Three days flashed by.
As no specific time had been set for the gathering, Wang Ping entered the projection space through the Communication Token shortly after noon. It was still that round table with fifteen seats. Eight people were already seated around it; besides the previous seven, there was one additional middle-aged man in a purple robe.
Wang Ping's arrival immediately drew everyone's attention. He took his seat beneath their gazes and heard Quan Wen point at the purple-robed middle-aged man in introduction. "This is Sect Master Shi Xu of Chunfeng View in West Continent. He cultivates the Yuqing Sect's external avatar technique."
A side branch of Jade Clarity—meaning that, at most, he was a Third Realm cultivator. Yet he was able to attend this gathering, so he clearly had some special connection.
As Wang Ping thought this, he cupped his hands in greeting.
Shi Xu rose and returned the salute.
Quan Wen then introduced Wang Ping to Shi Xu. "This is Fellow Changqing of the Taiyan Sect."
"Greetings, Prefect Changqing!"
Shi Xu rose again and clasped his fists, his manner extremely respectful.
Wang Ping could only return the gesture once more.
After the two had exchanged greetings, Cang Lan said, "Wait half an hour longer."
By "wait half an hour," he meant waiting to see whether any other members would appear.
No one replied, tacitly agreeing to Cang Lan's proposal.
Half an hour quickly passed, and no one else appeared. Throughout that time, everyone silently maintained their unspoken understanding.
When the time was up, Quan Wen spoke first. "A great many things have happened in the cultivation world lately. The most important, naturally, is Ao Yi's sudden emergence from Linshui Prefecture. I trust all of you have quite a few new commissions and new pieces of intelligence."
The instant