Translator: Cinder Translations
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PS: The Ji Yin Sect is now renamed the Asura Sect, and Song Wen's alias within the sect is now Yin Shuo. (Apologies for the earlier lack of consideration. I hope the readers can understand.)
"When do you plan to hold the grand ceremony to establish the sect?" Song Wen asked.
Yu Wen glanced at Song Wen with some confusion, unsure why the topic had suddenly shifted. Just moments ago, they had been discussing the spirit stone mines, and now he was asking about the "sect establishment ceremony."
"I plan to hold it in about a year," Yu Wen replied.
The establishment ceremony was a great opportunity to demonstrate strength and foundation to the cultivation world. It was crucial for the face of a sect, so nothing could be taken lightly.
Every detail of the ceremony needed meticulous planning—venue selection, arrangements for rituals, and guest receptions all required dedicated personnel to ensure everything went smoothly.
Additionally, it was essential to invite representatives from other sects, both to showcase the new sect's power and to expand its influence.
"No, that's too far off. It should be held in three months," Song Wen insisted.
The Asura Sect was established primarily to gather various cultivation resources.
The vast majority of such resources in the cultivation world were controlled by large sects.
Thus, the establishment of the Asura Sect required recognition from the major sects.
The grand ceremony was a must, and it needed to be a grand affair.
However, Song Wen didn't want to waste too much time on it.
"Three months may be too rushed," Yu Wen voiced her concern. "We need to integrate many scattered cultivators from Yishi Ridge, and we also need to send invitations to various sects and families. It will take time for them to send their representatives."
"Just send invitations to the eight major sects, both righteous and evil. As for the smaller sects and families, don't bother with them," Song Wen instructed.
He added after a pause:
"Oh, and make sure to send an invitation to the Ghost Soul Sect. Also, spread the word that within a month, all Foundation Establishment cultivators in Yishi Ridge must join the Asura Sect and pay a thousand spirit stones each month. If not, they will either die or be forced to leave Yishi Ridge."
"Yes, Sect Master," Yu Wen replied, accepting the order and turning to leave.
For the next three months, Tian Cang Mountain was bustling with activity. Existing buildings were torn down to make way for large, imposing structures, transforming the place into something entirely new.
The most pressing task was to use the one million spirit stones seized from the Si family's treasury—though they were nearly exhausted.
Fortunately, several dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators 'voluntarily' joined the Asura Sect, paying their protection fees, which somewhat alleviated the financial strain.
Some of these cultivators could barely afford the thousand spirit stones.
Thus, they had to resort to pressuring lower-tier Qi Refining cultivators.
The entire Yishi Ridge was stirred up in a frenzy to gather spirit stones.
This led to widespread resentment among the scattered cultivators of Yishi Ridge against the Asura Sect.
However, fearing the Asura Sect's few Golden Core cultivators and Song Wen, a Nascent Soul cultivator, the scattered cultivators could only seethe in anger without daring to speak out.
Of the six Golden Core cultivators, the fastest were Lu Mo and Ding Yan, who were dispatched by Yu Wen to deliver invitations to various sects.
Perhaps due to Song Wen being a Nascent Soul cultivator, all sects except Nine Palaces Sect and Corpse Demon Sect sent at least one representative to offer their congratulations.
However, as if coordinated, all the sects sent Golden Core cultivators, with none sending a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Among these representatives, Song Wen recognized a familiar face.
The representative from Beastmaster Sect was Fang Pengyi.
This man was extremely ambitious, using all his efforts to become the sect leader of Beastmaster Sect. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he was removed after Song Wen's defection.
As representatives from various sects arrived, three months passed in the blink of an eye. The grand ceremony to establish the Asura Sect was finally here.
At the foot of the mountain, a paved stone path wound upward, flanked by disciples of the Asura Sect in black robes, standing solemnly.
At the end of the path, a brand-new, towering hall stood tall—this was the newly established sect temple of the Asura Sect.
In front of the hall was a large plaza, where black flags fluttered, emblazoned with the name "Asura Sect" in bold letters, emitting a faint glow.
As noon approached, representatives from various sects began to appear in the plaza.
In the center of the plaza was a large black jade altar, upon which were placed the celestial divine tablets, with spiritual fire burning on either side.
The spiritual fire burned fiercely under the aura provided by a spiritual gathering array, its flames never dying, as long as the spiritual energy persisted.
Standing before the altar, Song Wen raised his hands in a mock embrace and, with a loud voice, addressed the celestial divine tablets:
"On this auspicious day, the Asura Sect is established."
"Following the will of heaven and the flow of destiny,
We cultivators vow to pursue the path of cultivation.
With sincerity and devotion, we offer our respects to the heavens.
May our sect flourish eternally,
Promoting the Dao and benefiting all beings.
Heavenly spirits, witness and bless us.
Grant us your protection as we walk the great path together."
Just as Song Wen finished reciting the invocation, the sky above was suddenly illuminated with resplendent light.
In an instant, the heavens became a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, a spectacle of surreal beauty.
However, this wasn't a divine blessing from the heavens but rather a carefully orchestrated illusion conjured by several of Song Wen's Golden Core subordinates.
The emissaries from various sects, observing the display, clasped their hands in respectful congratulations toward Song Wen, uttering words of praise.
"Auspicious signs from heaven! The Asura Sect is destined for greatness."
"The sect leader is truly blessed by the heavens."
Each emissary spoke whatever flattering words they could muster, all while deliberately ignoring the Golden Core cultivators discreetly casting the illusion above them. It was as if the celestial spectacle were genuinely divine, entirely unrelated to the practitioners at work.
At that moment, a figure appeared in the distant sky.
"A mere newly established sect dares to invoke the heavens? How utterly audacious," boomed a thunderous voice that resonated across the landscape.
The newcomer was Tai He, his voice carrying the weight of authority and reverberating like a bell.
Perhaps wary of the formations protecting Tian Cang Mountain, Tai He stopped several hundred meters away, avoiding direct proximity to the sect's grounds.
The newly inducted disciples of the Asura Sect grew visibly anxious upon hearing Tai He's proclamation.
Song Wen ascended into the sky, stopping at a distance of several dozen meters from Tai He.
As Song Wen's gaze swept over Tai He, he noted that despite the passage of over a century, Tai He's appearance remained almost unchanged, save for a slightly more imposing aura.
"Daoist Tai He, there is no animosity between my Asura Sect and your Nine Palaces Sect. Why do you disrupt our founding ceremony?"
While Song Wen studied Tai He, Tai He was likewise scrutinizing Song Wen.
Tai He sensed a dense aura of corpse energy emanating from Song Wen, a stark contrast to the descriptions of the righteous cultivator "Cui Huo" he had previously heard.
Initially, Tai He had suspected that "Yin Shuo" and "Cui Huo" might be one and the same. After all, how could the cultivation world suddenly produce two unknown Nascent Soul cultivators at the same time?
But now, it seemed clear that the two were not the same person.
The corpse energy surrounding Yin Shuo was unmistakable, and three months ago, during his battle with Xiao Chan, he had displayed corpse cultivation techniques, transforming into a towering three-meter zombie—a definitive mark of a demonic path cultivator.
Realizing that Yin Shuo was not Cui Huo left Tai He and the other Nascent Souls of the Nine Palaces Sect deeply disappointed.
Cui Huo had once promised to craft thunder talismans for the Nine Palaces Sect, but as the date for the opening of the Yin Soul Hall approached, he had become unreachable.
"A founding ceremony?" Tai He sneered. "Without the approval of my Nine Palaces Sect, no one may establish a sect within the Yishi Ridge."
Glancing back at the ceremonial grounds, Song Wen noticed the envoy from the Ghost Soul Sect standing among the crowd, watching the standoff with interest.
A smirk appeared on Song Wen's lips. The presence of the Ghost Soul Sect's envoy was sufficient.
"If Daoist Tai He insists on opposing the founding of the Asura Sect, then let us settle this matter with our skills," Song Wen declared.
In an instant, Song Wen transformed into a towering three-meter zombie. Black miasma erupted from his body, swiftly dyeing half the sky in an ominous shade of darkness.
Tai He observed the approaching tide of malevolent energy, his eyes betraying a trace of disdain.
The seemingly overwhelming force of the Yin Primordial Qi posed little threat to him.
A pale green banner suddenly appeared in Tai He's hand. With a gentle wave, a fog of sickly green mist rose, carrying an aura of death and decay. The toxic mist surged forward to meet the incoming black miasma.
As the two forces were about to collide, Tai He heard Song Wen's voice in his mind through a spiritual transmission.
"Daoist Tai He, I implore you to leave some face for me and the Asura Sect. In return, the Asura Sect will pledge allegiance to the Nine Palaces Sect."
(End of the Chapter)
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