Chapter 1073: The Grand Ceremony Begins, And The St

Three days later.

The Cangyun Immortal Palace welcomed numerous distinguished guests, and the martial arts arena was already packed with people.

Over a thousand inner disciples were all present, standing in formation on the outskirts of the arena. Dressed in pristine white robes, they exuded an extraordinary aura, with many among them possessing exceptional talents.

Behind the inner disciples, tens of thousands of outer disciples stood solemnly, clad in gray robes that radiated an immortal aura. These were the long-lived immortals that mortals could only dream of.

Any one of them could be considered a prodigy beyond the reach of ordinary people.

For a casual cultivator, being here would likely be overwhelming, as the sheer presence of these elites would make it hard to breathe. Even standing among them, one would feel a sense of inferiority.

This was the strength of the Cangyun Immortal Palace, the foundation of a top-tier sect.

But today, even these tens of thousands of prodigies paled in comparison.

The focus of the entire arena was on the two figures standing calmly in the center.

Zhongli Meng, as the current senior sister, stood on the right, while Fu Haotian, holding a cloud-patterned fan, stood confidently on the left.

This pair, one man and one woman, drew the attention of tens of thousands of eyes. The future chief disciple of the Cangyun Heavenly Palace would be chosen from between them, and the future master of the palace was right before their eyes.

The two shone like the sun and moon, their brilliance overshadowing the stars behind them.

Even before the grand ceremony began, countless gazes were already fixed on them, and a tense, oppressive atmosphere silently spread throughout the arena.

Mist curled and radiant light shimmered.

Despite the serene surroundings, the many disciples behind them were on edge, their breaths growing more cautious.

After a long wait.

A young disciple retracted his gaze and nervously whispered to his senior brother beside him.

"Senior brother, do you think Senior Sister Zhongli can defeat Fu Haotian?"

The middle-aged man frowned at the question, not daring to look directly.

"It's hard to say..."

"We, the disciples, have given our all, even risking our lives to hunt demons separately. But Fu Haotian has enlisted the help of many experts, far beyond our capabilities. All we can do is our best and leave the rest to fate."

Hearing this, the young man's expression grew even more serious, and a look of worry began to surface.

"Senior brother, we're not even afraid of death. Those top-tier experts might not dare to hunt demons separately. I believe our results are no less than theirs!"

"What I fear is that Fu Haotian, that hypocrite, might be up to something behind the scenes."

The middle-aged man nodded, his expression darkening.

"That's possible."

"But today, the palace master is present, along with other high-ranking officials from top sects. Fu Haotian's family background is extraordinary, but he hasn't reached the point where he can dominate everything."

"Victory or defeat, I believe, will be judged fairly!"

"Everything will be decided by the number of demon corpses!"

The young man nodded, clenching his fists tightly within his sleeves.

As they whispered, several figures emerged from the void, their powerful auras terrifyingly formidable. Their appearance immediately heightened the tension and solemnity of the atmosphere!

The distinguished guests took their seats on the platform, exuding an extraordinary presence. Their bodies radiated an unfathomable aura, and their faces were shrouded in mist, making it difficult for ordinary people to see them clearly.

Even just standing there, they seemed like deities, their gazes exuding a terrifying pressure that inspired fear.

Instantly.

Countless disciples looked on with reverence, whispers of excitement spreading among them.

"That elder in the fiery robe, radiating the power of the supreme yang path, could he be the legendary Nine Flames True Man?"

"Legend has it that Nine Flames True Man reached the second-tier heavenly rank ten thousand years ago and ruled the Li Fire Heavenly Sect, dominating the Southern Li Heavenly Realm. I never thought such a figure would come!"

"And that stunningly beautiful elder beside him, could she be the number one expert of our Southern Li Heavenly Realm, Lunar Moon Mystic Maiden?"

"Look! There's also the sect master of the Ten Thousand Seas Dao Sect, Elder Yuan Zhenzi!"

"And that one is the grand elder of the Qian Yuan Heavenly Gate, Elder Jiang Xuran, a true heavenly-rank expert!"

"Good heavens! The high-ranking officials of the seven great heavenly sects of the Southern Li Heavenly Realm are all present. This is truly a once-in-a-millennium event!"

The outer disciples were filled with awe and excitement, unable to resist whispering among themselves.

Though they were disciples of a heavenly sect, their cultivation and knowledge were limited. They had never seen such a grand occasion before, and even meeting their own sect's elders was a rare and awe-inspiring event.

Now, witnessing the legendary figures before them, they felt an overwhelming sense of honor.

In contrast, the inner disciples remained composed, their eyes only showing a hint of excitement. They maintained the demeanor befitting disciples of a heavenly sect, standing as steady as pine trees.

A few of them glanced back coldly, whispering sharply.

"With such distinguished guests present, how can you act so disrespectfully? Are you trying to disgrace the reputation of our heavenly palace?"

"Our Cangyun Heavenly Palace has a history of tens of thousands of years. It's only natural that the grand ceremony would attract many distinguished guests. What's there to be so surprised about?"

A few haughty words were enough to make the outer disciples quickly regain their composure.

The scene finally calmed, but the excitement was hard to suppress.

Tens of thousands of prodigies looked on with anticipation, their gazes fixed on the seats of the distinguished guests.

The seven guests simply stood there, yet their presence alone exuded an overwhelming pressure. Their bodies were surrounded by profound Daoist energies, and even the elders of the Cangyun Heavenly Palace could only stand below the jade steps, not daring to stand on the same level as these eight figures.

Suddenly.

The seven experts all looked up, and the radiant light in the sky grew intensely bright.

Immediately after, ripples spread through the void, and the radiant light in the sky began to undulate like water.

Witnessing this phenomenon, the seven experts' eyes gleamed with brilliance.

The old man in the fiery robe stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his terrifying Daoist power surging like waves across the arena!

"Hahaha!"

"In just a thousand years, the Southern Li Palace Master's cultivation has advanced to such a level. Such talent truly puts me to shame."

With a casual laugh, his Daoist power surged like a tidal wave.

Tens of thousands of heavenly palace disciples turned pale, their bodies swaying as if caught in a storm.

Only a few hundred elite disciples managed to steady themselves.

Zhongli Meng and Fu Haotian both wore solemn expressions, though their robes fluttered slightly.

Such impressive composure immediately drew the admiration of the seven experts, who also turned their gazes toward the sky.

Finally, the ripples in the void subsided.

A middle-aged man in a white robe stepped out with his hands behind his back.

His appearance was strikingly handsome, even more youthful than the experts present, yet his expression was calm, showing no sign of pressure.

One step.

He stepped out of the void.

Two steps.

He ascended to the platform and slowly clasped his hands.

"Gentlemen, it's been a while."

With a calm voice, the surrounding Daoist energies returned to tranquility, as if everything had dissipated like smoke.

The old man in the fiery robe showed a hint of wariness and also clasped his hands in greeting.

"Southern Li Palace Master, it's been a long time."

Apart from Lunar Moon Mystic Maiden, who nodded indifferently, the other experts also greeted him with respect.

"Greetings, Southern Li Palace Master."

In the path of immortality, strength was revered.

Southern Li Qingming's cultivation had not even reached ten thousand years, making him almost a junior in the eyes of these ancient experts. Yet, he held his ground effortlessly, earning the respect of the seven experts.

Regardless of age or cultivation, this current master of the heavenly palace was treated as an equal, even slightly surpassing them.

Southern Li Qingming smiled gracefully, without any pretense.

As the host, he took his seat on the main chair first, then extended his hand in invitation, smiling at the seven heavenly sect experts.

"Please, take your seats."

"Today is the grand ceremony for the chief disciple of our heavenly palace. I've taken the liberty of inviting you all to witness this event. If there are any shortcomings in our hospitality, I hope you will forgive us."

Southern Li Qingming's words were gentle, his smile warm, and his gesture elegant, making everyone feel at ease.

The seven sect experts were also very courteous, exchanging pleasantries and showing due respect.

"Southern Li Palace Master, you are too modest. It is our honor to witness this grand ceremony of your palace."

"Indeed, the Cangyun Heavenly Palace has an extraordinary foundation. The two disciples of your palace are both exceptional talents, true dragons among men!"

"Indeed, being able to witness this ceremony is truly a remarkable event!"

"Well said. I see that Fu Haotian of your palace has profound cultivation, truly a rare talent."

"Indeed, Fu Haotian's future is limitless!"

In just a few words, there was a wealth of meaning.

Even before the grand ceremony's competition began, some among the seven sect guests had already shown a preference for Fu Haotian. This clear bias was quite thought-provoking.

The disciples outside the arena subtly changed expressions, their faces revealing a mix of emotions.

Southern Li Qingming's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but he simply smiled and nodded naturally.

Below the jade steps.

The grand elder, his face lined with wrinkles, bowed respectfully and then turned to announce in a loud voice!

"The grand ceremony begins!"

"Today, under the witness of the palace master and the seven sect elders, the grand ceremony for the chief disciple will be held in the martial arts arena. The winner will be decided by the number of demon corpses hunted, determining the position of the chief disciple!"

"The three-day period has ended. Fu Haotian and Zhongli Meng, present your results from the demon hunt!"

"If there are no objections, you may begin now!"

His voice echoed, and everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the arena!

Just as Zhongli Meng was about to bow solemnly, Fu Haotian suddenly spoke with confidence.

"Wait!"

"Grand Elder, I wish to add a wager to this competition!"

His deep voice rang out, causing a stir of shock throughout the arena.

The seven experts on the platform watched silently, their gazes drawn to the proud figure. The hearts of all the disciples around the arena tightened even more!

Zhongli Meng also looked up in surprise, a sense of foreboding flashing in her eyes.

Adding a wager?

The grand ceremony was already brutal. Once the winner was decided, the fates of the two competitors would diverge drastically, and the consequences for the loser were unimaginable.

In such a high-stakes competition, how could he dare to add a wager?

What a reckless and insane move!