The next morning.
The Joyous Union Sect's square was already packed with people.
Si Chen was still dressed in black, holding his younger sister Si Qing's hand, with his younger brother Si Ming standing beside him.
Xie Changsheng, Song Chi, Zhou Yan, Luo Hongyi, and the others stood behind him, all looking refreshed.
With the Great Calamity only just quelled and an expedition imminent, everyone had finally let down their guard for the first time in ages and thoroughly unwound for a night in the Lower Realm. Now, they were all brimming with energy.
"Aunt Su, please don't trouble yourself to see us off."
Si Chen turned around and gently cupped his hands toward the female sect master who had kept her sect so impeccably in order.
Su Miaoyin sighed softly, her voice tinged with reluctance and emotion. "Leaving already? Won't you stay a few more days?"
"No." Si Chen shook his head. "Nothing has truly settled yet."
His gaze swept over Su Miaoyin and the Joyous Union Sect elders behind her, and his tone grew more earnest.
"As for the Ascension we discussed yesterday..."
Si Chen understood the ways of the world all too well.
He knew perfectly well that whether it was the Joyous Union Sect, the Mysterious One Dao Gate, or Hidden Edge Mountain, these colossal powers had been rooted in the Eastern Region for thousands of years, with tens of thousands of disciples and deeply intertwined holdings.
Saying "I'll take you to the Immortal Realm" was easy, but actually doing it was not something a few words or three to five days could accomplish.
He had to give them enough time to select promising disciples and even reassure the rest of their sect.
"With such a large sect, handing everything over is complicated. Naturally, there's no