Chapter 43: The Grand Ceremony of a Hundred Sects in Xuanjiang Prefecture

On the way back to the Qing Xuan Sect, Shen Mo stumbled upon a spring.

At the bottom of the spring was a shiny stone.

Upon picking it up, he realized it was a top-tier Profound-grade treasure, the Crimson Dragon Crystal.

The Crystal was entirely crimson, as if it contained a drop of dragon's blood.

This item was filled with pure fire spiritual energy. Shen Mo checked his life panel.

[Recent Opportunity: Today, on the way back to the Qing Xuan Sect, feeling thirsty, you pass by a spring and discover a crystal at the bottom while drinking water. Upon picking it up, you find it is a top-tier Profound-grade treasure, the Crimson Dragon Crystal.]

Shen Mo smiled with joy.

The combination of his "Small Fortune" and "Temporary Good Luck" fates had indeed brought him some good luck.

"This item can serve as one of the foundation material for my Core Formation."

Shen Mo nodded slightly.

The Flame Hell Destruction Manual detailed the process of Core Formation.

Core Formation, more precisely, involves condensing a Golden Core.

Similar to constructing a Dao platform, condensing a Golden Core requires five foundations, corresponding to the five elemental attributes.

Different cultivation techniques produce different types of Golden Cores.

However, the quality of a Golden Core is distinguished by the number of cracks on its surface, categorized into ordinary Golden Cores, flawless Golden Cores, and perfect Golden Cores.

The fewer the cracks, the closer it is to perfection, and the stronger one's power after successful condensation.

The Flame Hell Destruction Manual condenses the Flame Hell Golden Core.

This type of Golden Core was chosen by the Flame Hell Immortal after years of insight.

It doesn't belong to the categories of ordinary, flawless, or perfect Golden Cores.

To be precise, it surpasses even the perfect Golden Core!

After all, even condensing a perfect Golden Core doesn't require condensing and shattering the core nine times repeatedly.

However, the Flame Hell Golden Core requires shattering the core nine times to achieve the ultimate strength.

Of course, this means Shen Mo needs to prepare forty-five top-tier Profound-grade treasures.

This Crimson Dragon Crystal was just a minor episode along the way.

Before long, Shen Mo returned to the sect and resumed his persistent cultivation.

...

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

The Qing Xuan Sect remained peaceful, with little change compared to six months ago.

Reports from various places indicated that Xuanjiang Prefecture was also calm.

However, one day while Shen Mo was eating in the kitchen hall, he accidentally overheard some startling news from Lingyun Prefecture, south of Xuanjiang Prefecture.

The authorities in Lingyun Prefecture, citing the disappearance of soldiers near the Jinyang Sect, forcibly demanded to search the sect's grounds.

When the Jinyang Sect refused, the authorities mobilized an army and directly razed the sect.

The sect master and deputy sect master were killed, and dozens of Core Formation cultivators either died or fled.

It's important to note that the Jinyang Sect was one of the three major sects in Lingyun Prefecture.

The fact that the authorities easily flattened the sect sent a wave of terror through the remaining sects in the Prefecture.

Subsequently, the authorities swept through every sect in Jiande Prefecture. Those who resisted were eradicated.

Those who were wise surrendered immediately. Second and third-rate sects followed suit and surrendered.

In just one month, the authorities cleared out all the sects in Lingyun Prefecture.

A place once known for its numerous sects and rampant disorder became entirely stabilized.

When this news spread in the Qing Xuan Sect, it caused some anxiety among the disciples.

They feared that similar events might occur in Xuanjiang Prefecture.

However, Xuanjiang Prefecture remained calm during this time, and the elders strictly forbade discussing the matter, allowing the issue to gradually settle.

People are forgetful creatures. It didn't take long for this event to fade from memory.

...

On his bed, Shen Mo slowly opened his eyes.

He had already used up the three Pure Essence Solidifying Pills he had acquired.

He originally thought these three pills would be enough for him to reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Unexpectedly, after using them all, he still couldn't touch the threshold of the peak. However, Shen Mo did sense the presence of a bottleneck.

If there were an experience bar above his head, it would indicate that he had reached the end of the Foundation Establishment perfection stage.

He only needed an opportunity to break through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

At that moment, a fragrant breeze wafted by.

Before Shen Mo's eyes could adjust, he saw a familiar graceful figure appear in the courtyard.

Murong Yue was dressed in a light blue palace dress, accentuating her proud chest, slender waist, and curvaceous hips.

The dress reached the ground, revealing only a pair of delicate, tiny feet, which were faintly visible.

"Master." Shen Mo bowed respectfully.

He sensed for a moment and noticed an increase in Murong Yue's oppressive aura.

"Has Master made progress in her cultivation?" he asked.

Murong Yue smiled charmingly, "Indeed, otherwise I would not have come out of seclusion."

"Congratulations, Master!" Shen Mo also showed genuine joy.

Murong Yue's strength increasing made him sincerely happy. Moreover, from the looks of it, she seemed to have come to him immediately after her breakthrough.

Her demeanor was less like a sect master and more like a girl next door who had encountered something delightful.

"I came this time to inform you of something." Murong Yue walked over gracefully.

Soon, she stood right in front of Shen Mo. The distance between them was only about a foot.

Shen Mo cupped his hands, "Please speak, Master."

"Five days ago, the Great Five Sects of Xuanjiang notified all sects in Xuanjiang Prefecture that the Grand Ceremony of a Hundred Sects will be held two months earlier than scheduled."

"At that time, every sect with a Core Formation cultivator will have to select elite disciples to go to Divine Sword City of the Divine Sword Sect to participate in the ceremony."

"Currently, only the sect leaders know about this; it has not been announced to all disciples yet," Murong Yue said solemnly.

After listening, Shen Mo frowned.

The Grand Ceremony of a Hundred Sects? Divine Sword City?

Things might not be that simple.

There had been Grand Ceremonies of a Hundred Sects before, but they were held once every ten years.

The last one was six years ago, so it shouldn't be brought forward by so much, no matter how early.

Murong Yue noticed his expression and chuckled, "You are indeed astute, immediately sensing something wrong."

She waved her hand, brushing the dust off the table and chairs, and casually sat down.

She also gestured for Shen Mo to sit.

Sitting across from each other, Murong Yue continued, "A few months ago, you must have heard about the authorities in neighboring Lingyun Prefecture nearly wiping out all the sects."

Shen Mo nodded, "Is Master implying that Xuanjiang Prefecture might face a similar situation?"

Murong Yue sighed deeply, "It's not just a possibility; it's a certainty."

Shen Mo remained silent.

Murong Yue spoke lightly, "Yuzhou has the strongest sect forces among the nine provinces of the Jing Kingdom."

"Lingyun Prefecture, next door, had the most rampant sects among the ten prefectures of Yuzhou."

"How rampant, you ask? Two years ago, the prefect of Lingyun Prefecture died under mysterious circumstances. Officially, it was said he drowned, but everyone knew that as the leading sect of Lingyun Prefecture, Jinyang Sect was certainly involved in his death."

"So, Lingyun Prefecture became the new emperor's first target."

Shen Mo frowned, "The second target will be Xuanjiang Prefecture?"

Murong Yue shook her head, "It's hard to say; it could be Xuanjiang Prefecture or perhaps Jingshan Prefecture to the north."

"The Five Sects of Xuanjiang scheduling the Grand Ceremony of a Hundred Sects earlier is likely for the sect leaders to discuss countermeasures. The elite disciples' competition is secondary."

Shen Mo nodded in understanding.

As the five strongest sects in Xuanjiang Prefecture, it was natural for them to react after witnessing the fate of Jiande Prefecture's sects.

"So, Master, do you mean I am to participate in this Grand Ceremony of a Hundred Sects?" Shen Mo asked.

Murong Yue smiled brightly, "Of course, our Qing Xuan Sect rarely produces someone with a Heaven-grade physique like you. You must participate, and you must win. Win decisively, win spectacularly!"

Shen Mo nodded firmly, "I will not fail in my mission."