After these cultivators landed at the mountain gate, a Malevolent Spirit Sect disciple would record their origins in a register. Then, they would reach out and ring a small chime on the table. Amidst the melodious chimes, a disciple would announce in a loud voice.
"A congratulation from Island Master Ye of the Twelve Dens!"
"A congratulation from Sect Master Wu of Lingtian Gate!"
"A congratulation from Mu Zuowang of the Divine Wood Family!"
"..."
With each announcement, these cultivators would then be guided by other Malevolent Spirit Sect disciples deeper into the sect. For a time, the sky was filled with streaks of glowing light, crisscrossing the heavens and the earth. It was a lively scene.
Today, within the Malevolent Spirit Sect, the sky was filled with colorful clouds, and immortal cranes danced in unison. The restriction formations also emitted a refreshing and pleasant immortal music.
Among the pavilions and halls, there were beautiful female disciples in neat rows, carrying fine wine and immortal fruits, flying in and out from time to time. It was truly a celestial paradise.
It made even some cultivators who were used to the extraordinary style of immortal sects marvel.
On the high platform of the main hall square of Lord Lao Peak, nine people had gathered at this time. Each was a Nascent Soul-level almighty cultivator.
As a super-sect on this continent, the Malevolent Spirit Sect naturally had more than just this many Nascent Soul cultivators coming to offer congratulations. Besides the few who had just arrived, there should be some still on their way.
At the same time, many Nascent Soul old monsters were either in death seclusion or traveling, so they could not come in person.
However, a major sect like the Jingtu Sect, which had more than one Nascent Soul cultivator, would usually only send one or two, not all of them. They needed to leave people behind to guard the sect.
At this time, the square below the high platform was even more crowded. The platform was densely packed with seats, and on each seat, immortal fruits exuded a fragrant aroma, and fine wine had a mellow taste.
And in the distant sky, streaks of glowing light were still flying in and landing. The leading Malevolent Spirit Sect disciple would then guide the person they were receiving to the corresponding seat.
Of these descending streaks of light, the vast majority could only land on the square in front of the main hall. Only a very small number would land on the high platform.
Every time the disciples on the square glanced at the high platform, a look of envy and respect would flash in their eyes.
The high platform was also incomparably spacious, capable of accommodating over a thousand people.
At this time, the nine people on the high platform were gathered at the very front, talking in low voices.
Among them were Li Yan, Li Yuyin, Mo Qing, and Wei Zhongran. The others were old and young, men and women, monks and laypeople.
Li Yan was currently talking in a low voice with a monk whose face was as clear as water and whose features were fine and delicate.
Suddenly, the monk stopped talking. At the same time, the dozen or so others also stopped their conversations and all looked up at the sky.
Streaks of glowing light were still flying in from the sky, but one of them flew straight towards the high platform. With a flicker, it arrived above and hovered in the air.
"Hehehe, Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, this poor Daoist Hang Lin greets all fellow Daoists!"
The glowing light receded, revealing a group of cultivators on a huge, illusory ice crystal Jade Ruyi. There were about twenty or so people. Apart from the leading Malevolent Spirit Sect disciple, the rest, both men and women, were all in Daoist robes.
Their auras were full, and every one of them was at the Golden Core realm. This was different from the cultivators from some sects and families who had landed on the square before.
Among those people before, there were still some Foundation Establishment disciples, obviously the next generation of elite disciples brought by the various sects to broaden their horizons.
And the ones from the Supreme Mystery Teachings were undoubtedly their most elite core disciples.
The person speaking in the air was a thin, old Daoist with a head of crane-white hair that shone with a silver light, who was standing at the forefront.
The old Daoist was full of spirit, with a ruddy complexion. He had his hair tied in a Daoist knot on top of his head, with a jade hairpin stuck through it.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he also sized up the crowd below. Although his gaze only swept by, Li Yan below still felt the other's gaze linger on him for a moment.
'I've heard of this person's name as well. He advanced to the Nascent Soul around the same time as Master.'
'This time, among the cultivators who have come to offer congratulations, apart from some veteran Nascent Souls from the major families who have come in person, the Jingtu Sect and the Supreme Mystery Teachings have each only sent one Nascent Soul, and both are ones who have just successfully passed their tribulation in the last hundred years or so.'
Li Yan thought to himself.
Of the visiting Nascent Soul cultivators on this high platform before, apart from Arhat Yiye of the Jingtu Sect who had arrived a day early, the others had either arrived a few days ago or had just arrived.
They were all ancestors of the first-rate sects and cultivation families under the jurisdiction of the Four Great Sects.
The fine-featured monk talking to Li Yan was none other than Arhat Yiye of the Jingtu Sect. The others included the Ye-surnamed Nascent Soul cultivator from the Twelve Dens of the Supreme Mystery Teachings, and the Nascent Soul ancestor of the Divine Wood Family under the jurisdiction of the Ten-Pace Courtyard.
They belonged to the four great powers, but they usually only had one Nascent Soul cultivator in a sect, so they had to come in person when they were free, unlike the three major sects who would leave strong experts behind to guard.
"Fellow Daoist Hang Lin, please take a seat!"
Mo Qing below did not speak. Instead, it was Wei Zhongran who gestured with a smile.
As Hang Lin's Daoist robe fluttered, he had already descended from the huge Jade Ruyi. His robe billowed in the wind, giving him a somewhat immortal-like demeanor.
As he descended, the Jade Ruyi in the void also shrank rapidly.
The Supreme Mystery Teachings disciples who had come with him also flew down and were led by the receiving Malevolent Spirit Sect disciple to a place on the square.
And that location was directly opposite the Nascent Soul cultivators on the high platform, a very conspicuous position.
In an adjacent area, ten monks were already seated, all with the cultivation of a Buddha. They were the monks of the Jingtu Sect.
It was clear at a glance that the best positions on the square were reserved for the disciples of the three major sects.
As the old Daoist Hang Lin descended, Li Yan also withdrew his gaze. Just now, besides watching Hang Lin, his gaze had also swept over the disciples behind him.
Among those disciples, Li Yan found the appearances of a few to be somewhat familiar. He should have seen them in the secret realm or at Fengliang Mountain back then.
Especially one of the female Daoists. She was tall, and her fair skin had a rosy tint.
A green Daoist robe covered her body, making her look valiant and heroic. Her hair was tied up in a crown, and her face was like the most flawless, crystal-clear beautiful jade in this world. It was Qiu Jiuzhen, whom Li Yan had met a few times.
Li Yan could see at a glance that Qiu Jiuzhen's cultivation had reached the peak of the mid-stage Golden Core, only one step away from the late-stage Golden Core, only a fraction weaker than his Eldest Senior Brother.
The disciples of the Supreme Mystery Teachings also placed their gazes on Li Yan and Li Yuyin. The gazes of some of the male disciples lingered more on the coquettish charm of Li Yuyin.
But they only dared to pay a little attention before withdrawing their gazes.
Li Yan also saw that since Qiu Jiuzhen had arrived, her beautiful eyes had been constantly looking at him, instead of paying attention to Li Yuyin's side.
The emotions in Qiu Jiuzhen's eyes were very complex, a mixture of doubt, confirmation, relief, and so on.
Li Yan knew that this Qiu Jiuzhen must have been like Huchen Wuding and the others before, doubting whether he was the person she knew before she saw him.
Now that she had confirmed it was him, Qiu Jiuzhen's mood could only be more complex.
Li Yan even felt that Qiu Jiuzhen might now be a little suspicious about the cause of Quan Jiuxing's death. After all, she had investigated Wang Lang for so many years without finding out any reason.
"Fellow Daoist Li, you are truly a formidable junior. Our generation has only just produced a few Nascent Souls, and you have already caught up, following on our heels. It is truly admirable!"
The position where Hang Lin landed was right in front of Li Yan. A speck of light flashed behind him and flew into his waist, disappearing. It was that crystal-clear Jade Ruyi.
Hang Lin first gave a Daoist salute to Arhat Yiye beside Li Yan, then looked at Li Yan with a smile on his face.
He and Li Yuyin were of the same generation. He was familiar with that woman. He would rather not even speak to her if he could avoid it. So he first congratulated Li Yan as soon as he came up.
"Fellow Daoist Hang Lin is too kind. This junior was just lucky!" Li Yan also said with a smile.
"Luck? Hehehe, who here who has advanced to the Nascent Soul is not lucky..."
"Old fellow, you've been here for half a day, and I haven't seen you congratulate me once. Are you looking down on people?"
Just then, a voice as charming as bone came from the side, directly interrupting Hang Lin's words.
When Hang Lin heard the voice, his face turned bitter.
In their generation, how many people had been infatuated with this woman? In the end, not a single one had gotten any advantage. Instead, they were all played like fools.
Later on, whenever Li Yuyin appeared, unless it was a life-and-death battle, they would definitely avoid this vixen from a distance.
"Fellow Daoist Li, it's not that I'm not familiar with Fellow Daoist Li. That's why I spoke first. Your advancement to the Nascent Soul was a foregone conclusion. It doesn't give others much of a surprise!"
Hang Lin turned his head to look at Li Yuyin, who was standing beside Wei Zhongran with a look of feigned anger. He was an old fox, how could he let Li Yuyin get angry?
With just one sentence, he not only praised Li Yan, but also made Li Yuyin happy to hear it.
"Everyone, please take your seats again. There is still about an hour and a half before the ceremony. We still have to wait for other fellow Daoists to arrive!"
A smile appeared on Wei Zhongran's face. He waved his sleeve, motioning for everyone to take their seats first. At this time, at least the cultivators from the Ten-Pace Courtyard had not yet arrived.
Below the high platform, after Qiu Jiuzhen took her seat, she lowered her beautiful head.
'This Li Yan is said to have returned from the Forsaken Continent. If entering the Golden Core was due to a fortuitous encounter, then for him to form a Nascent Soul with his rumored not-so-good spirit root aptitude, this should be his true strength...'
'And based on previous information, he performed outstandingly in the great war with the demons, and even achieved repeated meritorious deeds. Could all of this be a coincidence...'
Finally confirming that the Li Yan before her was the same person who had entered the secret realm with her back then, Qiu Jiuzhen's thoughts grew even deeper.
As an elite disciple of the Supreme Mystery Teachings, she naturally had more and more complete information about Li Yan. At this time, she was wondering why such an outstanding disciple was rumored to have very ordinary aptitude.
In the list of people they, the three major sects, paid attention to, this person's name had never appeared before.
Even though Li Yan had established military merit in the matter of turning the South Sea cultivators against the enemy, it was later rumored that he had long since perished. Naturally, no one would pay attention to all his past deeds.
Qiu Jiuzhen's doubts also represented the questions in many people's hearts. This was also something Li Yan had long expected.
But he had no way to deal with it, unless he never formed a Nascent Soul. Only then would he not attract the attention of others. But which cultivator would miss their own opportunity to form a Nascent Soul?
A Nascent Soul cultivator in the mortal realm, whether it was the commotion caused by passing the tribulation or the influence after success, would inevitably become famous throughout the world.
However, the Li Yan of today was not afraid of revealing some secrets. In this realm, unless he encountered an old monster like Gu Jiuqi, he already had the means to protect himself.
"Senior Sister, I heard that this Senior Li entered the secret realm with you all back then. Was his cultivation really only at the Qi Condensation stage at that time?"
At this moment, a voice like that of a yellow oriole came over. She was also dressed in a Daoist robe and sat next to Qiu Jiuzhen.
The female Daoist looked to be in her late teens, with a baby face and pink, tender skin that looked like it would break if you blew on it. Her large eyes were blinking as she looked at Qiu Jiuzhen.
Qiu Jiuzhen raised her head and looked at this junior sister who had just advanced not long ago.
"That is true. At that time, it was really impossible to notice him at all. Even among the Qi Condensation disciples, whether it was his appearance or cultivation, he was not considered outstanding..."
A trace of gentleness appeared on Qiu Jiuzhen's face. This junior sister was her own biological junior sister, and they had the same master.
This girl usually liked to stick to her, and Qiu Jiuzhen was also particularly fond of this junior sister, and doted on her in the sect.
Bringing her out this time was just to broaden her horizons. Seeing her ask, Qiu Jiuzhen couldn't help but explain softly...