Chapter 1023

You said you'd go and come back quickly, didn't you?

Ah, how did you tell me before you left? Do you know how I've spent this year? Do you know?

You............

White Ancestor grabbed Yun Xiantai's collar, tears streaming as he cried out, initially he thought Ye Zhangqing would be back in just half a month.

Who knew, this departure turned out to be over a year, over a year.

He, damn it, with his old bones, relied on those more than ten boxes of rations and stubbornly lasted over a year—was it easy for him?

Seeing White Ancestor near collapse, tears streaming, Yun Xiantai softly comforted him.

It's not that money is easy to make; I just wanted to earn a bit more. Okay, okay, be good, don't cry, we'll have a big meal tonight.

I........... sniffle...........

Overcome with emotion, White Ancestor could no longer hold back, he hugged Yun Xiantai and burst into loud sobs.

Ye Zhangqing, Sun Ming, Xu Jie and the other youngsters nearby, seeing the two old geezers hugging, each felt a chill run down their spine, their eyes stinging.

After finally pacifying White Ancestor and Cloud Lotus Shèngzhǔ, everyone then entered the city; that evening, Ye Zhangqing naturally prepared a big table of delicacies, treating the two to a feast.

Having again enjoyed the longed-for delicacies, the two were overjoyed, while Yun Xiantai and the others didn't snatch any, instead looking on with gentle expressions as the two wolfed down their food.

Ye Zhangqing really couldn't bear the lingering affection among a group of old men; he made up an excuse and left.

This visit to the myriad races yielded a great harvest.

Ye Zhangqing's cooking skills have improved considerably, and this is not a system reward but due to having traveled more, seen more, and broadened his horizons.

Besides, he obtained various resources; the Human Race now is absolutely rolling in wealth, and the Demon Race trying to wear us down is out of the question—even a frown would count as our loss.

Besides that, there was an unexpected joy: he harvested quite a few Sub Tribes.

The so-called Sub Tribes are essentially affiliated forces.

They need to pay tribute to the Human Race every year; of course, the Human Race will also protect their safety, and even allow their young Heavenly Pride to come to the Human Race for cultivation.

It can be said that the Human Race now is the largest tribe in Haotu Shijie; although not officially recognized, the uncrowned king is a certainty.

The Heavenly Dao's all-in is no joke.

When he had free time to check the Demon Cave's situation, the Demon Race food material kept coming in endlessly; there's no way around it—as long as the Demon Cave exists, some slip-throughs will always get hooked.

The Demon Race side also has no choice; they can only grit their teeth and endure against the Human Race.

But now, with the various resources brought back by the senior ancestors, the Human Race has nothing to fear.

After resting a few days with nothing major happening, the Human Race's development speed has even surpassed the senior ancestors' expectations.

In just over a year but less than two, the proportion of the Human Race that has successfully embarked on the cultivation path is preliminarily estimated at eighty percent.

That is to say, now only twenty percent of the entire Human Race are ordinary people with no cultivation at all.

And these people are basically elderly; wanting to cultivate is extremely difficult for them, yet there is still hope.

Among these new cultivators, many have already shown promise; although their cultivation is still low, their talent rivals that of Xu Jie, Zhao Zhengping, and other direct disciples of the Three Holy Lands.

"The clamor calling for opening the mountains to recruit disciples is growing higher and higher."

As the number of cultivators grows, they naturally want better cultivation environments and resources; joining a sect is undoubtedly the best choice.

Not only do they have a systematic cultivation method, but also strong experts personally guide them, and cultivation resources go without saying.

Thus, many who have stepped onto the cultivation path hope that the major sects will open their mountain gates early, giving them a genuine chance to enter cultivation.

Listening to the subordinates' report, the senior ancestors nodded.

"This makes sense, after all, with more people able to cultivate, there is indeed a need to open the mountains."

"This matter was overlooked; we had actually made a promise about it before."

"Then let's open the mountains, let each sect prepare themselves..............."

"Wait a moment."

"Brother Yumo, do you have any questions?"

"Since we're opening the mountains, you might as well create a golden age—a golden age for our Human Race."

"Oh, Brother Yumo, what do you mean by that?"

"This mountain-opening disciple recruitment will likely draw many people; why not have all ten thousand sects of the Human Race open their mountains simultaneously, including our Three Holy Lands, letting everyone choose freely—what do you think?"

Hearing Brother Yumo's words, the senior ancestors' eyes lit up; this idea is excellent.

Ancestor Bai immediately clapped his hands and said.

"Excellent; if it succeeds, this will surely become a vivid, striking chapter in our Human Race's history."

"Good, with all ten thousand sects opening their mountains, our Human Race's soaring momentum begins here—good, good, good."

"Then let's do it."

"Go, notify the sect masters of all sects; gather in the main hall early tomorrow."

"Yes."

Early the next day, tens of thousands of Human Race sect masters all rushed to the New Yuan City main hall.

The scale of the gathering was simply unprecedented.

This can be said that those assembled in today's New Yuan City main hall are precisely the most powerful and influential figures of the Human Race.

Any decision they make, even a simple sentence, is enough to determine the future of the Human Race.

No one knew why there was such a sudden commotion; only after the various sect masters gradually dispersed that day did the events inside the hall slowly leak out.

It turned out to be because of the mountain-opening disciple recruitment; moreover, according to the senior ancestors' intention, all ten thousand sects will open their mountains together, allowing everyone in the Human Race to freely choose which sect to join.

"Is this true? All ten thousand sects opening their mountains simultaneously—this is simply..............."

"How could it be false? The news came from New Yuan City, and the masters of all major sects are present."

"So does this mean we have hope of joining a sect?"

"That's certain; moreover, with all ten thousand sects opening their mountains to recruit disciples, even if you choose the Three Holy Lands, there's no problem."

What you're saying is really foolish.

What's wrong?

The myriad sects' opening does indeed offer many choices, but one must remember to act within one's limits; joining the Three Holy Lands is naturally a leap to the heavens, yet you also need to see if you have what it takes.

If you get eliminated in the first round and miss the opportunity to join other sects, it would be a loss that outweighs the gain.

Someone pointed this out, and as soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the tavern suddenly came to a realization.

Yeah, although it appears there are more options, this actually tests one's character even more.

First, one must have self-awareness; if one is arrogant and ignorant, then not only might one gain nothing, but one would also miss the opportunity that rightfully belongs to oneself.

Although the Three Holy Lands are excellent, for the countless human race, those who ultimately succeed are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Even a leap to the heavens is not that easy.

For a moment, everyone calmed down, secretly calculating in their hearts which sect they hoped to join.

Many people of ordinary talent quickly abandoned the fantasy of ascending to heaven in a single step; the Three Holy Lands are too far away for them, so choosing a sect that best suits them is the best.