Chapter 266 - 163: Investiture Ceremony, Mu Wanli’s Gaze from Afar

Chapter 266: Chapter 163: Investiture Ceremony, Mu Wanli’s Gaze from Afar

"I see."

Jiang Hao nodded. Although he didn’t quite understand this rule of the Thousand Sects Island, he didn’t voice any objections.

As if sensing Jiang Hao’s confusion, Jiang Huaiyu continued explaining:

"Senior Brother, in the Cultivation Realm, a sect’s Eldest Senior Brother isn’t just a title. It’s a symbol of status. This status isn’t dictated by a single sect; it requires the very person being ordained as the Eldest Senior Brother to fight for it.

"And the means to fight for this status is ascending the Holy Ladder. For the harmonious Thousand Sects Island of a hundred thousand years ago, this might have been a grand celebration.

"However, a hundred thousand years later, ascending the Holy Ladder has obviously become incredibly delicate.

"As for a Holy Sect inviting a thousand sects to witness the ordination of their Eldest Senior Brother, to put it bluntly, it’s a way of showing one’s edge. The ordination isn’t just about a Holy Sect’s image; it also sends a powerful signal to the other sects, thereby elevating the sect’s prestige on the Thousand Sects Island.

"To put it even more plainly, it’s about intimidating the thousand sects. In a way, it’s a disguised method to secure our sect’s cultivation resources. This deterrent effect is especially potent during the era of the prodigy supremacy battles.

"Of course, there’s another point that brings great benefits to the Eldest Senior Brother himself.

"Once the Eldest Senior Brother climbs the Holy Ladder and gains the acknowledgment of more than ten sect representatives, he will enter the ranks of the Thousand Sects’ Eldest Senior Brothers. Whether in the Beardless Sect or across the Thousand Sects Island, the Eldest Senior Brother will have a firmly secured place.

"When that moment comes, even the Elders and Sect Leaders of those sects will respectfully address you as a fellow cultivator. As for the disciples of the thousand sects, as long as they aren’t from hostile factions, they will have to call you Senior Brother Beardless."

In other words, after the ordination ceremony, Jiang Hao’s status would no longer be as simple as just a member of the younger generation. He would truly touch the boundaries of the Cultivation Realm, effectively stepping out of the novice village.

As the two flew out of the Great Ming Peak, Jiang Huaiyu’s eyes were filled with envy while he explained.

The weight the title of Eldest Senior Brother held in the Cultivation Realm was simply too high.

Jiang Hao didn’t actually care much about all this. Instead, the current emptiness throughout the Beardless Sect caught his attention.

"Have the Sect Leader and the Elders already headed to the Thousand Sects Holy Ladder Altar?" the young man couldn’t help but ask, looking at the Beardless Sect, whose personnel had been reduced by ninety percent.

Jiang Huaiyu replied, "Since the Beardless Sect is ordaining an Eldest Senior Brother, everyone naturally has to go show support. Over ninety percent of our junior brothers, junior sisters, and Elders have already headed to the Thousand Sects Holy Ladder Altar. Only one Supreme Elder and a few dozen Elders were left behind to guard the sect."

As they spoke, Jiang Huaiyu led Jiang Hao to an Array Altar.

"Eldest Senior Brother, this is the great array leading to the Thousand Sects Holy Ladder Altar. Every sect has an Array like this that connects directly to it.

"This great array usually isn’t opened easily. Countless sects might not even light it up once in a thousand years. Unless there is a Holy Sect’s ordination, no one will activate it. After all, once the great array operates, the Spirit Stones it consumes are an astronomical figure."

While speaking, Jiang Huaiyu took out an object resembling an array flag. With a wave, the entire great array shone brilliantly, and the two instantly vanished within the Teleportation Array.

Meanwhile, as the two rushed toward the Holy Ladder Realm, the destination was already overflowing with people.

Amidst a vast and boundless island mountain range, a White Jade Celestial Ladder slanted into the clouds at a forty-five-degree angle, exuding an extremely ancient and terrifying aura.

Obviously, that was the Holy Ladder used by the various sects of the Thousand Sects Island for the ordination of their Eldest Senior Brothers since ancient times.

On the endless Spirit Peaks surrounding the Holy Ladder, countless Cultivators from the thousand sects had already gathered.

Not only that, even at this very moment, great arrays continued to light up all around, and groups of sect representatives stepped out of them, heading toward the Holy Ladder.

"Hahaha, Master Beardless, congratulations, congratulations! Who would have thought that after three thousand years, the Beardless Sect would welcome another ordination ceremony," a voice boomed.

"Heh heh, Cloud-Devouring Saint, I trust you have been well," Master Beardless replied.

"Thanks to you, Beardless, I can’t quite swallow my last breath just yet. If I don’t get to see you perish, this old saint won’t dare pass away."

"Cloud-Devouring, today is a grand day for my Beardless Sect. According to the rules set by the ancestors of the Thousand Sects Island, all sect grievances must be paused during an Eldest Senior Brother’s ordination ceremony. Don’t try anything reckless, you old fossil."

"Look at how you speak. This old saint is well aware of such rules. But it matters not. I will definitely outlive you, Beardless Saint. Perhaps I’ll even get to see the day the Beardless Sect is annihilated, hahaha."

As more and more invited sect representatives arrived, the bustling voices in this part of the world instantly reached a boiling point.

Before the Holy Ladder, the Beardless Sect was today’s protagonist, naturally occupying the Holy Ladder Altar.

Before the altar, Master Beardless nodded in satisfaction as he watched the continuous arrival of various sect representatives and the steadfast support of dozens of old friends from the Saint Realm.

"Do a headcount. How many Holy Sect representatives have arrived today? Which Saints have shown up?"

"To the Sect Leader and Supreme Elder, so far, seventy-eight Holy Sect viewing representatives from the Thousand Sect Island Realm have arrived, along with eighty-seven Saint Realm Powerhouses. Among them are the Celestial Star Sect’s Vice Sect Leader, a Supreme Elder of the Wuwang Sect, the Celestial River Sect’s Grand Elder, the Cyan Profound Sect’s Sect Leader, the Xuanming Sect’s Profound Nether Saint, and the newly appointed Sect Leader of the Spiritual Qi Sect..."

Listening to an Elder’s tally, Master Beardless couldn’t help but sigh, "It seems my Beardless Sect has truly declined."