Murong Qing gave a bitter smile and said, "Elder Qin, I apologize for my presumption. Today, I bring the will of the highest echelon of the Hundred Sects Alliance at Heaven and Earth Lake, and I would like you to have Sect Leader Wen come out for a meeting."

"Highest echelon?"

Qin Shan couldn't help but glance at Wen Ping again.

Highest echelon—the meaning of this word can be terrifying.

East Lake, Bright Mirror Lake, no matter which lake, they can only be called branches, at best, mid-level. But the highest echelon represents the pinnacle figures of the Hundred Sects Alliance, whose words can sway the situation throughout Heaven and Earth Lake.

Murong Qing nodded and said, "Yes."

Qin Shan said, "Since it's the will of the highest echelon, sending you to deliver it and wanting to see our Sect Leader, isn't that a bit of a joke?"

Murong Qing hurriedly explained, "The people above are already on their way to East Lake, but unfortunately the journey is far, and they cannot arrive in a short time. Therefore, they sent me to convey what they intended to say to Sect Leader Wen. It will only be a few days, no more than three to five days, before someone from above arrives!"

Qin Shan chuckled, inwardly amused by Murong Qing's naiveté, and said, "Then come again in a few days when it's time to see our Sect Leader."

Murong Qing was prepared for Qin Shan's words. He had considered countless possibilities in his mind on the way here, so he was not flustered at this moment, but continued saying, "Our Hundred Sects Alliance hopes to coexist peacefully and develop together with the Immortal Sect. Specifically, the people from above will come to talk in the coming days. Letting me come first is simply to convey the will, lest Sect Leader Wen misunderstand our Hundred Sects Alliance."

By misunderstanding, it naturally meant hostility.

However, the words could not be too clear, and could only be revealed vaguely.

Qin Shan stood up and said, "I will convey this message, safe travels."

Murong Qing forced a smile again, then stood up, bowed, and retreated toward the direction of the Thousand Layers. Once down the mountain, Murong Qing immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and his suspended heart finally settled.

Not dead—how wonderful!

Not seeing Wen Ping today was expected; he came today merely to convey a will, and the specifics could only wait for the people from above to arrive.

"Chief, how did it go?"

"You're alright, aren't you?"

The group that followed hurriedly asked.

Murong Qing shook his head and said, "No problem, the message has been delivered. Now we shall find a place to stay in Cangwu City and wait for the people from above to come."

As soon as the words fell, Huan Cheng suddenly interjected, "Want to stay in our Cangwu City? Sure. But I'm afraid you can't afford it. People from the Hundred Sects Alliance, one White Crystal a day!"

The Immortal Sect doesn't have a good impression of the Hundred Sects Alliance; they're in a hostile state. Whether as an uncle or as the City Lord of Cangwu City, Huan Cheng naturally holds no goodwill toward the Hundred Sects Alliance.

Just learning from Wen Ping right now!

As soon as Murong Qing heard it would cost one White Crystal a day, he didn't say much and nodded directly in agreement, "I'll pay!"

Then Huan Cheng personally led Murong Qing to an inn, where a month's stay wouldn't cost even one Gold Coin, and it happened to be right next to a toilet built by the roadside.

As soon as Huan Cheng entered the inn, he directly shouted to the old lady inside, "These are guests from out of town—one person, one Gold Coin a day, remember to charge!"

The old lady at the inn froze for a moment, evidently startled by this number; she'd never seen so much money in her life.

After Huan Cheng finished speaking, he directly stepped out and said to Murong Qing, "Chief, I'm sorry. Recently, Cangwu City has had too many outsiders, and only this inn has any vacancy left."

Murong Qing pursed his lips and nodded, repressing his inner displeasure.

Following along, he led the way into the inn.

...

After Huan Cheng led the group away, three figures, including Luan Yue, walked past the front of the inn, their gazes instinctively probing inside.

Hei Shan asked, "What do we do now?"

Luan Yue replied, "I'll go in and catch them for questioning. How is it possible that the Dragon God Sect could be annihilated by the Immortal Sect?"

With that, Luan Yue directly entered the inn, forcibly broke into a room, and revealed the aura of Mountain Suppression Realm, grabbing Murong Qing to interrogate him.

After a while, Luan Yue emerged again, his expression carrying a hint of panic, a touch of helplessness.

Hei Shan quickly asked, "What happened?"

Luan Yue said, "We greatly underestimated the Immortal Sect. This Immortal Sect truly annihilated the Dragon God Sect singlehandedly. All the strong ones above Mountain Suppression Realm were killed by the Immortal Sect."

Hei Shan exclaimed in shock, "Including the Sect Leader of the Dragon God Sect?"

Luan Yue nodded, "Yes, and the battle was resolved within one or two hours. A death battle at the Upper Realm of Mountain Suppression, resolved within one or two hours, basically counts as overwhelming power."

With that, Luan Yue was dazed.

Now it seems that even calling the Sect Leader wouldn't help—the Hidden Dragon Sect simply doesn't have the power to contend for Zi Ran with the Immortal Sect.

...

The Immortal Sect.

Night fell, and everyone gathered in the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Initially, Zi Ran didn't quite understand the concept of three meals a day, but later, after tasting the Spirit Rice, he finally understood.

Upon seeing Zi Ran in the kitchen, Wen Ping's first question was, "Elder Zi Ran, how was your first day at the Immortal Sect?"

Zi Ran responded with a smile, "It's much better than the Sea Dragon Mountain... Actually, if Sect Leader Wen spreads the word about accepting people, I'm sure many would join."

Wen Ping smiled without replying.

He indeed wants to recruit more, but the current host area and cultivation area can only accommodate so many people.

As for the current Sect members, they are already tightly arranged. If more join, some might find themselves without a cultivation area within the day.

So the plan to recruit more must wait until the sect's building level is fully upgraded.

After some casual chat, Qin Shan stepped forward and asked, "Sect Leader, what do you think about Murong Qing's words?"

As soon as this was said, Yun Liao and others hurriedly gathered around.

Involving matters of the Hundred Sects Alliance, these elders naturally had to be concerned and inquire. Moreover, they all knew the Hundred Sects Alliance was rallying a coalition army, preparing to bring down the Immortal Sect.

Wen Ping glanced at everyone and responded nonchalantly, "What do I think? Of course, I'll just stand and watch, otherwise, should I lie down and watch?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was first stunned, and then burst into laughter, the atmosphere instantly lost the previous solemnity.

Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Wen Ping said calmly, "We'll talk when the people from the Hundred Sects Alliance arrive. Soldiers come, we'll block them; water flows, we'll dam it."

While Wen Ping remained calm, Zi Ran couldn't. He quickly interjected, "Sect Leader, there must be a scheme! When I came, they were gathering a coalition army, preparing to attack the Immortal Sect, so how could they suddenly want peace now."

Followed by Yun Liao and others.

"Elder Zi Ran has a point, there must be a scheme."

"The Hundred Sects Alliance, if they wanted to negotiate peace, why didn't they come earlier? Why now?"

"Sect Leader, why not capture Murong Qing and interrogate him? He definitely knows something."

Everyone chimed in, choosing not to trust the Hundred Sects Alliance.