Red Peak.
At this moment.
Lu Changsheng deeply understood just what a terrible thing lying was.
Someone had once said that lies were like snowballs: once they started rolling downhill, they would only grow larger and larger, until the sun melted them away.
Could he blame Liu Qingfeng?
There was no need. After all, Lu Changsheng had been the one to lie.
The only thing he could do now was bite the bullet and maintain an air of "unfathomable depth."
Because people were unwilling to believe that a bandit could be named Mu Zhi; they would rather believe his name was Zhang Mazi.
Sigh, never mind, never mind. Don't think about it, don't think about it.
Lu Changsheng could not be bothered to rack his brains. He only hoped that tomorrow's Da Luo Grand Ceremony would not stir up any trouble.
Time passed bit by bit.
Very soon, it was Zi Time.
According to the arrangements for the Da Luo Grand Ceremony.
Lu Changsheng was to go to the Great Luo Immortal Pool at Zi Time to bathe and change clothes.
At Chou Time, he was to burn incense and pray.
Yin Time and Mao Time were for calming his mind and recuperating within Great Luo Palace.
At Chen Time, he was to head to Heaven Worship Hall.
By Si Time, the ceremony would more or less be over.
Zi Time.
Great Luo Immortal Pool.
Lu Changsheng soaked in the immortal pool, feeling the warm water wash over his body, and could not help letting out an "Ah!"
This pool possessed miraculous effects. If one was injured, soaking in it for one shichen would restore them to full health.
Even if one was uninjured, bathing here could accelerate cultivation.
The pity was that only important people could soak in the Great Luo Immortal Pool on important occasions. Lu Changsheng wished he could stay in the pool every day and go nowhere else.
"Eldest Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother!"
Soon, footsteps sounded. Liu Qingfeng had arrived.
Misty vapor filled the immortal pool, and steam rose from the water. Watching Liu Qingfeng jog over, Lu Changsheng slowly spoke.
"Did you spread the rumors outside?"
That single question instantly stunned the cheerful Liu Qingfeng.
"Rumors? What rumors?"
Liu Qingfeng still did not know what had happened. He had gone back to his household, dealt with many matters, and received plenty of instruction from his father. Having only just returned, he had no idea what was going on.
"The entire sect, from top to bottom, is spreading word that I will ascend in broad daylight today. You didn't know?"
Lu Changsheng spoke. He truly wanted to know what this little rumor-monger was thinking.
"Ascend in broad daylight? Eldest Senior Brother, I've been wronged! I'm tight-lipped, truly!"
Liu Qingfeng absolutely would not admit to something like this. Without irrefutable evidence, he would not suffer such a loss.
Lu Changsheng had nothing more to say. It was not particularly important anyway. If it had spread, then it had spread; it was not as though he had suffered any loss.
"What have you come for?"
Lu Changsheng continued.
"Oh, Eldest Senior Brother, I came on the sect leader's orders to deliver your clothes."
Liu Qingfeng explained his purpose.
"Fine. Just leave the clothes here."
Now that he was becoming Eldest Senior Brother, he naturally needed to dress the part. Previously, he had worn the robes of an Inner Sect disciple, but he was about to be formally appointed Eldest Senior Brother, so naturally he had to polish up his image.
"Alright, then this Junior Brother won't disturb Eldest Senior Brother any longer."
Very soon, Liu Qingfeng waved his hand, and several jade boxes appeared outside the immortal pool.
There were four jade boxes in total.
The first jade box contained a white-and-azure robe embroidered with a Qilin.
The second jade box contained a pair of Azure Cloud White Sun Boots.
The third jade box contained an Azure Cloud Golden Silk Belt.
The fourth jade box contained a White Jade Seven Stars Crown.
Lu Changsheng knew what these items were.
The renowned Great Luo Azure Cloud Qilin Set, a set forged by hundreds of artifact-refining elders from the Great Luo Holy Land over eighty-one years.
Whether in material or every other aspect, it had been tempered a thousand times over.
Just the Qilin embroidered upon the robe had been personally stitched by the peerless hands of the famed Seven Embroidery Palace. Every thread had been spun by ten-thousand-year ice silkworms, and a single thread was worth tens of thousands of jin of Spirit Stones.
One robe alone could buy a third-rate sect.
Moreover, all these items were top-grade magical treasures. Take the Azure Cloud Qilin Robe: should danger arise, the Qilin would awaken and withstand the full-force strike of a Nascent Soul expert. The boots were even more extraordinary; with only a wisp of spiritual energy to activate them, one could attain extreme speed.
And the belt could store the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If one's own spiritual energy ran short, the belt would directly pour a great amount of spiritual energy into the dantian.
As for the jade crown, it too had its secrets. Engraved with the Seven Stars, it could absorb the power of the Big Dipper and accelerate cultivation.
It could be said that every single item was priceless.
That was the handiwork of a holy land.
Half a shichen later, Lu Changsheng emerged from the immortal pool. The droplets on his body all evaporated on their own, turning into mist.
With a lift of his hand, the Azure Cloud Qilin Robe seemed to possess intelligence. It flew up at once and dressed him automatically, requiring no effort from Lu Changsheng.
The robe had two layers, yet was exceedingly light. Worn upon his body, it kept him warm in winter and cool in summer, while also giving off a delicate fragrance.
Soon, the Azure Cloud Golden Silk Belt automatically fastened around his waist, while the jade crown flew up and arranged his hair on its own.
Then, with a step, the boots slipped onto his feet as well.
Very good. Lu Changsheng was ninety percent satisfied. The remaining ten percent was because there was no glow; apparently, it had not been enhanced to thirteen.
Of course, even if it could glow, Lu Changsheng would not do such a thing.
It was simply too foolish. His own temperament was detached and transcendent; anything too gaudy did not suit him.
Keeping a low profile was the kingly way.
Soon after, Lu Changsheng walked out of the immortal pool.
Outside the pool, Liu Qingfeng waited quietly.
Hearing footsteps, Liu Qingfeng looked up.
But with that one glance.
Liu Qingfeng instantly lost himself.
Water mist filled the air.
It was like an immortal realm.
Lu Changsheng slowly emerged, like an immortal descending into the mortal world. His features were exquisite to perfection; his eight-chi frame would be too plump with one fraction more and too thin with one fraction less. His eyes seemed to have witnessed the changing seas and shifting mulberry fields, indifferent to the world.
Now that he wore the Azure Cloud Qilin Robe, he displayed the bearing of a Daoist immortal to the fullest.
If he held a flying sword, he would be a sword immortal who vanquished demons and eradicated devils.
If he held a scroll of scriptures, he would be a Confucian sage roaming freely through the mortal world.
If he held a battle halberd, he would be a divine general invincible beneath heaven.
Every gesture, every word and deed, every glance, every look revealed the bearing of an immortal.
Perhaps immortals were like this.
Or perhaps even ordinary immortals did not possess such extraordinary, transcendent elegance.
At that moment, Liu Qingfeng completely understood why the sect leader had chosen him as Eldest Senior Brother.
"Qing Feng greets Eldest Senior Brother."
Coming back to his senses, Liu Qingfeng's expression turned solemn. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Go burn incense and pray."
Lu Changsheng spoke as he passed Liu Qingfeng.
Today was the grand ceremony.
It was fine to joke around a little on ordinary days.
But on a day like this, they still had to be more serious. Otherwise, it would be improper.
Before you continue