"I almost forgot."
The middle-aged man waved his hand indifferently and said, "Our Crescent Moon Mountain has now joined the Alliance of Righteous Unity, so we can't protect you for the time being. Although your world is weak, after joining the Alliance of Righteous Unity, someone will still protect you."
In the past, the fate of a world like this would have been of no importance to him.
But now that they had joined the Alliance of Righteous Unity, they had to abide by its rules. If they encountered dark beings in other worlds, they had to drive them away.
"Yes, Senior. I will arrange and instruct everyone to do their best to evacuate and leave this world."
The heroic middle-aged man immediately responded solemnly. The beings and cultivators behind him were so grateful that they wanted to kneel and bow.
If it weren't for the help of these beings from Crescent Moon Mountain today, the ground would likely be covered in white bones, and corpses would be strewn everywhere. They, too, would have been unable to escape death.
However, the situation in this world was not good either. Many regions had been corroded and invaded by black mist, leaving them barren and lifeless.
The cities, sects, nations, mountains, and forests were already in ruins, cold and desolate. The earth was shattered, riverbeds dried up, and oceans evaporated. Only some lingering black mist remained, swirling in the air.
The middle-aged man then turned his gaze to the blue-dressed woman and said, "Lan Xin, the dark beings retreated too quickly this time. I'm worried they might have some hidden阴谋计划."
"The dark being I fought earlier seemed to be following someone's orders. Moreover, the big fish I sensed earlier suddenly retreated midway, likely because it received some command."
"I suspect this might all be a trap. Recently, the Alliance of Righteous Unity's teams have hunted down quite a few dark beings. It's possible that we've attracted the attention of some powerful figures on their side…"
"This training session will end here. You and the disciples should return to Crescent Moon Mountain. I will go and investigate further."
The blue-dressed woman was slightly startled, her face showing concern as she couldn't help but say,
"Uncle Zhou, although your strength is great, if your suspicions are correct and the dark beings are just bait, I'm afraid you might encounter unforeseen dangers if you go alone to investigate."
The middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I'm just going to investigate. I won't take any risks."
"I'll leave these disciples to you. After I finish investigating, I'll return shortly."
With that, he stepped onto his sword, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
The blue-dressed woman named Lan Xin sighed slightly, her eyes still filled with worry.
This Uncle Zhou was named Zhou Tianyu. Originally, leading this training session to deal with the dark beings wasn't his responsibility.
Her master was supposed to lead the team, but due to some琐事, her master had to leave the sect for a while, so Uncle Zhou volunteered to take his place.
If something were to happen to Uncle Zhou because of this, she would feel guilty for the rest of her life.
In the past, Uncle Zhou had always been supportive of their faction.
Although his actions were partly to pursue her master and become her Dao companion, he had still helped them a great deal.
Unfortunately, her master was solely focused on the Dao and had no interest in companionship, rejecting all suitors.
"Uncle Zhou, you should just give up…"
Lan Xin sighed almost imperceptibly. She had tried to persuade her master, but her master's personality was such that once she made a decision, she wouldn't change it.
No matter how much Uncle Zhou pursued her, he couldn't shake her rock-solid, unshakable Dao heart.
Just as Lan Xin's thoughts were swirling, a crisp sound of swords clashing echoed in the void.
Not far away, the white-clothed girl carrying an ancient sword suddenly opened her eyes.
Her clear, water-like eyes seemed to have thousands of sword shadows intertwining within them. She resembled a divine sword unsheathed, exuding a terrifying sword intent that made one's skin crawl and ache.
Her delicate face was radiant, her features exquisite, and she couldn't hide her joy, as if she had gained many benefits from her recent epiphany.
"Congratulations, Junior Sister Xian'er, on your successful epiphany."
"Your sword Dao cultivation has grown even stronger. It won't be long before you can start preparing to condense your sword Dao seed and prepare for Nirvana."
Lan Xin snapped out of her thoughts and congratulated her with a smile.
The white-clothed girl seemed to only now realize what had happened. She quickly suppressed her joy and responded, "Thank you, Senior Sister Lan Xin. I was just lucky. I didn't expect to gain some insights from Elder Zhou's sword Dao."
Her hair was tied into a ponytail with a red ribbon, a few strands hanging by her forehead, accentuating her delicate,巴掌-sized face.
Lan Xin smiled and said, "Junior Sister Xian'er, there's no need to be modest. This isn't just luck. It's your talent and comprehension. Among all the disciples, only you were able to gain insights and benefits from this."
"Senior Sister Lan Xin, you flatter me too much."
The white-clothed girl seemed a bit embarrassed by the lavish praise, lowering her head. Her snow-white, delicate cheeks turned slightly red.
However, her clear, lake-like eyes were unusually calm, and a thoughtful expression flashed through them.
Lan Xin smiled, seemingly accustomed to the white-clothed girl's modesty and shyness. She didn't say more.
However, her smile didn't last long before it faded.
She frowned, glancing at the group of young men and women not far away.
"What's the use of having great talent? She's tainted by that ominous person. Anyone who gets involved with her will be unlucky."
"Only Senior Sister Lan Xin, with her kind heart, would bother with her."
"Exactly. Otherwise, why would the sect master, despite her talent, not take her as a disciple and only let her be an ordinary disciple in Crescent Moon Mountain?"
"Haha, talent is useless without resources and cultivation techniques. She'll be stuck at the Dao Realm's gate. Besides, she's tainted by misfortune. Who knows when she'll die?"
The group of young men and women didn't hide their幸灾乐祸, and some even spoke with jealousy and malice.
They didn't bother to lower their voices, nor did they care if the white-clothed girl heard them.
The white-clothed girl, however, seemed used to it. Her expression remained calm, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Lan Xin's face darkened, and she coldly rebuked, "Enough."
"This training session wasn't meant for you to mock others. If you had even half of Junior Sister Xian'er's ability, the sect wouldn't be so worried about you."
Seeing that Lan Xin was truly angry, the group of young men and women quickly fell silent.
However, many still curled their lips in disdain, clearly unbothered.
Lan Xin turned to the white-clothed girl, full of歉意, and said, "Junior Sister Xian'er, don't take their words to heart. They're just being rude."
The white-clothed girl shook her head and said, "Thank you, Senior Sister Lan Xin. I don't care about these things."
If this had happened in the past, she would have been furious and drawn her sword in anger.
But now, she had grown a lot. She understood the importance of忍耐 and planning before acting.
In the vast expanse, unlike in the Dao Prosperity True World, there was no one to shield her from the storm. Every step she took required careful thought and caution.
Lan Xin sighed almost imperceptibly.
These young men and women came from various clans and sects, their backgrounds extraordinary, and their true worlds powerful.
If it weren't for her status as a senior sister, they probably wouldn't show her much respect either.
The white-clothed girl, like her in the past, came from a weak, newly born true world.
Even though she had managed to join Crescent Moon Mountain through机缘, her status was still awkward, not well-received by ordinary disciples and elders.
Moreover, given her talent, if it weren't for being tainted by misfortune, she would likely have been taken as a disciple by the sect master, becoming a true disciple with the potential to compete for the position of Dao Child.
Thinking about it all, it was truly a pity.
"Let's go. Since Uncle Zhou has said so, we'll return to Crescent Moon Mountain first."
Lan Xin collected her thoughts and waved her hand. A sparkling, Dao-patterned flying boat appeared, stretching thousands of feet in the void.
She leaped onto it, bringing the disciples with her, and quickly flew away.
Crescent Moon Mountain, though called a mountain, wasn't actually a mountain. It was a vast, boundless continent, not a单独的 true world.
To be precise, it was more like an otherworldly sect.
It was created by a great神通 existence in ancient times, who gathered various rare Dao soils, immortal metals, and fragments of shattered true worlds from the vast expanse, refining and forging them in the chaos.
It was far more stable than ancient true worlds, with its own set of natural laws. Various Daos flowed within, and celestial principles intertwined. The sun rose and set, tides ebbed and flowed, and it had existed for countless eons.
The sect within Crescent Moon Mountain was called the Crescent Moon Sect, the force behind Lan Xin and the others.
Its底蕴实力 surpassed that of ordinary immortal sects in supreme true worlds, with several Ancestral Dao Realm experts overseeing it.
As the jade-like flying boat traversed the时空隧道 and crossed the vast expanse, Lan Xin and the others, after several days of travel, passed through the结界古阵 outside Crescent Moon Mountain and returned.
Looking around, the mountains were vast, the ancient peaks boundless. Lakes and rivers wound through the land like蜿蜒的真龙, stretching across the entire continent.
Vital energy surged, chaos permeated the air, accompanied by auspicious clouds. Even the soil glowed, nourished by混沌母气. On the cliffs and precipices, immortal herbs swayed, their fragrance filling the air.
Purple rocks formed mountains, towering and majestic. The cliff walls were smooth, with方草 growing and参芝 exhaling.
A qilin lay alone under a green stone, a silver waterfall cascading down, mist rising. Spiritual birds danced, and ancient herbs exuded their fragrance.
For cultivators, this was a place they dreamed of, filled with endless immortal intent and mystery.
Deep within Crescent Moon Mountain, a grand and magnificent palace complex, like an eternal celestial court, sat in the sky, hidden among the clouds.
One after another, immortal islands and divine peaks stretched out, floating in the void through immense magical power, overlooking all living beings.
"I'll return to Purple Mist Peak to report first."
After returning to Crescent Moon Mountain, Lan Xin separated from the young disciples. As she put away the flying boat, she glanced at the white-clothed girl who had been sitting in the corner with her eyes closed, resting. She sighed softly.
If it weren't for her master's refusal to take on more disciples, she would have begged her to take in the white-clothed girl.
Crescent Moon Mountain was vast. Apart from the Crescent Moon Sect, there were no other sects or forces here.
Aside from some cities and ancient towns, the mountains, wilderness, and lakes could all serve as secluded cultivation spots.
Many disciples of the Crescent Moon Sect liked to build private cave dwellings in places rich in spiritual energy.
"Finally back."
After leaving the flying boat, the white-clothed girl transformed into a streak of light and returned to the area near the cave she had carved out herself.
The place was remote, but its environment was serene, with purple mist surrounding the mountains and white fog rising, creating a hazy atmosphere.
Not far away, a silver waterfall cascaded down from the endless sky, as if it truly came from beyond the heavens.
Of course, the main reason she chose this place for seclusion was that no one would disturb her.
Near the cave, there was a long-abandoned, broken ruin, very close by. In earlier years, it seemed to have been an ancient battlefield. One could see fragments of weapons buried in the soil and decayed skeletons.
Every night,阴冷气息 would emanate from the area, and terrifying景象 would appear. The surroundings had become a no-man's land, avoided by all.
The figure regarded by the entire Crescent Moon Sect as an ominous being often lingered in this area, wandering through the ruins.
Even the high-ranking elders of the Crescent Moon Sect were unwilling to set foot here.
The white-clothed girl, naturally, enjoyed the peace and quiet, having found this "good place" where no one would bother her.
As for the figure the Crescent Moon Sect regarded as ominous and avoided like the plague, she wasn't afraid. After all, it was that very being who had saved her from the mouth of a ferocious beast in the vast expanse and brought her here.
"Xian'er…"
"Xian'er, you're finally back…"
As the white-clothed girl opened the cave's restrictions, a red figure shot toward her like lightning.
However, before it could reach her, she slapped it away in disgust.
"I left you to guard my cave. What happened to the fruits on the dragon peach tree I planted outside?"
The white-clothed girl's face darkened, her jade-like teeth grinding as if she were extremely angry.
"I had calculated the time so that the fruits would be ripe by the time I returned."
"But now, not even the pits are left."
Her tone was harsh, her eyes filled with killing intent as she demanded, "Tell me, where are the fruits?"
Inside the cave, a big red bird looked embarrassed, flapping its wings to steady itself. Its稚嫩 voice was full of guilt.
"I… I don't know…"
"I just took a nap, and when I woke up, the fruits outside the cave were gone. Maybe they were taken by wild dogs in the mountains…"
"How about I go look for them?"
The white-clothed girl glared at it, then rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slender, snow-white wrists. She said fiercely, "Tonight, I'm having roasted bird."
With that, she moved to grab the big red bird, intending to pluck its feathers.
"Wait, Xian'er, it's just a fruit! Is it really worth this? How about I spit out the pit and give it back to you…"
"Hey, hey, don't hit me! I barely have any feathers left. If you pluck them, I'll be bald!"
"After all these years of friendship, is it really worth less than a few fruits? You're such a miser, a penny-pincher, a cheapskate…"
The big red bird flapped its wings, dodging in the air, feathers falling everywhere.
The white-clothed girl still looked heartbroken and furious.
In the end, she could only watch as the big red bird spat out half a fruit, still undigested, with the pit intact. She gritted her teeth, feeling frustrated and sulking.
"The fruit smelled so good, it tempted me. Xian'er, don't be mad. I just made a mistake any bird would make."
"There are plenty of good things in the Crescent Moon Sect. How about I go steal some for you…" The big red bird, feeling guilty, tried to make amends.
The white-clothed girl's eyes seemed to light up at this, but then she glanced at the big red bird and shook her head dejectedly.
"Forget it. I'm afraid you'll drag me into trouble."
The big red bird patted its chest and said, "Don't worry. If I get caught, I'll never rat you out."
The white-clothed girl ignored it, staring at the half-eaten fruit on the ground, her heart aching.
Her fruit, saved for her return, had been ruined by this bird.
Suddenly, a faint moan came from deep within the cave, snapping the white-clothed girl out of her frustration.
"Huh? Did the person I rescued actually wake up?"
She was momentarily stunned, then a curious expression appeared on her face. She quietly took out an ancient talisman from her storage space, holding it in her palm, before heading deeper into the cave.
The big red bird flapped its wings, following her, and said curiously, "She was so severely injured, her life force almost completely severed, yet she managed to hold on. It seems she's awake now. What a terrifying woman."
Deep inside the cave, on a white jade bed, lay a stunningly beautiful white-clothed woman. Her dress was still stained with blood, though it had dried, and a terrifying aura emanated from her, making it difficult to approach.
With each breath, wisps of chaotic mist rose around her, appearing and disappearing.