The Grand Ceremony

At the peak of the main mountain, clear springs flowed. High above the clouds on the Immortal Terrace, exquisite fragrances wafted in waves as a thousand streams of auspicious light radiated. Golden tables held jade platters filled with a hundred delicacies, celestial fruits, and fine nectars. The Nascent Soul cultivators were escorted up to the Immortal Terrace, exchanging congratulations with one another. By Qin Sang's advance instructions, Mu Yifeng had also been guided onto the terrace to take a seat. Surrounded by Nascent Soul cultivators, Mu Yifeng answered every inquiry politely, neither servile nor haughty. Dongyang Bo's quiet departure had caught everyone by surprise. Seeing Qingyang Temple's respectful treatment of Mu Yifeng, the Nascent Soul experts realized there had to be some deep connection between them. Out of deference to Qin Sang, however, they refrained from prying and tucked away their stray thoughts. Jingyu spared no effort, appearing in person to receive the guests on Qin Sang's behalf. Only the high seat remained empty. Before long, Demon Monarch Tongyou arrived in person as well. Surprised, the Nascent Soul cultivators rose one after another to greet him. As time passed, more and more cultivators arrived at Qingyang Temple. Crowds bustled at the foot of the main peak. Regardless of cultivation level, everyone was treated to spiritual fruits and fine wine, drawing endless praise. The auspicious hour had arrived. The ceremonial bell tolled once again, stroke after stroke in uninterrupted succession, its deep, resonant chimes echoing beyond Qingyang Temple. In an instant, heaven and earth fell silent and the void turned clear and bright, leaving only the lingering toll of the bell. Below the main peak, ten thousand cultivators fell hushed and looked up. On the Immortal Terrace, the Nascent Soul cultivators ceased their chatter as well, turning their gazes toward Jingyu. Jingyu stepped beside the high seat, surveyed the surroundings, and circulated his true essence. His voice boomed over the bell's toll: "We respectfully invite the Temple Master of Qingyang Temple, Qin Sang!" A faint stir rippled through the crowd before immediate silence fell once more. The Immortal Terrace trembled. From the core forbidden ground, a bridge of clouds suddenly arched across the sky, stretching straight to the Immortal Terrace on the main peak. In the next moment, everyone's vision blurred, and a figure appeared out of thin air upon the cloud bridge. Youthfully handsome, he wore a simple green Daoist robe and carried an air of serene composure. He looked upon the crowd with a faint smile—it was none other than Qin Sang. The Nascent Soul cultivators on the Immortal Terrace cupped their hands in salute from afar. Qin Sang gave a slight nod and strode toward the terrace. Meanwhile, Li Yufu and the others had arrived at the main peak at some point. All the disciples of Qingyang Temple were assembled; Shangguan Lifeng had also come down the mountain a short distance. There were Golden Core cultivators like Li Yufu, Shangguan Lifeng, Meigu, Zhao Ying, and Tan Yi'en. There were also Demon Core stage demon beasts brought in to bolster the grand display, such as Fat Chick, the Old Macaque, the White Crane, and the White Cat. The disciples climbed partway up the mountain and waited quietly below the Immortal Terrace, looking up at the cloud bridge with fervent expressions, sharing in the sect's pride and glory. Qin Sang looked straight ahead, walking leisurely amidst the chiming of the bells. A subtle, elusive ripple seemed to be brewing around him. The Nascent Soul cultivators were the first to notice Qin Sang's little trick, and their smiles broadened. Yet as Qin Sang drew closer, the smiles faded from the faces of several among them. That ripple was sword intent. At this moment, Qin Sang seemed to have transformed into a sword; with every step he took, his sword intent grew stronger. This sword intent represented Qin Sang's own understanding of the sword path, the Origin Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter, and the Seven Po Killing Array. Completely unreliant on the external power of a spirit sword, it was incomparably pure. The sword cultivators were the first to lose their smiles, for they understood what astonishing heights Qin Sang had attained in the sword path. Over the past ten years, Qin Sang had refined a piece of Corpse Flower Blood Amber, making great strides in his cultivation. Even more importantly, his comprehension of his cultivation methods had deepened significantly. In particular, through long and steady accumulation, he had made a breakthrough in the Seven Po Killing Array, truly mastering the sword array! Now, even when executing the sword array with merely the superior-grade Jinchen Sword, its power exceeded what it had been when using the Yunyou Sword. Qin Sang had once considered waiting until he broke through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage before holding the grand ceremony to astound the world in one fell swoop. However, he was uncertain how much longer that breakthrough would take. Furthermore, he would soon need to focus entirely on secluded cultivation and would have no energy left for outside trivialities. The name of Qingyang Temple was already known to everyone, so there was little point in delaying any further. In any case, his mastery over the Seven Po Killing Array alone was enough to ensure that no one dared underestimate him. The sword intent emanating from him manifested the Seven Po Killing Array, causing the Nascent Soul cultivators on the Immortal Terrace to widen their eyes one by one. By the time Qin Sang stepped off the cloud bridge and onto the Immortal Terrace, only a handful of figures—such as Demon Monarch Tongyou and Lu Boyuan—could still maintain a calm demeanor. Yet deep in their eyes, a wary vigilance surfaced. If Qin Sang's previous renown had mostly been attributed to external aids like his demonic banners, demonic fire, and the Yunyou Sword, they now truly acknowledged Qin Sang himself! The remaining Nascent Soul cultivators all wore grave expressions, as though facing a formidable enemy. If Qin Sang were to strike with his sword, none of them had the confidence to block it! The bell ceased after eighty-one tolls, precisely as Qin Sang reached the summit of the Immortal Terrace. He looked up at the sky. His expression remained unchanged, but a touch of reminiscence surfaced in his eyes. Qingzhu, Yunyouzi, Daoist Priest Jixin, Mingyue... Familiar faces flashed through his mind one after another. The carefree days in Qingyang Temple, the harrowing trials weathered alongside Yunyouzi, Qingzhu's parting words among peach blossoms... Scene after scene, memory after memory, still fresh in his mind. At last, he had reached this stage and fulfilled his departed friends' wishes. And at the same time, he was about to leave an indelible mark upon this world! Sensing the true spirit of Yunyouzi, Qin Sang's eyes flashed with sharp brilliance, and the sword intent that had built to its peak abruptly erupted! Amidst countless gasps of shock, an illusory sword phantom separated from his body and slashed into the void! In an instant, the winds and clouds shifted. A sword array unfurled across the void, with countless beams of sword light weaving through the air—dimming and brightening unpredictably, shifting without end, unfathomably profound—as though transforming into a chaotic domain of swords. The Nascent Soul cultivators watched solemnly, their gazes glued to the sword array. At the foot of the mountain, low-level cultivators who stole a single glance could not help but shield their eyes, stung to uncontrollable tears by the piercing brilliance. Just as the sword array's permutations reached their utmost speed, motion abruptly turned to stillness. The sword light drew inward, leaving behind only three ancient, unadorned characters—Qingyang Temple! The grand characters formed of sword light slowly descended. Boom! Boom! Boom! A cliff face on the main peak was planed smooth. The mountain did not shake, nor did any smoke or dust rise, yet the three characters were etched there for eternity! Li Yufu's eyes shone with excitement. Leading the disciples, he dropped to his knees in homage. "Greetings, Temple Master!" Then Jingyu cupped his hands. "Congratulations to Temple Master Qin on founding the sect!" The Nascent Soul cultivators chimed in with their congratulations. Below the mountain, ten thousand cultivators echoed the tribute once more. "Congratulations to Temple Master Qin on founding the sect!" ... "In accordance with the dying wishes of my predecessors, I, Qin, have established Qingyang Temple. Overestimating my abilities as I have, I feel deeply apprehensive... My sincere thanks to all fellow Daoists for coming to witness this ceremony!" Qin Sang turned around, bowing in thanks, before his gaze settled on Li Yufu and the others. The Nascent Soul cultivators knew the grand ceremony was not yet over. Savoring the sword intent Qin Sang had just displayed, they watched on patiently. In truth, sect-founding ceremonies in the immortal cultivation world involved many formalities and rites. If carried out in exhaustive detail, several more hours would not suffice to finish them. Qin Sang did not wish to waste time on excessive rituals; after instructing the disciples and having them bow before the spirit tablets of Yunyouzi and Qingzhu, the ceremony was drawing to a close. Finally, Qin Sang flicked his sleeve, and eighty-one Beast King Banners flew out. "We thank the Temple Master for bestowing the treasures!" Li Yufu and the others took charge of the Beast King Banners, demonstrating the permutations of the banner formation before the gathered crowd. Instantly, billowing black smoke rolled below the Immortal Terrace as the souls of cloud beasts roared with soul-stirring might. Fortunately, cloud beast souls could be used in place of demon beasts, or it would have been truly awkward to unveil them publicly. The banner formation shifted endlessly. Though it was merely a demonstration and its true power was far from fully unleashed, it still drew admiring and cautious looks from the Nascent Soul cultivators.