Azure Cloud Sect, Divine Firmament Hall.
Cultivators from sects across the Nine Provinces had gathered in the square before the hall, more than a hundred thousand strong.
More than half of these cultivators were young disciples, brought by their elders to broaden their horizons and gain experience.
In the past thousand years, this was the first celebration of such enormous scale held by the Azure Cloud Sect. Given Gao Xian's prestige as the foremost figure of the Nine Provinces, naturally countless people wanted to come join the excitement and make themselves known.
The formal ceremony had just concluded. Zhu Qiniang, the newly ascended Pure Yang Dao Venerable, wore a Fish Tail Crown and a crimson-gold dharma robe embroidered with dragon patterns. Accompanied by Gao Xian, the Divine Lord of Army-Breaking, she was speaking with the various Dao Venerables.
Zhu Qiniang was the tenth Pure Yang Dao Venerable of the Nine Provinces. Though she had not left her name upon the Nine Provinces Cauldron, the fact that she had transcended tribulation and attained the Dao in the Nine Provinces already said a great deal.
Thus, seven Dao Venerables had come in person this time. Only Dao Hong and Heaven Pillar truly could not get away, and had sent others as their representatives.
This time, the Nine Yin Dao Venerable had again brought her two disciples, Xiao Jinse and Xiao Lingqin. Their ties with Gao Xian were simply too close; coming to the Azure Cloud Sect without bringing them along would have made no sense, whether by sentiment or propriety.
Though the Nine Yin Dao Venerable chatted and laughed warmly with Gao Xian and Zhu Qiniang on the surface, her feelings were rather complicated.
When Gao Xian and Zhu Qiniang went to speak with Zhi Zhen and Xuanming, the Nine Yin Dao