The long night wore away.
Until dawn broke the next day.
Outside West Creek Commandery.
A dark Sea of People stretched for more than a dozen miles, filling the Wasteland completely, yet it was eerily silent.
Countless cultivators and demons stood with their hands at their sides in the Wilderness beside West Creek Commandery, their eyes fixed ahead.
Taking in the spectacle, Chu Tiange turned toward the calm young woman in white beside him.
After a moment's hesitation, he lowered his voice and offered an explanation.
"By the Buddhist Sect's longstanding custom, on the day of the Gratitude Assembly, its members first go to the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool to take their places at the altar. Only after the golden bell beside the pool rings nine times may cultivators and demons from outside the Buddhist Sect approach and seek their own opportunities."
"If anyone takes so much as half a step before then, even someone of the Myriad-Forms Heaven Realm will be expelled on the spot by the Buddhist Sect's Arhats and barred from returning for life. No exceptions."
At this, Qiu Yinong, who had been about to explain a few things to Jiang Yuechu herself, couldn't help looking at Chu Tiange in surprise.
Her reaction was understandable.
Senior Brother Chu was usually steady and loyal, but he was hardly outgoing. He rarely had the patience to explain things to others of his own accord.
Yet something was different today.
Not only had Senior Brother Chu taken the initiative to warn Fellow Daoist Jiang, but his words carried a hint of courtesy. He had even unconsciously fallen half a step behind the young woman.
At that thought,
Qiu Yinong's gaze flitted between Chu Tiange and Jiang Yuechu.
She couldn't help wondering.
It felt as though something momentous had happened between Senior