"Qiao Fellow Daoist is right; Fellow Daoist Lin did invite too few people," Wen Yuquan was the first to speak.
"I also think it's feasible," Fang Jiutang said with a smile.
"Fellow Daoists, now that Artefact Sect has left and we don't know when Longevity Sect will be able to return, we can only rely on ourselves during this period. As long as we stay united and help each other, no one will dare to provoke us," Qiao Guanyuan said loudly, "Once those who went to the market return, I will go door to door to connect everyone."
The atmosphere was fervent.
Unknowingly, the neighborhood mutual aid meeting initiated by Lin Gui was taken over by Qiao Guanyuan with just a few words, and he became the de facto leader.
...
After the gathering ended.
Qiao Guanyuan chatted enthusiastically with everyone as he walked.
"Chen, we haven't interacted much before, but I know you; you are the best at drawing talismans around here!"
"Oh no, you flatter me, Qiao Fellow Daoist. I can only draw some low-level talismans," Chen Li quickly responded.
"Earning a living through drawing talismans is no simple task; I, Qiao, can also draw talismans, but nine out of ten fail, failing to even recoup the costs; I lack the talent!"
Chen Li could only be modest once again.
Wen Yuquan smiled and said, "No matter how good one is at drawing talismans, it's still a minor skill; cultivation level is the true foundation for we cultivators. Qiao Fellow Daoist, you've reached the later phase of Qi Cultivation, haven't you?"
"I was fortunate to break through last year!"
"That's promising for Foundation Establishment; congratulations,"
"Ah, it's too soon to say that. Foundation Establishment is not easy at all. So many Loose Cultivators get stuck at this stage, unable to break through until death, unable to escape a shovelful of yellow earth," Qiao Guanyuan laughed as he spoke.
"This old man can tell just by looking at your face that you are a man of great fortune. Foundation Establishment will surely go smoothly without any obstacles,"
"Then I'll take your auspicious words."
Amidst the laughter and conversation, the crowd quickly dispersed.
Watching Zhou Hong smile as she said goodbye to Qiao Guanyuan, Chen Li couldn't help but feel a twinge of sourness in his heart.
As he walked to the door, he stopped, and couldn't help speaking to Zhou Hong, who was walking ahead, "Are you familiar with Qiao Fellow Daoist?"
Zhou Hong gave him a glance, "Whomever I'm familiar with is none of your concern. Why? Do you want to spend your life with me?"
Zhou Hong's boldness made Chen Li's heart skip a beat: "I... was just curious!"
"Crazy!"
Zhou Hong turned and entered the house, slamming the door shut with a "bang."
Chen Li couldn't help but slap himself lightly.
"Sigh, it's been too long being single. It's lonely in this world, and seeing any decent-looking woman stirs the heart. What am I thinking? She's a widow; would I really take a widow?"
But then thinking of his own age at forty-one, he sighed helplessly again.
"Forget it, let's prioritize career... cultivation first. Once powerful, all problems will cease to exist. Wouldn't it be nice to have a young and beautiful female cultivator then?"
...
In the afternoon, cultivators returned from the market in pairs and groups, arms loaded with goods, and the streets were filled with laughter and chatter.
But Chen Li was clear that this was the last inertia of order.
By nightfall, this orderly inertia would completely vanish, and everything would be different from the daytime; it would be a riotous revelry.
Especially tonight!
The whole afternoon, Chen Li did not practice, but rested with closed eyes.
He didn't wait for dusk, eating his dinner early before heading out. The streets were already bustling as a large crowd surged toward an open space not far from Chen Li's house.
Qiao Guanyuan's efforts were obviously effective; he had organized a large group of people in just one afternoon.
Before leaving the house, Lin Gui intentionally took an Ascension Elixir, his spirit soaring and his demeanor excited.
"Qiao Fellow Daoist truly has talent. With so many daoists around, why fear those villains." He was unconcerned about Qiao Guanyuan usurping control, concerned only with his own safety, "By the way, would you like me to give you a few Ascension Elixirs to take tonight?"
Chen Li helplessly replied, "You keep them for yourself."
"Fellow Daoists and neighbors, you should all recognize me by now, I am Qiao Guanyuan," Qiao Guanyuan stood on a half-meter-high tree stump and said loudly, "Green River District is about to descend into chaos soon. The bloody night not long ago...we cannot let it happen again this time."
The Loose Cultivators felt uplifted.
Then, Qiao Guanyuan began organizing the patrol teams for the night, calling out names on the spot for confirmation. Those whose names were called agreed without objection, clearly having communicated beforehand.
The personnel confirmed for tonight's patrol included Qiao Guanyuan himself, making a total of ten people, divided into two groups patrolling back and forth on the same street.
Zhou Hong was among them.
"Every single one of them is a Qi Cultivation mid-stage cultivator," someone in the crowd whispered.
Upon hearing this, Chen Li had only one thought in mind.
Power had formed!
Indeed, the times make the hero.
Nine Qi Cultivation mid-stage cultivators, they were surely a formidable force.
If Qiao Guanyuan could grasp this opportunity, these people would become his initial core members.
The gathering ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed amidst laughter and chatter.
...
That night.
The living room was pitch dark.
Listening to the occasional piercing screams in his ears, Chen Li closed his eyes slightly, feeling the subtle exertions throughout his body. He didn't dare to expend too much energy, just warming up, always keeping his body in the best state for combat.
Thankfully, the street where Chen Li was located remained quite calm, with only the occasional footsteps and voices of those patrolling at night.
Time passed, second by second, and soon it was deep into the night.
A sudden burst of voices broke the calm of the street.
"Fellow Daoists, please turn back, this street does not welcome outsiders," someone said.
Hearing the voice, which was obviously nearby, he couldn't help but stop what he was doing.
"Hehehe, there are actually people patrolling here, preparations are indeed thorough. Alright, we'll head to another place," a sharp voice said.
Just as Chen Li was breathing a sigh of relief, a sudden change occurred.
The next moment, he heard several screams.
"Despicable scoundrels, how dare you launch a sneak attack!"
"Quick, call for help."
Chen Li's heart was pounding, and he felt a rush of eagerness. After a struggle, he bit his teeth and quietly opened the door, only to find several cultivators had already peeked out onto the street.
He breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
It seemed that justice still existed in this world.
"Fellow Daoists, let's go together," Chen proposed.
"Indeed, we should!"
"We have strength in numbers, there's nothing to fear!"
The group encouraged each other and didn't delay much longer. Soon they saw that a few dozen meters away, a group was fighting fiercely in the night.
Magic Artifacts flew through the air, and each person was enveloped in the radiant glow of mana, while two bodies already lay on the ground nearby.
Before the other cultivators could react or distinguish friend from foe, Chen Li's Spiritual Power flicked out with a series of rapid attacks.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
The first strike caused a masked cultivator's Protective Spirit Light to tremble violently.
With the second strike, the Protective Spirit Light suddenly dissipated, and the cultivator, now aware, looked terrified.
After the third strike, a large hole exploded in the chest of the cultivator, piercing front to back.
The cultivator had a vacant look in his eyes, glanced down at his chest, but before he could say anything,
The next moment, his head burst open instantaneously.
Tension, exhilaration, excitement; Chen Li's adrenaline was pumping fast, having forgotten all fear, he swiftly locked onto the next target.