Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1443 - 910: The Martial Immortal Ceremony—Something Happened

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Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
Yang Zhenshan gained the ability to control lifespan and honed his Withered and Flourishing Divine Power. While he entered seclusion to cultivate, Yu Qingyi also began his own seclusion after receiving insights. Yang Zhenshan received an invitation from Ziwei Tower for Zhang Xian's Martial Immortal Ceremony. Disinclined to attend, Yang Zhenshan dispatched Ming Cheng and Ding Qiu in his stead. He then visited the Pill Hall, where he found Zhang Hexuan's refinement of Gathering Spirit Pills had failed. Yang Zhenshan advised Zhang Hexuan to focus on cultivation for Foundation Establishment and proceeded to refine Demon Essence Pills. Later, Yang Mingcheng and Ding Qiu arrived at the Wuxiang Sect for the ceremony, where Yang Mingcheng encountered Lu Fusheng, who was surprised by his presence.

As the grand martial artist ceremony was on the verge of commencing, Lu Fusheng and Yang Mingcheng engaged in casual conversation.

Lu Fusheng, quite keen on the internal dynamics of the Yang family, inquired, "I heard you have four brothers?"

"Indeed, we are four brothers. Uncle Lu should have met Ming Zhi; he is the second eldest!" Yang Mingcheng expressed delight in finding someone to converse with.

"I met him once, though it appears he hasn’t visited Yang Family Town in many years!" Lu Fusheng responded with a smile.

Yang Family Town existed merely as a front; despite bearing the Yang name, only a meager number of Yang family members resided there.

"Family business keeps him occupied, leaving him no time to oversee matters here," Yang Mingcheng offered a casual explanation.

Lu Fusheng's thoughts stirred. He was aware of White Jade City's existence but remained uncertain about its true importance.

Naturally, he would not risk probing Yang Mingcheng about White Jade City. While its existence wasn't an absolute secret, the Yang family had never divulged its specific details to outsiders.

Amidst their idle chat, Ding Qiu suddenly leaned in, murmuring, "Master, something feels off!"

"What feels off?" Yang Mingcheng inquired, turning his head in surprise.

The square was a hive of activity at this moment, the growing crowd intensifying the surrounding noise.

Attendees of the grand martial artist ceremony were not ordinary individuals; hundreds had assembled in the square by now, including dozens of Golden Body Realm martial artists and several Foundation Establishment cultivators.

These Golden Body Realm martial artists and Foundation Establishment cultivators hailed not only from the Sea of Spirit but also from distant locales.

The congregation of so many powerhouses in one place was, without question, a rare spectacle.

Ding Qiu's brow furrowed as he directed his gaze towards a distant corridor, stating, "It seems many individuals are concealed over there!"

Yang Mingcheng followed his gaze but could discern nothing. "Are you certain?"

"I cannot be entirely sure, merely a vague sensation! Furthermore, I feel an urgent sense, as though we've stumbled into a perilous trap," Ding Qiu confessed.

Yang Mingcheng's demeanor grew serious.

He placed significant trust in Ding Qiu's intuition, recognizing that Ding Qiu was no common Golden Body Realm martial artist. Ding Qiu had attained blade intent; while his Spiritual Sense paled in comparison to that of a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivator, it surpassed the vast majority of martial artists, and his perception was undeniably sharper than that of other Golden Body Realm martial artists.

"Uncle, have you observed anything peculiar?" Yang Mingcheng questioned Lu Fusheng, who stood beside him.

Lu Fusheng's gaze swept across their surroundings, responding, "Indeed, there are certain anomalies!"

"Observe over there!"

He subtly gestured towards a few figures positioned not far away.

Yang Mingcheng followed his indication, his expression momentarily faltering.

"Those are Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators; is there an issue with them?"

The grand martial artist ceremony served as a significant event for martial artists, yet Immortal Cultivators also participated. However, interactions between Immortal Cultivators and martial artists were infrequent, leading Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators to congregate separately in small clusters.

"Seven Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators, and I do not recognize any of them!" Lu Fusheng commented.

Yang Mingcheng was momentarily taken aback, then swiftly grasped Lu Fusheng's implication.

Despite his straightforward nature, he was far from obtuse. Lu Fusheng's subtle hint illuminated the core of the problem.

Seven Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators!

This was no insignificant number within the Sea of Spirit.

Apart from the Spirit Source Land, the only entities possessing Immortal Cultivators in the Sea of Spirit were the Three Sects.

And the Three Sects collectively had merely five Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators.

Xuanqing Sect's Yun Xiao and Yun Xi, Illusion Moon Sect's Jing Shui and Liu Yue, and Wuxiang Sect's Xie Yan.

The Three Sects within the Sea of Spirit maintained a perpetual wariness towards Immortal Cultivators, resulting in their scarcity. Even the Immortal Cultivators belonging to the inner Three Sects rarely made appearances, let alone those from external factions.

Yet, here present were seven Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators attending Zhang Xian’s grand martial artist ceremony. Since when did the Wuxiang Sect cultivate ties with such a multitude of Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivators?

"Where did they originate?" Yang Mingcheng inquired, a note of confusion in his voice.

Lu Fusheng offered a slight shake of his head, "I am unaware, but it is highly irregular. However, this is the Wuxiang Sect's domain, so significant trouble is unlikely."

As one of the top three Sects in the Sea of Spirit, the Wuxiang Sect boasted two Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists. Even a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be easily suppressed by the might of the Wuxiang Sect.

While conversation buzzed, a procession of figures ascended the grand platform before the main hall.

The din that had filled the square abruptly ceased, and all eyes, previously engaged in chatter, now focused intently on the prominent group gracing the elevated stage.

Zhang Xian, the central figure of this momentous ceremony, made his grand entrance.

Accompanying him were not one, but four other Divine Soul Realm Martial Artists.

These luminaries were Lin Daoyuan, Yue E, Yang Shenwu, and Han Jiangche.

Yang Shenwu, another stalwart of the Wuxiang Sect at the Divine Soul Realm, predated Lin Daoyuan and Yue E by age. Having lived for over four centuries, he was recognized as the most venerable elder within the entirety of the Sea of Spirit.

Han Jiangche, a distinguished Divine Soul Realm Martial Artist hailing from the Nether Prison Sect, had previously represented his faction at the grand assembly convened by Master Yun Ge in Qingli Immortal City.

Unbeknownst to Han Jiangche was Zhang Xian's profound animosity towards the Nether Prison Sect; had he been aware, he likely would not have dared to grace this significant Martial Artist gathering.

Presently, atop the high platform, the five individuals engaged in what appeared to be amicable discourse. Zhang Xian's concealed animosity was utterly indiscernible as he conversed and laughed heartily with Han Jiangche.

It was a curious sight, as enemies meeting typically displayed overt antagonism. However, the complexities of inter-factional disputes were often dictated by pragmatic considerations of mutual benefit.

For the present moment, fostering a cordial relationship between the Nether Prison Sect and the esteemed Three Sects of the Sea of Spirit demonstrably served the best interests of both parties involved.