Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 221 - 219 Grand Ceremony
Chapter 221: Chapter 219: Grand Ceremony Chapter 221 -219: Grand Ceremony In the afternoon.
Ning Daoran had disguised himself as an average-looking young cultivator and was ascending the mountain with Big Stupid Deer. At this time, both he and the White Deer did not conceal their auras, both openly displaying the cultivation of the Golden Core Early Stage.
“Senior!”
On the mountain of Guiyuan Sect, an elder in green clothes descended swiftly with tunneling light, saying respectfully, “I am Xu Shuang, a Deacon Elder of Guiyuan Sect. May I know who the esteemed senior is and what brings you to Guiyuan Sect?”
“My name is Zhang Shanfeng, a Loose Cultivator from Qingzhou. Passing through Huangzhou, I’ve long heard of the great reputation of Sect Master Zuo of your esteemed sect and I’ve come specifically to pay him a visit. I wonder if it would be convenient?”
“So it’s Transcendent Zhang, the senior!”
Xu Shuang hurriedly bowed with his hands clasped and said, “The Sect Master is within the sect; please follow me, senior!”
“Thank you!”
…
Along the way up the mountain, there were various houses and cultivators, both adults and children, men and women, staring with wide eyes. Guiyuan Sect could be said to resemble less a sect and more a gigantic family.
“Mother, is that… the legendary Golden Core Ancestor? He looks so young…”
“Shh!”
The mother lowered her voice, “Do not speak so loudly; disturbing the Senior with Golden Core cultivation might bring us hardship…”
“Mother!”
The child’s eyes brightened, “If I can participate in the great ceremony of the Holy Tree in the future and cultivate under the Holy Tree, I too want to reach the Golden Core Stage and carry such prestige.”
His mother looked at him indulgently, “My son has admirable ambitions. Let’s hope the Holy Tree bestows compassion on our Liu Family and grants us some blessings!”
Shortly after.
At the reception hall of the main temple on the mountain.
Ning Daoran sat on one side, took a sip from the teacup he was holding, while Big Stupid Deer stood by his side like a Protective Technique.
Soon, a rather robust Golden Core aura emerged from the Cave Mansion, transforming into a middle-aged man dressed in a blood-red long robe. It was Zuo Qiuhai, the Sect Master of Guiyuan Sect and a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator who practiced the Dual Cultivation of magic and body!
“Fellow Daoist Zhang!”
Zuo Qiuhai approached with warm greetings, speaking of how his great name resounded like thunder, though in fact the alias “Transcendent Zhang” was seldom used by Ning Daoran.
Committing deeds such as murder was more conveniently done under the alias “Independent Practitioner Jianjia.”
“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”
After the pleasantries, Zuo Qiuhai sat down and said, “You have often lingered around Qingzhou, may I know why you have traveled south?”
“Just to meet an old friend whom I have not seen for many years.”
“I see.”
Zuo Qiuhai’s eyes flickered with a sharp light as he said, “If that is the case, perhaps you could stay in Guiyuan Sect for a few more days and let me, Zuo, play the good host!”
“Actually, I have a selfish reason for coming up the mountain this time.”
Ning Daoran smiled faintly, “I have long heard of Fellow Daoist Zuo’s profound achievements in dual cultivation and particularly in the Mad Lion Form, and that you possess a Lion-shaped Root Map. May I ask if this is true?”
“A Lion-shaped Root Map?”
Zuo Qiuhai’s expression stiffened, “Indeed, may I ask why you inquire about this Lion-shaped Root Map?”
“Not to conceal from you, Sect Master…”
Ning Daoran pointed to Big Stupid Deer beside him, “This spiritual beast of mine is cultivating a Spiritual Beast Secret that allows for transformation. As you know, Demon Form Root Maps are extremely rare in the Eastern Wilderness Cultivation World. I’ve traveled the world, largely in search of Demon Form Root Maps.”
“I see…”
Zuo Qiuhai’s eyes lingered on White Deer for a few moments, even using his Divine Sense to probe.
Unfortunately, like a solid fortress of copper and iron, Zuo Qiuhai’s Divine Sense could not penetrate Big Stupid Deer’s body, leaving the Sect Master momentarily stunned.
“Sect Master.”
Ning Daoran smiled, “I wonder if you can part with the Lion-shaped Root Map, I am willing to buy this map with thirty thousand spirit stones.”
“Ah?”
Zuo Qiuhai hesitated for a moment and then shook his head, “What you may not know is that this Basic Map is fundamental to the Mad Lion Form. Without it, my cultivation in the Mad Lion Form would hardly progress. It is not that I am stingy and unwilling to part with it, but truly cannot let go.”
“I see…”
Ning Daoran showed a slightly disappointed expression.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”
Zuo Qiuhai said, “Though Demon Form Root Maps are rare, they are not non-existent. There are many such root maps in the world; you just need to travel through several states, and you will surely find one.”
He bowed respectfully and continued, “Since it’s rare that you visit my Guiyuan Sect, why not stay for a few days? In two days, it will be the great ceremony of our Guiyuan Sect. I sincerely invite you to participate. With a Golden Core Cultivator of your stature participating, our ceremony will definitely shine even brighter!”
“Roar~~”
Big Stupid Deer called out, indicating that the scenery here was pleasant and staying a few more days would not be an issue.
Meanwhile, Ning Daoran was struck by a thought. Somehow, he felt that staying a couple more days might lead to unexpected gains, so he nodded and smiled, “Then I thank you, Sect Master!”
“No need for formalities!”
Zuo Qiuhai said, “During your stay at Guiyuan Sect, you may reside in Moon Reflected Courtyard, located above a Third-tier Lower Grade Spirit Vein, where you can cultivate.”
“I am much obliged for the trouble, thank you, Sect Master!”
That night, the man and the deer settled down in a spiritually rich courtyard within the sect.
It was evident that although Guiyuan Sect was considered one of the barely mentionable sects of Huangzhou, it led a very modest life. Yan Gui Mountain was small, and the Spirit Vein was just a Third-tier Lower Grade.
Besides, having endured countless years, this Spirit Vein was nearing depletion.
Therefore, the number of Cave Mansions and residences built on the Spirit Vein was quite limited, and Moon Reflected Courtyard was one of the best places for cultivation on the vein. Even the True Disciples of the sect might not receive such treatment.
Furthermore, Ning Daoran, as he journeyed, also found that the Guiyuan Sect members and disciples wore simple clothes and did not live well. It seemed that all the sect’s savings were spent on cultivation.
Dusk.
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A few Outer Sect female cultivators came wearing sect attire, a lively and chatty group, bringing various delicacies to entertain the distinguished guests. Even Zuo Qiuhai came over with several elders to personally host the esteemed visitor.
After the third round of drinks.
“Fellow Daoist Zhang.”
Zuo Qiuhai narrowed his eyes and said, “What do you think of my Guiyuan Sect?”
“Very good, honest and hospitable.”
“That’s good.”
Zuo Qiuhai pondered for a moment and smiled, “Since you find it very pleasant here, would you consider staying and living in Yan Gui Mountain? Guiyuan Sect would like to honor you as a first-class tribute and offer you three thousand spirit stones each year. What do you think?”
“Ah?”
Ning Daoran paused for a moment, shook his head with a smile, and said, “Sorry, I travel the world and am not used to staying in one place for long. I hope the Sect Master understands!”
“Understand, naturally understand!”
Zuo Qiuhai nodded with a smile, “Since that is the case, why not stay a few more days at Guiyuan Sect? After the grand ceremony, I will host a banquet in honor of your journey!”
“Thank you very much!”
It was very late when Zuo Qiuhai and his people finally departed.
The few Outer Sect female cultivators also left one by one, a few of them even looking back with a touch of melancholy.
Moreover, after Zuo Qiuhai failed to persuade Ning Daoran to stay and accept the tribute position, one of the elderly elders also showed signs of impatience.
He seemed to disapprove of Zuo Qiuhai’s elaborate hospitality for a mere passerby, even if the guest was accompanied by a third-tier early-stage spiritual beast; it was not worth the extravagant expense of Guiyuan Sect.
…
Two days later.
Guiyuan Sect “Grand Ceremony Festival.”
Early in the morning, Ning Daoran put on a brand-new white robe, the one made by Chen Weimo.
As the host’s festival, being a guest, he naturally had to honor it accordingly; thus, even Big Stupid Deer begrudgingly bathed for once, turning the water in the bathtub black when he left it.
In the morning, the sound of firecrackers burst in the mountain air.
Two beautiful cultivators came up, respectfully said, “Transcendent Zhang, the Sect Master has commanded us to lead you to the Grand Ceremony Festival.”
“Good, thank you. Let’s go then.”
“Yes!”
Instead of flying through the air, everyone walked along a path through the main mountain to reach the back mountain of Guiyuan Sect.
However, as they crossed the main mountain, Ning Daoran frowned. An extremely dense evil spirit assailed him, hovering in the sky above the back mountain, with dark clouds and a rolling presence of evil spirits!
No wonder he felt something amiss about Guiyuan Sect when he first ascended the mountain. It seems there indeed was something.
Even the so-called “Grand Ceremony” of Guiyuan Sect might be related to these evil spirits.
During his time in the Chaotic Sect, Ning Daoran loved reading. He had read many books in the Book Collection Pavilion on cultural classics and brief histories of the Cultivation World, so he was no stranger to secrets of the cultivation world.
The pathways of cultivation were countless, all aimed at ascending in realm.
Some sects, for the sake of their millennium foundation, did not hesitate to use high-level demon beasts as their protecting spiritual beasts, continuously feeding these beasts the blood essence of human clan cultivators to sustain their sect’s presence.
Other sects, in pursuit of greater power, immersed themselves in the Demon Path, practicing techniques that consumed their own essence but ultimately led to dominating influence. Such occurrences were not surprising.
Thus, if a sect “tributes” to an evil spirit and uses it as a path to ascension, that seemed not at all unusual.
…
In the valley of the back mountain, it was packed with people.
Zuo Qiuhai reserved the best position for Ning Daoran to observe the ceremony, providing even a majestic throne made of spirit wood, a privilege usually reserved only for the sect master.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
Ning Daoran smiled and nodded.
“Please wait a moment,”
Zuo Qiuhai smiled, “The grand ceremony will start soon. When the Holy Tree appears, do not be too surprised.”
“Oh?”
Ning Daoran smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Soon after, the disciples of Guiyuan Sect looked like a wild tribe performing a ritual—several Inner Sect Disciples covered themselves with various red patterns, completely bare except for a grass skirt tied around their waists.
Drums began to sound, and a Great Witch within the sect chanted, performing some sort of ritual.
Quickly, a group of young Guiyuan Sect disciples gathered excitedly as they walked towards the center of the square; they were the fortunate ones selected for this grand ceremony.
In this ceremony, they would receive the blessing of the Holy Tree and attain its imparted Primordial Qi, which would endlessly benefit their future cultivation!
“Welcome, Holy Tree!”
With a sudden shout from the Great Witch, other ritual performers also began to roar in chorus.
‘Something is not right…’
Ning Daoran frowned, released his Golden Core Divine Sense, and saw an intense evil presence rising from underground. In the next second, with a loud “thunder,” a blood-red ancient tree towering into the sky surged up from below the ground!
On the branches of that ancient tree, various drained corpses swayed like wind chimes; some were still dressed, resembling wind chimes.
“Hum…”
As Ning Daoran scanned with his Divine Sense, his mind went blank. Among that bunch of corpses fluttering in the wind, one of them was wearing a jade-bordered blue robe embroidered—that was…
A Foundation Establishment elder robe from the Chaotic Sect!
