Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

As soon as Jiuyou stepped onto the viewing platform, everyone's eyes turned to him.

Just as the grand ceremony was about to begin, Jiuyou arrived late.

In the southwest corner, an elder from the newly established Foundation Establishment faction, the Golden Light Sect, scoffed:

"Rogue cultivators have no manners; they even arrive at banquets right at the last minute..."

Jiuyou frowned, calmly accepting the gazes of the crowd and ignoring the man's sneer.

He came to observe the ceremony, not to cause trouble.

It's best to keep a low profile.

Just as Jiuyou was about to find a corner to sit down, the Golden Light Sect elder, seeing that he had been ignored and lost face, immediately raised the storage bag at his waist and continued to mock:

"Didn't you hear me talking to you? Or do you think it's perfectly acceptable to be late for Qingming Zhenren's Core Formation Ceremony?"

"A rogue cultivator like you probably can't offer anything decent as a congratulatory gift, can you?"

The words fell.

Some cultivators in the arena looked at Jiu You with great interest, appearing indifferent and ready to watch the show.

Some cultivators agreed with the elder of the Golden Light Sect and discussed the matter extensively, criticizing the Nine Netherworld Sect in their words.

It seemed that damaging the reputation of the Heavenly Underworld Palace was more serious than damaging their own reputation...

Jiuyou calmly took his seat, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

He peeled a crystal grape, tasted it carefully, and then replied coldly:

"Rest assured, if I attend this elder's funeral in the future, I will definitely be there on time and I will also make sure to bring him a valuable burial gift."

The main person in charge of the Core Formation Ceremony—Master Qingming—has not yet appeared.

Are these people who want to curry favor with the Heavenly Underworld Palace already so eager to show off?

"you……!!"

The elder of the Golden Light Sect slammed his hand on the table, glared fiercely at Jiu You, and was about to unleash a torrent of abuse.

But a proclamation came from the mountain.

"Master Qingming has arrived!"

Before the morning mist had dissipated, a deep, resonant bell rang out atop Dongxia Peak, accompanied by a surge of spiritual energy.

Nine golden-beaked cranes carrying jade talismans cleared the way, and the spiritual winds stirred up by their wings swept away the clouds and mist.

A bronze chariot, carved with dark blue dragon patterns, emerged from the mist. A seven-colored glass lantern hung from the top of the chariot, its wick burning with seven-colored flames, illuminating the viewing platform with dazzling light.

Four snow-white rhinoceroses rode on clouds, pulling a chariot, their hooves creating ripples. They were all second-tier demonic beasts!

Then disciples on both sides of the mountain path shouted in unison:

"Welcome, Palace Master!"

The carriage curtains rolled up without wind, and Qingming Zhenren slowly stepped out of the carriage.

He wore a black robe with blue patterns, his hands were behind his back, his hair and beard were as black as ink, his eyebrows and eyes were like abysses, and although there seemed to be no fluctuation of magic power around him, he silenced the birds and beasts within a ten-mile radius.

This is a Core Formation cultivator, a being worthy of being called a sect or ancestor.

The cultivators below were filled with longing, their expressions a mixture of envy and awe, and they all rose to pay their respects.

"Welcome, True Immortal Qingming!"

"No gift."

The voice was neither fast nor slow, yet it resonated like thunder across the crowd.

Master Qingming sat on the main seat, surveying the entire room. He lightly tapped the armrest with one hand and asked with a smile:

"While I was in the carriage, I heard someone slamming their fist on the table. Is there any fellow Daoist who is dissatisfied with the arrangements made by the Heavenly Underworld Palace?"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at the Golden Light Sect elder and Jiu You.

The Golden Light Sect elder froze, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Then, in a moment of inspiration, he pointed at the Nine Netherworlds and said:

"Please forgive me, sir. This old man arrived late and showed no respect for etiquette, clearly showing no interest in the Heavenly Underworld Palace ceremony. Therefore, I argued with him in a fit of anger..."

He was the one who provoked us first...

At this moment, however, he disguised himself as a vanguard who was determined to defend the majesty of the Heavenly Underworld Palace to the death.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Qingming Zhenren turned his gaze to Jiuyou, his eyes gradually revealing a majestic light.

Qingming Zhenren doesn't care who is right or wrong.

But this is also a good opportunity to demonstrate the power and prestige of a Core Formation cultivator...

Despite being inexplicably flattered, Jiuyou remained calm and took out a jade box.

"Your Excellency is wise. I was busy preparing a congratulatory gift, so I was a little late. It was not because I was being negligent."

With that, Jiuyou opened the jade box.

A fiery red light shot out, accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance.

"This is a three-stage Fire Spirit Pill. I heard that the young master has just achieved Foundation Establishment, so I specially offer this pill to help him consolidate his realm."

Below the main seat, a young man with a chubby build and pale skin lit up with excitement: "Grandpa, I want..."

Qingming Zhenren's gaze softened, and he raised his hand to take away the Three-Turn Fire Spirit Pill. After confirming that it was genuine, he couldn't help but glance at Jiuyou a few more times.

"Well, I have a heart."

The Qingming Master lost his son in middle age, leaving him only a grandson, whom he doted on.

This pill is of a quality that is vaguely of mid-grade second rank, and the Heavenly Nether Palace is not lacking in this one pill.

But mainly because it perfectly matched his grandson's cultivation method, this gift was to Qingming Zhenren's liking.

Jiuyou chuckled to himself from below the stage.

Gongyang Wen originally refined an entire batch of these Three Mysterious Fire Spirit Pills, intending to offer them all to the Heavenly Underworld Palace for a big reward.

Having been intercepted by myself, I'm now only offering one as a token of my appreciation.

If Gongyang Wen knew this from beyond the grave, would he be so angry that he would turn into a vengeful ghost...?

the other side.

When the elder of the Golden Light Sect saw that the congratulatory gift presented by Jiuyou had won his approval, he immediately panicked.

Damn it, the other side actually managed to get their hands on a third-stage Fire Spirit Pill!

I thought it was an excuse to make a fuss.

I didn't expect them to be competitors?

Instead, the other party started currying favor with them first...

"This is the Golden Light Flying Sword forged in the Sword Forging Pool of my Golden Light Sect. I offer it to you, True Person, wishing you success in achieving your Golden Core and shining with boundless brilliance!"

The elder of the Golden Light Sect reluctantly took out a golden flying sword from his storage bag.

Originally, the congratulatory gift he wanted to present was a flying sword, which was slightly inferior.

But at this moment, we cannot be outdone by a rogue cultivator.

Therefore, the elders of the Golden Light Sect had no choice but to reluctantly offer the sword as a congratulatory gift.

"good."

Master Qingming simply nodded slightly and gestured with his eyes, and a master of ceremonies stepped forward to take away the golden flying sword.

A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd, who whispered amongst themselves.

The elder of the Golden Light Sect blushed deeply...

Anyone could see that True Man Qingming preferred the pills from the Nine Netherworlds.

One person accepts it personally, while the other has the emcee accept it on their behalf.

Admittedly, the value of that golden flying sword is greater than that of the Three Profound Fire Spirit Pill.

However, the appropriateness of gift-giving is still important.

What is Qingming Zhenren's identity? He clearly doesn't lack a second-tier flying sword.

However, giving the Three Mysterious Fire Spirit Pill to his grandson was exactly what he wanted.

With Jiuyou's act as a catalyst, the cultivators below the stage also began to offer their congratulatory gifts.

Some people offered magical artifacts, spirit stones, precious spiritual materials, and some even offered female cultivators as cultivation vessels...

Of course, some people also learned the Nine Netherworld Technique and frequently presented treasures to the grandson of the Azure Netherworld Immortal.

They can utter all sorts of congratulatory and flattering words without any shame.

For a time, the scene was incredibly varied, filled with both open and covert struggles, making it quite a spectacle...

After that, the second phase of the ceremony began.

Master Qingming raised his hand and gestured, and a bronze cauldron flew out from his sleeve. The cauldron spewed forth rosy mist, which turned into sweet rain.

A cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining caught a drop, and a golden lotus petal instantly bloomed in his palm. The bottleneck that had been stuck for many years began to loosen slightly.

"This...this is [Dust-Cleansing Dew]!"

The crowd erupted in uproar, but Master Qingming smiled and nodded.

"Today is the celebration of the Core Formation. I would like to share with you all the blessings of the immortal path."

Immediately afterwards, Master Qingming began to preach.

The True Man of Core Formation preached the Dao.

Although it only transmits some basic cultivation methods, it still has a unique flavor.

Many low-level cultivators listened with rapt attention, nodding and swaying their heads.

Jiuyou is already in the late Foundation Establishment stage and is a body cultivator, so he is naturally not included in this category.

But a hint of surprise flashed across his lowered eyes.

'Tianming Palace is clearly a demonic sect, yet this Qingming Zhenren makes it look like a celestial temple.'

Now they've brought out a full cauldron of second-tier spiritual dew to bestow upon everyone—what are they trying to do?

.........