Chapter 134 : All Parties Gather
Chapter 134: All Parties Gather
Over the following days, the mountain gate of the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect presented a scene of great bustle.
All manner of Cloud Vessels tore across the sky, rare and exotic beasts bore their guests through the air, and sword-riding cultivators arrived in an unending stream.
This spectacle gave those newly admitted disciples a far more vivid understanding of the vastness and prosperity of the Cultivation World.
The first to arrive were some of the surrounding minor forces attached to the Heavenly Sect, such as affiliated sects or relatively independent small sects, merchant associations, city lords or their representatives from various regions, martial halls, escort agencies, and the like.
Whether these forces could gain a foothold within the Nine-Xia Realm depended entirely on a single thought from the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect.
To put it somewhat exaggeratedly, Long Tao was merely a Qi Refining disciple, yet because he was a registered disciple of the Vice Sect Master and held a position in the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, even elders of these small forces—and even Golden Core–level leaders—would greet him politely and exchange a few courteous words when they saw him.
This was the benefit of relying on a major power—you could truly borrow the tiger’s might to intimidate others.
Of course… their good attitude was for the sake of the sect’s face.
One must not truly push one’s luck and act arrogantly.
If one disgraced the sect, the sect would handle the matter internally.
These affiliated forces arrived early for their own considerations.
If they came too soon, during the sect’s busiest period of handling new disciples’ affairs, suddenly appearing to draw attention would seem tactless.
If they came too late, once the distinguished guests from the major powers arrived one after another and stole the spotlight, it would become difficult to speak with the sect’s upper echelon.
At that point, they could only be received by some elder.
Although there was nothing improper, in terms of etiquette, about a Heavenly Sect elder receiving these small forces, certain matters that might be resolved in a sentence or two with the Sect Master or Vice Sect Master would, when discussed with an elder… have to proceed through proper channels.
Thus, these few days of vacancy were the optimal timing—there was a chance to meet figures at the level of Sect Master or Vice Sect Master, without appearing abrupt or discourteous.
As for forces like martial halls and escort agencies, being able to see an elder was already considered fortunate.
More often, they were received—or rather dismissed—by prominent Foundation Establishment disciples.
At this time, Long Tao… also had a task that was not troublesome but rather important.
The Qinglin Town Hometown Association.
Though this small organization had only thirty-two members, and seven were still out on missions, all twenty-five who could attend were present.
Even Xiao Ying, who had yet to officially join, and Long Tao’s family had come, all to welcome a special figure—the City Lord of Qinglin Town.
Speaking of this City Lord Liu, he could be considered something of a legend.
More than two hundred years ago, he had been an itinerant Foundation Establishment cultivator with damaged foundations.
Believing that Golden Core was beyond his reach and having no family to bind him, he had used connections to seek a leisurely post within the Nine-Xia Realm for his retirement.
At that time, the previous City Lord of Qinglin had stepped down.
For such towns, if no Golden Core cultivator was willing to assume the post, a qualified Foundation Establishment cultivator would be promoted.
Yet during that period, several qualified and willing Foundation Establishment cultivators were occupied with other matters.
Thus, the sect had temporarily appointed this outsider itinerant cultivator.
Back then, everyone believed this elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose lifespan was nearly exhausted, would not last more than a few years.
After he passed away, someone from within could be arranged to succeed him.
However, something occurred that no one—… not even he himself—had expected: he successfully formed his Golden Core while in office.
The one who had protected him during his breakthrough had been True Person Mingzhu, who happened to be passing by at the time.
The two thus became friends.
True Person Mingzhu also began visiting Qinglin Town frequently thereafter.
It was precisely because of this that Long Tao had had the chance to see True Person Mingzhu twice in his childhood, planting in him the aspiration to join the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect.
Now, City Lord Liu remained an itinerant cultivator by status, and the sect had continued to let him hold the city lord position.
On one hand, a Golden Core cultivator was worth winning over no matter what.
On the other, his experience had inspired countless itinerant cultivators and had already become a legend within their ranks.
With him there, grassroots itinerant cultivators would lean more toward the sect.
“City Lord!”
As soon as City Lord Liu landed before the mountain gate and saw the grand welcoming array, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
Not many city lords could receive such treatment within the sect.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, City Lord Liu specifically offered a few words of encouragement to Long Tao and his sister, Dong Jiayuan, and Xiao Ying—these young disciples who had entered the sect not long ago—before hastily heading deeper into the sect.
Over the past two hundred years, the network he had built within the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect was deeply entrenched.
There were truly too many old friends to visit.
……
Soon, the final three days before the Grand Competition arrived.
At this time, the true major powers that stood on equal footing with the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect also began to appear.
The first was the delegation from the Guanghan Sacred Land.
Because they were the farthest away, they were instead the earliest of the major powers to arrive.
As for how far, most people did not know.
After all, few normal individuals would travel to the extreme north.
But according to some accounts, it was at least one hundred thousand li away.
Thus, aside from occasional high-level exchanges, there was very little interaction between the Nine-Xia Realm and the Guanghan Sacred Land.
Since the Saintess led the delegation this time, the Guanghan Sacred Land had brought their largest Mirage Moon Vessel.
When that massive crescent-shaped ship arrived at night, it seemed as though two moons hung in the sky.
A light snowfall, representing greeting, suddenly descended from above—one could say they had given ample face.
Those who arrived afterward were relatively friendly neighboring forces, such as Burial Sword Cliff to the southwest, Mirror Sea Academy to the south, the Starfall Sword Sect to the northwest—who fought together against the Extraterritorial Heavenly Demon Battle Group—and the Accumulated Thunder Heavenly Palace to the west.
These were forces with frequent interactions in daily times, so everything was comparatively casual, traveling light as if paying neighborly visits.
From the Myriad Demon Mountains, several closely connected Demon Race factions naturally also sent representatives.
According to Luo Yusi, the Luo Clan had sent her younger maternal aunt this time.
If there was a chance, she would introduce them.
The various great clan families also arrived around the same time.
Those nearby included the Tai Cang Chen Clan from Tai Cang Lake to the northeast, as well as the Qiling Bai Clan situated between the Heavenly Sect and the Wuyi Sect.
As for some more distant ones, most people were less familiar with them.
Although these clans referred to themselves as clan families, the territories they actually controlled were no less than those of ordinary small kingdoms.
However, due to their own scholastic traditions and cultivation methods, they did not care about proclaiming themselves emperors.
Thus, they had always styled themselves as clans.
Some even nominally pledged allegiance to nearby imperial dynasties to avoid many troubles.
There were also certain forces that arrived unhurriedly on the final day, such as the Suhuang Heavenly Dynasty, where Long Tao’s maternal clan was located.
When the elegant phoenix carriage appeared in the sky, not only the mortal onlookers but even many cultivators were stunned.
Flying in front to draw the carriage was a Yaoguang Azure Phoenix and five white cranes.
Long Tao was naturally among those stunned.
Good heavens—just to obtain this bird, the Wuyi Sect had practically thrown away the face of a great sect, yet this Heavenly Dynasty used it to pull a carriage.
This was clearly also a display of national strength.
Leading the delegation this time was the Sixth Imperial Princess, most favored by the Empress and said to be a strong contender for the position of Crown Princess.
When this Imperial Princess stepped down from the phoenix carriage, walking beside her was the prodigy of the Heavenly Eye Sacred Land, Shao Yuezhu.
She followed quietly at the princess’s side, entirely lacking the arrogance one might expect of a genius.
Of course… among all these forces, the one that most captured the attention of the common people was undoubtedly the legendary Saintess of the Hehuan Sect.