Ascension Ceremony

Danxiao Peak, back mountain.

Yang Shougui quickly led Chen Xuan to a small courtyard outside the back mountain.

This Supreme Elder of the Danxiao lineage had not established a cave dwelling in the outer regions; instead, he had chosen a spot in the back mountain of Danxiao Peak, setting up a small courtyard to serve as his dwelling.

There were no formations surrounding the dwelling, and at a glance, it felt even less impressive than the disciples' living quarters.

Of course, he had no need for any formations.

"Uncle-Master."

Yang Shougui stood outside the courtyard, cupping his hands in salute.

"Come in and speak."

An old man walked out from the house within the courtyard.

Yang Shougui led Chen Xuan into the yard.

"Greetings, Supreme Elder."

Chen Xuan cupped his hands and called out.

The old man smiled, looking Chen Xuan up and down.

"Not bad... what a gifted youth."

The Supreme Elder offered a word of praise, then looked at Yang Shougui: "You go attend to your business; I will chat with him alone."

"Yes, Uncle-Master."

Yang Shougui bowed and departed.

"Sit."

The Supreme Elder sat down at a stone table and chairs in the courtyard, gesturing for Chen Xuan to sit as well.

Chen Xuan did not feel intimidated; since he was told to sit, he sat.

Once Chen Xuan was seated, the Supreme Elder spoke slowly: "You have been in the sect for about three years, yet with a Mortal Body, you gathered a Golden Spirit Sea, completed Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, and cultivated a high-grade Purple Mansion."

"Some elders in the sect suspected that the Myriad Dao Stele had malfunctioned upon hearing this."

"However... I preferred to believe that the Myriad Dao Stele could not be wrong, so I had someone investigate."

"After the investigation, when I saw the information regarding you, my first reaction was that I would rather believe the Myriad Dao Stele had malfunctioned; I truly could not believe that a person could be such a monster..."

There was a hint of emotion in the Supreme Elder's words.

No one knew how stunned he had been after finishing the investigation into Chen Xuan's background.

Based on the information he gathered, Chen Xuan had displayed an extraordinary cultivation speed ever since entering the sect.

At first, it was understandable; perhaps his aptitude was infinitely close to a Spirit Body.

The Cloud Sea Sect often saw such disciples emerge.

However, things began to take a strange turn after Chen Xuan entered Danxiao Peak.

Chen Xuan frequently went to the market to sell high-quality medicinal pills, and later, even magical artifacts.

According to the intelligence, Chen Xuan was undoubtedly highly skilled in alchemy and artifact refining. Most importantly, he was self-taught; he had spent some time reading in the Library Pavilion and reached a high level in both crafts.

Not only was his cultivation speed fast, but he had also rapidly mastered alchemy and artifact refining, while simultaneously practicing body-tempering techniques and divine sense cultivation methods.

Based on how Chen Xuan had obtained the Heavenly Dao Qi, the Supreme Elder had also guessed about the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

He naturally knew the reason why Chen Xuan was able to cultivate a high-grade Purple Mansion.

It was likely related to the Purple Qi Comes from the East Dao technique recently acquired by the Cloud Sea Sect.

Furthermore, through the investigation, he learned that Chen Xuan was acquainted with Li Junmo, and when combined with the mission Chen Xuan had recently completed...

The Supreme Elder became even more certain that Chen Xuan had mastered the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

If he had only seen that Chen Xuan mastered alchemy and artifact refining after reading a few books, he might have suspected a trick.

But upon learning that it was highly probable Chen Xuan had mastered the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye, he felt that Chen Xuan's comprehension was truly heaven-defying.

As for that Purple Qi Comes from the East Dao technique, he had taken a look at it himself, and it was even harder to learn than the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

Finally, seeing Chen Xuan today, he could roughly discern a certain aura emanating from his entire being.

It was the aura of a Spirit Body related to the Purple Qi.

This proved that Chen Xuan had certainly succeeded in his cultivation and had even condensed a Spirit Body.

All of this undoubtedly proved that Chen Xuan's comprehension was truly terrifying.

Of course, there was one other possibility: that Chen Xuan had been possessed by someone else.

Such things were not impossible.

But in this Small Thousand World, only a Nascent Soul Cultivator would be capable of possessing another person.

Furthermore, under normal circumstances, one would only possess a body with superior aptitude.

Although small thousand worlds rarely produce divine or holy bodies, they contain many spirit bodies and occasionally even king bodies.

So, why would anyone abandon a good body to possess a mortal body?

Finally, the Cloud Sea Sect's entrance examination is not for show; it effectively filters out those who have been possessed or controlled.

This is why the Supreme Elder never suspected the possibility of possession.

Therefore, after much investigation and deliberation, the Supreme Elder ultimately concluded that Chen Xuan simply possessed heaven-defying comprehension.

Of course, he also considered that Chen Xuan might have some unknown fortuitous encounters.

But what did that matter? As long as Chen Xuan belonged to the Cloud Sea Sect, it was enough.

Upon hearing the Supreme Elder's words, Chen Xuan understood that he had been investigating certain matters.

He was not surprised.

Cultivating within the sect, it was impossible to leave no traces at all.

"Have you cultivated the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye?"

The Supreme Elder suddenly asked.

Based on the information gathered and his own deductions, there was an eighty percent chance Chen Xuan had succeeded.

However, he still wanted to see it with his own eyes.

Chen Xuan nodded and immediately activated the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

Now that his cultivation had reached the Purple Mansion realm, his status was different; he could no longer be ordered around like a beast of burden, so there was no need to hide it any longer.

Chen Xuan's eyes glowed as he revealed the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

Seeing this, the Supreme Elder nodded happily: "Good! Good!"

The Supreme Elder's gaze toward Chen Xuan grew a few degrees warmer.

Their Cloud Sea Sect in the Azure Cloud Realm had truly stumbled upon a heaven-gifted prodigy.

He felt that with Chen Xuan's current performance, he was fully qualified to be sent to the sacred land in the Primordial World for further cultivation.

"Chen Xuan, from today on, you are an elder of Danxiao Peak. I will give orders that no administrative duties be assigned to you. All you need to do is cultivate diligently and prepare for the Ascension Ceremony in two years."

The Supreme Elder said, his tone filled with excitement.

"Many thanks, Supreme Elder."

Chen Xuan cupped his hands in gratitude.

"There is no need for such formalities; call me Martial Uncle."

The Supreme Elder said with a smile.

"Understood, Martial Uncle."

Chen Xuan immediately complied.

The Supreme Elder was even more pleased upon hearing this.

The two chatted for a while longer.

The conversation primarily revolved around the Ascension Ceremony.

The Ascension Ceremony is a grand event held by the Cloud Sea Sect every hundred years.

The purpose of this ceremony is to provide disciples of the lower realms an opportunity to ascend to the upper realms.

When the time comes, the Cloud Sea Sect of the Spirit Sea World will send disciples to the various small thousand worlds under its jurisdiction to conduct an examination.

Those who pass the examination will be taken directly by the Spirit Sea World's Cloud Sea Sect to cultivate within their ranks.

At the same time, after the Ascension Ceremonies of the various small thousand worlds conclude, the Ascension Ceremony for the middle thousand worlds will follow.

At that point, those presiding over the middle thousand world ceremony will be disciples sent down from the Cloud Sea Sacred Land.

Therefore, if Chen Xuan could seize this opportunity, he could go directly to the Cloud Sea Sacred Land.

If he could enter the sacred land and eventually reach the Primordial World, that would naturally be for the best.

The cultivation environment of a great thousand world is far beyond what any small thousand world could compare to.

Not only is the spiritual energy of heaven and earth far more profound and dense, but the resources available are also inexhaustible.