One person: Orochi, starting with Feng Baobao's Eight Heroes.

The sidelines erupted in excitement. The young disciples whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and longing as they looked at Chen Qi.

The two Taoist priests from Wudang exchanged a glance, and Hongyin whispered.

"We must report this to the sect leader as soon as possible."

Chen Qi walked slowly to the center of the field and looked around at everyone.

"As you all have seen, this is the immortal technique of the Tiantong Sect."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Tiantong Sect".

Lu Jin frowned.

"Brother Chen, if your shrine doesn't invite the Five Immortals of the Yin-Yang School, I'm afraid..."

"Brother Lu."

Chen Qi interrupted him.

"The San Yi Sect emphasizes the cultivation of both body and spirit, but what do you think of the power of that white ape immortal just now?"

Lu Jin was speechless.

He recalled the thunderous power he had just witnessed, and his heart wavered.

Lu Ci suddenly spoke.

"If only I had that kind of power that night at the Yamato Hotel..."

These words struck Lu Jin's heart like a heavy hammer.

He recalled the encounter half a month ago; if it weren't for good luck, they would have all perished long ago.

The path of cultivation is certainly important, but what is the point of cultivation if you lose your life?

"Brother Chen, I want to join your gang."

This statement is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Lu Ci immediately answered.

"Count me in!"

Fengping also squeezed forward.

"And I!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Chen Qi's face.

"Good, very good. Those who want to join, please line up to register. We will hold the altar tonight to invite the immortals."

Chaos erupted on the sidelines as the young cultivators rushed toward Chen Qi.

Only two Taoist priests from Wudang and a few elderly people stood there, their faces full of worry.

Meanwhile, deep in the Changbai Mountains.

In the darkness, two bright yellow lanterns suddenly lit up.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be a pair of vertical pupils. Amidst the rustling sound of scales rubbing together, a giant python as thick as a water bucket slowly swam out of the cave.

It was entirely black, except for a striking gold line on its forehead.

"The Master of the Heavenly Passage Sect..."

The giant python flicked its tongue, the sound like the turning of an old door hinge.

"To dare to set up a shrine without inviting the Five Immortals of Yin and Yang, what audacity!"

It raised its head and looked south.

"White ape... Thunder... Hmph, do you think my shamanic lineage has no one?"

The shadow beneath the giant python suddenly twisted and writhed, splitting into dozens of smaller snakes.

These small snakes were completely transparent, like crystal carvings, and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

"Go and find out the background of this Tian Tong Sect Leader."

The giant python said coldly.

"If those old fogies cause trouble... let them know that Changbai Mountain is not a place for outsiders to run wild!"

A soft chuckle came from deep within the cave, followed by a seductive female voice.

"Why be angry, elder brother? He's just an arrogant junior who doesn't know his place..."

"Shut up!"

The giant python turned its head, and the golden threads suddenly burst forth with a dazzling red light.

"The five great immortal families have ruled the shamans for a thousand years; how can others be allowed to overstep their bounds?"

The woman's voice immediately fell silent.

　637 The giant python coiled up like a mountain, gazing at the dark clouds gradually gathering in the southern sky, its eyes filled with a chilling aura.

"The weather's about to change..."

At the foot of the mountain, Chen Qi seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up towards the direction of Changbai Mountain.

He curled the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Did you spot it? Perfect timing..."

He turned to face the long line of young cultivators, and his voice suddenly rose.

"Tonight at midnight, I will personally set up an altar for you all! As long as you are sincere, you will surely be blessed by the immortals!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd.

Lu Jin stood in the line, looking at her trembling hands—a lingering effect from her earlier attempt to imitate Wang Ai's invocation of the immortals.

He recalled his master's teachings, feeling guilty, but was quickly overwhelmed by his desire for power.

"The cultivation methods of the Trinity Sect are too slow..."

He muttered to himself.

"With the help of the immortals, I will definitely be able to..."

Lu Ci patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't overthink it. In this world, the only real principle is to survive and become stronger."

Lu Jin nodded emphatically, the hesitation in his eyes completely disappearing.

Chapter 300 Disrespect for the Immortal Master

Behind him, Wang Ai stared fascinated at the occasional flashes of electricity in his palm, his chubby face filled with a manic smile.

In a dimension unseen by anyone, wisps of silvery-white energy seeped from the heads of these young people and drifted into Chen Qi's sleeves.

The cold wind howled, swirling snowflakes that lashed against the temple windows, making a rustling sound.

Inside the temple dedicated to the Python Immortal, incense smoke curled and candlelight flickered, illuminating Guan Shihua's stubborn face.

"Liao Hu Zi, you have to give me an explanation today!"

Guan Shihua slammed her hand on the offering table, causing the ashes in the incense burner to fly up.

"Why should Grandpa Liu refuse Wang Ai's request to help? Wang Ai is a genuine Qi-cultivating expert. In terms of cultivation and character, how is he not qualified? Not to mention, he also has a strong sense of national righteousness!"

Liao Hu rubbed his messy beard and sighed.

"My dear aunt, please calm down. Didn't Uncle Liu say that he was physically injured in the night raid on the Lion's Mouth naval port, and then he fought that Shuten-dōji, which greatly depleted his spiritual energy. He needs to rest..."

"fart!"

Guan Shihua's almond-shaped eyes widened.

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old? If Grandpa Liu was really that badly injured, could he have miraculously dealt with those bandits who broke into the village last week? Besides, Master Huang had already agreed to let Wang Ai join the gang, but Grandpa Liu insisted on rejecting it!"

Liao Hu Zi was speechless, and could only keep rubbing his beard.

Seeing this, Guan Shihua snorted coldly, pulled out a red rope from her waist, and quickly arranged it into a peculiar pattern on the offering table.

"You won't tell me, huh? I'll ask Master Huang myself!"

Liao Huzi was shocked to see this.

"Oh my little darling, please don't..."

Before she could finish speaking, Guan Shihua had already formed a hand seal and was chanting incantations.

"The sun sets in the west, darkness falls; the dragon departs from the long sea, the tiger descends from the high mountain... All immortals, heed my words, for today a disciple requests the presence of Master Huang..."

As the incantation for aiding the soldiers was chanted, the candlelight in the temple suddenly began to flicker violently, and a chilling aura surged in from all directions.

Liao Huzi took two steps back, his expression turning serious.

The incense ash in the incense burner moved automatically without wind, swirling and condensing in the air, gradually forming a blurry human shape.

Guan Shihua's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, but the hand seals on her hands remained perfectly in place.

"Master Huang, your disciple Guan Shihua has something to ask you!"

The incense ash gradually became clearer, transforming into the image of an old man wearing a yellow robe with a sinister face.

Those long, narrow eyes slowly opened, their pupils standing upright, like those of some kind of raptor.

"Little girl, what's bothering this old man now?"

Huang Ye's voice was hoarse with a sharp edge, like the sound of metal rubbing together.

Guan Shihua bowed respectfully.

"Master Huang, I would like to ask why Master Liu insisted on refusing Wang Ai's request to help? I really can't understand it."

The phantom of Master Huang flickered and let out a cold snort.

"That stubborn old man Liu Kunsheng said that Wang Ai was disrespectful to the immortal master."

"Disrespectful to the immortal master?"

Guan Shihua frowned.

"Wang Ai was always very respectful when she came to the temple to offer incense, how could this be..."

"I don't know the specific reason either."

Grandpa Huang waved his hand impatiently.

"Liu Kunsheng wouldn't elaborate, only sticking to this point. If you ask me, Wang Ai, as the eldest son of the Wang family, would be greatly beneficial to our southward expansion if he joined our camp. Unfortunately, Liu Kunsheng is completely unyielding..."

Liao Huzi suddenly interrupted.

"Master Huang, is Master Liu still thinking about the promise he made to Emperor Qianlong back then?"

The illusory figure of Master Huang paused, a shadow falling over his eyes.

"Hmph! Still holding onto such old, trivial matters? How pedantic! Refusing the invitation from the Japanese Shintoists back then was a wise move, but refusing to expand southward now...foolish!"

Guan Shihua keenly noticed the information in Master Huang's words and was about to ask him a question when she saw Master Huang's illusory figure suddenly turn towards the temple gate, his vertical pupils contracting.

"By the way, there's something you need to be aware of."

Master Huang's voice suddenly lowered.

"A madman has appeared on our territory, setting up his own sect and calling himself the Master of the Heavenly Connection Sect. The immortals of both the Yin and Yang paths are in an uproar and are preparing to cause trouble for that fellow."

Liao Huzi gasped.

"Who is so bold?"

"I was planning to go and take a look."

"Master Huang's phantom image began to become unstable."

　(Wang Hao Zhao) "But when I heard the little girl mention the name Tian Tong, I remembered that the Taoist name of that kid named Chen Qi was Tian Tong..."

Master Huang's voice suddenly became serious.

"The last time we locked eyes, I had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen. The affairs of the hall are more important, so I won't get involved in this matter."

The incense ash figure began to dissipate, and Master Huang gave his final instructions.