Immortal Path Space

A figure in white approached from a distance, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. With a refined and ethereal demeanor, she seemed detached from earthly concerns. Draped in a white dress, it gently fluttered in the wind.

All eyes, regardless of gender, turned to focus on the young woman.

Those who had been showcasing their talents around a few female cultivators suddenly felt dull and uninteresting.

Wang Hong, upon seeing this woman, experienced a sense of self-shame for the first time in his life.

Perhaps others felt the same way; even the thick-skinned male cultivators couldn't muster the courage to approach or even glance at her, considering it sacrilegious.

Seemingly accustomed to such attention, the young woman slowly approached the Qingxu Sect cultivators.

"Senior brother, I've come to register."

The young cultivator receiving her was momentarily flustered, not expecting to have a chance to speak with her.

He didn't know if he should leave his hands gracefully at his sides or adopt a more dignified posture with his hands behind his back. At this moment, his hands felt redundant, placed anywhere seeming unnatural.

He also struggled with organizing his words to appear refined, sophisticated, and preferably witty.

"Um... token... go over there... wait... give it to me."

Finally, the young cultivator, hands entangled awkwardly, face flushed, stammered out a sentence, unsure of its content.

The woman in white smiled, a smile like blooming flowers.

The young cultivator opposite her blushed, scratching the back of his head, even more unsure of how to speak.

However, the woman in white understood his intention, handed him the token for verification, and gracefully walked away from the crowd.

Approaching the group where Wang Hong stood, the woman effortlessly parted the crowd.

Finally, she stopped at the edge of the gathering.

Several self-assured male cultivators approached to strike up a conversation.

The woman didn't outright reject them but politely replied, maintaining an air of distance.

Time passed quietly as everyone waited.

After two hours, the group was complete.

A Purple-robed daoist from the Qingxu Sect summoned a delicate Flying Boat. The small vessel flew into the air, expanding to a size of over ten yards.

Several Mystic Cloth daoists ushered everyone onto the boat, and Wang Hong joined the others, landing on the Flying Boat as if on level ground.

Observing his surroundings, Wang Hong noted the boat's dimensions, approximately fifteen yards long and eight yards wide.

Four large cannons adorned each side of the boat's hull, appearing intimidating. Their potential firepower remained a mystery.

It seemed this Flying Boat was more than just a means of transportation; it doubled as a combat vessel.

Aside from a main hall, the cargo hold contained dozens of resting chambers.

Rooms were assigned to pairs, and Wang Hong found himself sharing one with the pockmarked-faced cultivator.

The friendly-faced cultivator introduced himself as Sun Er upon first meeting, launching into a lengthy self-introduction that left Wang Hong in awe. Sun Er boasted about his exploits in the Black Dragon Marsh, his thriving life in Azure Void City, and the countless powerful or well-born friends he had.

When Sun Er delved into his close relationship with a Golden Core cultivator's nephew for the third time, Wang Hong couldn't endure it any longer and made an excuse to leave the room.

Sun Er licked his dry lips and, still unsatisfied, called out to Wang Hong.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, we seem to hit it off. Let's continue our conversation later."

Wang Hong couldn't comprehend why there were such verbose individuals even among Immortal Cultivators, incessantly repeating the same thing three or four times without adding anything new. It made him contemplate pulling out his Flying Sword and splitting the person in question.

Stepping out of the cargo hold, he stood on the deck, taking a deep breath. It was his first time flying hundreds of yards above, observing the clouds swirling above and the towering mountains rapidly passing beneath him. In that moment, his troubles dissipated, and he felt expansive, realizing how insignificant he was compared to the vastness of the world.

The next morning, as Wang Hong meditated on the deck, a massive mountain range emerged in the distance. Mist encircled the peaks, emitting a colorful radiance under the morning sun.

This was the main peak of the Qingxu Mountain Range, where the Qingxu Sect was situated.

The Flying Boat landed on a large square at the mountain's foot. As everyone disembarked, they lined up under the guidance of the Purple-robed daoist from Qingxu Sect.

Several groups had already arrived at the square, each standing in various locations under the guidance of different Purple-robed daoists. They seemed to be Disciples recruited from other cities.

While Wang Hong and the others waited, more Flying Boats returned, disgorging dozens or even hundreds of people.

It appeared that the group from Azure Void City, including Wang Hong, was the largest, totaling around one hundred and sixty-seven individuals.

Around noon, as the cultivators stood on the square, they suddenly sensed a powerful pressure that lasted only a moment before retracting, leaving everyone astonished.

Then, a yellow streak descended from the mountaintop, landing on a high platform in front of the square. A figure with white hair and a youthful appearance appeared—a truly ethereal and immortal demeanor.

Having encountered several Foundation Building cultivators before, Wang Hong recognized the vast difference in the pressure emitted. Moreover, Foundation Building cultivators couldn't directly fly using magical techniques. Judging by this, the newcomer must be a formidable figure at the Golden Core stage.

"I am Elder Ling Yuan of the Qingxu Sect. Welcome, everyone, to our sect. Qingxu Sect has stood for tens of thousands of years, boasting numerous inheritances. As one of the six major sects, we possess formidable strength. Currently, we have dozens of Golden Core cultivators, thousands of Foundation Building cultivators, and tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation practitioners."

The people on the square were thrilled to be part of such a powerful sect.

Observing their reactions, Ling Yuan, satisfied, stroked his long beard and delivered some motivating words.

Excitement surged through the crowd. If asked to dedicate themselves to the sect at that moment, they would do so without hesitation, considering it an honor.

Wang Hong sighed inwardly, acknowledging the wisdom of the experienced senior who could stir people's blood with just a few words. There was much for him to learn.

After Ling Yuan's inspirational words, he transformed into a streak of light and departed, leaving behind a square filled with enthusiastic new disciples.

The trivial matters were left to the Golden Core cultivators.

Several Purple-robed daoists, each holding a small magical weapon, projected seven light screens from them. Qingxu Sect had seven peaks, named after the seven stars of the Big Dipper: Yaoguang, Kaiyang, Tianquan, Tianji, Yuheng, Tianshu, and Tianxuan.

The names of the peaks were displayed on the light screens, along with a list of names below each. People searched for their names on the light screens, standing beneath the appropriate peak once found.

Wang Hong located his name on the light screen for Kaiyang Peak and obediently stood beneath it.

He noticed that Sun Er, the pockmarked-faced cultivator, was also under the Kaiyang Peak light screen.

At that moment, Sun Er was enthusiastically chatting with a female cultivator. Upon seeing Wang Hong, he nodded and continued his animated conversation.

Approximately two thousand new disciples had joined Qingxu Sect, and each light screen now had over three hundred people beneath it.

A square-faced, stern Purple-robed daoist approached and loudly declared, "Disciples of Kaiyang Peak, follow me."

He then strode off in a particular direction, and the others hurriedly followed.

Similar scenes unfolded for the disciples assigned to the other peaks, each guided by their respective Purple-robed daoists.

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