Chapter 72: A Grand Ceremony
Chapter 72: A Grand Ceremony
The morning sun rose over the towering peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect.
But today, the atmosphere was completely different.
The entire sect was decorated from top to bottom.
Bright crimson banners embroidered with soaring silver clouds draped down the sides of the majestic main halls.
Glowing essence lamps floated in the air, illuminating the pathways with a warm, pristine light.
The scent of rare, burning incense masked the usual smell of earth and mountain fog.
Today was the day of the official ceremony.
The day Rhain Voss would be formally announced to the world as the Supreme Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect.
Disciples were rushing about in a joyous frenzy.
From the lowest outer tier to the elite of the Inner Sect, everyone was dressed in their most immaculate, extravagant robes.
The female disciples, in particular, had spent hours before their bronze mirrors, meticulously preparing themselves.
They huddled together in groups, their faces flushed with excitement and anticipation.
Some were carefully adjusting their expensive dresses, while others were applying delicate, fragrant powders to their skin, making sure every single detail was absolute perfection.
"Do you think he will look at me?" one female disciple whispered, her cheeks burning a deep crimson as she smoothed down her flowing dress.
"Never," another laughed, though her own eyes were darting nervously toward a bronze mirror. "He is so young... and unbelievably handsome. Why would he look at you? But... if I could just catch his eye for a single second, maybe... maybe he will fall in love with me."
"Stop dreaming! You all know he only ever looks at Seris," a third girl sighed bitterly, though she still secretly adjusted her hairpin, hoping against hope
To them, Rhain had become a deity who had descended upon their dying mountain
Young, tall, handsome, and possessing an unrivaled strength.
He was the pinnacle of their dreams.
Down at the base of the mountain, the main gates of the Azure Cloud Sect stood wide open.
There were no heavy guard patrols.
It was a blatant display of confidence.
Because anyone in the region who had any ill intentions were already erased from this world.
The mountain path was completely flooded with people.
Opulent carriages pulled by exotic beasts lined the dirt roads for miles.
These were not just the remaining minor clans, wealthy merchants, and mercenary leaders of Greymist Town.
The news of the Ironpeak Sect’s complete destruction and the Barlowe family’s bloody massacre had swept across the Outer Frontier Territories like a hurricane, shaking the surrounding territories to their very cores.
Dozens of highly influential figures from neighboring towns had rushed over to secure a modicum of goodwill with the new undisputed overlords of the Greymist Region.
The sheer density of experts gathered on the sect’s massive main plaza was staggering.
Essence Condensation Realm cultivators could be seen everywhere.
In the past, a Level 1 or Level 2 Essence Condensation expert would demand the utmost respect wherever they went, now they were merely faces in the crowd.
Even Level 7 and Level 8 Condensation experts treaded carefully.
Standing at the top of the grand staircase overlooking the plaza, Harmon and Silas watched the endless stream of guests pouring through the gates.
Harmon was dressed in magnificent grey and silver ceremonial robes, his white hair pinned perfectly in place.
The cloudy look that had plagued his eyes for decades was entirely gone, replaced by the sharp, dignified vigor of a man whose lifelong burden had finally been lifted.
"It seems half the Outer Frontier’s powers has come to pay their respects," Silas chuckled.
Harmon turned his head slightly, looking toward the secluded path that led to the inner courtyards.
"Is he ready?" Harmon asked.
Behind him, Torin gave a respectful nod.
"He is. I have just sent someone to his courtyard to escort him to the main hall."
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*How... how do I look?"
Seris’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of uncharacteristic shyness.
Today she had traded her usual attire for a water-blue dress that draped perfectly over her delicate frame.
Her silver-blue hair had been meticulously styled, adorned with a single, flawless jade hairpin.
She looked absolutely breathtaking.
Like a princess stepping straight out of a fairy tale.
Rhain swept his gaze over her.
From her silver-blue hair down to the hem of her icy-blue dress.
He didn’t say anything at first.
Seris’s heart immediately leaped into her throat.
"Is it... too much?" she asked nervously.
The corners of Rhain’s lips curled upward.
He unhurriedly closed the distance between them.
"No."
He stopped half a pace in front of her and casually reached out, gently adjusting a slight crease on her shoulder.
"You look beautiful."
She shyly took a step back.
"You..." she murmured, looking up at his face. "You look incredibly handsome too, Rhain."
Today, Rhain was no longer wearing his usual dark garments.
Instead, he was dressed in a straight white ceremonial robe, adorned with an exquisite golden cloud pattern.
The golden embroidery charmingly shone against the sunlight, making his already tall and perfectly proportioned build even more dazzlingly eye-catching.
Rhain merely chuckled.
Just as he was about to speak, a highly respectful voice echoed from outside the courtyard walls.
"Supreme Elder Rhain! The Sect Master requests your presence. The grand ceremony is ready to begin!"
"Let’s go," he said casually. "We shouldn’t keep others waiting."
He turned and strode toward the courtyard entrance.
Seris hurriedly took a few quick steps to catch up, her heart pounding with a joy she couldn’t suppress.
________
Outside the courtyard.
Two Inner Sect elders had been waiting respectfully.
When the heavy wooden doors finally swung open, the two elders immediately bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"Supreme Elder!"
Rhain gave a slight nod, "Lead the way."
As Rhain and Seris walked through the inner sect courtyards, the bustling noise of the excited disciples instantly died down wherever they passed.
The disciples, who had been chatting and laughing just moments prior, immediately stopped in their tracks.
"Greetings, Supreme Elder!"
The synchronized voices echoed across the courtyards. The female disciples who had been dreaming of catching his eye found themselves completely paralyzed the moment they saw him in the white and golden ceremonial robes.
He exuded a transcendent, peerless aura, like an imposing dragon. And seeing the fairy-like Seris walking closely by his side, any trace of unrealistic fantasy in their hearts was completely shattered.
They were a match made in heaven, out of the reach for mortals.
Rhain simply nodded lightly as he walked past.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the grand plaza.
The moment Rhain stepped into the perimeter of the massive venue, the sheer scale of the ceremony came into full view.
The plaza, capable of holding thousands of people, was packed to the brim, yet meticulously organized.
The seating was organized by strict hierarchy.
Rows of carved wooden chairs formed a wide semicircle facing the raised central dais.
The front rows held the most distinguished guests.
Rhain’s gaze swept over the VIP seating area.
Among the crowd sat several unfamiliar old men, actively leaking their Spirit Manifestation auras as if they were afraid people wouldn’t notice them.
As soon as Rhain arrived, one by one, all eyes were attracted toward him.