Chapter 73: Ceremony Commence
Chapter 73: Ceremony Commence
Every single pair of eyes was glued to the youth in the white robes.
The Spirit Manifestation Realm experts from the neighboring towns instantly turned their gazes, their spiritual senses subconsciously sweeping over the white-robed youth.
But the moment they sensed his aura, they simultaneously frowned.
Essence Condensation Realm? Level 3?
They exchanged deeply bewildered glances.
Was this the monstrous existence who supposedly slaughtered Dorian Krath and wiped out two major factions in a single afternoon?
"Preposterous," an old man with a long grey beard muttered under his breath, his eyes flashing with unconcealed disdain. "To think we traveled all the way from Blackwood City for this. It must have been a combined trap by Harmon and Dorris. This brat is merely a puppet."
But despite their furrowed brows and internal suspicions, not a single person dared to voice their doubts.
A faction capable of wiping out two major powers in a single afternoon was an existence that could crush any of their visiting clans.
Unless they were completely brain-damaged and tired of living, keeping their mouths firmly shut was the only logical choice.
"Rhain!"
At the top of the dais, Harmon, Silas, and the other Spirit Manifestation experts were already waiting.
Seeing Rhain approach, they all stood up from theIr seats.
"Welcome, Supreme Elder!"
The synchronized greeting of five Spirit Manifestation experts echoed like rolling thunder across the mountain.
The foreign guests nearly jumped out of their expensive wooden chairs.
Spirit Manifestation experts bowing to a Condensation Realm youth in front of tens of thousands of people?
Have they no shame left?
But the Azure Cloud members didn’t share an ounce of that confusion. The moment Rhain’s white-robed figure appeared at the edge of the plaza, the elders and disciples erupted in a loud hail.
"Supreme Elder!"
Victor, Bria, and Hale shot to their feet, their voices ringing with bone-deep conviction.
The cry was contagious.
Hearing the deafening hail, the front row of the VIP section immediately shifted.
The members of the Graves family did not hesitate for a single second. Dorris and Kory stood up simultaneously.
Behind them, the younger generation of the Graves family, including Brennan and Fennick, scrambled to their feet.
When Brennan and Fennick looked at the white-robed youth walking down the aisle, their eyes were filled with an intense, burning fanaticism.
They bowed deeply, their waists bending at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"Greetings, Supreme Elder!" The Graves family echoed in unison.
Seeing the undisputed second-strongest faction in the region acting with such absolute, humble reverence, the foreign guests were thoroughly shaken.
The skeptical Spirit Manifestation Realm experts from neighboring towns exchanged stiff glances.
Whether they believed the rumors of Rhain’s monstrous strength or not, the reality before their eyes was undeniable. The Azure Cloud Sect and the Graves family were completely unified under this Condensation Realm youth.
If they remained seated now, it would be a blatant disrespect.
One by one, the foreign experts pushed themselves up from their chairs.
Soon, the minor clan leaders, the wealthy merchants, and the wandering cultivators followed suit.
Whether willingly, driven by genuine awe, or unwillingly, every single person in the massive plaza stood up.
Rhain ascended the dais with measured steps.
Seris quietly separated from his side, moving gracefully toward a reserved seat near the front row with other Azure Cloud elders and disciples.
When Rhain reached the absolute center of the stage, Harmon turned to face the tens of thousands of people below.
"Today," Harmon’s voice boomed, infused with pure essence, reaching every corner of the plaza, "marks a new era for the Azure Cloud Sect!"
"Gods have blessed us. The old grudges of Greymist Town have been washed away in blood, and a new peak has been established."
Harmon turned and looked at Rhain.
"From this day onward, Rhain Voss is the Supreme Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect. His words are my words. His will is the will of our entire sect!"
"Congratulations, Supreme Elder!"
"HAIL THE SUPREME ELDER!"
The sound was like a tsunami, shaking the very clouds in the sky.
As the echoing cheers slowly died down, the ceremony smoothly transitioned into the customary presentation of gifts.
The Graves family was the very first to step forward.
Leading them were Dorris, Kory, and Roderick Graves.
Rhain swept his dark grey eyes over Roderick.
Spirit Manifestation Realm.
Roderick had also broken through.
Relying on the massive share of the Hollow Realm resources Rhain had given them, he had completely shattered his bottleneck in just a few short days.
Roderick stopped half a pace away and bowed deeply.
"Supreme Elder Rhain," Roderick spoke, the formal title rolling off his tongue with genuine respect. He placed his right fist against his left palm and bowed deeply. "Through the shares of the Rare-Grade resources you bestowed upon us, I was able to break through my bottleneck. The Graves family owes its survival and its future entirely to you. No gift could ever repay that debt."
He straightened up, and a rare, genuine grin split his hawkish face.
"But we tried our best."
He retrieved an exquisitely carved jade box from his spatial ring and presented it with both hands.
Roderick opened the lid.
Three perfectly round pills rested inside, emitting an incredibly dense, mesmerizing fragrance that instantly made the surrounding cultivators feel their meridians tingle.
"We utilized our remaining hidden connections in Mirravele City, spending a massive sum to hire a high-tier alchemist," Roderick explained softly. "These are Rare-Grade Essence-Condensation Pills. They are completely free of impurities and are specifically tailored to accelerate the cultivation of someone at the Condensation Realm. Please accept them."
Rhain glanced at the pills. Although these pills were not as flawless as produced by System, they were still free of all impurities.
It must have taken a lot of time to refine these pills.
Kory, the white-haired patriarch with his muscular build, gave a solemn nod. "Consider it a fraction of our gratitude, Supreme Elder. The Graves family stands behind you, unconditionally."
"I will accept them. Thank you," Rhain said calmly, storing the jade box in his spatial ring.
The Graves family descended, and the procession of visitors continued.
A steady stream of clan patriarchs, merchant guild leaders, and mercenary commanders climbed the dais steps, each bearing their most precious gifts.
"The Blackwood Clan presents a Rare-Grade Crimson-iron sword!"
"The Gale Valley Sect offers a hundred-year-old essence ginseng!"
"Silvermoon Clan offers five hundred thousand Aetherium Crystals!"
The old man from Green Bamboo Sect, who had been secretly mocking Rhain earlier, forcefully squeezed his way to the very front.
His face was plastered with a flattering, almost dog-like smile.
"Supreme Elder Rhain! Green Bamboo Sect offers a Rare-grade defensive artifact! We seek only your continued prosperity."
As the stream of guests continued, Harmon personally stepped forward to introduce a few key figures to Rhain.
A very fat man with a perfectly round face stepped forward.
He was dressed in opulent, gold-threaded silk robes that looked like they were practically bursting at the seams.
Despite his heavy, comical appearance, his small eyes shimmered with wisdom.
He waddled forward with surprising grace for a man of his stature and executed a deep, surprisingly elegant bow that made his belly press firmly against his thighs.
"Supreme Elder Rhain, it is the absolute honor of my life to stand before you," He pulled out a silk handkerchief and continuously wiped the sweat from his forehead as he bowed deeply.
"This is Fenwick Luo," Harmon introduced with a faint smile. "He is the wealthiest merchant in Greymist Town, and the owner of the Golden Pavilion Trading Company."
"Years ago, Fenwick ventured out and successfully established a lucrative business network in Mirravele City before ultimately returning to his hometown to manage his guild."
Hearing the mention of Mirravele City, Rhain’s eyes shifted, landing squarely on the fat merchant.
Fenwick caught that microscopic shift in Rhain’s gaze.
As a businessman, his mind worked at lightning speed.
"Supreme Elder Rhain!" Fenwick said hurriedly, his round face full of absolute sincerity, "If you ever plan to visit Mirravele City, please, you must inform this humble one."
"This humble one used to run a modest trading business in Mirravele City years ago. Although I eventually returned to my hometown of Greymist to enjoy a quieter life, my connections and networks in the great city remain entirely intact."
"As long as you say a word, I will arrange absolutely everything for you in the Mirravele City. Accommodations, introductions, transportation, information on the major powers, all of it! You will not need to lift a single finger!"
Rhain looked at the gifts carried by the two attendants behind Fenwick, and then back at him.
"You are generous, Mr. Fenwick. I will remember your words." Rhain said politely.
"Wonderful! Supreme Elder, you will not regret it! Just say the word, and everything will be arranged to absolute perfection!"
With another round of enthusiastic bowing and profuse flattery, the rotund merchant finally retreated, looking immensely pleased with himself.
The ceremony proceeded smoothly.
For the next hour, various faction leaders, merchants, and wandering cultivators stepped forward to offer their gifts.
Rhain accepted them with simple nods, letting Harmon manage the formal pleasantries.
A festive mood settled over the plaza.
BOOM
A deafening explosion suddenly rocked the entire mountain.
The heavy sect gates shattered.
The cheerful ceremonial atmosphere came to an abrupt halt
A deathly silence instantly choked the plaza.
Harmon’s face turned incredibly ugly.
Who in their right mind dared to attack the Azure Cloud Sect today of all days?
Three figures strode through the settling dust.
A young man in luxurious silver robes led the way, his face twisted in anger.
A beautiful young woman was walking beside him, with red tearful eyes.
Just behind them walked a middle-aged man, his hands clasped behind his back, radiating an oppressive aura that suppressed the breathing of every cultivator present.
The young man’s gaze swept over the frozen crowd and locked onto the high dais.
His chin was raised high, his eyes sweeping over the tens of thousands of gathered experts with utter, undisguised disdain.
"Where is my father-in-law?" he shouted, his voice filled with raw killing intent.