A Second-Rate Sect
After all the sect members had arrived, Cui Yan, the sect leader and host of the centennial celebration, stepped to the front of the stage and addressed the seated crowd. "I am Cui Yan, the Azure Cloud Sect. I would like to thank all the fellow Daoists from the various sects of the Southern Frontier for coming to celebrate the centennial of my sect!"
Although Cui Yan's words were just polite formalities, the representatives from various factions below still gave him face, bowing to the platform to express their congratulations.
Meanwhile, many people who enjoyed the lively atmosphere chatted with Cui Yan below.
"Sect Master Cui, you're too kind!"
"The reputation of the Azure Cloud Sect in the Southern Frontier over the years is undeniable, so of course we must give them this face!"
Azure Cloud Sect prosper in the future!
Upon hearing the reply from below, Cui Yan's smile widened, and he continued, "Actually, the reason I invited fellow Daoists from the Southern Frontier today is not only because of my sect's centennial celebration, but also because there is another important matter to announce!"
The crowd below fell silent upon hearing this, eager to see what Cui Yan had to announce.
Standing on the high platform, Cui Yan smiled and said, "Just recently, our sect's venerable elder successfully advanced to the Spirit Transformation. Therefore, this celebration is to commemorate his Spirit Transformation!"
Sitting to the side, Yi Xuan looked at the old lady seated in the main seat on the high platform in disbelief, while Shi Zhenghao beside him looked at Yi Xuan with a smile and said, "Didn't expect that, did you? The old lady has advanced to the Spirit Transformation!"
Not only Yi Xuan, but also the representatives of other sects attending the Azure Cloud Sect Grand Ceremony had different expressions.
Representatives from top sects in the Southern Frontier, such as the Qianyuan Sect, offered no further congratulations on the Elder's advancement to the Nascent Spirit Transformation.
To put it bluntly, even if the old lady were to advance to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, or even if she were to advance to the Integration Body Integration, she would pose no threat to a sect like the Qianyuan Sect.
The other party's expression was similar to that of those top-tier sects, meaning that the Azure Cloud Sect posed no threat to them.
The expressions on the faces of the representatives from second- and third-rate sects, however, were not so natural.
Sects that were far from the Azure Cloud Sect were in a better position, but representatives from those sects adjacent to the Azure Cloud Sect had already begun sending messages to their own sects.
Thinking about it, that makes sense. Considering the development of the Azure Cloud Sect in recent years, it can be said that as soon as the news of the Elder's advancement came out, the Azure Cloud Sect automatically became a second-rate sect.
The emergence of a newly promoted second-rate sect will inevitably have a significant impact on nearby third-rate sects and existing second-rate sects.
Therefore, shortly after the celebration began, representatives from various sects started to get up and leave.
Xiao Anhe looked at the departing sects and said with a smile, "It seems that our Azure Cloud Sect's advancement to second-rate status has made many of our neighbors a little uneasy!"
A rare smile appeared on Supreme Elder Li's usually serious face, "The sect's development in recent years has indeed been too rapid. Many third-rate sects are already eagerly anticipating our advancement! If it weren't for Elder Li's recent advancement to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, a battle might have been inevitable!"
The old woman shook her head after hearing their words: "Although the old man has advanced to the Spirit Transformation, he is too old and lacks the necessary talent, so he will probably stop here for the rest of his life!"
Upon hearing the old lady's words, Grand Elder Xiao and Supreme Elder Li quickly tried to comfort her.
But the old lady had lived for so many years, and she had long since come to terms with some things.
He then gestured for the two to sit down. "I know my own situation. I'm already quite satisfied with becoming Spirit Transformation! But you two are different. Whether it's you, Xiao boy, or you, Li boy, your talent is beyond my reach! I sincerely hope that before my lifespan ends, I can see one of you advance to the Spirit Transformation. That way, the strength of the Azure Cloud Sect, a second-rate sect, will be stabilized! It's just that the sect's Cultivation Method... sigh..."
With a deep sigh, the old lady suddenly found the food in front of her tasteless. After finishing her wine, she strode out of the hall.
Xiao Anhe and Supreme Elder Li exchanged a glance and shook their heads simultaneously. They both saw a sense of helplessness in each other's eyes.
The ceremony lasted all day, and Yi Xuan and Shi Zhenghao were busy in the main hall helping Cui Yan greet the guests.
Only after all the guests had left did Cui Yan call the two of them to go to the old lady's palace.
Inside the old matriarch's palace, the three elders of the Azure Cloud Sect were sitting cross-legged, seemingly discussing something.
Seeing Cui Yan arrive with the two men, the old lady waved her hand, gesturing for the three of them to sit down.
"Yi Xuan, you know that the Supreme Elder of the Qianyuan Sect is about to ascend to immortality! Because the old man has advanced to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, he will not leave the sect unless absolutely necessary from today onwards. Therefore, your master will accompany you to the ceremony this time!"
It was understandable that Yi Xuan could not understand why the old lady could not go in person and sent her master instead.
But what he didn't understand was why his master was taking him there?
As a Rootless Person, all I can do is watch the spectacle; there's nothing else I can do.
However, Yi Xuan was indeed very curious about the matter of cultivators ascending to immortality.
He had always wanted to understand whether the so-called ascension of cultivators meant that these cultivators in the Tribulation Transcendence Realm left this planet and entered the universe, or ascended to another space.
In fact, this was one of the tasks Starlink Yi Xuan assigned to Starlink: to monitor the ascension situation in the entire Cultivation Realm. As soon as someone ascended, Yi Xuan would immediately detect it.
Then Yi Xuan will be able to determine the true circumstances of the ascension based on the information he has captured.
At the same time, they might also understand why the Tribulation Transcendence expert who wanted to explore the Heaven Beyond Heaven, as introduced by the old lady, was completely corrupted.
The ascension of the Supreme Elder of the Qianyuan Sect just happens to meet Yi Xuan's needs.
Although the entire process could be monitored using Starlink, Yi Xuan wanted to see for himself what the ascension of cultivators was all about since he had the opportunity.
After a final discussion, Xiao Anhe and Yi Xuan decided to travel to the Qianyuan Sect in half a month.
In fact, at the current speed of the Firmament, it can reach the Qianyuan Sect in three days.
Yi Xuan had originally planned to do the same. He would go three days in advance so that he could attend the ascension ceremony on the day of the ascension. After the ascension, the two of them could leave immediately, avoiding any other unexpected events in between.
However, Xiao Anhe still wanted to go half a month earlier. On the one hand, it showed that Azure Cloud Sect attached great importance to this matter. On the other hand, Xiao Anhe had other matters to consult with the Supreme Elder of the Qianyuan Sect.
If things really go according to Yi Xuan's plan, and the two of them arrive at the appointed time, the other party will already be preparing to ascend, and Xiao Anhe won't have time to ask for advice.
So the two of them set their departure date for two weeks later.
Since No. 1 Base had been cleared out, Yi Xuan went directly to No. 2 Base after leaving the mountain gate.