Time flows like water, and years fly by, a month passing in the blink of an eye.
During this period, the Yun family was truly "in the spotlight."
The "Immortal Sect Gathering" was being meticulously prepared.
Dozens of "Golden Core rogue cultivators" joined the Yun family, causing their strength to surge and their rise to be incredibly fierce.
Surrounding immortal cultivation forces eagerly extended "olive branches," hoping to forge alliances with the Yun family.
Concurrently, thousands of mortals knelt and worshipped outside the Immortal Mansion's gates daily, yearning to join the Yun family.
The Yun family's attitude towards these mortals was exceptionally benevolent.
Yun Zhenting personally intervened each day, assisting these mortals in detecting spiritual roots. If spiritual roots were present, they could enter the Immortal Mansion to cultivate. If not, the Yun family would provide them with some travel expenses to return home!
This "humane" approach by the Yun family garnered universal praise, attracting more and more mortals who wished to join.
Under these circumstances, the Yun family indeed discovered several "promising seedlings for immortal cultivation." These individuals were taken in as "personal disciples" by Yun Zhenting, who personally guided them.
Meanwhile, a young man named "Liu Xiuer" was traveling with his companions, all of them eager to join the Yun family.
Good things take time!
As Liu Xiuer and his group journeyed, they encountered trouble once more.
A band of bandits blocked their path, intent on robbery!
Encountering robbers while traveling was commonplace, and Liu Xiuer and his companions were mentally prepared. They immediately handed over most of their travel money to the bandits.
The bandits, displeased with the sum, then attempted to "kidnap for ransom with sexual assault."
Uh... Although Liu Xiuer was a man, he possessed delicate features and fair skin, making him a suitable target for such nefarious intentions.
Several bandits, grinning wickedly, advanced, intending to do something unspeakable to Liu Xiuer.
Then... an accident occurred!
A massive boulder, weighing thousands of pounds, "inexplicably" rolled down from the cliff face, crushing all the bandits like bowling pins... all of them... not a single one left...
Thus, Liu Xiuer was once again pulled from the brink of danger.
His mood was calm, undisturbed. He had experienced too many such incidents. He continued on his way towards the Yun family.
...
The Yun family was flourishing, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others!
The "Sheng Feng Sect" was among those who were not joyful and were, in fact, quite troubled.
The Sheng Feng Sect harbored a deadly enmity with the Yun family!
The origin of this conflict was rather absurd.
The son of the former Sect Master of the Sheng Feng Sect, Wang Shanhe, was killed by a demon cult practitioner. Unable to seek revenge on the demon cult, Wang Shanhe, filled with rage, unleashed his fury upon the nearby Yun family, annihilating them...
Wang Shanhe's justification was as follows: Why did the Yun family, located nearby, not provide timely aid when Wang Qingfeng met his unfortunate end? Their inaction clearly implied collusion with the demon cult! Colluding with demon cult practitioners was equivalent to being one! Thus, it was a righteous act to eradicate demons and uphold justice!
A perfectly logical argument... not at all!
The current Sect Master of the Sheng Feng Sect, Zhuang Bi, felt a profound headache.
Damn it, the Yun family was now "in the spotlight." If the Yun family were to retaliate against the Sheng Feng Sect, things would become troublesome.
The current strength of the Yun family was not to be trifled with. Even if that legendary "mysterious senior" from the outside world did not intervene, the dozen or so "foreign Golden Core elders" recently recruited by the Yun family were more than enough to annihilate the Sheng Feng Sect several times over.
What to do?
What indeed?
Zhuang Bi was at his wit's end. He could only continue to increase the number of "Sheng Feng Sect Elders," striving to reach ten thousand elders as soon as possible.
Ten thousand Sheng Feng Sect Elders should be quite intimidating!
Unfortunately, the Sheng Feng Sect was severely understaffed. Even counting low-level "Qi Refining Stage One" cultivators, the Sheng Feng Sect could not muster seven thousand people. The dream of ten thousand elders was still a distant one.
Just as Zhuang Bi was in a state of utter chaos, the Sheng Feng Sect received a few uninvited guests.
"Jiao Mu Sword Sect, True Person Qing Jiao, comes to pay respects!"
"Kang Jin Sword Sect, True Person Qing Long, comes to pay respects!"
"Di Tu Sword Sect, True Person Qing He, comes to pay respects!"
"Fang Ri Sword Sect, True Person Qing Tu, comes to pay respects!"
"Xin Yue Sword Sect, True Person Qing Hu, comes to pay respects!"
"Wei Huo Sword Sect, True Person Qing Hu, comes to pay respects!"
"Ji Shui Sword Sect, True Person Qing Bao, comes to pay respects!"
Seven voices, like the clang of swords and the roar of dragons, sharp and peerless, swept through the skies above the Sheng Feng Sect.
Such immense power!
Zhuang Bi's heart was struck with terror. The visitors were all powerful sword cultivators who had reached the "Golden Core stage"!
"Jiao Mu Sword Sect, Kang Jin Sword Sect..."
Zhuang Bi murmured to himself.
"I feel like I've heard these names somewhere... Ah, about thirty thousand li to the east, there's a powerful group of cultivators. This group is mainly composed of seven sword sect factions: Jiao Mu Sword Sect, Kang Jin Sword Sect... These seven sword sects operate as one, advancing and retreating together. They have also formed an alliance, the Constellation Sword Alliance!"
Zhuang Bi was puzzled. The Constellation Sword Alliance was thirty thousand li away; why had they traveled so far to this place?
At this moment, the Golden Core experts of the Constellation Sword Alliance gathered outside the Sheng Feng Sect, discussing the purpose of their visit.
"Seventh Brother, is your intelligence accurate?"
The leader among them, True Person Qing Jiao, spoke first.
His face was imposing, his eyes long and narrow, exuding an awe-inspiring might.
True Person Qing Bao thumped his chest and declared with great assurance.
"Rest assured, eldest brother, my intelligence has never been flawed! According to reliable intel, the Sheng Feng Sect is the most powerful and formidable sect in this region, with six thousand elders... elders, at the very least in the early Golden Core stage. Six thousand Golden Core cultivators, tsk tsk tsk..."
True Person Qing Long furrowed his brow, gently fanning himself with his feather fan, and questioned.
"Seventh Brother, your intelligence seems a bit exaggerated. Six thousand elders, six thousand Golden Core cultivators, is that even possible? If the Sheng Feng Sect were truly that powerful, they could conquer the surrounding million li area!"
True Person Qing Bao was clearly annoyed by this remark.
"Second Brother, fanning yourself in the middle of winter, what a show-off! My intel cannot be wrong. Even if the Sheng Feng Sect doesn't have six thousand elders, they must have at least six hundred. Six hundred Golden Core cultivators, a definite local power. If we want to achieve that matter, we must have the support of the Sheng Feng Sect!"
True Person Qing Jiao's long, narrow eyes opened and closed, emitting sharp glints of light, his aura intimidating. He spoke slowly.
"Seventh Brother is correct. The emergence of the Immortal Mansion this time is a heaven-sent opportunity. We, the inheritors of the Eastern Sword Sects, cannot miss this chance. We must reclaim the heritage of the Eastern Sword Sects... This matter is of great importance, and we must build good relationships with the local powers!"
Upon hearing this, True Person Qing Long wisely fell silent.
True Person Qing Bao grinned triumphantly.
Just then, the gates of the Sheng Feng Sect were flung open, and the protective formation was activated. Sect Master True Person Zhuang Bi emerged with a beaming smile.