Immediately after.
The vice minister leading the group raised a hand in salute, every courtesy observed. His resounding voice carried across the entire mountain gate plaza:
"I am the deputy minister of the Registry Department of the Cultivator Association.
I have come under orders to offer congratulations. I hope Brother Xuan Pan will not blame us for arriving uninvited and intruding upon this grand occasion."
True Lord Xuan Pan hurriedly returned the bow, his face brimming with a sincere smile and his manner humble:
"The Association's envoy has personally graced our sect with his presence—this is the utmost honor for my Dingyuan Sect.
How could there be any blame? Envoy, you honor us too greatly."
After a brief exchange of polite pleasantries...
This Nascent Soul True Lord from the Association wasted no words and did not join the celebratory banquet. He went straight to the point and revealed the true purpose of his visit:
"First, congratulations, Brother, on successfully breaking through and entering the ranks of great cultivators.
My visit today is not merely to offer congratulations. By order of the Association's Merit Administration Hall, I have come to proclaim an edict.
Brother, please receive the edict."
As his words fell, Spirit Light flashed around his wrist, and a streak of flowing light flew from his Storage Bag, landing steadily in his palm.
It was a scroll of gilded spirit silk adorned with cloud patterns. Fine purple thunder-pattern Dao intent coiled around its edges, faintly leaking the pressure of heavenly thunder. It possessed the solemn, imposing authority unique to official edicts.
This was precisely the Cultivator Association's exclusive official edict.
The envoy spoke in a ringing voice, his solemn proclamation echoing through the mountains:
"[Merit Administration Hall Investiture Edict]
Heaven and earth reward merit; the Immortal Path judges virtue."
"Now,