173: Chapter 173 Xiao Wancheng

Meanwhile.

At the foot of Taiyue Mountain.

The once barren, rocky beach had now transformed into a massive encampment.

Extending several miles from the mountain foot, it was densely packed with tents and makeshift wooden houses.

Flags of various colors fluttered in front of each camp, standing out sharply against the gray sky.

Thirty years had passed.

For a Mortal, thirty years is half a lifetime.

For a Cultivator, thirty years is merely the time spent in a few closed-door cultivation sessions.

But for this land at the foot of Taiyue Mountain, the trial held once every thirty years is the liveliest time of all.

The first to arrive were the people from the Longcheng Immortal Market.

Their camp was set up on the far west side, furthest from Taiyue Mountain, but it was also the most orderly.

Hundreds of white tents were arranged in a square formation, with a large tent in the center embroidered with the character "Long" on its roof.

The City Lord of Long City and the master of the Longcheng Immortal Market had come in person.

The people from Shanhe Prefecture City arrived shortly after.

Their camp was set up next to the people from Long City, larger in scale, with an "Xiao" character embroidered on their flags.

The Xiao Family of today.

Ever since the Xiao Family Grand Elder achieved the Nascent Soul Breakthrough, the status of Shanhe Prefecture City had risen, and consequently, the Xiao Family had gained the confidence to speak up in front of the major Sects.

For this trial, the Xiao Family brought three Golden Core Cultivators and over a hundred Foundation Establishment Disciple, a grand display of strength.

The major Sects arrived the latest, but with the greatest fanfare.

The Heavenly Sword Sect's forces came from the east. A massive Flying Sword pierced through the clouds, carrying over a hundred people standing upon its blade, their robes fluttering, their Sword Qi overbearing.

Leading them was a Gray-robed Elder with a cold expression and an aura as deep as an abyss. He was at the Late Stage of the Golden Core, Heavenly Sword Sect Grand Elder Great Elder Jian Sanyuan.

Behind him followed three Golden Core Elder, and the rest were all Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement Stage Disciple.

The Flying Sword landed, and the surging Sword Qi sent the surrounding gravel scattering in all directions.

The other factions were of comparable scale, with flying boats slowly descending from the clouds, led by Golden Core level...

There were also several small Sect, scattered along the perimeter of the camp, not daring to crowd with the major Sect, but also not daring to stray too far.

In the entire encampment, there were no fewer than twenty Golden Core Cultivator.

There were thousands of Foundation Establishment Disciple, and the number of Qi Refinement Stage Disciple was as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

The camp was bustling with people, incredibly noisy.

Some were exchanging Spirit Medicine, some were sparring, some were drinking and boasting, and some were meditating to regulate their Qi.

Disciple from various factions weaved through the crowd, wearing robes of different colors and carrying Magical Artifact of different styles, clearly distinguished from one another.

In the very center of the camp was an open space designated by the major Sect.

A high platform was erected in the open space; there was no shelter on it, only a single chair.

That chair was empty, and no one sat in it.

Everyone knew who that chair was reserved for: the Nascent Soul Grand Elder of the Xiao Family.

When the sun began to set in the west, a long, resonant bell toll echoed from the horizon.

Everyone in the camp stopped what they were doing and looked toward the south.

A figure slowly walked out from the clouds.

There was no flying boat, no Flying Sword, no spiritual light, and no Magical Artifact of any kind.

It was just one person, wearing an ordinary gray robe, walking through the air, step by step, from the southern horizon to the foot of Taiyue Mountain.

Every step landed on the Void Realm, yet with each step, visible ripples spread through the air.

He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties, with a thin face, slightly high cheekbones, and deep-set eye sockets. His eyes were not large, but wherever his gaze fell, no one dared to meet his eyes.

His hair was gray and white, casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and he had a tuft of short beard on his chin. He looked like an impoverished old scholar.

But the aura on him suppressed the thousands of Cultivator in the camp into silence.

"The Xiao Family Grand Elder has arrived."

"Let us go and welcome him."

The leaders of the other immortal Sect also walked out of their tents one after another.

The Xiao Family Disciple in the camp were the first to react, all kneeling on the ground in unison.

"Respectfully welcoming the Grand Elder!"

The voices were uniform, echoing at the foot of the vast Taiyue Mountain.

People from the other Sect were stunned for a moment, then bowed and cupped their hands.

The Heavenly Sword Sect Grand Elder cupped his hands, his voice neither servile nor overbearing: "Congratulations to Senior Xiao for your Nascent Soul Breakthrough and achieving the Dao."

The Sect Master of the Xuanyi Sect also cupped his hands, a smile appearing on his face—whether sincere or not, it at least looked like it. "Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's Breakthrough this time is truly a grand event unseen in our Dachuan Dynasty for a hundred years."

The City Lord of Long City also bowed and said respectfully: "Junior, the City Lord of Long City, pays respects to Senior Xiao!"

The Disciple of the Longcheng Immortal Market behind him knelt down in a rush.

The Sect Head of several small Sect scrambled out of their tents, kneeling on the ground without even daring to lift their heads.

Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng did not speak, nor did he stop walking. The people around the high platform retreated, leaving him a large open space.

After Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng stood still, his gaze slowly swept across the surroundings; he raised his hand and waved it gently.

"Everyone, there is no need for such formalities."

There was no expression on Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's face, and the crowd straightened up one after another.

The scene was silent for a moment.

City Lord Li Mu looked left and right, cleared his throat, stepped forward, and cupped his hands to the surroundings.

"Everyone, Senior Xiao has arrived."

"Let us take our seats and discuss the matters of this trial together."

Great Elder Jian Sanyuan glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to walk toward the center of the camp.

Sect Leader Xuanqingzi nodded and followed.

Xiao Wanshan, Xiao Wanjiang, and Xiao Wanhe looked at each other, guarded both sides of Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng, and slowly walked toward the center of the camp.

In the center of the camp, a huge tent had already been set up.

It was called a tent, but it was more like a temporary palace.

The body of the tent was sewn from thick black animal hide, embroidered with golden patterns on the outside, extending from the top of the tent to the ground, shimmering with a dark golden light in the setting sun.

The tent entrance was wide open, with two rows of Xiao Family Disciple standing at the door, long swords hanging at their waists, motionless.

The floor inside the tent was covered with thick animal hide carpets. In the center stood a long table covered with a white tablecloth, on which were embroidered the insignias of each Sect.

Dozens of chairs were placed on both sides of the long table, with different names carved on the backrests. At the very head was a Grand Master's chair, a size larger than the others, with the character "Xiao" carved on the back. That was Supreme Elder Xiao Wancheng's seat.

Everyone filed in.

Great Elder Jian Sanyuan walked in front, glanced at the seating arrangement on the table, said nothing, and walked to the first chair on the left to sit down. Sect Leader Xuanqingzi sat in the first row on the right.

The two faced each other across the long table, exchanged a look, and said nothing.

City Lord Li Mu sat in a seat further back on the left, several seats away from Great Elder Jian Sanyuan, feeling quite at ease.

The three Xiao brothers sat in the front seats on the right, right next to Sect Leader Xuanqingzi.

The Sect Head of several small Sect huddled in the back, sitting on only half of their chairs, their backs straight, not daring to even breathe loudly.

City Lord Li Mu sat down on his chair, looked left and right, and frowned slightly.

"Have the people from the Luoxia Sect and the Qingyun Sect not arrived yet?"

He asked this to everyone in the tent, but his gaze fell on Great Elder Jian Sanyuan.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was close to those two, so they should be the best informed.

A middle-aged man standing behind Great Elder Jian Sanyuan stepped forward half a step and cupped his hands: "Replying to City Lord Li, I am Elder Jian Hanshuang of the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Luoxia Sect and the Qingyun Sect were delayed by some matters on the road and are expected to arrive only tomorrow."