209: Memorial Ceremony

The sky was cloudless, stretching for thousands of miles.

Deep within Saint Heaven Sect, Internal Affairs Hall Master Duanmu Lei held a Jade Slip, using his finger as a pen to engrave within it, while a middle-aged man beside him continuously spoke:

“Received: two top-tier Secret Realms from Canggu Dragon Court—Heavenly Cang Secret Realm and Dragon Blood Secret Realm; and one top-tier Secret Realm from Eternal Royal Court’s Feng Family—Time Secret Realm.”

“Received: two Dragon Blood Divine Gold Stars and one Dragon Bone Gold Star from Canggu Dragon Court; and top-tier Star Divine Ore from Eternal Royal Court…”

“Received: thirty top-tier divine medicines, Eternal Sacred Flowers; ninety Dragon Blood Grasses; three Space-Time Sacred Trees; and ten Eternal Star Trees…”

“Received: sixty-three Heaven-Grade Primordial Stone Mines from Canggu Dragon Court…”

Strong cultivators responsible for receiving the Eternal Royal Court’s reparations continuously returned from the Realm Fissure, submitting Jade Slips containing the coordinates of divine ore stars, as well as secret methods for controlling external array patterns, Storage Rings, and other items. After the middle-aged cultivator inspected them, Duanmu Lei was responsible for registering them in the Jade Slip and sending them to the Sect’s treasure vault.

Heng Kong Human King, Chu Tian King, and Sky Fate Emperor Venerable sat at the head of the Internal Affairs Hall’s Main Hall. Chu Tian, Chu Yueyao, Holy Maiden Hui Lian, and Hui Mei stood on either side of the three. On the left chairs sat the supreme experts of Hengtian Realm, led by Lingfeng Emperor and Weapon King Sect Master. On the right, the first seat was occupied by the grim-faced Eternal Human King Feng Changhao. Behind him knelt a row of Canggu Dragon Court high-level members, most of whom had already undergone Dragon transformation, extending like a long Dragon far into the distance.

Logically, for such a massive compensation, the high-level cultivators of the Feng Family, who were Human King Family members, and the supreme experts of Eternal Human Realm, should have been present. Even if they lost, they could at least maintain some Face.

Furthermore, even if the Human Kings from the other seven Realms didn't come, as signatories of the Nine Realms Agreement, supreme experts should have been present to witness.

Yet, strangely, apart from Feng Changhao and the Canggu Dragon Court high-level members, no one else arrived.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The chanting of inventorying the reparations continued until dusk.

“Reporting to Deputy Sect Leader, all Secret Realms, resources, minerals, divine medicines, and other items from Eternal Human Realm’s compensation have been received and registered. Divine Gold Stars, Primordial Stone Mines, and other resources have already been sent to be received by strong cultivators from the Divine Medicine Hall, War Affairs Hall, Law Enforcement Hall, and other major Halls.”

Duanmu Lei took out three Jade Slips, handing them to Heng Kong Human King, Heavenly Fortune Daoist, and Chu Tian King for their review. Then, he took out a backup Jade Slip from his sleeve, walked over, and placed it in Chu Tian’s hand, laughing heartily as he patted Chu Tian’s shoulder. He said, “Good lad, you did splendidly. This time, we owe it all to you. You are the top contributor to our Hengtian Human Clan’s great victory.”

The Jade Slip that many supreme experts, including Lingfeng Emperor and the masters of top Sects, couldn't obtain, Chu Tian received. Yet, no one showed any dissatisfaction on their faces; instead, they felt it was only natural.

After all, in this battle, although everyone contributed and would share in the immense compensation resources, the true heavy lifting and immense casualties were borne by Saint Heaven Sect. The battle that ultimately silenced the Human Kings of the other seven Realms was fought by Chu Tian himself.

These exorbitant compensations were even proposed by Chu Tian.

It was only natural for Chu Tian to receive a backup list of resources.

Chu Tian’s expression was calm, and he smiled faintly at Duanmu Lei, saying, “Uncle Lei, this great victory is due to the elite cultivators of our Sect fighting to the death, making immense sacrifices, with the strong assistance of the Human King and Heavenly Fortune Daoist, and many great Sects and Senior cultivators setting aside past grievances to unite and resist the Eternal Royal Court. It is only then that we achieved this great victory. This nephew merely did some insignificant things at the end. How can there be anyachievement? Uncle, you truly praise too much. This nephew would never dare to accept such credit.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Heng Kong Human King and Heavenly Fortune Daoist, who were reviewing the list, both looked up at Chu Tian, their eyes showing surprise.

Many supreme experts also smiled, and an Elder Emperor even gave Chu Tian a thumbs-up on the spot, praising him continuously.

“Not arrogant in victory, nor discouraged in defeat. Heavenly King Emperor Lord, you truly have a good son.”

“Chu Tian’s future is limitless.”

“In the Nine Realms Grand Competition, the younger generation of our Sect will still need your guidance, Chu Tian.”

…………

Clearly, Chu Tian’s words greatly pleased many supreme experts, filling their Faces with happy and joyful smiles.

After all, to be frank, they didn't exert much effort throughout the entire process, except for the very end when they mobilized the full power of their Sect and adopted a stance of fighting to the death.

Otherwise, Duanmu Lei would not have said that Chu Tian deserved the primary credit, and no supreme expert would have refuted him or contended for theachievement.

However, even though no one refuted him, it didn't mean they felt good inside.

After all, having a younger generation member above them was a blow to their Face. Chu Tian’s words, however, made everyone comfortable.

Eternal Emperor Feng Changhao watched the harmonious scene within Hengtian Realm, which had become so because of Chu Tian’s single sentence, his expression growing even uglier. He cursed inwardly.

Damn little beast, why are you pretending to be gentle and humble? Where did all that aggressive pressing go earlier…

“Bring them up.”

Chu Tianyun, holding a black curved saber, strode into the palace, a white cloth strip tied around his head. He said, “Big Brother, Human King, Heavenly Fortune Daoist, the memorial ceremony is ready. Mo Shen Emperor and Hell Poison Lord, former Internal Affairs Hall Master Ye Tianhong, Hall Master, and former Mo Yun County Governor Ye Tiancheng, have all been brought to the execution platform. The Senior Emperors and Sect experts who sacrificed themselves in this battle have all been placed in coffins, awaiting burial.”

Chu Tian looked up outside the hall. White banners fluttered, and soul-summoning streamers danced. Throughout Saint Heaven Sect, as far as the eye could see, there were only fluttering white cloth strips. Whether high-level Sect members, Elders, or middle-to-low-level Disciples, all had white cloth strips tied around their heads.

Since Saint Heaven Sect won this battle, the Disciples who sacrificed themselves in this war naturally became unprecedented heroes and martyrs, receiving extremely high honors and merits, with blessings extending to their descendants.

“Begin.”

Chu Tianxing, seated on the left, rose and took a white cloth strip from his sleeve, tying it to his forehead. His dark red eyes coldly swept over Eternal Human King and the many Canggu Dragon Court high-level members, and he coldly shouted, “What are you still standing there for? Do you want our Hengtian Human Clan’s strong cultivators to help you?”

Feng Changhao trembled violently, his Face pale, and he painfully closed his eyes. He took out a white cloth strip from his sleeve, tied it to his forehead, then faced the outside of the hall, abruptly knelt, and proceeded with three steps per kneel, nine steps per kowtow, heading towards the Martyrs’ Cemetery deep within Saint Heaven Sect.

As a Human King of a Realm, to kneel and send off what they considered low-caste Human Race members, performing three kneels and nine kowtows—this was the only instance in history.

Many high-level members of Canggu Dragon Court also put on their cloth strips and followed Feng Changhao, kneeling step by step towards the depths of the Sect. Along the way, Saint Heaven Sect Disciples stood on both sides of the path, watching. This procession extended all the way to the deepest part of the Sect. Their eyes were filled with curiosity as they watched Feng Changhao, who was leading, as such a top-tier figure was someone most Human Race members would never see in their lifetime, only existing in oral tradition. Some Disciples began to whisper to each other.

“Have you heard? This is the descendant of the only female Human King among our Human Race’s Nine Great Human Kings, the Eternal Empress, the contemporary Human King of Eternal Human Realm, and the Dominator of the Eternal Royal Court.”

“I heard his strength can at least rival a Heavenly Ranking Emperor.”

“It feels like a dream. The supreme Human King, a Heavenly Ranking Emperor, kneeling and kowtowing to send off the Disciples who died in battle for our Sect, performing the rites of a descendant.