After taking a sip and savoring it, Nangong Yao said, "Sir, this Osmanthus Brew is passable, but it hardly befits your distinguished status. I'll return to Heavenly Dao Peak shortly and bring you a few jars of fine wine."
He had given the gentleman plenty of wine before. Since he was now drinking Osmanthus Brew, he had presumably finished everything Nangong Yao had brought him.
Chen Xun smiled without saying anything.
Zhao Ting had brought him this Osmanthus Brew some time ago.
Afterward, Chen Xun and Nangong Yao drank and chatted in this secluded spot in the mountains.
Nangong Yao did not use his spiritual power to dispel the alcohol, leaving his eyes hazy and his face flushed.
Growing tipsy, Nangong Yao sighed. "Sir, the Northern Mystic Cultivation World has fallen into turmoil lately. The Demonic Sect is running rampant, and countless disciples of righteous sects have been abducted to serve as blood slaves. Even our Heavenly Dao Sect has lost many disciples to them, including a Purple-Robed Disciple. Ah, as sect master, I feel deeply ashamed. May I ask what I should do, sir?"
Chen Xun nodded slightly. Zhao Ting had already told him about this.
With an easy smile, Chen Xun said, "Why don't your righteous sects join forces and have it out with the Devil Dao Sect?"
Nangong Yao smiled bitterly. "If only it were as simple as you say, sir. Unfortunately, the righteous sects of the Northern Mystic Cultivation World can't twist themselves into a single rope."
Chen Xun said softly, "If that's the case, your righteous sects can only watch as the Demonic Sect eats away at you. By the time those righteous sects finally wake up to the truth, I fear it will be too late."
Nangong Yao nodded, his expression turning somewhat solemn.
He absolutely could not allow that to happen.
Since ancient times, the righteous and demonic factions of Northern Mystic had maintained a balance. If the Demonic Sect ever came to dominate Northern Mystic, never mind the righteous sects-even the mortal world would likely be plunged into misery and ruin.
Although righteous sects looked down on mortals as mere ants, to the Demonic Sect, which practiced evil cultivation techniques, they were all nourishment.
All this time, it was precisely because Northern Mystic's righteous sects kept it in check that the Demonic Sect dared not extend its wicked hands toward the mortal world.
Of course, the righteous sects did not keep the Devil Dao Sect in check out of genuine concern for mortals. Ultimately, they did it for their own interests.
After all, if disaster befell the mortals, there would be no fresh blood to replenish the cultivation world.
Coming back to himself, Nangong Yao changed the subject. "Sir, your lodgings here are far too humble. Please move to Heavenly Dao Peak."
Hearing this, Chen Xun glanced at the thatched cottage behind him and smiled. "No need. What's so humble about it? As the saying goes, a mountain need not be high; an immortal makes it renowned. Water need not be deep; a dragon gives it spirit. I think this place is quite nice."
As he spoke, Chen Xun finished the wine in his cup, stood up, brushed the dust off his backside, and grabbed a broom from nearby before heading out.
Nangong Yao froze, then hurriedly stood up. "Where are you going, sir?"
"To sweep, of course. I can't just eat and drink at your Heavenly Dao Sect for free."
Watching his retreating figure, Nangong Yao was momentarily dumbfounded. A helpless smile spread across his face, and at last, he murmured in admiration.
"A mountain need not be high; an immortal makes it renowned... splendid words. He truly is a man apart."
Chen Xun swept meticulously from halfway up the mountain all the way to its foot. Looking back to see the mountain path neat and clean, he tossed the broom aside, clasped his hands behind his back, and, with a flicker of his figure, appeared outside the Heavenly Dao Sect.
He had been cooped up in the Heavenly Dao Sect for three years. Now that his mind was clear again, he naturally had to make the most of his time and go exploring.
Chen Xun strolled through the Heavenly Dao Sect's territory, which spanned hundreds of thousands of li, occasionally smiling as he gazed at the magnificent mountains and rivers around him. He could not help admiring their choice of location.
Though Chen Xun appeared to walk slowly, every step carried him a thousand li.
Upon reaching a certain spot, the corners of his mouth lifted, and he slowed his pace completely.
At the same time, a group of demonic cultivators lurking in the shadows spotted Chen Xun.
"Elder You, someone else has come out of the Heavenly Dao Sect!"
A demonic cultivator hurriedly spoke up.
Hidden in the shadows, the demonic cultivators' gazes gradually grew suspicious. Judging by this young man's clothing, he was neither a disciple nor an elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Even more absurd was the aura emanating from this young man... a m-mortal?
What was going on?
Why had a mortal come from the direction of the Heavenly Dao Sect?
Or had this mortal wandered into the Heavenly Dao Sect's territory from somewhere else, then walked all the way here?
If so, wasn't this mortal far too unlucky?
He had actually walked right into the demonic cultivators' faces...
"Elder You, why don't we capture this mortal and bleed him? We could all have some human blood to satisfy our cravings."
A demonic cultivator licked his lips and spoke greedily.
The other demonic cultivators' eyes also lit up, and they secretly swallowed.
They had spent so many dull days lying in ambush here. Now that a little snack had delivered himself to their door, why let him go to waste?
You Sha, the man they called Elder You, glanced around from time to time, his eyes flickering. "Don't act rashly yet. This mortal's appearance is far too strange. This might well be a Heavenly Dao Sect scheme! They want to use this mortal to lure us into revealing ourselves!"
The demonic cultivators exchanged glances.
Surely not. Was the Heavenly Dao Sect that devious?
One demonic cultivator asked doubtfully, "Elder You, the Heavenly Dao Sect is a righteous sect. Would they really use a mortal as bait? Isn't that the sort of thing our Demonic Sect does?"
You Sha's gaze turned disdainful. "Hmph, righteous or not, it's all bullshit. What wouldn't they do for their own interests? Our Demonic Sect is simply more blatant about it."
The demonic cultivators nodded, though they could not quite agree. Some righteous sects might be rather sordid, but the Heavenly Dao Sect had enjoyed an excellent reputation for many years.
In short, to sum it all up, the demonic cultivators did not believe this mortal was part of a Heavenly Dao Sect scheme.
Noticing their expressions, You Sha snapped irritably, "I think you lot just want to drink human blood! What a hopeless bunch. What's so good about a mortal's blood? Once we return, you'll have plenty of cultivator blood slaves to enjoy."
A demonic cultivator said awkwardly, "Hehe, Elder You, we understand all that. The brothers just want to satisfy a craving."
Huh?
Just then, the demonic cultivators noticed that the mortal was actually walking toward them...
Hadn't this mortal been walking straight ahead? What was he playing at, suddenly turning and heading their way???
The demonic cultivators were baffled.
You Sha also slowly furrowed his brows, his eyes flickering.
"Elder You, could he have spotted us?" a demonic cultivator asked in bewilderment.
This was simply too unusual.
They had a concealment formation here. To mortal eyes, they were completely invisible!
You Sha's brows relaxed, and he said calmly, "Naturally, he couldn't have spotted us. He must simply have decided to walk in our direction."
The demonic cultivators all nodded, then their eyes lit up.
He was delivering himself right into their faces. It would be inexcusable not to drink his blood now!
Then again, this mortal's luck was truly terrible. How could anyone be this unlucky? He was practically a lamb walking into a tiger's jaws.
Before long, under the demonic cultivators' greedy gazes, Chen Xun came within one zhang of them. A few more steps, and he would pass through the concealment formation.
Yet just as the demonic cultivators broke into sinister grins and rubbed their hands in anticipation, they discovered, to their astonishment, that the mortal outside the formation had suddenly stopped.
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