C6 Adulthood Ceremony

Six months later, in the border city.

Today marked the border city's annual Coming of Age Ceremony for the ten major families. Every youth who had reached the age of sixteen would participate in the ceremony, marking their official entry into the younger echelon of their respective families.

The streets of the border city were bustling with activity. A throng of people rushed to and fro, as if a significant event was on the horizon.

A young man navigated the crowded street, his eyes betraying a hint of confusion at the sight of the hurried passersby.

Approaching a stall, the young man inquired with courtesy, "Could you tell me what's happening today? Everyone seems to be in such a rush."

The stall owner glanced up at the young man, giving him a peculiar look before responding, "You must not be from around here, otherwise you'd know that today is the border city's revered Coming of Age Ceremony."

A smile graced the young man's face upon hearing this. He nonchalantly tossed an Elemental Crystal to the stall owner and departed.

The stall owner's eyes gleamed at the sight of the casually discarded Elemental Crystal. He clutched it tightly in his palm, wary of potential thieves.

Elemental Crystals were the universally accepted hard currency of this world. In other words, they served as the standard monetary unit.

Besides Elemental Crystals, there were also Spiritual Essence Crystals and Holy Origin Crystals, with an exchange rate based on a ten-thousand-fold progression. One Holy Origin Crystal was worth ten thousand Spiritual Essence Crystals, which in turn equated to ten thousand Elemental Crystals.

After leaving the stall, the young man casually selected a shop, purchased a black cloak, and donned it. He then made his way leisurely toward the venue where the city's ten great families were conducting their Coming of Age Ceremonies.

In the city's central district stood a martial stage, a joint construction of the ten great families. Today, it served as the gathering place for all members of these prestigious clans.

"Patriarch Lin Yi, it's good to see you well," greeted Moo Xuan as he arrived at the martial stage with the disciples of Moo's family. Spotting the Lin's family members already seated, he promptly extended his salutations to Lin Yi.

Upon hearing Moo Xuan's words, Lin Yi gave a wry smile and responded, "Brother Moo Xuan, you're well aware of the struggles I've faced lately. It's hardly been a time of peace for me."

The tragic news of Lin Yunchen's death on his wedding night had driven Lin Yi to a frenzied state of cultivation. After a relentless month, he had finally induced the Spiritual Calamity and emerged as the first openly acknowledged Spirit Sea Stage powerhouse in the border city.

Moo Xuan, hearing Lin Yi's lament, simply smiled and remained silent. It was then that Lin Yi's attention was drawn to Moo Qiubai, standing by Moo Xuan's side.

"Niece Qiubai has become quite formidable. In just a month's absence, she's ascended to the Seventh Layer of the Pulse Condensation Stage, nearly rivaling the top prodigy of our Lin family..."

The conversation paused, and a sharp glint of murderous intent flashed in Moo Qiubai's eyes, though she had previously shown no emotion.

"Brother Lin Yi, Brother Moo Xuan, it's been too long. I trust you've been well?"

At the sound of the greeting, Lin Yi and Moo Xuan simultaneously turned to identify the newcomers, spotting two figures approaching them.

"Ah, it's Patriarch Ji Zhen and Patriarch Ye Ji. How have you been?"

Greeted by the familiar faces, Lin Yi and Moo Xuan's expressions brightened, dispelling their earlier gloom.

Just then, the Huangfu family made their entrance into the martial arts arena, drawing the collective gaze of all present.

"Patriarch Lin, Shaikh Moo, Patriarch Ji, Patriarch Ye, I am honored to meet all four patriarchs here today."

Huangfu Xihua, representing the Huangfu family, promptly offered her respects to the four patriarchs.

Lin Yi, however, was unimpressed by Huangfu Xihua's gesture and snorted dismissively, "The formalities of the Huangfu family's young miss are not for me to accept."

But before the moment could settle, another voice interjected, "I wonder if the four patriarchs would be so kind as to accept my gesture of respect."

"Bai Ling'er, you!"

The arrival of Bai Ling'er, the matriarch of the Bai family, left Lin Yi at a loss for words, as he realized that Bai Ling'er's actions were a deliberate show of support for Huangfu Xihua.

Rumors had long swirled about an alliance between the Huangfu and Bai families, yet the other eight major families were taken aback to discover these whispers were rooted in truth, not mere fabrications.

Witnessing the unfolding scene, Moo Xuan quickly stepped in to defuse the tension: "The hour is nearly upon us; let's proceed with the ceremony."

"Hmph!" Lin Yi let out a cold snort and strode toward the Lin family's seating area.

The other families, observing this exchange, swiftly retreated to their seats, wary of becoming entangled in the unfolding drama.

Atop the dueling platform, a middle-aged man surveyed the crowd gathered from the ten great families of the Border City, there to witness the coming-of-age ceremony.

He began, "Today marks our annual rite of passage. We now commence the ceremonial combat, jointly hosted by the ten great families of Border City. First to the stage, I call upon Nangong Wu from the Nangong family and Bai Ye from the Bai family."

As his words hung in the air, two figures leapt onto the platform.

"Nangong Wu of the Nangong family!"

"Bai Ye of the Bai family!"

"Please, enlighten me!"

In an instant, the two combatants burst forward—one with a fist, the other with an open palm. Their clash was swift, revealing the clear disparity in skill.

Nangong Wu, already on the cusp of the Pulse Condensation Stage, faced Bai Ye, who had only recently achieved the Eighth Layer of the Body Tempering Stage. They were leagues apart.

Bai Ye's disadvantage was immediately apparent after just one exchange. Dozens of moves later, Bai Ye was still bested by Nangong Wu.

"Patriarch Nangong, your family has truly nurtured a prodigy," remarked the clan leaders, smiling at Nangong Tian of the Nangong family, though their smiles masked their private calculations. "So young, yet nearly in the Pulse Condensation Stage—prosperous times await the Nangong Clan."

With Bai Ye vanquished, a smug look flickered in Nangong Wu's eyes as he sensed no equal in Border City.

"Is there anyone else who dares to challenge me on this stage? If not, then I, Nangong Wu, shall claim the title of this year's champion!"

Nangong Wu's words resonated with everyone present. In that moment, Huangfu Xihua slowly rose and made her way to the dueling platform.

"Is it time to take action?"

Among the crowd, a shadowy figure in black lingered, seemingly waiting for something.

Within the Moo Clan, Moo Qiubai's gaze intensified with murderous intent as he watched Huangfu Xihua step onto the stage. If looks could kill, Huangfu Xihua would have been sliced to ribbons under Moo Qiubai's glare.

"Huangfu Xihua of the Huangfu family, I await your guidance."

Nangong Wu's expression remained calm as he watched Huangfu Xihua join him on the platform.

"Begin."

In that moment, Nangong Wu felt like a king, as if he could command the world itself, but reality begged to differ.

"Sword of Drifting Snow!"

The sword was unleashed, and a shadow as delicate as snowflakes sliced through the air, coming to rest at Nangong Wu's throat.

"You've lost!"

Huangfu Xihua uttered these words slowly.

Upon hearing them, Nangong Wu was engulfed in despair. He had believed himself to be the foremost among the border city's youth, yet in a mere instant, he was defeated by a woman—a profound disgrace.

"Qiubai, don't act rashly. You're not yet a match for Huangfu Xihua. She has reached the Origin Purging Stage. Give yourself a few more years of training, and you'll surely best her," Moo Xuan advised, holding onto Moo Qiubai's hand as she stood.

Moo Qiubai smiled at her father, "Father, allow me this one last act of defiance."

With that, she released her father's grip and strode toward the dueling platform.

"Sister Qiubai, step back. This isn't your fight. Swords are blind to innocence; you could get hurt."

Huangfu Xihua's voice was gentle yet filled with concern as she saw Moo Qiubai approach.

Moo Qiubai responded icily, "I can take being hurt, but why did you harm Yunchen? He loves you truly, and yet you repay him with betrayal!"

As Moo Qiubai's words echoed in everyone's ears, a shadowy figure within the crowd caught them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Qiubai..."

Atop the dueling platform, Huangfu Xihua's gaze sharpened upon hearing Moo Qiubai's voice. She knew well that the once naive and cheerful Qiubai had grown into a genuine cultivator.

"Snow Sword!"

Intent on gaining the upper hand, Huangfu Xihua struck swiftly, seizing the moment before Qiubai could fully prepare.

Qiubai, spotting Huangfu Xihua's incoming blade, summoned a jade sword to her grasp, its glow intertwining with her opponent's.

"Heavenly Yuan Sword!"

Sword shadows danced wildly in the sky, the two combatants locked in a fierce and evenly matched duel. Suddenly, a formidable presence emanated from Huangfu Xihua, the signature aura of someone on the cusp of the Origin Purging Stage.

Feeling the mounting pressure, Qiubai's own aura began to unfurl, a testament to her own prowess.

Peak of the Seventh Layer of the Pulse Condensation Stage!

That was the full measure of Qiubai's strength. Unfazed by the disparity of two whole realms between her and Huangfu Xihua, Qiubai stood undaunted, driven by her vow to avenge her brother Yunchen.

"Snow Sword Shadow!"

Huangfu Xihua's technique took a sudden and treacherous turn, catching Qiubai off guard. The tide of battle shifted dramatically, tilting heavily in Huangfu Xihua's favor.

Approaching the wounded Qiubai, Huangfu Xihua's eyes flickered with a cold intent as she observed the crimson trickle at Qiubai's lips. "Qiubai, you've pried into affairs not your own. It seems I can no longer spare your life."

Her words hung in the air as she poised her sword for the final blow.

The crowd, frozen, could only watch in horror. Not even Lin Yi, a Spirit Sea Stage expert, dared to believe he could intercept Huangfu Xihua's strike in time.

But in the breath before the sword could meet Qiubai's neck, a figure materialized on the platform, deftly capturing the blade between two fingers.

Witnessing this spectacle, everyone was struck with a sense of incredulity.

In a mere moment, the figure shrouded in a black cloak had ascended the dueling platform without anyone, not even the Spirit Sea Stage powerhouse Lin Yi, catching a glimpse of how it was done.

"Who are you?"

Huangfu Xihua's eyes widened in astonishment as the shadowy figure effortlessly caught her sword between two fingers.

It was widely acknowledged that Huangfu Xihua's sword strike was so formidable that not even a master of the Origin Purging Stage could easily parry it. Yet, the enigmatic figure before her had done just that, with apparent ease.

The figure in black seemed to ignore Huangfu Xihua's question. He turned slowly to face Moo Qiubai, who lay on the ground, and spoke gently, "I'll take it from here..."

Moo Qiubai's ears perked up at the sound of the figure's voice; it stirred a sense of familiarity within her. As she rose to her feet and peered at the figure, a nagging feeling told her she had encountered this person before, but she couldn't quite place where.