Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 284 Frankness

Chen Ye led Mo Suixin and Pang Duoduo into Fengdu City.

No one knows whose idea it was, but tens of thousands of people and ghosts were already kneeling on both sides of the road.

When Chen Ye entered the city, the crowd shouted, "Welcome back, Sect Leader!"

Hundreds of City Gods of various appearances stood respectfully on both sides. Those figures, which were often several meters tall, showed humble expressions. Incense and spiritual energy mingled together, transforming into countless flowing light and shadow in mid-air.

This atmosphere made Chen Ye feel as if he were a celestial emperor inspecting his heavenly palace.

Such a grand display left Pang Duoduo utterly astonished.

Chen Ye only felt embarrassed. He was not a person who liked pomp and circumstance, and what was the point of mortals and underworld spirits calling each other "Sect Master"? They were not disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect.

But Chen Ye also understood that this was a necessary ritual.

It's not just about welcoming Chen Ye back, but also symbolizes the Huangquan Sect entering the next stage of development.

The Azure Dragon Lord's severed corpse is still outside the city. The outcome of this battle will soon spread throughout the world. Even if no one spreads the news, Qu Heng will do everything he can to get it out.

This was the Demon Lord of Lietian Mountain, who could fight three opponents at once without being at a disadvantage, yet he had half his body torn off outside Fengdu City and suffered such a severe injury.

These are real achievements and real skills.

In this way, the Yellow Springs Sect would no longer be a so-called minor sect, but a true major sect that could stand on equal footing with the five major sects.

Chen Ye disliked pomp and circumstance, but he represented the Yellow Springs Sect, and his pomp and circumstance reflected the sect's image.

The more people share the same boat, the more they care about this shared glory, and the more they will spontaneously protect the Yellow Spring Sect.

It unites people's hearts and boosts morale... the benefits are numerous.

Therefore, a certain amount of pomp and circumstance is still necessary, especially in front of "outsiders".

Although Pang Duoduo and Mo Suixin were from the Burning Incense Sect and had seen the world, they still couldn't hide their surprise when they walked from the city gate to the Yellow Springs Palace.

They were not only surprised by the power of the Yellow Springs Sect, but also by how Chen Ye had built such a large foundation in just over a year.

Is he really just a rogue cultivator?

Pang Duoduo said directly to Mo Suixin, "Your little lover is quite secretive. The one who made the move just now was probably at the Dao Integration Realm."

Mo Suixin shook her head and said, "The Dao Integration Realm?! That's impossible, Master. You can't possibly not even be able to sense how many people in the world are at the Dao Integration Realm."

Diviners predict the most important events in the world. Every person who has attained the Dao is already out of place in the world, and it is almost impossible to conceal the secrets of heaven.

Why do both the righteous and demonic sects know that Zhang Qi's days are numbered?

It's because Zhang Qi simply couldn't hide it.

The last arrangement at Rift Mountain was supposedly a joint effort by the five major sects to cover up the secrets of heaven. In reality, it was just a little vague, making it hard for people to see clearly, but no one thought it could really deceive the Demonic Sect.

It was all just a test. When the Azure Dragon Lord made his move, he knew it might be a trap, but someone always had to test it out.

Therefore, only the Azure Dragon Lord made a move at Rift Sky Mountain, while the other demons remained inactive.

If the Yellow Springs Sect truly had a Dao Integration Realm expert, it's impossible for the world not to know about it.

Pang Duoduo said, "His realm may not be truly in harmony with the Dao, but he relies on the incense offerings and prayers of the entire Northern Frontier. In the Northern Frontier, he can unleash the abilities of the Dao-Harmony Realm. The Yellow Spring Sect is really hiding its strength too deeply. With this person in charge, they are not only on par with the five major sects, but can also compete for the position of the leader of the righteous path after Zhang Qi."

Mo Suixin was momentarily dazed upon hearing this.

When they first met at Baihai Valley, Chen Ye was only at the Qi Sea Realm and had to learn divination from him.

In the blink of an eye, he became the leader of a sect and the head of the righteous path.

Mo Suixin couldn't help but say to Pang Duoduo, "Master, am I under an illusion? This is too unreal." Pang Duoduo looked up at the sky and said, "Illusions... there really are. Look closely, the bright lights and shadows are extremely sophisticated illusions, and they seem to have some connection with the Mirage Sect."

This avenue leads directly to the Yellow Springs Palace, and along the way, dazzling colors illuminate the path ahead. These are all grand scenes created by the Mirage Demon Clan, and Pang Duoduo naturally recognized the origin of the illusion at a glance.

Pang Duoduo couldn't help but exclaim, "This Yellow Springs Sect has so many secrets; it's even more powerful than I imagined."

"Master, then you..."

Mo Suixin wanted to ask Pang Duoduo if she wanted to join the Yellow Springs Sect.

She really didn't want to go back to Qingguan Mountain with Pang Duoduo and die in that rotten, poisonous ruin.

But if Pang Duoduo really insists on going her own way, Mo Suixin will have no choice but to follow his master and die for the Burning Incense Sect.

It looks silly, even though Pang Duoduo never asked Mo Suixin to die with her.

But Pang Duoduo herself was the same; the Fenxiang Sect had already fallen into ruin, and no one asked her to die for the Fenxiang Sect.

Ultimately, it's just a matter of keeping incense, and it's something that those who follow the righteous path should do.

Pang Duoduo naturally knew what Mo Suixin was thinking, but she didn't respond. She just patted her head and said, "It's too early to talk about these things now. Be prepared. You might hear many great secrets of the Yellow Springs Sect later. At that time, it won't be a question of whether we should die or not, but whether the Yellow Springs Sect will allow us to die."

Pang Duoduo saw it clearly: Chen Ye had gone to great lengths to save people, even putting himself in danger, and the Yellow Spring Sect had a Dao Integration Realm expert in charge. How could they let the two of them leave so easily? It didn't make sense either in terms of reason or emotion.

Despite Chen Ye's seemingly more righteous than the righteous path, he couldn't possibly be just an ignorant young man who built such a large empire in such a short time.

The Yellow Springs Palace was already in sight, and Chen Ye politely invited the two to the thirty-third floor.

Besides Chen Ye, Qu Heng was also waiting there early on.

Chen Yexian invited the two to sit down, and then introduced them, saying, "This is my grandmaster, Qu Heng."

Pang Duoduo laughed and said, "I heard from my disciple that Sect Master Chen was originally a rogue cultivator, but your grandmaster doesn't seem to be self-taught."

Qu Heng smiled and said, "Indeed, it can't be hidden from your eyes. I have obtained the inheritance of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect, so I can be considered a member of the demonic sect."

Pang Duoduo's expression changed, and Mo Suixin exclaimed in shock, "The Crimson Serpent Sect... the Crimson Serpent of Hundred Seas Valley..."

Qu Heng glanced at Chen Ye, who said helplessly, "Miss Mo, let me explain. The Crimson Serpent at that time was indeed a scheme prepared by our grandmaster to force the five major sects to back down..."

Chen Ye recounted the events at Baihai Valley in detail, including Qu Heng's later trickery into going to the Northern Frontier to sabotage the Nirvana Sect's plot. He even confessed to the two that his master, Mo Ci, also came from the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect.

Both Mo Suixin and Pang Duoduo were shocked by the twists and turns of the story after hearing it.

Pang Duoduo asked, "So, back in Baihai Valley, you had no idea that this Fellow Daoist Qu was your grandmaster, yet you ruined his plan, only to later discover that you were both descendants of the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect."

Chen Ye smiled wryly and said, "That's indeed the case."

Qu Heng also sighed, "If it had been successful back then, I wouldn't have needed to run to this desolate northern frontier. My goal would have been to establish a sect directly in the Central Plains."

Qu Heng did not share Chen Ye's impartial attitude; he ultimately looked down on the people of the northern frontier and preferred the culture and customs of the Central Plains.

At this moment, Mo Suixin suddenly asked, "Then... does Su Chunyi know that you come from the Demonic Sect?"

Chen Ye shook his head and said, "Miss Su only knows the general idea. After the Nirvana Sect's blood sacrifice, the Qinghe Sword Sect sent people to the Northern Frontier to handle the aftermath. At that time, my master had already revealed his identity to them. However, at that time, I did not know that I was also from the Crimson Serpent Demon Sect. Later, I only met Miss Su a few times, and I didn't have time to explain in detail."

Chen Ye wasn't intentionally hiding anything; it's just that he genuinely never had time to explain in detail, as he's been constantly busy since founding his sect. He's mentioned it occasionally in his letters, but never in great detail.

Su Chunyi seemed uninterested in these matters and never asked about the Yellow Springs Sect.

Mo Suixin was delighted to hear this, as she hadn't expected to know a secret that even Su Chunyi didn't know.

Seeing that the time was right, Chen Ye got straight to the point and said to the two of them, "Senior Pang, Miss Mo, I would like to invite you both to join the Yellow Springs Sect. What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)