Chapter 670: Chapter 680 Vermilion Bird Ring
"Reporting to Elder Wan, Chu Feng has been brought here!" Cao Jinlong stepped forward to pay his respects.
Elder Wanfa waved his hand and Cao Jinlong stepped to the side with his arms folded.
"Chu Feng, are you willing to take me as your master? Once you join the master’s gate, it’s as deep as the sea, and you must never betray it for your lifetime. Think carefully!" Elder Wanfa’s gaze was very imposing, as if to see through the depths of one’s heart.
"Disciple is willing! I will definitely be loyal to the sect and will never betray!"
Chu Feng was also very solemn.
"Good, let us begin the ceremony of taking an apprentice. Those present are your senior martial brothers and sisters. You must respect and cherish them," Elder Wanfa said with a satisfied nod. Turning to a servant Sword Boy, he said, "First take him down to bathe and change clothes!"
Chu Feng was taken down to cleanse and changed into a set of clothes prepared by Elder Wanfa.
These were the Inner Sect Disciple’s clothes he had long aspired to wear.
After putting them on, Chu Feng looked even more imposing.
When he was brought up again, the scene was already set up with an incense table and other objects. He secretly sized up the senior martial brothers and sisters sitting on stone stools. The oldest had white hair and wrinkled skin. Even the youngest looked middle-aged.
Everyone being cultivators, they appeared to be only around forty years old, but in reality, they could have lived for four hundred or a thousand years.
If one reaches the Realm of Sword Saint, the aging speed will dramatically decrease.
If one advances to the Sword God Realm, the aging will slow down even further.
Slowing the aging process does not mean eternal youth—over thousands of years, the effects of aging will gradually take hold, aging bit by bit.
Chu Feng was the youngest among the many disciples of Elder Wanfa.
He found that the aura emanating from his senior martial brothers and sisters was also extremely formidable, with none having a cultivation lower than Five-star Sword God.
"If it wasn’t for Elder Zi Xu’s strong recommendation, I probably wouldn’t have this opportunity," Chu Feng felt even more grateful towards Elder Zi Xu.
A designated official presided over the apprentice ceremony and began to loudly recite from the ceremonial script he held in his hands.
"Pitter-patter! How joyous!"
"Today, we have the young and outstanding Chu Feng, a person from Dan State, born on the eighteenth day of the last lunar month in the year of Ding Chou. After entering the sect, he has cultivated diligently, worked earnestly, and has shown exceptional performance in all aspects. He passed two stages of the Qiankun Sword Formation on his first attempt, solved the mystery of precious medicinal herbs stolen from Medicine Mountain number 106..."
The officiant listed Chu Feng’s merits and his astonishing performance in cultivation.
All of these served as the basis for why Elder Wanfa took Chu Feng as an Official Disciple.
In simpler terms, it was the capital that allowed him to stand alongside many older generation Heavenly Prides under Elder Wanfa.
The ceremonial script was very long, taking almost half an hour to read completely.
"Kneel before your master!"
Chu Feng immediately knelt in front of Elder Wanfa, who looked at Chu Feng with a joyful and kind face.
"First kowtow, entering the master’s gate!"
"Second kowtow, looking upon the master’s face!"
...
The apprentice ceremony was very grand, and the scene was solemn and serious, with many fellow martial brothers and sisters watching solemnly. Together they witnessed Chu Feng being accepted into the sect.
After three bows and nine kowtows, there were still many steps left, such as Elder Wanfa tapping Chu Feng’s head with a ring, which is called showing moral precepts.
Finally, Chu Feng offered tea to Elder Wanfa.
At this step, the procedure was essentially nearing its conclusion.
If during the process of the ceremony, Elder Wanfa felt that Chu Feng’s manner of speech and behavior, or other performances, were not good enough. He may choose not to drink this cup of tea.
That would mean that Chu Feng was not officially included in the sect’s roster.
He would still need to continue facing tests.
Fortunately, Elder Wanfa was very satisfied with Chu Feng and happily accepted the tea for the initiation ceremony, drinking it all in one gulp.
"Chu Feng, from today onwards, you are the thirty-eighth official disciple under my tutelage. When the Sect is in trouble, you have an undeniable responsibility to help, and if you are in danger, the Sect will also do its utmost to assist you. Whether it’s the Panlong Heavenly Emperor or other enemies, the Sect will stand by you to face them together."
Even Chu Feng’s enemies are well aware of this.
And it implies that they will stand together with Chu Feng against all enemies.
No wonder the Supreme Elder Wanfa took so long to prepare; before accepting Chu Feng, he must have conducted a thorough investigation.
He knew all about Chu Feng’s dual identities like the back of his hand.
When Chu Feng was in the Dan State Branch, the initiation under Elder Shoumei was ten times more meticulous.
Becoming a disciple of Elder Shoumei felt like acknowledging a family elder. But becoming a disciple of Supreme Elder Wanfa, Chu Feng felt a sacred solemnity.
At the same time, it also clarified his responsibilities and obligations, making Chu Feng more committed.
It also showed his standing in the Sect.
"Disciple will definitely remember the teachings of my master!" Chu Feng nodded firmly, his expression resolute.
"As your master, I know you possess the Nine Yang Sword Veins and also control an Abnormal Fire. This Vermilion Bird Ring is a gift for you as a token of our meeting; I hope you will make good use of it."
"It can gather Fire Energy, and when needed, it can be stimulated by your Sword Essence. Since it is a Magical Treasure, you will probably need to reach the Sword God Realm before you can use it."
Elder Wanfa is indeed generous, giving a Magical Treasure as a token for their meeting.
Chu Feng wasn’t coy and happily accepted it.
He never liked to take undue advantage. When Elder Wanfa needs it in the future, he will definitely craft a High Grade Elixir as a reciprocal gift.
By this time, the initiation ceremony was considered concluded.
The ceremony officiant loudly chanted, offering sacrifices, beating drums, and praying to the ancestral spirits.
The several sacrificial texts that he read for half an hour were ignited and thrown into the incense burner. Originally read aloud for everyone, they were now burned for the departed spirits.
This included the past Sect Masters of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect and the master of Elder Wanfa.
In such a Great Sect, great importance is placed on the mentor-disciple lineage.
Generation after generation.
"Alright, Chu Feng, from now on when you come here for lectures on Taoist Skills or for daily cultivation, sit upon that stone stump." Supreme Elder Wanfa pointed towards a large rock behind him.
Sword light shot out, instantly carving the uneven rock into a cylindrical stone stump.
And even carved Chu Feng’s name on it.
"Chu Feng, you can get to know your fellow disciples. Many of them have come out of seclusion early or traveled from distant places just to attend your initiation ceremony,"
After speaking, Elder Wanfa’s figure slightly flickered and he disappeared.
This was deliberately giving space to the group of disciples. With him, the master, present, everyone would definitely not be able to relax and the atmosphere wouldn’t be lively.
Chu Feng only knew Elder Zi Xu personally.
Fortunately, most of the Sect brothers and sisters are easy to talk to. Some, without waiting for Chu Feng to speak, introduced themselves first and greeted him with a smile.
However, there were also some aloof brothers and sisters.
After all, everyone has a different temperament and character. It’s impossible for everyone to be enthusiastic and easy to talk to.
Chu Feng, having lived thousands of years as a queer old fellow, did not mind this.
After getting to know all the brothers and sisters and exchanging a few words, he was now acquainted with them, at least familiar by face.
In the future, when they meet again, they will know they all share the same master.
So that it won’t be a situation where water floods the Dragon King Temple, with insiders fighting their own.