620 The Federation Lineage! (1/2)
The images flashed clearly in Wang Baole's head. It was as if he had become the Hyacinthus Tree that instant and was witnessing the actual scene himself!
Waves of emotions surged inside Wang Baole as he listened to Feng Qiuran's words. His breath froze. He stared at the infant in Feng Qiuran's arms. He had only one name in his head—Wuchen!
The image blurred. Next, he saw a fruit ripen on the Hyacinthus Tree. It fell and landed before Feng Qiuran. Feng Qiuran picked the fruit up and placed it in the infant's mouth. It melted swiftly and disappeared quickly as the child sucked at it hungrily.
Feng Qiuran bowed again and finally left. The last image was of Feng Qiuran's retreating back. That too grew blurry. Wang Baole shook again, as if he had just awakened from a walk down the Hyacinthus Tree's memory lane. His eyes cleared. He was back, standing on the mountain peak, with a million Dao Palace cultivators watching him.
Wang Baole was silent for a long moment. He took a while to recover from his shock. He straightened his back, turned, and looked at the three Grand Supreme Elders. They looked as if nothing had happened.
Wang Baole came to a conclusion, that perhaps… he was the only one who had access to the Hyacinthus Tree's memories during the resonance he had achieved with it. This was because he was an adopted disciple, while the other three elders were only inner sect disciples. They couldn't achieve such a strong resonance with the Hyacinthus Tree. The likelihood of them seeing what he had seen earlier was low.
This meant that perhaps Feng Qiuran had really been the only person who knew the identity and whereabouts of this infant. Now, he knew as well.
Wang Baole had no idea how the Dao Disciple Wuchen had turned up in Feng Qiuran's hands or how Feng Qiuran had explained the infant's appearance. What he knew was when the previous Federation President Li Xingwen had left the ancient greenish-bronze sword, he had returned to the Federation with an infant in his arms.
Wang Baole silently decided to set the entire matter aside for the moment. He took a deep breath, then looked at the Dao Palace cultivators around him. They watched as he walked towards the three Grand Supreme Elders, cupped his fists, and extended a deep bow towards them.
”Greetings to the three Grand Supreme Elders!”
Feng Qiuran smiled. She returned the greetings. A reluctant Mie Liezi bowed back, while the mild-mannered Daoist You Ran cupped his fists and returned the greetings as well.
”Greetings to Grand Supreme Elder Wang Baole!”
They stood together on the mountain top, their greetings immortalized in that moment and seared into the memories of the surrounding disciples. The surrounding disciples saluted the next moment!
”Greetings to Grand Supreme Elder Wang Baole!”
Their voices boomed like thunder, rippling across the skies in an endless echo. The bells of the Dao Palace began to chime. The ceremony had come to an end.
Henceforth, the Vast Expanse Dao Palace was no longer divided into three factions. They had just received their fourth Grand Supreme Elder!
The Federation disciples were the loudest and most excited during their greetings. The four Grand Supreme Elders smiled and nodded at one another. Feng Qiuran then represented the sect and announced a series of changes and promotions!
Green Fire Island was to become Wang Baole's private island. A dozen other large islands near the Vast Expanse Dao Palace would also fall under his jurisdiction. A fourth palace for the fourth Grand Supreme Elder would also be constructed on the main island.
The palace would serve as a place for Wang Baole to carry out his daily cultivation. Its size and model would adhere to their sect's highest standards. The sect would also be responsible for acquiring all the materials needed for construction.
There was also the matter of tribute. He would receive the same deferential treatment as the other Grand Supreme Elders, as well as a vote in determining the sect's developmental strategies. He would be taking over the foreign relations between the Federation and the Vast Expanse Dao Palace as well.
There were other miscellaneous access rights granted too. Currently, at least in name, Wang Baole was one of the four sovereigns governing the Vast Expanse Dao Palace!
This was something no one had expected. No one could have known that within a mere two years, Wang Baole would transform from an outsider to someone who held such power and authority in the sect.
In fact, should Wang Baole's cultivation breakthrough from the Nascent Soul realm to the Soul Conduit realm, he would have a chance of becoming the sect's sole authority!
Feng Qiuran completed her announcements, and the ceremony was coming to an end. Everyone watched as the four Grand Supreme Elders stood together. Feng Qiuran smiled and handed a jade slip to Wang Baole.