Just before Wu Wang made his move against the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect.

The silver-haired inspection immortal envoy, Mao Aowu, sat on a cloud, slowly making his way toward the Xuan Nu Sect's gates. He had the Jade Tag of a Pavilion Master at his waist and a Giant Sword, cracked in countless places, lying beside him.

"The road is long, and the path is endless, yet the carefree wind knows not decorum, brushing against my face, disturbing my worries... Brilliant, HAHAHAHA!"

Mao Aowu patted his thigh, grabbed a jade gourd, tilted his head back for a couple of swigs of fine wine, and hummed a tune he had heard the day before at Guantao Tower.

Going to meet up with the Sect Master would actually be less efficient than heading directly to the Xuan Nu Sect; after all, there was hardly a place for this "Brother Mao" beside the Sect Master anymore. Calculating the speed of the tower ship and his own pace, he would arrive just in time to join the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect and wouldn't delay anything important.

Mao Aowu's eyes were filled with sentiment.

The Sect Master really... sigh, I did pick up a treasure for the Sect. When I first met the Sect Master, I thought he was an Immortal who hid his cultivation and played games in the mortal world, casually saving my life. Later, I discovered that it was simply my own good fortune; at that time, the Sect Master was just a Returning Origin Realm Cultivator with a particularly strong Divine Thought, and rescuing me was purely luck. Then, the Sect Master became the Sect Master, leading everyone to earn Spirit Stones and open shops. After the Sect Master took a nap, he directly broke through to the Seventh Grade, shocking everyone and earning their respect. But who could have imagined that the Sect Master came from such an extraordinary background, with deep connections to the Human Emperor, even to the point of somewhat resembling an illegitimate grandson. How does joy disappear?

Mao Aowu took another gulp of wine, his eyes shining with a hint of light. In the past, he could call the Sect Master 'Worthy Brother,' but now he wouldn't dare. Even occasionally omitting the 'Lord' honorific when addressing the Sect Master already made him feel a bit guilty. But speaking of which, what was the deal with the Sect Master's strength? Why was it so bizarre?

WHOOSH—

Suddenly, a tearing sound came from ahead. Mao Aowu had already raised his left hand to catch the Jade Talisman that was faster than the sound itself.

[Elder Mao the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect is causing trouble Sect Master is surrounded right in front of their mountain gate].

Mao Aowu read it several times, finally understanding what it meant, and crushed the communication Jade Talisman in his hand. Before he could fully stand up, he turned into a streak of red light and, ignoring the consumption of Mana, rushed towards the scene at full speed!

He had long known that this Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect liked to stir up trouble! So what if they were ranked thirty-sixth? Sect Master! And everyone else! If anything happens to you, I, the Silver Sword Immortal Envoy, will be to blame even if I die ten thousand times! Mao Aowu's silver hair fluttered in the wind, his face full of rage. If a Teleportation Array were placed in front of him, he would not hesitate to jump through it.

"Sect Master—"

「And so, shortly after.」

Mao Aowu hurried to the vicinity of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect's mountain gate and saw the two tower ships docked on the scorched ridge. The three-story tower ship was one he had bought back in the day; the six-story one was added for the 'big show' when he went to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion for a banquet!

Were the Sect Master and the others captured?!

Without time to look closely, Mao Aowu let out a long cry and swept down like a gust of wind, the Giant Sword in his hand, his Heavenly Immortal Realm Mana surging from within, already prepared for a great battle...

Eh?

What's going on?

As Mao Aowu descended to a hundred zhang above the ground, he suddenly saw rows and rows of Demonic Cultivators seated below, and his downward momentum slowed. The people from the Annihilation Sect were sitting near the tower ships, all unharmed, without a scratch. On the side near the Rift Valley edge, over a hundred injured members of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect were sitting cross-legged, with hundreds of Sect disciples behind them.

What happened? Do fights these days depend on glaring each other to death?

Mao Aowu was a bit dumbfounded. In his many years as an inspection immortal envoy, traveling far and wide... to put it bluntly, he had never seen a scene like this! Due to Mao Aowu's earlier long cry, the Demonic Cultivators' gazes turned toward him, making him feel excruciatingly awkward.

GULP— He even swallowed nervously. Moreover, Mao Aowu's Immortal Consciousness spread out, and he could see many figures looking toward him from the clouds near and far, in the crevices, and even within the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect's headquarters...

"This?"

"Brother Mao is here? Wait for me a moment." On the prow of the tower ship, Wu Wang greeted him with a smile, then looked down at the people sitting opposite each other and said softly, "Where were we just now? Let's all continue to feel the power in this song and sing it once more. Unity is strength!"

Below, the Demonic Cultivators—in long robes, wide gowns, short shirts and long pants, fairy skirts, and colorful attire—synchronized their breathing neatly and looked up at Wu Wang in unison. As Wu Wang waved his hands, the voices of hundreds merged into a majestic chorus:

"Unity is strength! Unity is strength!

This strength is heaven, this strength is the Dao, older than heaven, longer than the Dao.

To draw swords against the Heavenly Emperor and all Gods, let all the enemies that oppress us, perish!

..."

CLANG—

The Giant Sword in Mao Aowu's hand accidentally fell to the ground. He stared at the hundreds of people singing together, then slowly bent down to pick up the Giant Sword, having forgotten that he could levitate it telekinetically…

Once the singing stopped, Wu Wang stood at the bow of the ship, looking down at the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect's cultivators, and said slowly, "Good."

He continued, "We are all Sects of the Human Domain. Why can't we be united? Why can't we look north, to Central Mountain, to the Heavenly Emperor! Our forebears blazed trails and cut through thorny paths, passing down the torch through these long years, enabling the Human Domain to have the strength to fight Heaven Palace today. And us?

"We think only of personal gains and losses, nearly sparking a Sect war over a dispute for honor! Do you think I don't know why you stopped the Annihilation Sect today? Is it really worth it? Mo Lin, I'm asking you, is it really worth it?"

Mo Lin, with lumps on his head and a black eye, shook his head repeatedly. The high-ranking members of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect who had just appeared were also full of embarrassment.

Wu Wang said loudly, "Those 30,000 Spirit Stones today, I don't want them from you; it was just to teach you all a lesson. Remember this song! Unity is the only way we can defeat the fierce beasts, the only way the Human race can stand tall in the Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness! Only then can we be worthy of those brothers and sisters who form human walls in the North Border to fend off the Beast Tide!"

Wu Wang took a deep breath and shouted, "Immortal Mu, put away your Divine Skills! They've learned their lesson!"

High in the sky, Dongfang Mumu retracted the 'Million Lightning Lance' intended for millennia-old beasts. She crossed her small arms in front of her, gave a self-satisfied hum, and transformed into a streak of light, landing next to Wu Wang.

The group of Demonic Cultivators from the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect all heaved a sigh of relief. The cultivators of the Annihilation Sect jumped neatly back onto the two large ships, giving a respectful bow to the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect before returning to their original places.

The two large ships slowly ascended, while Mao Aowu was still recovering from his daze.

"Brother Mao! Come drink with us!"

A call came from the top level of the six-story ship. Mao Aowu shook his head vigorously and glanced at the members of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect who were now standing up and watching the Annihilation Sect's large ship, their eyes wary. He rose into the clouds.

Suddenly, Young Master Mo Lin took two quick steps forward. "Where are you all going!?"

Ji Mo, who was at the back, turned his head, flipped open his folding fan with a SNAP, and said with a sly smile, "Our Sect Master is going to the Xuan Nu Sect to attend their disciple recruitment ceremony. Can't help it, our Sect Master has so many friends and is also on good terms with the current Saintess of the Xuan Nu Sect, Fairy Ling… Ah, I've said too much, don't speculate wildly. What kind of story could there be between a Sect Master of a Demonic Sect and the Saintess of the Xuan Nu Sect? HA-HA, HAHAHAHA!"

With that, he turned and walked away, laughing. His silhouette was indescribably dashing and made many of the young women of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect gaze at him eagerly.

Mo Lin felt a bit of melancholy and stood in place for a long time without moving. An Elder came forward and whispered a few words next to him. Mo Lin turned to look at the few Elders behind him, his eyes filled with inquiry, to which they gave an affirmative nod.

「...」

An hour later, the two large ships continued toward the Xuan Nu Sect amidst songs and dances. In the connected cabin on the top deck, several men with wine pots and goblets sat around a chessboard. Wu Wang, Ji Mo, and Immortal Mu were all pointing and making comments while Lin Qi and Mao Aowu were playing chess.

Lin Suqing walked briskly back and forth, cleaning up the dining table and then bringing over the tea and snacks she had prepared in advance, before sitting down on a nearby couch to meditate and cultivate. Among them, Aunt Suqing had the lowest cultivation level, but she was full of enthusiasm. She strived to achieve her Nascent Soul within three years and ascend to immortality in five, all under Immortal Mu's guidance. She certainly had more ambition than a certain Sect Master!

"Brother Ji," Wu Wang remarked, without showing any trace of ulterior motive, "what exactly did you tell those guys when you got back?"

"I didn't say much," Ji Mo replied, his voice becoming involuntarily a bit sharp. "Just encouraged them a little, really didn't say much."

Ji Mo made a gesture, and the two of them walked away from the vicinity of the chessboard.

"Oh?" Wu Wang narrowed his eyes and smiled. He took a step forward, seemingly stepping on something, and ground it slightly under his foot. He said, "Speaking of Fairy Ling, she seems to dislike Demonic Cultivators. For so many of us to swagger over there might have been somewhat inappropriate."

Ji Mo's lips trembled slightly, but he still kept up his graceful and charming smile, saying, "Brother Wuwang, were you worried about this before, and that's why you wanted to keep a low profile?"

"That was mainly the reason, but since everyone felt that a grander entrance was better, I went along with it. After all, it wasn't a big deal." Wu Wang said, "I'm actually indifferent to these things; I've seen plenty of grand scenes back in my hometown. Actually, I will need to find an opportunity to return home in a bit."

"What, what's the matter?"

Wu Wang replied, "We're running low on balls. Brother Ji, you seem a bit pained, are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

"It's nothing…" Ji Mo quickly said, "Why don't I make the trip for you, Brother Wuwang? Cultivation can be dull, so it might be better to travel around and appreciate the beauty of different places!"

"There's really no need for that." Wu Wang continued to apply pressure with his foot, smiling. "Actually, there are some more supplies to take care of. Later, when my cultivation is higher, and I can battle a Heavenly Immortal, sneaking back home won't be too late. At least the journey would be safer, and the round trip could be much faster. If I had a good flying Magic treasure, it would only take about a month to go back and forth."

Ji Mo's forehead was covered in cold sweat as he hastily said, "I'll have someone find some fast flying Magic treasures right away."

Wu Wang nodded with a smile. "Then I'll trouble Brother Ji with that."

"Don't mention it! It would be strange between us to be so formal!"

They looked at each other and smiled. Wu Wang turned around, lifting his left foot off Ji Mo's right instep as he did so. The latter grimaced with pain, but when others looked over, he quickly resumed his graceful composure.

Stepping on feet—a trick for children!

Wu Wang wondered, "By the way, Brother Ji, where does this 'Saintess' title for Fairy Ling come from?"

"It's determined by aptitude. They have a test when they enter the Sect, and the one with the highest aptitude is bestowed the title of Saintess." Ji Mo moved to the side and sat down, winking at Wu Wang with a smile, and said, "Brother Wuwang, you already know Fairy Ling's peculiar temperament; she can't stand filth and chaos. Apart from that, she really has no other flaws."

Wu Wang raised a finger and shook it. "You still don't understand her."

"I don't understand her?" Ji Mo lay on the table and sighed with a complaint. "I've treated her as a younger sister since we were kids, and after she went to the Xuan Nu Sect, I visited her a few times too. I'm practically her only close friend. With her temperament, I'm really worried about her. Being the Saintess of the Xuan Nu Sect, she'll probably end up just staying there as an Elder."

"Why are you worrying about others?" Wu Wang picked up a slice of tangerine and chewed on it. "With just a beckoning of her fingers, plenty of men would be enthralled by her."

Ji Mo said, "If she looks down upon them, there's nothing to be done. And, Brother Wuwang, do you know why the Xuan Nu Sect has such a high status? Apart from their Sect's Spells that enhance other Cultivators, their Cultivation Techniques also allow their husbands to cultivate together and replenish each other, breaking through boundaries. It's the opposite of the Black Desire Door's techniques and doesn't have any negative side effects. As a result, countless young men seek marriage from the Xuan Nu Sect. Every woman who marries out from the Sect almost becomes the master of her husband's family, holding up a section of the sky. To choose a partner from the Xuan Nu Sect is definitely without problems!"

Wu Wang: ...

Why does this feel like the tradition of my own Bear Hug Tribe—cultivating priestess wives for the chief? Almost the same principle?

"What's the matter? Brother Ji, are you thinking of playing matchmaker?"

"I wouldn't dare to play matchmaker, how could I dare?"

"I already have a beloved," Wu Wang solemnly stated. "Although she has not yet been born, I truly have someone in my heart, and it's better not to mention it further. Fairy Ling has never shown such intentions either. What she shares with the two of us is brotherly affection, the bond of siblings. If you keep making decisions on your own like this, it won't be as simple as stepping on toes."

"Hehe," Ji Mo chuckled, squinting his eyes and leaning on the table as he looked at Wu Wang. "Brother Wuwang, just be modest. It's fine, let's wait and see. According to you, my future wife might have already become Transcendent by now."

Wu Wang wondered, "You should have followed the State Preceptor of the Women's country..."

"That, I have loved."

"PAH!" Wu Wang pretended to hit him, and Ji Mo quickly escaped, tittering and hopping to the side, much to the annoyance of Lin Qi who was about to lose the chess game and was glaring at him incessantly.

Suddenly, Wu Wang heard the sound of drums, and an Elder leaped up from the stairwell entrance. "Sect Master! Four large ships have appeared behind us! They're accelerating towards our position!"

Wu Wang frowned slightly as everyone activated their Spiritual Sense, and Immortal Mu stretched out her small hand to project a Cloud Mirror. They saw four multi-storied ships arranged in a square formation, speeding from behind, with billowing black smoke rising from within. They were filled with Demonic Cultivators, and standing at the bow of the leading ship was the Young Master of the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect, hands behind his back.

"There are banners on those four ships," Mao Aowu called out loudly. "They read... 'Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect escorting Young Master Lin Qi and Sect Master Wuwang to Xuan Nu Sect.' And there's more: 'Da Ri Earth Demon Sect escorting Young Master Lin Qi and Sect Master Wuwang to Xuan Nu Sect.' Uh, also Oblivion Demon Sect, North Cloud Demon Sect... Aside from the Chaotic Emotion Demon Sect, they are all Demonic Sects ranked in the top hundred but not the top fifty."

"Sect Master, what should we do?"

Wu Wang contemplated carefully and shook his head. "No need to bother with them. Just pretend we didn't see them and keep them from getting too close."

"These rascals!" Lin Qi shouted angrily as he stood up, scattering the chess pieces on the board and rushing out of the cabin. "I'll teach them a lesson; how dare they put my name before my teacher's."

TSK, this damned competitive spirit.

Another hour later, a fleet of six large ships crossed the sky, carrying billowing demon flames, startling countless Demonic Sects and Immortal Sects along their path. Somehow, the Young Master suddenly had a rather vague premonition.

「...」

Xuan Nu Sect, a major Sect among the top ten of the Immortal Dao, rose to prominence during the later period of Heavenly Emperor Fu Xi's reign and has remained flourishing, enjoying a close relationship with the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. If one were to gaze upon the mountains where Xuan Nu Sect resides, one would find many wonders. The most eye-catching sight was a hundred-zhang tall jade statue. Standing quietly on the mountain peak, the statue radiated a soft jade luminescence in the morning sunlight. Half hidden in the mist, it revealed a dignified and graceful face with hands crossed in front of her chest; the white jade fairy ribbons behind her seemed to flutter in the wind. Around the statue, one could vaguely see palaces and pavilions wrapped in Formation lights, truly a grand Sect's presence.

This Immortal Mountain, too, was extraordinarily magnificent. More than a dozen peaks joined to form the shape of a blooming flower, likely moved here by great Mana, creating a rare geographical formation. Each mountain peak shone with the light of Formations, with figures flying around; everywhere one could see rare Spirit Beasts playing in the forests, with continuous patches of medicinal gardens and spirit fields adorning all places. However, separated by several layers of Formation barriers, the view wasn't very clear.

The jade statue stood atop the main peak, beneath which was a majestic hall. From there, a stairway of white jade wound down past several grand halls, through white jade mountain gates, and connected to a bustling town halfway up the mountain.

As the Sect had previously dispatched many disciples to support the Northern Region, and it was once again time for disciple recruitment, the Xuan Nu Sect was filled with a festive atmosphere. Accomplished Fairy Immortals walked in groups, and the mountains and forests resounded with laughter and joy. Many guests had already arrived at Xuan Nu Sect in advance, toasting and having fun in the guest halls. Various large transportation Magic treasures like Cloud Boats, tower ships, and Immortal Mountains were parked near the Sect's mountain gate. The air was fresh and the beautiful scenery overlapped, presenting what could be described as the essence of an Immortal Realm.

Suddenly, the eastern sky darkened with large clouds pressing slowly towards Xuan Nu Sect. The Fairy Immortals' faces paled as the Mountain Protection Array was urgently activated. The experts in the guest hall stood up to look eastward, while strong auras rose up from the great hall beneath the hundred-zhang tall statue as if issuing a warning.

The dark clouds drew nearer. Upon a closer look, they were revealed to be dozens of large ships heading this way, heavy with demonic shadows and the resounding beat of drums.

At the mountaintop hall of Xuan Nu Sect, several female disciples hustled and shouted, "Fairy Ling! The Demonic Sects are coming for us!"

"Those big ships have banners saying 'Escorting Sect Master Wuwang and Young Master Lin Qi'; Master asks if they are your friends, Fairy Ling?"

Fairy Ling: ...

Ah, how I wish I could say I don't know those guys.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.