The Dao Alliance

The thing Zhang Daoling hated most in his life was being called old.

That one-eyed man had kept calling him "old senior," practically jabbing at his nerve endings.

If there hadn't been so many people around, Zhang Daoling would have slapped him across the mouth long ago.

"Uh..."

Hearing that, Li Shouyi could only silently give Zhang Daoling a thumbs-up.

The spectators around them were all dumbstruck as well.

"Ahem, everyone, I hope what just happened won't get out. No objections, right?"

Zhang Daoling's words instantly snapped the surrounding crowd out of their daze.

Everyone chimed in. "Huh? Did something just happen?"

"Hey, your grandma's getting married today? Then I definitely can't miss it!"

"..."

Zhang Daoling was very satisfied with their act of playing dumb.

Once everyone had left.

Zhang Daoling said to Li Shouyi, "Young friend, take this token."

"If you ever want to visit our Heavenly Sword Sect, just contact me through it."

Li Shouyi hurriedly accepted it, then smiled. "Thank you, thank you! Many thanks, Senior."

"Well then, young friend, let's meet again when we have time. I still have to go back and deal with this disciple recruitment incident."

After saying that, Zhang Daoling turned, grabbed Zhuo Bufan by the ear, and snapped, "Just you wait until we get back! I'll break your legs, you disgraceful disciple!"

"Ow! Master, I was wrong! I was wrong..."

Watching Zhang Daoling tug his disciple's ear, Li Shouyi thought to himself.

No wonder this senior and I hit it off so well. We speak the same language!

At that thought, he turned to look at his own three disciples, speechless, then gave a long sigh. "Let's go!"

"Master, why did you sigh just now?" Su Wan'er was always the liveliest of the bunch.

"My heart's tired."

"Then would you like to rest in your disciple's arms, Master?"

"Heh. I'm afraid it'd be too bony."

Su Wan'er: "..."

Lin Shuishui and Pei Zhujiu both covered their mouths and snickered.

"Keep laughing! See if I don't squeeze your... until they burst!"

Su Wan'er's little face flushed with anger, and she charged at Lin Shuishui and Pei Zhujiu.

The girls' giggles immediately rang out from the back of the flying sword.

After flying for a day, Li Shouyi brought the three of them to a cultivator city and found an inn to rest in.

He decided to apply for a Sect Founding Token at the Dao Alliance the next day.

He really was scared now.

Recruiting disciples one at a time was far too slow.

More importantly, he kept feeling that there was something seriously wrong with his eye for people.

That made him think he had to cast his net wide.

After resting for a night, Li Shouyi continued flying toward the Dao Alliance's base with the three girls.

The Dao Alliance's headquarters had been built on Mount Wuwang.

It was a renowned immortal mountain.

The entire mountain floated in the sky, covered with all kinds of buildings and recreational facilities.

When Li Shouyi brought the three girls to this immortal mountain with a city built into its body, all three were stunned by the sight before them.

"Wow, it's so lively here!"

"Senior Sister, look at this! It's so pretty!"

Su Wan'er and Pei Zhujiu stopped in front of a stall selling all sorts of trinkets and began picking through them.

Meanwhile, Lin Shuishui stood in front of a roast chicken stall with a finger in her mouth, silently swallowing her drool.

Seeing her like that, the roast chicken vendor smiled at Lin Shuishui. "Fairy, would you like to buy one and give it a try?"

"This is the Dao Alliance's famous five-tailed phoenix chicken. The moment it enters your mouth, there's an indescribable fragrance. Best of all is the meat—tender and juicy with every bite..."

Lin Shuishui had been fine before the vendor spoke, but his words made her drool pour out in a stream.

In the end, she couldn't hold back anymore.

She darted over to Li Shouyi, dragged him back, and pointed at the roast chicken with a pout. "Master, buy it."

The corners of Li Shouyi's mouth twitched at the sight of her.

Still, he asked the vendor, "How much?"

"That'll be one thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Hiss...

Li Shouyi sucked in a breath.

He asked the vendor in a low voice, "Can I buy on credit?"

"What do you think?"

Seeing that the vendor had already put a hand on his knife hilt, Li Shouyi hastily turned and shouted at Su Wan'er, "Su Wan'er, you disgraceful disciple! Get over here and buy roast chicken for your senior sister!"

"Coming, Master!"

As soon as Su Wan'er arrived, she generously paid for four chickens.

Li Shouyi also successfully secured a drumstick.

They gnawed on their roast chickens all the way to the Dao Alliance's base.

It was a four-story building constructed within the mountain rock.

Once inside, they headed straight into a hall.

The moment they entered, a beautiful woman approached and greeted them with a smile. "Welcome to the Dao Alliance's eleventh branch."

"What service would you like to request?"

Li Shouyi wasted no words. "How do I apply for a Sect Founding Token?"

"Please come this way."

Li Shouyi and the others followed her at once.

Behind them, the eyes of several young men lit up when they spotted Lin Shuishui, Su Wan'er, and Pei Zhujiu.

Li Shouyi followed the beautiful attendant into a corridor.

Then she asked him, "May I ask what cultivation level you have reached, honored guest?"

"Golden core."

Li Shouyi cooperated by revealing a trace of his golden core cultivation.

"Please don't misunderstand, honored guest. This is to determine your sect's rank."

"It's fine."

Li Shouyi seemed entirely unconcerned.

"Master, founding a sect is such a hassle!"

After holding back for so long, Su Wan'er finally couldn't resist speaking.

"Shut up. If you're so eager to talk, I'll punish you by forbidding you from speaking for an entire day."

Li Shouyi quickly turned and glared at that idiot.

Su Wan'er never had anyone guarding the gate of her mouth. If she offended them...

His plans to establish a sect would probably go down the drain.

Hearing that, Su Wan'er quickly mimed zipping her mouth shut.

They entered a room where a middle-aged man sat.

The attendant left after bringing them to the doorway.

The middle-aged man looked at Li Shouyi. "Greetings. May I ask your names?"

"Greetings, Senior. I am Li Shouyi. I'd like to establish a sect, and these are my three disciples." Li Shouyi readily explained everything.

"Establishing a sect requires a deposit of one hundred thousand spirit stones."

"How much?"

Li Shouyi felt that the Dao Alliance was definitely robbing him. Fine, I have to get your Dao Alliance's approval just to establish a damn sect.

But you're charging such a fucking outrageous fee, too? Have you gone mad from poverty?

"Don't be alarmed, young friend!"

"This money will be returned ten weeks after your sect is established. We don't simply pocket it."

"We also need to inspect your place of origin to see whether you meet the requirements."

Well, damn! Li Shouyi could only exclaim inwardly.

The Dao Alliance's procedures are this comprehensive?

Left with no other choice, Li Shouyi could only unleash his ultimate move.

"Su Wan'er, pay up."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, huh? Hurry up and pay."

"Oh, okay, okay."

Seeing Li Shouyi's stern face, Su Wan'er quickly started digging money out of her Spatial Ring.

After searching for a while, Su Wan'er held up a gold banknote and said to Li Shouyi, "Master, this is the smallest denomination I have."

Before Li Shouyi could respond, the middle-aged man snatched the gold banknote and smiled at them. "I could tell at a glance that you're all dragons and phoenixes among men, so I'll waive the tedious procedures that follow."

"Here's the token you wanted. Bye-bye."

With that, he pushed Li Shouyi and the others out the door.

Li Shouyi and the others were left standing there, staring at one another in bewilderment...