Chapter 462: Chapter 445: Kicking It Off, Huo Huo Huo
On December 21st, the online game adaptation of "Holy Hall" will be having its open beta launch! I hope everyone will support it. In the game, there will be a giveaway for an exclusive Demon Pet, the "Skeleton Elf," which is based on me! Brothers and sisters who want to take a skeleton for a walk can’t miss out. It’s said that there will also be random drops for super-rare Skeleton Elves (lol)!
For those of you who want to join the beta test and claim prizes, just smash the "Play Game" button on the side!
Also, announcing the official Skeleton Elf fan group for both readers and gamers: 237444024
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’If the situation was hopeless, a wretched life would be better than a noble death. But if there was hope, he, Yang Yingtian, would really have to reconsider. In any case, with his connection to Yang Ying, there was still a way back for him.’
’Now, it all came down to whether this Wang Meng had any real skill.’
The arrival of the Evil Spirit Hall and the Lihuo Sect was like a timely rain, easing the tense atmosphere. Almost everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
While this was partly due to the little schemes Wang Meng had orchestrated in the past, the most important factor was that, faced with the constant pressure from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, even the Evil Cultivators needed to unite—by aligning with the Heaven-Dominating Hall, of course.
Jiny Tiannan, the Sect Leader of Heaven-Dominating Hall, arrived with Yanm Yuyue.
The moment Jiny Tiannan appeared, every Sect Leader present rose to their feet. In an era without Xuee Zhongnan, this Great Perfection Sect Master was the only one left who could contend with the Celestial Demon.
Zhao Xinglun was particularly eager to gain Jiny Tiannan’s support, but when he approached enthusiastically, Jiny Tiannan simply gave a brief nod and his gaze swept past him.
"Youth produces heroes. Sect Leader Wang, under your leadership, the Holy Hall is destined for a glorious future!"
Jiny Tiannan appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties, his presence exceedingly majestic and domineering—a stark contrast to the gentle Xuee Zhongnan.
"Thank you, Sect Leader Jiny. Please."
Wang Meng wasn’t quite used to such formal exchanges, but he was very grateful for Jiny Tiannan’s arrival and support. Nearby, Yanm Yuyue winked playfully, pointed at Wang Meng’s robes, and gave him a thumbs-up.
Master Wang could only feel a sense of resignation; it seemed everyone who knew him well had to poke a little fun at him.
Jiny Tiannan from Heaven-Dominating Hall was an expected guest, and with his arrival, it seemed that was all.
’But... it really is a poor turnout.’
Thunderbolt and the others were starting to feel some regret. ’If we’d known it would be like this, we should have invited more of the Small Sects just to fill the seats. If we can’t have quality, we could at least have quantity,’ they thought.
Wang Meng looked up at the sky; it was getting late. ’I invited so many people. Surely not a single one of them will show up?’
After another moment, Zhao Xinglun offered a faint smile. "Sect Leader, it seems all the guests have arrived. Shall we begin?"
"Let’s wait a little longer."
’Mo Chen, at least, should be coming,’ Wang Meng thought.
Zhao Xinglun smiled and sat back down. The other guests remained seated as well, all wondering how this young Sect Leader was going to handle this embarrassing situation.
He had clearly invited other guests, but as of yet, not a single one had shown up.
In Tongming City, aside from the Eight Great Castles, several other sects were still observing from the sidelines. Being a fence-sitter was a difficult game to play.
"So there’s been no one else since Jiny Tiannan arrived?"
"No one. But Wang Meng is still waiting. He’s just putting himself in an awkward position. If no one else comes, or at least no other major figures, won’t it be even more humiliating for him?"
"He’s young, after all. Still too inexperienced."
The once-gentle sun now felt scorching.
Scorching, too, were their moods.
Down at the foot of the mountain, Hu Jing and Zhang Xiaojiang were also growing anxious. Zhang Xiaojiang was pacing back and forth in a panic. "How can this be? Is this really everyone who’s coming?"
Xie Tianhua, in contrast, remained perfectly calm. He was not only even-tempered but also a man of few words.
Hu Jing couldn’t hold back any longer. "Brother Xie, I’ve heard that your master and our Sect Leader have a close relationship. Is he not coming today?"
Xie Tianhua smiled faintly. "That is not for me to say."
"Dude, what are you waiting for? Contact him already!" Zhang Xiaojiang urged. "This is a huge day for Brother Meng! We can’t let people look down on him!"
Zhang Xiaojiang was nowhere near as composed as Hu Jing. If they had a trump card, he thought they should play it immediately.
Xie Tianhua still wore that same placid smile. "In this entire world, no one is qualified to look down on Martial Uncle Wang."
He suddenly looked off into the distance. "See? Here they come now."
A massive Teleportation Array flashed into existence in the sky. Its sheer scale and power were earth-shattering from the moment it appeared.
Xie Tianhua straightened up, his spirits lifted. ’The main event is finally starting,’ he thought. He hadn’t come here just to greet a few small-fry sects. As a disciple of the Taiyin Sect, he was well-versed in the protocols of the Star Alliance’s various powers. He had been worried that Hu Jing and Zhang Xiaojiang wouldn’t be able to cope and would inadvertently break etiquette.
On the Holy Mountain, some were growing drowsy with boredom while others felt their hearts burning with anxiety. This heavy, oppressive atmosphere was finally shattered by the light of the Teleportation Array.
A voice boomed out with congratulations, echoing across the Holy Hall.
"Fan Ru, Sect Leader of the Dharma Flower Sect from the Tide Small Thousand Realm, congratulates Wang Meng on his ascension as Sect Leader of the Holy Hall!"
The guests were stunned for a moment, their minds racing. ’The Dharma Flower Sect?’
’Damn, isn’t that a sect ranked somewhere in the sixties in the Star Alliance?’
The Ten Thousand Demons Sect had only just managed to break into the top one hundred.
The aura of a Great Perfection cultivator soared into the heavens.
"Sect Leader Fan, if you please," Xie Tianhua said respectfully.
Beside him, Fan Hong couldn’t help but complain, "The old man told you to get here earlier!"
Fan Ru chuckled. "You rascal. This isn’t an occasion for rashness."
Fan Hong spotted Zhang Xiaojiang and suddenly extended a hand. "You must be the legendary Zhang Xiaopang! I’m Fan Hong!"
"You’re Fan Hong?"
"Haha, I feel like we should hug!"
The two hit it off instantly, but this was clearly not the time for conversation.
The moment Fan Ru appeared, the atmosphere shifted. This was the master of a sect even more powerful than Jiny Tiannan’s.
Fan Ru exchanged no unnecessary pleasantries, adhering strictly to protocol. The current situation needed no embellishment with extra words or expressions.
Seeing Fan Ru’s arrival, Wang Meng finally felt at ease.
Just a few minutes later, another Teleportation Array materialized in the sky. This one was even larger and more ornate, marked by a massive rainbow emblem.
Xie Tianhua’s voice rang out, "Yang Jian, Sect Leader of the Celestial Rainbow Sect, congratulates Wang Meng on his ascension as Sect Leader of the Holy Hall!"
And who was Yang Jian? He was the leader of a major sect ranked sixteenth in the Star Alliance, as well as a City Lord in the Slaughter Space—a truly powerful and influential figure. He was an expert frequently highlighted in Star Alliance promotions. To be precise, he was an Overlord.
Zhao Xinglun was struck dumb. He never would have imagined that Yang Jian would give Wang Meng so much face.
Of course, Yang Jian had to. Wang Meng had solved the crisis in Snow Moon City; if Yang Jian didn’t show him at least this much respect, it would reflect poorly on his own character.
"Brother Yang, you’re too kind!"
"Haha, Younger Brother Wang, on such an important day, how could I, as your elder brother, possibly be absent?"
Yang Jian naturally took a seat of honor, exchanging a smile with Fan Ru.
With Yang Jian’s appearance, the members of the smaller sects were completely floored. In all their years of cultivation, this was the first time any of them had laid eyes on such a monumental figure.
This was the kind of person, they knew, who could annihilate a Major Sect with a flick of his finger.
’This trip was more than worth it,’ they thought. ’That damn Ten Thousand Demons Sect is still far too inexperienced to compare.’
Meanwhile, back in Tongming City, the sects that had been watching from the sidelines could no longer remain seated. How could this be happening???
Just when everyone assumed Yang Jian was the most distinguished guest at the ceremony, he sat there unconcernedly, looking perfectly at ease.
He knew perfectly well that Mo Chen from the Taiyin Sect, at the very least, would be attending. There was no need for him to put on a show.
Once Yang Jian arrived, even the breathing of the cultivators below seemed to grow more cautious. The Sect Leader of the Celestial Rainbow Sect, the City Lord of Snow Moon City, a publicly recognized expert in the Star Alliance—he was far beyond what any ordinary Great Perfection cultivator could compare to.
The visiting sects suddenly realized that this young Sect Leader was far more formidable than he appeared. He didn’t need any ’face’ in the Four Directions Small Thousand World, because his influence extended to a much higher plane.
Just as the crowd was still buzzing with excitement over Yang Jian’s arrival, another announcement echoed up from the foot of the mountain.
"Bu Qingyun, Master’s Disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect, and Ling Fei, Master’s Disciple of the Flower Fairy Sect, on behalf of our respective Sect Leaders, congratulate Master Wang on his ascension as Sect Leader of the Holy Hall!"
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded. They had all assumed Wang Meng was just lucky to have connections with one or two major sects, but it was clear now that they had all underestimated him. Zhao Xinglun was completely gobsmacked. Thunderbolt and the others exchanged looks of disbelief; while overjoyed, they couldn’t help but feel emotional. It seemed even they had greatly underestimated Wang Meng. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please consider supporting the author by voting on Qidian.com! Your support is my greatest motivation.)