Fan Wubing slowly put on his clothes, and said seriously,

"Junior Sister, if I told you that you misunderstood, would you believe it?"

"But you're already undressed!"

"That's because, while flesh wounds can heal, if clothes get torn, they can only be thrown away. You know, our Enlightenment Peak is poor, and we save wherever we can!"

"But she looked so expectant!"

"That's because Senior Sister Gu hoped I could find the illness in her body this way."

"But... that guy, he seemed very excited too!"

Wei Changkong twitched the corners of his mouth,

"Didn't I say my name last time? I'm Wei Changkong! Junior Sister Qingyao, at least show some respect to your senior in the Cultivation Realm."

Fan Wubing coughed,

"As for Senior Brother Wei, yes, he does have that taste. He wishes to take my place. But Junior Sister, you know your Senior Brother is a serious person."

"What kind of serious person secretly paints his own Senior Sister?"

Fan Wubing took a deep breath,

"You saw it?"

Luo Qingyao's aura instantly deflated, afraid her Senior Brother would blame her for rummaging through private belongings, she shrank her head and said,

"I didn't mean to, it was just an accident, I accidentally saw it..."

She tilted her head and blinked, trying to pass it off with cuteness,

"Misunderstanding resolved, misunderstandings cleared up..."

At this moment, Fan Wubing didn't have the confidence, so he chuckled,

"Yes, misunderstanding resolved."

"Ahem!" Wei Changkong suddenly became serious, looking at Fan Wubing, he asked, "Junior Brother Wubing, how do I usually treat you?"

"In the past, it was so-so. But having eaten for free these days... I owe you a favor."

Wei Changkong seemed to have not heard this, winking,

"See, I don't treat you poorly, right? So, the painting of Senior Sister you made... can you copy one for me?"

"No, if Senior Sister finds out, she'll kill you."

"To die under a peony flower, even as a ghost, is joyous in style!"

"No, if you want one, draw it yourself."

"Junior Brother Wubing... your Senior Sister has realized a thread of Dao rhythm, if I draw her, she'll definitely know! You need to do it, if you draw her, she might secretly be delighted!"

"No way!"

"Senior Brother, actually, you can draw me however you like. Even without clothes, that's okay~"

Gu Lan, after experiencing what had just happened, kept thinking, wondering if she was actually a pervert deep down... because, when she was whipping Fan Wubing just now, the fact was she got increasingly happy. But seeing the chaotic scene they were playing, she suddenly realized, her excitement was merely from hope that her body's illness could be treated. In reality, she has always been a normal person.

Because she was overly normal, she was out of place with them.

...

The Eternal Immortal Sect was one of the top sects in Little South Continent's Profound One Spirit Marsh, occupying the most favorable cultivation environment, enjoying the largest underground spiritual veins of Profound One Spirit Marsh. Enjoying such convenience naturally came with corresponding responsibilities, to protect all directions, to vanquish demons, and create peace for the mortal realm, and to set an example for the Immortal Path.

But over the years, due to various issues, the Eternal Immortal Sect was not as strong as it used to be, and with other old and new forces constantly developing to catch up, there was an implicit trend of them seeking to rival or even surpass Eternal Immortal Sect.

Thus, in this feng shui treasured land of the Profound One Spirit Marsh, on the Immortal Fertile Soil, more and more unfavorable voices towards the Eternal Immortal Sect could be heard. Anyone with insight could see this was other forces' dissatisfaction with the Eternal Immortal Sect monopolizing such excellent cultivation resources.

Although in the eyes of mortals, the Eternal Immortal Sect still appears as an unattainable giant, among forces of equal level or lesser difference, the voices of decline grew louder.

No force wasn't envious of the cultivation resources occupied by the Eternal Immortal Sect.

Little South Continent's largest underground spiritual vein, the Twelve Immortal Peaks, the twenty-seven vassal countries, three thousand mu of fertile spiritual fields, a 50,000 mu mountain pasture, and various other sizes of mines, commercial trade resources, and recruitment sources... these altogether formed the grand foundation of the Eternal Immortal Sect and are its long-standing core.

In the eyes of ordinary people, there are only the Twelve Immortal Peaks about the Eternal Immortal Sect, but in fact, its roots have long spread throughout the entire Little South Continent.

However, this towering tree now showed signs of peeling bark, withering leaves, and root rot.

In the Sect Leader's Peak, on the Eternal Immortal Peak, Mei Jinqiu gathered the peak masters of each peak and discussed the current situation. Frowning and deep in thought, he said,

"I believe that, more or less, you all can feel that the external world's attitude towards our sect is very ambiguous right now."

"They seek to replace us." Wangxian Pavilion Master Lin Xing said bluntly.

"Yes. There are always those who believe that after the chaos of the demon slaughter, our Eternal Immortal Sect would be irreparably weakened and fall into decline."

Elder Zhang Jingwei of Fulu Peak said,

"It's likely the current state of Enlightenment Peak that makes them think this way."

Master Qi Ming of Fate Peak said,

"You and I both know, if not for Junior Brother Yushan risking himself to stop the chaos of the demon slaughter, it wouldn't just be Enlightenment Peak that was in decline. During that calamity, Junior Brother Yushan's soul and essence were both severely damaged. Didn't we see with our own eyes as he fell from the Divine Split Realm all the way to the Golden Core Realm? Ten years ago, in a moment of urgent heart distress, he almost lost his life, forcing him into an emergency seclusion."

Mei Jinqiu sighed,

"I still remember that when Junior Brother Yushan went into seclusion, he was most worried about his two disciples, not himself."

Lin Xing nodded,

"Junior Brother Yushan is such a person, embodying both grand justice and small courtesy."

Celestial Craft Peak Master Zhao Yangxia smiled,

"There is no need to be so sorrowful. Although Enlightenment Peak now has only three disciples, they are no ordinary youngsters. The eldest, Fu Ming, needs no introduction; the second, Fan Wubing, is skilled in cooking immortal food, and the youngest, Luo Qingyao, is a guest from Changsheng Continent."

Zhang Jingwei squinted his eyes,

"But Elder Zhao, you must not forget. Fu Ming's heart is not with the Eternal Immortal Sect; he has always been an outlier. Fan Wubing cannot cultivate immortality, destined to have little fortune, and even if he becomes famous for his various strange skills and techniques, he will eventually fade away on the Immortal Path. After all, the pursuit of the great Dao and immortality is what we seek as cultivators. As for Luo Qingyao, she will ultimately return to Changsheng Continent; she is not a person of the Eternal Immortal Sect."

This was rather disheartening, yet it was reasonable and irrefutable.

Everyone knew that no matter how dazzling the three disciples of Enlightenment Peak were, they had undeniable 'flaws.' This is why, even though Fu Ming is the strongest disciple of the Eternal Immortal Sect, the facade of the sect has always been Wei Changkong of Fate Peak, and now the Sect Leader's direct disciple, Fu Manman.

Seeing the silence of the crowd, Zhang Jingwei seized the opportunity to say,

"In my view, the chaos of the demon slaughter has likely, through Elder Yushan, deeply damaged the fortune of Enlightenment Peak, and the three disciples are a sign. And Enlightenment Peak is also situated on the trend of the spirit veins; if not properly rectified, it may harm the entire Eternal Immortal Sect."

Fortune is something invisible and intangible that cannot be clearly felt. Yet, it is there, influencing the workings of all things at every moment.

Individuals have personal fortune, nations have national fortune, sects have sect fortune, and immortals have immortal fortune... Most unfortunate events can be attributed to an impacted fortune. Therefore, fortune is something that various forces have always attached great importance to, often seeking to consolidate and enhance it through various means.

Mortal incense burning, family ancestor worship, national heaven worship, sect grand ceremonies, immortal peace openings... All these matters are inseparably linked to the two words 'fortune.'

Mei Jinqiu, seeing the attitudes of the crowd, roughly understood that most people agreed with Zhang Jingwei's opinion, thinking Enlightenment Peak was the root cause affecting the Eternal Immortal Sect's fortune and should be thoroughly rectified.

How can it be rectified? It's nothing more than removing it from the Twelve Immortal Peaks or merging it with another peak.

But... doesn't anyone remember the past merits of Enlightenment Peak and Yushan Daoist?

The Eternal Immortal Sect is not, and has never been, a place ruled by the Sect Leader alone; the larger the force, the more this is so. Mei Jinqiu needs to consider all aspects; he shook his head and said,

"For now, the grand ceremony of the sect is most urgent; the matter of Enlightenment Peak can wait until after. This ceremony must fully showcase the style of our Eternal Immortal Sect, proving to the world that our sect remains strong. If done well, it can also, to a certain extent, enhance our sect's fortune. In addition——"

Mei Jinqiu's expression was very solemn and serious,

"I have received news that a direct disciple of the Daoist main house will attend this sect grand ceremony."

If it is only a Daoist lineage, it is nothing significant. Because, broadly speaking, all cultivators are disciples of the Daoist sect; after all, the commonly practiced Foundation Establishment, Gold Nurturing Pill... a series of cultivation methods are all passed down from the Daoist sect. The pursuit of the Dao and seeking immortality were initially the Daoist doctrine, gradually expanding to all cultivators over time.

However, the term 'main house' is not something that everyone can have.

Qi Ming asked,

"The Daoist main house, could it be the Wangxian Pavilion of Changsheng Continent?"

Celestial White Jade Capital, twelve towers, and five cities together form what is known as the Daoist main house.

Changsheng Continent's Wangxian Pavilion is one of the twelve towers.

The Daoist main house seeks nature and dislikes disputes; thus, main house disciples have always been few, and it is rumored that some of the twelve towers, at their fewest times, have only had one person. Yet, no one has ever belittled them for this; it is even said that the trends and styles of the Cultivation Realm are largely guided by them.

"Why would a Daoist main house disciple participate in our sect's grand opening ceremony?"

Mei Jinqiu furrowed his brows,

"I'm afraid... it has something to do with the upcoming driftland blessing."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

...

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