True Lord Chaotian, True Lord Caiwen, True Lord Ziqie, True Lord Bailuo, and True Lord Donggua had an extremely low profile within the Interception Sect. Their cultivation was not outstanding, but their foundations were exceptionally pure. They were orthodox immortals of the Mystic Gate, not Furred and Horned creatures Born from wetness and eggs.
It was also the first time the five had met Fang Yang. Although Fang Yang had yet to Prove Dao to Great Luo, the majesty surrounding him far surpassed theirs.
Even though Fang Yang had not unleashed his Golden Light of Merit, the five could sense an immensely sacred, intensely Righteous Qi power from him.
Merit Force was an immensely sacred and mysterious power between heaven and earth.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Fang Yang!"
True Lord Chaotian and the other four naturally bowed before him, without the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.
They had come to seek his help, and they sincerely admired Fang Yang. Among the Core Disciples of the Interception Sect, he was the only one they held in high regard.
Divine light flickered in Fang Yang's eyes as mana gathered within them. In an instant, he saw through the five men's true forms.
When he discovered that the five had attained the Dao through cultivating as vegetables, a surge of intense delight rose in Fang Yang's heart.
He had only just promoted Divine Grain, and vegetables had already presented themselves before him.
How were these Five True Lords Taiyi Golden Immortals? They were clearly walking Merit Force.
Vegetables were also food, things that could aid immortals in cultivation.
If he could promote vegetables, he would be able to gain another batch of merit.
In an age before merit coins existed, merit could only be accumulated bit by bit over time. It could not be gained through shortcuts.
The more merit Fang Yang accumulated, the more Other Selves he would have along his future timeline.
Increasing his foundation this way required neither cultivation nor a chance encounter with immortal fortune. It was an enormously profitable venture.
"No need for such ceremony, junior brothers. You have come from afar—what business brings you here?"
Fang Yang knowingly asked, for anyone who came looking for him at such a time must have intended to join him.
However, as the one being joined, he could not be the first to raise the matter.
Whoosh!
Nine streaks of immortal light descended, and nine Daoists wearing star crowns appeared in the air.
"Five junior brothers, Senior Brother Fang Yang has obtained the Master's permission and will be rectifying the sect's conduct. He requires the assistance of us Outer Disciples. Your willingness to join this great undertaking is truly a wise choice."
As the leader of the Nine Luminaries True Lords, True Lord Qian Yao acted as Fang Yang's spokesman.
He was both demonstrating his loyalty to Fang Yang and displaying the strength of their side.
Even some Great Luo Golden Immortals did not dare provoke the Nine Luminaries True Lords.
This was also why the Seven Immortals of Penglai had not suppressed the Nine Luminaries True Lords.
They had strength. Those with strength could thrive even as Outer Disciples.
Sure enough, when the Five True Lords saw that the Nine Luminaries True Lords had joined Fang Yang, they were all deeply shaken.
They had thought they were the first Disciple of the Sect of Interception to join Fang Yang. Who would have expected someone to be faster than them?
At once, True Lord Chaotian stopped beating around the bush.
"Senior Brother Fang Yang, we have come to join you. We hope that you will recognize talent without prejudice and accept us. The three thousand Grass and Tree Immortals of our Hundred Grass Mountain are willing to heed Senior Brother Fang Yang's orders at any time."
After speaking, True Lord Chaotian bowed deeply.
To show his sincerity, he had laid out every bit of his foundation.
The Grass and Tree Immortals were not strong fighters, but every one of them was skilled at alchemy.
If these immortals were allowed to teach living beings to grow spirit medicine and refine pills, the Interception Sect would gain another source of merit.
It seemed that Sect Master Tongtian had planned everything when he accepted disciples. The Interception Sect was practically a talent-training base for the Primordial World, specializing in cultivating all kinds of technical experts.
Among the champions of the three hundred and sixty trades, champions in three hundred of them came from the Interception Sect.
If the Interception Sect could take the Righteous Path, it would never face the catastrophe of its sect's destruction.
Fang Yang had formed a plan, yet his expression remained calm and composed. He raised his hand and scattered a sheet of immortal light, steadily lifting the five men up.
"Five junior brothers, there is no need for such courtesy. We are fellow disciples and companions on the path of cultivation. There is no question of joining or not joining."
The Five True Lords were overjoyed. Since Fang Yang had not driven them away, he had accepted them.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
The immortals had only just joined him and had yet to establish any merit, so Fang Yang naturally would not reward them.
However, since the Five True Lords had appeared, Fang Yang naturally intended to make good use of them.
Fang Yang had never heard of Hundred Vegetable Mountain, because the name had been coined by the Five True Lords themselves.
Their daoist grounds had merely been an unnamed immortal mountain. It was only after receiving Sect Master Tongtian's blessing that it became the daoist grounds of the Five True Lords.
After learning the name Hundred Vegetable Mountain from the Five True Lords this time, Fang Yang understood the hidden meaning.
It turned out that Sect Master Tongtian had arranged everything long ago.
If the Disciples of the Sect of Interception were willing to walk the Righteous Path, opportunities would be everywhere throughout the sect.
The Disciples of the Sect of Interception would not need to venture into the Primordial Wilderness or the chaos to hunt for treasures. As long as their talents were developed, they would gain inexhaustible merit.
The path Fang Yang now intended to take had long since been paved by Sect Master Tongtian.
Unfortunately, everyone in the Interception Sect was either belligerent and combative or reckless and impulsive. Not one of them had discovered these resources.
This situation happened to benefit Fang Yang, giving him the opportunity to accumulate merit and send his cultivation soaring.
"Master has truly gone to great pains for this sect. Unfortunately, among the sect's forty-eight thousand disciples, not one has understood his intentions."
After sorting through his thoughts, Fang Yang knew what he needed to do.
He led his small team into the Observing Heaven Hall and convened their first meeting.
Fang Yang differed from Daoist Duobao. Daoist Duobao favored those with powerful mana, while Fang Yang wanted those with brains.
In the Primordial World, one could never have enough mana. Beneath saints, all were ants. If one was plotted against by another saint, no amount of mana would matter.
Having brains was different. They all had saints to rely on. As long as they were clever enough, they could evade the schemes of other saints.
Fang Yang walked directly to the seat of honor and slowly swept his gaze over the immortals within the hall.
The immortals in the hall were all of immortal origin. Even if some had attained the Dao from other forms of life, not one belonged among the Furred and Horned or those Born from wetness and eggs.
"Junior Brother Chaotian, your Hundred Vegetable Mountain has a deep foundation. This is precisely the time for you to accomplish great things. Since your heart is devoted to this sect, Elder brother will point you toward a clear path. First, it can help the five of you Prove Dao to Great Luo. Second, it can increase the Interception Sect's Merit and Fortune."
Fang Yang was a man of action. Once he thought of something, he would do it. It was not as though he would think of a method to earn merit, only to procrastinate over trivial matters.
He would secure the merit first. Everything else could be set aside.
True Lord Chaotian was instantly excited upon hearing this.
"Please enlighten us, Senior Brother."
Fang Yang said, "You can gather some of the Grass and Tree Immortals of Hundred Vegetable Mountain and establish a race: the Vegetable Tribe. From then on, the Vegetable Tribe will create food for all living beings generation after generation and contribute to the prosperity of all races."
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