Chapter 96
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Chapter 96: Watching the Storm Rise
【Cleansing Technique·Experience +1】
【Cleansing Technique (basic level): 0/300】
Wang Chen glanced at the immaculate road beneath his feet, too weary to even muster a complaint.
He had never deliberately practiced this small spell to boost its proficiency; it only gained experience slowly through regular use.
To his astonishment, after just half a day’s work, he had already advanced to the basic level.
The sun blazed overhead, and the clear sky stretched endlessly. Along the long road, at intervals, cultivators like Wang Chen were busily cleaning the path.
Some were repairing the drainage ditches beside the road.
Others scattered flower seeds along the roadside, using the "Decay and Flourish Technique" to hasten their growth.
It was a scene of bustling activity.
For the section of the road assigned to Wang Chen, his cleaning work was nearly complete.
Wang Chen didn’t hurry to plant the Purple Jade Orchids; instead, he sat down under the shade of a tree to rest.
He wasn’t truly tired, but the task felt somewhat absurd, and he couldn’t summon much enthusiasm.
As long as he met the requirements, that was sufficient; there were no rewards for doing it exceptionally well!
Nearby, a few other cultivators sat down together, whispering among themselves.
They didn’t bother to lower their voices, and since Wang Chen was downwind with exceptionally sharp senses, he surprisingly caught most of their conversation!
“What’s going on at the Wei Hall? Cleaning the road and drainage ditches is one thing, but why do they want to plant Purple Jade Flowers?”
This person clearly had a lot of complaints and couldn’t help but vent.
The cultivator beside him chuckled and replied, “You don’t know? The Purple Jade Flowers are the True Master’s favorite! They’ve planted quite a few in the inner sect!”
“Is that so?”
“Otherwise, what do you think?”
“I heard that the True Master likes Purple Jade Flowers because of a childhood sweetheart.”
“They promised to meet again at the Purple Palace, then each went their own way. When the True Master became powerful and sought that sweetheart, he found that she had passed away, leaving only his beloved Purple Jade Orchid behind.”
“Now I understand!”
“I didn’t expect such a story; it seems the True Master also has a sentimental side.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Shh, speak with caution; do not speak recklessly about the respected one!”
“Mm, mm, mm.”
Wang Chen hadn’t expected to overhear some gossip about the Golden Core true master while sitting there.
He took out the flower seeds from his storage bag and tossed one onto the ground.
Using his finger to mark the spot, Wang Chen channeled his spiritual power and cast the "Decay and Flourish Technique," which he had only just learned the day before.
This spell wasn’t of a very high rank.
With his current level of comprehension, Wang Chen didn’t take long to get started.
As he circulated his spiritual energy, a shimmering blue light emanated from his fingertips, enveloping the flower seeds on the ground.
In the blink of an eye, several tiny roots broke through the shells and burrowed into the soil below.
Soon after, the seeds sprouted and began to grow steadily upward.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a slender and graceful flower seedling had already emerged!
Though it wasn’t his first time witnessing such a scene,
Wang Chen still felt a sense of wonder in his heart.
Compared to spells like the Cleansing Technique and the Rain Summoning Technique, the Decay and Flourish Technique undoubtedly highlighted the extraordinary nature of a cultivator.
Yet, in this world, low-ranking cultivators were not so different from the common people of the Mortal Realm!
Wang Chen thought to himself that his spells should not be used merely to create an illusion of peace.
…
On March 16, halfway through the hour of the Dragon,
When Wang Chen left his home and arrived at the "newly decorated" road, it was already lined with men, women, and children.
The neighbors were all dressed in new clothes, their faces beaming with excitement and joy.
Children chattered and laughed, filling the air with a festive atmosphere, as if it were a grand celebration.
The cultivators from the Wei Hall, including the night watchers, patrolled back and forth along both sides of the road, maintaining order.
At the same time, they distributed bundles of spirit rice to those who had come to witness the ceremony.
Wang Chen also received a bundle.
The ear and stalk of the spirit rice gleamed with a golden hue, as if enchanted by some spell, making them appear particularly auspicious.
According to the Wei Hall cultivators, this was an offering to the ancestral master.
The Yunyang Sect’s ceremony to pay respects to ancestors honored the Yunyang Master, who, fifteen hundred years ago, had founded the Yunyang lineage through great hardship.
Though a single bundle of spirit rice might seem insignificant, it symbolized the disciples’ deep reverence and admiration for their late master.
Countless elegant Purple Jade Orchids bloomed along the sides of the road.
However, as time passed, the initial excitement and joy began to wane, leaving only a sense of tedious waiting.
Some impatient children began to cry, demanding to go home.
As a result, they either had their mouths covered by their parents or received a firm "lesson" on their backsides.
As the hour approached, the newly appointed local head from Wei Hall B Ten hurried over, shouting loudly, “Quickly, everyone! Head to Yunshan City at once! The True Master won’t be coming here after all!”
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
After toiling for two or three days and standing under the scorching sun for over an hour, they were now told that the True Master would not be arriving.
To speak of Yunshan City, it lay fifty miles distant from here!
Most people had lost their enthusiasm, yet they could not resist the local head’s persistent urging and even veiled threats.
Thus, they had no choice but to dash towards Yunshan City, some even resorting to using Armor Horse Talismans to hasten their journey.
Naturally, the swiftest among them were predominantly young cultivators, while the elderly, women, and children mostly returned to their homes.
Wang Chen, in truth, had no desire to go; he felt as though he were a mere puppet in someone else’s play.
However, with the local head’s watchful gaze above and the Wei Hall cultivators’ supervision below, and given that he was neither old, weak, nor infirm, he had no valid reason to withdraw.
Thus, Wang Chen followed the crowd and also applied an Armor Horse Talisman, making his way straight to Yunshan City.
Upon arrival, he found the road outside the city teeming with people, and he marveled at how many outer sect cultivators the Wei Hall had mustered to witness the event.
Those who arrived late, including Wang Chen, found themselves unable to squeeze through the throng and had to stand at a considerable distance from the city gate.
They were reduced to mere tools, clutching bundles of spirit rice!
Ah~
Another half an hour passed, and a resounding horn sound echoed from the north.
The crowd erupted in excitement, and all craned their necks to gaze in the direction of the sound.
Soon, a long procession came into view.
At the forefront were sixteen warrior knights, each bearing ceremonial weapons.
They wore black iron lion-head helmets, adorned with colorful robes beneath and clad in golden armor, astride Biqing Dragon Scale Horses.
Each was a figure of extraordinary presence!
Behind the knights, eight massive white elephants with great tusks pulled a splendid treasure carriage.
The Yunyang Sect’s True Master, Ji Guandao, clad in a robe adorned with cloud dragons, sat majestically atop it.
He stood as imposing as a mountain, the center of all eyes!
Six elders from the Purple Palace accompanied the treasure carriage, while hundreds of inner sect disciples marched alongside as guards.
Behind them, thirty-six green oxen drew several carts.
The people lining the road respectfully offered spirit rice to the youthful attendants, a gesture of reverence for the Yunyang Master.
At this moment, the sun blazed high, and the flowers bloomed in splendor, surpassing all previous celebrations in Yunyang!
Bang!
As the Dingyang Bell in Yunshan City tolled, the treasure carriage bearing the True Master came to a halt.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell into a profound silence, and thousands of cultivators held their breath.
Just then, a figure suddenly darted out from the crowd of onlookers.
They knelt down before the procession!
