The Starry Sky Pavilion was humongous and had six floors – four below the ground and two above.
The four underground floors had many shops and stalls, as well as the storerooms and things of the sort – since no matter how many spatial treasures the famous shops had, it was not enough to store all their products.
The ground floor was where all the missions were assigned, with many counters where the disciples could go to accept missions and get their rewards. Meanwhile, the uppermost floor was reserved for the administrative part of things – accountants and so on stayed there.
All in all, it was huge and it took a lot of space.
However, as the uncountable outer court disciples crowded there, the place became fairly cramped - with the mass of people being larger than the building.
That was to say that, as huge as the Starry Sky Pavilion was, it would not be able to comport them all.
Because of the huge amount of people, the place soon became bustling, everyone chatting and talking, wondering what had happened that would need them here.
Even if the top associations had been summoned, making everyone wonder what kind of event was this.
"Silence!" Suddenly the voice from before echoed once again, spreading exploding right next to their ears. The pressure emitted by it was terrifying, silencing the world. "Now, Lady Cui from the Starry Sky Pavilion will announce why you have been called here!"
People then looked forward, toward the pavilion. Standing above its ceiling there were two people – one was a man with a fierce expression, he was also the one speaking before. To his side, there was a beautiful lady garbed in white, her voluptuous body making several people drool.
Before looking at the disciples, the woman thanked the man respectfully.
"Earlier today it was found out that hordes of beasts are charging out of the Dark Forest. And as you should know, our sect is responsible for many areas bordering said forest." Her voice was loud and clear as she started to explain why they were here.
The Dark Forest was a dangerous land filled with demon beasts. It extended for miles and miles, crossing over sixteen countries. The Star Sea Sect oversaw almost half of those countries, so it had the duty to protect them in such cases.
Well, it was not as if this was the first time, though. So, while the newcomers were surprised, the seniors were not as much.
"We have already gathered information about the number of beasts and their intended paths." Stopping for a moment to let them digest her words, Lady Cui soon continued. "The top associations will divide themselves into teams and will be responsible for protecting the seventeen major cities bordering the forest, as for the rest, you will be sent out to minor cities and villages." Finally, the motive behind the summoning was made clear.
In the crowd, the top ten associations started to get motivated. Fighting against beasts was dangerous, but was also a good training method. Moreover, such events could bring them plenty of contribution points.
Those that wanted to join the Inner Disciple Examination that would happen soon were the most excited, as the influx of points could help them in one last struggle for a breakthrough.
However, the announcement had not ended yet. "We recommended that the newcomers work with their seniors in the hopes of decreasing the danger; however, that is not mandatory. You can work in a team with your seniors or organize a team of your own in the hope of reaping contribution points. And, that is it!" As her soft voice disappeared, the square in front of the pavilion burst into cries of excitement and cheers.
"You all will be leaving in four hours through the outer court's central square. Go prepare yourselves!" The cold man spoke once more, before retreating inside the pavilion with Miss Cui.
Amongst the crowd, Yueshi and the others exchanged glances. They had not expected that, as soon as they joined the sect, they would experience such an event.
Some of them, like Yuan Yue, had not even chosen a cultivation technique yet, leaving them a bit annoyed by the untimely appearance of the beast horde.
Most of them separated to settle and take care of their own business, with Yuan Yue immediately leaving for the Cultivation Tower. Yueshi and Xuehua, having nothing better to do and no preparations to make, decided to walk around and look at the scenery.
--- - -
The array that teleported Yueshi and the others to the Sect's examination grounds was already mind-opening to him. However, when he saw the grand array inscribed on the marble floor of the main square, he was left speechless.
The whole thing glowed with a ghostly blue light, and once activated, a pillar of light pierced through the clouds and seemed to change the whole weather of the outer court. There was also some sort of suppressive might to it that weighted on one's heart, and the inscriptions that floated around the pillar were so mysterious and attention-drawing that it was hard not to stare.
Yueshi and the others watched as group after group went through the teleportation array, being sent to one of the places that had to be protected.
Because they did not have the right to choose where they would be sent to, they were a bit nervous. There were big and small hordes, and so there were cities in great and small danger.
Despite their confidence, to most of them, this was the first time they would fight against demon beasts. They had, at most, taken care of fierce beasts in the past, and the difference between them was clear – demon beasts were intelligent and cunning creatures in the Body Refinement Realm or above, while fierce beasts were merely stronger than average animals.
Finally, it was their time to enter, and, moving as one, the group stepped toward the beam of light.
Yueshi had already heard from Yuan Yue about the association's newcomers and felt a bit puzzled at all that. Nonetheless, they got to exchange a few words while waiting so they could more or less be considered a true group.
Well, there was something that made him feel awkward, and that was Qing Yuyi and her relentless teasing – telling him how handsome, manly and amazing he was.
That aside, when they stepped inside the light pillar, they lost all sense of weight as they closed their eyes. Teleportation was always strange – after all, the concepts behind it were profound, and it had to completely disintegrate one's body and rebuilt it in another place.
Thanks to that, it was truly itchy, sickening, and uncomfortable - all at the same time.
Once they opened them again, they saw a bustling village, with other disciples from the sect walking from side to side or toward the walls. Everyone was excited and wanted to gather all the information they could before the arrival of the beast waves.
The horde would still take three or four days to arrive and, in the meantime, they could train or hunt in the hopes of strengthening their abilities. Some were also planning to make traps, dig holes and so on… all in all, everyone needed and wanted information to make their plans more concrete.
"Then, leader~, what should we do?" Just as Yueshi was observing his surroundings, a familiar voice reached his ears - that elongated 'leader'. with a tone of derision, made an awry smile bloom on his face.
"Do you have to tease me every time?" Turning back, he asked Yuan Yue who had been walking ahead of him. Since they met she had already made fun of him an uncountable amount of times.
"Haha, don't be like that. I know you love it." Twirling around on one foot to stare at him, she just laughed his complaints away. Yueshi could only let it go, thinking that 'it wasn't that bad' while looking at her smile.
After a short few seconds, they were reunited in a circle.
Their association was new, but they had quite a few members. There were the two dozen from the Flying Snow Dojo, counting Yueshi and Xuehua; the other new geniuses, and there was Bei Lao's small group – other than him and Jiang Yao there were another five.
With that, the association had more than thirty people.
"For now, I guess it is better if we split up. We need to gather information about the surrounding terrain, as well as find a map of the forest." With them all reunited, Yueshi spoke.
"Hm. It will be easier to move in the village with smaller numbers." The two with more experience, Bei Lao and Jiang Yao, agreed with him.
"Moreover, we need to find a place to stay, so we should pay attention to that when we are talking with the residents. We can't forget that we are not the only ones here, and accommodations will soon become scarce." Jiang Yao also contributed.
At her words Yueshi nodded, admitting he had not thought about that.
"We will meet here in three hours and if everything is settled, we will go inside the forest to hunt a bit and familiarize ourselves with each other." With this matter concluded, they soon parted ways.
Ling Tian Tian walked away alone, however, Mu Baiyun soon trailed after her, dragging Xiao Yao together with him.
Bei Lao and Jiang Yao were going to leave with their friends, however, Wu Feng and a few others took their plans as their own, leaving with the five of them before splitting into smaller groups.
Without a choice, the two seniors bade their farewells and left together – with a knowing smile, Yueshi watched as they disappeared from his vision, envisioning some sort of pink aura around the two.
Yueshi then looked at the remaining people – his sister, Yuan Yue, and the Qing twins. Well, he wanted to go looking around with Xuehua, if possible. However, there were a few things he wanted to ask his disciple sister, too.
In the end, with a disgruntled expression, he looked at the four of them. He had to almost beg for it since Yuyi seemed to want to stick around him, but, in the end, he managed to get some time alone with Yuan Yue.
"So?" He could bet she knew why he had done so, yet she still acted ignorant about it.
"Are you really okay with Ling Tian Tian joining us? And what about… Xiao Yao?" He couldn't wrap his head around that, even now. He already knew that Yuan Yue did not like Tian Tian, so it was beyond confusing.
"Xiao Yao… he is not that bad. His family is one thing, but even if the poison came from his hands, it is hard to judge him when you know his history." Yueshi did not know if he saw it right, but he could swear that he saw a glimmer of admiration in his senior sister's eyes.
Unfortunately for him, Yuan Yue was not the sort that would tell someone's else life story without their permission. It was his life. Her take on it would not only involve her personal biases but would, also, infringe on his right to chose if he wanted to share it or not.
"As for Ling Tian Tian… I can deal with it, don't worry." She sent him her best smile. "With her in our association, I will have better chances of sparring and rivaling her, and the association will have a great genius in its ranks. It is a win-win situation, right?"
He didn't exactly agree with that. Even if Yuan Yue tried to hide it, he could see a shadow loom over her whenever Tian Tian was nearby – as if she was being reminded of something bad.
"Well, whatever you say." But if she wanted to face it head-on, he would support her. Patting her head, he messed her brown locks of hair and then ran away, laughing.
"Just wait for me to catch you." She stormed after him, her tone noticeably lighter than before.
While this interaction was taking place, in another corner of the city a group of fifty people was reunited in the only pub of this god-forsaken place.
From those fifty, ten were sitting around a circular table, while the rest remained standing. The silence between them was cold, almost as if they did not like to be in each others' presence.
"Squad leaders, I have news to report!" Soon a skinny youth entered the pub and spoke up to them. Seeing them urging him with their eyes, the young man continued. "Rong Yueshi and his group have been spotted in the village!"
His words turned the atmosphere ice cold. They were all members of the Heavens Will Association, and after Yueshi's actions they had already decided to teach him a lesson; however, inside the sect, it was too hard to do so.
Yet, just as they were planning to let it go for a while, such an event took place. It was as if the Heavens were intervening in their favor.
"The upper echelon has already given us orders. If anyone has the chance, then he is allowed to make a move against the boy and teach him a lesson." One of the sitting men spoke. "So we must do it. I guess the other squad leaders agree with that, no?
Despite their differences and the unhealthy competition between them, they had to nod.
Because it was an order sent down by their seniors and superiors, refusing it would land them in great trouble. None of them wanted to be kicked out, be demoted, or receive fewer resources from now on; therefore, what they had to do was clear to them.
And while the sect had strict rules about fights in the outer court, it had no rules about fights in the outside world. Their stance in the matter was clear – if one can't even protect oneself on the outside, then his place is not in the sect.
If it wasn't because the elders and patriarch, as well as the sect founder back in the days, did not wish for chaos to spread through the sect and cause damage to its roots, then chances were that there would be no rules about fights at all.
"Moreover, as long as we do not kill him, the protectors will not interfere." Having already concluded their meeting, they separated. They had their own plans and all of them wanted to achieve great results, so they could not waste any more time.