Volume 1 Chapter 30: The Red Lotus Blooming in the Night

  In the deep night sky, a sudden burst of firecrackers sounded.

  A fiery light shot up into the sky, flying straight to a height of a thousand feet before suddenly bursting open and forming a gigantic red lotus flower.

  As the lotus flower gradually disappeared, another spark burst out from it, transforming into a fire lotus once again. Layer upon layer of fire lotuses bloomed, seemingly endless. It wasn't until nearly a minute had passed that the flames in the sky finally dissipated completely.

  Gao Huan stood in the courtyard, looking up at the lotus flowers in the sky with a distant expression.

  Today is New Year's Eve, and the entire sect is filled with joy. The sky is bursting with fireworks lotus flowers, which is also a unique way of celebration for the sect's festive day.

  The red lotus in the night sky looks magnificent, but its true nature is actually one of the sect's supreme secrets, the One-Kalpa Fire Lotus. This technique was executed by a Heaven-stage cultivator, and its power can melt gold and stone, covering an area of over ten miles. And sustaining it for just a moment reveals the unmatched profoundness of the sect's strong masters' divine intent.

  In the past, Gao Huan just watched for fun and didn't think that the fire lotus flower and fireworks were any different. But today, after opening up his breath and absorbing the yuan energy, Gao Huan vaguely sensed the terror of the fire lotus flower in the sky.

  Invisible yuanqi is like the sea, filling every corner of heaven and earth. It's just that the special nature of yuanqi makes it impossible for people who haven't opened their minds to feel its existence.

  Under the Flame Lotus, all the yuanqi seemed to be boiling up. Countless yuanqi surged with the opening of the Flame Lotus like a tidal wave. Gao Huan didn't know how far the yuanqi waves would spread, but it was certain that the intense yuanqi waves, as powerful as a mountain collapse or a tsunami, would radiate very, very far away.

  In such a surge of yuanqi, Gao Huan felt like an ant, unable to help himself as he was tossed about by the waves, seemingly on the verge of being overwhelmed and destroyed at any moment.

  Under that majestic and powerful momentum, even the indomitable Gao Huan felt tiny and helpless. Gao Huan suddenly understood that this was a celebration, as well as a demonstration. The Flame Lotus declared to other strong practitioners that this space belonged to the Tianlian Sect, and it was unshakeable.

  It was just a fireworks-like performance that made Gao Huan truly realize how strong the strong were. At least, before this, Gao Huan only knew the gap between ranks, but had no clear concept.

  Apart from the flames of the lotus on New Year's Eve, Gao Huan had a simple and clear understanding of the power of the strong in Tianjie. After Gao Huan refined the two wheels of Qinglong and Baihu, he had the ferocity and bravery of a tiger leopard, and the majestic power of an elephant.

  So the Tianjie strong is beyond any normal creature, more like an earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption of that level of terror. Gao Huan and Tianjie strong have a fundamental and insurmountable gap in terms of power.

  A normal person would feel awe and even fear towards this kind of power. Gao Huan also felt awe towards this incredibly strong power, but this awe also further ignited his determination to move forward.

  Someone can do it, and it's not just one person who can do it. He is happy, and he can also do it.

  Gao Huan was stunned after the meeting, shaking his head and losing his smile. Those goals were too far away from him, what he should do now is to move forward step by step in a down-to-earth manner.

  Gao Huan spent New Year's Eve in hard training and slept for two hours at dawn.

  In the early morning of the first day, Gao Huan woke up refreshed and spirited. The emotional fluctuations of joy, unhappiness, disappointment, and loss over the past few days had all settled down, and Gao Huan's mood once again returned to calmness and serenity.

  Facing east, inhale and exhale after sunrise, then wash up and change clothes.

  Xue Si's undergarments, ice silkworm white long dress, cloud stockings and hemp shoes, Gao Huan changed from inside to outside, all into a new set of clothes. In the past, Gao Huan had practiced Qinglong Fanhai legs, unknowingly kicking apart countless shoes and socks, and thus developed the habit of going barefoot in hemp shoes.

  Today we are going to the ancestral hall to worship our ancestors, and it is impolite to be barefoot or have disheveled clothes. Whether he likes it or not, Gao Huan must dress neatly and cleanly.

  Because of the worship relationship, from the first day to the fifteenth day, true transmission disciples, elders, and heads are not allowed to eat.

  For this, the sect will distribute high-grade Yuan Condensing Pills and Yuan Gathering Pills, which are also a kind of New Year's gift given by the sect.

  Gao Huan thought for a moment, then went to find Yi Kong next door. Although last time at Yi Kong's place caused trouble, and Yi Kong didn't help much, but after all, he had some bias towards him, and also pointed out many things to him. For an acquaintance like this, Gao Huan felt that Yi Kong was doing alright, at least they could get along.

  After knocking on the door and entering, Yikong was also preparing to go out. Gao Huan politely gave Yikong a New Year's greeting first, and Yikong also returned the courtesy.

  After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yizhen said seriously: "I was just thinking of going to find my junior brother. Today we have to go to the ancestral hall for worship and I was worried you would be late."

  Gao Huan thanked him and said, "Thank you, Yikong Shixiong." After a pause, he sincerely said, "Your junior is ignorant, and in the future, I will still need to ask for your guidance and care, Shixiong."

  Kazuki nodded silently, and Kouen last time kicked him unconscious, but he didn't become arrogant because of this. His attitude was still sincere, humble, and calm, which is very rare for an eighteen-year-old boy. Kazuki nodded and said: "Everyone is fellow disciples, should help each other."

  Gao Huan and Yikong walked side by side while chatting, Gao Huan couldn't help but ask about the woman they met yesterday.

  Yi Kong's expression changed slightly as he listened, saying: "Top-grade fifth-tier, elegant and refined, with a beauty like a cold moon. That person must be Yin Yue. She is the first among the ten true disciples of the sect, known for her cold personality and ruthless methods, and is recognized by the sect as a genius strongman." He then comforted Gao Huan, saying: "However, you and she are just small matters, she has become obsessed with cultivation and won't be distracted by such trivial things. Just avoid her in the future and it will be fine."

  Mentioning Yin Yue, Gao Huan's tone was filled with reverence, and he didn't know how much hardship she had endured. Without asking further, the topic shifted to: "Who are the ten great true transmission disciples?"

  Kong Xuan said, "The top ten true disciples are the ones who have performed the best in recent years. Yin Yue, Long Yu, Jin Bu Yan, Tang Qi, Ma Hang Kong, Han Feng, Ling Tong, Guo Zheng Dong, Wan Shan... and I, being less capable, am ranked last."

  Gao Huan wondered: "A master like Shixiong is only ranked tenth, are the other few true disciples really that strong?"

  One Void smiled and said, "A competition among True Disciples is not a matter of life and death. Everyone may be separated by just a thin line. However, the top three are indeed far ahead of us, but from fifth place onwards, the difference between each person is actually very small. Such rankings don't necessarily mean anything. It's just that among the True Disciples, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The so-called top ten True Disciples may be the most famous, but not necessarily the strongest ten people."

  Gao Huan and Yikong were talking when they arrived at the gate of Fa Xiang. At this time, three people were already standing at the gate, all with shaved heads and white clothes. One of them was indeed Si Kong.

  Si Kong saw Gao Huan coming over, his slender eyes full of resentment. However, he still had a lot of self-control, and after giving Gao Huan a hateful glance, he turned his head away, with an air of disdain for Gao Huan.

  The other two nodded in unison, one of them, a stout and short man, glanced at Gao Huan and said coldly: "You're Wu Kong, you actually dared to secretly attack Si Kong. You're quite bold. After the ceremony, I'll teach you a lesson."

  Gao Huan had never met this person, but he had heard from Yikong that he was a true disciple of the Fasheng Gate. The true disciples of Fasheng originally only had four people, besides Yikong and Siquan, the other two were Qikong and Shikong.

  This short and ugly guy must be the tenth empty. The tenth empty and fourth empty have always been on good terms, both are four-stage upper-tier cultivators who cultivate the Tathagata Power Scripture, not just brute force, but also proficient in spells. In terms of combat power, they are even stronger than the first empty by a few points.

  A thin, gaunt man standing beside the tenth empty space spoke up: "Today is the Grand Ancestor's Temple grand ceremony. The matter between Fourth Empty and Fifth Empty is a personal affair; today everyone must unite and cooperate. Other matters can be discussed later."

  This man had a clear voice, fair skin, and a refined appearance. He was indeed the Seventh Void of the Great Peng Ming Wang's cultivation method. He was also one of the most outstanding disciples of Fa Xiang in terms of appearance and demeanor.

  "Such trash becoming a true disciple is just a fluke. Do you still expect him to perform well on stage? That's even more laughable than us conceding defeat voluntarily!"

  Gao Huan smiled and bowed to Qi Kong, but ignored Shi Kong and Si Kong. Although he was polite and courteous to others, with Shi Kong's strong hostility towards him, there was no need for him to pay attention. As for Si Kong, it was even more unnecessary.

  There is no affiliation between true disciples. It's just that those with higher cultivation naturally have more say. No matter how loudly Shi Kong shouted, as long as Gao Huan ignored him, Shi Kong was powerless against Gao Huan. At least for today, he could only shout his mouth off.

  Yi Kong's face slightly sank as he said, "In front of Master's hall, do not make a racket." As the nominal eldest senior brother and also the strongest disciple in terms of cultivation, when Yi Kong spoke, everyone quieted down.

  "Come in, all of you." Before long, the sound of Fah Xiang's summons came from the courtyard.