novelraw Chapter 111 - 109: Organizing the Grand Ceremony
Chapter 111 - 109: Organizing the Grand Ceremony
Seven days later, when the first rays of dawn touched the distant horizon, all of Celestial Gate Mountain was bathed in a clear light. The Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, a veritable behemoth, began to display its proper majesty.
Within the sect gates, numerous Outer Sect Disciples of Beast Taming Mountain hurried about the foot and slopes of the mountain, making the final preparations for Jiang Kui’s Foundation Establishment ceremony.
Many of these Inner and Outer Sect Disciples had only joined the Beast Taming Sect in recent years. They were largely unfamiliar with Jiang Kui; if not for her successful Foundation Establishment, they wouldn’t have even known such a person existed in their sect.
Many of the Inner Sect Disciples, however, were quite familiar with Jiang Kui. But they had seen less of her in recent years, and a distance had grown between them. Now that Jiang Kui had reached Foundation Establishment, they were diligently helping out, bringing all sorts of Spirit Beasts to create a festive atmosphere.
Fang Qingyuan wasn’t idle either. He was checking the essential procedures for the celebration. The ceremony for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wasn’t complex and could vary in scale. Although Jiang Kui didn’t have Lechuan’s favor, she was still a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. Her ceremony was a matter of face for the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect and could not be treated carelessly.
Jiang Kui now sat with a calm expression inside a newly erected, colorful pavilion. She was in the fourth seat on the lower left side, with the other six Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect seated to her left and right.
As the Peak Master of Miscellaneous Affairs Peak, Zhao Liangde naturally occupied the first seat of honor. Below him was Qu Jianyan, the Peak Master of Instructor Peak. The fourth seat was occupied by today’s main figure, Jiang Kui.
In the center of the pavilion, on the main dais, three chairs were placed, but they were currently empty.
About a dozen Core Disciples stood behind their respective Peak Masters. The disciples from Precepts Peak were in a rather awkward position; their Peak Master hadn’t come, leaving an empty chair where he should have been.
The remaining thirty-some Inner Sect Disciples, over a hundred Outer Sect Disciples, and a thousand mortal Servants surrounded the pavilion on all four sides, awaiting the start of the ceremony.
A moment later, seeing that the noisy surroundings had yet to quiet down, Zhang Yuan, who stood to the side, received a signal from Fang Qingyuan. He stepped forward and projected his voice:
"The hour has come! All non-essential disciples and Servants, withdraw!"
Zhang Yuan’s voice, amplified by Spiritual Power, instantly spread in all directions. The crowd of onlookers around the pavilion quickly complied and retreated.
CLANG!
A gong’s resonant sound drifted through the air. From the sect gate, one of the people governed by Jiang Kui led a procession of mortals, who followed closely behind him, walking slowly forward.
As the man approached, he announced in a singsong voice:
"This humble one leads the Immortal Master’s kinsmen to congratulate Grandmaster Jiang, the Immortal Master, on her great achievement of Foundation Establishment! Kneel—"
Before his voice had even faded, the ground was covered by a dark mass of kneeling people. These mortals were the people governed by Jiang Kui and her kinsmen. It was a rare opportunity for them to enter the sect gate, so they were all extremely cautious, performing their salutes in perfect unison, terrified of making a mistake and being ridiculed upon their return.
Jiang Kui governed fewer than a hundred people, and all of them were present. She would be heading to Yuanling Mountain this time, and she had to take these mortals with her.
Hearing the mortals’ congratulations, Jiang Kui nodded, offered a few conventional pleasantries, accepted the seasonal fruits they presented, and then fell silent.
Then, a disciple led these mortals away to the side, making room for the next group.
Once the formalities with Jiang Kui’s own people were complete, it was time for the various Qi Refining Loose Cultivators of Celestial Gate Mountain.
These Loose Cultivators all scraped by under the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s protection. Now that their patron sect had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator holding a ceremony, it was the perfect opportunity for them to curry favor.
Most of these Loose Cultivators were short on funds, so their congratulatory gifts were mostly flashy but insubstantial, meant only for appearance’s sake. After the ceremony ended, they would receive a return gift, and it was likely that many had come eagerly just for that.
There were some more formidable figures among the Loose Cultivators, but they all bowed obediently before a Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Beast Taming Sect. Jiang Kui merely exchanged a few pleasantries without even needing to stand.
After the endless stream of Loose Cultivators had paid their respects to Jiang Kui, mortal Servants from Beast Taming Mountain led them to their designated seats and served them tea.
After two or three hundred Loose Cultivators had paid their respects, more than an hour had passed, and the sky had long since brightened completely. Following the Loose Cultivators, it was the turn of the various vassal sects under the Beast Taming Sect of Celestial Gate Mountain.
"Announcing She Xi Yu of the She Family..."
As the master of ceremonies at the entrance made the announcement, Patriarch She Xi Yu of the She Family walked up, accompanied by two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators.
Fang Qingyuan stood beside Jiang Kui. When he saw She Xi Yu, he noticed that the She Family Patriarch’s complexion had improved greatly. The arm he had lost on Celestial Attraction Mountain had now grown back.
Jiang Kui could not act condescendingly toward a fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivator, especially since She Xi Yu shared a bond of friendship with Fang Qingyuan. Thus, she stood up and warmly exchanged pleasantries with She Xi Yu for a moment.
After a servant led She Xi Yu to the last seat on the right-hand side, he even gave Fang Qingyuan a friendly smile.
After She Xi Yu, more than a dozen other Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrived in succession. These individuals were the Sect Leaders of small sects or the Patriarchs of Cultivation Clans within the Southern Border Beast Taming Mountain’s sphere of influence.
As Jiang Kui greeted them one by one, Fang Qingyuan, who was accepting gifts at the side, felt his hands go soft from the sheer number. These Sect Leaders and Patriarchs were naturally more generous than the Loose Cultivators; each gift presented was worth at least one thousand Spirit Stones.
After these Sect Leaders and Patriarchs had paid their respects, the master of ceremonies at the entrance suddenly raised his voice:
"Announcing Chu Shoupu of the Nanchu Sect..."
Hearing that someone from the Nanchu Sect had arrived, Foundation Establishment Cultivators like Zhao Liangde and Qu Jianyan no longer remained seated. They rose to their feet to welcome the guest together.