Steward Jiang!

"Miss Wen? You've returned!"

Hearing the voice from outside the door, Jiang Ye felt a surge of spirit. He immediately tucked the Poison Control Scripture into his robes and went to open the door.

Wen Yueyao stood gracefully at the threshold. Beyond the heroic spirit on her sweet, oval face, there was a hint of travel-weariness, though the injury on her shoulder had already been treated and appeared to be of no further concern.

"Indeed, the matter is settled, so I have returned. I thought the old gentleman might be growing anxious, so I came to find you as soon as I arrived back at the sect."

Wen Yueyao smiled with a bright, open expression.

"I have troubled you with my concerns, Miss Wen."

Jiang Ye smiled and offered a slight bow.

"Come, old gentleman, let me take you to Juding Peak first to handle your entry into the sect."

Wen Yueyao was as efficient as ever, leading Jiang Ye directly away from the guest quarters and toward the inner sect.

Jiang Ye followed Wen Yueyao through a bamboo grove, and the scene before him shifted once more.

It was no longer just pavilions and halls, but six towering peaks rising from the ground, piercing straight into the clouds.

Six peaks, six distinct atmospheres.

The one on the far left had a pale golden hue, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight as if the entire mountain were forged from metal.

At the summit, a majestic hall with golden tiles and red pillars exuded an imposing aura, with a faint sense of sharpness pressing against the face. This was Golden Star Peak.

The second peak, standing right beside it, was covered in lush, verdant pines and cypresses, vibrant and full of life, with the occasional cry of a crane echoing through the air. This was Azure Wood Peak.

The third was the most peculiar; half of it was hidden within clouds and mist, as if shrouded by some invisible force, making it difficult to discern clearly. The "Mystic Water Peak" stone tablet standing at the foot of the mountain appeared and disappeared within the fog, exuding a sense of mystery and depth.

The fourth was Heavenly Sun Peak, where Wen Yueyao originated. The terrain was steep with jagged rocks, and flames flickered halfway up the mountainside. Vague silhouettes of cauldrons could be seen burning fiercely; even from a great distance, one could feel the scorching heat radiating toward them.

The fifth peak had gentle terrain, planted with all manner of exotic flowers and grasses, colorful and fragrant. This was Thick Earth Peak.

The sixth peak in the center was the most majestic and solemn.

It lacked the distinct, flashy atmosphere of the previous five, yet it possessed an inherent dignity that commanded all the other peaks.

At its summit, a primitive, ancient hall stood silently. Its flying eaves and carved beams flickered in and out of the clouds, looking like the dwelling of an immortal.

That was Juding Peak, where the Sect Master resided and the core hub of the Azure Sky Sect.

The six peaks stood like six silent giants, looking down upon the common folk below.

Iron chain bridges connected the peaks, and faint wisps of cloud and mist swirled between them, rendering the entire mountain range like a fairyland.

Jiang Ye stood at the edge of the bamboo grove, speechless for a long time.

He had seen the bustling markets of Anxi County and the towering walls of Cloud Ridge Prefecture, but gazing now at these six peaks piercing the heavens, watching the mist swirl and the cranes dance, he truly understood what it meant to have the foundation of a sect.

"Old gentleman, please, this way."

Wen Yueyao turned back and, seeing him dazed, could not help but smile slightly.

She had seen too many people arriving at the inner sect for the first time with such an expression; she was long since accustomed to it.

The atmosphere of those six towering peaks was enough to shake the spirit of anyone seeing them for the first time.

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly, suppressing the shock in his heart, and stepped forward to follow.

Before long, Wen Yueyao brought Jiang Ye to the foot of Juding Peak. Along the way, they encountered quite a few disciples.

Regardless of their age, almost everyone greeted Wen Yueyao politely, calling her "Senior Sister Wen."

Wen Yueyao nodded in response to each one, neither arrogant nor overly familiar, her demeanor carrying the natural ease of a true disciple.

This made Jiang Ye hold Wen Yueyao in even higher regard.

Their pace was swift, and in less than half an incense stick of time, they reached the mountainside.

The terrain ahead suddenly opened up, and an ancient hall stood quietly upon a vast stone plaza.

"This is the place."

Wen Yueyao pointed with her finger.

Jiang Ye followed her gaze and saw a black wood plaque hanging above the hall's lintel, inscribed with three bold, sweeping characters: Affairs Hall.

The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, the strokes like dragons and snakes, exuding a rigid, iron-like strength.

The two stepped into the hall.

The furnishings inside were simple yet solemn.

Directly facing the entrance was a wide black wood desk, behind which sat a middle-aged man in a pale green robe.

He appeared to be about fifty years old, with a refined face and three long strands of beard under his chin. At this moment, his eyes were closed, as if he were resting his mind.

Core Formation Realm?!

Jiang Ye's pupils contracted sharply.

The aura this man emitted unintentionally was far beyond that of Liu Qingshi, and there was a faint, sharp edge to it.

Without a doubt, this was a powerhouse of the Core Formation Realm.

This was the first time he had seen a powerhouse of this level with his own eyes since entering the Azure Sky Sect.

Clearly, within the vast Azure Sky Sect, experts of this caliber belonged to the backbone of the organization.

The middle-aged man opened his eyes as if sensing something. Upon seeing Wen Yueyao, a polite smile appeared on his face. He stood up and spoke:

"True Disciple Wen, what brings you to my Affairs Hall today? I heard that during your recent mission to Anxi County to eliminate demons, you even took down that villainous Black Old Five. Truly, the younger generation is formidable."

Wen Yueyao smiled faintly. Neither arrogant nor servile, she stepped aside to reveal Jiang Ye behind her, her voice crisp and clear:

"Elder Gongsun is too kind. Actually, taking down Black Old Five wasn't my achievement alone; it was thanks to the assistance of this elder, Mr. Jiang."

"Oh?"

Gongsun Hong's gaze fell upon Jiang Ye, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He looked the white-haired, tall, and thin old man up and down, secretly speculating. This person's aura was completely contained; even he could not fathom the man's depth at a glance.

He must be at the peak of Transformation Strength, and he also practices a technique to conceal his aura...

Gongsun Hong made a quick judgment in his heart, yet his face was already wreathed in smiles as he said politely:

"Mr. Jiang is truly a man of great righteousness! To be able to join hands with a True Disciple of our Azure Sky Sect to eliminate evil—this is truly fate!"

Wen Yueyao was impatient. Seeing that Gongsun Hong was about to continue with the pleasantries, she walked forward and whispered a few words into his ear.

Her voice was kept extremely low, and Jiang Ye could only vaguely catch the words "life-saving grace," "arrange a deacon position," and "guard the herb garden."

After listening, Gongsun Hong nodded repeatedly, his smile growing even warmer.

He turned to Jiang Ye and said in a booming voice:

"With True Disciple Wen personally vouching for you, we can skip the complicated procedures. I will handle the entry formalities immediately. Age is not an issue; for a righteous person like Mr. Jiang who is willing to eliminate harm for the people, our Azure Sky Sect is eager to welcome you!"

Seeing this, Jiang Ye was slightly taken aback, a strange look flashing in his aged eyes.

It was one thing for those disciples to be respectful to Wen Yueyao, but he hadn't expected even a Core Formation Realm elder to be so courteous to her.

The status of a True Disciple was truly immense.

Gongsun Hong moved with great speed. He immediately spread out a scroll of silk, dipped his brush in ink, and began writing rapidly.

A moment later, he stamped the document, handed the still-wet paperwork to Wen Yueyao for inspection, and then called out toward the door:

"Someone, come in!"

A disciple guarding outside the hall hurried in.

Gongsun Hong instructed: "Go to the storehouse and bring back a new set of deacon robes."

The disciple acknowledged the order and left, returning shortly after with a tray.

On the tray, a set of azure-colored robes was neatly folded. The fabric was supple, the stitching fine, and a simple character for "Deacon" was embroidered on the chest.

Gongsun Hong took a black iron token from his drawer and handed it to Jiang Ye with both hands, beaming: "Mr. Jiang, congratulations! From this moment on, you are an official deacon of our Azure Sky Sect! You may collect one thousand contribution points every month."

"Many thanks, Elder Gongsun."

Jiang Ye took the token and looked down at it.

The token was about the size of a palm and felt heavy in his hand, though slightly lighter than Wen Yueyao's True Disciple Token.

The front was engraved with the characters for "Deacon" in a vigorous hand, while the back bore the emblem of the Azure Sky Sect.

He gripped the token tightly, and a faint smile finally appeared on his aged face.

He could finally consider himself a man with a steady position.