Lan Xin's face was delicate and charming, her figure graceful. She wore a water-blue long dress, her hair like clouds, tied into an elegant bun with a wooden hairpin, exuding grace and poise.
"Senior Sister Lan Xin," Gu Xian'er obediently walked over and stood beside her.
The other companions of Lan Xin couldn't help but frown slightly when they saw Gu Xian'er approaching.
Many of them walked away, intentionally avoiding her.
Even more, out of respect for Lan Xin, didn't say much, but their eyes still couldn't hide their coldness and disgust.
The Crescent Moon Sect had many disciples, but Gu Xian'er was the only one who, due to her rare talent, was personally summoned by the sect master and then sent away.
At the time, many elders thought the Crescent Moon Sect might have found a once-in-a-generation prodigy.
However, after summoning Gu Xian'er, the sect master did not take her in as a disciple. Instead, he bluntly stated that she was tainted by misfortune and that it was best not to have too much interaction with her to avoid entangling in too much karma.
This incident caused a huge uproar within the Crescent Moon Sect at the time, creating significant waves.
Gu Xian'er thus became famous among the younger disciples and elders.
Although the sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect didn't want to take her as a disciple, he was still conflicted and reluctant to let such a talented individual go. He suggested that the other elders find a way to take her in.
However, at the time, all the elders refused without hesitation. No matter how talented Gu Xian'er was, they wouldn't agree.
At their level, they placed great importance on karma.
Even the sect master, with his level of cultivation, was unwilling to take Gu Xian'er in. Why would they?
If they did, they might end up bringing disaster upon themselves, and all their years of hard cultivation would be wasted, vanishing into thin air.
This incident became a huge joke within the Crescent Moon Sect at the time.
In the end, after much deliberation, the sect master reluctantly agreed to let Gu Xian'er stay in the Crescent Moon Sect, but only as an ordinary disciple.
After this incident, the disciples and elders avoided her like the plague, unwilling to have any interaction with her.
This was because Gu Xian'er had been brought to the sect by the Mad Granny of Crescent Moon Mountain.
The story of the Mad Granny was well-known within the Crescent Moon Sect.
The Mad Granny was said to have been an ancient powerhouse, but for some reason, she had lost her mind and acted erratically, rarely in a清醒 state.
No one in the Crescent Moon Sect knew how she had come to Crescent Moon Mountain, only that she liked to appear in desolate wilderness and rugged mountains.
Some of the ancestral-level figures in the Crescent Moon Sect had tried to drive her away, but they all failed.
Instead, with a light flick of her sleeve, the Mad Granny sent them flying millions of miles away, shocking and terrifying everyone in the sect.
Because of this, the people of the Crescent Moon Sect no longer dared to casually drive the Mad Granny away.
Later, some disciples and elders, thinking her cultivation was profound, began to scheme against her, believing that her unclear mind would make her easy to manipulate. They often sought her out, hoping to observe her actions and Dao rhythms, and even to receive her guidance.
Although the Mad Granny was not in her right mind, she never harmed anyone and had no ill intentions.
Occasionally, when she was slightly more清醒, she would even give pointers to the disciples and elders, which benefited them greatly.
However, not long after, those who had interacted with her began to encounter problems.
Some failed in their cultivation breakthroughs and perished, others were invaded by inner demons, their minds shattered, becoming walking corpses. Some were caught in the crossfire of battles between supreme beings and died on the spot, while others were hunted down by enemies and killed. In short, no one had a good ending.
They were either crippled or driven mad, and those who died outright were considered lucky, as they didn't have to suffer the inhuman torment.
This incident caused a huge shock and horror throughout the Crescent Moon Sect. The situation was too sinister.
Even the ancestral-level figures felt a chill, shuddering at the thought, breaking out in cold sweat even during the day.
The disciples and elders who had interacted with the Mad Granny were terrified, believing it to be an invisible curse that would claim their lives when they least expected it.
Later events confirmed their suspicions. No one was spared. Those who had received guidance from the Mad Granny or observed her Dao rhythms all met with calamity, with no good endings.
For a time, the entire Crescent Moon Sect avoided the Mad Granny like the plague, considering whether to relocate and abandon the mountain.
Many ancient figures concluded that the Mad Granny's madness and erratic behavior were likely due to her being tainted by misfortune.
Those who came into contact with her would also be tainted by misfortune and bad luck.
As long as they didn't interact with her, they wouldn't have to worry about attracting bad luck.
This was why Gu Xian'er was now shunned by the disciples of the Crescent Moon Sect, avoided like the plague. No one wanted to be tainted by misfortune.
Many disciples and elders even wished she would leave the sect or die an untimely death.
"Senior Sister Lan Xin, we all know you're kind-hearted, a truly good person, but that's no reason to get so close to this girl."
Don't forget, she's tainted by misfortune and bad luck. If you spend too much time with her, who knows when you'll be tainted too…"
A woman wearing a pink outer robe and a plain long dress walked over. She looked at Lan Xin standing with Gu Xian'er, frowned, and spoke in a teasing tone.
"Xu Hui, stop it. Junior Sister Xian'er has been in the sect for so long. Have you seen any problems with her?"
"Junior Sister Xian'er is obedient and well-behaved, but that doesn't mean you can bully her like this."
Lan Xin looked at the approaching woman, her expression darkening, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.
The surrounding young disciples, seeing this scene, wisely stepped back, not wanting to get involved in the conflict between the two.
The woman named Xu Hui let out a disdainful sneer. "I've never bullied this girl. When I see her, I can't get away fast enough. She's a jinx. Staying in the Crescent Moon Sect is just an eyesore."
"If you have a problem, take it up with me. Why insult Junior Sister Xian'er like this?"
Lan Xin's face was as cold as water, her eyes filled with frost.
Xu Hui and she had never gotten along, their relationship like fire and water.
Of course, this was also related to their respective masters.
Their masters had a feud, and it was a deep-seated, irreconcilable one.
However, in the past, Lan Xin had always had the upper hand over Xu Hui, who would avoid her out of fear, not daring to confront her head-on as she did today.
Lan Xin suspected that Xu Hui's master might be behind this, and Gu Xian'er was just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
"Heh, Senior Sister Lan Xin, you've got quite the temper. But let's see if you'll still be smiling after today."
Xu Hui's face showed a meaningful smirk, and she chuckled, ignoring Lan Xin's furious glare, then turned and walked away.
As for Gu Xian'er standing beside Lan Xin, Xu Hui didn't even glance at her, as if she were completely invisible.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this, Junior Sister Xian'er. She's targeting me."
After Xu Hui left, Lan Xin apologized to Gu Xian'er with a hint of guilt.
Gu Xian'er still wore her obedient expression and shook her head. "Senior Sister Lan Xin, you're too kind. You know I don't care about these things."
Lan Xin smiled. "I don't know what's gotten into Xu Hui today, saying such things."
Gu Xian'er's eyes showed a hint of contemplation, and she softly said, "Senior Sister Lan Xin, don't you think what she said just now seemed to have a deeper meaning?"
"It's as if she knows the purpose of today's gathering of the sect's elders and disciples."
Hearing this, Lan Xin suddenly realized something and frowned. "You're right. What does Xu Hui mean by that?"
Suddenly, a commotion broke out not far away, interrupting Lan Xin's thoughts.
She couldn't help but look over and was slightly stunned.
A young man dressed in a cloud-patterned white robe, elegant and handsome, walked over, surrounded by many young disciples.
He stood tall, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes warm and moist, giving off the aura of a refined and humble gentleman.
"Senior Brother Xu Yu…" Lan Xin murmured, her eyes flashing with admiration and complexity.
Xu Yu was the undisputed top figure among the younger generation of the Crescent Moon Sect, with exceptional talent, profound blessings, and unfathomable strength.
Even a proud and confident prodigy like Lan Xin admired him greatly, knowing she was far from his level.
Xu Yu lived up to his name, as gentle and warm as jade, approachable and kind, with an excellent reputation in the Crescent Moon Sect. Almost all the elders held him in high regard.
"Senior Brother Xu Yu is back…"
"I heard Senior Brother Xu Yu went to the extremely chaotic Radiant Ancient Domain for training. That place is said to be so dangerous that even Ancestral Dao Realm supreme beings could meet with disaster."
"I wonder what opportunities Senior Brother Xu Yu gained in the Radiant Ancient Domain. His cultivation seems even more profound and unfathomable than before."
Many disciples couldn't help but whisper as they watched the young man walk by, their eyes filled with reverence and admiration.
Even Xu Hui, who had just been confrontational with Lan Xin, showed a hint of admiration in her eyes.
"The top figure of the younger generation in the Crescent Moon Sect…" Gu Xian'er retracted her gaze, silently repeating in her heart.
She was well-versed in the art of playing the fool and had almost never revealed her true strength in front of others.
But just now, when she observed this young man named Xu Yu, she felt a faint sense of danger.
It seemed that Xu Yu was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
In the main hall square of the Crescent Moon Sect, as the disciples and elders gathered, the sect master and the grand elders also appeared at the front.
The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect was an elderly man with an immortal aura, his face thin, holding a horsetail whisk, surrounded by a mysterious and profound energy.
If one looked closely, they would notice that the void behind him was blurred, with various strange lights floating within.
Beside the sect master stood a man with narrowed eyes, wearing a cloak, a long scar running down his face, seemingly observing the gathered elders and disciples below.
The other elders treated this man with great respect.
"This is an envoy from the Alliance of Righteous Unity. He has come to the Crescent Moon Sect today to announce something, which is why I have gathered you all here…"
The sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect slowly scanned the crowd, then spoke in a solemn tone, introducing the man's identity and purpose.
The dark beings' attacks were becoming more intense, no longer as chaotic as before, but more organized.
Recently, various teams from the Alliance of Righteous Unity had been ambushed by dark beings, suffering heavy casualties.
Even Ancestral Dao Realm experts had fallen, surrounded and killed by powerful figures among the dark beings, with no chance for others to rescue them.
This incident caused a huge uproar within the Alliance of Righteous Unity, also triggering great turmoil and unease.
To address this, after discussions among the various factions within the alliance, it was unanimously decided to send powerful elders from each faction to form an envoy team.
This envoy team would then head to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to negotiate, setting aside past grievances and prejudices, and form a joint alliance to resist the dark beings.
After all, neither the Alliance of Righteous Unity nor the Heaven-Slaying Alliance alone could hope to eliminate the black calamity sweeping across the vast expanse.
The only way to break the deadlock was to join forces and unite against the common enemy.
"What?"
After hearing the sect master's explanation, almost all the elders and disciples were stunned, standing frozen in place.
"Form an envoy team and head to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
"That Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
When they came to their senses, the expressions of many elders turned grim, their eyes filled with fear and unease.
In their eyes, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was not much different from the dark beings. Recently, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had taken advantage of the chaos to devour numerous civilization true worlds.
Those who opposed them were almost all annihilated, buried in the river of time, forever gone.
Moreover, there were many terrifying rumors and stories about the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was said to possess immense divine powers and unfathomable cultivation, with unimaginable abilities.
Any being who came into contact with him, regardless of their cultivation level, would be enslaved or converted, becoming his followers.
Even former sages who had fought against the black calamity had been converted by him, now working tirelessly for him, fighting and killing on his behalf.
Within the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, temples and shrines dedicated to the alliance leader could be seen everywhere, with incense burning day and night.
Even amidst the black calamity, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance continued to expand its territory, conquering and annexing lands.
To the other civilization true worlds, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had long been demonized, no different from a den of demons. Any being who dared to approach would almost certainly not return alive.
In such a situation, sending an envoy team to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to negotiate? What a joke. Who could still entertain such naive fantasies?
This was no different from sending lambs to the slaughter.
At this moment, the elders of the Crescent Moon Sect looked extremely grim, wanting to curse in their hearts.
Who came up with such a terrible idea? Was the person who proposed this a spy for the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, deliberately trying to send people to their deaths?
"The envoy from the Alliance of Righteous Unity is already here. They're probably selecting people now. There's no way to change the situation unless our Crescent Moon Sect defies the alliance's rules."
"But isn't this just sending people to their deaths?"
"Is there even a way to survive this?"
The elders of the Crescent Moon Sect felt their mouths go dry, a bitter taste in their mouths. No matter how angry they were, it was useless now. They could only pray that they wouldn't be chosen.
At this point, leaving the Crescent Moon Sect and heading to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance meant not only facing potential ambushes by dark beings along the way but also almost certainly not returning once they reached the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Given the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's behavior, they had no regard for the Alliance of Righteous Unity. Why would they care about its envoys?
"How could this happen?"
"Isn't this just each faction selecting an elder and their disciples to send to their deaths?"
Among the disciples, Lan Xin was also stunned, unable to believe it.
She hadn't expected that the sect master's gathering of all the disciples and elders today was for this purpose.
Gu Xian'er's clear eyes widened slightly, seemingly still processing the information.
This was not the first time she had heard of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Was this Heaven-Slaying Alliance the same one she knew of?
Lan Xin suddenly noticed a mocking gaze. She turned her head and saw Xu Hui not far away, looking at her with glee, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery.
"What does she mean by this?"
Lan Xin suddenly had a bad feeling.
The vast square was unusually quiet at this moment.
The elders and disciples were all silent.
After finishing his explanation, the sect master of the Crescent Moon Sect also looked helpless and guilty, finally turning his gaze to a woman in front of him, her hair tied in a green spiral bun, wearing a gray gauze dress.