"Junior Sister Ling, is it you who invited them?"

"Yes, I invited them. I will go and ask them to stop."

Ling Xiaolan murmured softly as she put on her veil, securing the ties over her dainty ears, and steadily stepped onto the Lotus Platform, flying out toward the great Formation.

Just as she was about to move, the dozens of huge ships in the east simultaneously came to a halt, no longer advancing.

Eight or nine figures flew out from the fleet, with Wu Wang taking the lead, flanked by several people on each side.

From afar, Ling Xiaolan could only recognize half of them.

There was Ji Mo, always smiling yet begging to be punched; Lin Qi, looking stern but actually starved for affection; and that Daoist friend Lin Suqing, who claimed herself to be a strict disciplinarian but whose gaze upon Brother Wuwang was filled with tenderness.

The others seemed to include two Elders from the Annihilation Sect, a couple of True Immortal protectors who were somewhat familiar, a silver-haired inspection immortal envoy, and...

Ling Xiaolan suddenly gasped.

She abruptly turned her head, staring blankly to one side, muttering, The child has grown so big... indeed, those closest to the water get the moon first.

"What's wrong, Junior Sister?"

"It's nothing."

Ling Xiaolan blinked, regaining her usual cold demeanor, and stepped forward on the Lotus Platform, leaving only the comment, "Recently, my cultivation insights have been numerous, causing my Dao heart to feel somewhat stifled."

Insights so profound they stifle the Dao heart...

Several of her martial sisters watched Ling Xiaolan's departing figure with tears of frustration.

This must be the bearing of a Saintess.

Ling Xiaolan had just left the Formation when Wu Wang's voice came from afar, saying,

"Fellow Daoists, thank you for your protective escort all the way here! However, this is approaching the territory of the Xuan Nu Sect. If we all go further, it might be too crowded and block the Sect's entrance. It would be better for you all to return from here. My thanks for this time. On another day, you must come to my Annihilation Sect to drink and discuss the Dao!"

From all around, where demonic shadows loomed, voices replied:

"Sect Master Wuwang, you are too kind!"

"We will wait here, and later we'll see Sect Master Wuwang and Young Master Lin Qi back safely! Young Master Lin Qi is a thorn in the side of the Ten Evils Hall; we must protect him!"

"Everyone, descend and wait here on the spot!"

Wu Wang didn't say much more. He gestured respectfully to the people behind him, reminding the Elders staying on the ships to be careful, then turned and led seven or eight figures flying forward.

Lin Suqing, Ji Mo, Lin Qi, and Immortal Mu naturally had to follow.

Mao Aowu, as a member of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, could avoid many troubles by joining them on such an occasion.

Two Heavenly Immortal Realm Elders from the Annihilation Sect were there to lend gravitas, while Yang Wudi and Zhang Moshan, the two True Immortal Realm protectors, were also present to run errands.

Two Heavenly Immortal experts from the Lin Family stayed on the ship at Lin Qi's insistence. On this trip to the Xuan Nu Sect, he was in the role of a protector from the Annihilation Sect and didn't want to bring his own family guards.

Ling Xiaolan was already waiting in front of the gate.

In front of the gate, two rows of female disciples stood to welcome the guests. They had elegant figures, beautiful faces, and wore simple, elegant long dresses. They stood on individual Lotus Platforms, with appropriate smiles on their faces.

As Wu Wang and his group landed in front of the gate, Yang Wudi was just about to present the invitation when Ling Xiaolan went straight to greet them.

She held her hands in front of her, looking especially radiant today, and said softly, "Brother Wuwang, Brother Ji, Brother Lin, I hope you have been well."

Wu Wang narrowed his eyes with a light chuckle, exchanging a few polite words.

Lin Qi elbowed Ji Mo, his eyebrows lifting as if to say, She called Brother Wuwang first.

Ji Mo pursed his lips, shaking his head in resignation. A dear friend still couldn't compare, couldn't compare, alas.

Wu Wang laughed and said, "We encountered some trouble on the way here, making our party a bit large. But the Xuan Nu Sect has clouds of great experts and even Transcendent masters presiding over it, so they shouldn't mind."

Ling Xiaolan's eyes shifted towards the nearby flowers and plants as she spoke softly, "Such a display truly befits Brother Wuwang's status... Follow me, I will take you to the guest reception hall to rest."

With that, Fairy Ling slightly turned her body, making a somewhat stiff inviting gesture.

The female cultivators on both sides bowed in unison, making everyone behind Wu Wang tense up.

Dongfang Mumu suddenly said, "I also have friends here, Wu Wangzi. Can I take Suqing to visit some old acquaintances and have fun?"

"Senior, please do as you wish," Wu Wang replied, and then reminded Lin Suqing, "Take good care of Immortal Mu."

"Ah," Lin Suqing acknowledged, and had just nodded to Ling Xiaolan when she was pulled away by Dongfang Mumu, soaring into the sky and drifting toward the back mountain.

A few female Immortals from the Xuan Nu Sect appeared to block their way, but Dongfang Mumu showed a waist badge. The female Immortals immediately escorted them on both sides, accompanying them to the back mountain.

Seeing this, Wu Wang also put his mind at ease and didn't bother with them further.

"That seems to be an old senior?" Fairy Ling murmured.

Wu Wang transmitted his voice to explain, "She is a disciple of the Four Seas Pavilion Master, currently staying with us at the Annihilation Sect."

"I see. It's no wonder her cultivation is so profound."

Ling Xiaolan smiled and said, "All of you can take a look at our Xuan Nu Sect's scenery along the way. The mountains, forests, and rocks on both sides have all been arranged with a great deal of thought by our predecessors, and they contain Dao within them."

Wu Wang was suddenly somewhat puzzled. Why did it feel like Ling Xiaolan's mood had undergone a subtle change at this moment? Was I being too sensitive? Perhaps.

The group ascended step by step. Along the way, they saw picturesque landscapes and countless pavilions and terraces set amidst pine, cypress, and bamboo forests. They also saw large swaths of blooming peach blossoms on the eastern mountains, with several female cultivators frolicking and chasing each other in the woods.

Ji Mo held a folding fan and gently tapped the palm of his hand with it, looking around with his clearest gaze.

Lin Qi, on the other hand, focused on sensing the spiritual nature within the pure qi of this place. His hands were clasped behind his back, his fingers occasionally forming a sword-finger sign and making slight movements.

Mao Aowu was somewhat restrained. He tried to uphold the demeanor of a pavilion master while also feeling he should fulfill his duties as an Elder of the Annihilation Sect, not daring to let his gaze wander too freely.

The other two Elders, along with Yang Wudi and Zhang Moshan, kept it much simpler. They stared straight ahead at their Sect Master's back, an approach with which they could never go wrong.

Along the way up the mountain, there were countless sights to admire.

The mountains were clear and the waters beautiful, with clouds accompanying them; birds sang, butterflies danced, and young swallows flew.

The gentle breeze mingled with mist, concealing Immortal palaces; as they ascended step by step, corner towers disappeared around bends.

Demonic Sects have their carefree ways, and Immortal families have their grandeur. If he had to compare, Wu Wang still preferred... the third option.

The noisy and tumultuous mortal world, for all its disturbances, could also be quite liberating to immerse oneself in, and that's what Wu Wang cherished the most.

Wu Wang laughed and said, "Before leaving home, I felt life was too mundane, just basking in the sun and studying spells every day. After going out, however, I often find myself missing the clouds of my hometown."

Ling Xiaolan pondered for a moment and said, "If one never leaves, they'll never know the hustle and bustle outside, nor will they consequently feel how comfortable and peaceful life at home is. It's all relative."

Ji Mo said, "How did you two start discussing such topics? Brother Lin, what was your life at home like?"

"Cultivating," Lin Qi said blandly, and then said no more.

"We've arrived at the guest reception hall."

Ling Xiaolan guided them from the jade steps at the front, leading the group into the magnificent hall.

There were already hundreds of people within the hall. Most were surrounded by Immortal energy, while a minority exuded robust auras. The lines between Immortals and Demons were distinct, and all of them possessed significant cultivation levels.

Ling Xiaolan had intended to take Wu Wang and his group to the central seats, but Wu Wang raised his hand and pointed to a corner instead.

"This..."

Ling Xiaolan blinked lightly and said, "Brother Wuwang, don't you like lively places?"

"That depends on the occasion. Let's go, let's go. These are all seniors and eminent masters; it's not our place to sit in the middle," Wu Wang called out and led the others to the corner seats, where they sat cross-legged comfortably, two people to a low table.

These experts of both Immortals and Demons within the hall had actually been paying attention to them ever since they had entered.

Ji Mo, Ling Xiaolan, and Lin Qi were all considered leading figures of the younger generation in the Human Domain.

The Ji Family had extensive connections, Ling Xiaolan was the contemporary Saintess of the Xuan Nu Sect, and Lin Qi even held the Yan Emperor's Order. Yet, at this moment, the three of them were like stars accompanying the moon, with Wu Wang subtly being the core figure among these four young people.

—Regarding the battle against The Whistling Snake - Evil God, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had naturally kept the news under wraps.

The group had just sat down when a female cultivator quickly approached, carrying a tray of Spirit Fruit wine.

They did not pour wine or serve tea but simply set down the tray and bowed slightly before withdrawing, their expressions not overly friendly.

Compared to them, Wu Wang still preferred the female disciples of his own Black Desire Door. Now *that* was enthusiasm...

They chatted casually for a while until a Fairy Immortal came to call Ling Xiaolan, saying that a distinguished guest had arrived and the Saintess was needed to greet them.

Ling Xiaolan was somewhat reluctant to leave but, bound by her master's command, she had to stand up and excuse herself.

"Just go, Fairy Immortal," Ji Mo began as he peeled a Spirit Fruit and, with a slurp, swallowed it. "I'll keep an eye on things here for you. I'll make sure Brother Wuwang feels right at home!"

"Hmph!"

Ling Xiaolan said, "If you dare to look around carelessly and barge into places, I'll have the Uncles from the Punishment Hall give you a good sorting out!"

"Don't! I had such a hard time getting here."

Ji Mo immediately looked contrite, while several female disciples nearby covered their mouths and giggled, most of them casting friendly glances at Young Master Ji.

The disciple acceptance ceremony was still eight or nine hours away.

Wu Wang looked left and right, realizing there were no acquaintances around and lacking the energy to "expand his contacts." He took out a scroll and, leaning on a low table, pondered the Way of Stars with great focus.

The Way of Stars in the Human Domain, although far removed from the Dao rules controlled by the Star God—it was probable that any similar Ways of Stars had all been sealed by the Star God.

But the predecessors who explored the Way of Stars had still pioneered numerous stellar arts, including profound research into swordsmanship, curse methods, talismans, and formations.

Among them, Wu Wang was most interested in star formations. These formations, which could channel star power as the basis for operating a great formation, could very likely be integrated into his Praying Star Technique.

"Sect Master, Sect Master... Brother Wuwang."

Ji Mo called out quietly a few times. Wu Wang looked up from his reading, turning his head to ask what he wanted.

"Shall we go meet some of the distinguished figures?" Ji Mo suggested through voice transmission. "There are many prominent figures from the Great Demon Sects and Major Immortal Sects here. If we get acquainted with them, it will make things more convenient for us in the future."

Wu Wang chuckled. "Then you, the capable one, can take on the hard work and go mingle. Protector Ji, I now appoint you as the Hall Master of the Annihilation Sect's External Relations Hall. Although you won't have an actual hall for an office, nor any subordinates, and your stipend won't increase, this is still a mark of my trust in you."

Ji Mo immediately pulled a mournful face.

"Off you go, then."

"Hahaha," Ji Mo laughed a few times as he stood up from beside Wu Wang. Holding a cup of wine and calling Zhang Moshan to carry the wine jug, he charged alone into the crowd of prominent figures.

In no time at all, Ji Mo was already in lively conversation with several high-ranking members of Immortal Sects.

Seeing this, Wu Wang smiled knowingly and continued to leisurely study the Way of Stars.

Lin Qi moved to the spot Ji Mo had vacated, closer to his master. He clasped his hands in meditation, sitting peacefully to regulate his breathing and sort through the insights he had gained along the way.

Within an hour, the originally dull atmosphere of the grand hall had livened up, thanks in part to Ji Mo wandering about, and it became somewhat bustling.

Moreover, many female disciples passing by outside the hall cast flirtatious looks at Young Master Ji—their glances a mix of hidden subtlety, bashful coyness, and yet such bold initiative.

After two to four hours, it seemed some distinguished guest had arrived, as several experts went out to welcome them. Wu Wang and Lin Qi sat still, completely like outsiders.

They, of course, had the standing not to move.

Night fell, and rows of female disciples brought delicious dishes. Several Xuan Nu Sect experts also appeared, exchanging pleasantries with the guests.

There was no singing or dancing, not even a sword-dancing Fairy Immortal to be seen.

Wu Wang found it quite boring. Occasionally, he looked up at some of the women's eyes, a purely subconscious search.

Had the Young Master ever attended such a dull banquet?

The feasts of the Northern Wilderness, with their surface displays of song and dance hiding the chaotic clash of Wolf Fang Clubs and Long Staffs beneath, were tense, exciting, and a feast for the eyes. The gentle, lingering songs of the Guantao Tower could supposedly soften a diner's teeth to mush.

This gathering of the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect was, in a word—plain.

"Sect Master," Yang Wudi transmitted secretly, "this isn't like what Elder Miao described. I find the female cultivators here very polite, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves harmoniously. I don't feel like they look down on people."

"That's just a stereotype," Wu Wang said. "It's like when the disciples here speak of the Black Desire Door, they subconsciously think it's akin to a brothel. That's the same principle. But only those who understand the Cultivation Techniques of the Black Desire Door know that in their pursuit of true love, they often willingly sacrifice thousands of years of their cultivation. One should see and ponder things for oneself, not simply follow what others say."

"Right! Sect Master, your guidance is like a sudden enlightenment, making my thoughts especially clear!" Yang Wudi smiled naively, continuing to sit at the low table behind Wu Wang, searching for his next opportunity to seek rewards.

Hm? Wu Wang sniffed, suddenly catching a very familiar scent.

The scent was faint and indistinct, like a kind of sandalwood, yet it was not a 'smell' in the ordinary sense.

His body suddenly felt a pang of hunger. To be precise, his body reacted, indicating that there was prey to be hunted here.

Wu Wang did not scan with his gaze but slowly spread out his Spiritual Sense, projecting the situation inside and outside the great hall into his mind. He patiently sensed, searching bit by bit.

Soon, Wu Wang's Spiritual Sense locked onto a middle-aged scholar.

This man sat in a rather conspicuous position, holding a feather fan and wearing a blue-green robe. His cultivation at the peak of the True Immortal Realm was somewhat low for this gathering. However, he was surrounded by a clear and wonderful Dao rhythm, and his conversation and laughter were gentle and refined.

But Wu Wang smelled the blood of an Evil God on him.

And this Evil God's blood was exceptionally pure. If he could absorb its divine power, it would allow his Golden Dragon incarnation's strength to advance a short way.

Of course, this was not the main point. The main point was...

The fully concealed Ten Evils Hall had, indeed, left a loophole! The spies that the Ten Evils Hall had worked hard to plant within the various forces of the Human Domain couldn't just be discarded, dying overnight! At this moment, these deeply hidden spies had become the best breakthrough!

As the saying goes, everything has its nemesis.

The Innate Gods who orchestrated the Ten Evils Hall probably couldn't imagine, even if they pulled their hair out in frustration, that the Ten Evils Hall would encounter a nemesis like Wu Wang.

I need to play it cool, so as not to startle the snake. This time, I have to cast a long line to catch a big fish.

How should I approach this guy?

Wu Wang pondered carefully, thinking deeply and envisioning all sorts of scenarios.

The rate at which he was expending his spiritual mind was second only to when he was racking his brains for new ideas for his dates with Little Jingwei.

Got it.

Wu Wang stretched languidly and sat up, then let out a deep yawn, drawing some of the attention in the hall to himself.

He did not use voice transmission but directly said to Yang Wudi, "It's pretty boring without singing and dancing. Wudi, let me see the book you were reading before, the one that made you lose a year's worth of stipend."

Yang Wudi shuddered, his large face turned pale, and even his bald head lost its sheen. His lips quivered a few times.

In a panic, Yang Wudi transmitted, "Sect... Sect Master, that book isn't exactly proper."

"Can't I critique it?" Wu Wang turned his head and glared at Yang Wudi again. The latter, like a coy and bashful maiden, still decided to comply with the Sect Master. With the resolve of someone letting go of his "lifelong reputation," he took out a booklet and, with his eyes closed, presented it to Wu Wang.

The cover boldly displayed five large characters: 'Purifying Heart and Cultivating Qi'. Wu Wang took it and looked inside; the content was all character descriptions.

Wu Wang's eyes lit up. He flipped through a few more pages, but his expression gradually turned strange...

This wasn't the 'Spring and Autumn Short Tales' I had in mind.

The gathered Spiritual Senses also dispersed one after another. Many Demonic Cultivators even showed a hint of disdain, as if thinking, Is that all? They lamented that the Demon Path was becoming less bold with each generation.

Wu Wang's face darkened.

He had planned to gift that scholar a risqué little picture book to anger him. Then he would apologize, earnestly ask for guidance, and subsequently bring out Young Master Ji as a mediator, thereby getting to know the scholar.

How am I to carry out such a strategy now?

He turned to look at Yang Wudi, peeled off the fake outer cover of the book, revealing the real title—

'Fairy Immortals and the Men They Meet in Their Lifetimes'.

"You, a grown man, reading this—can it really captivate you to the point of neglecting sleep and food?"

"Sect Master," Yang Wudi covered his face with his hand, "it's been popular in recent years, and it's written with such a delicate touch and brilliant literary grace. It's truly an exceptional piece..."

Many Immortals turned their heads to stifle laughs, while Lin Qi also looked over curiously.

Suddenly, from the side, a voice questioned, "Sect Master Wuwang, do you have some dissatisfaction with the biographies authored by me?"

Authored by...

Wu Wang followed the voice and saw the middle-aged scholar he had just set his sights on standing up, looking at him with an angry expression.

Not only that, but many female disciples of the Xuan Nu Sect also frowned at Wu Wang. Each of them took out a delicately bound booklet, some with signatures in ink that was still drying.

Wu Wang appeared somewhat embarrassed on the surface, but deep down, he was delighted.

Although the process was a bit circuitous, and there were some unexpected small gains, as far as the result went... The plan had worked.

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