The moon hung high in the sky.
Wuling Valley had arranged excellent lodgings for every group.
Doorkeepers welcomed the guests, and there was no shortage of maids or servants.
The Shushan disciples were lodged in the southeast.
The shadows of chrysanthemums and plum blossoms, purple hibiscus and crimson lotus filled the room with a faint fragrance that refreshed the heart.
"Hey, why hasn't Senior Brother Ping'an come back yet?" a Shushan disciple asked curiously.
"Senior Brother Ping'an has lots of friends. Naturally, he'll be gone a little longer."
"Hey, don't you find it strange? How does he know so many people?
"Disciples of Huailu Academy, a Buddhist saint, the old Celestial Master of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
"He was even summoned by the Empress of Great Sui."
Liu Er Dog smiled. "Brother Ping'an has traveled for years. It's only natural that he's made plenty of friends.
"As the saying goes, one more friend means one more road.
"In that respect, we fall far short of Brother Ping'an."
A scoff rang out. "Better to rely on yourself than on others. When trouble really strikes, you still have to depend on yourself. Your own strength is the foundation."
Everyone nodded, thoroughly agreeing with that.
How did that saying go again? Only when you were strong enough would the world greet you with a pleasant face.
To remain undefeated in this world of surging undercurrents, the best approach was to improve your own strength.
Whether in prosperous times or troubled ones, strength was everything...
If you wanted to avoid defeat and being eliminated,
you had to keep improving your strength and make yourself more valuable.
Petty cleverness and little tricks could last a moment, but not a lifetime!
"Forget it, forget it. Get some rest early and try to get yourselves into peak condition. We