Chapter 1232: 657: The Grand Ceremony Begins! Demon Race Imperial Palace!

As soon as the decree was issued, the entire True Martial Sect Battle Camp instantly boiled over. The True Martial Sect Battle Camp, usually solemn and heavy with killing intent, was in a flash shrouded in an indescribable surging vitality and soaring emotion.

This so‑called Mystic Yellow Cloud Sea was in fact a Dao Artifact.

It was condensed from the essence of heaven and earth, able to form a realm of its own, and would not be opened save for grand ceremonial events.

At this moment, in the midst of the war between races, the Human Clan could be said to hold absolute advantage, therefore the Supreme Sect Leader had decided to host this grand banquet within the True Martial Sect Battle Camp of the Cang Mang Domain.

Even if there were battles breaking out at the front lines, they could still rush over at the first possible moment.

"Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable... Jiang Taixuan must have set the record for the youngest to ascend to the Daoist Venerable Realm in all of Cang Mang Domain, no?"

"I truly cannot fathom what kind of talent and fortune this is. Even Zong Qingtian of Dao Yi Sect, he is still only at the Vientiane Realm. To ascend to Daoist Venerable, he will need at least a hundred years."

"The advancement in Realm is not what is most terrifying. What is truly terrifying is Jiang Taixuan’s battle power; he can suppress and kill even a Middle Stage Demon Venerable. Which newly advanced Daoist Venerable could possess such combat strength?"

The winds and clouds of the world shifted.

The sun and moon alternated.

As time flowed on, tens of thousands of cultivators gathered outside the True Martial Sect Battle Camp. Even those renowned Daoist Monarchs of the Vientiane Realm, whose might shook the world and who were presently in seclusion, all came out one after another. They too had heard the name Jiang Shu and wished to behold the bearing of this Daoist Venerable.

"Everyone, the hour has come. Please."

With the loud cry of the disciple guarding the mountain gate, strange phenomena suddenly erupted upon the mountain.

Taiwu Sect Leader stirred vast Power of Dao, and the cloud sea that had lain silent for countless ages roared into rolling motion, unfolding and coiling. Layer upon layer of Mystic Yellow Qi transformed into nine thousand steps of streaming, radiant ascension Jade Steps, spreading out from the great island, paving upward straight into the clouds.

Upon the summit, the ancient Asking Platform blossomed with boundless clear light. Above the platform hung a mighty sun condensed from Mystic Yellow Qi and a lunar wheel of Great Yin; sun and moon shared the same sky, shining in mutual brilliance, casting down pure and gentle radiance that bathed the Endless Sea, dissolving the division between day and night.

Floating isles like scattered stars, immortal springs cascading.

Above the cloud sea, one after another floating Immortal Island rich with Spiritual Energy emerged and hung suspended, staggered in graceful order.

Each Immortal Island was hewn from spiritual rocks and wondrous stone, every shape distinct. Jade mansions of the Divine Realm appeared faintly upon them, and between flying eaves and carved rafters, immortal birds and Spirit Beasts danced and wheeled.

As the cloud sea surged, star‑like lights gathered into a heavenly river. From the Immortal Islands, over a hundred Spiritual Springs of jade liquid, each thicker than a hundred zhang, poured forth in roaring torrents down into the cloud sea below, splashing up ten thousand streaks of resplendent rosy glow. Spiritual Energy condensed into mist, nourishing the four quarters.

The moment the decree spread, the territories of the Human Clan had already quaked.

The Sect Leaders and Supreme Elders of the eight top Sects of the Human Clan arrived together, and even some Daoist Venerables who had never joined any Sect came personally.

One could see streak after streak of Tunneling Light tearing through the heavens: nine‑dragon palanquins awe‑inspiring and majestic; immortal cranes riding auspicious clouds, leisurely and transcendent; and sword‑lights rending the long sky, peerlessly sharp.

Countless rays of Tunneling Light landed upon the Mystic Yellow Cloud Steps; they ascended step by step, exclamations of praise unceasing.

Ordinary cultivators, though unqualified to tread upon the cloud‑capped heights, still thronged the viewing zones along the edge of the cloud sea. The crowd was like an ocean, eyes burning bright, craning necks in anticipation.

The rich fragrance of Spiritual Meal and the melodious tones of immortal music and Dao sound rose and fell without end.

The Mystic Yellow Cloud Sea of True Martial Sect rolled ceaselessly.

Innumerable streaks of rosy glow descended from the Void, illuminating the suspended Immortal Islands so that they resembled Jade Mansions of the Divine Realm.

Looking carefully, the immortal music was melodious, clear Spiritual Springs turned into jade belts encircling the Dao Field, and dense Spiritual Energy condensed into cloud‑mist. With every inhalation and exhalation, vast Dao Rhyme flowed. The broad Asking Platform shone with streaming clear light, as if bearing the true meaning of the Great Dao.

If a True Monarch of Nirvana Realm could cultivate here long‑term, it was possible that he might comprehend a strand of Great Dao and achieve the seat of Daoist Monarch.

Below the platform, figures wove like threads.

The elites of the Human Clan were all present.

Sect Leader Elders of the Major Sects, their bearing deep and weighty, sat in solemn ranks beside the high platform.

Some Daoist Monarchs who had bathed in blood upon the battlefield now wore Magic Robes; the Evil Qi upon them, under the Power of Great Dao, transformed into billowing Spiritual Energy. Dao Yun shone like the moon as they clustered together in groups of three or five.

Meanwhile, some ordinary disciples at the main base of the Cang Mang Domain who had just advanced their Realm crammed the Cloud Steps and stone terraces of the viewing zones.

They did not dare release Divine Sense, but only used various gaze‑based Divine Skills to behold the grand spectacle in the far distance.

The focus of all gazes converged upon the center of the Asking Platform.

The hour had arrived.

The figure of the True Martial Sect Supreme Sect Leader, Taiwu Daoist Venerable, appeared soundlessly at the edge of the Jade Platform.

The instant he appeared, the uproar within the cloud sea instantly stilled; all sounds fell silent. Only the profound Flow of Daoist Rules became all the clearer.

Yet at this moment, no matter how awe‑inspiring the Supreme Sect Leader, he was not the sole focus of this heaven and earth.

Behind him, a young silhouette emerged.

There was no overwhelming oppressive aura, no world‑shaking vision. The newcomer’s presence was restrained, as though merged with the cloud sea beneath his feet and the heavens and earth around him, yet he could not be overlooked.

His figure was straight and tall, clad in a simple ink‑black Battle Robe. His face bore a hint of pallor from having struggled through life‑and‑death slaughter.

But his eyes were like a radiant star river, with sun and moon flowing within.

Jiang Shu took a single step forward.

In these few days, he had already nearly restored the injuries upon his body.

The wondrousness of the World Tree was such that even his Master, Purple Extreme Daoist Venerable, and the Supreme Sect Leader himself felt astonished upon witnessing it.

One must know, upon reaching the Mixed Cave Realm, damage to the fleshly body becomes extremely easy to repair.

What is most difficult is the restoration of the worlds one has opened within.

Some Daoist Venerables, after a single great war, must spend even a thousand years to restore their vitality.