The Emperor of Zongmen Workers is here

The next morning, sunlight filtered through thin clouds, bringing a touch of warmth to the world. However, a thick layer of morning mist still hung over the towering, perpetually snow-capped Tingxue Peak. This mist drifted through the air like a veil, making everything around seem hazy and mysterious.

In this vast expanse of white, He Yihuan stood alone atop the peak. He stood tall and straight, his crimson robes fluttering in the wind, seemingly blending seamlessly into the boundless snowscape. His gaze, sharp as a sword, pierced through the layers of clouds ahead, locked firmly on the distant horizon. His brow furrowed slightly, his expression solemn, as if he were contemplating something extremely important.

"Hmm? There's something strange happening in the southwest..." He Yihuan murmured softly, subconsciously stretching out his fingers and rapidly calculating. His movements were skillful and graceful, each fingertip movement imbued with an indescribable rhythm. Clearly, he was performing some profound spell or mystical technique, attempting to decipher the message conveyed by the strange force emanating from the southwest.

After a long moment, He Yihuan's furrowed brow finally relaxed, his lips curling up slightly in a relieved smile. "So this is a sign that the Mysterious Bamboo Grove Realm is about to open!" he muttered to himself, his tone filled with excitement and anticipation. For a cultivator like him, entering the legendary Mysterious Bamboo Grove Realm and exploring it was undoubtedly a rare opportunity.

Just as He Yihuan was lost in thought, a faint but distinct wave suddenly entered his consciousness. His heart trembled, and he instantly realized that this was the link requested in the new sect's order. Without hesitation, he quickly connected his consciousness with it. Instantly, a familiar voice echoed in the depths of his mind—it was Li Qingtong's voice.

Li Qingtong's words were filled with anxiety and anticipation: "Uncle-master, when I was dealing with sect affairs just now, I vaguely sensed an abnormal energy fluctuation in the southwest direction. Unfortunately, with my cultivation level, I am unable to accurately deduce its source and significance. I wonder if you have found anything?" He Yihuan smiled slightly upon hearing this, and then replied in a steady and firm tone: "Don't worry, Junior-master Qingtong. According to my observation and judgment, this is a sign that the Youhuang Secret Realm is about to open." He Yihuan told Li Qingtong the information he had calculated, his voice calm and powerful.

"The Secret Bamboo Realm? The one that hasn't been open for over a thousand years?" Li Qingtong exclaimed in surprise, a hint of disbelief in her voice. She knew what this secret realm meant to the disciples of the Wuliang Sect. It was a legendary holy land for cultivation, filled with endless opportunities and challenges.

"You should hold a sect meeting now and inform everyone of this news." He Yihuan made the decision in a firm tone, his eyes revealing majesty and determination.

"It's my duty." Li Qingtong responded respectfully and humbly. As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes lightly, concentrated her mind, and used her powerful spiritual power to quickly pull the spiritual consciousness of the other twelve fellow disciples (brothers and sisters) into it according to the sect order.

In an instant, everyone's consciousness converged in one place, forming a virtual space, just like a unique gathering of teachers and students.

At this moment, a clear, melodious female voice rang out, "Junior Master, I've refined the Smiling Half-Step Madness you mentioned! We'll find someone to test it out later!" This voice, filled with excitement and joy, came from none other than Lin Muci. After years of diligent research and experimentation, she had finally succeeded in refining the new elixir Jiang Qingwu had mentioned. She couldn't contain her eagerness, eager to immediately verify its miraculous effects.

Then, another steady and slightly playful voice was heard: "Okay! Let's do Feng Ci. Let's do more experiments so that he can break through as soon as possible." The person who spoke was Jiang Qingwu. There was a hint of cynicism in his voice, as if he was very interested in the upcoming experiment, and at the same time, he had very high expectations for the effect that this new elixir could bring.

At this time, Lin Muci was enthusiastically sharing with Jiang Qingwu in the sect order the elixir he had just successfully refined. However, at this moment, an uninvited guest suddenly broke in - Li Qingtong interrupted their conversation in an extremely strong attitude.

Feng Ci, standing nearby, happened to overhear the words about using him to test the new elixir's effects. He paled with fear and cried out in agony, "Please spare me, Junior Master!" He was about to offer a few more words of pleas, but was silenced by Shi Chenbai's stern rebuke. Shi Chenbai smacked his lips in disapproval, saying, "Tsk tsk, be quiet!" Feng Ci dared not utter a single word, but could only silently pray that the so-called "Smiling Half-Step Madness" concocted by Second Senior Sister wouldn't be too outrageous.

Soon, Li Qingtong's steady, powerful voice echoed through the sect's command: "Everyone should be here now." Because of the crucial importance of this matter in the Youhuang Secret Realm, she spoke with exceptional solemnity and seriousness, and activated a mysterious phantom. Almost instantly, the other disciples noticed a distinct phantom of Li Qingtong appear before their eyes, as if she were standing before them, speaking face to face. Seeing this, everyone quickly followed suit, projecting their own phantoms into the phantom. Instantly, thirteen vivid phantoms, including her own, materialized one after another, each one filled with awe at the miraculous spectacle.

"I just sensed energy fluctuations in the southwest direction, but I couldn't figure out the reason. Later, I asked my uncle for help and found out that the Youhuang Secret Realm was about to open." Li Qingtong briefly informed the content of the sect meeting and paused for a moment. Everyone began to talk. Feng Jingchen lowered his eyes when he heard the word "southwest", and I don't know what he was thinking.

"Master, may I ask what the realm restrictions are for the Youhuang Secret Realm?" Feng Ci asked excitedly. It was no wonder he was so excited. After all, the secret realms opened over the past thirty years have all been relatively small, and only cultivators in the Qi Refining stage are eligible to enter. Their sect never competes with other sects for the opportunities within these small secret realms, relying entirely on internal resources to support their disciples' cultivation and growth. Feng Ci had heard about secret realm training from his elders since childhood, but had never been able to experience it himself. Naturally, he was filled with immense longing and yearning.

Before Li Qingtong could reply, Jiang Qingwu on the side had already answered: "As far as I know, it was recorded in ancient books that this secret realm allows cultivators from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Golden Core Stage to enter." Hearing this, Shi Chenbai could not help but shook his head and said helplessly: "I told you to read more books a long time ago, but you didn't listen. You kept clamoring to go for blacksmithing all day long. In terms of blacksmithing skills, you are not as good as your second senior brother; in terms of knowledge and cultivation, you are not as good as your junior uncle. I really don't know what to do with you!" As soon as these words came out, Feng Ci suddenly became like a deflated ball, and dared not say a word again.

"That's right. Because of this, the young disciples in the sect can basically meet the requirements, but Su Chen is the only one who is slightly inferior and has not yet reached the corresponding level of cultivation. Has he already started to choose the path? You know, with his rare innate Taoist body, once he completes the choice of the path, it will definitely be of great help to his subsequent practice. But, alas... forget it, Li Qinglian, you should pay attention to the situation of your own apprentice." Li Qingtong really didn't want to interfere too much in Li Qinglian's affairs, and said with an irritable look on his face.

"Alright!" Li Qinglian, still unimpressed, jokingly agreed, casually glancing at Su Chen's phantom. He was lost in thought, his mind lost in thought. "Alright, alright, we've said everything we need to say. Let's all go. Each of you should carefully consider yourselves. Although this secret realm won't open until six months from now, there's no need to rush into preparations."

Li Qingtong's words revealed a sense of relief, as if after passing on this news, the heavy sense of responsibility in his heart was finally lifted.

"Second Brother, please be sure to monitor and see if other sects have learned of this news. If there's still no word after a month, please spread the word so everyone can make adequate preparations." With Li Qingtong's words, the sect meeting officially came to a close. The illusory figures of the disciples gradually dissipated into thin air, leaving only the quiet, empty void.

"Okay." Shi Chenbai responded.

In reality, it wasn't that Li Qingtong was generous, but rather that the Wuliang Sect had always been considered a model for other sects. In this era of rapidly dwindling resources, if they failed to preserve some opportunities and hope for smaller sects, they might not even be able to send a single disciple to participate in the terrifying demonic tide four hundred years from now.

Thinking of this, Li Qingtong couldn't help but sigh deeply... Due to the sudden and drastic decline in resources, even minor sects have become coveted cultivation resources by demonic and evil cultivators. The scarcer the resources, the more chaotic the world becomes. When that happens, who will emerge victorious in the life-and-death struggle between good and evil? Will the scales of victory once again tilt towards justice? Everything remains uncertain...

"The Bamboo Realm? I've never heard of it..." Su Chen muttered to himself, and suddenly heard a slight sound of footsteps coming from outside the door. He quickly collected his thoughts and quickly regained his composure, fearing that his previous loss of composure would be noticed by others.

"Su Chen, you've been in our sect for over four months now. You've successfully drawn Qi into your body from your mortal form, and are now in the late stage of Qi Refining. Have you decided what to cultivate?" Li Qinglian leisurely sat down in front of him, sipping his tea and glancing at the young man in front of him, dressed in a glazed crimson robe.

Su Chen's face was well-proportioned, his skin fair with a hint of youthful rosiness, like the early summer sun, warm and full of vitality. His eyebrows were like carefully drawn ink, thick and stylish, and beneath them were a pair of clear eyes that sparkled with curiosity and longing for the world. Those eyes, dark and bright like the brightest stars in the night sky, curved into two crescents whenever he smiled, revealing an indescribable tenderness, but also often shrouded in a gloom...

His nose was straight, like a work of art meticulously crafted by a craftsman, and the slightly upturned corners of his mouth, always adorned with a faint smile, drew people in with his warmth. The boy's blue shirt swayed gently in the breeze, the cloud patterns embroidered on the hem seeming to dance with it, adding a touch of elegance.

The boy's black hair was casually tied up with a simple blue ribbon, with a few unruly strands hanging down in front of his forehead. He exuded a fresh scent of sunshine and grass, which made people involuntarily think of the spring fields, vast and full of vitality.

"Tsk." With this sigh, Li Qinglian turned his gaze to Su Chen in front of him. This was the first time in four months that he had examined this young disciple so carefully. It must be said that although Su Chen's appearance was not stunning, it was quite decent.

Su Chen was feeling uneasy at this moment. He mistakenly thought that his master was getting impatient waiting, so he quickly said, "Disciple wants to learn medicine and research poisons." There was a hint of urgency and determination in his voice.

Hearing this, Li Qinglian raised his eyebrows slightly and asked softly, "Researching poisons?" His tone was filled with a hint of surprise, as if he was surprised that Su Chen had come up with such an idea. Then, he said slowly, "That should be called studying the poison classics. We must not make any more mistakes."

After a brief pause, he continued, "However, this is a good choice. Our Wuliang Sect has always respected the unique talents of each disciple, and for you, there are no restrictions. No matter what skills you want to learn, you will be supported and encouraged. Since you have made this decision, then go and read all the medical and poison scriptures on Yaofeng! I will give you four months to memorize them all. If you encounter anything you don't understand, you can ask your Second Senior Sister for advice, or come to me directly."

"Yes!" Su Chen answered seriously. He stood straight, his eyes firm and focused, as if he regarded this sentence as a promise and responsibility.

Li Qinglian narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then spoke again: "Since you have chosen the path, I will give you another two months to complete the foundation building. During this period of time, you must go all out and not slack off in the slightest." His tone was calm, but the expectations contained in it were like a heavy burden on Su Chen's shoulders.

"Yes!" Su Chen nodded vigorously, indicating that he understood the difficulty of the task. However, at the same time, an invisible pressure suddenly surged into his heart... But then he thought, compared to before, being able to concentrate on cultivation now, isn't that much better? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, and a sense of comfort welled up in his heart.

"Practice well. If you encounter any problems or need help, you can contact me using the sect token. Also, if you feel hungry, take the Qigong pills to satisfy your hunger. Don't dwell on the delicious spiritual food your Uncle Pei makes. For the next six months, you must devote yourself to seclusion and practice, striving to catch up with the training in the Youhuang Realm." Li Qinglian casually tossed ten bottles of Qigong pills onto the table in front of Su Chen. Then, just as she had arrived, she leisurely waved her folding fan and gracefully turned to leave.

Su Chen looked at the ten bottles of Qigong pills before him and suddenly felt dizzy. He recalled the spiritual food he had once tasted, made by Master Pei himself. The delicious taste still lingered on his tongue, unforgettable. Now, looking at these bland Qigong pills, he couldn't help but sigh: It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality...