On the seventh day of the first lunar month, at the Great Hall of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor.
Leng Wuyou and the others followed the young Daoist boy into the side of the main hall, the viewing area, where some people had already arrived. Among them were her friends Yue Wuying and Zhang Qingning.
Seeing her friends there, Leng Wuyou's eyes lit up, and she quietly waved to them.
Yue Wuying and Zhang Qingning were chatting together. Yue Wuying didn't really have anything to talk about with Zhang Qingning and was feeling bored. When she saw Leng Wuyou arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing that everyone in the hall seemed relaxed and talking Leng Wuyou in small groups, Leng Yiming, "Master, I'd like to go talk to them for a bit."
Leng Yiming glanced at Yue Wuying and the others, then nodded slightly. "Go."
In the main hall where the main deity is worshipped, one should not be chatting or talking idly.
The North Pole Heavenly Emperor Hall is open to believers, and countless believers come here every day to offer incense and pray, which has made it quite secular.
The ceremony hadn't started yet, so no one was there to restrain the invited guests.
With his master's permission, Leng Wuyou finally felt at ease and met up with his two friends.
She smiled and said, "You're here so early!"
"It's not early, only a quarter of an hour before midnight." Zhang Qingning said, glancing around the main hall. "It looks no different from usual."
"Mainly, the altar will be decorated with new grains, fruits, fresh flowers, as well as covenant records, spiritual talismans, and so on..."
Leng Wuyou knew that Zhang Qingning was not very familiar with Daoist rituals, so she pointed to the incense table and explained it to her.
Zhang Qingning was very kind. Although she practiced the Daoist breathing techniques, she had not truly joined the Daoist sect, so naturally she would not receive ordination or investiture.
She casually said, "I'll go up and check, it should be alright, right?"
That won't do.
Leng Wuyou sensed something was wrong and quickly grabbed Zhang Qingning's sleeve. "This is a transmission of ordination, an extremely important ritual. Outsiders must not interfere."
"Besides, there will definitely be someone specifically assigned to guard the incense table to prevent any accidents."
Zhang Qingning chuckled and said, "Why are you grabbing my sleeve? Do you think I'm really going to go up and look through everything? I was just asking..."
Leng Wuyou smiled and released Zhang Qingning's sleeve. Zhang Qingning wasn't just talking.
This eldest daughter of the Zhang Household is still somewhat spoiled and doesn't understand the sacredness and solemnity of Daoist rituals.
Leng Wuyou didn't want to dwell on the topic, so she changed the subject and asked, "I remember you don't like these rituals, so why did you come all this way in the middle of the night?"
"Now everyone in the city is praising Zhou Wuji to the skies, saying he's Northern Emperor's Blessing, and Third Uncle wants to come and see for himself..."
Zhang Qingning pointed to a middle-aged man in front and said, "That's my third uncle, Zhang Yunchao, the headmaster of the Jingyang Academy. I'm just joining in the fun with my third uncle."
Zhang Yunchao was of medium height, dressed in a dark blue robe, with a dignified demeanor, and looked like a man who rarely smiled.
Leng Wuyou had never met Zhang Yunchao before, but she could sense the powerful True Qi within him and the strong Qi and Blood power within him.
She immediately judged that he was at least a Fourth Rank martial artist.
It seems the Zhang Household is also quite concerned about Zhou Wuji, which is why they sent out experts to observe the situation.
There were many people on this side of the main hall, numbering at least two or three hundred. Leng Wuyou rarely came down the mountain and knew almost none of them.
Zhang Qingning took the initiative to introduce Leng Wuyou: "There are quite a few people here tonight. That slightly chubby middle-aged man is Jin Lang, the Hengfeng Bank."
"That tall, middle-aged man is none other than Huo Dongling, the vice leader of the Great River Gang. The beautiful woman beside him must be from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion..."
Leng Wuyou asked curiously, "Isn't the vice leader Zhang Dingyang?"
" The Great River Gang has several vice leaders, each in charge of a specific area."
Zhang Qingning was very familiar with the Great River Gang. She said, "This Huo Dongling is said to have the highest martial arts skills and is the most skilled in battle..."
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As she spoke, she reached out to point, but Leng Wuyou gently pressed her hand down. "I understand."
Zhang Qingning, used to being arrogant, didn't see anything wrong with pointing her finger at someone. She said with amusement, "You're several years younger than me, yet you're so cautious in your actions."
She added, "I know Vice Chief Huo too, it's no problem."
Leng Wuyou didn't want to talk about this. She said with some emotion, "There are quite a lot of people here to watch the ceremony today."
Yue Wuying had remained silent until now, nodded. "I see that both the Lesser Yang and Pure Yang sects have sent a True Person to observe the ceremony."
"What a grand scene!"
Leng Wuyou then sighed softly, "When I received my Fifth Rank ordination, only my master was there; there wasn't even anyone to witness the ceremony."
"We're not here to witness the ceremony, we're just here to watch the fun."
Zhang Qingning corrected Leng Wuyou's statement, and said with a slight pout, "If it weren't for the Northern Emperor's Blessing this time, Zhou Wuji would have lost face big time, and even the Jingyang Upper Court would have lost face along with him."
Yue Wuying disagreed with Zhang Qingning's statement, but she did not refute it.
The powerful and wealthy people of Jingyang Commandery stayed up late to come here to witness the ceremony, truly hoping for the Northern Emperor's Blessing.
However, the lack of divine blessing would not have much of an impact on Zhou Wuji.
Divine blessings are recorded in ancient texts.
It is said that the Northern Emperor's Blessing upon Zhou Wuji every time he transmits ordination and receives a talisman, which inevitably raises doubts.
The four sects of Lesser Yin, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, and Pure Yang each sent a Third Rank True Person this time, wanting to see what was going on.
If there was no so-called Northern Emperor's Blessing, then the first two times were just the Northern Pole Sect creating momentum for Zhou Wuji, and there's no need to take them seriously.
Leng Wuyou and Zhang Qingning have a very good relationship, and that's why she wants to correct her good friend's mistaken view of Zhou Wuji.
" Zhou Wuji is still quite capable... Even without the Northern Emperor's Blessing, it won't affect him much..."
Zhang Qingning looked at Leng Wuyou with some confusion. "You and Zhou Wuji fought?"
"No, not at all. I just saw Zhou Wuji and Yan Wudong sparring, and that guy's Swordsmanship is truly amazing, extremely amazing!"
Leng Wuyou was a sword cultivator; she could see the power of Yan Wudong's Swordsmanship, but she couldn't quite understand the changes in Zhou Wuji's Swordsmanship.
The distance was too great, so only light and shadow could be projected, and there was no real Divine Sense sense to perceive the changes in the Sword Qi and Sword Intent between the two sides.
In her opinion, Zhou Wuji has mastered Swordsmanship to such a high level that achieving the Third Rank in the future would not be difficult.
A Northern Emperor's Blessing cannot determine Zhou Wuji's future...
Zhang Qingning was a little unhappy. "I was just standing up for you, and you're still taking that kid's side, really!"
Leng Wuyou realized she had said the wrong thing, and as she was about to say something conciliatory while shaking Zhang Qingning's hand, she heard the clear sound of a jade chime.
Everyone in the hall knew the ceremony was about to begin, and no one spoke.
Leng Wuyou didn't even have time to talk to Zhang Qingning, and hurriedly returned to her master's side.
Few people came from Lesser Yin; it was just the two of them, master and disciple.
There were only two people beside Greater Yin: Yue Wuying and Palace Master Zhihui.
More than ten people from the Lesser Yang and Pure Yang sects came, led by Li Yiyang and Zhang Zhichun respectively.
All four families belong to the seven major sects of Daoism, and they were given the best locations, closest to the incense table.
The powerful and influential people of Jingyang Commandery were arranged in descending order.
On the other side of the main hall, however, were cultivators from various branches of the Upper Court who had come to observe the ceremony.
The leader was none other True Person Zhihua, however, Zhiying True Person of the Demon-Expelling Hall was not present.
True Person Zhihua's gaze swept over the group of distinguished guests opposite him, pausing slightly when he saw Leng Wuyou and Yue Wuying.
Lu Zhitong, the head steward of the Upper Court, stepped forward and said in a deep voice to the crowd in the hall, "The transmission of ordination and the bestowal of regalia are important rituals of our sect. All of you must refrain from making any noise or disturbances so as not to interfere with the ceremony."
Lu Zhitong's voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually serious. No one dared to be negligent, and they all nodded to show that they understood.
The white-haired, white -True Person Zhiyun emerged from the side, wearing a five-pronged crown and a purple-gold robe, holding Tianpeng Ruler, his expression solemn and dignified.
Zhou Wuji followed behind True Person Zhiyun and, as instructed by True Person Zhiyun, first offered sacrifices to the North Pole Heavenly Emperor.
True Person Zhiyun recited the Great Precepts of the Central Altar, and Zhou Wuji repeated them.
The process was rather tedious and boring, but the atmosphere inside the hall became increasingly solemn and sacred.
Zhang Qingning initially didn't take it seriously, but now he was firmly suppressed by the invisible divine aura and didn't dare to breathe loudly.
True Person Zhiyun burned the spirit talisman scroll and the golden covenant record. He held the Tianpeng Ruler and guided the magic talisman to Zhou Wuji's brow.
The Fifth Rank Daoist priest transmits the talisman of the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Primordial Qi Scripture Talisman.
This talisman can help Daoists breathe in spiritual energy and circulate True Qi, and it also lays the foundation for entering the Fourth Rank.
The Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Primordial Qi Scripture Talisman, like a small seven-pointed star, penetrated deep into Zhou Wuji's brow and Divine Aperture.
Zhou Wuji ignored the sutra and instead opened the Heavenly Gate, establishing a resonance with the Big Dipper Star Domain.
In an instant, his spirit merged with the Big Dipper Star Domain.
In this state, the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Primordial Qi Scripture Talisman naturally decomposed into millions of runes and merged into his brow and Divine Aperture.
Zhou Wuji guided the resonance of the star field to fall on the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor. The stellar power of the same origin resonated, causing the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor to shine brightly.
Then, pillars of starlight fell from the heavens, first landing on the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor, and then falling on Zhou Wuji, who was kneeling before the statue.
The pillar of light, formed from condensed azure starlight, was not particularly bright, yet it overshadowed all the lights in the main hall.
In an instant, only the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor and Zhou Wuji were enveloped in divine light in the main hall.
Everyone in the hall was repelled by the divine light. Even the True Person Zhiyun, who was right next to them, was not touched by a single speck of azure starlight.
The immense power emanating from the divine light enveloped the entire hall and everyone present.
Such a miraculous change left the onlookers speechless.
Zhang Qingning was completely stunned. Her shallow cultivation of True Qi was submerged by the vast and surging star power. Her mind went blank, and she completely lost the ability to think.
Not only Zhang Qingning felt this way, but even a sword cultivator like Leng Wuyou, who Fifth Rank Perfection, felt the powerful divine might of the azure starlight.
Leng Wuyou even had to close her eyes and unleash her Sword Qi to cut off her connection with the external stellar energy.
Several powerful Fourth Rank martial artists also kept their minds focused and restrained their True Qi to avoid being invaded by star power.
The several Third Rank True Person who were observing the ceremony all had different expressions.
They could all sense the immense stellar power descending from the sky; such miraculous changes far exceeded the realm of human capability.
Zhou Wuji, who forms a loop with the Big Dipper Star Domain, can see the situation of everyone in the main hall through the Big Dipper Star Eye.
Many of the Third Rank True Person had stable Divine Sense and were not swayed by the changes in stellar power.
Fortunately, the Big Dipper Star Domain is vast and boundless, and no matter how many True Person explore it, they can never touch the fundamental changes in stellar power.
As for those below the Third Rank, Zhou Wuji had no interest in paying attention to them.
Even a genius like Leng Wuyou isn't worth wasting your energy watching.
Zhou Wuji still locked onto the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor, once again stimulating the immense power of the will that converged on the statue.
In a state of communion between Celestial Person and man, the fourth Tianquan Star in the Big Dipper, Big Dipper Seven Stars, emitted a beam of starlight that descended.
Others cannot see the changes in stellar power above the nine heavens, but Zhou Wuji is one with the star field. He knows that this is a good opportunity to integrate the power of will and transform it into the Origin Profound Spirit.
A ray of starlight descended, and the countless wishes gathered on the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor were assimilated by the starlight, falling into his sea of consciousness along with it.
Zhou Wuji immediately unfolded the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, transforming countless wishes into pure purple light, and projecting it all onto the Xiaoxiang Sword...