The reason was simple—Xia Ningxue and Lu Changsheng were family. Why would they attend an enemy’s celebration and even bring gifts? That would be slapping themselves in the face.
Whether these three Ancient Families attended or not was inconsequential.
The Five Great Innate Holy Lands, Changliu Mountain, Mount Taihua, Yunshan, Lianshan, Yaochi, Qingqiu, as well as Ancient Dragon Clan, Ancient Qian Family, Ancient Qin Clan and other prominent families sent their delegations. The ceremony was already immensely grand in scale.
“The Kunlun Five Elders are here!”
“Who would’ve thought that Purple Void Palace would send the Kunlun Five Elders to congratulate a junior!”
“Purple Void Palace and Guanghan Palace were both Divine Palaces of the Ancient Celestial Court. With the new Guanghan Palace Master taking over, it’s not surprising for Purple Void Palace to show some respect.”
The Kunlun Five Elders each carried a deep and profound aura, all of them were Greatly Accomplished God-Kings.
“Strange, it’s only been a short while, yet this kid’s aura is almost comparable to mine?”
Within the Kunlun Sacred Land’s delegation, Chongxu Daoist noticed Lu Changsheng’s aura and was secretly astonished that it was almost on par with his own.
“Is that someone from the Mysterious Lady Palace?”
“Even the Mysterious Lady Palace has sent people to offer their congratulations?”
At the forefront of Guanghan Palace, where delegations from various Holy Lands and Ancient Families gathered, they were immensely surprised upon noticing the arrival of the Mysterious Lady Palace’s contingent.
The replacement of a Palace Master in a Lower Realm Holy Land had unexpectedly caught the attention of one of the Eight Divine Palaces—the Mysterious Lady Palace!
Not only that, the Mysterious Lady Palace deliberately sent people to congratulate them!
The representative of Mysterious Lady Palace was Immortal Yuexi.
Although the Twelve Sword Maidens of Mysterious Lady Palace did not come, Yuexi was a candidate to become one of them, and her presence was enough to represent the palace.
Yuexi brought a team of Mysterious Lady Palace disciples and descended, nodding toward Lu Changsheng to indicate her salute.
Delegations from various Holy Lands and Families automatically made space for them.
The Mysterious Lady Palace, one of the Eight Divine Palaces, held an esteemed position.
“There are also people from Wushen Palace!”
“My heavens, could it be that all Eight Divine Palaces sent representatives to offer congratulations?”
Holy Lands and prestigious families were deeply moved.
Shortly after the arrival of the Mysterious Lady Palace’s delegation, another of the Eight Divine Palaces, Wushen Palace, also sent representatives.
“Hahaha, Lu Changsheng, it’s been a long time! This time, I’ve created the Seventh Form of my ‘Reaping Life Thirteen Spears’. After the ceremony, let’s spar again. This time, I’m confident I’ll defeat you.”
The representative leading the Wushen Palace’s delegation was Chu Wuqing, who laughed heartily and expressed his eagerness to challenge Lu Changsheng once more.
“It’s you?”
Lu Changsheng held a certain level of respect toward Chu Wuqing.
Chu Wuqing was a martial genius with exceptional talents. He created his own martial technique, ‘Reaping Life Thirteen Spears’; the Sixth Form was already astonishing, and now he even mastered the Seventh Form.
If he could complete all thirteen forms, Chu Wuqing might one day become one of the strongest Martial Gods in the Three Realms.
“How about it? Do you dare to fight me again?”
Chu Wuqing, having thoroughly enjoyed their last match, wanted to spar once more with Lu Changsheng.
Delegations from various Holy Lands and Ancient Families exchanged glances.
Was Chu Wuqing here to congratulate Lu Changsheng on behalf of Wushen Palace, or merely to challenge him?
“Why not?”
Lu Changsheng had just cultivated the ‘Eternal Indestructible Art’ to Great Perfection and was eager to test its strength.
Chu Wuqing, a young first-ranking genius of Wushen Palace and a Body Tempering expert, was the perfect sharpening stone for the task.
“Gasp… it’s people from the Three Pure Ones Palace!”
“That’s Three Pure Ones Palace’s genius, Li Cangshui!”
“It’s said that Li Cangshui is a direct disciple of one of the Three Old Lords from Three Pure Ones Palace, a rare genius second only to Emperor Ku of Miluo Palace. Who would’ve thought Three Pure Ones Palace would send him to lead their delegation!”
“The Three Pure Ones Palace is immensely powerful and reputed to be the second most prominent Divine Palace after the Heavenly Emperor’s Miluo Palace. If not for the Heavenly Emperor, Three Pure Ones Palace might even surpass Miluo Palace. That Three Pure Ones Palace sent representatives to congratulate Guanghan Palace… The Guanghan Palace must command extraordinary respect.”
Once again, delegations from Holy Lands and Ancient Families were stunned as Three Pure Ones Palace arrived following the Mysterious Lady and Wushen Palaces.
Li Cangshui, carrying a longsword on his back, exuded an aura of celestial charm—a stark contrast to Chu Wuqing’s brashness.
“The people from Three Pure Ones Palace…”
Lu Changsheng did not share much connection with Three Pure Ones Palace. During the Heavenly Court assembly, Li Cangshui was defeated by Emperor Ku, and Lu Changsheng did not get the chance to face him.
Still, Lu Changsheng had watched Li Cangshui spar with Emperor Ku; Li Cangshui’s mastery of Taoist laws was profound, only slightly lacking in comparison.
As for Three Pure Ones Palace, the second strongest Divine Palace in the Heavenly Court, its Three Old Lords were Ancient Saints, with cultivation levels that defied description.
Lu Changsheng did not know why Three Pure Ones Palace had sent representatives to congratulate him.
It was likely that, being one of the Ten Great Divine Palaces of the Ancient Celestial Court, they shared ties with Guanghan Palace through interactions among elder-level figures.
Three of the Eight Divine Palaces had sent representatives; combined with other Ancient Holy Lands and Ancient Families, this ceremony gathered an unprecedented number of powerful entities, possibly making it the grandest Lower Realm ceremony in eons.
Li Heng’s junior sister Jin Yun Immortal Fairy personally presided over the ceremony: “On behalf of Guanghan Palace, Jin Yun welcomes all esteemed Daoists to honor us with your presence. The ceremony will soon begin; please take your seats.”
Guanghan Palace had prepared various delicacies to welcome the assembled delegations.
The seats closest to the front were reserved for Purple Void Palace, Three Pure Ones Palace, Mysterious Lady Palace, Wushen Palace, and the Five Great Innate Holy Lands due to their esteemed positions.
Mount Taihua, given Lu Changsheng’s connection, was ranked alongside the Four Divine Palaces and Five Great Innate Holy Lands.
Other Holy Lands such as Yaochi, Changliu Mountain, Lianshan, Yunshan, and various Ancient Families occupied seats further back.
The Guanghan Palace Master, Li Heng, was brushing her disciple Xia Ningxue’s ink-black hair: “From now on, you will steward Guanghan Palace and shoulder its burdens. As your master, I have little left to teach you.”
“Master…”
“Still, Guanghan Palace has many formidable ancestors whose cultivation techniques are unfathomably deep. Your journey is far from over. I, too, must focus wholeheartedly on perfecting Guanghan Palace’s techniques myself.”
Li Heng was acutely aware of Guanghan Palace’s profound heritage. Its core strength rested with the elders and ancestors.
Of course, if her own cultivation progressed further, she might one day rank among the ancestors herself.
“Alright, it’s time to head out.”
After combing her beloved disciple’s hair, Xia Ningxue appeared even more radiant and peerlessly stunning.
Li Heng led Xia Ningxue into the ceremony, quickly drawing the gaze of the crowd.
Xia Ningxue wore an elegant white dress, her demeanor icy yet ethereal, seeming otherworldly.
Li Heng scanned the crowd: “From this day forward, my disciple Xia Ningxue will assume the position of Guanghan Palace Master and lead us through the coming tribulations.”
Although the Holy Lands and families were already aware of Xia Ningxue’s imminent succession, hearing the announcement firsthand still left them astounded.
Xia Ningxue had cultivated for a million years and could now govern Guanghan Palace—a feat that bordered on miraculous.
Throughout history, rarely had there been individuals of such caliber.
“Who could imagine back when she resided in the Mortal World that she’d achieve all this today?”
Zhao Wuyan, who had known Xia Ningxue in the Mortal World, certainly hadn’t foreseen her ascending through tribulation and becoming Guanghan Palace Master after reaching the Immortal Realm.
Guanghan Palace, compared to the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion of the Mortal World, was overwhelmingly powerful by billions of folds.
Li Changye also nodded.
Xia Ningxue was likely the most accomplished person to ascend from their small world to the Immortal Realm, second only to Lu Changsheng himself.
“Saintess Xia—no, she should be called Palace Master Xia now. Here is a small gift from our Changliu Mountain.”
Everlasting Immortal from Changliu Mountain had prepared meticulously and signaled a disciple to present the gift.
White Immortal Emperor produced a jade box and opened its lid. Inside rested two vibrant, scarlet fruits filled with allure.
“These are Twenty-Grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures—Sword Dao Divine Fruits! And two of them!”
“For those cultivating Sword Dao, Sword Dao Divine Fruits are supreme treasures!”
“Changliu Holy Land really spared no expense in strengthening ties with Guanghan Palace, even offering Sword Dao Divine Fruits. Their elders would surely think twice before using such treasures themselves.”
The magnanimity of Changliu Mountain stirred admiration among numerous Holy Lands and Ancient Families.
It was merely the succession of a junior to Guanghan Palace Master, yet the Everlasting Immortal of Changliu Mountain was so generous, gifting not one but two Sword Dao Divine Fruits.
“That guy surely wants to show off! After all these years, he’s still so pretentious.”
Lin Xuantong rolled his eyes. The Everlasting Immortal was clearly enjoying his moment of pride, flaunting Changliu Mountain’s wealth and heritage.
Lu Changsheng, however, felt pleasantly smug. The Everlasting Immortal gained his face, while Xia Ningxue gained the Sword Dao Divine Fruits. It was a win-win scenario.
