Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

The Saintess of the Yellow Lotus Sect showed great sincerity, while Meng Zhang harbored some caution, but it did not affect their cooperation.

They had a private discussion for a long time and reached some agreements. They made plans for future cooperation and how to jointly resist the True Monarch Mountain Peak.

On some critical issues, they both made a solemn pledge to prevent betrayal from each other. Although there might be ways to bypass such pledges in the Cultivation World, it would come at a certain cost. With the heart demon oath, neither of them could easily break their promises.

After the discussion, Meng Zhang didn't stay any longer and took the initiative to bid farewell and leave. As he reached the entrance, Gu Yue Huaidie stood silently by the courtyard's gate. They nodded to each other as a sign of acknowledgement before leaving the courtyard.

In the following days, nothing significant happened until the fifteenth day of the third month when the Azure Origin Sect held a grand ceremony in the center of Jiuqu City at the Senate headquarters of the Jiuqu League, to honor Jin Li, the True Monarch.

The ceremony was lively and attended by numerous guests. Prominent figures from the Jiuqu League were almost all present. Even those who had grudges with Jin Li, such as the True Monarchs from True Monarch Mountain Peak and True Monarch Profound Wind, attended the ceremony without reservation.

Besides them, countless Gold Core Daoist Masters and lords of various sects also participated. The daily affairs of the Azure Origin Sect were usually overseen by their Sect Master, Daoist Master Primordial One. This grand ceremony was no exception and was personally managed by him.

The Azure Origin Sect even sent three Primordial Spirit True Monarchs - True Monarch Azure Mist, True Monarch Azure Peak, and True Monarch Azure Gem - to show respect to Jin Li, which earned him great face.

Meng Zhang and the others from the Taiyi Sect stood together with cultivators from Great Wind City and attended the grand ceremony.

Shortly after the ceremony began, some keen-eyed cultivators noticed a significant issue. The other major force in the Jiuqu League, the Jade Sword Sect, had not sent anyone to attend the ceremony.

Not even low-ranking disciples from the Jade Sword Sect were present. Some perceptive cultivators started feeling that something was amiss.

Although the Jade Sword Sect and Azure Origin Sect occasionally had disagreements, they both understood the bottom line and had always kept their conflicts manageable. The high-level members of both sects knew the importance of maintaining unity in the Jiuqu League.

During this period, they had serious differences regarding whether to go to war with the Dali Dynasty. But what the Jade Sword Sect did now had completely disregarded the face of the Azure Origin Sect, almost tearing their relationship apart publicly.

As the ceremony continued, more and more cultivators noticed this problem. Many cultivators, who cared about the overall situation of the Jiuqu League, started feeling worried and uneasy.

While some ambitious individuals with hidden intentions found it strange, True Monarch Mountain Peak had long noticed the absence of Jade Sword Sect cultivators. When they saw their old rival, Jin Li, the True Monarch, looking somewhat gloomy, they couldn't help but reveal a smile without reservations.

The absence of Jade Sword Sect cultivators not only displeased the Azure Origin Sect cultivators but even Jin Li, the True Monarch, seemed a bit dissatisfied. The Sect Master of Azure Origin Sect, Daoist Master Primordial One, burst into hearty laughter.

"These Sword Cultivators, acting like little children, competing with us for no reason. What should I say about them?" Daoist Master Primordial One said.

"Sword Cultivators have this stubborn and unyielding temperament. When things don't go their way, they put on such a face," True Monarch Azure Mist added, wearing an expression of an exasperated adult dealing with a mischievous child.

With this interruption from the two Azure Origin Sect cultivators, the atmosphere immediately became more relaxed. The other cultivators who had been whispering to each other also wisely fell silent.

Unaffected by this aside, the higher-ups of the Azure Origin Sect proceeded with the ceremony as usual, meticulously following the Daoist traditions. Though they claimed to be adhering to their roots, in reality, they were overly concerned with formalities and rituals.

Meng Zhang didn't have a chance to interject during such occasions but quietly noted the uncertain relationship between Jade Sword Sect and Azure Origin Sect, making sure to be more vigilant.

Back when he was at the Jade Sword Sect's territory and later visited their Gold Core cultivators, despite his efforts to get acquainted and curry favor, he couldn't establish a real bond with them. However, in his impression, the Jade Sword Sect cultivators he had interacted with were not as aloof and arrogant as typical Sword Cultivators.

The Jade Sword Sect had unexpectedly made this move today, and he didn't know what they were up to.

Putting aside Meng Zhang's doubts, after going through a series of intricate procedures, the preliminary part of the grand ceremony was finally completed.

As a Daoist sect, the Azure Origin Sect paid great attention to the decorum of the Dao. Some might call it staying true to their roots, but in practice, they were overly preoccupied with formalities.

Next was the main event - True Monarch Jin Li, the newly-promoted Primordial Spirit True Monarch, showcasing their Divine Ability and conducting the Dharma meeting.

True Monarch Jin Li was not at all daunted by the situation and casually displayed their power as a Primordial Spirit True Monarch. During the Dharma meeting, although they talked in abstract and mysterious terms, their words were as eloquent as a Daoist sage, impressing everyone with their demeanor.

After True Monarch Jin Li's Dharma meeting, the grand ceremony entered its closing phase, and it was time for everyone to mingle freely.

True Monarch Azure Mist introduced Jin Li, the True Monarch, to the other Primordial Spirit True Monarchs within the Jiuqu League. Meng Zhang, along with the cultivators from Great Wind City, also made acquaintances with various other cultivators in the Jiuqu League.

The grand ceremony took half a day to conclude, and after that, until evening, numerous cultivators were inviting friends and socializing.

In the days following the ceremony, both True Monarch Jin Li and Meng Zhang were busy with social interactions. Many people, whether newly-promoted Primordial Spirit True Monarchs or formidable members of the Taiyi Sect, were interested in making connections.

However, the threshold to approach Primordial Spirit True Monarchs was very high, and not just anyone could casually approach them. As a result, Meng Zhang's place became bustling, with many visitors.

After the grand ceremony, it took over half a month for various cultivators to gradually leave Jiuqu City, and only then did Meng Zhang finally feel relieved.

During this period, he had been extremely busy, attending numerous social engagements day and night. Although he made acquaintances with many cultivators, they were merely familiar faces, and he couldn't engage in deeper conversations openly in such public settings.

After the grand ceremony, True Monarch Jin Li officially became a member of the Jiuqu League. As per tradition, all the Primordial Spirit True Monarchs within the alliance were titled Senators. True Monarch Jin Li, being a new addition, was no exception and became a Senator of the Jiuqu League.

The Jiuqu League had a dedicated Senate, the highest authority within the alliance, with supreme power and dominance over all major matters. The Sect Master of Azure Origin Sect, Daoist Master Primordial One, also served as the current leader of the Jiuqu League, appointed by the Senate.

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