After nightfall, there was only silence.
Wen Ping was dragging his feet heavily as he left the gravity field. Although his underwear was drenched by sweat to the point where it stuck to his skin and made him walk funny, he had a look of joy on his face because he had just broken through to the eighth level of the Body Refinement Realm.
After that, just like yesterday, Wen Ping returned to the Rain Listening Pavilion and spent a beautiful night there. The next morning, he went to the gravity field with Yun Liao and cultivated together, and when the afternoon came, the two of them moved the table and wooden sign down to the foot of the Cloudmist Mountain once again.
However, after going down the mountain, Wen Ping waited for a long time yet no one came.
It felt cold and empty, a total contrast compared to the liveliness of yesterday.
Wen Ping hurriedly asked in his mind, "System, did you turn off the attraction force from the Main Hall?"
"In that case, it has been two hours. Why isn’t anyone here yet?"
The system didn’t answer this question.
Maybe, it was also cursing in its heart. (If you ask me, who should I ask?)
After that, Wen Ping cast a glance at the idling Yun Liao and said, "Elder Yun, just sit here for a while longer. There hasn’t been a single person coming despite one entire afternoon, so I’m going to the surroundings to take a look and see if there’s something wrong."
Seeing Wen Ping standing up and really wanting to go, Yun Liao felt somewhat helpless in his heart.
(It would then be strange if someone came, alright? The Immortal Sect has declined, isn’t it very normal that no one wants to join?)
(Even if someone came, wouldn’t they simply be rejected by you? So, what’s the difference even if they came?)
However, he didn’t say this out loud. After sending Wen Ping off with his gaze, he sat on a chair and started to hum a song out of boredom.
After leaving the foot of Cloudmist Mountain, Wen Ping continued down the street and tried to probe the people here to see if there was any information. Sadly, the boss of the rouge shop only wanted to talk about his products, and the people in the inns were chatting about very normal topics.
In addition, all the passersby around Wen Ping were only bragging about their own stories to their friends.
A short walk later, after Wen Ping traveled half the street, he saw a very unpleasant sight that offended his eyes.
There was a rectangular table with two chairs and a bunch of forms on it. Also, two youths in black robes were sitting there.
Why did the setting look like the recruitment table Wen Ping had set up at the foot of the Cloudmist Mountain?
Also, there was a signboard placed beside them, and several large words were written there - Location for the recruitment event organized by the Reliance Sect!
A youth just so nicely walked past them and was intercepted by one of the black-robed guys. "Bro, where are you going?"
The black-robed guy didn’t care for anyone else and directly called out to stop the youth.
Wen Ping then glanced at the information of this youth.
Cultivation Base: Second level of Body Refinement
Very ordinary aptitude, with a very ordinary cultivation base.
Wen Ping noticed that those people with no cultivation bases also walked past them, but the black-robed youths didn’t call them.
At this moment, if Wen Ping still didn’t understand what was happening, he would be an idiot.
These people were clearly intercepting potential disciples of his Immortal Sect.
"I’m going to the Immortal Sect," replied the youth with some shyness.
"Why are you going there?"
"I heard that the Immortal Sect has started recruiting disciples. I wish to go there and try my luck."
After hearing this, the expression of the black-robed guy turned solemn, and it seemed like he was angry.
Just , the manner that made him seem imposing without flaring up in anger caused the youth to be so frightened that he cowered.
"Who told you that the Immortal Sect is recruiting disciples? The Immortal Sect has declined into nothingness. In the entire Cangwu City, the only sect that’s recruiting disciples is my Reliance Sect."
"But my friend went there yesterday..." However, before the youth could finish, his words were directly interrupted.
"Went there for what? Right now, the only sect recruiting is our Reliance Sect. If you want to cultivate, just join our Reliance Sect. If not, just go home and cultivate on your own."
"Oh..." The youth was stumped by these words and hurriedly filled up his name on the registration form of the Reliance Sect.
"You can leave now. Go to the Reliance Sect seven days later to participate in the entry test."
Only after agreeing did the black-robed guy let this youth leave.
After that, Wen Ping stood and watched for two minutes. These black-robed guys would stop everyone above the age of ten, and those who had started cultivating would either be chased away or join the entry test of the Reliance Sect.
Although Wen Ping didn’t see any geniuses at the fifth level of Body Refinement at the age of 15, he was still angry when he saw potential candidates being chased away.
These all ought to be candidates, but they were now being pilfered by these two dudes. Could it be that the Reliance Sect was still not satisfied despite having taken away half of the Immortal Sect?
Right now, just as Wen Ping wanted to march to the Reliance Sect to teach them a lesson, he suddenly felt someone getting close to him from behind. Her steps were very light, and a soft, melodious voice drifted into Wen Ping’s ears.
"This is just the beginning."
Her voice was very pleasant to listen to and even made him feel as though there was a whiff of flowery fragrance in the air. However, he could hear no warmth in her voice.
It was gloomy and cold. These emotions were suffused into every word.
Wen Ping turned his head. The one who came behind him was a girl roughly the same age as him. If he had to describe her looks, he could only use the grace of a peony flower and the beauty of a lily to do her justice. She was the type of girl that would make many people turn their heads when she went to the streets.
Wen Ping actually was acquainted with this girl, but when facing her, Wen Ping’s feelings were complicated.
This person was the daughter of a previous elder of the Immortal Sect. But she had left with that elder to join the Reliance Sect.
"Shi Hua, long time no see," Wen Ping greeted her in a low voice.
"Indeed." Shi Hua smiled but her smile was very stiff. "I heard that you are planning to revitalize the Immortal Sect?"
"The word ’revitalize’ can’t be used. I only don’t want the Immortal Sect to be destroyed in my hands. The whereabouts of my parents are still unknown, but they will return one day, sooner or later."
Shi Hua then surveyed Wen Ping again before she said, "You’ve changed a lot. Back then, when everyone felt proud that they could wear the sect’s uniform that has the style of mountains and rivers, you refused to wear them. But now you are actually wearing them."
The mountains and flowing rivers were awe-inspiring at the first glance.
This sentence had been a popular saying in Cangwu City in the past. No matter who it was, their sharpness would be subdued when they saw someone wearing this uniform.
But Wen Ping didn’t even wear this uniform a single time in the past ten years.
Hearing this, Wen Ping used his hands and lifted a layer of his shirt, laughing. "Isn’t this just a set of clothes? You’ve also changed a lot, becoming more mature and charming than before."
"You’ve even learned how to fawn."
"I’m only speaking the truth."
She didn’t smile after hearing Wen Ping’s praise. Rather, she sighed and continued speaking, "It’s a pity you didn’t change back when you ought to change. Nothing will be different even if you’ve changed now. If your mentality was back then and you would consider things on behalf of the Immortal Sect, my father wouldn’t have brought his men to leave."
"Shi Hua, did you come here to greet me or to mock me?"
"I’m merely speaking honestly."
Truthfully speaking, Shi Hua didn’t wish to come over to greet Wen Ping. Their current identities would make things awkward if they stood together.
But as old friends, Shi Hua still decided to come over and chat with him.
In her memories, Wen Ping’s demeanor was very ordinary. He basically didn’t have the manner of a young sect leader.
Although he couldn’t be considered a silkpants*, he had no achievements to his name. Also, in this circle, not having any achievements was the most frightening thing. Shi Hua’s father had once given Wen Ping half a year. As long as Wen Ping was willing to take up the responsibility as the sect leader of the Immortal Sect, her father wouldn’t have left. However, her father ultimately left with disappointment.
Moreover, even though Wen Ping had changed now, he was still not clever enough.
Why did he set a 1,000 gold coins entry fee and the harsh standard of reaching the fifth level of the Body Refinement Realm at 15 years old? The whole thing was like a joke.
The previous Immortal Sect could do so, but the current Immortal Sect didn’t have the qualifications.
After a while, Shi Hua spoke again, "The Reliance Sect Leader and the elders have given orders to take over the Immortal Sect’s territory. They are planning to redraw their lines of authority and include the Cloudmist Mountain within. So, this is just the beginning."
After speaking, Shi Hua pointed at the recruitment venue of the Reliance Sect far away on the street!
[1] something like a wastrel