The merger of the three sects is a done deal, but the specific measures, due to the enormous scale, still need to be implemented step by step. The integration between the sects must also proceed sequentially.

Initially, only the elders mutually taught lessons. Then, it was the disciples who mutually visited and enhanced exchange. The disciples of Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect came to Tai Xu Sect for sightseeing tours and discussed Dao. And the disciples of Tai Xu Sect could also go to Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect to visit without hindrance.

Mo Ting naturally followed. Although Old Mister Xun had told him to try not to leave Tai Xu Sect and avoid being too conspicuous, now that the three sects were merging, Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect should also be considered part of “Tai Xu Sect.” So, strictly speaking, visiting their two sects didn’t count as leaving Tai Xu Sect.

Moreover, Mo Ting had never entered Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect before. He had only occasionally passed by and glanced at them. He really wanted to see the scenes inside these two sects.

Thus, Mo Ting followed the Tai Xu Sect disciples and went to stroll around Tai A and Rush Xu mountains. He didn’t realize until he strolled that both Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect seemed a bit larger than Tai Xu Sect. Especially Tai A Sect, which was majestic and grand, with mountains like a green dragon and an extraordinary atmosphere. Rush Xu Sect was not as grand, but it had numerous tall towers, cloud-like eaves resembling peaks, covered with green porcelain glazed tiles, and sword energy entering the clouds and mist, creating a vast atmosphere.

Adding the ancient and fragrant Tai Xu Sect to the mix, the three sects, inheriting the same lineage, each had their strengths. Mo Ting couldn’t help but feel a shock in his heart. He even couldn’t help but think: if they could still have such foundations after being divided into three sects and all rank among the Eight Great Sects, what kind of majestic atmosphere must the ancient sect have had before the three sects separated?

Perhaps, it really was a colossal entity that dominated one side and was enough to make the Dao Court wary…

Mo Ting’s heart filled with yearning thoughts.

As he strolled through the mountain gates, he pondered. During this time, Mo Ting also encountered Ling Hu Xiao and Ou Yang Mu. Neither of them rejected the merger of the three sects. Because of Mo Ting’s relationship, Ling Hu Xiao and Ou Yang Mu were already very familiar with the Tai Xu Sect disciples, even more so than with the disciples of their own sects. Furthermore, Mo Ting, the “Little Senior Brother” of Tai Xu Sect, had saved their lives in the Ten Thousand Monsters Valley, so the three of them had a life-and-death connection. And once the sects merged, they could more openly associate with Mo Ting.

Mo Ting was naturally also very happy. Several people greeted each other and chatted for a long time. After chatting, Mo Ting strolled around again. As he was about to leave Tai A Sect and return to Tai Xu Mountain, he encountered Ou Yang Feng. The two of them naturally chatted for a while again.

After chatting for a while and understanding some situations from Ou Yang Feng’s mouth, Mo Ting surprisingly said: “Senior Brother Feng, you want to leave the mountain and travel?”

Ou Yang Feng nodded and said somewhat ashamed: “During the Sword Discussion Grand Competition, I was unable to preserve Tai A Sect’s ranking among the Eight Great Sects. I am ashamed of my teachers’ expectations.”

Mo Ting shook his head and said: “Senior Brother Feng, how can you be blamed?”

One fence has three posts, and one good man has three helpers. Sword Discussion is not like Array Discussion; it doesn’t rely on the ability of one person to turn the tide. In the Rouge Boat incident, Tai A Sect almost lost most of its elite disciples and still faced the siege of the four major sects. Under such a desperate situation, Senior Brother Feng alone, even if he gave his life, would not have been able to help.

For anyone who came, this would have been a helpless situation. Moreover, Senior Brother Feng himself didn’t walk the path of extreme offense. His cultivation was profound, stable, and reliable, with comprehensive abilities. He could attack and defend, advance and retreat, help restrain, and also be responsible for cover. He could be the vanguard in advancing and the rearguard in retreating. Although each aspect was not outstanding or top-notch, he was still an “all-purpose” teammate who could handle any situation and supplement any shortcomings.

Precisely because of this, he relied more on suitable teammates. A suitable team and a tailor-made special tactic could fully exploit Senior Brother Feng’s specialties.

Unfortunately, Tai A Sect’s elite disciples were exhausted, and they didn’t have those conditions. The result was obvious. In the Sword Discussion Assembly, Senior Brother Feng had to be both the main attacker and the main defender, unable to split himself. Ultimately, he naturally found it difficult to do anything well.

Mo Ting felt very sorry in his heart. If Senior Brother Feng followed me, no, if he teamed up with me to participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly, I could use formations to elevate all his abilities to a higher level. With the help of some teammates, he would be a “six-sided” warrior, definitely enough to contend with the top heavenly talents of the four major sects.

But, unfortunately… The three sects merged, but too late. Moreover, Senior Brother Feng is a grade higher than me, so we can’t team up. Mo Ting regretted it deeply.

“Senior Brother Feng, you want to descend the mountain now?”

Ou Yang Feng shook his head, “In a few days, there are still some matters to handle, but…” He looked at Mo Ting again and praised sincerely: “I never thought that you could actually suppress the four major sects and seize the title of Array Dao Chief. I often feel that I already know how outstanding Junior Brother Mo is, but I never thought that you would be even more inconceivable than I expected…”

Mo Ting was somewhat embarrassed by the praise, repeatedly waving his hand and humbly saying: “Good luck, just a fluke, it’s nothing.”

Ou Yang Feng laughed. He pondered for a moment, let out a long breath, and sighed: “Yes, there is a sky outside the sky, and people outside people. Confined to the corner of Qian Xue, one’s vision and insight are always not broad enough.”

“I should also go out and experience a bit, to see this vast world.”

“Um um!” Mo Ting nodded. He had learned many things when he wandered with his Master. Cultivating Dao for a hundred years, reading ten thousand books, traveling ten thousand miles. Sometimes, if you don’t go out, don’t open your eyes, and don’t look at this vast world, your outlook will inevitably be narrow, and you won’t be able to recognize the true Dao clearly. He also wanted to walk and see more when he had free time.

But… Mo Ting asked: “Senior Brother Feng, are you not waiting to condense your Dan before going out?”

“It’s a bit late to travel after condensing the Dan,” Ou Yang Feng said. “Whether it’s a powerful family or a sect, once you condense the Dan, you are considered a ‘pillar,’ and you will have to take office in the family or sect, be responsible for affairs, or guard one side, without so much free time.”

“Moreover, traveling at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and with a Golden Core is actually almost the same; both can only thrive in a second-grade state. Just after advancing to the Golden Core, going to a third-grade state, especially a state where the Dao Court is not strictly governed, the laws are loose, and evil cultivators and criminal cultivators are everywhere, is actually more dangerous.”

“Furthermore, condensing the Dan is not so easy. Most cultivators fail many times when condensing the Dan.”

“And if you want to condense a good quality Golden Core, you can’t rush it. You need to be fully prepared, temper a good foundation, and then do it…”

“Just like laying the Dao foundation during the Qi Refining stage?” Mo Ting asked.

Ou Yang Feng shook his head and said: “It’s more difficult than Qi Refining. After all, this is condensing the Dan. Even in a powerful family or large sect, condensing the Dan is a watershed, a major threshold in cultivation.”

“If you enter, the sea is vast and the sky is wide; if you retreat, it is very possible to be trapped for a lifetime…”

“Oh…” Mo Ting nodded with a serious expression.

Ou Yang Feng looked at Mo Ting, somewhat worried, and then said: “Junior Brother Mo, I have a few words that may be a bit abrupt…”

Mo Ting nodded: “Senior Brother, please say.”

Ou Yang Feng sincerely said: “Junior Brother Mo, regarding cultivation, you should pay more attention. The foundation of spiritual power is still very important.”

“Your various means are endless, and even I feel amazed when I see them, but your spiritual power is too weak; it is ultimately a shortcoming.”

“The further you go, the more so.”

“Not to mention, just participating in the Sword Discussion Assembly requires experiencing many fierce battles, which consume a lot of spiritual power. If your spiritual power is weak and inherently insufficient, you will be overdrawn after fighting one or two rounds.”

“When cultivators fight, sometimes it is about the end. Often, it is not about the superiority or inferiority of Dao law; it is purely about whose spiritual power foundation is deeper. If your spiritual power is deep enough to last to the end, you can win. Otherwise, no matter how strong your Dao law is, if you can’t outlast others, you can only be defeated.”

Ou Yang Feng had a deep understanding of this point. In this Sword Discussion Assembly, Tai A Sect was at a disadvantage in terms of manpower. In many rounds, he had to forcefully “consume” his spiritual power until it was exhausted, which is why he lost.

“Also, regarding the matter of your life magic treasure, Junior Brother, have you considered it carefully?” Ou Yang Feng asked again.

Mo Ting shook his head and truthfully said: “I still have no good idea.”

Choosing a life magic treasure was a tricky question. He had no inheritance, no top-grade spiritual tools, and no upbringing from a young age. Even his cultivation method was unique, his system of Dao law was a different path, and some methods were even “crookedly” learned by himself, with no precedent to reference. Therefore, the existing life magic treasure inheritances of Tai Xu Sect were mostly not suitable for his cultivation and abilities.

Mo Ting had considered this problem when he had free time, but no matter how he thought, he couldn’t come up with a good solution. Moreover, he still had many things to learn, such as sword, array, and body techniques. He didn’t have much free time, so the matter of the life magic treasure was temporarily postponed.

Ou Yang Feng said seriously: “A significant portion of the abilities of Golden Core cultivators rely on their life magic treasure. Forging a life magic treasure with a life phase, spirit and flesh fusion, and superior quality is almost as important as condensing a superior quality Golden Core.”

“You need to plan ahead…”

Ou Yang Feng said up to here and laughed: “I may have talked too much. Please don’t blame me, Junior Brother.”

Mo Ting shook his head, “Not at all. Thank you, Senior Brother Feng.”

These words did indeed give him a wake-up call. Some matters should be put on the agenda early, at least preparation should start ahead of time. Everything planned will stand; everything not planned will fail. Don’t wait until you are almost condensing the Dan and still haven’t considered the matter of the life magic treasure.

The two chatted for a while again. Ou Yang Feng then took his leave. Before leaving, he requested Mo Ting: “Little Wood Head is my only younger brother. He is stubborn but lacks flexibility. Hereafter, I will still have to trouble Junior Brother Mo to take good care of him.”

Mo Ting said confidently: “Little Wood Head follows me. Senior Brother Feng, rest assured!”

Ou Yang Feng couldn’t help but laugh, then his expression became solemn, and he cupped his hands to Mo Ting and said: “This journey is long, and the Dao path is long. I don’t know how many years it will be. Junior Brother Mo, we will meet again in the rivers and lakes.”

Mo Ting felt reluctant in his heart, and also cupped his hands and said: “Senior Brother Feng, we will meet again in the rivers and lakes!”

The two parted. Within the next few years, Mo Ting did not see this Senior Brother Ou Yang Feng in Tai Xu Sect again. Senior Brother Feng must be traveling alone, stepping on the path of cloud wandering, traveling in all directions. Mo Ting felt melancholy in his heart and could only silently wish him a smooth journey…

After another period of time, after several disciples’ exchanges, elders’ preachings, three orders’ intercommunication, merits sharing… and a series of other step-by-step measures, the plan for the merger of the three sects was also being implemented little by little.

And the procedures on the Dao Court’s side finally reached the end. As long as the Heavenly Power Pavilion in the center of the Dao Court finally sealed and confirmed it, this matter would be settled. At that time, there would no longer be the separate Tai A, Rush Xu, and Tai Xu three sects, but only the unified “Three Mountains One Lineage” great sect—Tai Xu Sect.

Inside the Heavenly Power Pavilion. Several main affairs were chatting inside the pavilion building. In front of them, numerous volumes and jade slips were piled up. These almost included the volumes of almost all cultivation forces of a certain scale within the Nine Great States that had been formally recognized and graded by the Dao Court. The grading, demotion, promotion, naming, renaming, removal of these forces, and other series of affairs were all discussed and decided by the cultivators of the Heavenly Power Pavilion. Therefore, the cultivators of the Heavenly Power Pavilion had extremely great power and were also extremely busy with affairs.

At this time, several main affairs of the Heavenly Power Pavilion were discussing the matter of the Tai Xu Sect’s “three sects merging.” And in the center of the pavilion building sat an “old man.” This old man had a wooden face, a stiff expression, and skin like rotten wood, like a living puppet, mechanically stamping seals on various volumes.

The several main affairs below the seat chatted among themselves, and no one paid attention to this “old man.”

“In the Qian Xue state, the three sects of Tai A, Rush Xu, and Tai Xu merge, using ‘Tai Xu Sect’ as the name, merging into one sect…”

“This matter has also been dragged on for a long time. The Pavilion Elder said that it must be completed today.”

“But there are still some aftermath tasks. The above has already approved, and we don’t need to make decisions.”

“Although we are main affairs, we don’t have the qualification to make decisions…”

“At least we have to reach the supervisor level.”

“What are you thinking? You think you can become a supervisor just by wanting to? To be honest, ordinary cultivators can only reach the main affairs level at most. Don’t even think about being a supervisor. Even if you persevere, if you don’t have the ability, you won’t be able to sit steady.”

“The supervisors in our Heavenly Power Pavilion are okay, not like the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion. They manage formations and are involved in heavenly secrets. If you don’t have any ability, even if you are given the position of supervisor, you won’t dare to sit, otherwise, you will definitely have bad luck.”

“Heavenly Power Pavilion is also not simple…”

“Okay, let’s not talk about this, focus on doing things.”

The pavilion building was silent for a while. But the work was boring, and after a while, someone still spoke:

“Tai Xu Sect… Speaking of which, this year, there are really sects that are willing to break the mirror and reunite? What are they after?”

“Probably can’t make it work…”

“I heard that the Qian Xue state has been undergoing reforms recently, with frequent changes and intense competition among sects. It is estimated that they are about to fall from the Eight Great Sects, so they have to merge to seek a way out.”

“No wonder…”

“Why change the system when things are going well? It just creates so many extra problems.”

“People die for money, birds die for food. Sects are also the same. In this game, we outsiders may not understand.”

“That’s true…”

“But, since the three sects are merging, why only use ‘Tai Xu Sect’ as the name?”

“That’s not simple. Tai Xu Sect is now the most powerful and has the highest ranking. And haven’t you heard? Tai Xu Sect has also produced an array evildoer…”

“Evildoer?”

“Haven’t you heard?”

One main affairs shook his head, “Recently, I’ve been working overtime, busy with the war on the Southern Wasteland side, so I haven’t heard yet.”

Others also asked: “What evildoer?”

“Ignorant,” the main affairs from before said, “In the Qian Xue state’s Array Discussion Assembly, a Tai Xu Sect disciple suddenly appeared, at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and actually drew a nineteen-pattern peak array, seizing the title of Array Dao Chief.”

“This matter has even spread to our Dao State…”

“Mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, nineteen-pattern array? Fake, right?”

“Impossible…”

“Even if the divine sense cannot be cultivated again, even if it is innate, it is impossible to exceed so much. There must be a trick. I don’t believe it…”

“Even in my Dao State, as the center of the Nine States, with abundant talents, I have not seen such a strange talent…”

“Exaggerating too much.”

“Is the Qian Xue state so ignorant? Don’t they know what it means to exceed three ranks with divine sense? How can they believe such an absurd matter?”

“Are the sects in Qian Xue state trying to create momentum for a genius, exaggerating too much?”

“Indeed, I also don’t believe it.”

Several main affairs all shook their heads. Someone also said: “But, the chief examiner of the Array Discussion Assembly was from the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion of the Dao State. You can question the sects of Qian Xue, but it’s impossible to question the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, right?”

“That’s true…”

“Misjudged?”

“What do you think? A four-grade array master, can they also misjudge? They are proficient in arrays, I’m afraid they are even more knowledgeable than we are in reviewing volumes…”

“Then could it be… there really is such a strange talent?”

“It’s hard to say…”

“Speaking of which,” a main affairs asked, “What is the name of this evildoer…?”

One main affairs pondered and said: “It seems to be, surname Mo, called… Mo Ting?”

As soon as the words fell, this main affairs suddenly shivered, his face turning pale. The crowd still wanted to ask him other things, but seeing his appearance, they were all somewhat stunned, “What’s wrong?”

“Why is your face so pale?”

The main affairs felt a lingering fear in his heart, raised his hand and pointed, “I feel, just now this puppet, it seems… looked at me?”

The crowd followed his gaze and saw the “old man” sitting in the center with a wooden face, still using stiff actions to stamp seals on volume after volume.

“What are you talking about? This is a puppet, not a person…”

A main affairs said: “Be careful with your words. What puppet? We should follow the rules of our Heavenly Power Pavilion and respectfully call him ‘Puppet Adult’…”

“There are no outsiders here, why be so particular?”

“Well, even if you call him Puppet Adult, isn’t he still a puppet?”

“No, I just really felt that this puppet… Puppet Adult, seemed to look at me…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. For no reason at all, why would Puppet Adult look at you?”

“This, I…”

“Okay, okay,” an elderly main affairs said, “Stop chatting idly, quickly do proper things, and finish handling the matter of the three sects merging in this Qian Xue state.”

“The war on the Southern Wasteland side is tense, and sects are moving frequently. In a few days, there might be more things, where do we have time to be leisurely?”

“Yes…”

“Main Affairs Xia is right.”

“Let’s finish these trivial matters earlier…”

So the crowd quieted down and began to speed up handling the documents in their hands. It wasn’t until the sky gradually darkened that they finished. The elderly Main Affairs Xia respectfully handed over the volumes of the merger of the Tai Xu three sects to the puppet old man sitting in the center. The old man treated everyone equally and stamped the seals.

However, no one noticed that his mouth moved slightly, making a light “creak” sound, just like… the sound of cracking pine nuts.

After the Heavenly Power Pavilion sealed and discussed the decision, the merger of the three sects was finally implemented.

At this time, Tai Xu Sect was bustling with people. The disciples of Tai A Sect and Rush Xu Sect, now to be called the disciples of Tai A Mountain and Rush Xu Mountain, gathered in the large Dao field of Tai Xu Mountain to participate in the first open sect assembly after the three sects merged. Because Tai Xu Sect was the head after the merger, this kind of assembly would all be held on Tai Xu Mountain.

This assembly was very grand. The disciples of Tai A Mountain wearing golden yellow Daoist robes, the disciples of Rush Xu Mountain wearing cyan blue Daoist robes, and the disciples of Tai Xu Mountain wearing black and white robes gathered together, densely packed, with moving figures, displaying the atmosphere of a great sect.

After that, the sect masters of the three sects also routinely spoke, urging the disciples to be united and cultivate diligently. When the open sect grand ceremony ended, the brand new and grand Tai Xu Sect, including the three mountains and accepting over ten thousand disciples, was born.

The next day was the big array class. Old Mister Xun gathered all the Foundation Establishment mid-stage disciples from the three mountains in the Dao field of Tai Xu Mountain.

“Hereafter, your arrays will all be taught by me,” Old Mister Xun’s voice was old and said. “But, I am busy with affairs, so ordinarily, the arrays of the disciples of Tai A, Rush Xu, and Tai Xu mountains will be taught by Mo Ting.”

“Mo Ting, come here.” Old Mister Xun beckoned with his hand.

Mo Ting nodded and walked to the center of the Dao field. Old Mister Xun said to the disciples below the platform:

“This is Mo Ting. From now on, he is your ‘Little Senior Brother’ in arrays. He will pass on the arrays to you on my behalf.”

“Come, pay respects to your Little Senior Brother…”

All the disciples of Tai A Mountain and Rush Xu Mountain were stunned for a moment. Most of them were not familiar with Mo Ting, but they had heard of Mo Ting’s name. Many disciples had even personally witnessed Mo Ting’s astonishing talent in the Array Discussion Assembly, where he suppressed all directions with a crushing posture and seized the first place in Array Dao.

Although Mo Ting did not look old and did not look like a “Senior Brother,” no one dared to question him. What’s more, this was Old Mister Xun’s instruction.

So, in the huge Dao field, several thousand disciples from the three sects bowed together at the same time and said:

“Greetings, Little Senior Brother!”

“Greetings, Little Senior Brother…”

The sound of “Little Senior Brother” converged into one, as if countless rivers merged into an ocean, vast, shaking the forest, entering the clouds, and echoing for a long time among the ancient Tai Xu mountains.