The Six Great Orthodox Sects

"The Master of Crouching Dragon Temple, Yu Xuanji, and her chief disciple, Zhuge Changming!"

"The Master of Crouching Dragon Temple was a major figure from the same era as our sect master."

"They say the Master of Crouching Dragon Temple can calculate a person's fortune. She's truly formidable. Even our sect master sometimes asks her to divine the secrets of heaven."

The many elders of Mount Shu and Ask Immortal Pavilion looked toward the newly arrived Master of Crouching Dragon Temple and her elders.

Lu Changsheng had not expected the Master of Crouching Dragon Temple to be a veiled woman.

Zhuge Changming, Crouching Dragon Temple's chief disciple, had represented the temple at the Mount Shu Disciple Tournament. Lu Changsheng had met him once before.

Yu Xuanji was a major figure who had been famous for three thousand years, while Zhuge Changming was a heaven's chosen on the same level as Eldest Senior Brother Li Changye. Each was an outstanding member of his sect's younger generation.

"Crouching Dragon Temple emphasizes schemes, deduction, and military strategy. Their focus differs from ours and Ask Immortal Pavilion's. In other words, those people have first-rate minds. We must never offend them lightly."

Zhao Wuyan and Lu Changsheng conversed secretly through voice transmission.

"What does the Master of Crouching Dragon Temple look like?"

"Very few people have seen the true face beneath her veil."

Zhao Wuyan shook his head. Clearly, he knew nothing about it either.

"Fellow Daoists, the years fly by, and glory fades easily. In the blink of an eye, two hundred years have passed since we last met."

Yu Xuanji, the Master of Crouching Dragon Temple, spoke gently and unhurriedly, making those who heard her feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.

Only Taiyuan True Person and the Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion were qualified to be addressed as fellow Daoists by Yu Xuanji.

"To be precise, it was two hundred and fifty years ago that Temple Master Yu last divined the secrets of heaven for me."

"That's right. At the time, my calculations showed that this disciple of yours possessed great fortune."

Yu Xuanji looked at Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng feigned composure.

The original Lu Changsheng had died of Qi Deviation. From the memories of this body, the present Lu Changsheng had learned that two hundred years ago, Yu Xuanji, the Master of Crouching Dragon Temple, had divined that Lu Changsheng had an immortal affinity with Mount Shu and recommended him to Taiyuan True Person.

Now it seemed that the original Lu Changsheng had merely been an unlucky fellow, and he himself was the one with great fortune?

"Temple Master Yu, please take the seat of honor."

The Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion was also very courteous to the newly arrived Yu Xuanji.

After all, Yu Xuanji was famous for divining the secrets of heaven. Someone like her could not be offended; they had to maintain good relations with her.

As for Taiyuan True Person, the Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion left him standing to one side.

Taiyuan True Person did not stand on ceremony either. He led the people of Mount Shu to their seats.

Although the Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion had said nothing, Taiyuan True Person had long known the other's proud and contrary temperament.

"Now that a great calamity is approaching Xia Province, it would be best if you two fellow Daoists put your past grievances behind you as soon as possible. No one could have imagined that things would turn out that way back then..."

Yu Xuanji's tone remained calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

Lu Changsheng secretly observed Yu Xuanji's cultivation, but could not see through her in the slightest.

The Pavilion Master of Ask Immortal Pavilion snorted coldly. "Temple Master Yu, you needn't concern yourself with the grievances between him and me."

"Sect Master Xu of the Artifact Refinement Sect and its elders have arrived!"

Another group descended from the sky, their long swords returning to their sheaths.

The Artifact Refinement Sect had long ranked last among the Six Great Orthodox Sects, but no one dared underestimate it.

The Artifact Refining Sect ranked last in cultivation because its members devoted much of their efforts to artifact refinement, forging all manner of Spirit Artifacts and Spirit Treasures.

Precisely because most of the other sects' Spirit Artifacts and Spirit Treasures came from the Artifact Refinement Sect, no one dared look down on it. Instead, they maintained good relations with it.

"High Person Wuxiang of Boundless Temple and the masters have arrived!"

"Grandmaster Chen, leader of the Martial Dao Alliance, and its elders have arrived!"

The two groups arrived at Misty Peak almost at the same time.

When the people of Boundless Temple descended, Buddhist chants swelled, celestial maidens scattered flowers, and Buddhist light shone for ten thousand zhang.

"Amitabha. Benefactors, it has been a long time."

High Person Wuxiang bore a solemn, dignified appearance. His voice was like a sacred anointing, leaving the mind clear and unburdened.

Boundless Temple ranked second among the Six Great Orthodox Sects.

High Person Wuxiang's understanding of Buddhist teachings was profound.

Taiyuan True Person, Fairy Su, Yu Xuanji, and the others nodded to High Person Wuxiang in greeting.

The Martial Dao Alliance presented a different sight from Boundless Temple. Every one of its members was tall and powerfully built.

The Martial Dao Alliance focused on body refinement. Although its members' overall cultivation realms were not high, their formidable physiques gave them every advantage against opponents of the same realm, and fighting across realms was no difficult feat either.

The Martial Dao Alliance ranked third.

The leader of the Martial Dao Alliance looked at Lian, Lu Changsheng's disciple, seemingly very interested in her Martial King Divine Physique. "Is this the descendant the Wilderness Tribe warriors swore to protect with their lives? Her physique is rarely seen even once in a hundred thousand years. If she takes me as her master, her future will be boundless. Young friend from Mount Shu, would you be willing to part with someone dear to you and let this disciple of yours join me instead? I am willing to exchange a Low-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure for her."

The Martial Dao Alliance placed immense importance on special physiques, and Lian's Martial King Divine Physique was exceptionally well suited to attaining the Dao through body refinement.

Thus, the leader of the Martial Dao Alliance was willing to offer a Low-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure in a trade with Lu Changsheng.

"An Innate Spirit Treasure? Grandmaster Chen of the Martial Dao Alliance is certainly generous!"

"I wonder if this Mount Shu elder will agree to give up his disciple? That's an Innate Spirit Treasure, after all. Even the vast majority of Law Treasures used by Dao Palace Realm elders are only Houtian Spirit Treasures."

The elders of the various sects whispered among themselves, their gazes fixed on Lu Changsheng.

"Disciple, are you willing to go with them?"

"No, I want to stay by Master's side forever and ever! Besides, they aren't as handsome as Master."

"Hahaha."

The other elders could not help laughing at Lian's childish candor.

Elder Lu of Mount Shu was indeed incredibly handsome.

"Ahem, children speak without restraint. Please don't take offense, Grandmaster Chen."

Lu Changsheng was somewhat embarrassed. Grandmaster Chen of the Martial Dao Alliance was, after all, an unmatched expert who had surpassed the Dao Palace Realm and had once fought and killed a flood dragon with his bare hands.

"She is a disciple of Mount Shu. Grandmaster Chen, you had best look elsewhere for a disciple."

Taiyuan True Person was protective of his own. Even with the leader of the Martial Dao Alliance making the offer in person, he still supported his disciple and grand-disciple.

"Haha, I wouldn't take a little girl's words to heart. I merely feel a little regret, that's all."

Grandmaster Chen waved a hand, paying it no mind, and led the many elders of the Martial Dao Alliance to their seats.

"Grandmaster Chen of the Martial Dao Alliance hates evil as bitterly as a personal enemy. In his youth, he often acted as a hero and championed justice. He was a grandmaster of his generation. It was only after he grew old that he spent years in secluded cultivation, becoming like a divine dragon whose head is seen but not its tail. Since he says he doesn't mind, you can rest easy."

Zhao Wuyan spoke with feeling.

It seemed the Six Great Orthodox Sects truly lived up to the name of the righteous path.

Lu Changsheng felt a little more at ease. What he feared most was the Six Great Orthodox Sects scheming against one another and falling into endless infighting.

"Now that all Six Great Orthodox Sects have arrived, the Six Paths Assembly will officially begin. The subject of this assembly is how to respond to the calamity that may soon occur."

"Temple Master Yu has already divined that, in a little over ten years, the Four Great Demonic Sects may join forces with the Demon Race of the Desolate Province to attack the various sects."

"Although our Six Great Orthodox Sects compete with one another in ordinary times, a great calamity is approaching. We must stand together like branches joined to the same tree and face the enemy as one."

"Today, we must decide which sect will lead the Six Great Orthodox Sects against the Four Great Demonic Sects and the Demon Race of the Desolate Province."