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

Chapter 472 Birds of a feather flock together
At the summit of the sacred mountain, beside the snow-covered pool.

The Great Sage of the Overturning Seas, whose dragon body was coiled like a mountain range, moved slightly, and his golden giant eyes looked down.

In his field of vision, the once empty snowfield was now filled with a dense mass of figures, like a swarm of ants that had suddenly appeared at the entrance of his nest.

A surge of anger, as if he had been tricked, slowly rose within his massive body.

"Chen Ye!"

His voice wasn't loud, yet it exploded in Chen Ye's ears like an invisible thunderclap, causing the entire sacred mountain to hum. He pointed at the hundreds of cultivators who were bowing respectfully from miles away and questioned them:

"Are you crazy?"

Chen Ye, however, seemed not to feel the oppressive aura. He calmly approached the Great Sage Overturning the Sea and respectfully introduced, "Great Sage, there are a total of 134 people, all of whom are my friends, disciples, and students. I have brought them all."

The Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas twitched angrily, and the surrounding air instantly froze like ice.

"One hundred and thirty-four people?" He practically spat out the words through gritted teeth. "You want me to believe that sixty-seven of these mortals can cultivate magical power? Chen Ye, you think you can joke with me just because you received the inheritance of Ksitigarbha?"

“Great Sage, you’ve misunderstood.” Chen Ye’s expression was extremely serious. “If it were really a joke, I would have brought tens of thousands of members of the Yellow Springs Sect with me.”

What he said wasn't untrue. If it weren't for the fact that ordinary people couldn't reach the summit of this sacred mountain, the true forms of the City God's Yin Soldiers would also have difficulty leaving the area. He really wanted the Great Sage of the Overturning Sea to go directly to Fengdu City and hold a grand gathering of ten thousand cultivators.

The hundred-plus people in front of us were the result of careful selection. There were not only elites from the Yellow Springs Sect, but also fellow Daoists from the Qinghe Sword Sect, the Yunlu Immortal Sect, and Tianxin Island, and even a few rogue cultivators from the Hundred Seas Valley.

Seeing that the aura of the Great Sage Overturning the Sea was becoming increasingly dangerous, Chen Ye quickly explained, "Great Sage, think carefully. The more people I bring, the more difficult it will be for more than half of them to succeed in their cultivation. The higher the chance that I will lose the bet, the more likely it is for you to win without losing."

"Moreover, even if all of us over a hundred people learn it and practice breathing exercises day and night, the magical power we can absorb will still be a drop in the ocean for the Great Sage. Moreover, the Great Sage only needs to get slightly angry to release such a vast amount of magical power. Rather than wasting it, wouldn't it be better to help others achieve their goals?"

That makes some sense.

Chen Ye was right. The more people there were, the greater his chances of winning that handful of multicolored stone fragments. Moreover, the combined absorption of these hundred or so mortals was probably less than the amount of energy he could exhale during a nap.

But he always felt something was wrong.

He, a dignified Great Sage of the Demon Clan, was completely outmaneuvered by a mere mortal. He had needlessly done the work of giving away hundreds of favors, only to win a few fragments of five-colored stones in return?
No matter how I calculate it, I feel like I've lost money even if I win the bet.

But the words had already been spoken; a great sage of the demon race couldn't simply go back on his word.

So what if we lose a little? I, the Holy One, want to see what kind of trouble these ants can cause!
"Humph!"

The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas snorted coldly and said no more. He suddenly opened his gigantic maw and let out a dragon roar that shook the heavens and the earth!

This dragon's roar was not a simple howl, but a sound containing the true meaning of the art of water control.

As the sound waves passed, the void trembled, and the entire lake of the snow pool was instantly stirred up, transforming into a water curtain that blotted out the sky, as if every drop of water was shimmering with mysterious runes.

For the cultivators present, this dragon's roar was both an unparalleled opportunity and a terrifying test.

In an instant, a judgment was made.

The three disciples with the weakest cultivation, Fu Lu Shou, didn't even have time to react. Their souls were like candles flickering in the wind, almost shattered on the spot by the power of the dragon's roar. Fortunately, Qu Heng was prepared. With a low shout, the phantom of the Crimson Dragon Buddha soared into the sky, firmly protecting the weaker disciples of the Yellow Spring Sect, thus saving them from the misfortune of being eliminated on the spot.

Clearly, these people were brought by Chen Ye to make up the numbers, simply because the Yellow Springs Sect had few disciples, so he brought everyone he could.

Meanwhile, the formations of the other sects instantly crumbled.

Only two people from the Qinghe Sword Sect arrived: Su Chunyi and Sheng Huai'an. Facing the dragon's roar, the two of them simultaneously unleashed an incomparably sharp sword intent, like two sharp swords stuck in a torrent, unmoved.

Although Chen Ye wanted to invite all of Yu Ji Dao Ren's disciples to come, for some reason, the sect leader seemed not very interested and only sent the two most talented members of the sect.

The Yunlu Immortal Sect and Tianxin Island presented a completely different scene. They had come at almost full strength, led by their sect leader, and were currently doing their best to organize their elite disciples to resist the terrifying pressure while desperately trying to comprehend the laws within the water curtain.

Especially the cultivators of Tianxin Island.

They were born with the blood of merfolk and were naturally drawn to water. When the dragon's roar, imbued with the Dao of Water Control, resounded, others felt a devastating pressure, but they felt a resonance deep within their bloodline.

There is such an exquisite method of water control in this world.

Tianxin Island's leader, Master Jiaoyue, looked at the vast expanse of water but did not immediately settle down to cultivate. Instead, he waited for Chen Ye to return and then respectfully bowed to him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Sect Leader Chen."

For thousands of years, Tianxin Island has produced very few "false immortals" who have been able to ascend to heaven. But now, a great path to becoming a "true immortal" is laid out before them.

How could Chen Ye be willing to give him fifty spots? This was something that Master Jiaoyue couldn't understand no matter how hard she tried.

This generous gift has exceeded the limits of what Tianxin Island can repay. Even if they emptied their treasure vaults and sent the White Whale warship to Chen Ye, it probably wouldn't be enough to repay this kindness.

Not long ago, many people on the island had grievances against Chen Ye because of the Guixu Formation, believing that he was the one who caused the failure of Guixu and that the Huangquan Sect was plotting to harm other sects in order to become the dominant force.

But when the news of Chen Ye's "destined connection with the immortals" came, no one on Tianxin Island dared to say a bad word about Chen Ye anymore.

No amount of explanation or lofty principles can change anything in the face of absolute self-interest.

With Chen Ye sending such a generous gift, who would dare to say he has any ulterior motives?
They wished they could erect a statue of Chen Ye and worship it day and night on Tianxin Island.

The situation at Yunlu Immortal Sect is even more complicated.

In the battle of Guixu Formation, they were also the main force, and the price they paid was devastating.

Many elite disciples, on whom high hopes were placed and who were supposed to become the pillars of the sect for the next few hundred years, passed away due to the exhaustion of their lifespans. This was not a simple loss in battle, but a blow that severely damaged the sect's vitality and even led to a shortage of capable successors.

In contrast, the Yellow Spring Sect, which participated from beginning to end, emerged unscathed.

Even though everyone knew that Mo Suixin and Pang Duoduo, the master and apprentice, had put in a lot of effort for this, the result of "zero casualties" was like a thorn deeply embedded in their hearts, forming a bloody contrast with the heavy losses suffered by the Yunlu Immortal Sect.

Privately, discontent and resentment were already brewing.

Therefore, when Chen Ye's letter about "fate to immortality" arrived, the Yunlu Immortal Sect's first reaction was not surprise, but suspicion.

In their view, this looked too much like a trap.

The Yellow Springs Sect just gave away fifty spots for the opportunity of a true immortal to preach.
The entire sect was in a state of panic, with some elders even asserting that this was a conspiracy by the Yellow Springs Sect to exterminate them.

However, after careful verification by the Five Elements Master, it was finally confirmed that there was no falsehood in the matter, and that it was done without any conditions attached.

Upon learning of this situation, the entire Yunlu Immortal Sect fell silent.

What followed was an overwhelming sense of shame.

It was like slapping everyone who hated Chen Ye and the Yellow Springs Sect across the face. It didn't hurt much, but it made them feel ashamed.

Before all the elders and core disciples, Sect Leader Wu Yun Zhenren let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with indescribable regret and self-mockery. "We cultivators cultivate our hearts and refine our virtues. Sect Leader Chen repays evil with kindness, his heart as vast as the sea, while we, with our petty minds, judge a gentleman by his own standards..." He slowly closed his eyes, his voice hoarse, "This destiny of immortality before me, I truly dare not accept!"

That being said, reason ultimately prevailed over emotion.

He could refuse personally, but as the sect leader who bore the weight of the sect's rise and fall, he could not miss this opportunity.

The Yunlu Immortal Sect must not miss this opportunity to become immortals.

Ultimately, with a mixture of shame and gratitude, the Yunlu Immortal Sect selected its most elite disciples to embark on the journey to listen to the lecture.

Now that the True Immortal has begun to preach, many disciples of the Yunlu Immortal Sect have already felt something and have begun to try to cultivate this spell.

Master Wuyun took a deep breath, his face a mixture of shame and determination, and was about to step forward to apologize to Chen Ye.

However, he had barely taken a step when a figure was faster than him.

A disciple of the Yunlu Immortal Sect rode on auspicious clouds and flew swiftly to Chen Ye. Without any hesitation, he knelt down with a "thump" and slammed his forehead heavily against his legs.

This sudden turn of events caused Chen Ye to frown slightly, and he quickly asked, "Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Please get up immediately."

The man did not rise, his voice trembling slightly as he mumbled, "Zeng Wenyu, a disciple of the Yunlu Immortal Sect, once spoke rudely and offended Sect Master Chen on the White Whale Ship. Now, Sect Master Chen has repaid evil with kindness and shown great magnanimity, bestowing upon us a great opportunity for immortality. I, Zeng, feel unworthy of such favor. Today, I have come to apologize to Sect Master Chen!"

Chen Ye was not very clear about the argument on the White Whale ship, nor did he take it to heart.

Given the humiliating defeat in the Battle of Guixu, it was perfectly normal for some people to harbor resentment. As long as no one did anything to substantially harm the Huangquan Sect, he couldn't be bothered to care.

However, Zeng Wenyu's public kneeling made Chen Ye feel an indescribable awkwardness and discomfort, as if he were being lifted up.

With such a large mobilization and under the watchful eyes of so many, how could he not forgive himself?

Although many people were already immersed in their cultivation, quite a few were still drawn to this scene and looked towards Chen Ye.

Is this a heartfelt confession or just a performance?
Chen Ye was too lazy to use the Great Transformation Technique to spy on him; he simply found the method rather pointless.

Chen Ye did not respond immediately to the man's apology. His gaze swept past Zeng Wenyu and landed on the crowd of Yunlu Immortal Sect members. He asked, "Where is my elder brother, Yu Shenxing? Why didn't he come with us?"

Within the Yunlu Immortal Sect, Yu Shenxing was Chen Ye's only true friend, whom he addressed as a brother. Moreover, Yu Shenxing genuinely treated him as a brother, always standing by his side without hesitation and doing his utmost to protect him in crucial moments.

Logically speaking, regardless of Yu Shenxing's qualifications, based solely on this friendship, Master Wuyun would not possibly refuse to give Yu Shenxing a spot. A sect leader wouldn't be unaware of such basic social etiquette.

Zeng Wenyu, kneeling on the ground, stiffened, lowered his head even further, and his voice was filled with undisguised shame:

“Junior Brother Yu should have had a spot. But he said…” Zeng Wenyu’s speech slowed down, as if repeating words that made him feel ashamed, “He said that his talent was mediocre and he might not be able to pass the test of a True Immortal. And this is a gamble between Sect Master Chen and a True Immortal. He would rather not come than be the one to hinder your chances of winning. So… so this time, Yunlu Immortal Sect only sent forty-nine people.”

Upon hearing this explanation, Chen Ye immediately forgot his discomfort at being morally blackmailed and felt a warm feeling welling up in his chest.

This is the good brother he recognized.

The immortal was preaching the Dharma, such a tremendous opportunity for immortality, but Yu Shenxing's first consideration was not whether he could attain enlightenment, but whether it would affect his brother's bet.

To others, this might seem like utter foolishness. But in Chen Ye's eyes, it was the kind of sincere heart worth risking one's life for.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Chen Ye suddenly felt that the fact that he was able to gather more and more people like this around him might just mean that he was doing a good job.

Those who are virtuous will receive much help.

If Chen Ye were to do anything significant in the future, Yu Shenxing would undoubtedly stand by Chen Ye's side and provide full support with just a word.

There will be more and more people like this, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation created by Chen Ye will become more and more stable.

As for Zeng Wenyu, who was still kneeling in front of him, Chen Ye felt no emotion and simply waved his hand dismissively.

"Get up, let's leave it at that."

After saying that, he didn't look at Zeng Wenyu again.

Although Zeng Wenyu was forgiven by Chen Ye, many people still looked at him with disdain.

After all, many of the people present were witnesses on the White Whale ship. Zeng Wenyu's slander against Chen Ye at the time was extremely vicious, and now Zeng Wenyu is shamelessly trying to compete for the Immortal Fate, which is naturally despicable.

But Zeng Wenyu didn't care at all.

He wasn't truly apologizing; he was just putting on an act so he could focus on his spiritual practice.

Although Chen Ye didn't seem to have truly accepted his apology, he had already declared in front of everyone that the matter was over and he probably wouldn't cause him any trouble openly.

Right and wrong, morality, face and reputation—none of these matter in the face of divine destiny.

Zeng Wenyu can be discarded; as long as he can pass the test of the True Immortal, he will ascend to heaven in one step.

Many people hold this view: everything else is superficial; cultivation is the only real thing.

Therefore, in no time, everyone was immersed in cultivation, silently practicing the water control technique, drawing magical power from the misty water and integrating it into themselves.

Chen Ye first approached the disciples of his own sect and observed them carefully.

Unfortunately, no one else could comprehend and absorb magical power as quickly as he could.

Even Fang Hao, Chen Ye's eldest disciple on whom he had placed high hopes, seemed to have encountered obstacles. The same was true for Pang Duoduo and Mo Suixin, the master and disciple duo. They could only sit in meditation with furrowed brows, but Chen Ye could sense that the magical power flowed through their bodies without leaving a trace.

The words of the Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas were not an exaggeration at all. Chen Ye and Fei Lian were both special and could not be compared with ordinary mortals.

For others, getting started is harder than climbing to heaven.

I just said that people are grouped by their kind, but it seems that this only refers to character, not aptitude for cultivation.

Just as he was sighing, he suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Why are you frowning, sir?"

Chen Ye turned his head and saw Su Chunyi standing behind him.

Chen Ye asked in surprise, "Why aren't you cultivating? Have you encountered some difficulties? Tell me quickly."

Su Chun shook his head and said, "This True Immortal's magical power is immense. My cultivation level is too low to absorb that much. It is already overflowing. I need to wait for the magical power to merge with the sword energy in my body. I can no longer cultivate."

Chen Ye sensed something was amiss after hearing this.

Su Chunyi means... she's already able to absorb magical power?!

(End of this chapter)