Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1309: 428: Xiang Chong, Martial Arts Competition Finals, and the Beginning of the Clan Rituals (Part 3)

Xiang Liang examined the sacrificial offerings in the basket one by one, realizing he hadn't given any orders to the household, but Wang Yuxiu had still gathered everything perfectly. Admiration shone in his eyes as he gazed at her.

No need for extra formalities between the couple. Xiang Liang nodded, waved to his wife and the others, and said with a grin, “Let’s go, set off for the Sect Temple!”

With that, he strode out ahead of everyone.

“Shouldn’t we leave Chong’er here? It’s chilly outside; we don’t want him getting sick.”

As Xiang Liang carried their son toward the door, Wang Yuxiu quickly suggested. Though Xia City wasn't freezing, their baby was just two months old, so outings were best avoided unless essential.

Xiang Liang shook his head with a smile. “This year’s hairpin ceremony for the Young Master of the Major Sect requires all minor sect leaders and sect heirs to attend. It’ll be quick, no problem!”

Wang Yuxiu fell silent at his words. Still concerned about his carelessness, she stepped up, passed the basket to Xiang Liang, and reclaimed Xiang Chong into her embrace.

“Big Brother, can my sister and I head to the Holy Platform for the ceremony?”

Xiang Yan had joined sect ceremonies before, so he knew the Sect Temple well.

The Sect Temple features three levels: the ground floor Ancestral Hall allows anyone registered in Great Xia to place a monument for worship; the middle Sect Hall demands a noble title for monument erection; the top is the Holy Platform he referenced.

Xiang Yan knew the sect ceremony was moved up this year, news that had buzzed across Xia City—due to both young masters of the major sect undergoing the hairpin ceremony.

Beside him, Xiang Rong brimmed with excitement too, eyeing her big brother, clearly eager to visit the Holy Platform like Xiang Yan.

Xiang Liang chuckled and shook his head at his siblings' hopeful expressions. “The major sect’s Holy Platform is reserved for minor sect leaders and sect heirs only. If you two crave to climb up, strive hard for your own noble titles and found your sects soon.”

The pair wilted instantly like deflated balls, faces full of disappointment.

Earning a noble title and establishing a sect ranks among Great Xia's toughest feats right now.

It's no simple task.

Great Xia boasts over 2.6 million people, yet noble title holders number just over 300.

Consider their father Xiang Ping: he reached Cold Resistance Level early, enlisted in the Longyuan Army, but even today holds merely a bit over two hundred military merits, nowhere near a title.

Big brother Xiang Liang's title came from life-risking valor, a fluke not easily repeated. Last year, he and Bai Shanning both claimed theirs, sparking huge talk in Xia City—that's why they idolize him so.

Gaining a noble title demands more than raw strength as the bare minimum.

Courage, resolve, chance—all essential, and in peaceful eras, luck too, since wars provide the merits otherwise absent.

The siblings shared looks and sighs, spotting big brother Xiang Liang pulling ahead, so they hastened their steps to follow.

Mother Zhou Ying had gone to Zhaoyang five days prior to see father Xiang Ping, leaving Xiang Liang, the eldest, to helm this year’s sect ceremony with his family. The four, plus infant Xiang Chong not yet two months old, swiftly crossed the main structure to arrive at the rear Sect Temple.

“Didn’t they say to stagger the ceremony times? Why are there so many people still?”

“There are too many people, isn’t it? Must be about fifty or sixty thousand.”

“There’s even someone specifically maintaining order!”

…

At the Sect Temple entrance, Xiang Liang's group froze in shock.

Crowds packed the Sect Temple inside and out. Staff at the gate managed entry, permitting one batch out before the next in.

“The first floor Ancestral Hall lets any registrant erect a monument. With Xia City’s over 2.6 million folk and at least 500,000 registered, no wonder the throng. Let’s skirt along and climb to the second floor Sect Hall.”

Gripping his wife’s hand, Xiang Liang guided his siblings with the crowd, spending a solid half-hour to finally pass through the Sect Temple gate. Inside, he beelined for the stairs to the second floor.

Few reached the second floor, so any heading up hushed the crowd below briefly, eyes green with envy.

“Is that Lord Xiang?”

“That’s Xiang Liang, Hongmen’s Vice Chief of Punishment, Lord Xiang.”

“Lord Xiang snagged Ninth-rank Marquis last year.”

“I heard only 339 minor sect spots exist on the second floor; entrants are elite!”

“Nonsense, in the Dajue Temple battle years back, Lord Xiang shone heroically, nearly dying for it.”

……

Under countless jealous stares, Xiang Liang ushered his wife, son, and siblings up the spiral stairs to the second floor, soon locating the Xiang family shrine.

“Big brother, see, crowds everywhere. After worship, they climb higher, probably for the Holy Platform ceremony, yeah?”

“Hush. We speak after worship.”

Xiang Liang had spotted fellow colleagues nearby long ago, but his devotion shone through. He hushed Xiang Yan gently, arranged the three animals, five fruits, yellow candles, spiritual wine, and spirit pill offerings swiftly, then knelt with wife and siblings before the shrine.

The Xiang family had seven living members, so all seven spirit tablets in the shrine glowed softly. As the five finished their bows, the tablets' radiance intensified.

“Done. Yuxiu, pass me the baby. You take them home first!”

Unfamiliar with Great Xia sect ceremony customs, Wang Yuxiu grasped even she couldn't reach the Holy Platform. Though anxious, his stern look convinced her; she surrendered the child.

“Wrap him snug in the blanket—keep Chong’er warm, no chills!”

With that final reminder, Wang Yuxiu cleared the offerings, gathered Xiang Yan and Xiang Rong, and descended the spiral stairs, exiting the Sect Temple for home.

Xiang Liang, cradling his son, pressed on up the spiral stairs.