beings who'll try to destroy us simply because they consider us as surviving members of the Heavenly Court.

"My master founded the Pure Yang Sword Faction to ensure that our Daoist heritage will be passed on. Since it'll guarantee that we'll always have a place among those still trying to ascend to immortality, you no longer have to fear leaving the Realm of Exiled Immortals and venturing into the endless stars alone. Our sect is willing to take the lead!"

1. In Chinese tradition, posters/stickers with "double joy" characters are used as decoration for weddings or celebrations. ☜