Everyone instantly realized that Xiao Chen hadn't made a wrong choice at all; he had deliberately picked the least conspicuous peak with the least competition!
Facing the surprised gazes of the crowd, Xiao Chen emphasized again, his tone still firm: "Senior, this junior does indeed wish to join the Five Peaks."
Seeing Xiao Chen's serious expression, Dongfang Shuo knew he wasn't just saying it casually, so he stopped trying to persuade him.
After all, choosing a peak is a major event for cultivators, and it would be better for outsiders to interfere forcibly.
He shook his head helplessly, then turned and called out to his disciples behind him, "Huang Kai!"
"Disciple is here!" Huang Kai strode over and bowed.
"Take Xiao Chen to Five Peaks and conduct the entrance examination according to the rules," Dongfang Shuo instructed.
"Yes!" Huang Kai replied, then turned to Xiao Chen and gestured for him to come with him. "Junior Brother Xiao, come with me."
Xiao Chen bowed to Dongfang Shuo and the other two again, then turned and followed Huang Kai out of the main hall.
Inside the hall, Nangong Lie watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but mutter, "What a pity to have such a promising talent, choosing the Five Peaks of Mount Wuyue..."
Dongfang Shuo shook his head slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes: "Perhaps this kid has his own plans."
As Xiao Chen followed Huang Kai out of the main hall, he looked up at the Five Peaks shrouded in mist in the distance, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
He chose Five Peaks not only to avoid competition, but also because he had heard that although Five Peaks was weak, it contained the oldest inheritance of the Four Directions Sect, but no one had been able to unlock it for many years.
His trip to the Four Directions Sect was not just about finding a place to stay.
But just then...
As soon as Dongfang Shuo finished speaking, he suddenly frowned and looked up sharply at the sky. Nangong Lie, Bei Mingyuan, and the other two also looked up almost simultaneously, a hint of wariness flashing in their eyes.
An undisguised, powerful aura was rapidly approaching from afar, carrying with it the domineering pressure unique to Mo Zezong.
Even the mountain mists were dispersed by this aura, revealing two streaks of light rushing towards them.
"They're from the Moze Sect!" Nangong Lie's face darkened, his hands clenched unconsciously, and the aura of a peak Creation Realm expert quietly spread around him. "How dare they break into my Sifang Sect's mountain gate!"
Ximen Xue's eyes were cold, and her voice was chilling: "The visitors are not friendly; they're probably here because of what happened earlier."
Before the words were finished, two streaks of light landed in the sky above the plaza. When the light faded, two cultivators dressed in black sect robes were revealed.
The leader was tall and had a sinister face. He wore a long sword engraved with the character "Mo" at his waist and exuded a terrifying aura. He was Mo Yan, a deacon of the Mo Zezong Enforcement Hall.
Beside him was a deputy named Mo Gang, whose gaze swept across the square with arrogance.
"Hmph, Mo Yan! Why aren't you staying at the Mo Ze Sect? What are you doing here at the gates of my Sifang Sect?"
Dongfang Shuo took a step forward, releasing his aura slightly, which collided with Mo Yan's aura. The air in the square instantly became tense, and many cultivators with low cultivation levels subconsciously took a half step back.
Mo Yan grinned, his tone full of ill intent: "Dongfang Shuo, long time no see, your temper is still as fiery as ever."
He glanced at the cultivators taking the exam below, then at Xiao Chen, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
But he quickly covered it up and said loudly, "What am I here for? Naturally, I'm here to watch your Four Directions Sect's recruitment fair and, incidentally, to give these young people some opportunities and congratulate you on recruiting such promising talents!"
"Congratulations?" Dongfang Shuo sneered, his eyes sharp as knives. "A weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—he's up to no good! When did Mo Zezong become so kind as to offer opportunities to the disciples of my Sifang Sect?"
Mo Yan didn't hide his arrogance, his smile turning cocky: "So what? I, Mo Zezong, have the confidence to back it up!"
He raised his voice and addressed the cultivators in the square, "Fellow Daoists, today, if you forgo the Four Directions Sect's assessment and are willing to join my Moze Sect..."
"Besides doubling the treatment of outer disciples, I can also decide to teach each of you the core cultivation technique of my Moze Sect, the first two chapters of the 'Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing'!"
"What?! The Mysterious Shadow of Ze Ying?!"
The square erupted in an instant, with cultivators gasping in astonishment, their eyes filled with shock and excitement.
The reputation of the "Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing" is known to everyone in the Mo Ze Star Region. It is the top-level movement technique of the Mo Ze Sect. When cultivated to a high level, it allows one to traverse through light and shadow at extremely high speed.
It can also conceal one's aura. Countless cultivators would fight tooth and nail to obtain a copy of it. Now, Mo Yan is directly offering the first two levels as bait. The temptation is simply too great!
"I...I'm willing to join the Moze Sect!" A cultivator couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward from the crowd, his eyes resolute.
Compared to the declining Sifang Sect, the Moze Sect, which can obtain the core cultivation technique, is obviously a better choice. Moreover, this is only the first stage of the assessment, and the people from the Sifang Sect are not yet included.
Once there's a first one, there's bound to be a second.
Soon, several more cultivators hesitated before stepping forward and standing behind Mo Yan. "I'm going to the Mo Ze Sect too!" "The *Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing*! If we miss this opportunity, we'll never have another!"
As more and more people stepped forward, Mo Yan smiled even more smugly and raised an eyebrow at Dongfang Shuo, saying, "Dongfang Shuo, you see, it's not that I want to take people away; these young people chose them themselves."
"A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on, so it's only natural that they chose me, Mo Zezong!"
Dongfang Shuo was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Mo Zezong had gone to great lengths this time. The allure of the "Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing" was so strong that even he was a little alarmed, let alone these young cultivators.
Nangong Lie's eyes widened in fury. If it weren't for his concern for Mo Yan's cultivation level and the power of the Mo Ze Sect, he would have rushed forward to attack long ago.
Nangong Lie gently tugged at Dongfang Shuo's sleeve and whispered, "Don't be impulsive. Fighting head-on now won't do us any good. Let's calm down the rest of the people, especially Xiao Chen and Ling Xue."
Dongfang Shuo took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said loudly to the remaining cultivators: "Everyone! Although the Moze Sect is strong, it has always valued talent over loyalty and righteousness. Many disciples have been used as tools after entering the sect!"
"Although my Four Directions Sect has declined, it still boasts a thousand-year-old heritage. As long as you sincerely join the sect, we will never treat you unfairly."
"High-level cultivation techniques and resources are all available to you as long as you have the ability! Moreover, the sect will never force you to do anything against your conscience!"
His words caused some of the wavering cultivators to stop in their tracks, exchange glances, and begin to hesitate.
The reputation of the Four Directions Sect is indeed better than that of the Moze Sect, but its resources and cultivation techniques are slightly inferior.
Xiao Chen stood in the crowd, motionless from beginning to end. He looked calmly at the cultivators standing behind Mo Zezong.
Although the "Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing" is good, it is not what he wants. Moreover, he originally wanted to use the power of the Sifang Sect to deal with the Mo Ze Sect. How could he possibly join the enemy's sect?
Mo Yan scanned the crowd, noticing Xiao Chen and Ling Xue who remained motionless. A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, but he didn't think much of it.
After all, not everyone can resist the allure of the "Ze Ying Mi Zong Jing". It's just a pity for those two with good talent, but being able to recruit so many people is not a wasted trip.
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