Chapter 1233: 657: The Grand Ceremony Begins! Demon Race Imperial Palace! (2)

But for Jiang Shu, as long as the World Tree continues to exist, his inner world will continue to grow stronger indefinitely. After a brief moment of silence, just like water droplets falling into boiling oil, the entire Mystic Yellow Cloud Sea erupted into a frenzy upon Jiang Shu’s appearance.

"Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable!"

"Years ago, I caught a glimpse of the Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable from afar. At that time, he was already in the Vientiane Realm, renowned and illustrious. I never imagined that in such a short time, even before the title of Daoist Monarch was fully spread, he had already ascended to the Chaos Hole Realm!"

"I heard that the moment Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable broke seclusion, he slew three Demon Venerables in a row, such combat prowess is simply unheard of."

"It’s more than just three, haven’t you seen the battle reports from the front lines? The Demon Race even dispatched the late-stage Demon Venerable, Heaven-Burning Ancestor. And what happened? Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable not only escaped from Heaven-Burning Ancestor but also killed the other Demon Venerables. If Supreme Mysterious Daoist Venerable is given more time, who can imagine what realm he might reach."

Exclamations of amazement, reverence, and awe...

Emotions of all kinds erupted and intertwined, with faint murmurs continuously weaving beneath.

Countless gazes burned fervently, fixed upon Jiang Shu.

Hu Yi, disguised as a Human, sat below, taking deep breaths with a barely concealed excitement on his face.

Although the Fox People have now joined the Human Clan, their lineage had already been marked by Jiang Shu.

The higher Jiang Shu’s realm and combat strength, the higher the status of the Fox People.

Taiwu Daoist Venerable raised his hand slightly, his voice calm yet overshadowing all the clamor.

"Silence."

With just those two words, all that remained between heaven and earth was the sound of the wind and his echoing words.

"Today’s Asking Dao Banquet celebrates our sect’s Jiang Shu breaking into the Daoist Venerable level, with solid foundations and a promising future!"

Taiwu Daoist Venerable cast his gaze over the crowd, his authority tinged with a rare warmth.

"Furthermore, it is to honor all the heroes who have battled with valor, shedding blood and sweat for our Human Clan’s territory over these years!"

"It is precisely because of your meritorious deeds that the foundation for today’s peace is laid!"

He turned, his voice clearly reaching Jiang Shu’s ears.

"In times like these, we must encourage one another."

Jiang Shu stepped forward, standing beside Taiwu Daoist Venerable, and slowly scanned the audience with countless expectant, fervent, and admiring faces.

Seeing those familiar faces, a ripple emerged in his calm, water-like eyes.

He spoke with a voice not loud, yet carrying the will of thousands, clearly imprinted on everyone’s heart through the cloud sea.

"Fellow Daoists, and brothers in arms."

"This grand feast is not due to the achievements of one alone."

"The Supreme Sect Leaders of the Eight Great Sects and Supreme Elders guarded dangerous grounds, crushing Demon Venerables; sect disciples fought bloody battles with Divine Skills. Even ordinary mortals transported supplies in the Cang Mang Domain."

Jiang Shu’s voice was steady, without embellishing the dangers he had faced.

This Asking Dao Banquet was not only held for him.

It was also for the True Martial Sect.

Once the great war ends, with the reshuffling of forces in the Cang Mang Domain, the True Martial Sect can use this feast to recruit more Loose Cultivator Daoist Monarchs and yet-to-grow geniuses in advance.

"The so-called Demon Race, the so-called Imperial Palace, these obstacles will be trampled underfoot."

"From the Endless Sea, we slay to the Chaotic Demon Sea; in the future, we might even occupy the entire Demon Domain."

"Once victorious, all future cultivators will remember this battle!"

Jiang Shu paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

"Comrades... the Great Dao lies ahead! The future of the Cang Mang Domain is in our hands, the flame never extinguishes, the battle spears never rest!"

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted with a response like a mountain crashing into the sea, as if lava accumulated for millennia burst forth in an instant!

"The flame never extinguishes, the battle spears never rest!"

"The flame never extinguishes, the battle spears never rest!"

Countless cultivators, especially those who had experienced the baptism of war, flushed with excitement, raised their arms and roared in unison.

The sound waves rolled up the mystic yellow clouds, shaking the nine heavens, declaring the unyielding will of the Human Clan.

The entire Mystic Yellow Cloud Sea was completely ignited by this magnificent fighting spirit!

On the cloud steps near the Asking Platform’s perimeter, three figures stood side by side, none other than Jiang Shu’s three senior brothers.

The cultivation of the three was not inferior, but compared to Jiang Shu, the gap was widening.

The disparity grows ever larger.

At this moment, watching the high platform, the much-admired, valiant young junior brother, and feeling the entire crowd’s boiling will because of his speech, their eyes were filled with almost unhideable complex emotions.

"Ah, the last time we saw our junior brother was more than a year ago. Even then, his realm surpassed ours; now he has achieved Daoist Venerable status. I fear I’ll never even see his shadow in this lifetime," sighed Ruyi Monarch.

He had found his path and would soon reach the position of Daoist Monarch.

Having already achieved Vientiane, Thunder Shock Daoist Monarch and Hai Guang Daoist Monarch exchanged looks and showed bitter smiles.

Being from the same sect, they sincerely regarded Jiang Shu as their junior, but deep inside they also held a sense of comparison.

But now it seems that this mindset might never come to fruition.

Soon after, Thunder Shock Daoist Monarch’s face showed a smile, saying joyfully:

"With such a junior brother, we seniors are indeed blessed with benefits. For instance, the resources I hold have increased considerably compared to before. Clearly, it’s all thanks to my junior brother."

The Eight Great Sects were currently in unity, and some resources within the alliance—even for a Daoist Monarch like him—were not easily accessible.

He applied several times without success.

Initially thought that more merits were required, not expecting to benefit from his junior’s fame.

"Hahaha, Senior Brother, should you need more resources, I still have some. I’m not going to the front lines, and if giving you resources helps you attain Daoist Venerable, then our lineage would have three Daoist Venerables," Ruyi Monarch promptly replied.

Although he was poised to advance to Daoist Monarch, reaching Daoist Venerable was extremely difficult. It would be better to give resources to his senior in advance.

The three senior brothers laughed heartily.

On the other side, Lu Chong listened to Jiang Shu’s words, feeling his own heart surge with emotion.

Initially, when entering the Demon Sect ruins, he believed he would care for Jiang Shu.

Not long after, Jiang Shu, now recognized as Jiang Taixuan, had become a Daoist Venerable, someone he gazed up to.

He wondered how many years it would take to reach that realm.

Lu Chong raised his cup in a distant salute to Jiang Shu, regardless of whether Jiang Shu saw it or not.

As he was still in the Vientiane Realm, among ordinary disciples, he was an Elder, but around Jiang Shu now, every one was a Daoist Venerable level being!

...

Meanwhile, at the core of the Demon Domain, deep within the Imperial Palace.

The space here was thick like blood, immense, with the overwhelming demon power weighing like heavy lead clouds over everything.

Scarlet traces of light reflected off the ancient and grotesque hall stone walls, filling the air with a blend of blood scent, madness, and the oppressive aura of supreme authority.

A vast Water Mirror hung within the hall, its surface shifting, displaying the grand scene of ten thousand cultivators present at the True Martial Sect’s Mystic Yellow Cloud Sea, clearly reflecting Jiang Shu’s figure on the high platform, and his words "the flame never extinguishes, the battle spears never rest!" that incited the thunderous roar.

Next to the Water Mirror lay several Shattered Light Crystal Stones, recording the damage to the array hubs at Desolate Sand Sea and Thousand Streams Creek, and the damage to their spirituality.

Bang!

A heavy, heart-stopping boom resounded.

Perched on the highest throne, Dragon Venerable was enshrouded in inky dark gas, with an indiscernible form, but exuding a terrifying Dragon Might, partially leaning forward.

A giant claw, clad in cold dark gold scales as if forged from Divine Gold, slammed heavily onto the armrest of the throne.

The once indomitable Abyss Black Jade armrest, capable of withstanding impacts from the Great Dao, shattered instantly, turning to dust and slowly drifting onto the cold dark gold metal floor.

The air in the hall froze instantly as if time halted even for the tiniest movement in the depths of the Great Hall.