Inside the Black Heaven Sect's Longevity Hall.

Elder Ruyan and the others were pacing back and forth anxiously, but when they saw Honorable Xuan Qi turning off the communication compa.s.s, everyone hurriedly went up to him.

“How is it? Is Kuangren back?”

“Soon. He's already rus.h.i.+ng back.”

“We can't keep the guests waiting any longer, right?”

“What should we do?”

It was also the first time Honorable Xuan Qi was met with this situation.

“Sect Leader, since you're also one of the key figures for this Inauguration Ceremony, why are you asking us? Just hurry up and keep them occupied for now.”

Elder Ruyan said frustratingly.

“That's right, just randomly come up with some pleasantries or small talk.”

“And hold the crowd until the Lead Disciple returns.”

Honorable Xuan Qi was forced and pushed out of the great hall.

The crowd of cultivators who were prepared to witness the ceremony were already gathered outside the Longevity Hall, while the representatives for their respective sage orthodoxies sat at the front.

Like the Royal Azure Dynasty and School of White Lotus for instance.

Those who sat further back were the Azure Dragon Domain's recognized honorable orthodoxies, with most of them being affiliated forces of the Black Heaven Sect.

Bouts of laughter and endless chatter rang out at that moment as everyone gathered together.

“Now that the G.o.dly Phoenix has appeared, which virtuous one among us do you think will have the chance to obtain this divine beast?”

One of the sage orthodoxy's representatives started a new topic of discussion.

At that, the crowd started to discuss.

“The appearance of this G.o.dly Phoenix can be said to be the first in the last hundred thousand years since the ancient times. This Era of Great Battles really is interesting.”

“In regards to the ones who are worthy to obtain this divine beast, I'm afraid there's only but a few in this world who can do so. It will be a sign of great fortune to whoever that manages to get it.”

“Indeed.”

A few Honorable Supremes discussed.

Meanwhile, the sky-prides who were present had a fiery look of excitement in their eyes, each hoping that they too could obtain the divine beast to dominate and rule over this whole era.

“If I can get that G.o.dly Phoenix, my days of being oppressed under Chu Kuangren's power will finally come to an end!” Sacred Lands of Serene Wisdom's Ao Chang thought.

Many had the same idea as him.

“After returning home, we must send someone to find out more about this. We must find a way to drive this divine beast into the palm of our hands,” Yuanhong from the Dharma Sect thought.

“Just you wait, Chu Kuangren. Once I get that divine beast, I don't believe that the days of being at your mercy will continue!”

Lin Batian's eyes lit up with a glint of hope.

“Hold on, something's not right. Isn't this an Inauguration Ceremony? Why hasn't it started yet?” the unsatisfied representative from the Sacred Lands of Serene Wisdom said.

Only then did everyone in the crowd too notice that something was not right.

“It's already noon, why hasn't it started yet?”

“Being under the sun is no fun you know.”

“What's going on with Black Heaven Sect? Are they messing with us?”

Just when everyone was in a fit of dissatisfaction, Honorable Xuan Qi walked out of the hall.

The crowd fixed their gazes onto him.

“Honorable Xuan Qi, why hasn't the Inauguration Ceremony started yet?”

“That's right, where's Chu Kuangren now?”

The tone of the crowd was much gentler knowing that they were talking to a Boundary Sage.

“Ahem, before pa.s.sing down my position to my successor, I have a few words to say. Now, I believe most of you here know that I've been in charge of Black Heaven Sect for almost a thousand years. Over these years, I've made great efforts to build a strong sect, hoping to lead everyone to a brighter future. Eight hundred years ago, I once fought single-handedly in the north sea with only a sword…”

Honorable Xuan Qi then started to recount the things and events he had experienced during his time as the Sect Leader over all these years

No one dared to disturb him as he spoke.

After all, he was simply giving a speech before pa.s.sing his t.i.tle to a successor. It was normal to recount the memorable times of past adventures and struggles.

One hour soon pa.s.sed…Two hours…

A total of three hours had pa.s.sed since then.

Everyone started to display signs of impatience as time went on.

'Can't you just give a brief speech and be done with it? Just a few sentences are fine, you know. Aren't you making this an endless and meaningless speech?'

'We're here to attend the Inauguration Ceremony, not to listen to you bragging about your past deeds.'

'If we have so much time to spare, we'd be listening to story-tellers at the inn.'

“Umm, Honorable Xuan Qi.”

At that moment, one of the Daoists from the Taixu Temple interrupted Honorable Xuan Qi and said, “I wonder if the Inauguration Ceremony can begin now?”

“Wait until I'm done talking about my battle against the Honorable Nine Heads three hundred years ago. Back then, the Honorable Nine Heads was famous for… ”

Everyone in the crowd was suffering from his speech.

'How long is this going to go on for?'

'If this goes on, the skies are getting dark soon!'

“Everyone, look! What is that!”

Then, someone yelled out in shock from the crowd.

From the distant sky, a red ball of light could be seen approaching them, and wherever it pa.s.sed by, the surrounding clouds were dyed into a magnificent crimson red color.

Upon taking a closer look, that red light was actually a n.o.ble and gorgeous G.o.dly Phoenix!

Wavering lights radiated from the head of the G.o.dly Phoenix, and mysterious surges of Daoist Rhymes emanated from its flapping wings. The auspicious brilliance of the divine beast glowed as it displayed its divine posture.

“It's… It's a G.o.dly Phoenix!”

“Can this be the G.o.dly Phoenix that was born not long ago? Why would it appear here?”

“So this is a G.o.dly Phoenix? It's just too extraordinary! Compared to her, the rest of the beasts are not worth batting an eye on!”

“By the heavens, this is undoubtedly a divine beast.”

Everyone present was amazed when they saw the G.o.dly Phoenix.

Meanwhile, some of the Honorable Supremes and sky-prides could no longer sit still.

'This is a divine beast we're talking about here. If I can manage to tame it, not only will it be of great use for me, but it will also increase my orthodoxy's fortune as well. Since the G.o.dly Phoenix is n.o.ble and dignified, something like this happening is definitely possible.'

Honorable Xuan Qi also stopped amidst his speech as he looked at the G.o.dly Phoenix with a stern expression.

“Hold on, look at the G.o.dly Phoenix's back… Is someone on it right now?” one of the Honorables spoke with uncertainty.

Everyone who heard him was in disbelief.

“You idiot, the G.o.dly Phoenix is a divine beast and a n.o.ble lifeform. How can it possibly allow someone to ride on its back?”

“That's right, don't treat a G.o.dly Phoenix like it's any other mounts we have. Throughout the ages, only the immortals can make divine beasts as their mounts. Even with the Emperors of Old, no one among them was known to have a divine beast as their mount.”

“No, someone is really on it!”

As the G.o.dly Phoenix gradually approached, everyone saw that there was indeed a figure standing on its back and everyone immediately gasped in shock.

“F*ck me! Someone is really on it?”

“By the heavens, who would have such an ability to make a G.o.dly Phoenix as their mount? Is it possible that an immortal has descended upon us?”

“Hold on, that person looks a bit familiar.”

“It's… It's… It's Chu Kuangren!”

“F*ck, it really is him!”

As the G.o.dly Phoenix got closer to the Black Heaven Sect, everyone could clearly see that the figure on its back was indeed the white-robed Chu Kuangren!

Pairing the extremely n.o.ble G.o.dly Phoenix with the white-robed and fairy-like Chu Kuangren, the combination of those two created a great impact on everyone.

Chu Kuangren really did look like an immortal that was descending upon everyone.

When he arrived in the air above the Black Heaven Sect, Chu Kuangren leaped off the G.o.dly Phoenix's back and came before the crowd with a smile. Looking at him then, the crowd had on a dumbfounded and frightened expression.

Even Honorable Xuan Qi was no exception as well.

“Greetings fellow brothers and sisters.”

It was Chu Kuangren who spoke first, bringing everyone back to their senses.

Bouts of discussion then stirred up among the people in the crowd.

“F*ck me indeed. Chu Kuangren was just too awesome when he made that grand entrance with the G.o.dly Phoenix. How does he even do that?”

“It hasn't been long since the G.o.dly Phoenix was born, and we haven't even started to look for it, yet that guy managed to tame it right away. That's just too much to take in.”

“The divine beast acknowledging Chu Kuangren as its master is a sign that his luck and fortune is just too great.”

Meanwhile, the Daoist core of people like Yuanhong, Gu Changge, and Ao Chang trembled even more. They looked at Chu Kuangren as if they were about to cry.

They were planning just a moment ago on finding and taming the G.o.dly Phoenix once they returned from the ceremony, yet a moment later Chu Kuangren was already riding it before their very eyes. Could there be a more traumatizing thing than this?

“Chu Kuangren can't be an immortal right? Why does it feel like every good fortune and benefit is going to him now?”