Chapter 2073: Ambushed Midway

「Qi Zongzhu ah, we have come this time just to seek a position that provides meals in your esteemed sect. We have no excessive demands; we do not need your sect to provide us any Xiūliàn resources, as long as we can fill our stomachs. 」

The old man with a full head of white hair, whose kind face betrayed a hint of shrewdness, slowly explained the purpose of their group.

Upon hearing these words, Qi Xiong's expression instantly turned extremely strange.

He muttered to himself, these people are all venerable elders of the great immortal clans; although they are not the topmost existences in the Immortal Realm, they are still mighty figures who dominate a region.

How could they lower themselves so much, just to seek a position that only provides meals?

But upon further thought, it seemed quite reasonable.

After all, Ye Zhangqing's Chúyì is evident to all; everyone who has eaten his food praises it.

It seems these big shots came this time mainly for Ye Zhangqing's cooking skills.

Thinking of this, Qi Xiong couldn't help but smile slightly, then lowered his head and fell into contemplation.

Not long after, he raised his head, nodded firmly, indicating his agreement to their request.

Because he clearly knew that if the Dao One Immortal Sect could obtain the assistance of these venerable elders, its future development would surely proceed smoothly.

Seeing Qi Xiong nod in agreement, the dozen or so people present instantly beamed with joy.

They exchanged glances, their eyes full of excitement, as if they could already see delicious dishes laid out before them.

Thus, the two parties hit it off immediately, and this transaction quickly reached a consensus.

The night passed in silence; when the dawn's light first fell upon the earth, many disciples were once again urgently summoned to the square outside the main hall.

Since it was still early, many disciples who had been practicing Xiūliàn were called here, looking around blankly.

Everyone was filled with doubt and confusion, speculating secretly as to what major event had occurred to summon us so early in the morning.

However, just as Qi Xiong led the white-haired elder and the others slowly out of the majestic and solemn main hall, the originally noisy scene instantly fell silent.

The Immortal Clan Descendants stared straight ahead with wide eyes, their faces showing astonishment and disbelief.

"This... this isn't our clan's elder? How could he appear here?"

An Immortal Clan Descendant murmured to himself; although his voice was soft, it clearly reached the ears of those around him.

Others, as if waking from a dream, likewise stared in shock at their own elder standing beside Qi Xiong, composed and self-possessed.

At this moment, the hearts of many disciples were like stormy waves churning, unable to calm for a long time.

They looked at one another, their eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

Who would have thought that the elder, who usually loftily remained secluded, would suddenly appear here, and even appear alongside Qi Xiong?

Immediately afterward, when Qi Xiong announced to everyone that from now on the white-haired elder and the others would become offerings of the Dao One Immortal Sect, the entire scene seemed to be hit by a massive bomb, exploding in an instant.

The disciples could no longer contain their surprise and excitement, whispering to each other and discussing animatedly.

"What? Our elder has actually become an offering of our Dao One Immortal Sect? What on earth is going on?"

Especially for those who come from the same immortal clan, this change leaves them feeling utterly at a loss.

They simply cannot comprehend how, while they were peacefully practicing Xiūliàn in the Dao One Immortal Sect, they suddenly became fellow disciples with their own elder—this is truly beyond belief.

When it was time for breakfast, as these Immortal Clan Descendants arrived at the canteen to eat, the scene before them once again left them stunned—seeing their own elder walking like an ordinary disciple, light-footed and cheerful, heading toward the canteen, even lining up expectantly at the back of the queue to get his meal.

Seeing this, the Immortal Clan Descendants felt a mixed surge of emotions, an indescribable strangeness welling up.

They gazed at the elder's familiar yet unfamiliar figure, silently murmuring to themselves.

"As expected, the elder is also here for this meal."

However, unlike the Immortal Clan Descendants' turmoil, the white-haired elder and the others were completely oblivious to the crowd's reaction.

At this moment, their thoughts were already wholly immersed in the delicious dishes they were about to taste.

After long and careful planning, they were finally able to enjoy the food personally cooked by Ye Zhangqing as they wished; this was the most important thing for them.

As for the various strange glances and whispered gossip, they had no time to pay attention to them, nor would they take them to heart.

After all, in the face of delicious food, everything seems trivial.

The white-haired elder and the others, after enduring countless hardships, finally achieved their long-held wish.

When Ye Zhangqing saw them, his face showed a hint of helpless, wry smile.

However, he was not overly surprised by this, for he deeply understood these people's persistence and determination.

One must admit that with the addition of the white-haired elder and the others, the Dao One Immortal Sect gained strength like a tiger adding wings, and its overall power saw a significant increase.

Nowadays, within the Dao One Immortal Sect, a scene of prosperity and flourishing prevails, with all affairs proceeding orderly toward a good direction.

Meanwhile, in the not-so-distant Wuji Xiancheng, Hong Zun, Xu Jie, and Zhao Zhengping, having just finished their first recruitment of disciples upon opening the mountain, immediately set out on the road back to the sect.

The journey was calm and peaceful; they had thought no further mishaps would occur.

But just as they were about to set foot into the Wuji Shanmai, fate played an unexpected joke on them—the three actually encountered a band of vicious brigands out of nowhere.

What's more, frustratingly, the leaders of this band of brigands each possessed Immortal Realm cultivation, their strength far surpassing what Hong Zun, Xu Jie, and Zhao Zhengping could handle.

Faced with such a formidable foe, Hong Zun, Xu Jie, and Zhao Zhengping had no power to retaliate; after just a few rounds, they were easily defeated.

In the end, the three could only surrender, being bound tightly with rope.

At that moment, the burly one-eyed brute stood on high ground, looking down on Hong Zun, Xu Jie, and Zhao Zhengping with an air of superiority, his eyes flashing with greed and doubt.

He then bellowed in a rough voice:

"Hmph, you three puny Ancestor Realm cultivators—where did you get that immortal ship? Know that even our mighty band of brigands has never possessed such an immortal ship."

After a stern interrogation, the band of brigands learned that Hong Zun, Xu Jie, and Zhao Zhengping came from the Dao One Immortal Sect; to them, this was utterly bewildering—what sect is the Dao One Immortal Sect? They had never heard of it before.

Being a brigand, one naturally must be well-informed; otherwise, offending someone who ought not be offended is tantamount to seeking one's own death.