376: The meeting ended

Chen Xuan actually shared a similar thought to Qi Yue.

However, he naturally couldn't show it or say it outright. After pondering for a moment, he responded via heart-lake transmission: "Great Love Immortal Venerable's character is indeed bright and upright. This is why among the Ten Great Heavenly Venerables, only he merits the title of 'Immortal Venerable'."

"But the news about the guixu immortal ferry boat has become widely known, which indeed adds quite a bit of trouble. However, everything has two sides. The Secret Realm was already extremely dangerous to begin with. Now that multiple forces are involved, it might actually draw out many hidden dangers. This isn't necessarily all bad."

"The word 'Opportunity' has always been mysterious and unpredictable. If fate truly intends to bestow fortune, even without going to that Secret Realm, good luck will actively seek you out. Conversely, even with meticulous scheming, one might not necessarily get what they wish for."

"Moreover, we don't necessarily have to go to that guixu immortal ferry boat. Let's just follow fate."

Qi Yue bowed respectfully: "The Sect Master's words are absolutely correct. This subordinate has learned much."

You... well, let's just say, every time Qi Yue bows so respectfully and offers praise, it truly gives one a secret wave of satisfaction.

On the ancient platform, Great Love Immortal Venerable waited for the surrounding emotions to settle slightly, then slowly swept his gaze across the entire assembly:

"Today's meeting concludes here!"

"This time, all Fellow Daoists worked together to resist the Yao Race, and your contributions are not small. Especially the Fellow Daoists from the Dao Seeking Sect, who turned the tide in the Rain God Continent, nearly stabilizing the overall situation when the heavens seemed to collapse. Their merit is undeniable."

As his words fell, countless gazes simultaneously turned towards the location where Chen Xuan and Qi Yue were.

Fortunately, Great Love Immortal Venerable quickly changed the subject and continued: "This Venerable will host a banquet at the Wansheng Dao Court. Firstly, to celebrate this victory together, and secondly, to unite hearts for the subsequent campaign against the Yao. All of you may bring your Core Disciples to attend."

"Immortal Venerable, you are too courteous!"

"If we speak of the greatest contributors, it should be you, Immortal Venerable, Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable, and Mad Venerable. If you three hadn't firmly restrained the Three Yao Venerables in the Outer Heavens, no matter how much effort we exerted below, it would have been futile."

"However, the Dao Seeking Sect's contribution this time is indeed praiseworthy."

In such a public setting, even if some harbored dissatisfaction with the Dao Seeking Sect, they wouldn't dare refute it openly, as no one wanted to contradict Great Love Immortal Venerable's Face.

Seeing this, Great Love Immortal Venerable nodded slightly and gently waved his right sleeve!

In an instant, the pale golden Formation light enveloping the entire ancient platform flowed and receded like a tide, layer by layer, until it completely dissipated.

"All of you may proceed as you wish."

As soon as the words were spoken, Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable's figure had already vanished without a trace of delay.

Representatives from the other forces also rose one after another. Some gathered in small groups to discuss in low voices, others cupped their hands in farewell to familiar Sects, then successively sped out of the ancient platform, each calculating their next moves.

Chen Xuan slowly stood up. His gaze swept over the gradually dispersing crowd as he said calmly to Qi Yue beside him: "Let's go. Since we've come to the Huangji Prefecture, let's take a good look at what kind of grandeur this Great Love Immortal Venerable's Sect possesses."

With that, a wisp of spiritual power had already quietly gathered at his fingertip, ready to summon the White Marsh.

"Peak Master Chen, please wait a moment."

A clear female voice came from in front. Chen Xuan paused his movement, looked up, and saw a woman dressed in a plain blue wide-sleeved dress standing ahead with a smile. Her demeanor was gentle and serene—it was Fang Yusheng, who had spoken up to assist earlier in the meeting hall.

Chen Xuan cupped his hands in response: "Greetings, Miss Fang. During the meeting earlier, thank you for speaking up righteously and helping my Dao Seeking Sect out of a difficult situation."

Fang Yusheng gave a light smile: "Peak Master Chen, there's no need to be so polite. It was just a small effort. Are you planning to attend the banquet at the Wansheng Dao Court?"

Chen Xuan neither confirmed nor denied, merely nodding slightly.

"To be honest," Fang Yusheng changed her tone, her voice growing even gentler, "I have just ordered a flying boat to be prepared. I am about to depart now. I wonder if Peak Master Chen and the other Fellow Daoists would be willing to travel together?"

She paused, then explained softly: "It's not that I'm being meddlesome. It's just that the Wansheng Dao Court is Great Love Immortal Venerable's Foundation. There are many eyes from various forces there. Peak Master Chen has already attracted enough attention by breaking the Formation earlier. If you ride that extraordinary divine beast through the Sect, it would be too ostentatious and might attract unnecessary scrutiny and trouble."

"It would be better to travel together by flying boat—more low-key and secure, and it would save a lot of hassle. Acting more discreetly now would also be more beneficial for the Dao Seeking Sect's future actions."

Chen Xuan smiled slightly, "What you say makes sense, Miss. But my Dao Seeking Sect has always acted according to our hearts, not bothering with minor details. If some insignificant vermin dare to come looking for trouble, then we'll just make sure they remember to be cautious in their next life."

Buddy, I got the White Marsh through my own abilities. Should I keep such a magnificent mount unused, just letting it eat grass in the Sect?

Moreover, currently, the three heaven-rank magic treasures within the Chaos Void Jade are temporarily unusable. Even though Chen Xuan has broken through to the first layer of the Mahayana Realm and can clearly sense a certain aura on them, he cannot remove it.

Mu Wanqing and the others still lack a few heaven-rank magic treasures.

If during this trip to the Rain God Continent, there truly are enthusiastic Fellow Daoists generously offering assistance, he wouldn't mind accepting their goodwill with a smile.

As his words fell, a fine crack suddenly split open in the Void above. The figure of the White Marsh abruptly popped out, landing steadily beside Qi Yue. The magnificent divine beast lowered its head docilely and nuzzled her sleeve.

Seeing this, Fang Yusheng was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Chen Xuan to act so unconventionally. Even though she had already explained the reasoning for traveling together, he still summoned his mount.

Seeing that the two were about to turn and leave, she quickly changed her words: "To be honest, Peak Master Chen, the reason I boldly stopped you isn't merely to invite you to travel together. Actually, there is an important matter I wish to discuss with Peak Master Chen."

"Oh?"

A moment later, the flying boat slowly set sail, heading steadily towards the Wansheng Dao Court. Inside the boat, it was quiet. Outside the window, cloud-wreathed mountains swiftly receded. The majestic grandeur of the Wansheng Dao Court gradually unfolded before everyone's eyes.

Fang Yusheng sat opposite Chen Xuan and Qi Yue. A Medicine Hut Disciple beside them deftly filled three cups of spiritual tea and gently placed them before the three. The tea fragrance wafted, refreshing the heart and mind.

Fang Yusheng took a deep breath, organized her words, and slowly began: "Peak Master Chen, you are also aware that in four months, the Ancient Secret Realm in the seas of the Heavenly Tribulation Continent will open, and the guixu immortal ferry boat will also appear."

"So I boldly propose: why don't my Medicine Hut form an alliance with the Dao Seeking Sect? We can go to the Secret Realm together then, so we can look out for each other. What does Peak Master think?"

Another alliance?

Qi Yue was slightly taken aback.

In such a short time, they had already received alliance invitations from two Heavenly Venerable-level forces. Although they didn't know about other forces' situations, it was likely that in the entire Nine Provinces Continent, only their Dao Seeking Sect enjoyed such treatment.

Truly worthy of the Sect Master! Qi Yue inwardly praised.

Chen Xuan picked up the spiritual tea, took a small sip, then smiled slightly: "I don't quite understand what you mean, Miss Fang."

Fang Yusheng was momentarily stunned, then explained gently: "Although my Medicine Hut has considerable attainments in Alchemy, when it comes to exploring Secret Realms and dealing with unknown dangers, compared to other major Sects, we are still slightly inferior..."

"I can understand that."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, interrupting her: "The Medicine Hut is renowned far and wide and has connections with many forces. The Sect Master is Medicine Venerable, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Venerables. With the Medicine Hut's heritage, even if you don't actively seek alliances, countless forces would likely vie to be your vanguard, flocking to you."

"And Miss Fang probably has quite good relations with the Ten Thousand Formations Sect and the Qingxiao Sword Sect, right? Either of them would be an excellent ally for Secret Realm exploration."

"Why do you specifically choose to ally with my Dao Seeking Sect? Aren't you afraid my Dao Seeking Sect might stab you in the back within the Secret Realm? You know, men die for wealth, birds die for food. It's most common for conflicts to erupt in Secret Realms due to uneven distribution of spoils."

He put down the teacup, looked directly at Fang Yusheng, and added with a half-smile: "It couldn't possibly be just because my Dao Seeking Sect set up a Formation in the Rain God Continent that you favor us so much, could it?"