"Zhēnzūn, Yue Liang has come out of seclusion!"
The crisp voice of the creature sounded clearly by her ear, vibrating with a newfound strength.
Jian Dan reached out and patted the fluffy head of the spirit beast, smiling as she spoke. "Not bad. Your timing is spot on. You have advanced to the late seventh rank."
"Yes!"
Yue Liang looked a little smug and flicked the glossy, well-groomed tail back and forth with satisfaction.
"Then come with me to the ceremony tomorrow."
"Mhm. I was worried I would miss Zhēnzūn's ceremony while I was locked away."
After that, Yue Liang started chattering nonstop about the whole breakthrough process and the sensations of the energy shift, then added at the end, "Zhēnzūn, the spiritual energy here is way denser than before. That's one of the reasons I advanced so easily this time."
"That's not exactly a good thing. You should keep that in mind as you continue your path."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn. Yue Liang understands. That's why I worked so hard to break through while the chance was there."
She answered seriously, her small face becoming solemn.
"That's good. I thought you were just fighting this hard to secure your position as the top spirit pet."
Jian Dan teased, her eyes twinkling with a bit of amusement.
"Well, that's part of it too!"
Yue Liang scratched an ear and answered honestly, showing her teeth in a quick grin.
That single sentence instantly broke the slightly heavy atmosphere, making Jian Dan laugh out loud at the honesty.
The next day, as the rising sun climbed into the bright sky, Yue Liang, Jade, and Jian Miao gathered inside Jian Dan's cave dwelling. They helped their Zhēnzūn put on the intricate ceremonial robes and tidy up the robes with careful, precise hands.
The dark purple robe was patterned with subtle motifs that shimmered as she moved. Only the collar, cuffs, and hem had wide white borders that contrasted sharply with the deep purple silk, and the belt was white as well. At her waist hung a single purple jade sword pendant, with a sheer outer robe of the same color draped over it like a layer of morning mist.
When worn by her, the entire robe looked noble without being gaudy. The runes embroidered across it were extremely complex, interlocking layer by layer in a web of protective magic. Not only did dust fail to cling to the fine fabric, it was also resistant to the effects of water and fire, and it even had defensive effects that could rebound part of an incoming attack.
After a period of rest, Xiao Yin had recovered to its usual numbers. The swarm automatically left the pendant at her chest and neatly settled across the runes of the robe. The symbols seemed to come alive, rippling with light under the sunlight as the spirit insects integrated themselves into the intricate design.
Jade styled a more formal auspicious cloud bun for her master, inserting magnolia bead hairpins into the dark locks. The lower half of the glossy black hair fell loosely to her waist, tied only with a single purple ribbon of fine silk.
On her ears hung a pair of white magnolia earrings that swayed with her movements. On her finger was a matching storage ring of exquisite design. The storage bracelet was also white magnolia entwined with silver threads and inlaid jade. On her other wrist were her Obsidian Bracelet and a star and moon bodhi bead bracelet. There were no other unnecessary accessories to clutter the elegant look.
Yue Liang also transformed into a little girl in bright yellow robes. Together with Jade, she followed behind Jian Dan as they flew through the air toward the main peak of Tianjian Peak.
As Zhēnzūn's disciples, Jian Feng, Jian Chong, and Jian Miao were also dressed in Zhēnjūn ceremonial robes today. They were immaculately prepared and followed behind their master with pride. Once they reached the main hall of Heavenly Sword Peak, they headed to the viewing seats designated for their status.
As early as twenty days ago, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples had learned from the message on the white jade wall that today was Tian Lu Zhēnzūn's Mahayana ceremony. As long as they were still in the sect, no one planned to miss this rare chance. Some even sent urgent messages to fellow disciples who were away on missions to return.
Because of this ceremony, her past was dug up once more by the curious, letting more new disciples learn about this female cultivator who possessed ability, strength, and fortune, and who had clawed her way up from the mortal world to the peak.
It also inspired a group of sect disciples, especially those selected from the mortal world. They had all seen this Zhēnzūn before during their early days. She had personally presided over the first disciple selection, and the body tempering broth they soaked in before drawing spiritual energy into their bodies had been provided by her.
Even now, they were still benefiting from it in their daily training. Some especially lucky disciples had exchanged points for the body tempering recipe, gathered the necessary ingredients, and continued refining their bodies. Their physical strength surpassed others of the same realm, and a few had even escaped death multiple times because of it. Naturally, they held that recipe in the highest regard.
Every sect disciple was brimming with joy, waiting for the ceremony to begin. The one presiding over the ceremony was Sect Master Jian Chong. Today, he wore the sect master's ceremonial robe and looked especially spirited. After the summoning bell rang out with a deep, resonant chime, he stepped forward and announced loudly, "The Mahayana ceremony begins now. Please welcome Tian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
As his voice fell, the unified voices of the sect disciples rang out below in a thunderous wave.
"Please welcome Tian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
"Please welcome Tian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
"Please welcome Tian Lu Zhēnzūn!"
After the three resounding calls echoed through the heavens, Jian Dan waved aside the clouds concealing her figure and appeared high above Heavenly Sword Peak. With Yue Liang and Jade beside her, she walked step by step toward the ceremonial plaza before the sect master's hall.
With every step she took, a white magnolia bloomed beneath her feet, the petals appearing out of thin air to support her weight. Today, she didn't deliberately conceal her appearance with any techniques. As she entered the area, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples all stared at her, sharp breaths being drawn again and again in the sudden silence.
"Wow! Tian Lu Zhēnzūn is too beautiful!"
"Yeah! I don't even know what words could describe her presence."
The whispered murmurs also reached her ears, drawing a soft smile to her lips. That single smile set off an even greater wave of gasps from the crowd gathered below.
Behind her, Yue Liang and Jade lifted their chins high with satisfaction. Their master was usually low key and rarely dressed up for any occasion. Today, these people finally got to see that she was a Mahayana Zhēnzūn who possessed beauty, wisdom, and strength all at once.
Sect Master Jian Chong was also seeing her true appearance clearly for the first time. He sighed inwardly at the sight. No wonder she usually seemed so unremarkable in his memory. She had been deliberately concealing herself this whole time. Of course, as a sword cultivator, he was only appreciating it purely for the grace she possessed.
Once Jian Dan came to a stop in the center of the plaza, he stepped forward and announced loudly, "Please welcome Tian Yun Zhēnzūn!"
As soon as the words fell, Tian Yun Zhēnzūn appeared beside her with a smooth turn of his body. Today, he wore his usual Zhēnzūn attire. It wasn't as grand as her ceremonial robe, but it still carried great presence and authority.
Another wave of sharp breaths rose from the disciples below. Tian Yun Zhēnzūn, that was a figure who lived in the legends told among the sect's low level disciples. The number one sword cultivator of Heavenly Sword Sect, famed for breaking ten thousand techniques with a single sword, his reputation had been established long ago. To think he would appear today too. Their luck was incredible, getting to see a legendary sword path genius in person.
"Shan Yunzu, since entering the sect, you have cultivated diligently and rescued fellow disciples from danger. After advancing to the Nascent Soul realm, you were granted the Dao title Jian Lu. Within a hundred years, you completed high-difficulty tasks issued by the Law Enforcement Hall, rooted out traitors of the sect, assisted in eliminating evil cultivators, and exterminated insect races, earning vast cultivation resources for the sect.
One year ago, you advanced to the late Mahayana stage. Today, your Dao title is officially promoted to Tian Lu. May you, in the days to come, become a model for all disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect, protect the sect, defeat the insect race, and carry Heavenly Sword Sect's legacy never ends!"
"Yes. Tian Lu will uphold Ancestor Heavenly Sword's will, protect the sect, and ensure Heavenly Sword Sect's legacy never ends!"
Jian Dan answered solemnly with a deep bow, then accepted from Tian Yun Zhēnzūn's hands the sword shaped jade key that symbolized the sect's guardian.