693: Chapter 693 Promotion Ceremony

Xuanyin Pavilion.

Liu Xuan stood at the edge of the Star-Gazing Terrace, looking down at the bustling Liangyi Palace below; things were a bit blurry further away.

During the great battle against Old Ancestor Hehuan, his Divine Soul had endured too much pressure, and now he could only recuperate slowly; using even a little bit of Divine Sense would cause his head to split with pain.

"It didn't hurt when I was fighting Old Ancestor Hehuan, so why does it hurt more the more I rest? Could it be that Divine Soul pain also has a lag effect?"

For a Cultivator, losing one's Divine Sense is equivalent to a Mortal losing their eyes. For Liu Xuan, who had become accustomed to perceiving everything through his Divine Sense, this was extremely uncomfortable and made him feel very insecure.

However, as his Divine Soul recovered bit by bit, Liu Xuan slowly felt that his Divine Soul seemed to have strengthened somewhat during this process, and his comprehension of various Laws had become clearer as well.

"Real combat is the best form of Cultivation; it seems there is some truth to that saying after all!"

Combat, especially life-or-death battles, would to a certain extent stimulate a person's potential. Regardless of victory or defeat, as long as one wasn't killed or severely injured with damage to their Origin, one could gain significant progress afterward.

"This kind of progress is too small; it's unnecessary for me!"

Stimulating potential through life-or-death struggles is usually most useful for those Cultivators who are stuck in a Bottleneck and whose cultivation cannot be raised through normal Cultivation. For a Cultivator like Liu Xuan, who had no Bottleneck and whose Realm was rising rapidly, it was of little significance.

His cultivation was already rising rapidly, and the small benefits gained from combat were just icing on the cake, while the risks involved were great, making it not very cost-effective.

For Liu Xuan, if he could avoid fighting, he would; lying flat was the true path to the heavens!

Without thinking further, Liu Xuan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at You Ruo beside him. "How have the sales of the thousand star flying sword been in the Merchant Alliance recently? Have they been affected?"

With that one move of 'Sword Come', the fact that there was a hidden trap left in the thousand star flying sword could no longer be hidden. No matter how high the quality of a Magical Artifact was, if it contained a trap left by someone else, he imagined not many people would be willing to buy it.

You Ruo pondered for a moment and nodded. "Sales in the East Sea have increased slightly, while those in the Southern Border have remained basically unchanged."

"They increased?"

"Why?"

Liu Xuan asked, puzzled.

"Of course, it's because of your prestige, Husband!" You Ruo revealed a sweet and gentle smile as she explained:

"Husband, you are now the Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect and a Late-stage Spirit Transformation great Cultivator. In the eyes of many Sect Disciples, being able to have their Flying Sword borrowed by you is a matter of great honor.

When mentioning the battle that day, many Cultivators whose natal flying sword were borrowed felt proud, using it as a bargaining chip to brag."

Once You Ruo said this, Liu Xuan understood immediately. For most Cultivators, the trap left on the thousand star flying sword was not a drawback, but rather profitable, because this trap was left by a Late-stage Spirit Transformation great Cultivator and had no major side effects.

Mixing within the Joyous Union Sect system, refining a thousand star flying sword as a natal flying sword was a display of loyalty to the Sect, and it meant having a thread of connection with Liu Xuan, this Late-stage Spirit Transformation great Cultivator.

The Liu Family's influence continued to expand within the Joyous Union Sect; having one more thousand star flying sword might mean one more Opportunity.

"Hehe~" Liu Xuan shook his head and chuckled. "It's only natural for a great Cultivator to leave means in their Magical Artifacts, but if a peer were to do the same, they would be Mortal enemies. This is the beauty of being a superior Cultivator!"

A few days later.

The promotion ceremony for Daoist Yin-Yang Jiang Xingwan officially began. Compared to the wedding between Liu Xuan and her previously, this ceremony was ten times more grand.

Above the Yin-Yang Great Island, spiritual clouds gathered, and Yin and Yang Qi intertwined, forming a vast sea of clouds.

The promotion ceremony, as the most important celebration in the Cultivation World, was all about the spectacle.

To demonstrate the strength of the Daoist Yin-Yang and the foundation of the Sect, this ceremony directly utilized the Sect Grand Formation, condensing a huge celebration venue above the sea of spiritual clouds with the Yin and Yang Dao charm.

Thirty-six white jade pillars stood around the venue, and thousands of cloud-patterned jade seats were arranged below. Golden Core True Person was merely the threshold for entry.

"Qianshan Sect, He Tongchen, congratulates Daoist Yin-Yang on promoting to a great Cultivator, and wishes you an early Immortal Ascension!"

"Southern Border, Cloud Top Sect, Qin Guanlan, congratulates Daoist Yin-Yang on promoting to a great Cultivator, and wishes you eternal prosperity in the Dao of Immortality."

"Beast Taming Sect, Fang Yi, congratulates Daoist Yin-Yang on promoting to a great Cultivator, and wishes you eternal life."

Liu Xuan accompanied Jiang Xingwan, sitting above the venue, listening to the names being called out below, feeling sleepy and bored.

His Divine Soul injury had not yet fully recovered, and he himself was not interested in such scenes. Listening to the rhythmic, repetitive calling of names made him feel a bit sleepy.

"Husband, why don't you go back and rest first? You don't need to accompany me specifically," Jiang Xingwan said with concern.

"It's fine!" Liu Xuan waved his hand. "I have nothing to do anyway; going back would just mean sleeping."

"Didn't Red Dust Daoist Lord Su Qingyan say that high-level members of the Dao Court would come? It would be good to see them."

Red Dust Daoist Lord Su Qingyan had extensive connections in the Dao Court. According to her, the Dao Court attached great importance to Jiang Xingwan's promotion to a great Cultivator this time, and a person at the level of a Prefectural Master would come in person.

A Prefectural Master—within the Dao Court, usually only great Cultivators are qualified to open a Prefecture. With such a person coming in person, Liu Xuan was also very curious about their purpose.

"Central Plains, Dao Court, Prefectural Master of Tianheng Prefecture!"

The voice of the Cultivator calling the names rose by half a pitch, and he didn't help say the congratulatory words. All the Cultivators in the venue looked toward the entrance of the venue.

They saw half the sky stained with an ink color, and a mysterious black palace slowly stopped. Afterward, countless Cultivators wearing the same Daoist robes flew out, each holding a congratulatory gift in their hands.

A flash of mysterious light, and the Tianheng Prefectural Master passed the crowd and arrived at the few seats closest to the high platform.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanyin has attained the Dao at this time; congratulations, congratulations!"

Jiang Xingwan stood up to return the salute. "It is merely good fortune. Compared to you, Prefectural Master, I am still a Junior."

The Tianheng Prefectural Master smiled noncommittally. He swept his gaze around, paused on Liu Xuan for a moment, and then asked suspiciously: "Where is Old Ancestor Hehuan? Why do I not see his figure?"

Jiang Xingwan's expression remained unchanged as she answered solemnly: "The Old Ancestor was injured by the Great Saint of the Long Whale Palace and is currently inconvenient to meet guests. I ask for your understanding, Prefectural Master."

Seeing the Tianheng Prefectural Master frown, she continued: "I am fully responsible for all affairs of the Joyous Union Sect on behalf of the Old Ancestor. If you have any instructions, Prefectural Master, you can tell me."

"Very well!" The Tianheng Prefectural Master was silent for a moment. Just as he was about to discuss the joint attack on the Long Whale Palace of the East Sea with Jiang Xingwan, he suddenly noticed Liu Xuan beside her and asked with a frown: "Who is he? Can you ask him to step aside?"

"He..." Jiang Xingwan looked at Liu Xuan and introduced him with a smile: "He is Liu Xuan, the only Personal Disciple of Old Ancestor Hehuan. With the Old Ancestor injured, he is temporarily acting as the Sect Master. Prefectural Master, you need not worry."

Liu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then coughed lightly, stood up, cupped his hands toward the Tianheng Prefectural Master, and said respectfully: "Junior Liu Xuan, pays respects to the Tianheng Prefectural Master!"

Liu Xuan?

The Tianheng Prefectural Master felt this name was very familiar; he seemed to have heard it somewhere.

He remembered!

The long-distance Teleportation Array that caused such a stir a while ago seemed to have been created by a Genius Formation Master named Liu Xuan.