CHAPTER 696: THE GRAND CEREMONY

As the time for the grand ceremony approached, more and more

As the time for the grand ceremony approached, more and more cultivators arrived to participate. In addition, three top-tier forces came to congratulate, while only the five Soul Transformation Cultivators from before were present.

At the banquet of the Soul Transformation Cultivators, various delicacies adorned the tables, including the Green Spirit Peach, Spirit Wine, and various Spirit Meal pastries, specialties of Qizhou Island.

To Golden Core Cultivators, each of these items was invaluable, but to the Soul Transformation elites present, they merely offered slight benefits, mainly satisfying their appetites.

As for other guests below the Nascent Soul and Golden Core levels, they were also treated generously. With Qizhou Island's abundant resources, they lacked nothing.

Directly opposite the VIP seats was a high platform. At this moment, celestial music filled the air as two teams of female cultivators, one in red and the other in green, gracefully ascended the platform and began to dance.

The Wood Fairy, clad in red, led her team of dancers with passionate and unrestrained movements, seemingly aiming to captivate the souls of the onlookers, causing many observing cultivators to become restless, unable to focus.

Yun Qingya led the green-clad dancers, displaying graceful and elegant movements. With her clear complexion and flowing green robes, she appeared ethereal and otherworldly, akin to a water lily, exuding purity that forbade any profanity.

These two styles, at this moment, converged on the same stage, delivering a profound impact on the spectators' minds.

After the dance concluded, many of the observing cultivators found themselves deeply engrossed, unable to regain their composure for quite some time.

Among the Soul Transformation Cultivators in the VIP seats, Li, Ye Qin, and three others remained unmoved, their gazes fixed straight ahead.

However, Bai Wushuang seemed momentarily entranced, though he quickly regained his composure.

Even Wang Hong realized belatedly how captivating his subordinates were, nearly succumbing to improper thoughts.

Only Elder Zhong of the Celestial Maiden Palace seemed uninterested in the female cultivators, her expression cold as frost, showing signs of displeasure.

As the two teams of dancers withdrew, all attention shifted to the platform.

At this moment, Xu Lun ascended the platform and announced the official commencement of the Soul Transformation Grand Ceremony with a resounding voice.

As he did so, petals formed of Spirit Qi descended from the sky, upon touching the cultivators, transforming into pure Spirit Qi that they absorbed. While insignificant to high-tier cultivators, this presented a significant opportunity for those of middling or lower tiers, offering a chance to enhance their strength.

Next, Wang Hong was invited onto the platform, where he was solemnly dressed in a golden robe adorned with intertwining golden dragons. This robe was crafted from the skin of the golden dragon he had slain in Hezhou, refined by the Ministry of Works.

Then followed the rituals of worshiping the heavens, earth, and the Dao. Immortal cultivators diligently cultivated, pursuing the Dao and venerating the divine.

Their goal in cultivation was to become immortals, and immortality was the pinnacle they sought to reach and surpass.

Following these tedious rituals came the eagerly anticipated segment where Soul Transformation Cultivators would lecture on the Dao.

This was a favorite segment for many cultivators, as they had the rare opportunity to personally hear guidance from a high-level Soul Transformation cultivator, an opportunity that might not come again in their lifetime.

As Wang Hong adjusted his robes, preparing to ascend the platform once more to deliver his lecture, a voice suddenly interjected.

"Hold on!"

It was Elder Zhong of the Celestial Maiden Palace who spoke.

"I wonder what advice Fellow Daoist Zhong has?" Wang Hong turned around, furrowing his brows in inquiry.

The other Soul Transformation Cultivators also showed curiosity. After all, obstructing the Soul Transformation Grand Ceremony was akin to making enemies.

"I have no particular advice to offer. I believe that both action and stillness encompass the path of both literature and martial arts," Elder Zhong proposed. "I suggest that before Fellow Daoist delivers his lecture, we add a segment of martial competition. This will allow the younger generation to gain deeper insights."

Elder Zhong's gaze bore into Wang Hong as she asked, "What does Fellow Daoist think?"

Wang Hong had long sensed that Elder Zhong's intentions were not merely congratulatory but rather contentious.

Qizhou Island had never intended to provoke the Celestial Maiden Palace. After all, they were the number one force in the Fengwu Continent.

However, they had first eradicated the Redeye Bandits associated with the Celestial Maiden Palace. Later, they engaged in a fierce battle with the Celestial Maiden Palace in the Wan Kui secret realm, and both times, the Celestial Maiden Palace suffered losses.

Wang Hong had been waiting for Elder Zhong to make a move, observing her intentions.

Now, seeing her propose a competition, Wang Hong naturally felt no fear. This Elder Zhong was also at the early stage of Soul Transformation cultivation level, and he was confident in his abilities.

If his subordinates were to compete, he would remain equally unafraid. With numerous Nascent Soul cultivators under his command, he had an abundance of talent; there was nothing to fear.

"I've heard that Qizhou Island cultivators employ various cunning tactics. Today, I happen to have brought along some unruly disciples. I wish to have them learn from Qizhou Island's techniques, to broaden their horizons and understand that there are always greater heights to strive for," Elder Zhong said with a mix of sharpness and bluntness.

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhong is so inclined, I am naturally willing to accompany. My subordinates have been rather idle of late, so they can spar with your disciples," Wang Hong responded.

Xu Lun, hearing this, quickly summoned a group of Nascent Soul Cultivators, who stood solemnly behind Wang Hong.

The two sides then agreed upon some simple rules for the competition.

There would be five matches in total, with one participant from each side in each match.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, since this is a competition, there ought to be some stakes to make it interesting. Otherwise, it would be rather dull," Elder Zhong suggested after the rules were settled.

"That could be arranged. What kind of stakes would Fellow Daoist Zhong find suitable?" Wang Hong asked without hesitation.

Elder Zhong replied promptly, "If the Celestial Maiden Palace wins, Wan Kui secret realm will henceforth belong to us. What do you think?"

It seemed that Elder Zhong's primary goal was Wan Kui secret realm. Although they had suffered some setbacks in their previous attempts to seize it, they showed no intention of giving up.

As the number one sect in the Fengwu Continent, they couldn't afford to suffer losses.

They had even organized a group to lay in ambush outside the Wan Kui secret realm but had yet to find a suitable opportunity.

Originally, they had planned to send Soul Transformation Cultivators to seize it directly, but Wang Hong had unexpectedly ascended to the Soul Transformation stage at that moment.

The disparity between forces with and without Soul Transformation was immense. If a Soul Transformation war were to erupt, it would lead to endless troubles unless the other side was completely annihilated.

Moreover, just at this critical moment, the Desolate Spirit Sea had undergone changes, forcing the Celestial Maiden Palace to dispatch forces to defend against the savage tribes.

After all, the Desolate Spirit Sea was not too far from the Fengwu Continent. If the situation deteriorated, the Fengwu Continent would be the first to bear the brunt.

The foundation of the Celestial Maiden Palace lay in the Fengwu Continent, so they naturally couldn't sit idly by.

"If the Celestial Maiden Palace loses, Wan Kui secret realm will belong to Qizhou Island, and the Celestial Maiden Palace will refrain from interfering from then on," Elder Zhong replied promptly.

This time, Elder Zhong's response was straightforward.

"Haha! Fellow Daoist Zhong, what a joke! If I lose, I'll hand over Wan Kui secret realm, and if you lose, you won't suffer any consequences. You expect to gain Wan Kui secret realm through empty talk alone," Wang Hong felt somewhat annoyed. Elder Zhong's words made him feel underestimated.

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