Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 1604: Chapter 848: Ceremony (Part 2)

At this moment, the Luanyang Palace hall was divided into two sides. On the left were all male cultivators. Although the robes they wore were different, they all bore the insignia of the Luanyang Palace on their chests.

On the other side were female cultivators, all of whom were dressed in the palace attire of Luanyang Palace.

Among the male cultivators, there were nearly ten Great Cultivators whom Li Shiming recognized from previous visits. Although he hadn’t seen the others before, judging by where they stood, their status and position were no less than those of the Great Cultivators he recognized from the superpowers.

"Hello, Mr. Li, I am Niu Huan from the Sun-Shooting Sect!"

"Mo Bao from Guiyuan Sect, greetings to Mr. Li!"

"Ma Chu from Feiyu Sect, greetings to Mr. Li!"

Some enthusiastic Great Cultivators took the initiative to greet Li Shiming, while others, more reserved, smiled and nodded toward him.

However, all the male Great Cultivators here knew their purpose: to become acquainted with Li Shiming, letting him know they were also esteemed in-laws of Luanyang Palace.

With such a status, building a connection offered a deeper basis for relationships.

Li Shiming returned the greetings one by one and, under the arrangements of the Great Cultivators, was placed in the first seat on the left side.

He tried to be courteous, but no Great Cultivator would stand above him. If he were too humble, the male Great Cultivators might line up next to him in an odd display.

"The Phoenix Palace Master is here!"

With an announcement, a graceful shadow flew into the Luanyang Palace hall, and a powerful aura enveloped the hall.

"A Peak Great Cultivator!" Li Shiming sensed the cultivation level of this Phoenix Palace Master.

No superpower should be underestimated; the Phoenix Palace Master of Luanyang Palace was not simple. While he couldn’t assess her own combat power, the small phoenix perched on her shoulder was a Late Stage Fourth Grade Red-Gold Phoenix.

When at the Fourth Grade Middle Stage, the Red-Gold Phoenix already had the strength to contend with Great Cultivators.

And as it reached the Late Stage Fourth Grade, its combat power could rival powerful Great Cultivators. In this case, the Red-Gold Phoenix of Phoenix Palace was nearing the peak level of the Late Stage Fourth Grade, definitely capable of fighting a Peak Great Cultivator.

In other words, this Phoenix Palace Master alone could be equivalent to the strength of two Peak Great Cultivators.

This illustrates the benefits of nurturing top-tier spiritual pets. Although it requires more resources, the aid provided in forming combat power is significantly greater.

Of course, Li Shiming was merely surprised and not very fearful.

Even though this time he had come merely as a ’Phantom Avatar,’ equipped with the combat strength of an ordinary Thunder Cultivator Great Cultivator.

However, he brought five Late-stage Golden Corpses. With these five Late-stage Golden Corpses, each with extremely exaggerated equipment, unless targeted by a great power, he was prepared for battle.

"Luanyang Palace has not seen such a grand event for a long time. Thank you, fellow Daoists, for coming to attend the initiation ceremony of our new disciple Yin Shilan!" The Phoenix Palace Master landed on the main seat in the hall, slightly bowing to the male cultivators on the left as she spoke.

Her gaze focused on Li Shiming, filled with curiosity after sensing Li Shiming’s ’Phantom Avatar.’

Being a Peak Great Cultivator, she could sense how unusual Li Shiming’s ’Phantom Avatar’ was.

Had she not known in advance that Li Shiming was here through a ’Phantom Avatar,’ she might have thought it was a real physical body.

Simultaneously, she gained a clear understanding of Li Shiming’s power. To bestow a ’Phantom Avatar’ with the strength of a Thunder Cultivator Great Cultivator means Li Shiming’s grasp in the path of Thunder Cultivation was beyond imagination.

Even she, a Peak Great Cultivator, couldn’t conjure an energy avatar to reach the level of Li Shiming’s ’Phantom Avatar.’

Li Shiming was unperturbed by the probing gaze of the Phoenix Palace Master. Given his current strength, unless Luanyang Palace intended to become mortal enemies with him, they wouldn’t dare take any action against his ’Phantom Avatar.’

He smiled and returned a salute along with the other male cultivators, showing respect for her status as a palace master.

"The initiation ceremony begins. Please, ancestors of the Luanyang, reveal yourselves!" The Phoenix Palace Master turned and bowed slightly towards the long table at the front of the hall as she spoke.

A flash of light appeared, and on the long table stood a jade-carved phoenix.

When the jade-carved phoenix appeared, Li Shiming felt his ’Phantom Avatar’ tremble. This body was unexpectedly influenced by a mere jade carving.

In his astonishment, he also understood that this jade-carved phoenix was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure, though its special abilities apart from being used as the ancestral token for the ceremony, were unknown to him.

The expression of the Phoenix Palace Master was extremely solemn, and no cultivator attending the ceremony showed anything but reverence towards the ancestral token of Luanyang Palace.

Then Master Li led Yin Shilan in. Today, Yin Shilan had donned a palace dress, the standard robe of Luanyang Palace.

Under the personal supervision of the Phoenix Palace Master, each step of the ceremony was conducted, with Yin Shilan proceeding to pay her respects to the ancestral token of Luanyang.

After completing her respects, a spiritual light emitted from the ancestral token of Luanyang, landing on her.

"Yin Shilan, for the contributions you have made to Luanyang Palace, upon my suggestion and with the elders’ recognition, upon your initiation, you will become a core disciple of Luanyang Palace. Here is a Red-Gold Phoenix egg bestowed upon you by Luanyang Palace. We hope you will diligently cultivate and live up to Luanyang Palace’s expectations!" The Phoenix Palace Master produced an egg and handed it to Yin Shilan, solemnly announcing.

Li Shiming gave an unexpected glance at Master Li, whose face showed surprise as well. Clearly, the proposal of the Phoenix Palace Master had not been discussed with Master Li beforehand.

Yin Shilan joyfully accepted the Red-Gold Phoenix egg. She didn’t need to dwell on those complex issues; the so-called contribution was undoubtedly because of Li Shiming.

What made her happy was that she also had a Red-Gold Phoenix; Little Feng had a companion.

Since becoming Daoist companions with Li Shiming, she had always been able to interact with Little Feng and the Illusion Spirit Dragon. Due to the Invisibility of the Illusion Spirit Dragon, and a female cultivator’s natural fondness for beautiful phoenixes, she had greatly desired to have a Red-Gold Phoenix of her own.

"Thank you, Palace Master!" Yin Shilan awakened from her surprise and expressed gratitude toward the Phoenix Palace Master.

"Congratulations to Yin Fairy, on behalf of Central State Commerce, I present you with a gift!"

"Congratulations to Yin Fairy, Beidou Sect presents a gift!"

At this moment, the Great Cultivators on the left stepped forward one by one to congratulate Yin Shilan and present their gifts.

Guests couldn’t refuse the blessings given, so when Yin Shilan glanced towards Li Shiming for guidance, he nodded slightly, and she accepted each gift.

The Phoenix Palace Master smiled as she watched, knowing that the reason for granting Yin Shilan core discipleship and even gifting a Red-Gold Phoenix upon her initiation was indeed because of Li Shiming.

Perhaps before Li Shiming’s ’Phantom Avatar’ came to the Central State Continent, the Phoenix Palace Master would have followed Master Li’s thoughts, arranging for Yin Shilan to receive a Red-Gold Phoenix soon in recent years.

However, the enthusiasm from superpowers across the Central State Continent towards Li Shiming made the Phoenix Palace Master realize Li Shiming’s importance; this in-law of Luanyang Palace could bring immense benefits.

There’s a particular issue the Phoenix Palace Master needed to consider. Yin Shilan hadn’t joined Luanyang Palace from the start but was introduced by Li Shiming after becoming his Daoist companion.

This meant Luanyang Palace’s influence on Yin Shilan wasn’t significant. Given the strong importance of Li Shiming, Luanyang Palace needed to increase its investment in Yin Shilan so she’d identify with Luanyang Palace, rather than just seeing it as a guide for Cultivation Techniques.

In addition to the male cultivators presenting gifts, some female cultivators from Luanyang Palace also stepped forward, offering their gifts.

They knew well the benefits of befriending Yin Shilan, understanding that this wasn’t being calculative but rather engaging in basic principles of conduct.

Perhaps only Yin Shilan’s initiation ceremony had such a scene; in a regular initiation ceremony, at most it would be solemn and there definitely wouldn’t be so many witnessing cultivators or mentions of gifts.