Chapter 38: Refining Grand Sect

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Refining Grand Sect

On a winding mountain path, a group of over a thousand people carrying generous gifts trudged forward step by step.

The Eighth Prince walked at the very front. The reason for their slow pace was the muddy ground, which had already spattered his exquisite brocade robes with specks of mud. His face was pale and unsightly.

"Endure it, Your Highness. If you cannot bear small matters, it will be difficult to accomplish great things," an old minister beside him advised with a bitter smile, continually urging caution.

Few knew that the Eighth Prince was an extreme neat freak. In the past, countless servants had been severely punished for failing to clean properly.

"I know," the Eighth Prince forced himself to endure, but he still couldn’t help speaking up. "I heard that the Jiuzhou Sect is a reclusive, great sect from the Ancient Times. How can they not even have a decent mountain gate? Could it be that their disciples always trudge through the mud like this?"

"Please speak cautiously!" The old minister was startled and couldn’t help but look around. Fortunately, no one heard them. He lowered his voice, "Your Highness must understand that this place is definitely not the location of the Jiuzhou Sect’s main gate. Moreover, with a Grandmaster being crowned Emperor, our trip here is merely to serve as a foil."

The Eighth Prince showed a hint of displeasure but said nothing more. After all, he was only thirty years old and had never experienced such a scene. The Grandmasters he had seen in the past had all been rather amiable.

However, when they reached halfway up the mountain, the road suddenly ended at the foot of a sheer cliff.

At this time, two bizarre objects flew down from above. Before the crowd could process what they were, the objects spoke in a human tongue.

"Everyone, please take the floating elevator."

"What... is this?" the Eighth Prince stared at the flying objects for a long time before finally gasping in awe. He was also an expert who had cultivated Divine Thought. Even though he didn’t dare to probe deeply, he could see the exquisite craftsmanship of these items.

"As expected of an immortal’s magical treasure."

"I’ve never seen such miraculous items in other sects. To think they can fly on their own."

"Does ’floating elevator’ refer to those?"

The crowd that gradually gathered around all marveled. At this moment, someone suddenly noticed seven glass rooms resting against the cliff not far away, prompting another round of intense gasps of astonishment. This world did have glassmaking. However, even though these people were all of prominent status, they had never seen such massive blocks of glass, completely devoid of impurities and seamlessly integrated.

"Yes, it refers to these. Please enter quickly," the two flying objects began to urge.

"This... glass is incredibly brittle. How can it be stepped on?" The crowd looked at each other in dismay. Moreover, their feet were covered in mud, and they were carrying numerous heavy crates and boxes. If they dirtied or broke it, they would be in massive trouble.

The soldiers controlling the two drones were just about to urge them on when several distinct streaks of an Escape Technique suddenly appeared on the horizon, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.

"A Grandmaster! A Grandmaster is here!"

"That looks like the Escape Technique of the Sword Pavilion!"

"One, two, three... GASP, all five Grandmasters have arrived!"

As the streaks of light drew closer, some Cultivators at the Divine Thought Stage finally saw clearly: those were exactly five Sword Immortals riding on flying swords!

At the same time, heroic laughter echoed across the sky. "Hahaha! This Sword Emperor, along with his four disciples, has come to congratulate the new Emperor."

Subsequently, a figure flickering with lightning soared upward. The word "Please" similarly resonated for miles.

Some timid commoner servants and maids couldn’t help but fall to their knees, terrified that any sign of disrespect would anger the Immortal Emperor Venerable above. Even the Cultivators looked utterly shocked. The Sword Pavilion’s four great Grandmaster Sword Immortals, plus the Sword Emperor, had actually arrived together.

"Your Highness," the old minister beside the Eighth Prince couldn’t help but whisper. "The Sword Emperor’s actions seem to be deliberately building momentum for the new Emperor. They might have known each other privately for a long time. If it weren’t for building momentum, it would be absolutely impossible for all the Grandmasters to attend."

"In that case..." The Eighth Prince’s eyes gradually brightened. "Could it be that the Cyan Emperor will likely return empty-handed today?"

"I’m afraid if that happens, the Cyan Emperor won’t just let it go," the old minister said, his expression solemn. "The fact that the Cyan Cloud Pavilion has lost two Grandmasters in succession is already known to the world. Everyone assumed that the Jiuzhou Sect would inevitably face retaliation today."

"Under normal circumstances, it would at most be a dispute over face resulting in the deaths of some ordinary disciples. But if the Sword Emperor intervened to help... could it spark a chaotic battle among peak Grandmasters, much like the one two hundred years ago? If that were the case, then our group would face almost certain death."

"Everyone, the Sword Emperor has arrived. Let’s not delay any further. Please board the floating elevator," the drones urged once again.

The old minister glanced at the Eighth Prince, who hadn’t realized the danger and was instead somewhat excited, and sighed inwardly. He thought that since he had lived this long anyway, he had long become indifferent to life and death. Being able to witness a battle between peak Grandmasters would make his life worthwhile.

Led by the Eighth Prince, several people cautiously entered the glass rooms. Just a moment later, they understood the meaning of the words "floating elevator".

The entire glass room actually began to slowly rise. The floor beneath their feet was transparent, making them feel as if they were suspended in mid-air. This left them trembling in fear while simultaneously crying out in amazement, overwhelmed with excitement.

Upon reaching the mountain peak, the crowd was utterly astounded by the sight before them. Their ears were filled with the sound of string and woodwind music coming from an unknown source. Several massive scrolls hung on the walls of the buildings, constantly shifting to display ink-wash scenes—flying birds, waterfalls, and verdant mountains. It was as if an invisible master painter was personally drawing them, then applying Enlightenment to turn them into living creatures, forming a vibrant, living world.

Accompanied by the music, it made everyone widen their eyes, deeply entranced by the spectacle. Unbelievable! Could this be the true Immortal Daoist Technique from the Ancient Times?

"Everyone, please come this way." A pleasant female voice suddenly reached their ears. Only then did the crowd manage to tear their gazes away from those massive screens, only to find several rotund, short pillars standing before them.

"Please follow us." The pillars spoke again. Simultaneously, the wheels beneath them rolled as they drove off in a certain direction.

GULP. The Eighth Prince seemed to hear the sound of his own swallowing. It wasn’t until this moment that they realized something. There was absolutely no one here! There were only magical treasures flying about and Puppets moving freely on the ground. Yet, each one seemed to be controlled by a disciple behind the scenes, capable of making sounds and conversing.

"Your Highness!" the old minister exclaimed with an agitated expression. "I once read in ancient texts that in the Ancient Times, the Secret Technique of the Refining Grand Sect could create War Puppets that were as agile and versatile as ordinary people. I never expected... I never expected that this was actually true!"

The Refining Grand Sect! The Eighth Prince’s mind buzzed, and his gaze grew increasingly fervent. Whether in the empire or among the major sects, the status of Cultivators who understood Arrays and Artifact Refining was higher than that of other Cultivators.

Why? Because the might of magical treasures and the utility of Arrays were exceptionally crucial in battles between Cultivators! It wasn’t just the Eighth Prince; all the families and sects present could foresee that a colossal entity was about to rise!

Meanwhile, the Sword Emperor was equally astounded. He was currently standing beneath a massive screen.