The days leading up to the Sect Grand Ceremony passed in a blur of monotonous routine for Xu Yi.
Her residence was reportedly under construction, so she spent her days either in the Scripture Pavilion or the quiet chambers of the Medicine Hall.
However, after a few enthusiastic visits from disciples in the quiet chambers, she stopped returning to the Medicine Hall altogether and stayed in the Scripture Pavilion all day.
One reason was to seek tranquility, and the other was to quickly understand what had happened during her two-thousand-year absence.
Due to Xu Yi's seniority, all the texts in the Scripture Pavilion were accessible to her, and she easily found the information she was looking for.
Just as in her dreams, five years after her disappearance, her junior sister Liu Jinghong joined the Xuanji Sect and was taken as a disciple by the Sect Leader Yuan Ming. This marked the beginning of her legendary life, where she shone brightly across the Nine Provinces Continent, stirring up turmoil.
Whether it was the Sword Cultivator genius of the Xuanqing Sect, the Buddha Son of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect, or even the fearsome and brutal Demon King of the Ten Thousand Demons, she had intricate connections with them all.
Her most revered achievement was single-handedly establishing a peace treaty with the demonic cultivators and the demon race, designating the Pillar Province and Divine Province of the Nine Provinces Continent as territories for the two races, thereby ending the strife on the chaotic Nine Provinces Continent.
Xu Yi finished reading, her mind in a daze, a sliver of relief silently surfacing in her heart.
Once again, witnessing Liu Jinghong's life, she couldn't help but be amazed.
Even if her dream-self hadn't died because of Liu Jinghong, she would have likely been won over by her.
She still often wondered why her dream-self had been so stubborn and fanatical.
Because of this, Xu Yi had a new realization: it was only for the man named Ji Xiu that she would have opposed Liu Jinghong, leading to a fate of utter annihilation.
Stay away from men, cherish your life.
Xu Yi decided to make this her guiding principle, reciting it daily to prevent herself from being consumed by romance.
After learning about Liu Jinghong's deeds, Xu Yi delved into information about her master and her fellow disciples from back then.
Except for her master, her other close fellow disciples had either perished elsewhere or their lifespans had run out. She had hoped that if she were fortunate enough to ascend, she could reunite with them in the Upper Realm, but alas...
As Xu Yi was reflecting in the Scripture Pavilion, Ji Buwang, who had been in secluded cultivation in the Central Hall, suddenly opened his eyes.
In the dimly lit cave dwelling, the purple aura swirling around his eyes was extremely apparent.
Ji Buwang had not expected that lightning power to be so overbearing; after half a month of seclusion, he had made no progress.
He looked down at the communication disk vibrating ceaselessly at his waist and pointed at it.
"Sect Leader, I have brought back the tribulation-passing disciple. She is unharmed, and you can continue your cultivation with peace of mind."
"Sect Leader, when will you emerge from seclusion? I have important matters to report!"
"Sect Leader, the one you asked me to bring back is not a disciple; she is the Sect Ancestor of the Xuanji Sect who has been missing for a long time! Please emerge from seclusion quickly to preside over the situation!"
"Sect Leader..."
Elder Qingfeng's voice continuously emanated from the communication disk, his tone growing higher and his urgency increasing.
After the communication disk finally fell silent, Ji Buwang's expression also subtly changed.
Xu Yi...
He silently uttered Xu Yi's name, a dark and inexplicable emotion appearing in his eyes.
After deep thought, he finally replied to Elder Qingfeng's message.
Elder Qingfeng, who was directing disciples in building a palace, felt the vibration of the communication disk at his waist. He raised an eyebrow, grabbed it, and pressed the playback mechanism.
"In seclusion, do not disturb."
Elder Qingfeng's brow furrowed.
So, did the Sect Leader see his messages, or did he not?
Considering the Sect Grand Ceremony scheduled in less than a month, Elder Qingfeng sent several more messages, but they all vanished into the sea, with no response. He knew then that the Sect Leader truly had no intention of coming out of seclusion.
Elder Qingfeng clicked his tongue, thinking, "Fine. Since the Sect Leader won't show up, I'll make this event lively enough that no one can find fault with it."
Then, he could... hehe.
With this thought, Elder Qingfeng's complexion became even more radiant, and his voice directing the disciples grew louder.
Elder Qingfeng was a man of decisive action. On the very first day he confirmed Xu Yi's identity, he had already settled on the date for the Sect Grand Ceremony with the other elders and notified all disciples of the Xuanji Sect.
During this time, all disciples scattered across other provinces, except for those who were truly indispensable, had returned.
It was thanks to the teleportation array developed by Fairy Jinghong and the advantageous geographical location of the Xuanji Sect that all disciples could return within the month.
There are nine heavens and nine provinces on earth. The Xuanji Sect is located in the heart of the Nine Provinces Continent, the Central Province, and it is the most powerful sect in the Central Province.
That's right, while the Xuanji Sect is the top sect in the Central Province, it is not the strongest power in the Nine Provinces Continent.
Sects of equal status to the Xuanji Sect include the Xuanqing Sect in Xuan Province, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple in Shi Province, the Beast Taming Gate in Yang Province, and the Grand Artifact Sect in Ang Province.
And above them all is the transcendent Kunlun Academy.
Because the Kunlun Academy rarely makes public appearances, most beings in the Nine Provinces Continent only know of the five great sects and not the Kunlun Academy.
Xu Yi also learned of the Kunlun Academy while poring over the ancient texts left by her ancestors. However, her ancestors were reticent about it, only mentioning it briefly in a few strokes, which only made a deep impression on Xu Yi.
Before Xu Yi could finish browsing the ancient books on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, the day of the Sect Grand Ceremony arrived.
Elder Qingfeng, in order to make Xu Yi feel the importance the Xuanji Sect placed on her and to show his own efforts to the Sect Leader, had arranged for an extremely grand Sect Grand Ceremony.
When Xu Yi appeared in the Sect Square, she nearly fled in terror.
This... isn't this a bit too much...
Xu Yi was almost stiffly escorted by several disciples onto the high platform of the Sect Square, and under the presided over by Elder Qingfeng, she became the youngest and lowest-cultivated Sect Ancestor of the Xuanji Sect.
Listening to the thunderous salutes from the densely packed Xuanji Sect disciples below, Xu Yi desperately maintained a solemn and serious demeanor, while silently shedding tears in her heart.
What virtue and ability does she have to become a Sect Ancestor?
She wanted to escape, but she couldn't.
In the end, she didn't even know how she managed to descend the high platform under the enthusiastic gaze of everyone.
"Ancestor, please take a look. This is the palace I have prepared for you. What do you think?"
Xu Yi looked at the magnificent and imposing palace before her with numb and dazed eyes.
Seeing this, Elder Qingfeng scratched his head uneasily. "You don't like it here? Then tell me what style you want, and I'll have someone change it immediately."
Seeing Elder Qingfeng about to call for people, Xu Yi quickly stopped him.
"There's no need, Elder Qingfeng." Xu Yi forced a smile. "I am very satisfied."
She was scared.
She was afraid that Elder Qingfeng would build an even more luxurious palace for her, and then she wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully.
"Please don't force yourself."
"Not at all, truly not at all. I really like it."
Fearing that Elder Qingfeng wouldn't believe her, Xu Yi further widened the curve of her lips, finally appeasing him.