Second Time

Chapter 77 - Celebration

Not long after Shenyu arrived at the peak, it came time for Shao Yue's ascendance ceremony.

Representatives from every sect and clan that could send people had arrived at the Immortal Steel Sect. It wasn't only limited to organizations within the continent. The other three continents also sent people. A new Emperor could affect the entire world.

Two entire mountain peaks had to be repurposed just to hold all of the visitors. The lower ranking cultivators of the sect acted like servants, ensuring everyone was comfortable and smoothing out any issues.

There was one strange thing about the servants. Every single one of them was male. Typically in such events, the important visitors would be assigned beautiful handmaidens, but Lai Qiao had arranged it in such a way to appeal to Shao Yue's values.

On the day of the ceremony, more than a thousand tables had been set up outside of the palace on the main peak. The ones qualified to attend quickly filled the seats. Attendants streamed out of the palace, carrying food and wine for all of the guests.

All of the other human Emperors were present, even including the Martial Emperor and Blood Emperor. The former sat alone, while the latter was surrounded by other practitioners of devilish techniques.

The devil's path cultivators were basically deep inside enemy territory. They had an appropriate amount of power to ensure their safety, perhaps the strongest foreign group in the audience. The other guests regarded them warily, but the Blood Emperor remained relaxed.

Shao Yue hadn't made many connections during her second life, but her alchemy teacher Grandmaster Zeng was in attendance, as well as Master Mo, the man who had instructed Cai Fei in arrays.

Shao Yue wasn't yet present, but as the sun rose to its highest point in the sky, around a dozen brightly coloured lights could be seen approaching from Rainbow Mist Peak.

Shao Yue was in front, with Cai Fei at her side. Peng Fuyi had arranged their outfits. Shao Yue wore red and gold imperial robes, looking quite majestic, while Cai Fei wore deep blue robes themed after an imperial consort's, which she didn't quite know how to feel about. Their hairstyles and jewelry matched those roles.

The tables had all been set up in a semicircle around a three-tiered platform. An ornate throne sat at the very top, with two slightly inferior seats to the left and right. The middle level had two more seats, and the bottom had enough for each of her direct disciples.

"Remember, Liezhu," Shao Yue said. "No matter what Shenyu says, do not bite her."

"I get it already!"

The various cultivators descended onto the platform, each taking the position Shao Yue had instructed them to take. The ten direct disciples appeared on the bottom level, each one with their own unique form of beauty that stirred the hearts of the male guests.

Liezhu and Shenyu appeared on the second level. Some people were familiar with Liezhu, but aside from the Thunder and Ocean Emperors, nobody had seen Shenyu. Considering her position, they could make some guesses as to her power or importance.

Shao Yue naturally took the most important position, with Cai Fei and Hu'er at her sides. She stood with her hands clasped behind her back and her eyes closed.

Everyone stood up and turned in her direction, clasping their hands and bowing. "Greetings, Sword Empress!"

After a few breaths, Shao Yue slowly opened her eyes. At the same time, she let her Authority loose, pressing down on everyone present.

It wasn't an aggressive act. In fact, it was customary at such ceremonies. Resisting Authority gave benefits to the souls of cultivators and many believed that experiencing it could increase the chances of reaching the Emperor Realm.