117: How about we form a group to ascend to immortality?

Five years of time seemed to have left no trace on his face.

Instead, these Disciples before him had all grown up, their auras restrained and their gazes deep.

"Alright, alright." Chu Xuanjin waved his hand, breaking the somewhat sentimental atmosphere.

"Are you all just going to stand here like Door Gods? Anyone who didn't know better would think seven new statues had been added to the entrance of my small courtyard."

"Revered Master!" Upon hearing this, Wang Duojin immediately reverted to his true nature, trying to lean forward with a face full of snot and tears.

"You've finally come out of seclusion! You have no idea how hard a life this Disciple of yours has had during these five years you were away!"

"I've been worrying over those mountains of Spirit Stones every day, worrying so much my hair is almost turning white!"

As he spoke, he winked and grimaced, trying to show off how haggard he was.

"Get lost." Chu Xuanjin laughed and scolded him, raising a hand into the void. A gentle force pressed Wang Duojin back to his original spot.

"Do you think I don't know your little schemes? You've probably set your sights on someone else's business again and want me to back you up, don't you?"

Wang Duojin chuckled, not feeling embarrassed at all.

"As expected, Revered Master understands me best."

Ye Chenfeng took a step forward and bowed deeply to Chu Xuanjin.

"Revered Master, our cultivation has reached the Peak of this Realm, and we could trigger the Heavenly Tribulation at any moment. We humbly ask for Revered Master's guidance on what path we should take."

As soon as he said this, the playful looks on the faces of the others vanished instantly, replaced by solemn expressions.

This was the fundamental reason they had all gathered here today.

Chu Xuanjin's gaze swept over each of his Disciples.

They were all standing at the end of the mortal world.

"There's no rush for Ascension," Chu Xuanjin said slowly.

"My emergence from seclusion this time is precisely for this matter."

He paused before dropping a bombshell.

"I am also preparing to ascend."

What?

The seven Disciples all looked up at once, their eyes filled with shock.

Although they had long sensed that their Revered Master's Realm was unfathomable, hearing the news with their own ears still shook them to the core.

"Revered Master, you..." Su Linger's voice carried a hint of a tremor that was hard to detect.

"What? Can't bear to part with me?" Chu Xuanjin arched an eyebrow.

"Or are you planning to leave this old man behind in the Lower Realm while you run off to the Upper Realm to enjoy yourselves?"

"We wouldn't dare!" The seven of them hurriedly bowed.

"Alright, I'm just teasing you." Chu Xuanjin put away his playful look, and his expression became serious.

"My situation is quite special. This world can no longer contain me."

He spoke nonchalantly, but the seven Disciples were terrified by what they heard.

Can't contain him?

Just what kind of terrifying Realm must that be!

"So, Ascension is a certainty. But before we go, there are two things that need to be done."

Chu Xuanjin held up two fingers.

"First, I've calculated that our Sect's Luck can still surge a bit higher."

"Although our Myriad Dao Divine Sect now dominates the entire Azure Cloud Continent, our Foundation is still in the Eastern Wasteland."

"The Central Plains is a land of spiritual excellence and outstanding people where geniuses emerge in abundance. We can't favor one over the other, can we?"

Wang Duojin's eyes instantly lit up.

"Revered Master, do you mean..."

"Exactly." Chu Xuanjin snapped his fingers.

"Open the mountain gates and widely recruit Disciples!"

"It will be set for three months from now."

"This time, not just from the Central Plains but the entire Azure Cloud Continent—anyone with fate may come to our Myriad Dao Divine Mountain to seek their immortal destiny!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's hearts burned with excitement.

The grand occasion of opening the mountain gates in the Eastern Wasteland was still fresh in their minds.

The Sect's current prestige was more than ten thousand times stronger than it was back then.

When the gates opened again this time, what a magnificent sight it would be!

"This matter will be handled entirely by you all in coordination with the Council of Elders." Chu Xuanjin played the role of the hands-off manager.

"The process will follow the last one: the Stairway to Heaven and the Dao Testing Stele. There's not much else to say."

"Your Disciples obey!" Ye Chenfeng and the others responded in unison.

"As for the second matter..."

Chu Xuanjin's gaze turned toward the heavens, as if piercing through endless space to see that even broader world.

"I was considering whether we should ascend one by one and be treated like stragglers to be bullied individually."

"Or..."

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile that was all too familiar to Wang Duojin and the others—the smile that preceded a "big business" deal.

"Should we just form a group and drop in directly to give them a grand opening?"

...Half an hour later.

Myriad Dao Divine Sect, Sect Master Hall.

The hall, which had not been opened for several years, was filled with the sound of bells today.

Every Elder present on the divine mountain, whether in seclusion or refining artifacts, rushed here immediately.

When they saw the figure on the main seat who had been gone for five years, they were all moved to tears and knelt to pay their respects.

"We welcome the Sect Master back from seclusion!"

"Alright, everyone rise." Chu Xuanjin gave a light upward gesture.

"I've gathered everyone here today for a short meeting."

His gaze swept over the people below.

Shi Potian, Feng Qingyang, Li Xiaoyao, Mo Yuan... these Sect veterans had all made great progress in their cultivation, with the lowest being at the Late Stage of Body Integration.

As for the six Elders who joined later, including Chi Lan, they had long since broken through to Mahayana Perfection and, like Ye Chenfeng and the others, were forcibly suppressing their cultivation levels.

This lineup was incredibly luxurious.

"I have decided that in three months, the mountain gates will open again to widely recruit the world's talents in the Central Plains."

Chu Xuanjin got straight to the point.

A collective gasp echoed through the hall.

The sound of people drawing in cold breath filled the air.

Recruiting again?

And for the entire continent?

"Sect Master!" Transmission Elder Shi Potian was the first to step forward, his old face full of excitement.

"This is a great thing!"

"Our Myriad Dao Divine Sect is now the number one Sect in the world. It is only right that we recruit talents and spread our philosophy that 'All Daos can be proven' throughout the four seas and eight directions!"

"Indeed!" Law Enforcement Elder Feng Qingyang also stroked his beard and nodded. "It just so happens that the newly refined Discipline Swords in my Law Enforcement Hall haven't tasted blood yet."

Outer Sect Grand Elder Li Xiaoyao coughed twice, interrupting Feng Qingyang's dangerous statement.

"Sect Master, please give us your instructions regarding the specific details."

Chu Xuanjin looked at Ye Chenfeng.

"Chenfeng, you tell them."

"Yes, Revered Master."

Ye Chenfeng stepped forward and methodically explained Chu Xuanjin's plan to the Elders.

From the location of the manifestation to the examination process and the ranking of Disciples, everything was covered in detail.

The more the Elders listened, the brighter their eyes became.

They had already gone through this process once in the Eastern Wasteland, and now it would only be more natural to execute.

Moreover, the scale this time would be a hundred or even a thousand times larger than the last!

"The specific execution will be decided through consultation between the seven Personal Disciples and the Council of Elders."

"I only care about the results."

After Chu Xuanjin finished speaking, he prepared to slip away again.

"Sect Master, wait!"

Mo Yuan, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke up.

"Sect Master, this opening of the gates is of such grand proportions that it will surely attract all the prodigies of the continent. We worry that if any petty people cause trouble in the shadows during the examination, it might..."

His concern was not without merit.

Although the Central Plains currently appeared to submit, the old powers being suffocated by the Myriad Dao Divine Sect might still harbor ulterior motives in secret.

"That's easy to handle."

Chu Xuanjin smiled.

He reached out and lightly clenched his hand toward the void.

A hum vibrated through the air.

The entire Sect Master Hall trembled violently.

Mysterious golden formation patterns emerged from the void, instantly filling every corner of the hall.

A terrifying pressure capable of suffocating even someone at Mahayana Perfection descended!

"This is the core of the 'Great Array of Cosmic Stars,' and it has now merged with the entire divine mountain."

Chu Xuanjin's voice was calm but carried an unquestionable authority.

"On the day of the recruitment ceremony, I will manifest the divine mountain at the Peak of the Central Plains."

"At that time, the array will activate, and everything within thirty thousand miles of the divine mountain will become a Forbidden Law Domain."

"Unless a True Immortal descends."

"Otherwise, any ill-intentioned person who dares to stir even a trace of spiritual power will be instantly crushed into fly ash by the power of the stars."

"Their Divine Souls will be utterly destroyed."

His voice fell.

The entire hall was silent.

All the Elders, including the six at Mahayana Perfection like Chi Lan, stared blankly at the calm figure on the main seat, feeling their Divine Souls tremble.

A Forbidden Law Domain!

Covering thirty thousand miles!

What a heaven-defying method!

How was this just guarding against petty people?

This was clearly telling the whole world: I set the rules!

"Alright, everyone is dismissed."

Chu Xuanjin waved his hand, and his figure slowly faded away, vanishing from the main seat.

Leaving behind a group of Elders with turbulent hearts who could not calm down for a long time... That same day.

A piece of news spread from the headquarters of the "Myriad Dao Merchant Guild" in Tianxu City, Central Plains, to every corner of the Azure Cloud Continent at a terrifying speed.

"Have you heard? The Myriad Dao Divine Sect is opening its gates to accept Disciples!"

"Is it true?"

"And it's for the entire continent! The location is in Tianxu City, Central Plains!"

"My god! This is an immense immortal destiny!"

As soon as the news broke, the entire continent was in an uproar.

Ascetic Cultivators from the Northern Plains glaciers stopped their cultivation and embarked on a journey south.

Loose Cultivators from the depths of the South Sea steered their dharma boats through the waves.

The prince of an ancient kingdom in the Western Desert gave up his throne and traveled day and night with a team of guards.

Countless hidden prodigies and long-sealed geniuses emerged from seclusion one after another.

They had only one goal.

Tianxu City, Central Plains!

For a time, the eyes of the entire continent were focused here.

An unprecedented feast belonging to an entire era was about to begin... Inside the small courtyard.

Chu Xuanjin lay back in his rocking chair, leisurely sipping tea.

The rising winds and scudding clouds of the outside world seemed to have nothing to do with him.

Right now, he was contemplating the most central question.

Ascension.

Should he go solo or form a group?

Going solo, he would go up alone with no attachments. With his Golden Immortal cultivation, as long as he didn't act recklessly, protecting himself shouldn't be a problem.

He could scout ahead, learn about the power distribution and local customs of the Upper Realm, and once he had a firm foothold, find a way to bring his Disciples up.

This was the most secure way.

But it was too slow.

Moreover, the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, his greatest cheat, wouldn't be able to play its full role.

What about forming a group?

Taking the entire Sect and ascending together as a package deal.

It sounded very satisfying and impressive.

The Myriad Dao Divine Mountain was a world of its own, which could perfectly bypass the suppression of the Upper Realm's Laws on low-level Disciples.

With the divine mountain as a base, the Disciples could Cultivate in peace inside and be sent out when they needed experience.

Able to attack when moving forward and defend when retreating.

This was essentially taking a mobile super-fortress to the starter village... no, to a higher-level map for pioneering.

This was the kind of prestige a protagonist in a power fantasy novel should have!

But the risks were equally enormous.

A Lower Realm Sect ascending so high-profilely as a whole would inevitably attract the attention of the Upper Realm's powerhouses.

Once the secret of the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain or the System on him was discovered...

The consequences... Chu Xuanjin rubbed his brow, feeling a bit of a headache.

Just then, a series of light footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

A small figure poked its head in and walked inside.

It was Linglong.

She was wearing a well-fitting little green dress that Gongsun Yan had sewn for her, and in her arms, she held a fluffy Treasure-Seeking Rat that had just gained intelligence.

When she saw Chu Xuanjin, she seemed a bit afraid and instinctively wanted to hide.

"Come here," Chu Xuanjin beckoned to her, his voice soft.

Linglong hesitated for a moment but still held the little mouse and timidly walked over to the rocking chair.

Chu Xuanjin reached out and patted her small head.

"Do you like it here?"

Linglong nodded, then quickly shook her head.

"Hmm?" Chu Xuanjin was a bit puzzled.

Linglong said in a voice as small as a mosquito's, "I like it... but... the sky here is unhappy."

The sky is unhappy?

Chu Xuanjin's heart stirred.

He knew that Linglong was a fragment of the Heavenly Dao, and thus had the most instinctive perception of this world's Laws.

"Why is it unhappy?"

"It... is going to break." Linglong's voice carried a hint of sadness.

"The Spiritual Qi... is being drained... It hurts very much."

Chu Xuanjin's gaze instantly became solemn.

He activated his Heavenly Dao Dharma Eye and looked toward the heavens once more.

This time, he looked deeper and further.

He saw that beyond the world barrier of the Azure Cloud Continent, in the endless void of Chaos...

An invisible giant net enveloped the entire world.

Countless invisible threads were rooted in the world's Origin, like greedy parasites, continuously draining the world's Origin Spiritual Qi!

And at the end of that net was a vast Upper Realm plane, ten thousand times larger than the Azure Cloud Continent and wreathed in Immortal Qi!

"Xuantian Immortal Domain..."

He finally understood.

The poverty of Spiritual Qi and the incomplete Laws of the Azure Cloud Continent were not the result of natural evolution!

Instead, those fellows in the Upper Realm had treated it as a Spiritual Qi plantation to be harvested at will!

The so-called Ascension was merely jumping from one farm to another, larger farm.

In the eyes of those Upper Realm powerhouses, they, the Lower Realm Cultivators, were probably not even considered leeks; at most, they were just a few fat ants in the leek field.

Having understood this, all his previous hesitation vanished instantly.

Going solo? Being secure?

To hell with security!

They were practically tearing down your home, and you were still thinking about becoming their tenant?

"Heh."

Chu Xuanjin smiled.

Since you are being unjust, don't blame me for being unrighteous.

He looked down at the bewildered Linglong in his arms, having already made his decision.

"Linglong."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to make the sky above your head happy again?"

Linglong nodded as if she partially understood.

"Good."

Chu Xuanjin stood up, and an unprecedentedly terrifying aura soared into the sky.

"Then let's take back everything those thieves stole, with interest!"

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PS: Today is the author's birthday. Please watch a few free short videos to help me scrape together some money for a pack of spicy strips.