Above the world, in the Northern Domain, the Sun and Moon Sect.
Inside the welcoming hall of Zixia Pavilion, an elder dressed in purple robes held a cup of spiritual tea in his hands. With a slight frown, he sat still on a jade bench, the fragrance of the tea drifting through the air, though it couldn't mask the worry on his face.
Elder Tian Shu stood with his hands down, his posture respectful, speaking softly, "Sect Leader Qing Song, I am truly sorry. Our ancestor has not yet returned. Perhaps you could first proceed to another domain..."
His words were cautious, not daring to show any neglect. After all, the elder before him was the Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect, a person of high status, incomparable to ordinary cultivators.
The Northern Region was vast and divided into twenty-four subregions. Yunlan Sect was stationed in Jiangze Region, adjacent to the Northern Domain.
Because of its slightly better geographical position, Yunlan Sect's status was slightly higher than that of the Sun and Moon Sect, but it was only marginally higher.
"Still not back?"
Sect Leader Qing Song slowly propped himself up, sighing deeply, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. "Alas... A sect leader's whereabouts unknown? Is this how your Sun and Moon Sect rules the Northern Domain?"
His tone grew a bit heavy, and his robe moved without wind. "If an upper-level envoy comes to inquire, can you bear the responsibility? Can't you even spare some effort to send someone out to search for them?"
The elderly Tian Shu clasped his fists, bowing deeply, his voice hoarse, "Old man... I can only do my best."
"Fine..." Sect Leader Qing Song nodded slightly, but a shadow flickered in his eyes.
Before coming here, he had heard of the violent upheaval in the Northern Domain. The Sun and Moon Sect had engaged in a bloody battle with the demonic forces that had taken over the area. Several Heavenly Realm cultivators had fallen, and even the former sect leader, Zhang Xuanting, had sacrificed his life on the battlefield.
In the end, it was the long-secluded ancestor who had to intervene to suppress the chaos.
Now, the Sun and Moon Sect was probably severely weakened and unable to care for itself...
Perhaps the ancestor of the Sun and Moon Sect was not truly missing but had deliberately chosen to avoid meeting.
After all, if a grand figure like the Sect Leader of Yunlan Sect personally came to request, a direct refusal would lose face.
But to hide like this... would they be able to avoid it forever?
...
Elder Tian Shu walked out of the meeting hall, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Find them? Where should I look?
This ancestor, he had known for less than half a month, and this person acted like a dragon, disappearing without a trace. Not even a shadow could be found!
But as he thought further, a subtle feeling rose in his heart.
In the past, such an important matter where the Sect Leader of their sect visited, it was never his turn to handle it. Either it was Zhang Xuanting receiving guests, or Elder Yu Heng taking charge.
But now... it was actually him, an often sidelined figure, who had the chance to step into the spotlight.
"I just hope the ancestor will appear soon..."
He was silently praying when suddenly, a dazzling golden light pierced the sky!
Boom—!
A tremendous pressure surged like a tide, shaking his robe to flutter!
...
At the front gate of the Sun and Moon Sect, the teleportation array.
The space rippled, and Fang Yuan's figure appeared like flowing clouds.
The disciples guarding the array were stunned at first. When they recognized the person, their expressions immediately changed, and they hurriedly knelt to pay their respects.
"No need for such formalities!"
Fang Yuan flicked his sleeve, and an invisible force immediately spread out. The disciples only felt their bodies lighten, and they were gently lifted and cleared from the entire plaza in the blink of an eye.
Swish—!
Fang Yuan flicked his hand again, causing a shockwave through the air. The previously empty plaza suddenly became filled with thousands of figures that seemed to materialize out of nowhere!
It was the talented individuals from the lower world who had followed him through the realms. As soon as they arrived, they caused a commotion.
"Is this the upper world?!"
One person inhaled deeply, feeling their pores open. The spiritual energy in the air was so dense that it almost turned into mist. Every breath felt like inhaling liquid spiritual essence!
Looking up, the nine layers of jade steps of the Sun and Moon Sect rose into the clouds, with palaces surrounded by霞光 scattered across the mountainside, resembling a fairyland!
"His Majesty wasn't lying..." someone whispered, trembling, "The so-called paradise in the lower world is nothing but rubble compared to this place!"
The group of young talents stood motionless, their clothes fluttering in the spiritual wind. Their eyes reflected the shimmering aura of immortality, and their faces were filled with shock and reverence.
After their astonishment, their emotions surged, and their gazes towards Fang Yuan grew even more intense.
To have established such a foundation in such a short time in the upper world... apart from His Majesty, no one could have done this!
Among the crowd, Lin Jing's eyes sparkled. She was one of Fang Yuan's earliest followers, having witnessed many of his miracles. But even now, she was still shaken by the sight before her.
"Indeed..." She gently stroked her chest, her lips involuntarily curving upwards. "The only one who can surpass him is always himself."
The surrounding disciples of the Sun and Moon Sect widened their eyes. The ancestor had merely waved his hand, and thousands of figures had appeared in the plaza!
Such methods were truly unfathomable.
"Greetings, Ancestor!"
A streak of light pierced through the sky as Elder Tian Shu arrived on a cloud and bowed respectfully. As he stood, his gaze inevitably swept over the dark crowd. He couldn't help but frown slightly.
"These are all disciples I have carefully selected," Fang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his sleeves flowing with the wind. "From this day forward, they are all members of the Sun and Moon Sect."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Elder Tian Shu immediately responded, though his heart was filled with some confusion. He glanced over the group, and among the more than three thousand people, there were only a handful with superior aptitudes.
But then he thought—how could an ancestor like him be easily guessed by someone like him? It must be his own cultivation being too shallow to perceive the real secrets.
"Ancestor has a discerning eye!" Elder Tian Shu straightened up and spoke loudly. "To have such talented individuals enter the sect is truly a sign of the great prosperity of our Sun and Moon Sect!"
For Tian Shu's flattery, Fang Yuan was accustomed to it. But the young talents from the lower world, upon hearing Tian Shu address their lord as Ancestor, were all stunned, their pupils trembling.
Wait a minute, wasn't His Majesty supposed to be the Sect Leader?
How did he become the Ancestor of the Sun and Moon Sect?
To be honest, they could understand him becoming the Sect Leader, given that His Majesty had taken the throne in the same way, but Ancestor... they couldn't wrap their heads around how this identity was earned!
A person from the lower world, and a fifteen-year-old at that, how had he become the Ancestor of a sect in the upper world?!
Wasn't this turning the world upside down?!
"Elder Tian Shu, arrange the new disciples," Fang Yuan gave the order again.
"Understood, Ancestor!" Elder Tian Shu responded, his snow-white beard swaying with the movement.
The new disciples from the lower world, upon hearing this exchange, all lowered their heads, biting their lips, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. Even Lin Jing, usually calm, bit her lip so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.
It couldn't be helped. Anyone who saw a fifteen-year-old boy have an elder with white hair kneel and call him Ancestor would find it hard not to laugh.
The scene was just too beautiful to look at!