Sect Leader! Please strengthen our Dao Sect!

The young disciples listened attentively. These inexperienced youths loved to hear their elders recount stories of the cultivation world. The more bloody and turbulent the events, the more thrilling they found them.

I just wonder if these passionate young people will still be so spirited when they actually encounter danger or crisis?

"And then, Master? What was your cultivation level back then?"

One of the disciples couldn't help but urge him on.

"Back then, I was at the same level as you, only at the third level of Qi Refining. But at that time, the Immortal Sect had just been established, and we didn't have any Foundation Establishment True Persons to oversee things. The sect's resources were limited, unlike you who were so lucky that you could still cultivate properly within the sect at the third level of Qi Refining without having to go out to take on missions."

Now, all these years have passed, and I, your master, have only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. I don't know if I will be able to achieve perfection in this lifetime and attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm that everyone yearns for!

The middle-aged man was relatively open-minded and showed no signs of sadness. Perhaps it was because he was relatively young and still held some hope for the future, however slim it might be.

"Master, please continue!"

"hehe……"

"At that time, my life was hanging by a thread, and I felt that I was going to die in Qingyang County."

"But then I witnessed a strike I will never forget in this lifetime! The magnificence of that strike, I have never seen again, yet it lingers in my memory!"

At this point, the middle-aged cultivator couldn't help but sigh deeply, as if he were lost in deep memories, pulled back to that time by that amazing scene in his memory.

"At the time, I only saw that the person was wearing the official uniform of a county constable, and I did not know his identity."

Later, when we inquired with your ancestor, who is also our sect leader, we learned that he was a... True Man!

"Hiss~"

All the disciples gasped in astonishment; they had never witnessed the prowess of a Foundation Establishment True Person.

They are a small immortal sect, whose leader is only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and has been stuck at the peak of the eighth level for more than ten years.

Even so, they were still powerful cultivators whom they could only look up to but never reach. As for Foundation Establishment True Persons, they were just legendary figures to them!

"And that person is no ordinary immortal; he has an extremely resounding title—Heavenly Blade Connecting Mountains!"

With him in charge of Qingyang County, who would dare to be arrogant? Even the most petty and despicable would not dare to act recklessly.

"Heavenly Blade? That's certainly imposing, but isn't it a bit too arrogant?"

It was unclear which disciple had spoken, but the middle-aged cultivator, who had been all smiles just moments before, immediately turned cold. After glancing around, he whispered a rebuke: "Don't talk nonsense! How dare a junior like you slander a Foundation Establishment True Person?"

Furthermore, this title was not imposed on Wu County Magistrate by himself, but was recognized by the people of Jiangnan Prefecture.

How arrogant this man is! If Magistrate Wu didn't truly possess unparalleled talent, how could he have earned such a title?

"I know I was wrong!" The disciple realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly admitted his mistake.

"Sigh~ This Immortal Treasure Gathering has brought together all the major immortal sects in Jiangnan Prefecture. It's just to broaden your horizons."

Remember, loose lips sink ships. Don't be as carefree as you were inside. Do you understand?

"Your disciple will remember this!"

"Huh? Master, didn't you say there were no registered immortal sects in Qingyang Prefecture? Then how come people have boarded the ship?"

It was unclear which sharp-eyed disciple spotted a young man in a Taoist robe, followed by a girl and several boys.

Their treasure ship is specially designed to transport disciples of immortal sects; ordinary rogue cultivators, merchants, and those not registered with immortal sects are not allowed to board it.

"Hmm? If I remember correctly, there used to be one in Qingyang County... no, it seems there was one."

The middle-aged cultivator's expression changed drastically, as if he was recalling the Tianyi Sect, which had caused quite a stir more than a year ago.

Shen Shanshui, who had just boarded the treasure ship, suddenly felt someone watching him.

The other person's attire clearly indicated that they were from a cultivation sect. Shen Shanshui didn't approach them to chat, but simply smiled, cupped his hands in greeting, and gave a brief hello.

The middle-aged cultivator in the distance was clearly stunned for a moment, then hurriedly cupped his hands in a gesture that looked somewhat comical due to his nervousness.

The disciples standing nearby were puzzled, wondering why their master was so nervous when he saw the young man in the Taoist robe.

"Tsk tsk... Just as rumored!"

The middle-aged cultivator suddenly felt a surge of emotion in his chest, and an inexplicable sense of pride welled up within him, causing him to straighten his chest involuntarily.

"This trip was quite lucky; I actually ran into this person."

"That is a genuine Taoist master, known as the Mountain and Water Taoist. Moreover, this master has an excellent reputation in our Jiangnan Prefecture and is famously approachable."

"You all saw it just now, the real person bowed to me!"

The middle-aged cultivator could hardly contain his smile. To be treated with such courtesy by a Foundation Establishment True Person, even if it was just a simple greeting, was a rare privilege that few others could experience. Perhaps he could even absorb the True Person's immortal aura, allowing his cultivation to advance rapidly.

The disciples were bewildered. None of the immortal sects they had encountered along the way had a true immortal accompanying them, yet they had met one here?

But that person looked too young, not much older than them.

……

Shen Shanshui was unaware that, despite rarely appearing in the secular world, he now had a very good reputation in Jiangnan Prefecture.

All of this is thanks to Li Kaishan, the elder in charge of handling the affairs of the Immortal Craftsmen.

Since the other party and Shen Shanshui completed a transaction for a prefabricated main hall.

The Immortal Craftsmen seemed to have seen the other party's potential, believing that the other party could sell the unsold Immortal Hall from the hands of a Foundation Establishment True Person, and thus gave Li Kaishan a huge boost in sales targets.

But other immortal sects with Foundation Establishment cultivators in charge are not as poor as Shen Shanshui, and are also quite difficult to talk to.

Trying to sell a pre-made thing? Are they looking down on our immortal sect? This caused Li Kaishan to run into obstacles everywhere.

After each setback, Li Kaishan would remark on the approachable nature of the Taoist priest.

Over time, some disciples of the Immortal Craftsmen Sect became increasingly curious about the Mountain and Water Taoist, and the rumors they spread became more and more outrageous.

In addition, the Immortal Craftsmen Sect was one of the immortal sects that had relatively more interaction with the outside world, so Shen Shanshui's reputation spread inexplicably.

Even before that, when the Tianyi Sect opened its doors to accept disciples, some of the rejected young people said that the Mountain and Water Daoist's disciple-acceptance test was simply asking the impossible.

Such negative comments were severely criticized by a group of cultivators who had never met Shen Shanshui.

Li Kaishan boldly stated that these were all rumors about Shanshui Daoren deliberately spread by some heartless people.

Shortly thereafter, Li Kaishan was ambushed by an unknown cultivator while out handling some business.

Upon hearing this news, many cultivators suddenly realized what was happening. Wasn't this blatant revenge?

So what Elder Li of the Immortal Craftsmanship Sect said was true! It's just that some True Immortals are petty and can't stand seeing others have a good reputation.

Shen Shanshui was completely unaware of the good-natured Foundation Establishment Venerable who was praised by countless cultivators.

"Fatty...no, Handsome, it's time to go home!"

"Gentlemen, once we reach Jiangling City, I, the Marshal, will show you my true strength!"

Qian Duoduo was extremely excited. The mountain gate of the Immortal Craftsmen Sect was located in Jiangling City, which was his territory!

He originally came to Qingyang County just to spite his family. He never expected to undergo such a dramatic transformation; when he goes back, won't he dazzle some people?