The disciple recruitment assembly spreads, a strike against the Dongfang Family

"The patriarch wasn't traveling the world to gain experience. He was serving as a Reception Elder at the Heavenly Mist Sect!"

Xie Shiwei answered at once.

"What happened?"

Jin Pingqi asked in astonishment.

"It went something like this..."

Xie Shiwei recounted how Zhang Xingfeng and the other two had saved them in the secret realm.

"But Dongfang Muxue and the others left in such a hurry that we never got to ask where the Heavenly Mist Sect was."

"Those three young cultivators have already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the patriarch advanced two minor stages in a single month. This Heavenly Mist Sect must be mysterious indeed!"

Jin Pingqi murmured to himself after hearing the account.

"I should go look for it!"

Jin Pingqi sprang to his feet, ready to leave.

"Sect Master, there's no need. The patriarch has sent us news of the Heavenly Mist Sect himself!"

At that moment, Azure Feather Sect elder Meng Xingyi entered the hall to report.

"What news? Tell me, quickly!"

Jin Pingqi sat down again.

"The Heavenly Mist Sect will hold a disciple recruitment assembly in one month!"

Meng Xingyi replied.

"Hm? Doesn't that clash with our own recruitment assembly?" Jin Pingqi frowned slightly. "And where exactly is the Heavenly Mist Sect?"

"On the Burial Sky Green Plains in the Seeking Dao Mountains!"

Meng Xingyi answered as he sat down.

"No wonder no one knew of the Heavenly Mist Sect before. It's in such a remote place."

Understanding dawned on Jin Pingqi, but he still found it hard to believe. "Source Qi is so thin in eastern Search Province, yet the patriarch's cultivation advanced that quickly there. The Heavenly Mist Sect is even more extraordinary than I imagined!"

"To avoid clashing with the Heavenly Mist Sect's recruitment assembly, postpone ours by one month!"

Jin Pingqi took a sip of tea and gave the order.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Meng Xingyi paused in surprise, then turned into a streak of light and left.

The next day.

Southern Domain of Qitian.

"Breaking news! The Wang Family and Moon-Reflecting Sect have joined forces to attack the Dongfang Family!"

"Breaking news? This old man saw it coming!"

"Of course! Dongfang Muxue killed Wang Chenjue and Feng Quchu in the secret realm. They should have attacked yesterday!"

"Enough talk. Let's go watch!"

"Come on, let's go!"

Countless streaks of light shot into the sky and sped toward northern Qitian.

Southern Domain of Qitian, the south.

Star Formation Sect.

Inside a pavilion.

A redwood table stood at its center, with two old men drinking tea on either side.

Both wore blue Long Robes embroidered with countless stars. Against the blue fabric, the stars resembled a vast night sky.

Though numerous, the stars were arranged with care. Viewed from afar, they seemed to form a star array.

The two men were Luo Xingchen, Sect Master of the Star Formation Sect, and Grand Elder Sikong Hui!

"Sect Master, I hear the Wang Family and Moon-Reflecting Sect have marched on the Dongfang Family together. Blood will surely flow like rivers!"

Sikong Hui set down his teacup with a soft laugh.

"Rivers of blood? All the better." Luo Xingchen's smile deepened. "The Yin-Eroding Immortal Slayer needs to absorb a great many cultivators' yin souls."

"I was still fretting over how to stir up conflict among the various factions. Who would have thought they'd start slaughtering each other on their own?"

"Then, Sect Master, should we go and watch?"

Sikong Hui asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No need. The Dongfang Family is in the north, too far from here. Building the Star-Pole Life-Gathering Formation takes priority. Our later plans will require it!"

Luo Xingchen's expression turned serious as he answered.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Search Province.

"Word has spread that the Heavenly Mist Sect will hold a disciple recruitment assembly in one month. Anyone under thirty can attend!"

"The Heavenly Mist Sect? Which sect is that?"

"Exactly. How come I've never heard of it? Where is its Sect located?"

"I'm not too sure. I heard it's on the Burial Sky Green Plains in the Seeking Dao Mountains?"

"The Burial Sky Green Plains? Source Qi is incredibly thin there. It can't be much of a Sect!"

"Right. It must be on its last legs. Attending the Azure Feather Sect's recruitment assembly would be far better!"

"Exactly! If anyone goes to the Heavenly Mist Sect's recruitment assembly, I'll laugh at him for a whole year!"

"What kind of shabby Sect holds its recruitment assembly at almost the same time as the Azure Feather Sect? Does it think it measures up?"

"Exactly!"

"Forget that. For some reason, the Azure Feather Sect has changed the date of its recruitment assembly at the last minute. It's been pushed back a month!"

"What? Pushed back? Then my wife and daughter set off for nothing!"

"My son too. Why did they postpone it?"

"Could it be because they didn't want to clash with the Heavenly Mist Sect?"

"Impossible! The Heavenly Mist Sect is unheard of. Would Search Province's First Sect make way for it?"

"Right, there must be another reason!"

News of the Heavenly Mist Sect's recruitment assembly spread across Search Province, but no one headed there. Instead, it drew endless ridicule.

Heavenly Mist Sect.

Within the Sect.

Sect Discussion Hall.

"Sect Master, word of our disciple recruitment assembly has spread."

Mo Lingyuan entered the hall and reported.

"Sorry for the trouble, Elder Mo—"

Li Moqing spoke calmly from his seat of honor.

Before he could finish, a figure flew into the hall in a rush.

"Master, my mother sent word that the Wang Family and Moon-Reflecting Sect are attacking my family!"

Dongfang Muxue's brows drew tight as she spoke, frantic with worry.

She knew she had caused all this. Whatever happened, she had to return and live or die alongside her clan!

"What?" Lü Liu cried out, her face stricken. "Senior Sister, we have to get back to the family!"

"Let us go with you!"

Zhang Xingfeng and Chen Guyu rose to their feet.

"Muxue told me roughly how strong the top ten factions in the Southern Domain of Qitian are. Neither the Wang Family nor the Moon-Reflecting Sect has a Spirit Transformation expert."

"Their strongest members are their patriarchs, at the ninth stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. Hmm... Elder Mo, can you handle them?"

Li Moqing frowned slightly and turned to Mo Lingyuan with a grave look.

"Rest assured, Sect Master. They won't be a problem."

Though only at the seventh stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, Mo Lingyuan answered with complete confidence.

"Elder Mo, the Wang Family and Moon-Reflecting Sect have ten patriarchs between them!"

Lü Liu warned him.

"No matter. What difference do ten make? I can wipe them out alone!"

Mo Lingyuan declared proudly.

"Good. Then we'll use this battle to make our sect's name known!"

"Elder Mo, take Xingfeng, Muxue, Guyu, and Lü Liu to help the Dongfang Family!"

Seeing Mo Lingyuan's confidence, Li Moqing issued the order.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Mo Lingyuan answered solemnly.

Li Moqing took out a white token. "Lü Liu, this will be your Sect token from now on. It holds your information and keeps a running record of your points."

"You'll earn fifty points for every enemy you kill this time. You won't need to count them; the token will record them automatically!"

Li Moqing handed her the token, his expression stern. "Kill as many as you can!"

"Yes, Sect Master. I'll do everything I can to kill more of those Wang Family and Moon-Reflecting Sect villains!"

Lü Liu took the token and answered through clenched teeth.

"The situation is urgent. Leave at once!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

"Yes, Master!"

The four of them boarded Mo Lingyuan's Abyssal Nether, which became a streak of light and sped away.