Chapter Nine: Hatred at Its Peak

The Gate of Life and Death, before the mountain entrance, was abuzz with people.

“Are there actually people here to welcome us?” Zhou Qi asked with curiosity.

“No, junior brother, you’re mistaken. They're not here to welcome us. Those are disciples from the other four sects. We were delayed on our journey and must be the last to arrive,” Wan Yanwen replied.

“Then why don’t they go in? Why are they waiting at the gate?” Zhou Qi asked again.

“Of course, they're waiting for all five sects to arrive so we can enter together. The Gate of Life and Death is a superior sect to ours. They would never send someone to greet each sect individually. Only when all five have arrived will they send a Nascent Soul elder. That’s already giving us a great deal of honor,” Wan Yanwen said with a wry smile.

As the Zhengyi Sect’s flying artifact landed at the gate, all eyes turned their way.

A Golden Core cultivator stepped forward from the crowd—a disciple responsible for receiving guests from the Gate of Life and Death. He cupped his fists and said, “Thank you all for your patience, honored elders. I will go immediately and invite Elder Cui Peng.” With that, he departed ahead.

The crowd returned the gesture, expressing their thanks, and remained in place to wait.

It was only then that Zhou Qi began to observe those around him.

The leader of the Peach Blossom Sect was a dignified, elegant woman of middle age, her brows arched in a gentle smile. All her disciples were women, each lovely and graceful.

The Lingji Cave’s leader was a sinister-faced old man, looking much like Fifth Elder Xingwen. His disciples, young and old, wore expressions of pride.

The Unfeeling Pavilion’s leader appeared to be a young man, cold and distant, warning strangers away. His followers mirrored his demeanor, their faces blank.

The people from the Immortal Farmers’ Garden all looked like simple peasants, each wearing honest, cheerful grins.

“Fifth Elder, if you’d told me earlier, I could have given you a lift! Your flying artifact is dreadfully slow,” the old man from Lingji Cave said with a laugh.

“What’s the point of arriving early? You just end up waiting like everyone else,” Fifth Elder Xingwen replied, recognizing the mockery and responding with equal ambiguity.

His words left everyone speechless. The smiles of the Peach Blossom Sect and Immortal Farmers’ Garden froze, and even the Unfeeling Pavilion’s cold leader nearly lost his composure.

Zhou Qi marveled at Fifth Elder’s skill—one sentence and he had managed to offend all four sects at once.

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“Hmph, Fifth Elder, you really are fortunate. If not for a devoted disciple bringing you rare mountain ganoderma, I doubt you’d see next year,” the Lingji Cave elder continued to jeer.

“All disciples of Zhengyi Sect love and respect one another, young and old alike. Offering a rare herb is nothing. Even if saving me cost them their lives, their brows wouldn’t even twitch. Not like your Lingji Cave, sigh…” Fifth Elder let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

“You…” The Lingji Cave elder was nearly undone. He had intended to mock, but was no match for the Fifth Elder’s sharp tongue, and was left fuming.

“Ah, young man, were you the one who found the mountain ganoderma for Fifth Elder? So young, and already so outstanding, so dignified!” the Immortal Farmers’ Garden leader suddenly asked, pointing at Zhou Qi.

At once, everyone turned to look at Zhou Qi.

He wished he could vanish on the spot. Why drag him into this quarrel?

With no choice, he cupped his fists and greeted them, “Disciple Zhou Qi greets all elders, senior brothers, and sisters!”

“My, so handsome and well-mannered, and loyal to his sect as well. If only he were born in Peach Blossom Sect!” the elegant woman sighed.

“Elder Qian Yin, doesn’t your sect only accept female disciples? Or are you interested in male disciples now?” the Immortal Farmers’ Garden elder teased.

“What difference does it make? If he joined us, turning him into a woman would not be difficult,” Elder Qian Yin quipped, winking at Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi instinctively stepped back, truly startled.

Fifth Elder Xingwen stepped in front of Zhou Qi and addressed the crowd sternly, “I know some of you resent the means by which I was saved. If you have an issue, come at me, not this junior.”

“We mean no harm. We just wished to show a little extra care for such an extraordinary disciple,” the Lingji Cave elder said with a rare smile, as the four sects took the rare opportunity to gang up together. The Fifth Elder’s words were so infuriating that seeing him defensive for his disciple made the wait more amusing.

After his warning, the elders refrained from teasing Zhou Qi further—any more and Fifth Elder might lose his temper, which would be pointless, since there were no resources to be won by fighting now.

Still, several disciples stole glances at Zhou Qi from time to time, doubtless under orders to show this promising young man some “extra care.”

Zhou Qi felt the pressure mount. The competition hadn’t even begun and he was already the center of attention. Was it really wise to have the Fifth Elder lead Zhengyi Sect?

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He didn’t even have a single friend here, not even on the surface.

After a long wait, a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived, accompanied by four or five Golden Core cultivators, flying in on their swords.

It was none other than Elder Cui Peng of the Gate of Life and Death.

From a distance, Cui Peng cupped his hands and greeted them with a broad smile, “Fellow Daoists, you have traveled far and endured hardship. Alas, sect affairs kept me busy and made you wait. Please accept my apologies.”

“Elder Cui, you flatter us. You’re burdened with important affairs, yet still come to greet us. I am truly touched,” the Lingji Cave elder said, his face earnest, eyes even glistening with what looked like tears.

The elders from Peach Blossom Sect, Unfeeling Pavilion, and Immortal Farmers’ Garden all protested that they dared not accept such honor, their manner humble. Even Fifth Elder Xingwen acted meekly, the earlier arrogance gone.

Zhou Qi was dumbfounded. Even though they were all Nascent Soul elders, the five sects’ attitude was so deferential. But on reflection, it was not surprising: to the five sects, the Gate of Life and Death was their benefactor. Even a Golden Core cultivator from there could not be offended.

After some polite exchanges, Elder Cui led the five sects’ leaders away—since they were all Nascent Soul cultivators, he would see to their arrangements personally.

The remaining disciples of each sect were then led by a Golden Core cultivator to their temporary lodgings.

The Zhengyi Sect disciples followed Liu Piaopiao, patiently listening as the Golden Core cultivator explained various sights along the way.

Upon entering the Gate of Life and Death, they saw clouds of multicolored light, auspicious energy rising everywhere. Mighty spirit beasts frolicked, rare medicinal herbs of every hue bloomed with vitality, and after traveling dozens of miles, they passed the Armory Pavilion, Medicine Hall, Sutra Library, and more—everywhere, the strength of the Gate of Life and Death was on display.

Coming from Zhengyi Sect, it felt like stepping into a grand, opulent garden for the first time.

The Golden Core cultivator guiding them was named Shen Bai. Seeing how beautiful Liu Piaopiao was, he tried to impress her, dragging out the walk from the mountain gate to their temporary quarters to over an hour.

At last, they bid farewell to the overly enthusiastic Shen Bai and settled in, reflecting on the battles to come. Today, Fifth Elder had drawn all possible enmity upon them, so Zhengyi Sect would undoubtedly face a tough fight. Still, looking at the pitiable Junior Brother Zhou, everyone’s spirits lifted a little!