"Sect Master, all our disciples are in place, but there's no response from the Sacred Land yet," a disciple bowed and reported from within the grand carriage.
"Then we wait," Su Liang's voice drifted faintly from inside the carriage.
The Sacred Land was called so because it housed a Celestial Venerable, the sole Celestial Venerable in this world, and one at the peak of his cultivation. Therefore, regardless of the conflicts of interest among their respective races, they all showed the Sacred Land the utmost respect.
The Celestial Venerable's Ceremony was held once every thirty years. Logically, this year's ceremony was more than a year early. Normally, major sects only needed to send a Grand Elder, but for some unknown reason, Su Liang was specifically named on the Sacred Land's guest list, which was rather ambiguous.
When the Kui Mei Sect arrived, all its affiliated sects in the Central Domain automatically gathered behind them. The other two major sects did the same. Thus, at a glance, almost every first-rank sect had a following of over two to three million disciples.
And that did not even include the Sacred Land's own affiliated sects.
The Sacred Land had only three affiliated sects, but they were all exclusively from the Mengtian race and were all second-rank sects.
North: Kui Mei, West: Kuang Lang, East: Zhan Wang, and the Sacred Land resided in the center. This was the territorial jurisdiction of the Sacred Land and the three first-rank powers. All their first and second-rank sects were established in the Central Domain. This was due to the Central Domain having the most concentrated spiritual energy among the four regions, and it directly connected to other regions, making travel much more convenient.
As for the southern region, it was known by everyone as the Southern Wasteland. This was not because it was barren or depleted of spiritual energy; on the contrary, its spiritual energy was far more terrifying than the Central Domain's. It was even said by the Celestial Venerable himself that the spiritual energy of the entire world originated from the Southern Region, and it was only because the Central Domain shared the longest border with the Southern Region that its spiritual energy was more abundant than the other three regions.
Unfortunately, the Southern Region was the territory of spirit beasts. The outer regions were fine, but once one ventured ten thousand *li* into the Southern Region, the grade of spirit beasts would increase by one level approximately every two thousand *li*. Forget the cultivators of major sects; even the Sacred Land's Celestial Venerable, upon achieving his Celestial Venerable position, went to the Southern Wasteland once. After only venturing ten thousand *li* deep, he was injured and retreated.
Since then, the Celestial Venerable had never set foot in the Southern Wasteland again. Even now, at the peak of the Celestial Venerable realm, he only stayed in the Sacred Land, diligently cultivating, and had never spoken about his experiences in the Southern Wasteland.
Despite this, except for the Northern Region, countless cultivators from the other three regions were still flocking to the Southern Wasteland, hoping to find treasures.
"Su Liang? I didn't expect the Kui Mei Sect to be so close to the Sacred Land now. To come in person for this assistance, even the esteemed Sect Master of the Kui Mei Sect has arrived."
At this moment, a giant elephant, carrying a pavilion, slowly approached from the west. The pavilion was open on three sides, and purple gauze curtains fluttered in the air. Those unaware would think some peerless beauty was making an entrance.
"Oh ho, Kuang Lang? Your pavilion really is suitable for all seasons, isn't it?" Su Liang's voice came from within the grand carriage, tinged with a hint of mockery.
Kuang Lang?!
Su Liang's words instantly caused a stir among the onlookers. Compared to the gentle Sect Master Su Liang of Kui Mei and the warlike Patriarch Sha Tian of the Zhan Clan, the notorious reputation of this fellow Kuang Lang was known throughout the world.
He bore the name of his race and his personality was as his name suggested. Apart from the Celestial Venerable, even if the Sacred Land's Holy Lord offended him, he would immediately fly into a rage. And yet, the Sacred Land's Celestial Venerable seemed to particularly appreciate him, which was quite exasperating for the Holy Lord and others of the Sacred Land.
You see, every one of us from the Sacred Land is a disciple or descendant of the Celestial Venerable, but you specifically favor this Kuang Lang. If Kuang Lang were sweet-tongued, good at coaxing people, or handsome, it would be understandable. But this Kuang Lang has a hairy mouth, is immensely arrogant, and has even openly defied the Celestial Venerable several times. His appearance is also incredibly rough, with two long tusks protruding from the corners of his mouth.
"Heh heh, deep autumn? Perhaps only you, Su Liang, fear the cold. If we cultivators can't even endure this bit of chill, what's the point of cultivating? We might as well go home and farm." Kuang Lang retorted directly to Su Liang's remark.
Go home and farm.
Damn, this Kuang Lang truly lives up to his name. The Kui Mei race, whose ancestors were born from plants, is often mockingly called gardeners by many other races. Since the Kui Mei race became one of the three first-rank sects, no one dared to call them gardeners, not even the Sacred Land would show them respect.
"Kuang Lang, not everything can be said just because you have hair in your mouth. I heard there's been a beast tide in your Western Region recently? I presume Brother Kuang Lang has had great gains." Su Liang's tone remained mocking, but a hint of coldness crept in.
Beast tide, it is when millions upon millions of spirit beasts surge forth from the Southern Wasteland every few years. The weakest of these spirit beasts are comparable to beginner cultivators, while the strongest can rival enlightened mighty figures. What's more, their numbers are truly terrifying. Wherever a beast tide passes, it is far more devastating than a swarm of locusts.
"Su Liang, we are not like your Northern Region. You could say that our three major regions have helped you fend off the beast tide. I haven't asked you for resources and manpower, and yet you're standing behind me, spouting sarcastic remarks?"
As soon as Su Liang finished speaking, a terrifying killing intent descended from the sky. The killing intent condensed into a dark cloud, carrying a muscular giant who slowly landed in the eastern ranks.
"Sha Yun! Is that the Patriarch Sha Tian of the Zhan Clan? What's going on? Why have the sect masters of the three major first-rank sects personally arrived? Could this early Celestial Venerable's Ceremony be something special?"
The Celestial Venerable's Ceremony had been held over a hundred times since its inception, but apart from the very first one, the sect masters had never attended again.
"Who knows? But the sect masters of the three major sects haven't appeared for a long time. Their joint appearance this time, these few words alone are enough to provoke a life-and-death battle among the vassal sects."
"Who can say? It's finally been peaceful for a while, and now it seems that after we go back, I'll have to ask my parents to prepare more food. Otherwise, when war breaks out, there will be all sorts of famines again."
While the three great sect leaders engaged in a war of words above, the lower-ranked cultivators trembled. Everyone knew that the reason for their verbal sparring was that they were currently on Sacred Land territory. If this were anywhere else, a fight would have broken out long ago.
"Northern Region, North, Human Race, Sect Master Ying Yue of the Qing Yue Sect has arrived as summoned... to witness the demeanor of the Mengtian Celestial Venerable..."
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the boundless void, shaking the four directions...