328: Chapter 328: The Ascension Ceremony

Eternal Night Demon Sect, Council Hall.

Xiao Ran leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the table, toying with a Jade Slip in his hand.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadows across his face.

His expression was very relaxed; he was even humming an unknown tune.

Life had been too boring lately. The Six Great Demonic Sects had been brought to heel by him, and not a single person dared to talk back.

"Life is truly as lonely as snow."

Xiao Ran muttered to himself.

Through the Soul Link, Li Changsheng's voice came through: "What madness are you spouting again? I think you're sick from boredom."

Xiao Ran tossed the Jade Slip onto the table: "Exactly! My days now consist of meetings, lecturing people, eating, and sleeping, occasionally flirting with Poison Lady. Life feels like a mundane ledger."

"Didn't you say we came here to cultivate, not to be civil servants?"

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment.

"Since you are so bored, let's stir up some trouble."

"I'm severely lacking in manpower here. Every Sect says they don't have enough Disciples, and with so many reconstruction tasks, we are stretched thin."

"What about your side?"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment: "About the same."

"The Demonic Path is also suffering from a gap between generations. The Six Great Demonic Sects lost too many mid-level members, and the new Disciples haven't grown up yet."

"Then shouldn't we do something about it?" Li Changsheng's voice suddenly became serious.

"Recruit some fresh blood, and by the way, boost the morale of both the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path."

Xiao Ran sat up straight: "You mean… hold a recruitment conference?"

"Exactly. Both the Righteous and Demonic Paths will hold one simultaneously to gather talent."

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! Then let's do something big! What shall we call it?"

Li Changsheng thought for a moment: "The Righteous Path side will be called the 'Immortal Ascension Assembly', and your side will be the 'Demon Refining Conference'. The timing will be synchronized, the procedures similar, and the rewards will be generous."

"Let the entire Northern Region know that both the Righteous and Demonic Paths are recruiting."

The two discussed it for the entire afternoon via the Soul Link, finalizing everything from specific procedures, assessment methods, reward settings, to publicity strategies.

Li Changsheng was responsible for the coordination on the Righteous Path side, and Xiao Ran was responsible for the Demonic Path side.

They agreed to announce the news simultaneously.

"Then it's settled," Li Changsheng said.

"Tomorrow, find your subordinates to arrange the procedures. Within three days, let the news spread throughout the entire Northern Region."

"Good, looking forward to a big event."

...

The next morning, Supreme Dao Palace, Council Hall.

Li Changsheng gathered the Sect Masters and Elders of the various Righteous Sects to announce the plan for the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

Ling Jianxin, Su Qinghan, Jian Wuchen, Daoist Master Qingxu, and others were present.

There was a buzz of discussion in the hall; some were excited, some confused, and some worried.

"Alliance Leader, will the Immortal Ascension Assembly attract trouble from the Demonic Path? After all, we just ended the war not long ago, and the Demonic Path might not truly have stopped fighting."

A white-haired Elder stood up, his expression grave.

Li Changsheng said indifferently: "If the Demonic Path has the guts to come, then let them come."

"It just so happens that we need punching bags to practice."

"Besides, if Xiao Ran wanted to cause trouble, he would have done it already. He wouldn't choose this time."

"What about the rewards…" another Elder asked.

Li Changsheng took out a Jade Slip from his robe.

"I have already drafted it."

"It will be a three-round selection."

"The first round: Spiritual Power test to measure bone age, cultivation, and talent."

"The second round: Combat trials, one-on-one duels, the winner advances."

"The third round: Heart-Nature test, testing the Dao Heart through illusions."

"Those who pass all three rounds can join the Righteous Path Sects and enjoy the status of a Core Disciple."

Su Qinghan asked: "What are the rewards? If they are too stingy, we won't attract true talent."

Li Changsheng said: "The top winner can enter the Supreme Dao Palace's Scripture Pavilion to choose one Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, plus one Heaven Rank Magic Treasure."

"The top ten will each receive Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques and Magic Treasures."

"The top hundred will receive Spirit Stone and Medicinal Pill rewards."

"The higher the ranking, the more generous the reward."

"In addition, each Sect can also recruit outstanding Disciples on their own."

The hall buzzed with discussion again.

These rewards were indeed generous enough to be tempting.

Daoist Master Qingxu sat in the corner, nodding slightly without saying anything.

"Also," Li Changsheng added.

"If any Loose Cultivator performs exceptionally well, Sects must not refuse them based on their background. The Righteous Path wants talent, not background."

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

After the meeting, Li Changsheng kept Ling Jianxin, Su Qinghan, and Jian Wuchen behind, and the four sat in the side hall.

"Alliance Leader, I always feel this is too smooth," Ling Jianxin said first.

"The Demonic Path is also holding a Demon Refining Conference, and the timing is synchronized with ours. Could this be Xiao Ran's conspiracy?"

Li Changsheng picked up his teacup and took a sip: "What conspiracy do you think it is?"

Ling Jianxin shook his head: "I can't say, but Xiao Ran is not someone who does things without meaning."

"He is holding the Demon Refining Conference; he must have his own purpose."

Li Changsheng laughed: "Of course he has a purpose. He wants to compete with me to see who can recruit more talent."

"I also want to see what kind of people he can produce on his side."

...

Meanwhile, at the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

Xiao Ran also gathered the Sect Masters of the Six Great Demonic Sects to announce the plan for the Demon Refining Conference.

Blood Butcher, Old Man Myriad Gu, Sect Master You Ming Zi, Fairy Hehuan, True Man Baigu, and Old Man Tianshi stood in a row, their expressions varied.

Blood Butcher looked gloomy, Old Man Myriad Gu was deep in thought, Sect Master You Ming Zi was expressionless, Fairy Hehuan had a smile on her lips, True Man Baigu frowned, and Old Man Tianshi kept his head down without speaking.

"Demon Refining Conference? Alliance Leader, isn't this too synchronized with the Righteous Path?"

Blood Butcher was the first to speak.

"We just finished the war and are still in a truce period with the Righteous Path. Holding a conference now, what if the Righteous Path turns against us…"

Xiao Ran looked at him: "Turn against us? If the Righteous Path turns against us, we will just fight back."

"But right now, the Righteous Path is even weaker than us; they can't make any waves."

"Besides, the Righteous Path is holding the Immortal Ascension Assembly, and we are holding the Demon Refining Conference. This is called a competition."

"Who's afraid of whom?"

Blood Butcher was silent.

Xiao Ran continued: "I have already drafted the rules for the Demon Refining Conference."

"No Sect restrictions, no questions about background, only strength matters."

"The first round: Killing trial. Go to the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons to hunt Yao Beasts, and rank based on the number of beast cores."

"The second round: Arena battle, the winner advances."

"The third round: Heart Demon trial, passing the illusion test."

"Those who pass all three rounds can join the Demonic Path Alliance and enjoy the status of a Core Disciple."

"The top winner will be awarded a Yellow Springs Puppet, plus a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique. The top ten will each have rewards."

The six Sect Masters looked at each other, all seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Old Man Myriad Gu couldn't help but say: "Yellow Springs Puppet? Alliance Leader, that is the corpse of a Void Refinement Stage expert, with combat power comparable to the Peak of the Void Refinement Stage. Are you willing to give that out as a reward?"

Xiao Ran waved his hand: "I am. If it's not generous, how can it attract real talent?"

"Your Sects have been suffering from a gap between generations for years; don't you want to replenish fresh blood? Old Man Myriad Gu, your Myriad Gu Sect lost three Void Refinement Stage Elders last year, and you still haven't replaced them, right?"

Old Man Myriad Gu's face turned pale, and he didn't dare to speak again.

Xiao Ran stood up: "Then it's settled."

"Within three days, let the news spread throughout the Northern Region."

"One month later, both the Righteous and Demonic Paths will hold the selection conference simultaneously. I want to see all the young Geniuses in the Northern Region come to participate."

"Understood!" the six responded in unison.

After the meeting, Xiao Ran kept Fairy Hehuan behind.

"Hehuan, what do you think of Blood Butcher?" Xiao Ran asked.

Fairy Hehuan was stunned, then smiled: "Blood Butcher? Him? He's stubborn, but loyal."

"If the Alliance Leader is worried about him rebelling, you can let me test him."

Xiao Ran waved his hand: "No need. I was just asking casually. You go and prepare the publicity work for the Demon Refining Conference. I want every corner of the Northern Region to see the announcement."

"Understood." Fairy Hehuan smiled and retreated.