Chapter 2419

The first day of the Myriad Immortals Gathering saw many martial artists arrive during the opening ceremony to witness the event. However, there were no competitions that day. Tradition dictated a day set aside for disciples to pay homage to their ancestors.

Maxim agreed to this as it was part of his agreement with Howl. Despite having largely cleared the area of immortals, Maxim's actions had gone unnoticed due to the arrangement.

There were opposing voices, notably from the Yellow Foxes, who disapproved of Howl's methods as they went against tradition. Their ancestral figure, Horax, was currently unaccounted for.

...

Thresmund was standing at the forefront, with a group of senior elders behind him. Though these elders were respected due to their seniority, Thresmund's position at the front was justified.

The ceremony was under the Lindejon Collective, and Thresmund's qualifications -whether through his association with the fox demon, Harkin, or his inheritance of the 'Sky' title-made his position undisputed.

The ceremony was elaborate, but its content was intriguing to the spectators. The air was filled with the sounds of horns and drums, with music ranging from lively to melodious, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

After the rituals, everyone donned long robes. The final step of the ceremony involved extinguishing the surrounding lights and leaving a single flame at the center.

With everyone singing and dancing in sync with the drumbeats, the pace quickened as the drumbeats grew faster. Eventually, the flame was extinguished, and the lights came back on.

Following a moment of solemnity, the music pierced the sky as people sat down and paid their respects to the altar.

With day, the first day of the event had concluded.

Maxim left the venue with a stoic expression. He knew the real challenge had yet to come. He needed to have face-to-face discussions with the representatives attending the event. The first to meet Maxim was Philemon Troyer.

Though Philemon was not currently active in the East District, his ancestors originated from there, making him an integral part of the region. With both Maxim and Philemon being exorcists, it was only natural for Philemon to attend.

"Mr. Troyer, it's been a while," Maxim greeted with a smile, extending his large, rugged hand.

Despite his businesslike demeanor, Philemon was astonishingly muscular beneath his suit, more so than Maxim. His hand could envelop Maxim's completely. However, his face belied his physicality; he looked like a young man.

In reality, Philemon had only recently inherited the prestigious position from his ancestors. He was still in his 20s, but it was hard to imagine so without looking at his face.

With an innocent smile, Philemon shook Maxim's hand.

"You're too kind, Mr. Young," Philemon said with a smile. "As a junior, it's only natural for me to support you."

Maxim raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Support me? In what way?"

Philemon simply smiled and said nothing more.