Chapter 13 – Spirit Convergence Stage (1/2)

Chapter 13: Spirit Convergence Stage

Liu Ming was sitting cross-legged in the stone house,when he suddenly heard the envoy’s voice.

“Everyone come out, the Opening Spirit Ceremony will be held today. I will bring all of you to Spirit Convergence Stage where the ceremony will proceed.”

Though the voice was not loud, it resounded around the stone house, allowing Liu Ming to hear each word perfectly.

With a deep sigh, Liu Ming got off the stone bed, pushed opened the door and proceeded to walk out.

What greeted his eyes were countless young men and women who were crowding and rushing like a pack of angry bees along the small pathway. At the end of the path, through the cracks of the forest, two barely discernable ash-colored stages sat quietly on the grasslands.

The man from Liu Ming’s envoy, ‘Senior Zhang’ was wearing black and the woman wearing a white cloak, ‘Senior Xun’, were each standing on two gray clouds floating above the platforms.

Fang Xiong and the ten or so Outer Sect members were standing near the platforms, making a respectful pose with both hands clasped together. A very different face from the overbearing ones they wore earlier in front of Liu Ming and the rest.

When the young men and women saw this scene, they subconsciously fell into a respectful manner. They slowed their steps as they entered the platform in an orderly manner.

After the final person stepped onto the platform, the man in black swept his gaze downward. Finding that everyone was on the platform, he nodded his head and fetched out a round plate. Then he made a one-handed technique and started chanting.

As he completed his chant, the disk immediately let out a faint light!

With a “pu” sound, countless spirit markings on the surface of the platform lit up at once. Another layer of white light—similar to the one from earlier—appeared, enveloping the entire platform in its glow.

Following which, the demon statues surrounding the stage shuddered in unison as they opened their mouths to let a thick black fog spew forth.

As the black fog surged forward and spread out, it transformed into a black cloud that gobbled up the entire platform along with the light he created.

“Mmmmmmmm” The two platforms slowly started to rise into the air before gently flying toward a huge mountain in the distance.

Liu Ming stood near one of the statues and looked at the spirit light that glittered across the surface, his gaze dull as if he were deep in thought.

Not far from him, shockingly, Mu Ming Zhu and Gao Chong were discussing something in hushed tones.

It had only been ten days since they last met, yet this couple had become even more intimate.

While at the center of the stage, Lei Zhen proudly stood. Coincidentally, he was surrounded by a crowd of about thirty members from various influential families.

At other spots on the platform, groups of seven to ten people crowded around certain individuals.

These past few days, many young men and women had spontaneously formed many small groups.

It looked like quite a few people had realized that their chances at the Spiritual Opening Ceremony were not too optimistic. Thus they placed all their hope on others who had chances to become Spirit Apostles. This way even if they became an Outer Sect member of the Barbarian Ghost Sect, they would still have someone to rely on.

As to why these people from influential families did this, it was likely due to prior instructions from their clan elders. Furthermore, some of them had probably even been given a list of targets to attach themselves to.

Else they would not have formed groups so quickly.

Surprisingly, there were also about five or six young men and women around Gao Chong and Mu Ming Zhu. Compared to ten days before, the tall young man looked much more confident.

Looks like quite a few people looked favorably upon this Loose Practitioner’s future prospects.

Ever since Mu Ming Zhu and Gao Chong had come aboard the platform, they did not seem to have any intentions of calling out to Liu Ming, who was a ‘companion’ they had initially arrived with.

Even more so, Liu Ming would not be the one to initiate a conversation with others. He was more like a lone wolf who would only watch from the side, detached from the others.

Because the platform was completely wrapped in black clouds, Liu Ming and the others were unable to see what was happening outside. It was quite a while later before the platform slightly shuddered and the man’s voice once again sounded out from within the light.

“We have reached the Spirit Convergence Stage, all of you can get off now.”

Just as his voice faded away, the black clouds rumbled as they started to disperse. At the same time the light of his also disappeared after one final flash.

Liu Mu lifted his head and swept his gaze about the now visible surroundings. As the new view entered his eyes, he could not help but gasp.

To everyone’s astonishment, they were currently in a huge circular plaza. Just outside the plaza was a ring shaped viewing tower. The tower was filled to the brim with about four to five thousand people. The sounds from this restless crowds could be heard even from a distance away.

Out of these people, only a small portion were true Spirit Apostles, the rest were just tag-along Outer Sect Disciples of the Barbarian Ghost Sect. These tag-alongs were akin to servants of the Spirit Apostles.

On closer inspection, there seemed to be an obviously higher level in the ring-shaped viewing tower. At this level, seven or eight figures shrouded in different colored lights were faintly discernible.

They stood shoulder to shoulder as they discussed something in hushed tones.