Chapter 278: Offering Hall

One month later.

"Brother Huang, what's this?"

Seeing Yan Buji looking extremely weak, as if also injured, Hu Bing and Pang De wore puzzled expressions.

Did you get into a fight with someone?

Yan Buji's complexion turned pale, and he clasped his hands, saying, "My cultivation went awry; I apologize for the embarrassment, senior brothers."

"Don't force it too hastily. Let's go to the Qian Dao Imperial Capital."

"Understood."

The three produced their flight Accumulation Devices and flew toward the capital.

Come to think of it, after arriving in Qian Dao, Yan Buji had also visited the Imperial Capital, though he didn't stay long then, but he is still familiar with the terrain.

While they were flying, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators suddenly swooped in from the sky and approached them.

"But are you fellow cultivators of Qing Shan Sect?"

"Indeed. Who are you?" Pang De looked on, seeing the three riding long swords while flying, and he roughly knew their background, yet he still asked.

"Thank you, fellow cultivators. We are cultivators of the Zhong Shan Sect, heading to the Offering Hall in the Qian Dao Imperial Capital. I am Yang Yu, and these are my junior brother Lu Yuan and Tian Bian."

Their names were chosen rather casually.

Hu Bing and Yan Buji simultaneously clasped their hands and said, "Pleased to meet you, fellow cultivators."

Each of the three reported their sect, and they were thus acquainted.

"Since we're all heading to the Offering Hall, shall we travel together?"

Pang De laughed, "Very well, let's go together, fellow cultivators."

Yan Buji looked at the three and whispered to Hu Bing beside him, "Brother Hu, does the Zhong Shan Sect have any relation to us?"

"If we talk about connections... the Zhong Shan Sect has little to do with Qing Shan Sect, but I heard that the sect leader once fought the Zhong Shan Sect's Sect Master, and it seems our sect leader won."

"A battle at the Nascent Soul stage?" Yan Buji exclaimed in surprise.

To be honest, I have never seen a battle of that level.

Hu Bing waved his hand, "Most Zhong Shan Sect cultivators base their practice on the Zhong Shan Sect's Canghuang Scroll, and most are sword cultivators, so they excel in combat. But since we hold no grudges against them, we should not provoke them."

"Understood."

Seeing Pang De chatting happily with them, Yan Buji, whose strength was low and whose cultivation had gone awry, flew very slowly, and everyone deliberately reduced their speed.

Yang Yu looked over, puzzled, "Why is Qing Shan Sect sending Lianqi disciples to the Offering Hall this time?"

Pang De laughed, "The elders inside the sect thought the disciples deserved a chance for experience, so they let the winner of our sect's Lianqi Grand Competition accompany us to the Offering Hall to work together."

"Oh? The Qing Shan Sect's Lianqi Grand Competition? But that Brother Huang seems to be only at Lianqi eight layers, right? He appears to have some cultivation issues and can't see clearly," Yang Yu said with a strange expression.

"Well... young people are often impatient for quick results. It's not his fault; it seems his root wasn't damaged, so a period of recuperation should fix it," Pang De said with an awkward smile.

"I see."

The two talked for a long while, and after a few days they arrived at the Qian Dao Imperial Capital.

Upon entering the palace of the Qian Dao Imperial Capital, the group glanced at the surrounding obsequious, bowing guards and eunuchs, said little, and went straight to find the Qian Dao Emperor.

A middle‑aged man with a lofty aura approached, accompanied by his empress and princes, and bowed to the crowd, saying, "Greetings, venerable immortals. Having traveled far, would you like to eat something first?"

"No need, Your Majesty. Just attend to your duties; we are here merely to meet you, to get to know each other," Yang Yu waved his hand.

Pang De laughed, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, as the supreme ruler of nine‑five, there is no need for such trouble. We will go to the Offering Hall ourselves; if Your Majesty has any difficulties, feel free to seek us out."

"Thank you, venerable immortals!"

Both sides exchanged names; Yan Buji was too lazy to remember these mortals' names, merely noting their positions.

Do not be fooled by the emperor's utmost respect toward them; it is because the Mysterious Qian Dao stands before, and the imperial forces backed by the Eight Dao Mystic Sect, even mortals are not something they can manipulate at will.

This also concerns the safety of the entire Eight Dao Realm; once it reaches this level, even if the emperor makes unreasonable demands, they still must obey.

Offering Hall.

The place was in a large courtyard outside the palace, surrounded by soldiers who strictly guarded it; upon seeing their arrival, the soldiers immediately bowed and stepped aside.

"Let's go." Pang De put away the Offering Order, not intending to trouble these mortal soldiers.

Yan Buji looked toward a short distance away, where a tower soaring into the clouds stood nearby, yet somewhat elusive—it was the Renyan Tower of the Qian Dao Realm.

Hu Bing looked over, smiling, "Junior brother, is this your first time seeing Renyan Tower?"

"Not really; I've come from other sects and have seen Renyan Tower before, but why does it seem there are no cultivators guarding the area around it?"

"Impossible. Renyan Tower is such an important place; even if Mysterious Qian Dao encounters trouble, the hidden guardians stationed nearby would not be withdrawn," Hu Bing laughed.

"Indeed, I was being a bit fanciful; perhaps a senior is there."

"At least they must be at the Golden Core stage."

After the several entered the courtyard together, there were many cultivators around.

Everyone exchanged greetings and reported their sects to each other.

Yan Buji knew that those who could come to the Offering Hall were essentially the top one or two major powers of the Qian Dao Realm; although they aren't formidable to Mysterious Qian Dao, those who arrived were not harmless.

He calculated that after the Mysterious Qian Dao cultivators left, the Offering Hall still housed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, with a few Lianqi Phase cultivators mixed in; such a sizable force could easily stabilize the Qian Dao Imperial Capital.

However, because they belonged to different factions, it was hard to pick a central leader, so once most had arrived, they began discussing how to manage the Offering Hall's affairs.

"First, we must ensure the capital's safety. There are many wandering cultivators within the capital; to prevent them from causing trouble, I suggest we manage it separately. With so many of us, we can each patrol one of the four districts daily."

"That works."

"Then let's divide..."

After the district management was divided, they moved on to the second decision.

"Second, if problems arise in the mortal world that require us to intervene, how do you think we should arrange it?"

"It's just mortal warriors who think they're invincible; we can just pick someone to deal with them..."

"But if demonic beasts appear, we must be more cautious. As for the earlier incidents in the Kan Dao Realm, are you all aware?"

Since that's the case, if a demon really appears, it's better for the Hall of Offerings to act together.

It's not necessary for everyone to act together, right? I think half the people would be plenty, and the rest need to stabilize Huang Du.

Then, if there really is one or two that can't be resolved, each family sends out a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and together they go resolve it.

Okay.

They discussed for half a day; Yan Buji just needed to remember what was advantageous to him.