Chapter 106: The Hasty Master-Apprentice Ceremony

But this time, before Zhang Ning could respond, the man pushed the door open and entered. Zhang Ning was stunned at the sight of him. “Second Senior Brother?”

The newcomer was Ming Chen, the second disciple of the Venerable Demon Lord of Myriad Phenomena, who had long been stationed within the sect. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his clear, handsome face was full of anxiety. “Junior Brother, why are you still here? The ceremony to formally accept disciples is about to begin!”

Zhang Ning was dumbfounded. “What?! A ceremony to formally accept disciples? No one told me! Such a big event... Is it the ceremony for me and the Master? No, what am I saying? Of course it is! But really, no one told me! Heaven help me, did I forget? Is it today? Right now?!”

He felt overwhelmed, nearly shouting as he tugged at his clothes, then dashed to a small wardrobe in the room, intending to change into formal attire first. But Ming Chen didn’t give him a chance; he grabbed Zhang Ning, tidied the disheveled clothes roughly, and pulled him outside.

“There’s no time. Just like this, I really can’t do anything with you!” Ming Chen said anxiously and irritably.

“You’re misunderstanding, Second Senior Brother. I wasn’t unprepared because of anything else... Heaven, this is the first time I’m hearing about this!” Zhang Ning exclaimed in frustration.

Ming Chen ignored Zhang Ning’s frantic “excuses,” which only made Zhang Ning more flustered.

At the same time, Zhang Ning struggled to accept the reality: from this moment on, I am officially the disciple of the Master? With a formal ceremony?

By the time they hurried to the towering Stone Staircase of the Heaven-Piercing Altar, located at the heart of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect and composed of countless concentric circles rising far above the ground, Zhang Ning still hadn’t fully recovered.

He instinctively glanced down beneath the altar, seeing Third Senior Brother Zhuge Yi and Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei standing below. Han Zun wasn’t standing with them but was also down there. Below, a dense crowd of the sect’s disciples stretched like a dark sea. Zhang Ning steeled himself, took a deep breath, and stepped up to the highest platform, unaware of the uneasy expressions on Zhuge Yi and Han Zhifei’s faces.

Meanwhile, Ming Chen, who had brought Zhang Ning, no longer looked anxious. His demeanor was relaxed as he casually walked to where Zhuge Yi and Han Zhifei stood. Yet, both of them wore grim expressions.

Zhuge Yi’s face was impassive as he spoke in a low voice, “Second Senior Brother, what do you mean by this? Why hold the disciple acceptance ceremony so suddenly? What are you trying to do to Fifth Junior Brother?” Han Zhifei stepped forward, blocking Zhuge Yi protectively. This was a senior brother he cared for deeply, especially as he had recently recovered from serious illness. Without uttering a word, Han Zhifei stared at Ming Chen sharply, his gaze tinged with anger.

Ming Chen paid no heed to his juniors’ attitudes. He adjusted his collar, looked toward Zhang Ning, and said calmly, “Is it not good to give Fifth Junior Brother a formal standing first? We don’t know when Master will even remember.”

Zhuge Yi and Han Zhifei exchanged glances, both puzzled by Ming Chen’s actions. Ming Chen’s eyes, however, remained fixed on Zhang Ning, deep and contemplative.

Zhang Ning struggled to calm himself. He felt he always encountered such sudden crises but could not keep getting startled without progress. After all, he was an heir of the Sacred Grounds; he should remain unfazed even if mountains crumbled before his eyes! Yet, he truly felt a bit weak... Looking down again, he noticed several senior brothers staring at him. Though he could not discern their expressions clearly, he sensed their earnest, expectant gazes.

The Master wasn’t here...

Zhang Ning felt a twinge of regret but recalled the steps Ming Chen had told him and gradually settled.

The Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect’s disciple acceptance ceremony was divided into two parts. The second part involved a banquet and the formal announcement to the world, paying respects to the Venerable Demon Lord Chu Hanyu. What Zhang Ning was completing now was the first part, which only required three steps and, strictly speaking, did not need others present. Thus, the Master’s absence was understandable. Zhang Ning told himself not to overthink.

Recalling Ming Chen’s instructions, he slowly ascended to the highest point of the Heaven-Piercing Altar under everyone's gaze, where an unassuming table held two spirit vessels resembling wine cups. He first lifted one; the water inside was pitch black, deep and mysterious as if from the abyss below the earth. He dipped his finger into the water and flicked a few drops away—the water immediately sank into the altar, merging with the earth.

This water was called Profound Heavy Water, noted on the Rare Treasures List of the Azure Sky Realm. It was not only found there but considered precious across many realms. Comparable to the now nearly extinct Tonight Black Water, it was more common and milder in nature, with a sweet and bland flavor, belonging to the Earth element, supremely profound and heavy—an invaluable material for refining elixirs and crafting objects that ordinary people could hardly imagine. Here, it was used for the first step of Zhang Ning’s disciple acceptance ceremony: “Respectfully announcing to Heaven and Earth.”

This step was designed to test whether the successor was compatible with the Cloud Freedom Visualization Technique, one of the sect’s core cultivation methods. One of its difficulties was “dividing the pure and turbid of the world,” allowing light, pure substances to ascend to the heavens while heavy, turbid substances sank to the earth—a process that tested one’s innate nature and temperament.

In reality, as long as one had practiced the Cloud Freedom Visualization Technique, this ritual would always succeed. It did not strictly test compatibility but was nonetheless an expensive, solemn ceremony. Zhang Ning’s expression grew increasingly serious. Then he lifted the other cup; with a flick of his finger, the water droplet rose into the sky, gradually shrinking until it seemed to dissolve into the sunlight. He watched it intently for a long moment before lowering his head to begin the second step.

The second step was “Worshiping the Sages.” Zhang Ning drew three incense sticks, lit them, and placed them atop the Heaven-Piercing Altar. The smoke curled upward to the horizon, ethereal and otherworldly, far removed from the mundane, though indeed tangible. This step was not only a prayer and blessing but also sent some of Zhang Ning’s personal information to the powerful beings of the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Sect who had ascended to higher realms or ventured to the Demon Realm or other worlds. It informed them that the sect was about to have a new direct disciple! After some time, the Azure Sky Realm would receive their replies, sometimes carrying opinions that could influence the current sect leader.

This step was also why the disciple acceptance ceremony was usually divided into two parts. Zhang Ning would have to wait some time before officially becoming Chu Hanyu’s disciple in name.

As Zhang Ning watched the incense, his hands began to tremble belatedly. He wondered whether the elders receiving this “information” were stern and serious, and whether they would dislike him for pioneering the live broadcasting industry in the Azure Sky Realm or for his somewhat rebellious, “arrogant” personality. Yet, even if they disapproved, surely the Master would accept him, right? But Zhang Ning felt the Master had a traditional streak. If those old fellows truly opposed, might it affect the Master’s decision?