Chapter 236

Chapter 236: They Stormed In, but Ninghua Sect Was Untouchable

That voice rang through the whole Flying Cloud Sect, and everyone’s faces turned dark.

This was a provocation, plain and simple.

One elder said with anger: “Ninghua Sect is so bold, openly stealing our people. They are already riding on our heads.”

Another replied with a cold snort: “Since they handed us a chance to take her back, we have no reason to refuse.”

A third added with pride: “Let the world see which sect Shen Sang Ruo truly belongs to.”

They set out with one goal: they would bring Shen Sang Ruo back.

Flying Cloud Sect received special treatment. It was the first to get an invitation.

After that, the other sects that had made good ties with Ninghua Sect at the Sect Grand Tournament, such as Heavenly Sword Sect, Red Desert, and Jiang Clan, also got invitations.

They all headed to Ninghua Sect and arrived on the day of the celebration.

Each party brought few people, no more than ten, but their Sect Leaders and Young Sect Masters all came. That alone showed great respect to Ninghua Sect.

Of course, besides attending the ceremony, they wanted to see how Ninghua Sect was doing after recruiting so many Cultivators.

They wanted to know if it had the makings of a true upper sect.

The groups greeted one another. Among the top sects, only the Beast Taming Sect was not invited, and it was raging back at home.

After all, Ninghua Sect had poached people from the Beast Taming Sect, so of course it would not invite the Beast Taming Sect as a guest.

Sect Master Ming Xi, Clan Head Jiang Wen Sheng, and the others reached the main gate of Ninghua Sect. The plaque over the gate bore the bold, powerful characters for Ninghua Sect.

Through the gate, the buildings beyond were half hidden, half seen.

At a glance, they could feel the deep foundation behind it.

But wasn’t Ninghua Sect a new sect?

They understood at once that Ninghua Sect was not as simple as it looked.

They were about to register to enter when a messy rush of footsteps sounded behind them.

They turned and saw the Flying Cloud Sect.

A dense crowd poured in, at least a hundred by eye.

Most faces were familiar. They were Flying Cloud’s elites, with cultivation from Mid Nascent Soul Stage up to Early Divine Transformation.

Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao walked at the front with cold eyes, striding straight toward Ninghua Sect.

With that formation, they did not look like guests. They looked like trouble.

Jiang Wen Sheng lowered his voice to Ming Xi: “Why did Ninghua Sect invite Flying Cloud Sect too?”

By now the whole Cultivation World knew these two sects were fighting over Shen Sang Ruo. They were like water and fire.

Ming Xi answered calmly: “This ceremony is for the Cultivation World to see, but even more for Flying Cloud Sect to see.”

Jiang Wen Sheng said in a low voice: “Flying Cloud Sect is coming in hard. I fear Ninghua Sect cannot stand up to them.”

Bai Mu Mu had been crippled, and Shen Sang Ruo had deep ties with Flying Cloud Sect. Flying Cloud Sect would not give her up to Ninghua Sect.

Jiang Wen Sheng could not hide his scorn. Shen Sang Ruo had made it clear she did not want to return to Flying Cloud Sect. Why cling to her like this? He feared the celebration would be ruined.

Ming Xi said with steady eyes: “Watch first. If Ninghua Sect dared invite Flying Cloud Sect, they must have a plan.” Ninghua Sect was known for being fully prepared.

Shen Dao Chen stared at Ninghua Sect’s gate. He crushed the invitation in his hand into a ball, as if it were Ninghua Sect itself, then said with a cold snort: “Flying Cloud Sect has arrived.”

They were not here to celebrate.

He flicked a look to the crowd behind him. They were ready to act at once.

As the hundred were about to unleash their aura, a voice clear as spring water from an old well flowed into their ears and doused their fire: “Sect Master Shen has come to the ceremony too.”

True Lord Gu Ci walked forward at an unhurried pace and stood before the group, meeting Shen Dao Chen’s startled eyes.

The Flying Cloud crowd cooled at once.

She asked in a chilly voice: “What, is it so surprising to see me, Sect Master Shen?”

Shen Dao Chen’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot. Surprised was an understatement.

The Hall of Myriad Spirits never liked to join such events, so why show up for Ninghua Sect’s celebration? If Flying Cloud fought today, they would not kill or wipe Ninghua out. They only wanted to seize Shen Sang Ruo back. At most it would be a minor clash, nothing too vile. Even if the Hall of Myriad Spirits heard, it would only scold them a couple of times.

But to make a move right in front of True Lord Gu Ci was another matter.

He never imagined Ninghua Sect could bring True Lord Gu Ci over, making Ninghua Sect effectively untouchable.

The once fierce crowd was now awkward and stuck between advancing and retreating.

Fight? They could not move at all.

Turn back and go home? With so many eyes watching, that would look like a rout. Impossible.

Go inside and attend? Sit there and watch Shen Sang Ruo bow to Immortal Lord Chang Li as her master? That would be a huge insult.

Zhu Hua Qiao and Chen Zhou Xing traded a look, pulled out prepped sunflower seeds, and started cracking them open with gusto. They had said this trip would be entertaining.

The other sects stared at Flying Cloud Sect, curious to see how they would end this.

Teasing looks, along with the rustle and hamster-like “crunch, ptui” of seed shells, seemed to roast the Flying Cloud crowd over a fire.

When had Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao ever been this humiliated?

After a long awkward pause, with Shen Dao Chen still doing nothing, True Lord Gu Ci asked: “Since you are here to attend, why not go in, Sect Master Shen?”

A clear voice sounded as a bright figure came into view: “True Lord Gu Ci.”

Shen Sang Ruo greeted the Sect Leaders one by one, and she deliberately ignored Shen Dao Chen. His face, already dark, grew even gloomier.

She smiled and said: “I came late to greet the Seniors. I hope you will not hold it against me.”

Daoist Wu Wei came with her and said to all: “Since everyone is here, why not go in? The ceremony is about to begin.”

After a few polite words with Daoist Wu Wei, Ming Xi, Jiang Wen Sheng, and the others showed their invitations and entered Ninghua Sect.

Only the sour-faced people of Flying Cloud Sect were left outside, so Daoist Wu Wei and Shen Sang Ruo finally looked their way.

Daoist Wu Wei smiled and said: “Ah, Sect Master Shen and Master Ling Xiao are here too. I did not even notice just now. You will not blame me, right?” His tone was as provoking as ever.

Among all the sects, Flying Cloud had brought the most people. With a hundred bodies standing there, how could anyone miss them? Daoist Wu Wei might as well have written “on purpose” on his forehead.

Heavy gloom fell over Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao as they looked at Shen Sang Ruo.

She kept a flawless smile and said: “It is fine that Sect Master Shen came, and even brought so many to congratulate Ninghua Sect. Luckily we prepared enough spiritual dishes, so none of you will go hungry.” The hint was clear. Bringing so many looked like they had come to freeload a meal.