Chen Xiaolei and the others nodded in agreement, understanding that this senior wouldn't recruit them casually, and resolved to perform well so as not to miss this opportunity.

Twenty miles ahead, Shen Wang let Chen Xiaolei and the others sort out their status.

These people were quite disheveled from escaping for their lives, not suited to work for him immediately.

Chen Xiaolei and the others used the time to adjust their status, while Shen Wang investigated the nearby situation in secret.

From this point on, Demon Beasts became noticeably fewer, and further in, Human Race cultivators roamed, along with large mortal armies, generally traveling in groups.

Another thirty miles ahead, a defensive line appeared, though they were scattered in places easy to defend and hard to attack, more like outposts.

Beyond these lines, the numbers of people increased, amassing a large number of cultivators, and crops in the fields were still being cultivated, barely maintaining operations.

Further in was the Celestial Travel Sect's location, which was relatively stable at present, isolated by protective arrays, making it the safest place in Yun Province.

"We still don't know where Liu Shan is being held. If he's within the Celestial Travel Sect, it will be troublesome."

Shen Wang frowned.

It's true he was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, but the Celestial Travel Sect's foundation wasn't lacking either. If he wanted to rescue someone, he couldn't act openly; otherwise, any residual waves from the battle could easily kill Liu Shan and the others?

The most critical issue is that if a fight breaks out, it would give the Demon Race an undeserved advantage, which would present a massive danger to him.

Therefore, this matter needed careful planning.

When Chen Xiaolei and the others were almost adjusted, a group of people approached their location.

"These are newly recruited outer disciples, brought here for a bit of training."

"Hmm, there are plenty of wild beasts nearby, let's toughen their courage first."

"Then I'd trouble Senior Brother to keep an eye on nearby Demon Beasts since these new disciples have some talent, they shouldn't die in vain."

"I understand, you can let them start, I'll go ahead to scout the path."

Two Foundation Establishment Level cultivators chatted for a while, then one left, and the other slowly led a group of young people over.

Among them, the eldest were in their twenties, and the youngest were only in their teens. Some were curious, some were scared; their reactions varied.

The commonality was that their cultivation had just begun, and they weren't particularly powerful.

The person leading the group sat at the front, surveying the surrounding situation.

After confirming only some wild beasts were present and the environment wasn't too dangerous, he spoke, "Now you may start your activities. I'll have people watching, so don't be afraid of Demon Beasts. We'll be observing you."

The steward, responsible for leading the entry-level disciples to practice bravery, yelled out. He was in charge of over hundreds of such batches, and recently, due to significant disciple losses, such tasks became more frequent.

Upon hearing him, the entry-level disciples exchanged looks and started acting, unwilling to lose to each other.

The steward looked at the young people spreading out, sighed, "The pressure Within the Sect is getting heavier, the current disciple requirements are lower, and their talents can't compare to before. Hopefully, there are a few with resilient hearts."

When he was about to jump onto a tree to oversee the area, a gust of wind appeared beside him, and then a figure emerged.

He instantly became nervous, having not noticed this person at all.

"You!"

He wanted to say something, but his gaze turned dazed, as if he became a puppet, answering questions automatically.

After a while, the spatial fluctuation subsided, he came to his senses, feeling confused for a moment and adjusted his clothes, seemingly unaware of anything.

He touched his head and jumped onto a tree, secretly observing the performance of the entry-level disciples.

He completely forgot Shen Wang had asked him questions.

Shen Wang took people aside to enter the range of the Celestial Travel Sect.

After some adjustment, Chen Xiaolei and the others' Essence, Qi, and Spirit had recovered further, no longer looking disheartened.

"If anyone else inquires about me next, just say you are from the Profound Turtle Sect. Rest for a few days at the Celestial Travel Sect first, I will take you away after I handle some matters,"

Shen Wang said to Chen Xiaolei, "I'm from Xi Province, came here to investigate. Please remain as quiet as possible."

"Yes, Senior,"

Chen Xiaolei replied quickly,

"My surname is Shen, just call me Elder Shen from now on."

Shen Wang restrained his aura, and with Chen Xiaolei and the others, entered the region monitored by the Celestial Travel Sect.

While passing a small hill, someone stopped them: "Where are you from? I haven't seen you before."

The one blocking the path was a stationed cultivator at the mountain entrance with Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

Chen Xiaolei stepped forward, "Fellow Daoist, we are from the Profound Turtle Sect."

The latter smirked upon hearing, "Profound Turtle Sect? The sect named after an animal?"

Chen Xiaolei replied awkwardly, "Our sect's founder learned from a millennial Profound Turtle and named it in commemoration."

The Celestial Travel Sect's cultivator sneered, "Heh, whether you're a Profound Turtle or a True Dragon, you need to pay a toll passing here. Ten Spirit Stones for a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, and a hundred for Foundation Establishment, totaling three hundred and fifty, and you can pass."

Shen Wang was surprised, thinking they came to collect Spirit Stones, rather than check them.

"Oh, does it cost that much?"

Chen Xiaolei exclaimed.

"Too much? If it's too much, then don't come in, you can turn back and leave,"

The latter sneered, "Our Celestial Travel Sect provides you protection, what's the harm in collecting some toll? Don't tell me you're not here to escape disaster."

Chen Xiaolei displayed a painful expression. They had exhausted a lot of their Spirit Stones on the road, collecting barely enough.

Seeing their poor appearance, the mountain guard didn't make it difficult for them and let them pass.

Shen Wang didn't say much, as there were quite a few such posts nearby, all guarding crucial areas, serving as the first line of defense.

After crossing the first mountain, the terrain rose considerably, and they entered a hilly area where the population increased significantly.

Behind the hills stood towering mountains, some peaks like sharp swords piercing the sky, others like giant pillars, some lush and green, all shrouded in clouds at the top, with faint sounds of wind and thunder in the air.

This was the Wind and Thunder Mountain Range, surrounded by a vast array emerging from the ground, forming a translucent shield protecting the mountain gate.

Returning after many years, Shen Wang felt a sense of nostalgia seeing this familiar yet unfamiliar scene.

"When I left, I was merely in Qi Cultivation. Returning now, I'm in Nascent Soul, only a mere decade has passed, yet things have changed so much."

Shen Wang showed a hint of reminiscence. Originally, the Shen family was one of the many small families attached to the Celestial Travel Sect. As someone with decent talent in the family, he was admitted into the sect.

However, things took an unexpected turn, and he was forced to leave after an accident ruined his Dantian, only returning now.

He withdrew his gaze and scanned the hilly area. It used to be farmland, now filled with numerous houses, a large number of mortals and cultivators gathered here.

In general, the closer they were to Wind and Thunder Mountain, the more cultivators there were, and the fewer mortals.

They moved forward, arriving at a place where cultivators gathered, hearing various selling shouts from afar, making it seem lively.

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