Today at Xuan Tian Peak, there were not only outer disciples like Li Junxian.
Xu Qiqi and Jiang He also arrived later with elders from their respective peaks, as if to witness the ceremony.
According to the rules of the Nine Profound Sect, when a sect inherits outer disciples, at least two inheritance elders from other peaks must be present as witnesses. The recorded disciple scrolls are then presented to Yun Xia Peak and placed in the Ancestral Hall.
Xia Dong had already arranged the ceremony venue with the maids sent by Ming Xin Xuan, adhering strictly to the rules of the Nine Profound Sect.
Once all the rituals were completed, the disciple scrolls with everyone's names were handed over to an inheritance elder from Lei Ze Peak, who would later present them to Yun Xia Peak.
As for whether it would be acknowledged and placed in the Ancestral Hall, it was already a foregone conclusion. This was merely a formality.
Thanks to the hard work of the elders from both peaks in recent days, and the endorsement of the head of Ku Mu Peak, the matter had already been approved in the Ancestral Hall.
"Greetings, Master of the Peak!"
After the ceremony, everyone bowed respectfully.
Ji Yuan, standing before the altar, calmly accepted the salutation. After signaling everyone to rise, at Xia Dong's glance, a maid immediately stepped forward with a wooden tray.
Those who had joined Xuan Tian Peak today had each received a 'red envelope.' This was a tradition in major sects, where new disciples received a small gift after the ceremony, hoping to bring good fortune.
While the red envelopes prepared by Ji Yuan were not extravagant, they were certainly not meager. Each contained a bank note worth five hundred taels of silver, which was a considerable sum for ordinary cultivators of the Second Realm.
"Not bad. You're already showing some of the demeanor of a peak master."
Xu Qiqi approached with Jiang He, not sparing her praise.
However, she then asked curiously, "But why do they call you Master of the Peak?"
The group exchanged glances, with smiles on their faces. This was a decision they had reached earlier in the main hall of the Taoist temple.
After all, Ji Yuan had not yet successfully formed his Golden Core and was not officially registered in the Ancestral Hall. He currently held only the title of an overseer.
If they were to call him Martial Uncle or Martial Brother, it would mean they would be of a lower generation before he became a peak master, even lower than the disciples of this generation of the Nine Profound Sect.
But to directly call him Peak Master would be overstepping the rules and offending the authority of the other peak masters.
Thus, they chose a compromise: to simply call him Master of the Peak.
In fact, the success of this was largely due to Zheng Jiaxing, who was quite insistent on this matter. He was unwilling to call his peers Martial Brother, especially those among his peers with whom he had a strained relationship.
"The seven-day period has arrived. Are you all ready?"
Returning to the main hall, Ji Yuan turned to the several people before him.
Those who remained were Xu Qiqi, Jiang He, Li Junxian, Zheng Wanrong, and others who had secured a spot in the spiritual spring.
As for the other disciples, they had already been led away by the maids to choose their own residences.
Given the scale of the mountain-top Taoist temple, it could easily accommodate even double the current number of people.
"We've been ready for a long time!"
Xu Qiqi spoke first, and the others nodded in agreement.
Strictly speaking, there was nothing much to prepare. One only needed to adjust their state to the best possible condition before entering the spiritual spring, and it would be even better if they could cast aside any distracting thoughts.
"Master of the Peak, is it appropriate for me to also have a spot?"
From a corner, Lin Miaoyi spoke hesitantly.
Before the current situation unfolded, she had naturally hoped that she might have the opportunity to benefit from the complete spiritual spring in the future.
However, when the opportunity truly presented itself, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive and nervous, feeling that she had neither a deep relationship with the other party nor had she made significant contributions to Xuan Tian Peak.
"Since the spot has been given to you, then accept it with peace of mind," Ji Yuan said somewhat exasperatedly, with a helpless smile, similar to those around him.
They could all understand her feelings. If it were them, they would also feel uncontrollably nervous.
However, with Zhao Yuansong nowhere to be found, and no other suitable person for the extra spot, it was better to give it to Lin Miaoyi.
At least in Ji Yuan's opinion, rather than using this spot to exchange for some spiritual items or to foster good relations with another faction,
It was better to bring tangible benefits to their own people!
"Put your mind at ease. Prepare well tonight. You will enter the spiritual spring tomorrow."
Ji Yuan looked at everyone and then gave a few serious instructions.
No one could say for sure when they would emerge from this spiritual spring. Due to the formation, even if someone finished early, they would have to wait until the last person emerged before they could all come out together.
Based on his conservative estimate, everyone might be in seclusion for a year or two, or even longer.
"Don't worry, Master of the Peak. Everything has been arranged!"
Xu Qiqi said with a smile, imitating the tone of the others and calling him Master of the Peak.
Glancing at the mischievous girl before him, Ji Yuan suddenly felt a headache. He wondered how Jiang He usually put up with her.
That day, after a sumptuous banquet, everyone returned to their respective residences to meditate and adjust their breathing, in preparation for the next day to enter the spiritual spring in their best state to enjoy its benefits and good fortune.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, handyman disciples ascended Xuan Tian Peak, reporting that people from Ming Xin Xuan were waiting at the mountain gate.
Upon receiving the news, Ji Yuan disregarded any potential breaches of etiquette and invited an elder from Lei Ze Peak to accompany him to the Nine Profound Sect's mountain gate.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Qian Nishang, along with Liu Ruyan, Li Buwei, and Zhou Lianying, patiently waiting outside the mountain gate.
In addition to the original individuals slated to enter the spiritual pool, there was also an old woman he was quite familiar with, and a fair-faced young boy.
The former was Qian Nishang's confidante, who accompanied her everywhere and was said to be her mother's maid.
As for the latter, he was likely the one chosen by the Zhuang family to receive the final spot.
"This is the grandson of an old ancestor of the Zhuang family. His cultivation talent is such that even in a major sect, he would be considered a direct descendant or even a personal disciple."
Qian Nishang spoke, introducing the young man behind her to Ji Yuan.
The young man's name was Zhuang Changming. He appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, around his own age, with a handsome, fair complexion. One could only imagine how many women he would captivate when he grew up.
"The Zhuang family has already sent a batch of spiritual items to my Qian family and they will be delivered to Feiyun Commandery in a few days," Qian Nishang continued after a pause.
This batch of spiritual items was what Ji Yuan had requested earlier. Their value was immeasurable, and it must have pained the Zhuang family considerably, a true financial bleeding.
In fact, if compared, the value of the spiritual items provided by the Zhuang family was already equivalent to half of what was needed to construct the spiritual pool.
Of course, this was excluding the value of the Golden Core. Otherwise, a single five-colored Golden Core would be enough to cripple the Zhuang family's resources.
"Let's go to Xuan Tian Peak. We can open the spiritual pool shortly."
Seeing that the elder from Lei Ze Peak had already made arrangements with the disciples guarding the mountain gate, Ji Yuan led the group away.
An hour later, more than ten people gathered on the mountainside of Xuan Tian Peak. Before them was a cave covered by a formation, inside which lay the spiritual spring everyone had been anticipating.