CHAPTER 554: CHAPTER 516: THE GRAND CEREMONY

"He’s Ju Shixiong’s cousin."

As soon as Tian Lin heard the voice, he recalled the arrogant youth from Ju Yunhai’s family during Fairy Mei’s master-disciple ceremony.

"This guy took Ju Yunhai’s place among the Inner Sect Disciples back then, and now he sees Ju Yunhai becoming a True Disciple, overshadowing him. He must be unhappy."

Fairy Mei sneered, clearly seeing through his thoughts with just one sentence.

From next door, Ju Yunhai’s cousin, sounding drunk, said, "You guys watch, even as a True Disciple, he still has to listen to me. Otherwise, he’s ungrateful, worse than a pig or dog."

Fairy Mei wasn’t particularly close to Ju Yunhai, but she couldn’t stand someone being so arrogant in front of her.

She was here to attend Ju Yunhai’s master-disciple ceremony and naturally didn’t want any trouble at such an occasion.

Just as she was about to go out and seek justice for Ju Yunhai, Tian Lin grabbed her wrist and shook his head:

"After all, he’s still Ju Shixiong’s cousin. We can’t kill him, and beating him would only make Ju Shixiong look bad. So why not just pretend we don’t know?"

Thinking of Ju Yunhai’s ’timid’ demeanor when facing family, Fairy Mei dismissed the idea of doing something thankless.

She snorted coldly, shook off Tian Lin’s hand, then sat down at the table and began eating fruit.

One hour isn’t actually long, and soon a maid came to invite Tian Lin and the others to the peak.

A lot of people were here for the ceremony. Although the peak is quite spacious, the guests were still asked to leave their sword holders and such in their cave mansions, with only the main participants going up to the peak.

When Tian Lin, along with Fairy Mei and Wang Yanyu, reached the peak, they saw a large crowd standing there.

Among them, there were dozens of individuals in the Nascent Soul Stage, along with an unknown number of True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples.

Tian Lin and the others were somewhat close to Ju Yunhai, but even they couldn’t squeeze into the crowd on such an occasion.

The two exchanged looks, and Tian Lin couldn’t help but praise, "I never expected Elder Tang to be so popular—besides our own sect’s elders, many Outer Sect elders are probably here too!"

Back when Fairy Mei had her master-disciple ceremony, the event was grand indeed, but it couldn’t compare to the spectacle before them now.

During Fairy Mei’s ceremony, the attendees included her master’s friends and Elder Mei’s acquaintances.

But even so, the number of people at her ceremony was far fewer than today’s event.

And Tang Zhi?

Though Tang Zhi belonged to the Tang Family, he wasn’t the one in charge. Moreover, after reaching the initial stage of the Nascent Soul, he vaguely had a rivalry with his older brother.

Yet even with such circumstances, so many were here to witness the ceremony, showing how skilled Tang Zhi was at making connections.

"A lot of people from the Zhuang Family are here too."

Fairy Mei remarked, and Tian Lin followed her gaze to a table in the distance.

A group of young men in white sat at the table, clearly distinguished from the group wearing black beside them.

Because of Zhai Xingzi’s return to the sect, many suspected that the power structure of the Wenda Sect might change.

The Zhuang Family, confident with Zhai Xingzi possessing a True Dragon cub, all harbored thoughts of scheming and usurping the Tang Family’s position.

Given this, conflicts between the Zhuang and Tang families had been frequent lately.

During the public ceremony, while there were no open confrontations between the two sides, their mutual attitudes revealed an underlying animosity.

"It seems, Elder Tang Zhi is very popular with the Zhuang Family people!"

Tian Lin murmured, averting his gaze from the disciples of the Zhuang Family, and instead looked towards Quyun Hall.

At Quyun Hall, Nascent Soul Elders were already seated.

With these Nascent Soul Elders present, Tian Lin and other True Disciples could only find seats on the periphery.

After the maids served the meal, about half an hour later, as the bell rang, Tang Zhi finally walked out from Quyun Hall.

Behind Tang Zhi was none other than Ju Yunhai.

Ju Yunhai, dressed in a purple robe, appeared dashing, but for some reason, Tian Lin couldn’t help but feel that Ju Yunhai didn’t seem particularly happy on such a joyous day.

"Thank you, friends, for gracing us with your presence at my disciple’s ceremony."

In front of the altar, Tang Zhi first clasped his hands to the surrounding guests, then pulled Ju Yunhai over and said:

"Today, in front of our sect and Outer Sect brothers and sisters as witnesses, I, Tang, accept Ju Yunhai of the Ju Family as my disciple. The Divine Skills I’ve learned will not be kept from Ju Yunhai—also, I hope fellow brothers and sisters will help my disciple should he face difficulties outside in the future."

He spoke at length, especially taking incense to offer to the ancestors of the Wenda Sect.

Then, under the host of Inner Sect Elders, Ju Yunhai proceeded to bow and offer incense.

The grand ceremony continued until dusk, during which numerous Nascent Soul Elders presented gifts to Ju Yunhai.

The sight of those gifts made Fairy Mei envious.

Besides being envious of the treasures, the most important thing was that compared to Ju Yunhai’s current treatment, the treasures Fairy Mei received were quite humble.

However, the recipient of the gifts didn’t show any signs of great joy. Instead, it was Tang Chuchu not far away who looked proud and smug.

It seemed as though the disciple ceremony was held for her, not Ju Yunhai.

"Now that the ceremony is nearing its end, Ju Shixiong likely won’t have time to see us. Since that’s the case, it might be better if we leave first."

Just as Fairy Mei was about to nod, a streak of light appeared in the distance.

The others didn’t recognize the woman arriving through Sword Control, but Tian Lin, Fairy Mei, and even Wang Yanyu all paused, watching the woman with an ethereal demeanor land on the mountain.

The woman, holding a bonsai, gracefully walked towards Tang Zhi.

Tang Zhi frowned slightly, looking at the unfamiliar woman.

The woman stopped in front of Tang Zhi, then turned to Ju Yunhai and said, "I’ve come at the order of my master to present a gift to Mr. Ju."

Everyone around watched her, many baffled and shocked.

The woman didn’t hide her cultivation, clearly a strong practitioner of the Nascent Soul Realm.

But for a Nascent Soul Realm expert to recognize someone as master—what kind of cultivation must her master possess?

Many people looked towards Ju Yunhai, and Ju Yunhai slightly shook his head and said:

"Fairy Qingfeng is too kind. In the presence of the fairy, I am undeserving of being called ’Mr.’, much less worthy of receiving such a treasure tree."

"I am already deeply grateful for Fairy Qingfeng’s congratulations. I kindly ask that Fairy returns the treasure tree to Brother Zhuang, expressing my thanks for his goodwill."

This treasure tree was a Dao Artifact, which Ju Yunhai would have accepted if it had come from an ordinary person.

But since the gift was from Zhai Xingzi, Ju Yunhai dared not accept it no matter what.

Firstly, he had no acquaintanceship with Zhai Xingzi to warrant receiving such a grand gift.

Secondly, Zhai Xingzi cultivated the Great Dao of Causality; whoever took advantage of Zhai Xingzi would inevitably incur bad karma, ultimately leading to an exponential debt repayment—which Ju Yunhai feared he couldn’t afford, nor did he wish to take on such a ’high-interest loan.’

At this moment, Ju Yunhai revealing the identity of the woman in green surprised many people that Fairy Qingfeng had reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

And what shocked them even more was that Zhai Xingzi had returned.