However, before a few people could adjust their emotions, another shocking event occurred.
A sudden noise came from the sect’s entrance, which made Qiong Yao and the others feel a sense of alarm.
The Wudang Sect being attacked was not an infrequent occurrence.
"The Xiaoyao Sect’s Elder requests an audience with the Wudang Sect Leader!"
"The Sanhua Valley’s Elder brings gifts to respectfully meet the Wudang Sect Leader!"
"The Steward of Wuhou Mountain comes to Mount Wudang to pay respects!"
...
Soon after, one notification after another came from the mountain gate.
Qiong Yao and the others listened in disbelief; these people were not here to attack Mount Wudang but to pay respects? To send gifts?
The sun must have risen in the west! Here, there weren’t just small sects but also some powerful Great Sects.
"Let’s go, we should greet them!" Qiong Yao said.
According to the disciple reporting, most of these people were elders and stewards, not of low status.
Though they could see a rough approximation from a distance, they were still shocked upon arriving at the mountain gate.
There were indeed many visitors, representing dozens of sects, each with at least five or six people, and some even bringing dozens of disciples. The mountain road from the gate was completely blocked.
The loose cultivators living on the mountain came out to investigate and were even more astonished by this scene!
These loose cultivators, known for their mediocre qualifications, were not welcomed by other sects, which is why they came to Wudang to try their luck.
But now, those mighty Great Sects and powerful forces that once shut them out revealed humble expressions to present gifts to the Wudang Sect. Though they hadn’t yet become Wudang’s disciples, the frustration in their hearts dissipated significantly.
Each held their head high, with a slight look of pride, feeling as if they were Wudang sect members.
"Elders, Stewards, you have come from afar, forgive Wudang for not being the best host. Please, let’s gather in the great hall!" Qiong Yao said without condescension. Her tone was cold but not entirely unwelcoming, which attracted many elders’ attention.
While Qiong Yao’s power was ordinary, she was considered the Wudang Sect’s second-in-command, so many knew of her status.
"Fairy Qiong Yao, you’re too polite!"
"Thank you, Fairy Qiong Yao!"
Immediately, they exchanged greetings and slowly followed Qiong Yao to the grand meeting hall.
Fortunately, the reception hall built by Fengtian Sect was large enough to accommodate so many cultivators; otherwise, they truly couldn’t fit them all.
"Please wait a moment, I will report to the Sect Leader!"
Qiong Yao knew well that their sudden visit must be related to Ye Luo, and their courtesy towards her was on Ye Luo’s account, so they certainly wanted to talk with him.
Before she reached Ye Luo’s hall, Ye Luo was already approaching slowly.
"So, have they all arrived?" Ye Luo asked with a smile.
He had seen the scene at the gate clearly with his enhanced eyesight, far superior to others’.
"Ye Luo, these people are no simpletons; they are at least elders of their sects, each as crafty as a fox. You need to deal with them carefully!" Qiong Yao immediately reminded him.
Ye Luo, however, was dismissive, "Heh, thank you for caring, my dear wife. After I finish dealing with this, I’ll come and spoil you!"
Upon hearing this, Qiong Yao blushed and looked around, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw no one around.
Having been with Ye Luo for so long, she naturally understood what he meant by words like "wife" and "spoil."
But before Qiong Yao could react, Ye Luo evilly pinched her, eliciting a gasp, satisfiedly heading towards the reception hall.
Initially fuming, Qiong Yao, after seeing Ye Luo depart, smiled contentedly.
Before entering the hall, Ye Luo smelled his hand, the distinctive fragrance obviously coming from Qiong Yao.
One must admit, Qiong Yao’s allure was ever-growing; each time Ye Luo saw her, he found himself unable to resist!
"Wudang Sect Leader!"
"Greetings to the Wudang Sect Leader!"
"The Wudang Sect Leader is truly elusive!"
Upon Ye Luo’s entrance, the elders and others rose, greeting him with fists cupped.
They certainly showed Ye Luo enough respect, considering their elder status was far superior in hierarchy compared to Ye Luo’s as a Sect Leader.
After all, Ye Luo had just founded his sect, not even classified as a minor sect, typically needing support from other sects to grow gradually in a niche.
Viewed this way, the Wudang Sect was quite an anomaly.
"You all seem so eager; my Wudang Sect hasn’t even recruited disciples, yet you came uninvited!" Ye Luo said lightly.
Instantly, Ye Luo’s words doused the enthusiasm on the scene.
What did he mean by uninvited? And what did recruiting disciples have to do with them?
"Sect Leader, this confuses us. We came merely to pay respects to the Sect Leader!" an elder from a Great Sect said, with a hint of coldness in his tone.
They showed Ye Luo ample face, but he seemed entirely unappreciative.
Yet, Ye Luo was indifferent to their mood changes, slowly pacing in the hall.
After a few steps, he approached the Xiaoyao Sect’s elder. Xiaoyao Sect, while not a major power, held its own as a mid-tier sect, especially with its Sect Master having long reached the Martial King Realm, a formidable force in the area.
"I visited the Xiaoyao Sect before and met your Sect Master in person, did you know?" Ye Luo suddenly said.
The Xiaoyao Sect’s elder faltered momentarily, then nodded slowly, "Indeed, I know. I met the Sect Leader myself that day!"
"Since you’re aware of this, things become easier!"
Easier? The elder was puzzled, unsure what Ye Luo was getting at.
"That day, I established an alliance with your Sect Master, witnessed by many. So, will the so-called gifts you bring today change the Xiaoyao Sect’s fate of destruction?" Ye Luo’s tone turned icy as he spoke.
The surrounding people were stunned; change fate? How could this be? Xiaoyao Sect might not be a Great Sect, but it wasn’t someone anyone could destroy; otherwise, it wouldn’t have lasted so many years.