They called it a grand ceremony, but there were hardly any people there.
More than seventy disciples in Daoist robes knelt in orderly rows across the square. At the front stood an incense altar bearing a memorial tablet for Donghua Azure Youth Lord, with three tall incense sticks burning in a bronze censer.
This was the Longevity Sect's ancestral tablet.
Several disciples in brocade robes stood to either side of the tablet. The leader had reached Reverted Elixir; the rest were at Divine Communion or below.
Apart from the Reverted Elixir cultivator standing beside the altar with a horsetail whisk, the brocade-robed disciples held jade chimes or banners. They stood there trying to look solemn, but Su Che could see at a glance how uncomfortable they were.
It seemed they were used to muddling through this ceremony. Even knowing he was coming, they could not muster any spirit.
Morale could be raised, but once lost, it could not be recovered.
The Reverted Elixir cultivator was waving his whisk as he preached.
"Our Longevity Holy Cult arose in the days of the Ancient Heavenly Court. Our founding patriarch, Donghua Azure Youth Lord, held the station of Yin Wood and commanded the honored stars. When the Heavenly Court fell, our patriarch tragically perished, and his disciples fled in all directions. Yet heaven never barred every road. For the next four thousand years, they blazed a trail through the wilderness of Southern Heaven, clad in rags. By good fortune, they entered the Holy Lord's teachings, listened reverently to his compassionate instruction, grasped the mysteries of Transcendence, and pierced the true meaning of the Longevity Realm..."
Wan Ying appeared, leading Su Che in.
The man promptly stopped reciting and hurried over.
"Senior Sister Wan Ying, what wind blew you here?"
He had naturally known