Chapter 407 - 388: For the People Our Guixi Sect Wants, Why Would We Need Your Consent?

Chapter 407: Chapter 388: For the People Our Guixi Sect Wants, Why Would We Need Your Consent?

’Whatever, just give me a change of pace! If I have to keep hiding out, I’m going to lose my mind!’

Just then, a figure in black descended from the sky, riding a sword.

Su Ling’er had finally returned.

And then, she saw the spectacular sight in the plaza: over three hundred people, all squatting with their hands on their heads, "corralled" by the four Mr. Qians.

’Wait... The people I’m supposed to ’guide’... there are this many?’

’Are... are you all willingly aspiring to the demonic path? Or... were you all just tricked into coming here by those unscrupulous bastards?’

Su Ling’er felt immense pressure.

Over three hundred people! The crowd was almost as big as the foot traffic in a wet market back in her hometown! And their quality was all over the place, ranging from "potential prospects" who looked like they had some affinity for the immortal path to "Beggar Gang elders" who were clearly just here to fill the numbers.

’How long would it take to "purify" all of them? An eternity?’

But the thought of her Senior Brother’s request, of her sacred mission, forced her to rally her spirits.

’The path of righteousness is meant to be full of thorns!’

Just then, a shimmering golden Sound Transmission Talisman drifted slowly before her.

She reached out and took it. Her Senior Brother’s somewhat lazy voice immediately emerged from the talisman. "Junior Sister, I’ll leave these people for you to ’receive.’ I trust you understand what I mean. Put on a good show. They’re... all yours now."

The voice stopped abruptly.

Clutching the still-warm talisman, Su Ling’er felt a fire light up inside her!

"...Senior Brother! He really does know everything!!"

"Senior Brother, you can rest assured! I, Su Ling’er, will absolutely not let a single one of these demonic fiend wannabes slip through the cracks!"

Su Ling’er secretly resolved that she would not let a single one of them slip through the net and infiltrate the sect!

At the same time, she remembered her current predicament: she was in a demonic sect and had to act like she had its best interests at heart to avoid suspicion.

She had to persuade them all to leave without showing a shred of goodwill, all while feigning the arrogant demeanor of a demonic siren...

After a quick brainstorm, Su Ling’er figured out her next move. She took a deep breath, and her gaze instantly turned icy.

"I am this sect’s guide. All of you, raise your heads!"

At her sharp cry, the four "Mr. Qians" stopped in their tracks, slowly retreated to the side, and lifted the pressure they had been exerting on the crowd.

Below, the long-suppressed plaza came alive with the guide’s arrival and the Mr. Qians’ withdrawal.

"AGH—my poor back!"

"My legs... I can’t feel my legs!"

In an instant, a large portion of the three hundred-plus people collapsed. Some sprawled on the ground, groaning like puddles of mud. Others shakily rose, pounding their stiff backs as their bones cracked and popped. Most, however, just sighed, their faces filled with indignation they dared not voice.

They wanted to curse, but they didn’t dare.

After all, they hadn’t even been allowed to speak while squatting with their hands on their heads. Now, with this female immortal who looked even more formidable, who would dare be the first to stick their neck out and ask for trouble?

If they were made an example of and cut down with a single sword strike, there would be no one to cry to.

Seeing the mixed expressions of indignation and fear on the faces below, Su Ling’er nodded to herself.

’Excellent, this is exactly the effect I wanted! Let them feel the cruelty of a demonic sect, let them feel fear to their very cores. Then they’ll leave on their own!’

She cleared her throat and began, "Everyone, thank you for waiting. I am the guide for the Guixi Sect."

Su Ling’er saw the mixed expressions of indignation and fear on the faces below and nodded to herself, but she put on a "warm" smile.

"You must have all heard of the illustrious reputation of my Guixi Sect, where ’all are taught without discrimination, and all paths lead to the one Great Dao,’ and that is why you have traveled thousands of miles to seek this immortal opportunity, yes?"

She started by flattering them, but it was also a test to see how this group had actually arrived.

"My Guixi Sect is a great hidden sect of this era, with strict rules. This pre-entry trial of squatting in quiet contemplation for a few days is merely the first test, designed to help you shed your mortal thoughts and focus your minds."

Hearing this, the crowd looked at each other in confusion.

’A test?! Leaving us out here for days, unable to even move, is called a test?’

’Well... it does sound... a lot like how great sects test their disciples in those storybooks, doesn’t it? The more powerful the sect, the stranger the test. It seems plausible.’

Most of the people chose to remain silent, especially the spies. Their mission was to infiltrate, so a triviality like squatting with their hands on their heads was nothing. Even if the demands were more outrageous, they would have to endure it to survive.

As for those who had been intercepted, they had spent the last few days witnessing Guixi Sect disciples passing by. Some rode swords as fast as lightning, some wielded treasures that shot brilliant light into the sky, and some even rode strange, unheard-of spirit beasts...

That level of power and heritage was countless times stronger than the likes of the Kunke Sect or Hundred Herbs Hall they had originally intended to join! Being able to come here... seemed to be a blessing in disguise?

However, a few irrepressible murmurs of complaint still rose from the crowd.

"...But I was clearly on my way to the great Xiao Family to see if they were recruiting..." a young man muttered to his companion.

Another person whispered in agreement, "Yeah... I thought I’d taken a wrong turn... I’ve never even heard of this sect before, but based on their power, they seem pretty good?"

"Fairy... We mean no disrespect, but... I was originally heading to the Wind Sword Sect to seek immortality. I don’t know how I ended up at your sect’s gates..."

"That’s right, Fairy, me too! I was going to Hundred Herbs Hall..."

"Me too..."

Though the complaints were quiet, they rose one after another, forming an undercurrent of dissent.

Instead of panicking, Su Ling’er was secretly delighted.

’This is great! Senior Brother and Sister did a beautiful job! I have to seize this chance to cement our image as unreasonable, rapacious demonic fiends!’

Outwardly, she wiped all expression from her face, her cold gaze sweeping over the complaining crowd as if they were ants. "Oh? The Wind Sword Sect? Hundred Herbs Hall?"

She spoke slowly, her voice soft but laced with mockery. "Are you saying you were ’prey’ that someone else had their eye on, but we ’invited’ you back here first?"

"So what if you were tricked and intercepted?"

"When my Guixi Sect takes an interest in someone, do we need your consent? All land under heaven belongs to the king, so naturally, all ’immortal seedlings’ within these mountains are possessions of the Guixi Sect, the leader of the righteous immortal sects!"

She took a step forward, and the spiritual pressure of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator slowly spread out, making it hard for the crowd to breathe.

"You should feel honored! To be chosen by those backwater sects would only mean becoming a chore-boy or a so-called outer disciple. But being ’invited’ here by my Guixi Sect gives you the chance to glimpse the true Great Dao!"

"As for making you squat here with your hands on your heads..."

"That was just to grind down your pathetic little egos and make you understand one thing—here, your will is worthless! If you can’t even handle that, then get the hell off this mountain! The Guixi Sect doesn’t accept trash!"

’How about that? Pretty harsh, right? If you’re scared, then run! Go on, say ’a scholar can be killed but not humiliated,’ and then get the hell off this mountain!’

However—

Down below, after their initial shock and fear, the expressions in the eyes of the intercepted disciples... changed!

The young man who had been muttering complaints wasn’t angry. Instead, he fell into deep thought.

’Taking what they want... utterly domineering... Is... is this the true bearing of a great sect? Compared to the Wind Sword Sect, which still has to use nice words, this Guixi Sect... is on a completely different level!’

’That’s right! If they have the power to ’snatch’ people from other sects, it proves their strength far surpasses those sects! If I can stay here, won’t my future achievements be even greater?’

’Wait... A sect that talks about ’intercepting’ people so nonchalantly, even proudly? Are you serious? Isn’t that just like bandits kidnapping a bride for their chief?’

’Speaking of which, is this the popular trend in the Cultivation Realm now? Am I behind the times? Right, I haven’t even enlisted yet.’

As for the actual spies, they remained calm, each calculating their own agenda.

The spies from the righteous sects were quite disdainful.

’Luring people away from other sects and speaking about it so brazenly? What renowned righteous sect would use such a low-handed ’interception’ method to recruit? Regardless of whether they’re a true demonic sect, this method alone proves they are no prestigious and upright faction.’

Meanwhile, the spy from the Ghost Spirit Sect felt somewhat... disappointed by the scene.

He had been sent to investigate the details of this emerging sect, and he was thoroughly unimpressed.

’The entrance test is just squatting with your hands on your head? And they recruit by intercepting others? This is too much of a joke, isn’t it?’

’I wonder how Mr. Netherworld’s harvest is going. It’s a shame I was sent on this mission and missed my chance to get a piece of the pie... Sigh, that was a whole city’s worth of blood food...’

The spies from some of the other demonic sects also expressed a certain disdain for the Guixi Sect.

’The words sound domineering enough, but this ’interception’ business can only be considered a minor, back-alley demonic tactic, right? It’s even... a little embarrassing...’

Seeing the crowd remain unmoved, Su Ling’er’s lips couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

’Alright, fair enough. For a real demonic sect, things like squatting with hands on heads and intercepting recruits aren’t a big deal. They aren’t even cruel. But this is just the appetizer.’

Later, there would be more "surprises" waiting to let them properly "experience" the Guixi Sect’s "true nature."

She cleared her throat, interrupting everyone’s thoughts, her voice still icy. "Since you’ve all chosen to stay, then prepare yourselves."

"The real test... is only just beginning. Remember, our sect does not accept trash. If you want to quit and go back down the mountain, you can do so at any time."