The sun gradually rose higher.
The murmurs in the square gradually subsided.
Just then, a deep bell rang out from the main gate of the Nine Mysteries Palace.
The sound of the bell was not harsh, yet it seemed to come from a very distant place, resonating in everyone's mind.
Countless eyes in the square turned to the main gate at the same time; some held their breath, while others leaned forward slightly.
A figure slowly walked out from the main gate of the Nine Mysteries Palace.
The figure moved at a leisurely pace, with a calm expression and a composed gaze sweeping over the dense crowd in the square before stepping onto the high platform.
Meanwhile, Mo Chenxiao was already seated in the center seat.
He remained as casual and nonchalant as ever, yet he possessed an invisible aura that silenced the entire square.
He watched Han Xuanji approach step by step, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
The square fell silent for a moment, then erupted into low murmurs.
There was envy, there was emotion, and many people seemed thoughtful.
Han Xuanji walked with steady steps, her clothes fluttering gently in the breeze.
His gaze swept across both sides of the platform, and a slight thought flickered in his heart.
It was a much larger display than the one I had seen in the palace before.
Mo Chenxiao sat upright on the dark gold throne in the center, while on either side of him, a figure of profound stature sat or stood, exuding a deep and dignified aura.
Chu Xiuyuan, Cloud Wasteland Holy Lord, and Jian Wuji sat on the left, all present in their true forms. They were relaxed, but their gazes were somewhat inquisitive when they fell on Han Xuanji.
Clearly, Mo Chenxiao had been showing off his disciple Han Xuanji for the past few days, making them wish they could dissect Han Xuanji to see what kind of person he really was.
Beside and to their right, several other figures of various shapes and sizes stood silently.
These figures were all incarnations of the Holy Lord level. Although not their true forms, they still possessed an aura powerful enough to make the entire plaza hold its breath.
The presence of a dozen or so Holy Lord, even if they are merely avatars, is enough to illustrate one point.
They crossed realms to come, just to support Mo Chenxiao.
Han Xuanji withdrew his gaze, his heart as calm as still water, but a solemn expression appeared on his face at the right moment.
He stopped ten steps in front of Mo Chenxiao, straightened his clothes, and then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, solemnly knelt down.
"Disciple Han Xuanji greets Master."
His voice was clear and steady, carrying distinctly through the square.
There were no unnecessary embellishments or deliberate attempts at sentimentality, but the sincerity was palpable to everyone present.
Mo Chenxiao looked at the young man kneeling before him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He slightly raised his hand, gesturing for Han Xuanji to rise, and then stood up from his throne.
"Today, I accept Han Xuanji as my second personal disciple."
His voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it resonated in everyone's ears like the tolling of a bell.
Heaven and earth bear witness, and all paths lead to the same conclusion.
Han Xuanji bowed deeply once more.
"This disciple will certainly not fail Master's expectations."
Mo Chenxiao nodded, his smile deepening.
With a flick of his wrist, a ring appeared in his palm.
The ring was entirely blue-green, with densely packed runes engraved on its surface. Each rune seemed to be slowly flowing, as if it were alive.
A faint golden halo lingered around the ring, and with each flicker of the halo, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi trembled slightly, as if paying homage to the ring.
"This is the Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring."
Mo Chenxiao handed the ring to Han Xuanji, his tone casual as if he were handing over an ordinary object:
"Here, take this as a keepsake."
Han Xuanji took a deep breath, held the ring in her palms, and bowed deeply to Mo Chenxiao again, her voice trembling slightly:
"What virtue or ability do I possess to receive such great favor from my master?"
This kindness and virtue will be forever etched in my memory.
Seeing his excited and somewhat flustered appearance, Mo Chenxiao was even more satisfied and waved his hand slightly, saying:
"Alright, just take it. Enough with the nonsense. Focus on your cultivation and don't waste this ring."
He had no doubt that Han Xuanji's excitement was feigned.
In his view, it was normal for a young cultivator to be excited when faced with an Eternal Saint Artifact; it would be strange if he weren't.
However, Leng Qianshuang, who was standing at the head of the right side, narrowed her eyes slightly.
Her gaze lingered on Han Xuanji's face for a long while, a barely perceptible hint of suspicion flashing in her clear, cold eyes.
This new junior's excitement... well, something just doesn't feel quite right.
That's perfect.
As if it had been rehearsed in advance, every detail was just right, neither so exaggerated as to appear obsequious, nor so bland as to seem ungrateful.
A perfectly timed tremor.
Because it was so perfect, it felt somewhat unreal to her.
Leng Qianshuang withdrew her gaze and quickly put the fleeting thought out of her mind.
The Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring
She had coveted this thing back then, but her master hadn't been willing to give it to her.
Now look what happened, they gave it to the new junior apprentice without even blinking an eye.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it. Could it be that Junior Brother thinks this thing is just so-so?"
She thought to herself silently.
After all, if it were her, she would probably be extremely excited about a treasure like the Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring.
My junior brother's reaction is... reasonable?
"Have all the Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring been given away?"
The Cloud Wasteland Holy Lord was the first to sit up straight. His previous lazy expression vanished, replaced by undisguised surprise.
This guy really went all out.
It should be noted that the previous owner of this ring was a legendary figure in the Sacred Court. Although it is no longer of much use to Mo Chenxiao, it still holds great significance. Unexpectedly, it was given directly to Han Xuanji this time.
Chu Xiuyuan stroked his beard and smiled, a profound meaning flashing in his eyes.
He understands Mo Chenxiao better than the Cloud Wasteland Holy Lord and Jian Wuji.
The fact that he was willing to take out the Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring shows that in his heart, Han Xuanji's importance was enough to match this gift.
This is not just a Law Treasure, but also a signal.
Mo Chenxiao was telling everyone: he truly cherished this disciple and protected him.
Moreover, anyone who can recognize this ring will more or less give him and the ring's previous owner some face, so it can be considered a talisman.
Han Xuanji took the Heavenly Mandate Azure Profound Ring and stroked it carefully. To be honest, his excitement was feigned, but his inner emotion was genuine.
This item exudes a strong aura of power, clearly indicating that it is something the other party values highly.
The fact that this was given to him shows how much his master doted on him.
The square was filled with murmurs and countless eyes were focused on the young figure on the high platform.
Many young talents resent it, resenting that this person isn't themselves.