Gu Chenyuan stepped back, standing before the group with a grave expression."This... this seems like one of the legendary space-time arrays recorded in ancient texts," he said, voice low."But it's even more formidable than that.""In ordinary space-time arrays, the scenery doesn't shift so seamlessly like this.""The Star-Moon Sect truly lives up to its name," he muttered, awe flickering in his eyes."To think they use a formation that surpasses even the grand arrays of ancient times... just to protect their mountain.""Even with my cultivation at the Immortal Emperor Realm, I can't sense the array at all, let alone try to break it.""If anyone tried to assault this sect, they'd spend a lifetime just wandering around outside without ever finding their way in."
Hearing his words, Xu Wen lifted his chin proudly, smugness radiating from him."I told you, that senior is no ordinary figure."
"We're not getting out of here on our own," Gu Chenyuan said, glancing sideways at him. "You'd better contact that senior quickly."
Xu Wen's triumphant smile froze.He hadn't... exchanged any contact information!
Seeing Xu Wen's stupefied look, Gu Chenyuan could already guess and sighed heavily."At this point, all you can do is formally announce yourself."
"...Fine," Xu Wen muttered, nodding.Taking a deep breath, he infused his voice with spiritual power and called out:"Xu Wen of Myriad Sword Peak, Misty Sect, humbly requests an audience with the Sect Master of Star-Moon Sect!"
He called once. Then again. A third time.
As his final words faded into the air, a graceful figure descended from above—Jiang Wanwan.
Xu Wen's eyes lit up instantly, and he quickly cupped his fists. "Miss Jiang!"
Gu Chenyuan and the others stared, wide-eyed.
Hadn't this Miss Jiang been an ordinary mortal just yesterday when she was accepted into the sect?How had she reached the Spirit Condensation Realm overnight?
Was the Frost Marrow Sacred Body really that terrifying?
Everyone's gaze simultaneously drifted toward Xiao Huohuo, who also bore a Sacred Body—specifically, the twenty-eighth-ranked Starfire Sacred Body, a notch stronger than Frost Marrow.
Xiao Huohuo could only offer a bitter smile and shake his head.It had taken him a full year and a half to progress from initial awakening to Spirit Condensation Realm—already a speed that made him the pride of Northern Qianzhou.Yet Jiang Wanwan had done it... in a single day.
This was true peerlessness, not just in Northern Qianzhou, but across the entire Great Wilderness.Compared to her, he wasn't even close.
"Senior Xu," Jiang Wanwan said sweetly, her voice like a songbird's trill. "The Sect Master has asked me to escort you all inside."
"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Jiang," Xu Wen replied quickly.
"This way, please," Jiang Wanwan said, leading them back up the mountain path they had so painstakingly climbed earlier.
After only a few hundred steps, they arrived at the mountain gate.
"This is our Star-Moon Sect," Jiang Wanwan announced. She pressed her hand lightly onto a stone beside the entrance, and the great doors opened.
Gu Chenyuan and the others hurried in behind her.
The moment they crossed the threshold, an overwhelming rush of pure, dense spiritual energy surged toward them.There was no need to circulate their techniques; the spiritual energy actively sought out their meridians, eager to be absorbed.
"This... this is..." Xu Wen was the first to find his voice, remembering he'd spoken with Jiang Wanwan yesterday.The others, too, leaned in, straining to catch every word.
"The Sect Master has set up numerous tenfold Spirit Gathering Arrays in the outer sect," Jiang Wanwan explained with a sunny smile.
And this was just the beginning.Wait until they reached the inner sect, she thought mischievously. They wouldn't even be able to shut their jaws.
Yesterday, after roasting chicken and pork, Jiang Wanwan had gone to deliver a portion to the Sect Master—and to ask a few cultivation questions.As soon as she entered the inner sect, she found the spiritual energy so thick it condensed into mist.She had barely taken a few steps when she broke through five or six small realms.
Only later did she learn:In the Star-Moon Sect, the outer sect used tenfold Spirit Gathering Arrays... and the inner sect?Hundredfold.
"Tenfold...?" Gu Chenyuan's voice cracked in disbelief.
The famed Time-Space Secret Realm that had elevated Heavenly Profound Sect to power was only equipped with fivefold arrays.Yet the Star-Moon Sect had casually laid out tenfold arrays—and in abundance!
"The entire sect...?" Xiao Huohuo asked, almost choking on his own saliva.
"Only the outer sect," Jiang Wanwan said brightly.
"Only..." Yu Ruyi calculated quickly, then hesitantly asked, "Then... how much for the inner sect?"
She braced herself, expecting to hear something outrageous like "twentyfold."
But Jiang Wanwan's cheerful reply almost made her collapse on the spot:"A hundredfold. Lots of hundredfold Spirit Gathering Arrays."
"A hundred... a hundredfold..." Yu Ruyi's voice trembled uncontrollably.
She had thought "twentyfold" was already wild enough.Clearly, she'd been far too conservative.
Gu Chenyuan and the others stood frozen in place.A hundredfold gathering array?That was the stuff of dreams—they wouldn't have dared even imagine it.
"Look—look!" Lin Danhua suddenly crouched by the roadside, his fingers shaking violently."The plants along the path... they're not weeds. They're eighth- and ninth-grade spirit herbs!"
Why on earth were top-tier spirit herbs growing casually along the roadside?Shouldn't they be guarded in a spirit herb garden?
"In our sect, there are no weeds," Jiang Wanwan explained sweetly."The Sect Master said it's more convenient for disciples to use them if they're planted along the paths."
"Freely available...?" Lin Danhua's voice cracked, disbelief written all over his face.
In Misty Sect, even one or two eighth-grade herbs would be treated like sacred treasures.Yet here, disciples could pick them at will?
"Mhm." Jiang Wanwan nodded."But they must be used for personal cultivation—not for trading or gifting."
Gu Chenyuan and the others gasped again, feeling like they'd stumbled into a dream.
Following Jiang Wanwan further, they finally entered the inner sect.
And sure enough, the spiritual energy here was so dense it had transformed into a misty haze—thicker, richer, and purer than outside.
They hadn't walked far when Xiao Huohuo's body trembled slightly, his aura surging.He had broken through—to the Domain Creation Realm!
He had been at the peak of the Eighth Layer of the Return to Origin Realm, and thought it would take at least two more years—and a stroke of luck—to break through.Yet now, just by strolling from the outer gate to the inner sect, he had broken through effortlessly and naturally.
"Master, I..." Xiao Huohuo began, but before he could finish, another surge of energy pulsed nearby.
Shi Jingjing, her face lit up with uncontainable joy, exclaimed, "Master! I've reached the Return to Origin Realm too!"
Xu Wen looked equally astonished."I... I've touched the threshold of the Immortal Spirit Realm!"
He had been stuck at the peak of the Immortal Realm for countless years, despairing that he would ever advance.He hadn't dared to dream that this day would come—especially so suddenly.
It turned out that following Star-Moon Sect yesterday had been the wisest decision of his life.
Gu Chenyuan clenched his fists, his voice trembling slightly."I... I've touched the threshold of the Immortal Venerable Realm too!"
He had languished in the Immortal Emperor Realm for so long that he had resigned himself to never advancing.Now, just walking through Star-Moon Sect, he could see the next level.
The other elders, though not at the peak of their realms, also experienced noticeable improvements.One by one, their faces split into wide, uncontrollable grins.
"The main hall is still a bit farther up," Jiang Wanwan said, turning back with a gentle smile. "Would you like to continue on foot, or take a spirit carriage?"
"Walk! Definitely walk!" Gu Chenyuan and the others cried in unison.If walking here meant breakthroughs, they'd gladly walk for the rest of their lives!
Gu Chenyuan and the others followed Jiang Wanwan on foot all the way to the Sect's Grand Hall.The hall was magnificent; every brick and tile radiated extraordinary power.Though Gu Chenyuan had seen much of the world, he still couldn't discern the grade of these bricks and tiles.At the very least, they were far superior to their own sect's prized treasure—a low-grade Yellow-rank spirit artifact.Which meant... these bricks and tiles must be higher than Yellow rank.Gu Chenyuan couldn't help but swallow hard.Just who was the Sect Master of Star Moon Sect? Was she this outrageously wealthy?
With steps that felt as light as clouds, the group ascended the stairs, moving closer to the Grand Hall with every breath.Bricks stronger than Yellow-rank. And they were stepping on them.Lin Danhua, one of the elders, silently vowed to never change his shoes again for the rest of his life.
At the center of the hall, Jiang Wanwan bowed and announced,"Master, Elder Xu and the others have arrived."In the next instant, Tara York appeared out of thin air.
This time, Tara did not restrain her Emperor-level cultivation.A suffocating pressure swept through the hall like a raging storm.
Gu Chenyuan felt himself reduced to nothing more than a speck of dust.One glance from her—just one—could wipe him from existence.
And he was a Celestial Emperor at that!The others fared even worse.Especially Xiao Huohuo and Shi Jingjing, who were crushed to their knees, unable to move at all.
With a casual wave of her hand, Tara York withdrew her oppressive aura.Though the moment had been fleeting, to Gu Chenyuan and the others, it felt as if they had endured a million years.Sweat drenched their foreheads.
Only Jiang Wanwan remained unaffected, standing gracefully as if nothing had happened.Tara had always been gentle with her own people.
"Didn't expect to see you again so soon, Elder Xu," Tara said, offering a kind, easy smile."Your command is my duty. I dared not delay," Xu Wen quickly replied.
Yesterday, when Tara hid her aura, he couldn't sense her realm.Today, when she revealed it, he still couldn't grasp it.All he could tell was—Tara York was at least several hundred times stronger than the so-called Celestial Emperor Patriarch of the Haoran Sect in Central Continent.
Far beyond the half-step Divine Being Realm they had assumed yesterday.Maybe... maybe she had already crossed into the Divine Realm.
But how?In the Wilds, the strongest were known to be nine Celestial Emperors.Where on earth had this lady come from?
Tara's gaze swept to Xiao Huohuo and Shi Jingjing."These two youths... they are the disciples you selected for me?"
Feeling the pressure of her gaze, Xiao Huohuo and Shi Jingjing instinctively stood up straighter, hearts thundering in their chests.It felt as though their souls were laid bare before her.
"Yes, my lady," Elder Xu answered swiftly. "One has a Grade-9 Spiritual Root and a Starforged Physique; the other possesses a Grade-8 Spiritual Root."
"Huohuo, Jingjing, what are you waiting for? Greet the Master!" Xu Wen ordered.
Xiao Huohuo finally snapped out of it, bowing deeply, "Junior Xiao Huohuo, greetings to my lady!"Shi Jingjing followed, "Junior Shi Jingjing, greetings to my lady!"
Tara nodded approvingly."Not bad. Elder Xu, where did you find them?"
"To be honest, my lady, Xiao Huohuo is the Holy Son of my sect, and Shi Jingjing is... my rather unpromising disciple," Xu Wen confessed.
"You gave away your Holy Son? Did your Sect Master agree to this?" Tara asked with a half-smile.
At that, Gu Chenyuan hurried forward, cupping his hands in respect."Unworthy though I am, I am Gu Chenyuan, Sect Master of Misty Sect. Greetings, my lady."
"So it's Gu Sect Master." Tara's eyes narrowed slightly, her voice laced with a teasing edge."Did you come here to offer your Holy Son... or to pick a fight over me poaching your disciples?"
Goosebumps prickled over Gu Chenyuan's entire body.He hastily replied, "I came to offer our Holy Son to your noble sect."
The moment he spoke, he felt his entire body lighten in relief.
"Then I must thank you, Gu Sect Master," Tara said with a smile.Her gaze swept over the others. "And these?"
One by one, Lin Danhua and the other elders stepped forward and introduced themselves, choosing their words with utmost caution.
Finally, Xu Wen, gathering his courage, explained,"They were so impressed by my lady's unparalleled demeanor that they wished to come and pay their respects."
Tara nodded. "Since Elder Xu brought you, have a seat."
She turned and sat gracefully upon the Sect Master's throne.
"Thank you, my lady," Gu Chenyuan said, exhaling in relief as he sat down.
Only to jolt again in shock—Just by sitting on the chair, he felt his spiritual energy circulating faster.
Tara's gaze shifted to Xiao Huohuo once more."Xiao Huohuo, would you like to join Star Moon Sect and become the First Senior Brother of the Outer Court Elite Disciples?"
"I would be honored!" Xiao Huohuo knelt with a thud, bowing low in devotion.
"Joining my sect means you must never betray it. Should you betray us, the lightning tribulations will incinerate you to ashes, damning you for eternity," Tara warned gently.(This was one of the built-in features provided by Little Three, ensuring absolute loyalty within the sect.)
"I swear on the heavens, I will never betray the sect!" Xiao Huohuo declared solemnly.
"Good. Rise," Tara said, flicking her hand lightly.
A soft force lifted Xiao Huohuo effortlessly to his feet.
"As the First Senior Brother of the Outer Court Elite, you shouldn't look so shabby."With a flick of her finger, three treasures floated before him:
A blue token representing the Outer Court Elites. (Same design as Jiang Wanwan's, but in a different color.)
A Grade-9 high-tier spirit hammer—Glintlight, embedded with matching-grade gemstones.
A Grade-9 high-tier cultivation technique—Phantom Star, perfectly suited to Xiao Huohuo's Starforged Physique.
Seeing these treasures, Xiao Huohuo's first reaction was to pinch his own thigh hard.The sharp pain brought tears to his eyes.
"Thank you, Master!" he cried, bowing deeply once again, carefully tucking away his new treasures.
Even just touching the token, he could already feel its profound benefits.
Then Tara turned her eyes to Shi Jingjing."Shi Jingjing, do you wish to join Star Moon Sect and become Second Senior Sister of the regular Outer Court Disciples?"
"I do! I do!" Shi Jingjing said, practically flattening herself in a kowtow."Outer Court Disciple Shi Jingjing greets the Master!"
Without waiting for Tara to bring up the issue of betrayal, she added hastily,"I swear on the heavens—I will never betray the sect!"
Tara laughed softly, approving her quick wit.She flicked three treasures to float before Shi Jingjing:
A black token for regular Outer Court Disciples.
A Grade-8 high-tier spirit spear—Jade Cauldron, embedded with matching gemstones.
A Grade-8 high-tier cultivation technique—Undying.
Although Shi Jingjing didn't have a Saint Physique, her body was uniquely tough and strong.Tara had chosen the perfect equipment for her.
"Thank you, Master!" Shi Jingjing beamed, scooping up the gifts with a grin wide enough to show all her back teeth.
Meanwhile, Gu Chenyuan and the other elders could only watch, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets with envy.