112: Encounter with a choir

Wang Yao carried Hun Wushang, following behind, while Yuan Chenling led the way. Shi Suiyan clung to Zhou Yan, speaking in a flirtatious manner, and Mu Qianqiu stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

The group continued forward, chatting and laughing, until they reached the area with the most concentrated Spiritual Qi.

This place was different from others; the trees were tall and dense, making the forest interior appear as dark as night.

"Senior Brother, there are many spiritual plants here. This is the benefit of the final stage."

Zhou Yan hadn't thought much of it initially, but hearing Shi Suiyan's words and recalling the scene Ma Hao had shown him, he felt a strange sensation in his heart.

"Junior Sister Shi, these spiritual plants..."

Before Zhou Yan could finish, Shi Suiyan understood his meaning and sweetly replied.

"Yes, these are the grave weeds of the Recluse of Spiritual Stream."

"He was a Soul Transformation Cultivator in life, so after death, he naturally became a great tonic."

"Look how lush these plants are growing."

With his suspicions confirmed, Zhou Yan's expression was like an old man on the subway looking at his phone.

However, he looked around and saw that no one else seemed to find it strange. Yuan Chenling was even eager to start scavenging.

Sigh.

Zhou Yan sighed inwardly, feeling that he still hadn't fully adapted to this new world.

After all, in his previous life, people often joked about 'stealing offerings' online, but in reality, let alone stealing offerings, they would even walk around fire pits and joss paper at crossroads.

Now, to actually feel at ease picking grave weeds, it truly felt strange.

After thinking for a while and seeing everyone waiting for him to speak, Zhou Yan's head ached even more.

Why are they all looking at me?

Surely they don't expect me to give the order to pick them?

Looking at their gazes, it seemed that was indeed what they meant. After some mental preparation, Zhou Yan said.

"Everyone... disperse and collect. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can get on our way."

Hearing Zhou Yan's words, everyone scattered, each going to pick their desired spiritual plants.

Watching everyone disperse, Zhou Yan shook his head.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I need to adapt more."

Then he also walked into the forest.

Meanwhile, in another location, a large group of people grandly entered this final layer.

The person leading them was none other than the Prodigy who had paid and fled first.

"Hahaha, brothers and sisters, we met through conflict today, which truly makes for a beautiful tale!"

"Brother speaks wisely!"

"For us, one hundred and seven people, to meet Brother today is truly a blessing for three lifetimes!"

"Heaven bringing us together like this seems to indicate a great change is coming to the Cultivation world."

Seeing this situation, that Prodigy was also genuinely satisfied.

Originally, they were all in the same trial, and after the recent incident, conflicts were inevitable.

And as the leading big brother, he would naturally be the focus of attention.

Fortunately, with his eloquent tongue and impressive martial prowess, he successfully persuaded them.

He made them understand that their enemy was the same, and they should unite to fight against those who created the danger, rather than targeting those who suffered the least.

A speech, coupled with subsequent strategizing for the trial, quickly united them.

After all, those who could come here, though from different backgrounds like Loose Cultivators, aristocratic families, and Sects, were all young talents. Once the atmosphere was set, everyone wished they could become sworn siblings on the spot.

The group even named themselves after the Thirty-Six Heavenly Spirits and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends in the sky—they called themselves the 'Heaven and Earth Society'!

And he was the first Chief Helmsman of the Heaven and Earth Society, Zhang Wei!

Brothers and sisters, what we have lost, we will surely reclaim in the future!

"Xing Han!"

Everyone uniformly clenched their right fists and placed them on their chests. This was the symbolic gesture they had just come up with.

"Xing Han" corresponded to their name's origin from the starry sky, and placing it over their hearts represented dedicating their lives to this cause.

Zhang Wei's satisfaction with the crowd was almost overflowing.

If not for that Devil Head's disturbance, he wouldn't have known that all one hundred and eight of them were so compatible. He almost missed out on this group of brothers and sisters.

Thus, the Heaven and Earth Society was established within the Secret Realm, for the purpose of resisting the Joyous Union Sect and other demonic cult's evil forces.

This Secret Realm was not large, and their group quickly arrived at the forest where Zhou Yan and his companions were picking spiritual plants.

"Big Brother, the Spiritual Qi here is unusually dense; it will likely give birth to many high-quality spiritual plants."

A person dressed as a Loose Cultivator stepped forward to analyze. This person had experience as an Alchemist, and his knowledge of spiritual plants was arguably the highest among them.

Zhang Wei listened to his words.

"We've just been plundered. Although our backgrounds are profound enough that these losses are acceptable, the losses for our Loose Cultivator brothers and sisters are significant."

"These spiritual plants can just make up for their losses."

Just as Zhang Wei was about to lead everyone in to pick spiritual plants to recover, a young man dressed with a feather fan and silk scarf stepped forward.

"Wait, Big Brother, wait!"

"Big Brother, aren't you worried that the Devil Head might be in this dense forest right now?"

"This..."

At the mention of that Devil Head, Zhang Wei remembered that song, and remembering that song, he felt a strange tingling sensation all over his body.

As he hesitated, a dark-faced man rushed out and loudly declared.

"What's there to worry about, Big Brother? We are united in purpose and our Aura is strong."

"Leaving aside whether that Devil Head has already cleared the stage and left, even if we do run into him, we won't easily fail this time."

Hearing the dark-faced man's words, Zhang Wei suddenly had an epiphany.

That's right, we are Prodigies! Last time we must have failed because we weren't united.

Now that we are united, even if we encounter him again, he is just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; he will eventually exhaust himself. Could he really take care of all of us?

Recalling how only a small group of people were easily subdued then, and the others didn't dare to resist, Zhang Wei became even more convinced of his idea.

"Brother speaks wisely! With our current unity, we can wear that Devil Head down to death."

"This dense forest, let's do it!"

After encouraging everyone, Zhang Wei asked for the dark-faced man's name.

"By the way, may I know Brother's esteemed name?"

The dark-faced man, with a resolute expression, cupped his hands and said.

"Big Brother, my name is Feng Chengcheng."

Meanwhile, in another part of the dense forest, Shi Suiyan was carefully selecting spiritual plants.

But it must be said, fate is always so miraculous.

Just as Shi Suiyan was meticulously choosing, a person suddenly appeared before her.

"Hey, little girl."

Shi Suiyan was startled by the voice.

She looked up to see a tall Cultivator standing in front of her.

He said with a look of disdain.

"I really don't know how a Qi Refinement Stage like you managed to get here, but this isn't where you should be."

"Hand over seventy percent of your gains and leave quickly. I don't want to hit a woman."

Shi Suiyan's expression turned cold. She put away the spiritual plants and adopted a combat stance.

Just then, the grass behind the strong man rustled, and Zhang Wei, who had come over upon hearing the commotion, emerged.

"What's going on?" he asked the strong man.

"Big Brother, this little girl is picking our spiritual plants here. I told her to hand over seventy percent, but she wants to resist."

Zhang Wei took a look and chuckled.

A Qi Refinement Stage seventh layer attacking a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.

Never mind, consider it a lesson for her.

Zhang Wei did not intervene. Although they claimed to have formed an organization to fight evil, their moral standards were not high.

Now was a period of collecting spiritual plants and rapid development. It wouldn't be too late to commit minor evil deeds first and then become legitimate once the organization gained momentum.

This was a necessary sacrifice.

"Stop talking nonsense, if you want to fight, then fight."

Shi Suiyan had had enough of their chatter and was about to make her move when.

"Who dares bully Senior Sister Shi!"

Shi Suiyan and Zhang Wei looked over at the sound, only to see Wang Yao, in tattered clothes, and Hun Wushang, who had just woken up and looked even more sullen, walking over.

Zhang Wei smiled at the sight.

"I was wondering how you had the guts to come here. Turns out you have two Foundation Establishment Cultivators helping you."

"One sick man, one beggar."

"The strongest among you is only Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and there are only three of you."

Zhang Wei snapped his fingers.

Subsequently, batch after batch of people surged from behind him, continuously gathering. In a short while, all one hundred and eight people were assembled.

"I didn't expect our Heaven and Earth Society's first battle to take place here."

"Thinking that our opponents are just you, it feels a bit shabby."

Just as Zhang Wei was feeling smug, a voice came from the tree.

"Oi~ look up."

Hearing this familiar voice, Zhang Wei felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

His neck stiffly and slowly tilted upwards, as did the rest of the Heaven and Earth Society members.

Soon, they saw Zhou Yan squatting on a tree branch, looking down at them.

And beside him stood Mu Qianqiu, exuding the Aura of Foundation Establishment Perfection.