Sect Founding Ceremony, Departure for the Southern Region

The news that the Five Elements Sect had been officially established and located in the former Ice River Valley, renaming that area the Five Elements Mountain Range, spread throughout the Middle Continent like a bird imbued with a soul, carrying astonishing information!

The message itself was enough to throw a boulder into a calm lake.

A newly emerging force has managed to attract Peak Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate expert to its side, and its Sect Master is none other than Lin Ming, the rising star and Pill Gathering Champion in recent years!

He not only defeated numerous rivals in alchemy, but also successfully broke through to the Dou Venerate realm in such a short time, directly proving his strength and potential. The combined weight of these two achievements is enough to force any established powerhouse in the Middle Continent to set aside their contempt and take him seriously.

After the core members of the sect moved to the Five Elements Mountain Range, which had been carefully renovated and was now brand new, and after auspicious days were carefully selected, the Five Elements Sect sent out gold-embossed invitations and officially held a grand founding ceremony!

On this day, the Five Elements Mountain Range, which had been desolate and quiet due to the destruction of the Ice River Valley, were completely replaced by noise and celebration.

From the entrance of the mountain gate all the way to the top of the main peak, lanterns and colorful decorations are everywhere, and the fluttering flags are embroidered with the mysterious "Five Elements" emblem.

The Sect Protecting Array, personally adjusted and strengthened by Elder Yao, was already quietly in operation, emitting a faint, ever-flowing five-colored halo that enveloped the entire mountain range, appearing both solemn and sacred, and carrying a hint of inviolable mystery and majesty.

The newly built, massive sect plaza, large enough to accommodate thousands of people, was already packed with guests, bustling with activity.

Representatives from various factions in the Middle Continent region, dressed in their finest attire, arrived in an endless stream.

Upon their arrival, their faces displayed expressions of sincerity, inquiry, or reverence. They presented precious gifts, their words brimming with a desire to make friends and offer congratulations, attempting to establish initial contact with this emerging force with unlimited potential.

However, what truly propelled the atmosphere to a fever pitch, drawing frequent glances and whispers from the crowd, was the arrival of several truly VIP guests.

First and foremost, the most eye-catching group was naturally from the neighboring behemoth— Pill Tower!

Just as the group was about to reach the gates of the Five Elements Sect, the empty space in front of them suddenly rippled violently like water, and then a stable Spatial Rift was precisely torn open.

As the light flashed, several figures calmly stepped out. The leader, dressed in simple linen clothes, had an aged face but piercing eyes. Although there were no strong energy fluctuations around him, the vast Soul Pressure that seemed to merge with heaven and earth made everyone present with Soul Power feel a chill—it was Xuan Kongzi, one of the Three Pill Tower Heads Xuan Kongzi! He had actually come in person!

Behind him followed the solemn-faced Pill Tower Grand Elder Qiu Ling of the Pill Tower, along with several other elders of high standing within the Pill Tower. They arrived, leading the massive procession behind them!

Among them, the banners of the Five Great Families representing the core pillars of the Pill Tower —Cao, Dan, Qiu, Bai, and Ye—was fluttering in the wind, with the heads of each family or important figures all present, demonstrating the great importance the Pill Tower attached to this matter.

Among the crowd, Cao Ying, dressed in a black dress, exuding a captivating charm, and Dan Chen, a timid and endearing beauty, were the two most dazzling pearls of the Pill Tower. Both were in their respective family groups, and their gazes were unanimously drawn to the absolute protagonist of the day.

"The presence of President Xuan Kongzi is a great honor for our Five Elements Sect!" As the sect leader, Lin Ming led Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Yao, and other core members to personally greet them. His demeanor was composed, and his words were appropriate, showing neither humility nor lack of courtesy.

Xuan Kongzi's profound gaze slowly swept over the ever-changing Five Elements Mountain Range, especially lingering for a moment on the hidden yet somewhat oppressive Sect Protecting Array, and on Elder Yao, who exuded a vast aura beside him. A hint of undisguised amazement flashed across his eyes.

He then smiled and said to Lin Ming, "Young friend Lin Ming, no, I should now respectfully address you as Sect Master Lin Ming. Congratulations! Congratulations! In such a short time, you have built such a solid foundation from scratch, and your subordinates are full of talented people. You are truly a force to be reckoned with, making us old folks ashamed! The Pill Tower and the Five Elements Sect are neighbors with deep historical ties. We should have more exchanges and support each other in the future."

His personal arrival Pill Tower Giant, and the words he uttered, undoubtedly declared to the entire Middle Continent the Pill Tower's official recognition and strong support for the Five Elements Sect. This gesture was far more significant and meaningful than any rare treasure as a congratulatory gift!

Just as Xuan Kongzi and his group were led to the VIP seats and settled in, a sudden burst of intensely hot energy waves, enough to make one's skin burn, emanated from the sky.

Everyone looked up and saw a huge, crimson fire cloud in the distance, like a burning sunset or a rushing river of lava, rolling in with a rumbling sound!

Above the clouds, a middle-aged man with a dignified face, dressed in a crimson robe embroidered with flame patterns, stood with his hands behind his back. The aura emanating from him was scorching and powerful, as if a live volcano about to erupt was contained within him!

Beside him, a young girl dressed in a bright red dress, with a beautiful face and a lively and playful air about her, was curiously looking down at the magnificent scene below.

Behind them stood dozens of elders and elite disciples of the Blazing Flame Valley, dressed in robes adorned with identical flame patterns, their ranks orderly and their presence imposing.

Upon seeing this, the master of ceremonies immediately channeled his fighting Dou Qi and loudly proclaimed, "Valley Master Venerable Tang Zhen Blazing Flame Valley, along with all the people of Blazing Flame Valley, have come to offer their congratulations!"

The newcomers were none other than Tang Zhen, the Valley Master of Blazing Flame Valley, who had a long-standing friendship with Lin Ming, along with his beloved daughter Tang Huo'er and her entourage!

Lin Ming smiled sincerely and led the group to greet them again, his tone becoming more friendly. "Uncle Tang, Huo'er, how have you been? You must have had a long journey."

Tang Zhen looked at Lin Ming, who was composed and already a powerful leader, with undisguised admiration and emotion in his eyes. His loud laughter rang out like thunder.

"Hahaha! Good lad! On an occasion like today, I won't address you as Guest Elder Lin Ming, Sect Master Lin Ming! After our parting in the valley, I knew you were no ordinary person, but I never expected you to achieve such an astonishing feat in such a short time! Looking back now, it was indeed the wisest decision I made when Blazing Flame Valley invited you to serve as Guest Elder! Hahaha!"

His voice was loud and clear, expressing his high regard and closeness to Lin Ming without any reservation. Back then, Lin Ming and Tang Huo'er refined the Fire Bodhi Pill to cure the fire poison in his body. This deep friendship was always remembered by everyone in Burning Flame Valley.

With eyes full of admiration and affection for Lin Ming Tang Huo'er approached him with a cheerful smile and called out, "Big Brother Lin, congratulations!"

Blazing Flame Valley holds a superior position and possesses formidable strength in the Middle Continent. The fact that its Valley Master Tang Zhen, personally led such a large contingent to offer congratulations undoubtedly elevates the status and prestige of the Five Elements Sect to a new level, completely extinguishing any other ambitions of those forces that were previously hesitant.

Immediately afterward, before everyone could fully recover from the shock of arriving from Blazing Flame Valley, the master of ceremonies' trembling voice, tinged with excitement, resounded once more throughout the square:

"The Venerable Yao and the Venerable Feng of the Starfall Pavilion have come to offer their congratulations!"

These words immediately sparked another round of heated discussion throughout the room!

Lin Ming personally greeted him in response.

"Old Yao, Venerable Feng! Welcome to your esteemed presence!"

The presence of the Leader or representatives of the three giant forces— Pill Tower, Blazing Flame Valley, and Starfall Pavilion —whose mere presence could shake the Middle Continent Plains, brought the Five Elements Sect's founding ceremony to an unparalleled climax.

In addition, top-tier forces such as the Flower Sect and the Heaven Nether Sect, as well as representatives from the Four Directions Pavilion such as the Wind Thunder Pavilion and Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Myriad Swords Pavilion, also sent their powerful elders to offer their congratulations. The square was a gathering of heroes, an unprecedented spectacle!

The ceremony proceeded smoothly in a solemn and enthusiastic atmosphere, with both guests and hosts enjoying themselves. As the head of the sect, Lin Ming handled everything with propriety, demonstrating a composure and interpersonal skills beyond his years. He engaged in lively discussions with representatives from various factions, initially establishing a broad and high-level network of connections for the Five Elements Sect.

After several days of commotion, the guests gradually dispersed, and everything in the Five Elements Sect began to get back on track, revealing the vigorous vitality of a new force.

Inside the sect's main hall, the lights were on, and only Lin Ming and his closest companions remained.

Lin Ming sat upright in the main seat, symbolizing his status as Sect Master leader. His gaze slowly swept over every face present before he finally spoke in a deep voice, breaking the silence of the hall. "The sect is newly established, and many matters are complicated. However, with Elder Yao overseeing the central affairs and the Healer managing internal matters, I can rest assured. The journey to the Southern Region to explore the Beast Taming Sect Ruins and the mystery of the Fallen Phoenix Abyss should not be delayed any longer."

Although there was reluctance in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, she knew this was a serious matter and nodded, saying, "I will handle the sect's affairs properly with Elder Yao. Please be careful."

Elder Yao patted his chest and assured him, "Young man, you can go with peace of mind. With me here, no one dares to cause trouble at the Five Elements Sect! Perfect timing, I'll take this opportunity to give these new recruits a good workout."

Lin Ming nodded, then announced the accompanying personnel, "On this trip to the Southern Region, Zi Yan, Elder Xiong Zhan, and Senior Brother Xu Shilin will accompany me."

This was something that had been agreed upon beforehand.

Upon hearing this, Zi Yan cheered immediately; she had long been looking forward to going out and exploring with Lin Ming. Xiong Zhan responded in a deep voice, "Yes," as Zi Yan's younger brother, he would definitely follow Zi Yan wherever she went. Senior brother Xu Shilin also nodded with a smile; his family was in the Southern Region, and they could provide a lot of convenience for this trip.

The reason for not bringing Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian is quite clear. Elder Yao the Pillar of the Sea the sect and must stay behind to prevent any unforeseen events. Xiao Yi Xian, on the other hand, is responsible for managing the sect's vast internal affairs and resources and cannot be left unattended. This arrangement is the most prudent.

Three days later, at dawn, the summit of the Five Elements Mountain Range was shrouded in mist and the first rays of sunlight appeared.

Lin Ming, Zi Yan, Xiong Zhan, and Xu Shilin were all ready to depart. Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Yao, and core members of the sect, including Ye Zhong and Xin Lan, all came to see them off.

In the morning breeze, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and carefully straightened Lin Ming's already perfectly neat robe collar. She gently instructed him, her voice filled with deep concern. "The outside world is not like home. Be careful in everything you do. If you need anything, send a message back immediately."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Lin Ming smiled gently and patted her hand lightly, conveying a reassuring strength. He then looked at Elder Yao, who stood tall like a pine tree beside him, "Elder Yao, the sect is entirely in your hands."

"Hey, with this old fellow here, what could possibly go wrong? Just go ahead and explore with peace of mind!" Elder Yao waved his hand, his tone rough but his eyes filled with unwavering trust and support.

Without another word, Lin Ming's eyes narrowed, and he casually waved his sleeve forward. A Space Power far more powerful and refined than that of an ordinary Two-Star Dou Venerate, accompanied by a faint world aura, surged out and instantly enveloped Zi Yan, Xiong Zhan, and his senior brother Xu Shilin.

"Sizzle--!"

A clear tearing sound rang out, and the space in front of the four people was as if it had been easily torn apart by an invisible giant hand, revealing a Space Passage with stable edges and a silver light shimmering inside!

Lin Ming took one last look at the Five Elements Sect mountain range beneath his feet, a mountain range that was beginning to take shape and embodied the hard work and future of him and his companions. A trace of lingering affection flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by an even more determined light.

Without further hesitation, he took the lead and steadily stepped into the unknown Space Passage. Zi Yan, Xiong Zhan, and Xu Shilin followed closely behind, their figures quickly swallowed by the silver light.

The Spatial Rift slowly crept and closed, eventually disappearing completely into the horizon as if it had never existed. At the summit, only those who had come to see them off remained, still gazing in the direction they had gone.

A new journey, leading to the mysterious and unpredictable Southern Region of the Middle Continent, where opportunities and dangers coexist, has officially begun!