Xingyun!

A sentence for every shutdown, a word for every closure.

Bitter yet resolute words echoed across the land through jade stone screens.

The entire world fell silent.

Countless viewers before the screens were completely dumbfounded.

So easy?

So smooth?

Without violent suppression or clever sophistry, Daoist Tianyun directly conceded and decided to shut down Tianji Group.

Matters were smoother than imagined.

However...

Not the slightest hint of excitement or joy could be found on any of the faces; the anticipation and rebellion that had previously risen in their eyes had also vanished entirely.

Right now, only... bewilderment remained!

Tianji Group was gone.

Were they still going to work?

Where were they going to eat at noon?

And from where should they buy the various resources used for cultivation?

Questions popped up from the bottom of hearts one after another.

Across the land, pairs of bewildered eyes looked left and right, gazing at the sides of the streets.

As far as the eye could see, every shop was connected to Tianji Group, and even those run privately had their sources of goods linked to the corporation.

And these shops concerned every little detail of their lives...

Inside the venue,

Whether it was Zhang Tinnan, who had taken the lead in questioning, or the remaining hundreds of members of the Revive Immortals Society, they were likewise stunned at this moment.

Among them, the highest cultivation was merely Foundation Establishment, and even Zhang Tinnan's ancient-method Foundation Establishment could not stir up any waves whatsoever before Tianji Group.

Their appearance at the venue was not for the sake of forceful coercion, nor did they possess sufficient might.

They merely wished to use the Ascension Ceremony to expose the true face of Tianji Group before the eyes of hundreds of millions of living beings.

Since they had come, they had not planned to return, nor had they ever thought they would leave alive.

They only sought to ignite a spark in the darkness, to kindle a seed of fire in people's hearts to light the path ahead!

And now...

Everyone stared blankly at Daoist Tianyun, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Had they succeeded just like that...

Clamour!

A noisy uproar suddenly erupted from behind, filling the entire venue.

However, it was not the cheers and celebrations they had imagined, but unsparing curses and abuses!

"What 'Revive Immortals Society'! I reckon you're just a bunch of people with nothing better to do!"

"If we shut down Tianji Group, what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we use to cultivate?"

"Exactly, what's the use of just shouting slogans? Can you give us jobs?"

"Can you refine Qi Gathering Pills? Can you forge flying swords? I reckon you guys can't even grow spiritual rice!"

The sounds of cursing ringing in their ears caused every member of the Revive Immortals Society to sway and wear dazed expressions, as if unable to believe it.

Clearly, although these spectators hadn't spoken earlier, they had also been silently supporting them.

Clearly, the suspension of Tianji Group was everyone's expectation.

Clearly...

"Young folks, your starting point was good."

Daoist Tianyun looked regretfully at the dazed Zhang Tinnan and the various members of the Revive Immortals Society, gently shaking his head.

"However, you cannot represent all living beings."

Swish!

In an instant, the complexions of Zhang Tinnan and the others turned pale, their mouths full of bitterness.

Daoist Tianyun was right; what could represent all living beings was never their Revive Immortals Society, but Tianji Group, which penetrated every aspect of society and controlled the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of all common folk!

Tianji Group could not be shut down, and the hundreds of millions of living beings would never allow it to be suspended either!

Tianji Group had long since kidnapped the common folk and held the entire world hostage!

Thinking of this, Zhang Tinnan abruptly raised his head, gazing at Lin Haofeng, the master of the Clear Radiance Sect, and looking toward the masters of the other worldly immortal sects.

"Everyone, you've also seen the situation in World No. 9527. You must never let yourselves be infiltrated by Tianji Group..."

Lin Haofeng smiled and shook his head, interrupting him:

"Junior, your worries are superfluous. The likes of us are merely introducing the technology of Tianji Group."

Hearing this in his ears, Zhang Tinnan grew so anxious he hopped around.

Introducing technology?

The other worlds that had been infiltrated previously had thought the same way; the erosion of Tianji Group was silent and imperceptible, completely impossible to guard against!

Pity that, no matter how anxious he was, he could not move at the moment, nor could he utter a single sound.

The other Golden Core Perfected ones were not as easygoing as Daoist Tianyun, and had long since used Golden Core might to imprison him on the spot.

"Junior, I know what you want to say..."

Lin Haofeng smiled and shook his head, walking up to Zhang Tinnan and saying earnestly:

"Your thoughts were not wrong, and your actions were not wrong either, but you forgot the most important thing... strength!"

"Your failure is simply because your strength is insufficient!"

"If your strength is formidable enough..." Lin Haofeng smiled faintly, turning his palm over and over.

"Even without reason, you can still turn the heavens upside down!"

"So what if Tianji Group really takes our worlds hostage? Don't forget that our sects have thousands of ascending perfected ones every year, and what's more, we can even invite True Immortals to descend to the mortal realm!"

As he spoke without any scruples, the remaining immortal sect masters also revealed tacit, knowing smiles.

Daoist Tianyun did not mind, merely shaking his head as he stepped forward and spoke.

"A group of rash juniors, why should Brother Lin care?"

Waving his sleeve, he whipped up a gale, and Zhang Tinnan, along with each member of the Revive Immortals Society, rose with the wind.

"Brother Tianyun is truly benevolent!"

Lin Haofeng gently shook his head, noncommittal.

If it were in World 8999, anyone who dared to rush forward like this would have been directly beaten to death by him long ago.

In mid-air above the venue, figures swept past the spectator stands and flew horizontally outside the arena.

Hao Peiyun's eyes drifted upward, her face filled with anxiety.

"Rest assured, they're fine!"

A calm voice sounded, and the confinement around them suddenly loosened.

Hao Peiyun turned her head to look at Li Qingshan and opened her mouth, only to find her mouth full of bitterness.

Originally, she had wanted to stage a good show and then take the opportunity to invite Li Qingshan to join the Revive Immortals Society.

Never had she expected it to turn into a farce; not only did the performance flop, but she had also made a fool of herself.

Right now, Li Qingshan was more unfathomable than she had imagined, yet she could no longer utter words of invitation.

In the end, it turned into a bewildered question.

"Young Master Li, were we wrong?"

Li Qingshan glanced at Hao Peiyun, his gaze sweeping past the "fishing lines" on Lin Haofeng and the others, before looking toward the firmament once more and gently shaking his head.

"You weren't wrong. The world is wrong!"

"Young master is right, the world is wrong!"

As if figuring something out, Hao Peiyun's spirit lifted. Taking a deep breath, she cupped her fists in farewell and said:

"The world has long since been deeply poisoned. Saving the world is a heavy responsibility and a long road!"

"Young Master Li, I shall take my leave first."

"Wait!"

Li Qingshan called out to stop her, his gaze peculiar as he said:

"You're still going to save the world?"

"Of course!" Hao Peiyun nodded with conviction, her face full of grit.

"I won't give up, and fellow daoists of the Revive Immortals Society won't give up either!"

"Fine then!"

Li Qingshan lightly massaged his temples and spoke:

"Give me one of your name cards."

Hao Peiyun's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly fished a stack of name cards out of her bag, her face full of pleasant surprise as she said:

"Young Master Li..."

Before her, the space was already empty, and a name card in her hand was missing.

However, Hao Peiyun was not disappointed; instead, her eyes held growing anticipation.

Being willing to take the name card meant that Li Qingshan was interested in the Revive Immortals Society, and perhaps it wouldn't be long before he took the initiative to seek them out and join.

Tianji Tower, underground.

Inside a cramped secret chamber, a refined middle-aged man quietly appeared and walked straight toward the stone wall at the side.

The hard stone wall suddenly rippled like the surface of water, swallowing him up.

The view before his eyes suddenly opened up. A spacious cavern resembled a huge air-raid shelter, with rows of jade lamps hanging overhead, illuminating the entire grotto.

A plump old man with white hair and beard was gnawing on a chicken leg and beckoning with a smiling expression.

"Little Tianyun, done with your business trip?"

"Grandmaster..."

Daoist Tianyun had just opened his mouth,

When a sigh of praise suddenly sounded behind him.

"Cultivation methods are truly wondrous indeed; even I was kept in the dark!"

In a flash, the hair on Daoist Tianyun's body stood on end as he lunged to block in front of the plump old man, staring toward the entrance.

Ripples undulated as a young man with a smile at the corner of his lips stepped out from within the wall.

His cultivation level was imperceptible, and even his aura could not be sensed!

In an instant, Tianyun's gaze turned extremely vigilant.

"What sort of rat dares to trespass upon my Tianji forbidden ground..."

Plop!

A palm suddenly slapped the back of his head,

"Have some manners, kneel down and kowtow to me!"

A reprimand resounded by his ear, and his knees felt as though they were being crushed by Mount Tai as he dropped to the ground with a loud thud.

Daoist Tianyun wore a bewildered expression, turning his head in utter bewilderment.

He saw his very own grandmaster, the founder of Tianji Group, none other than the dignified "Tianji Taoist",

At this moment, already shedding tears of emotion, striding forward, and bowing deeply in obeisance toward the young man standing there with a smile.

"This humble Daoist, Xingyun, pays respects to Yama Li!"

Tianji Taoist was precisely Old Taoist Tianji's disciple, that little Daoist priest who loved eating chicken legs, Xingyun!