‘Infinite Dao Sect? Never heard of it…’

Xiao Ling pondered but did not slow her pace as she moved forward.

“Elder Lie, does our sect have any particular focus?”

For a brief moment, her curiosity and anticipation outweighed her caution.

“Focus? The sect—”

Lie Zheng began to answer, but suddenly, an unexpected voice interrupted him.

“Let me answer that question!”

A man appeared out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard.

Especially Xiao Ling, who had seen him before.

The figure was neither as thin as a typical cultivator nor overweight. His dragon-shaped mustache and sociable expression gave him the aura of a cunning fox.

“My dear disciples! I am Elder Bao Hui, an internal elder of the sect and head of the Treasure Pavilion. If you have any questions, don’t waste time with that rough-looking old Lie—come straight to me!”

Bao Hui’s lively and honest voice echoed among the disciples.

The sudden appearance of another elder didn’t make them wary. On the contrary, it brought unexpected relief.

If there were more elders, then the sect probably really existed—and wasn’t just a trap.

Moreover, despite his cunning aura, Bao Hui gave off a far more welcoming presence than the fierce Elder Lie.

“Hmph! You stingy old man, disrespecting me in front of the disciples… Do you think I won’t dare to beat you up?!”

Lie Zheng clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead from anger.

“Heh! Wasteful old fool, I know I’m no match for you in a direct fight, but I can still take a piece out of you if we brawl.”

Bao Hui retorted without hesitation.

Even admitting he would lose in combat, he refused to back down in a verbal battle.

Xiao Ling turned pale as she felt the Foundation Establishment aura radiating from both of them.

She couldn’t pinpoint their exact level, as both seemed to be suppressing it, but there was no doubt they were in the Foundation Establishment realm.

This shocked her immensely.

She had never imagined that the man who had stolen Young Master Feng’s pouch was actually a giant of Foundation Establishment.

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

Another middle-aged man suddenly appeared.

Unlike the other two, he exuded a scholarly aura. His narrow eyes carried a sharp glint, and his spiritual fluctuations indicated that he, too, belonged to the Foundation Establishment realm.

“You two never change…”

He sighed, his lips twitching in resignation.

“The sect leader already predicted that you two troublemakers would be here causing a commotion, so he sent me to handle it. You can fight elsewhere. Disciples, come with me.”

His voice carried a tone of helplessness, yet also authority.

“Bah!”

Both elders spat to the side, clearly irritated by the newcomer’s interference.

“Xuan Zhen, you still dare to show your face after leaving a hole in the sect’s protective formation last time?!”

Lie Zheng growled angrily, narrowing his eyes.

“That wasn’t a hole—it was an escape route. But a blockhead like you would never understand.”

Xuan Zhen rolled his eyes, annoyed, but didn’t bother explaining further.

“Heh! Xuan Zhen, you’re just like a rabbit—you dig seven burrows to have seven escape routes.”

Bao Hui crossed his arms over his chest, mocking him.

“No, actually, you’re worse! You dig a hundred burrows in the ground to fool the enemy while hiding in a tree a thousand miles away. And worse, you borrow money from me to dig the hundred burrows and never pay me back! Then, you even try to sell me those hundred burrows full of enemies!”

Bao Hui’s tone grew indignant as he gritted his teeth, clearly resentful over something from the past.

At least Xuan Zhen had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.

He scratched his head, awkward.

“Ahem!”

He coughed into his hand and tried to defuse the situation.

“Let’s not bring up things from the past… We were young, and a lot has changed over time.”

Xuan Zhen was sweating slightly, clearly wanting to escape the conversation.

“I could argue with you two all day, but the sect leader has given orders, so…”

Wasting no more time, he glanced at the disciples, signaling them to follow him.

Bao Hui and Lie Zheng could only watch, powerless and grinding their teeth, as he walked away.

…

As they walked, the disciples couldn’t help but feel their worries returning after witnessing that scene.

Xuan Zhen seemed to notice their unease, but instead of reprimanding them, he smiled slightly.

“You don’t need to worry.”

His sudden voice caught the disciples’ attention, pulling them from their thoughts.

“The other elders and I may have our differences and seem to be at odds, but we are by no means divided. We are a family, and we will do our best to protect this family we call a sect.”

He stopped, and the disciples instinctively halted as well.

His gaze swept over each of them—firm and serene—before he finally smiled.

“And I hope that, in the future, you will feel the same as I do.”

With those words, he turned and resumed his walk toward the peak.

The disciples, who had lowered their heads under his gaze, lifted them in surprise.

They exchanged glances, and little by little, their initial caution was replaced by a small flame of determination beginning to take root in their hearts.

They didn’t know what kind of sect this was or what awaited them, but the elder’s words had stirred something within them. So, they made a decision.

As long as the sect did not fail them, they would not fail the sect.

With that thought, they resumed their walk and finally arrived at the peak.

Passing through the grand doors—opened by guards who trembled slightly at the sight of the elder—they entered a dazzling black stone hall.

The wealth of the decorations was evident, but there was something peculiar about it: everything seemed to have been there for a long time, as if nothing had been changed recently.

‘These are probably still the belongings of the Shi family… They don’t even bother to replace them. Truly fitting for a Golden Core Sect to dismiss such a small place and simply ignore the need for redecorating.’

Xiao Ling and some of the others had the same thought.

At the far end of the hall, a grand black stone throne stood before towering glass windows that stretched from floor to ceiling.

But no one was sitting on it.

Xiao Ling couldn’t help but feel a trace of confusion.

Then, she noticed it.

Standing before one of the windows, gazing at the horizon, was a majestic figure.

He wore a black robe adorned with golden dragon patterns intertwined across the fabric, exuding an overwhelming presence.

The man slowly turned toward them, and in that instant, all lowered their heads.

None dared to look directly at his face.

This time, it wasn’t out of fear or cowardice.

The sheer intensity of the spiritual energy radiating from him was overwhelming. It warped the space around him, causing his figure to blur in the disciples’ eyes, making it impossible for them to gaze upon him directly.

The only thing they could discern, aside from his terrifying aura, were his eyes—black and indifferent to all.

At the sight of the sect leader for the first time, a single thought bloomed in every disciple’s mind—a thought that would never fade, lingering with them for a lifetime. Two simple words.

Immortal. Untouchable.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep