Chapter 618 - 278: Immortal Ascension Ceremony
Chapter 618: Chapter 278: Immortal Ascension Ceremony
Tantai Mingyue’s expression remained gentle, but her gaze was intense.
Su Xin was taken aback but soon met her gaze, calmly saying:
"Master, Junior Brother He and Junior Sister Ruo saved me twice. Without them, I would never have seen you again. Please allow me to handle this matter. I will ensure they do nothing to harm the sect."
Tantai Mingyue looked at her, and the two remained standing silently for a long moment.
Finally, Tantai Mingyue sighed: "Xin’er, you have changed."
"Master..." Su Xin was about to speak when Tantai Mingyue suddenly smiled:
"You have become mature. I used to worry that your simplicity might lead you to sacrifices if the sect faced difficulties. But now I see there’s no need to worry anymore."
As Tantai Mingyue spoke, she looked up at the sky. The bright full moon illuminated the dark night, and her tone was soft and lingering:
"I was once like you, simple and stubborn, but I ended up harming myself. You are stronger now than I was."
"The matter with He Zhiqiu and Ruo Mei, I’ll leave it to you to handle."
Su Xin bowed in salute: "Thank you, Master."
In her heart, there was both joy and confusion. Taoist Friend Qin and Taoist Friend Qiu had saved her; she couldn’t repay kindness with enmity.
However, she didn’t know whether the decision she made today was right or wrong.
If Sect Leader Chen Qingmo truly is the Spirit Corpse Mountain Master, what should she do?
Moreover, what did her master’s words mean just now?
Her master had never spoken of her past. Su Xin only knew that when Tantai Mingyue was young, she and the former Crown Prince of the Western Emperor Palace were in love, but because Lin Yuan switched allegiance to assist the Third Prince Wu Zheng, the former Crown Prince died.
Since then, Tantai Mingyue returned to Zhenyang Mountain and never descended the mountain until the battle at Celestial Ridge Mountain.
Hearing her master’s words now, it seemed there were more sad matters in her heart besides the events at the Western Imperial Palace.
Su Xin looked up at Tantai Mingyue, but her master had already regained her calm: "Let’s go."
"Yes." Su Xin dared not ask further and followed Tantai Mingyue to the Peak Master Hall.
At this time, Leng Jing, Jian Yue, Chun Ningzhi, Zhang Zheng, Chen Yunfeng, and others were already there, entertaining people from Thunder Sword Sect, Feiyun Sect, and the Western Emperor Palace.
As Tantai Mingyue entered, everyone greeted her.
Feiyun Sect had sent a few young disciples. One of them, tall and jade-like, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, looked even more handsome in his Feiyun Sect’s White Cloud Sword Robe. He led the Feiyun Sect disciples to bow to Tantai Mingyue:
"Disciple Zheng Mulin from Feiyun Sect pays respect to Junior Martial Uncle Tantai."
Tantai Mingyue smiled and said to him, "So it’s Junior Zheng. Back in the day, when you ventured into the Northern Wilderness seven times in search of a dao companion, we elders were all very moved upon hearing of it."
Back then, young disciples of the Three Great Sects went to the Northern Wilderness Trial. Zheng Mulin and Senior Sister Yin Qiaoqin had mutual feelings and were soon to be married, but Yin Qiaoqin was ambushed by Spirit Corpse Mountain and went missing.
Later, Zheng Mulin ventured into the Northern Wilderness seven times but could never find Yin Qiaoqin.
This tragic story was well known, and many praised Zheng Mulin for his devotion.
Even Tantai Mingyue remembered this event well, and thus thought of it immediately upon seeing Zheng Mulin.
Su Xin nearby also showed a trace of sadness; she had also gone to the Northern Wilderness Trial that year.
After Yin Qiaoqin’s incident, Su Xin also helped in the search. Witnessing Zheng Mulin’s devotion left a deep impression on her.
Seeing Zheng Mulin seem to have moved on from the past, Su Xin felt happy for him yet sighed quietly again.
Whether the Three Great Sects would be enemies or friends in the future was unclear. If she had to oppose someone as honest and devoted as Zheng Mulin, she didn’t know how to face it.
However, Su Xin was unaware that Qin Gengyun and others had already encountered Yin Qiaoqin, who had been turned into a spirit corpse in the Northern Wilderness.
Just before her death, Yin Qiaoqin regained her senses and asked Si Minglan to deliver their love token to Feiyun Sect, letting Zheng Mulin know of her death so he could let go of his burdens and cultivate well.
However, when Si Minglan finally reached Feiyun Sect City and handed the item to Zheng Mulin, she found out that this devoted man had long forgotten Yin Qiaoqin.
Not only that, Zheng Mulin even betrayed her and helped Si Mingcheng to ambush and capture Si Minglan.
As Si Minglan was "killed" and fell off Tang Mountain by Ye Xiyue, these matters became unknown to anyone.
Meanwhile, Zheng Mulin, under the guise of "honest and devoted," smoothly rose from an Inner Sect Disciple to becoming a Commanding Disciple of Feiyun Sect today.
Upon hearing Tantai Mingyue’s words, Zheng Mulin appropriately showed a look of sorrow:
"I couldn’t protect Senior Sister Yin back then, and every time I recall those nights, guilt overwhelms me."
His voice was unbearably heavy, and those around were deeply moved, empathizing with him.
Chun Ningzhi looked at Zheng Mulin, as if seeing himself, and his gaze shifted to Jian Yue, a gentle expression in his eyes.
Junior Sister Ye, even if your heart belongs to another, I won’t give up.
Next were the envoys from the Western Emperor Palace, among whom was a familiar face—Si Mingcheng.
Facing the Western Emperor Palace people, Tantai Mingyue remained gentle, but there was a discernible coldness and detachment in her words.
Si Mingcheng said, "Deputy Sect Leader Tantai, we are here under the Empress’s command to inform the Zhenyang Sect that the arrangements for the Immortal Ascension Ceremony have been set. It will be held in West Imperial City in six months, and here are the details."
He presented a scroll, which detailed the rules of the upcoming Immortal Ascension Ceremony.
It’s roughly the same as before, with an age limit under forty, each of the Three Great Sects sending ten disciples.
Loose Cultivators can also participate after passing a preliminary selection at West Imperial City.
The top three in the Immortal Ascension Ceremony can stay at the Immortal Flying Pavilion for a day and select a treasure from within.
Tantai Mingyue looked at the scroll, nodded slightly, and Si Mingcheng paused before suddenly speaking:
"I heard that your sect’s Elder Shi Shuhong and Elder Wei Shouyuan are in seclusion, trying to break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm. How are they faring?"
Tantai Mingyue gave Si Mingcheng a glance, her voice turning cold: "If Lin Yuan wants to know, let her ask me herself."
Si Mingcheng chuckled: "Pardon my presumptuousness, Deputy Sect Leader."
Having said that, he stepped aside. People from Feiyun Sect and Thunder Sword Sect showed varied expressions as if each found what they wanted in Tantai Mingyue’s words.
At this moment, a robust figure emerged from the crowd of Thunder Sword Sect, but instead of greeting Tantai Mingyue first, he enthusiastically waved at Su Xin:
"Junior Sister Su, we meet again. How are you recovering?"
Su Xin was surprised: "Senior Brother Ming, why are you here?"
Ming Hu chuckled and, under the eyes of everyone, ran to Su Xin and took out a storage bag from his bosom, pouring out a pile of spirit pills and heavenly materials and earthly treasures:
"Junior Sister Su, the master originally wanted to send the little junior sister, but I was worried about your condition, so I insisted on coming. Look, I brought you lots of stuff!"