Call for backup! Get every single disciple from the Manipulation Sect over here.

To allow the disciples of the Manipulation Sect to enter the blessed land sooner, Gongshu Wumao, the dignified leader himself, personally went down to hold a spot in line. He stood right at the very front of the queue but simply refused to borrow any merit, letting the disciples behind him go first. Once the Manipulation Sect disciples arrived, he shoved them all forward at once.

This method was, of course, a flagrant violation of the rules. But given his status, no one dared to say a word.

When Ji Yan and Dugu Qingqian heard about this, they rushed over to keep an eye on things for their own branches' disciples. They were worried another shameless leader might try to pull a similar stunt.

In truth, one couldn't entirely blame Gongshu Wumao for his shamelessness.

His branch, by nature, was quite similar to the Alchemy Sect and the Talisman Sect. It should have possessed a decent ability to rake in money. But in reality, Puppets had a vastly smaller market than Elixirs, Talismans, and Magic Artifacts. They were a niche within a niche.

In this field, the strong were very strong, while the weak were completely useless. It was also a massive money pit. There were far too few talented people. Gongshu Wumao had waited for so many years before a talent like Mo Wuwei finally came along.

As a result, the Manipulation Sect's standing among the thirty-six branches was only slightly better than the Divination Sect's. The number of disciples in his sect was less than a hundred.

Seeing the Manipulation Sect grow weaker and weaker, Gongshu Wumao was growing desperate. Now, with such a good opportunity to accumulate merit, how could he possibly afford to miss it? If he could just let his disciples absorb more merit and improve their aptitude... even a ten or twenty percent increase in their talent would bring about a qualitative change, let alone matching Mo Wuwei. Perhaps that was all it would take for the Manipulation Sect to grow strong and glorious once more!

Compared to the prosperity of the Manipulation Sect, what was a bit of face? It was a mere trifle!

However, even with all his efforts, the results were far from satisfactory.

The disciples of the Manipulation Sect dealt with lifeless objects all day, so the vast majority were quiet and taciturn. They rarely chanted mantras or formed hand seals. How could their verbal skills possibly compare to the disciples from other branches? Disciples from the Alchemy Sect and Artifact Sect, when out and about, at least had people willing to strike up a conversation and build connections. But the Manipulation Sect? They were practically invisible. Some of them went the entire year without saying more than two sentences.

What's more, since they had never liberated Human Souls before, they even had to learn the Rebirth Mantra from others on the spot. One can only imagine how low their efficiency was.

"For this sort of thing, we should just leave it to fate..." Mo Wuwei whispered.

Hearing this, Gongshu Wumao rolled his eyes, furious. "You have the nerve to say that? Look at the fine example you're setting for your juniors! Everyone else is chasing Human Souls, but you... you've got ghosts chasing you! You're a Taoist, a Taoist!"

Mo Wuwei was inherently introverted, with severe social anxiety. She blushed just talking to strangers, let alone ghosts. The ghosts she encountered didn't flee, sensing she was harmless. They just stood there and stared at her until she became flustered. Seeing her reaction, the ghosts were instantly amused.

"Well, I'll be! Now I've seen everything!"

They had never seen a Taoist quite like her. One after another, they began to chase her.

Gongshu Wumao was so exasperated he nearly rolled his eyes back and ascended to the heavens on the spot. I sacrificed so much for you all, I stooped so low, and this is what you show me? How can you face me?

Mo Wuwei's face turned red from Gongshu Wumao's scolding, and she buried her face in her chest.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked up. In the dazzling sky, several streams of golden merit light condensed into beams, landing on a tall figure on the hillside. Bathed in the golden radiance, the figure seemed even more extraordinary than before, as if floating and transcendent—a celestial being who had stepped out of a painting.

Delight flashed in Mo Wuwei's eyes. "Junior Brother Wang Xiu!"

Gongshu Wumao looked over at the sound of her voice. Staring at Wang Xiu's back, he was momentarily stunned before he commented sourly, "Luo Binglan's disciple is certainly blessed with good looks!"

With that, he tugged on her sleeve. "Let's go. Stay away from him!"

Mo Wuwei was puzzled. "Why... Why?"

Gongshu Wumao said, "Hasn't your Master taught you? Handsome men are all deceivers!"

Mo Wuwei argued, "But Master... you deceive me often too, don't you?"

Gongshu Wumao's eyes bulged. "Hah?!"

Realizing she had misspoken, Mo Wuwei stuck out her tongue. "I mean, Junior Brother Wang Xiu isn't that kind of person!"

"You've only met him once!" Gongshu Wumao gritted his teeth, feeling an inexplicable and profound anguish. He had the distinct feeling that the precious cabbage he had nurtured for more than a decade was about to be rooted out by a wild boar.

He put his hands on his hips, tilted his head back, and said irritably, "Fine! Let's say, for the sake of argument, he isn't that kind of person. But if he finds out we've lost face, borrowed money, have to go mine for him, and still failed to earn any merit... where am I, your Master, supposed to hide my face? Do you want our Manipulation Sect to become a laughingstock for the disciples of the Divination Sect?"

Mo Wuwei said pitifully, "He wouldn't. Junior Brother Wang Xiu is very gentle and generous. Otherwise... he wouldn't have given away so much merit to all the senior and junior brothers of the various sects! Besides, we still received some merit, even if it wasn't much! We've accepted Junior Brother Wang Xiu's kindness, so isn't it wrong to speak ill of him?"

Gongshu Wumao was left speechless.

Mo Wuwei gripped Gongshu Wumao's arm, her expression softening as she wheedled, "Besides, have you forgotten, Master? Our main reason for coming was to see Junior Brother Wang Xiu's Puppet Birds. Isn't this the perfect opportunity?"

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