Chapter 235

Chapter 235: Holding a Proper Apprenticeship Ceremony

Inside the Flying Cloud Sect, the mood was especially heavy.

Shen Dao Chen slammed the table and barked: “That Immortal Lord Chang Li is already about to break through again?”

But he calmed a moment later. He turned to Master Ling Xiao and asked in a steady voice: “Ling Xiao, how is your recent cultivation? Any signs of a breakthrough?”

Master Ling Xiao’s thin lips moved as he answered lightly: “Soon.”

He pressed down the irritation in his chest. Lately his cultivation had not been going smoothly.

But he could not drag this out any longer, or something would end up riding on his head.

If he did not make a move, the whole Cultivation World would start looking down on him.

Shen Dao Chen nodded and said with a snort: “Good. A sect like the Ninghua Sect can never compare to our Flying Cloud Sect.”

Master Ling Xiao rose and said coolly: “I will take my leave first.” He did not wait for Shen Dao Chen’s reply before striding out.

This was not the first time he left so abruptly.

Watching Master Ling Xiao’s back, Shen Dao Chen felt there was a new distance and coldness between them. With Master Ling Xiao’s strength, he could walk sideways across the Cultivation World and did not need to give anyone face.

But Shen Dao Chen was not just anyone. He was Ling Xiao’s Senior Brother. Ling Xiao should at least show the respect due.

Shen Dao Chen sighed, tightened his grip on the teacup, and murmured: “Forget it.”

At the Divine Transformation stage, tribulation crossing requires thirty six bolts of Heavenly Lightning Tribulation.

When all thirty six bolts ended, Immortal Lord Chang Li tore through the sky and reappeared before Shen Sang Ruo and the others in the blink of an eye.

Shen Sang Ruo cupped her hands and said with a smile: “Congratulations to Master on breaking through to Late Divine Transformation.”

Ye Huai, Song Wei Yan, Bai Ruo An, and Su Xi Yu also bowed to give their congratulations.

Immortal Lord Chang Li waved a hand casually and said: “Enough. It is not my first breakthrough.”

There were only their own people present, so there was no need to hide anything. He continued with his plan: “I intend to hold a proper apprenticeship ceremony for Sang Ruo.”

Shen Sang Ruo blinked, surprised that the first thing he did after breaking through was to arrange a ceremony for her.

Immortal Lord Chang Li glanced at her and explained: “Ye Huai and the other four all became my disciples during the Ninghua Sect’s glory days. Their ceremonies were grand.”

Daoist Wu Wei nodded in agreement and said warmly: “Sang girl’s earlier ceremony was far too simple. Of course we should hold it properly now. We can also celebrate the rebuilding of the Ninghua Sect.”

The Ninghua Sect had taken first place in the Sect Grand Tournament and was now thriving, and Immortal Lord Chang Li had just advanced to Late Divine Transformation.

They were now no worse than the sect she once belonged to or the Masters and Senior Brothers she once had. Only this would be worthy of her and not treat her unfairly.

In their eyes, Shen Sang Ruo deserved the best of everything in this world.

This would also formally announce to all that Shen Sang Ruo belonged to the Ninghua Sect and was Immortal Lord Chang Li’s disciple.

It would be a solid slap to a certain sect’s face, which was delightful.

Thinking of Shen Dao Chen’s face cracking, Daoist Wu Wei could hardly contain his glee. He turned briskly to go and said: “The time, the place, and the people are all right. There is no reason not to invite the four directions. I will go draft the invitation list now.”

Shen Sang Ruo took one look and knew exactly what the old rascal was thinking, which made her laugh.

Her four Senior Brothers and Senior Sister were just as excited. They called after Daoist Wu Wei: “Sect Master, make sure you do not forget to invite the Flying Cloud Sect!”

Daoist Wu Wei stroked his beard and promised grandly: “I know. How could I forget them? Their name is first on my list!”

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s lips curved as he added: “Then I will deliver that invitation myself.”

Each took their role, with one goal in mind: anger the Flying Cloud Sect to death and not pay for the funeral.

They wanted the Flying Cloud Sect to understand that the person they had tossed aside as worthless was now their most precious treasure.

No, she had always been a treasure. No matter where she was, she deserved to be cherished and treated seriously.

Only the people of the Flying Cloud Sect had been too blind to notice.

Knowing they were standing up for her, Shen Sang Ruo felt a warm tide rise in her heart.

Of course she stood on the same side as them, so she began planning for the celebration as well. She said to Daoist Wu Wei: “Since we are inviting the four directions, let us also send an invitation to the Hall of Myriad Spirits.”

The Hall of Myriad Spirits would not normally attend such events, but she felt True Lord Gu Ci would give them this favor.

After all, the Ninghua Sect had won first place at the tournament, and more importantly, they had subdued the Dodder Flower Sprite and kept the Hall of Myriad Spirits’ oversight from causing any serious consequences.

From what she knew of Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao, if they came, it would not be to celebrate. They would try to stir up trouble during the ceremony.

With the Hall of Myriad Spirits sitting there, at least they would not dare to act openly.

By then, the Flying Cloud Sect might storm in to make a scene and end up sitting down politely to pick vegetables.

Her Senior Brothers and Senior Sister instantly understood and praised her in unison: “Junior Sister thinks of everything!”

Daoist Wu Wei beamed and said: “Then we will do as Sang girl suggests. Prepare an invitation for the Hall of Myriad Spirits as well. Do not just stand there. Go inform the whole sect and start preparing for the celebration.”

He clapped his hands and decided: “Set it for half a month from now. We must move quickly.”

Everyone left in high spirits to make preparations.

Immortal Lord Chang Li also turned to go, but he suddenly remembered something that had happened as he broke through to Late Divine Transformation. His gaze darkened for a moment as he gathered spiritual power in his palm and stared at it, thinking, [I hope that was only my imagination.] A heartbeat later, his look returned to normal and he went to help with the celebration.

With about ten days left, invitations began going out to the various sects.

Holding an invitation, Immortal Lord Chang Li, now at Late Divine Transformation and brimming with momentum, teleported easily above the Flying Cloud Sect. He let his spiritual power and spiritual pressure pour out like a tide.

Feeling the threat, Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao shot into the sky as two streaks of light to see who dared act wild above the Flying Cloud Sect.

When they arrived, they found only an invitation floating in the air and a message as arrogant as could be: “In ten days, the Ninghua Sect will hold a ceremony for Sang Ruo to formally take me as her Master. I came personally to invite the Flying Cloud Sect to attend.”

The lingering aura told them Immortal Lord Chang Li had indeed reached Late Divine Transformation.

The temperature in Master Ling Xiao’s eyes dropped to freezing. He lifted a hand and shattered the sound imprint. The spiritual power that pierced the voice blew a huge hole through a mountain several miles away.

It was easy to see how angry he was.

Shen Sang Ruo had already acknowledged Immortal Lord Chang Li as her Master long ago, yet the Ninghua Sect still planned to loudly redo the ceremony for her?

Whether he felt that a person like Shen Sang Ruo did not deserve such treatment or that Immortal Lord Chang Li did not deserve to be her Master, Master Ling Xiao’s heart was deeply unhappy.

Shen Dao Chen opened the invitation and saw that, besides the apprenticeship ceremony, it also celebrated the rebuilding of the Ninghua Sect. His fingers tightened until several creases cut across the page.