Chapter 260: Apprenticeship Ceremony

The voice was incredibly solemn, its tone unlike ordinary speech. It resonated like a sacred chant, echoing throughout heaven and earth. His words carried an ancient flavor, imbued with profound meaning, much like the term "memorializing" within them. It was as if a sacrifice was being offered, ascending to the cosmic realm.

Even the captain at the entrance became unusually serious at this moment, no longer winking at Xu Qing but stepping forward. Uncharacteristically, today he was not in his usual grey daoist robe, but had changed into a purple one with gold embroidery, identical to Xu Qing's. Though their robes superficially resembled those of the Seven Peaks disciples, there were significant subtle distinctions. Standing at the entrance, the captain's gaze deepened as he looked intently at Xu Qing and spoke calmly, "Xu Qing, accompany me. From this moment, I shall be your sworn protector."

The captain had never spoken this way. His expression was solemn, and so were his words. As he spoke, he gazed deeply at Xu Qing, then clasped his hands together, thumbs overlapping, raising them to eye level, and bowed deeply, performing a highly formal Daoist salute.

A profound sense of solemnity washed over Xu Qing, and he understood that he was about to participate in an incredibly solemn ritual. He straightened his clothes, returned the captain's bow with clasped hands, and proceeded towards the hall entrance.

Three steps brought him to the hall entrance, and as he stepped out, Xu Qing's mind reeled. The grand hall he was in was situated near the summit of the Seventh Peak. Before him lay a massive octagonal ritual altar, crafted from bluestone and radiating spiritual energy. Upon it stood a statue. The statue depicted a middle-aged man, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. His face was indistinct, but he was clad in an Ancestral Dragon Emperor's robe, wearing a Jade Sky Imperial Crown, and topped with nine dazzling worldly canopies. Dragon qi enveloped him, signifying his dominion over the world and his power to conquer mountains and rivers. The sheer earth-shattering aura emanating from the statue alone caused Xu Qing's pupils to contract. Yet, he quickly regained his composure and surveyed the surroundings of the altar.

Around the altar, Xu Qing saw at least a thousand Seven Blood Eyes disciples. These disciples, male and female, old and young, were all clad in purple daoist robes that appeared to have been unworn for a long time, their bearing utterly solemn. Directly in front of the altar stretched a flight of ninety white stone steps, intricately carved with dragon patterns. Above these steps, a grand hall emanated purple light and a sense of vastness—that was the highest hall of the Seventh Peak.

Above, the sky was enveloped in swirling clouds and mist. Within them, a colossal black winged dragon caused the clouds to churn, and bolts of lightning rumbled across the expanse with its movements. Amidst the mist, six towering figures stood like divine manifestations, gazing down upon the earth. These six included both men and women; among them, Xu Qing recognized the Master of the First Peak and Grandfather Six. All of them were watching Xu Qing, with Grandfather Six’s gaze particularly conveying encouragement. Amidst this grand display, Xu Qing felt a flicker of nervousness. He looked up once more, spotting a towering, blood-red figure standing like a deity above the clouds, seemingly capable of supporting the heavens and earth. It was the Seven Blood Eyes Patriarch, Xue Lianzi. They were all observing the ceremony from the celestial realm!

"Xu Qing, disciple of the Seven Peaks, this statue is the source of our Seventh Peak's heritage, the Ancient Emperor Xuanyou," the captain said, his voice solemn and carrying far. "Ancient Emperor Xuanyou was the last human emperor to suppress the Desolate Ancient realm. You must bow once!" "The ritual begins!"

The captain stood beside Xu Qing, gazing straight ahead at the altar statue, his voice solemn as it echoed in all directions.

Xu Qing lowered his head, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply to the Ancient Emperor's statue on the altar. The moment he rose, the captain and all the Seventh Peak disciples observing around the altar simultaneously bowed their heads in unison towards the Ancient Emperor Xuanyou's statue. Their unified movements generated an astonishing momentum.

After this first bow, influenced by the surrounding atmosphere, Xu Qing's expression grew even more solemn. He followed the captain forward, passing the altar under the watchful eyes of the surrounding Seventh Peak disciples, until they reached the foot of the ninety steps.

Here, the captain's voice resonated: "Our cultivation path is one that defies the heavens, traversing the Desolate Ancient realm, the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands. Therefore, our Seven Peaks established these ninety white rock steps. To ascend them is to prove one has traversed the Nine Heavens, and to reach the summit is to vow to pass through the Nine Lands!" "Xu Qing, ascend the steps!"

The captain's voice, long and resonant, was like a dragon's roar.

Xu Qing, utterly solemn, lifted his foot and stepped onto the first stair. The moment his foot landed, a bell chime reverberated within the Seventh Peak. The chime was deep and heavy; as its sound resonated, the sky and earth shifted colors, and wind and clouds churned.

Xu Qing's mind sharpened. A jade slip flew out from his embrace—the one given by the attendant. The jade slip now emitted a brilliant glow, floating before him and accompanying him forward like a guiding light. Moreover, within this light, a recorded image, aided by the glow, appeared in Xu Qing's mind. The scene depicted a beast-fighting arena in a scavenger camp, where a young boy in a leather coat, his small face streaked with dirt, was dragging a large python away. In the nearby seating area sat two figures invisible to outsiders: Grandfather Seven and the attendant. They were watching Xu Qing, and Grandfather Seven’s voice, imbued with interest, softly echoed: "This boy is interesting." Xu Qing's eyes widened. The boy in the arena was, of course, himself. At this moment, Xu Qing finally understood why he later came to the Seven Blood Eyes. This was the scene of his initiation.

As Xu Qing's mind reeled, he unconsciously ascended eight steps, reaching the ninth. The bell of the Seventh Peak, with a resounding clang, rang out its second, deafening chime.

The jade slip before Xu Qing glowed, and a second image appeared in his mind. In it, a young boy crouched in a dark alley corner. As a tall, thin scavenger walked past, the boy leaped up, covered the scavenger's mouth from behind, and slit his throat with a knife. Within the scene, on a nearby rooftop, Grandfather Seven sat, his eyes showing approval: "An interesting little fellow."

Xu Qing's breathing quickened. He understood, comprehending completely. By the time the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth bell chimes successively rang out, Xu Qing had already ascended a considerable distance. Each chime marked nine steps; after six chimes, he had reached the fifty-fourth or fifty-fifth step.

Each bell chime grew louder and grander, just as the images in his mind, each one stirring greater ripples in Xu Qing's heart. The third image showed him in new clothes, carefully avoiding mud puddles, with Grandfather Seven beside him, curious why he had changed. The fourth image depicted him slaying Fatty Shan, poisoned, stumbling away under the moonlight, while Grandfather Seven laughed from a rooftop. The fifth image brought Master Bai into view; Grandfather Seven, in Master Bai's tent, spoke before leaving: "Master Bai, if you truly believe that boy has potential, then impart more knowledge to him. Give him a chance to become a cultivated scholar in Seven Blood Eyes." The sixth image was of Xu Qing alone in his dwelling after Captain Lei, Master Bai, and the little girl had successively departed. As he silently melted into the darkness, enveloped by solitude, Grandfather Seven softly spoke from outside his door: "Give him a white token."

Xu Qing's body trembled. He had many conjectures before, but now he finally understood the reason. He lifted his head, looking towards the mountain peak, having reached the sixty-third step, as the seventh bell chime resonated throughout heaven and earth. Then came the eighth and ninth chimes.

Amidst the bell chimes, the jade slip's light continued to shine, and Xu Qing saw the seventh image. It depicted him, newly arrived at Seven Blood Eyes, late at night on the swaying Dharma Boat, raising a wine flask to honor his parents, Captain Lei, and his own birthday. The eighth image showed Xu Qing being hunted by the Sea Corpse Clan. The ninth image was his battle with Sheng Yunzi in front of the temple.

An indescribable emotional surge welled within Xu Qing's heart. As the jade slip's light faded and it returned to his embrace, Xu Qing took his ninetieth step, reaching the final stair. He saw the vast, purple-lit grand hall, and seated within, Grandfather Seven, gazing at him. Beside Grandfather Seven were the Second and Third Highnesses.

Today, Grandfather Seven's attire was far more solemn than usual. He wore a flowing cloud-purple robe, his hair coiled into a Sky Serpent Daoist Crown, and his gaze was like lightning. As he sat, his entire being exuded a vast, awe-inspiring aura.

"Xu Qing." It wasn't Grandfather Seven in the hall who spoke, but the captain who had accompanied Xu Qing throughout the ascent.

"After proving you've traversed the Nine Heavens and vowed to conquer the Ten Lands, you must pay respects to the sky and earth. You need to turn and bow three times." "The ritual begins!" As the captain's voice pierced the clouds, Xu Qing turned around, stood on the ninety steps, looked towards the sky and earth, and bowed three times!

The moment he rose, the captain and the disciples around the altar simultaneously bowed three times towards the heavens and earth! Every aspect of this scene exuded profound solemnity; each ritual carried deep meaning. In a cultivation sect during chaotic times, everything else might be simplified for efficiency and advantage, but ancestral worship and the acceptance of new disciples were exceptions, demanding utmost ceremonial importance.

"The Dao originates from the void; without scriptures, the Dao cannot be enlightened. The Dao lies within the scriptures; without a master, its principles cannot be grasped." "Ancient Emperor Xuanyou initiated a great endeavor; thus, our human race owes him one bow." "Heaven and Earth, the cosmic realm, bear myriad things; thus, our human race owes them three bows." "However, the Ancient Emperor is high above and has not bestowed grace upon you. Heaven and Earth, and the sea of suffering of sentient beings, have not delivered you. Only a master, traversing heaven and earth, bestows grace upon your present life, guides you in your next, and exhausts all efforts to walk the Great Dao with you. Therefore, you must bow nine times!"

At this moment, the captain's voice reverberated through the clouds, shaking heaven and earth.

Xu Qing turned, gazed at Grandfather Seven's figure in the grand hall, lowered his head, and bowed nine times! One bow to the Ancient Emperor, three bows to Heaven and Earth, and nine bows to his Master. For these nine bows, only the captain could join Xu Qing; the cultivators around the altar could only lower their heads in solemnity, lacking the qualification to bow alongside Xu Qing.

After the nine bows, Xu Qing stepped forward. With a wave of his hand, the captain produced a purple teacup and offered it to Xu Qing. Xu Qing took a deep breath and entered the Purple Light Hall.

"Present the tea of reflection!" Xu Qing lowered his head, took three steps forward, held the teacup with both hands, and raised it in reverence.

Almost the instant he raised the teacup, the sky outside abruptly became turbulent with wind and clouds. In the distance, towering sword qi, tinged with a world-obscuring blood-red, could be seen approaching Seven Blood Eyes with a thunderous roar, like a bloody hand about to envelop the sky. The Lingyun Sword Sect, seeking retribution, had arrived! Furthermore, a voice filled with endless killing intent echoed from that vast, omnipresent sea of sword qi and blood, permeating every inch of the entire Seven Blood Eyes sect. "Xue Lianzi, hand over your sect's vile commoner, Xu Qing, to me!"