Yellow Court Daoist

"Congratulations to Sister Muu on ascending to True Immortal."

As they looked on, from beyond Sacred Mountain, a streak of Immortal Light swept in, carrying the melodious sounds of Immortal music to the front of Mu Chen, followed by a hearty and clear voice.

When the Immortal Light dissipated,

they saw a young Daoist clad in a fiery red robe, bowing with folded hands to Mu Chen, the Sect Leader of the Immortal Farming Sect, his face aglow with a beaming smile.

Meng Qiu, Meng Huo, and other cultivators arriving from all directions recognized him and felt their expressions change upon perceiving his extraordinary aura. Some knew him, some did not, but his identity was soon revealed—

"It's the Five Fire Sect Master, the sixth disciple of the Great Saint, 'Red Flame True Immortal' Gongyang Ye."

It was widely known that the Cultivation Alliance Leader, Qingjing Great Saint, had several proud disciples.

This Gongyang Ye, the Five Fire Sect Master, was one of them, ranked sixth.

He was a rising star of the Immortal Sects.

Upon Gongyang Ye's arrival,

Mu Chen quickly went up to greet him, cupping his hands and saying, "For Sect Master Gongyang to come in person, I, Mu Chen, have neglected to welcome you from afar; please forgive me."

"Sister Muu, you're too polite,"

"Sister has known our teacher even before I have. Ascending to True Immortal today, sooner or later you will be initiated as a disciple under our teacher's guidance, then simply calling me 'Daoist Brother' will suffice."

"Do not be formal."

Gongyang Ye said, smiling.

Although he did not know how Mu Chen came to be acquainted with Qingjing Great Saint, he did know that his teacher intended to take Mu Chen as a disciple and was consequently very cordial.

"Thank you, Brother Gongyang."

Mu Chen had long yearned to be initiated under his tutelage. Overjoyed, she quickly led Gongyang Ye into the Immortal Farming Sect.

The first True Immortal had arrived.

Soon after,

following Gongyang Ye's arrival, Qingjing Great Saint's fifth disciple Zhang Jingshan of Yulou Sect, seventh disciple Mu Yunzhou of Jingyu Sect, and eighth disciple Shen Lanqing of Qingyuan Sword Sect successively arrived,

pushing the atmosphere of the Immortal Farming Sect to a climax.

However,

everyone's anticipated Cultivation Alliance Leader, the elusive Great Saint, had yet to show up.

Instead, other True Immortals arrived—

like the Ancestor Master Bai Luo of the Golden Silkworm Immortal Sect,

like Daoist Xiyi of the Dream Sky Cave,

like Yu Fengzi of the Sanwen Immortal Sect.

And so on,

all of whom were the old guard True Immortals of the original South Sea, East Continent, and West Continent three major Cultivation Alliances, now the pillars of the current Cultivation Alliance.

Each had a significant reputation.

In the current Cultivation Alliance, there are a total of fourteen main Sects.

Excluding the Alliance Leader, there are fourteen True Immortals.

Today, eleven have arrived all at once. Including Mu Chen, there were twelve.

Only Eight Gods Temple Shen Tu Nine was in long-term seclusion and had not emerged. Danxia Sect's Dust Sound Immortal was stationed at the Northern Border Blood Sea and could not leave.

All others were now gathered together, a grand occasion that was rare in thousands, perhaps millions, of years.

"True Immortals converging."

"Will the Great Saint come?"

With True Immortals present, many cultivators still held hope,

including Meng Qiu and Meng Huo.

All were eager for Qingjing Great Saint to arrive, to witness his elegance.

...

The Immortal Farming Sect was known for cultivating Spirit Plants and harboring Immortal wine.

The cultivators settled into their seats.

Arranged according to cultivation level, status, influence, and so forth,

the True Immortals, of course, had their own seats.

Twelve True Immortals cheered toast after toast, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After the third round of drinks,

Host Mu Chen, her pretty face flushed with alcohol, her eyes bleary, her waist circled with a green bamboo staff, raised her cup towards the True Immortal of the Golden Silkworm Immortal Sect, Ancestor Master Bai Luo, and called out loudly, "Senior Bai, in earlier years, you assisted the Southern Sea Alliance Leader in purging demons. Afterwards, you also aided the Great Saint in driving the demons back into the Northern Border Blood Sea. I've long held admiration for you. Having you here today fills me with joy, please accept my toast in your honor."

"Bottoms up to show respect!"

Mu Chen's expression was earnest. She tilted her head back and downed the strong liquor, her face growing even more flushed.

"Sect Master Mu bestows too much praise, I'm unworthy of such," said Ancestor Master Bai Luo, holding up his cup, his face filled with guilt, shaking his head.

Yet, he did not drink.

The other True Immortals at the table noticed, and the intoxication faded somewhat from their minds.

Beside Mu Chen, Shen Lanqing of the Qingyuan Sword Sect, the eighth disciple of Qingjing Great Saint, ruggedly handsome and elegant, laughed heartily, "Senior Bai, you are too modest. Who among us here doesn't know of Senior's esteemed achievements? We all hold great admiration in our hearts, I too shall honor Senior with a drink."

With that,

Shen Lanqing also raised his cup and emptied it in one gulp.

"This—"

Ancestor Master Bai Luo held up his cup, with an increasingly embarrassed look on his face.

Now,

everyone could see there was something amiss.

They all stopped and looked towards Ancestor Master Bai Luo at once.

"Sigh!"

Ancestor Master Bai Luo bowed his head, with a long sigh, his voice filled with guilt and a touch of sadness, as he finished his drink in one gulp, remaining silent.

Beside him,

Yu Fengzi of the Sanwen Immortal Sect, could not restrain himself, confronting Bai Luo, "That person acts virtuous, deceived many young friends who knew no better. Even us elders have been fooled for thousands of years. Why be so harsh on yourself, Daoist Brother?"

Yu Fengzi's words came out.

Mu Chen, Shen Lanqing, and others all became stern, their gazes turning towards Yu Fengzi in unison.

Gongyang Ye of the Five Fire Sect, always impatient, narrowed his eyes towards Yu Fengzi, "Elder, what on earth do you mean by this? Please explain clearly to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Yu Fengzi and Ancestor Master Bai Luo exchanged glances,

then looked toward Qing Baizi of the Five Stars Prefecture.

Finally, Ancestor Master Bai Luo stood up, and announced loudly, "Regardless, I have followed the Alliance Leader for tens of thousands of years, but at the end, I was exploited by a demon that not only harmed the Alliance Leader beyond my knowledge but also beguiled me. I revered him so much that I blindly followed his commands, nearly causing a catastrophe."

"I truly feel ashamed towards the Alliance Leader,"

"I feel ashamed towards all the Immortal Cultivators in the world!"

Ancestor Master Bai Luo's voice was somber, yet it spread far and wide, heard by numerous cultivators around.

"What does this mean—"

"What is going on?!"

The surroundings erupted into a tumult.

Meng Qiu and Meng Huo, sitting at a table, changed their expressions upon hearing the voice from the True Immortals' seats. None of them was foolish. At first glance, Ancestor Master Bai Luo's words seemed unrelated, but anyone with a bit of sense, upon careful consideration, could sense the shocking implications therein—