120: I was too engrossed in my practice last night.

Yaochi Holy Land, Back Mountain.

This was originally a desolate and remote mountain forest that was almost never visited by anyone—a place so barren that even birds wouldn't stop there.

However, today, this silent forest was bustling with people, breaking its usual coldness.

This was because it was the location of the entrance to the "Yaochi Immortal Realm," which opened only once every fifty years.

The Disciples of the Yaochi Holy Land had already lined up neatly, having waited for a long time.

Under the lead of Luo Qingcheng, they each maintained a solemn expression, quietly watching the distant sky.

Finally, under the long-awaited gaze of the crowd...

The Hehuan Sect's group flew in leisurely from the horizon and slowly descended.

Looking at the group from the Hehuan Sect, who still carried a bit of a lazy aura...

Luo Qingcheng's brows instantly knitted tightly together.

She had always been rigorous and punctual, and she despised such a lax style of conduct.

She stared coldly at the leaders, Lu Yi and Chu Qianqian, her voice carrying obvious displeasure:

"The Hehuan Sect certainly puts on grand airs, making this Seat and our fellow Daoists wait here for so long."

"Has your sense of time been fed to the dogs?"

Facing this blunt interrogation, Chu Qianqian felt a bit guilty.

After all, she was kept up too late by Lu Yi's tossing and turning, and she really couldn't get up in the morning, which led to their tardiness.

A flash of embarrassment crossed her face, and her eyes dodged away.

However, Lu Yi looked as though his heart wasn't even skipping a beat.

He took a step forward, scratched his head, and bowed his hands in a sincere apology:

"Sect Master, please forgive us. It is truly because the Yaochi Holy Land is a place of outstanding people and spiritual energy; last night, this Saint had a sudden realization..."

He paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his face:

"I was too engrossed in my Cultivation last night and lost track of time, which is why I arrived late."

He placed special emphasis on the word "Cultivation," his eyes flickering momentarily toward Chu Qianqian beside him.

Anyone present with even half a brain instantly understood what he meant by "Cultivation."

"You..."

Chu Qianqian was so ashamed that she gave Lu Yi's waist a hard pinch, making him grimace in pain.

While Luo Qingcheng was pure and untainted, she had lived many years after all; how could she not hear the double entendre in those words?

She was so choked up by Lu Yi's brazen excuse that she couldn't say a word.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in her heart.

She didn't want to argue over such trivialities with this rogue in public; that would only make her lose more face.

"Hmph!"

She could only give a cold snort and stop pursuing the matter, though if looks could kill, Lu Yi would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.

After the interlude, Lu Yi's gaze seemingly casually swept over the Yaochi Holy Land's group.

Soon, he saw that familiar figure at the end of the line—Mu Yun.

At this moment, Yun Mu was standing in the ranks, his face carrying a hint of irrepressible relief.

After his crushing defeat in the competition that day, he thought he was completely out of luck and could only watch as the Opportunity slipped away.

But he didn't give up.

He found Chu Qianqian overnight, relying on the "pie in the sky" promise that "only by entering the Immortal Realm and using the power of the Holy Water can the Gu poison be completely eradicated," combined with persistent pestering and various promises.

Finally, he obtained this extra quota from the Saintess who had "undergone a great change in personality" and had been ignoring him.

"Hmph, although the process was a bit twisted, the result is good after all."

Yun Mu felt secretly proud in his heart:

"As long as I enter the Immortal Realm, everything will be fine!"

"When the time comes, not only will I take the Opportunity to reshape my Foundation, but I'll also conveniently help that Saintess remove the poison, making her owe me a huge favor."

"This soft rice... oh no, won't I have a firm grip on this thigh then?"

He had no idea that all his schemes were right under Lu Yi's nose.

Seeing Yun Mu's "plan successful" expression, the smile at the corners of Lu Yi's mouth grew even deeper.

"If you hadn't come, I really would have been disappointed. I hope you can bring me more surprises; don't let me down."

Right then, from the rear of the Hehuan Sect's group, an old woman dressed in gray robes and holding a snake-headed cane slowly walked out.

Though she was unremarkable and even somewhat hunched, the aura emanating from her body was unfathomable.

That faint pressure made the surrounding air turn heavy.

Even the consistently proud Luo Qingcheng gave a slight nod of greeting when she saw this old woman, a flash of wariness appearing in her eyes.

This was the Grand Elder acting as the Dao Protector for the Hehuan Sect on this trip, an old monster who had lived for an unknown number of years.

The old woman walked to the front, her voice raspy and flat, yet clearly reaching everyone on the field:

"Since everyone has arrived, open the entrance; do not delay further."

Luo Qingcheng nodded without saying much.

The two of them stepped forward together, each taking out an ancient-looking jade pendant from their robes.

One jade pendant was Yin and the other was Yang, emitting completely different auras, yet they seemed to be a natural pair.

Under their control, the two jade pendants slowly approached each other in the air, finally fitting together seamlessly.

Buzz—!

As the Spiritual Qi from both sides was injected, the unified jade pendant instantly erupted with a dazzling light.

The light was like a physical substance, projecting toward the open space in front.

The originally calm space began to distort violently, and ripples of space spread out in all directions.

In just a few moments, a swirling teleportation gate several zhang high and shimmering with light slowly took shape, suspended in mid-air.

As soon as the portal stabilized, a burst of pure Spiritual Qi, so dense it almost turned into mist, drifted out from within.

That Spiritual Qi was incredibly pure; just taking a single breath made one feel refreshed and comfortable all over, as if every pore in the body had opened up.

The gazes of the crowd instantly became fervent.

"Depart!"

Luo Qingcheng gave the order.

The Disciples of the Yaochi Holy Land, who were already unable to contain themselves, were the first to turn into streaks of light and enter one after another.

Yun Mu was mixed in the crowd; at the moment he was about to step into the portal, he looked back deeply at Lu Yi.

That gaze was full of wariness, but also full of the fighting spirit to turn the tables.

Then, he dove into the vortex and disappeared.

Lu Yi looked at his back and smiled.

He turned his head and waved to Chu Qianqian beside him:

"Let's go as well."

"Let's see what kind of good place this legendary Yaochi Immortal Realm really is."

With that, he no longer hesitated and led the group into the gate of light.

Their figures instantly vanished into the vortex.