Chapter Seventeen: The Third Ascendant

The sun had already risen high in the sky. Over an hour ago, disciples from all the great sects had gathered outside the Hall of Universal Splendor, waiting. Now, with Yao Zhen still absent, Hongjian finally concluded that something must have happened; she truly would not appear today.

The great doors of the Hall stood open, yet within was utter silence, not a sound to be heard.

From Hongjian’s distant vantage point, she could see that all those standing at the foot of the steps were disciples of the Dan Cliff Sect. Of course, mere apprentices in the Qi Refining stage like herself were not qualified to stand there; the lowest among them were all Foundation Establishment cultivators.

She could not see what was happening deep within the hall, but surely Elder Jin and Sect Leader Dai were already seated. Why had the ceremony not begun? Or perhaps the trial had already commenced in secret, while those with shallow cultivation like themselves remained oblivious?

She was certainly not the only one with such thoughts. Whispered conversations had waned over the course of the morning; most now stood quietly, eyes downcast, composed and attentive. Even Zhang Yu no longer glanced about. Though none knew how long they would have to wait, the silence before the grand hall was so complete that a pin drop would have echoed.

A gust of wind rose. Fei Chengji was the first to notice. He turned to look toward the summit, stepped back two paces, bowed, and greeted respectfully, “Sect Master, you have arrived!”

Hongjian and the others turned as well, and saw an ethereal figure approach, gradually taking solid form as it drew near—the Sect Master of Dan Cliff, the late Nascent Soul cultivator, Lingxuzi.

Lingxuzi was tall and slender, his robe billowing in the wind. He swept a glance over the crowd, who hurriedly stepped aside to salute him, and instructed, “Chengji, the task falls to you. See that our young guests from the other sects are well attended.”

Fei Chengji quickly assented. Yet the continued silence from the Hall of Universal Splendor was not for him to question. In truth, he too was bewildered by the delay, and could only quietly remind Lingxuzi, “Sect Master, the proceedings have not yet begun…”

At that moment, the elders leading the visiting sects all gathered to pay their respects to Lingxuzi. Some sects, such as Soaring Cloud, attached great importance to today’s event—so much so that they had sent their own Nascent Soul elders. Lingxuzi could not afford to stand on ceremony, and after a few polite exchanges, he turned to Fei Chengji and said, “There is no rush. One last guest has yet to arrive. Be patient.”

At these words, Zhu Xian and a few others from Soaring Cloud exchanged uncertain glances. Who possessed such stature as to keep everyone waiting all this time? It was one thing for themselves to wait, but even the two mighty Divine Transformation cultivators within the Hall of Universal Splendor were clearly sitting idle. Moreover, Lingxuzi’s sudden appearance seemed to be specifically to welcome this guest. The more they thought about it, the more astonishing it seemed. Who on the continent could command such respect from both Divine Transformation elders and Sect Master Lingxuzi?

But there was no time for speculation, for Lingxuzi’s appearance signaled that their guest was already near the Dan Cliff Sect.

From afar came the sound of wind and thunder. In the sky, from the direction of the Endless Sea, a black dot sped toward them, growing rapidly larger in their sight. Soon, even Hongjian could clearly see it—a pitch-black carriage, as large as a small house, with runes flickering along its surface. This was clearly a flying treasure. Yet what drew all eyes was the beast harnessed to the front—a monstrous creature with a wide mouth and sharp fangs, immense in size, its wings so vast they blotted out the sun. The ever-louder sound of wind and thunder emanated from this beast.

The flying carriage drew closer to the Hall of Universal Splendor, the beast circling the summit of Scarlet Wheel Peak before slowly descending.

The apprentices of every sect needed no instruction; they hurriedly cleared a space.

Before Lingxuzi could speak, a booming voice rang out from within the carriage: “Ha! I’m late. So many of you waiting for this old man, tsk tsk. Where are Dai Mingchi and Elder Jin Donglou? Why have they not come out to greet me?”

The voice was so loud that Hongjian’s ears rang with its resonance. As if to add force to the visitor’s less-than-courteous words, the beast let out a prolonged roar. The Dan Cliff apprentices nearest the landing place felt an invisible shockwave crash over them and wavered on their feet. Those with lower cultivation, like Fang Zheng, were unable to remain standing and fell to the ground.

Lingxuzi flicked his sleeve, dispersing the wave without a trace. In a clear voice, he said, “Your presence graces our humble sect, Master Xing. We are honored indeed. Please proceed to the Hall of Universal Splendor, where Sect Leader Dai and Elder Jin have awaited you for some time.” His tone was neutral, his bearing formal and solemn. Outsiders might not discern much, but Fei Chengji, standing nearby and well acquainted with him, noticed the guarded look in the sect master’s eyes.

And Fei Chengji knew precisely why Lingxuzi acted thus.

The moment he heard the words “Master Xing,” Fei Chengji had been startled—Xing Wuya!

On this continent, where demonic cultivators held little sway, the name Xing Wuya inspired terror. His cultivation path was uniquely his own; he was one of the few who dared dwell deep within the Endless Sea, forging his Dao through slaughter, using the inner cores of sea monsters to advance. Eccentric and unpredictable, his methods were ruthless, and for years he had been known as the foremost Nascent Soul cultivator. The great sects had tried to deal with him—if they sent too few, he was unafraid; if they sent many, he simply disappeared into the Endless Sea, leaving them helpless. In the end, it had taken Elder Jin Donglou to finally teach him a lesson, after which he had somewhat restrained himself.

Why, then, had he come openly to the Dan Cliff Sect on such an occasion? Why did he call out names so boldly, and why did Lingxuzi tolerate it? Could it be…

Not only Fei Chengji, but all with any discernment noticed the peculiarity of the situation. Even Hongjian, though she had not yet connected the man in the carriage with Xing Wuya, felt a jolt of understanding: “Divine Transformation!” For someone to be awaited by both Dai Mingchi and Jin Donglou, and personally greeted by Sect Master Lingxuzi, and to act with such boldness—he could not be merely a Nascent Soul cultivator. He must be the third Divine Transformation master present today.

What was the meaning of this? Was he also here to accept an apprentice? If nothing strange lay behind today’s events, then it would indeed be willful self-deception. Hongjian looked around in confusion, her anxiety growing for her younger brother Fang Zheng.

But before she could think further, Master Xing’s laughter rang out: “So these are the ones chosen by your sects? They don’t look like much—can’t even withstand a roar from this beast. Not past the third or fourth layer of Qi Refining, I’d wager?” As he spoke, a man in purple stepped out of the carriage. He was tall and broad, his curly hair tied carelessly behind his head, eyes large as lanterns, a fierce cast to his brows, his face wild with an unkempt beard. Hongjian could scarcely believe that someone with such a disheveled appearance could be a cultivator of Divine Transformation.

Before the Hall of Universal Splendor, not a whisper was heard. Only Lingxuzi seemed unruffled in Xing Wuya’s presence. Calmly, he said, “Their cultivation is low only because they are young. Each here was chosen from among thousands. With so many, surely one will catch your eye. Since you have come, let us not delay—please, proceed into the hall.”