After leaving the Immortal Gathering Pavilion, Chen Mu headed straight for the eastern city gate of Flying Bull City.
After exiting the eastern city gate, he saw a straight path ahead.
The road was five meters wide and stretched all the way to the end of the horizon.
"It's such a good road. What a pity we can't drive on it." Chen Mu muttered.
In the surroundings, there were quite a few youngsters like him who were observing this Immortal Seeking Path, praising continuously.
Chen Mu quietly sized up these people. He did not find anyone with an outstanding temperament who looked like the person to face the calamity.
He reckoned that if there really was someone like that, he should not appear among these people.
After all, anyone who could reach Flying Bull City would not be late as long as they were mentally sound.
Seeing that someone was looking at him, he quickly turned around and left.
Before heading to the Azure Yang Sect, he did not wish to have any interactions with these people.
It would save him the trouble of explaining why he was late when they met in the sect.
...
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed. There was only one day left until the Azure Yang Sect opened its doors to recruit disciples.
That morning, hundreds of people gathered on the first floor of the Immortal Gathering Pavilion.
Some of these people were prepared to head to the Azure Yang Sect to seek immortality, while others were friends and family.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the center of the hall.
Over there, a young man in luxurious clothes stood on the table. His face was filled with impassioned enthusiasm, as if he was leading a group of heroes.
"Everyone! Tomorrow is the day the Azure Yang Sect opens its doors!"
"Logically speaking, I should not waste everyone's remaining time with their loved ones!"
"However, there are some things that I have to say."
At this point, the noble-looking young master paused and put them in suspense.
Someone immediately said, "Young City Lord, feel free to speak!"
...
Chen Mu, who was sitting on the second floor, was eating breakfast while listening to the shouting downstairs.
He smiled after hearing this.
No wonder that person had so much prestige and could gather so many people with a single sentence. So it was the Young City Lord.
...
"I think it's a little inappropriate for us to wait until tomorrow!"
"For the past few months, I believe everyone in Flying Bull City knows what the Azure Yang Sect has done for us!"
"They killed spirit monsters and built a road!"
"As a large sect, the Azure Yang Sect is so kind to us mortals who have yet to enter the cultivation world!"
"Shouldn't we express our gratitude?"
After the noble young master said that, tears appeared in the corners of his eyes. Clearly, he was extremely touched by his own words.
Although he was the Young City Lord, he had many siblings. He was just one of them, and his status was not that high.
Moreover, the immortal cultivators always held absolute power in this world.
The Azure Yang Sect was also unreachable to him.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
To them, the recent actions of the Azure Yang Sect were akin to an emperor personally leading a horse for the commoners, making them feel overwhelmed by the favor.
It was fine if the Young City Lord did not say it, but now that he had said it, they all felt that they should express their gratitude.
But how should they express it?
"Young City Lord, do you have any good ideas?"
"Yeah, we can't offer anything good either."
Someone else asked.
The elegant young master smiled upon hearing this.
"The Azure Yang Sect will definitely not be interested in ordinary things!"
"A sect like the Azure Yang Sect would not accept things from new disciples!"
"But we can let the Azure Yang Sect see our sincerity!"
"Treasures have value! But true feelings are priceless!"
"I've decided!"
"After this gathering ends, I will head to the Azure Yang Sect. I will kneel in front of the Azure Yang Sect and wait until the sect opens tomorrow!"
Many people immediately agreed.
"Good idea!"
"That's right! Since the Azure Yang Sect treats us like this, we should express our sincerity in seeking immortality!"
"Young City Lord! I'll go back and pack up now!"
...
Hundreds of people dispersed.
Upon seeing this scene, the noble young master smiled in satisfaction.
His talent was average. If he wanted to develop in the Azure Yang Sect, he would have to think of other ways.
Now that he was still in Flying Bull City, everyone gave him some respect for his status.
He could take this opportunity to suck up to the Azure Yang Sect.
"Are the horses ready?" The noble young master asked the attendant beside him.
"Ready!"
"Yes! We will set off immediately! I want to be the first to kneel in front of the Azure Yang Sect!"
...
Upstairs, Chen Mu was calmly eating his breakfast.
Today was the 6th of the month. On the 7th, the Azure Yang Sect would open its gates and recruit disciples. The person to face the calamity would arrive on the 8th.
It was good that these people had gone ahead of time. They had helped the Azure Yang Sect filter out the candidates.
"Brother Li, let's hurry!"
"These locals went to the Azure Yang Sect first. If we go tomorrow, it would appear that we are lacking in sincerity!"
"Brother Zhang is right! Let's go!"
When some of the young people on the second floor heard the commotion below, they also got up and returned to their rooms to pack their luggage, afraid that they would fall behind others.
Once again, Chen Mu thought of one word!
Involution!
...
Half a day later.
Within the main hall of the Azure Yang Mountain's Main Peak.
The Sect Leader of the Azure Yang Sect, Qing Yangzi, sat at the main seat.
There were seven people sitting below him. They were the First Elder of the Azure Yang Sect, the Second Elder, and the five elders of the elemental branches of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Everyone had the same expression on their faces. They were all solemn and serious. It was as if the sky was about to collapse.
The others in the sect might not be able to imagine that their leader and elders had been sitting here for a full seven days.
It could not be helped. This matter concerned the survival of the sect. No matter how good their natures were, they could not help but feel nervous.
With everyone sitting together, it could more or less relieve some tension.
...
A pin drop could be heard in the silent hall. The eight people were as motionless as clay statues.
After a moment, Shui Rou, the elder of the water spiritual root branch, could not hold it in any longer. She turned around and looked at Qing Yangzi.
"Senior Brother, building the road seemed a little inappropriate…"
"Those people from Flying Bull City are already kneeling at the entrance of the mountain. Under such circumstances, who would be late?"
The moment she spoke, the others' expressions changed slightly. The atmosphere unknowingly became much more oppressive.
"In that case, it was not appropriate to kill the spirit monsters either. Without any obstruction, it would also be impossible to be late."
Mu Qing of the wood spiritual root branch followed up.
When Qing Yangzi heard that, he pinched his long white beard. Evidently, his heart was not too calm either.
However, he still pretended to be composed and replied to the elders.
"It doesn't matter. That person will come anyway."
"We are doing this only to ensure that he does not meet with an accident."
"However… the chances of being late might be lower now."
"If no one comes the day after tomorrow, then everyone who comes tomorrow will be specially nurtured!"
"What if no one comes tomorrow?"
The First Elder who had always been at loggerheads with Qing Yangzi spoke up.
"Then we will focus on nurturing all the new disciples this year. At most, we will exhaust our thousand-year heritage!"
Qing Yangzi's voice was firm and resonant, with some anger hidden within.
He firmly believed in the prophecy left behind by the ancestor.
The Azure Yang Sect was facing a sect-destroying calamity. This meant that he, the sect leader, would be killed!
Therefore, it was not too much to be cautious!
Everyone fell silent and prayed in their hearts.
They prayed that someone would come to the Azure Yang Sect on the eighth day!
That person would help the Azure Yang Sect block the calamity of sect extermination!
...
At the same time, outside the mountain gate, more than a hundred people were kneeling in an orderly manner. Their expressions were more sincere than the others.
No one could have expected…
The Sect Leader and Elders of the Azure Yang Sect were all waiting for someone who was destined to be late.