A lot happened over the next two months.

The Elder Ancestors of the Profound Dao Sect, the White Rainbow Sect, Evil Wind Valley, the Mahayana Sect, and the Xiu Hua Sect all gathered at Heaven-Reaching Peak. Discreetly, these Five Sects formed an unbreakable alliance.

With the support of the Elder Ancestors from the Five Sects, Shen Lang began a series of sweeping reforms. He released Secret Techniques to the disciples of the five Sects that were far superior to their original Cultivation Techniques.

After rounds of assessments, the most promising disciples from these five Sects were taught incredible Cultivation Techniques.

These were Cultivation Techniques that one would normally only find within a Spirit Copper Level Influence or a Secret Silver Level Influence.

Yet now, they had appeared in these Profound Iron Level Sects.

Some Core Disciples even obtained Foundation Establishment Techniques from Legendary Sects!

In addition, Shen Lang casually tossed the Elder Ancestors some Elixir Pill formulas, methods for crafting powerful Profound Artifacts, and Spirit Array Maps, causing the power of the five Sects to skyrocket instantly.

Previously, a single formula for the Giant Potion from Shen Lang had caused these Sects to fight tooth and nail. But compared to what he was offering now, the Giant Potion was little more than a child’s toy.

The Artifact Refiners and Alchemists of the five Sects were immediately gathered and placed on a war footing. They began to conduct Alchemy and Artifact Refining with desperate urgency.

The annual grand competitions of the major Sects were all moved up by a month and held simultaneously.

At this moment, the disciples selected from the five Sects’ annual competitions were gathered in the forbidden grounds behind the Profound Dao Sect’s mountain. Under the supervision of their respective Elders, they trained diligently, their motivation at an all-time high.

Meanwhile, within a Grand Array on the other side of the forbidden grounds, the Wind Spirit Guard of Evil Wind Valley, the Rainbow Guard of the White Rainbow Sect, the Thunder Guard of the Profound Dao Sect, the Flower God Guard of the Xiu Hua Sect, and the Purple-clothed Guard of the Mahayana Sect—one thousand and eight people in total—stood in neat formations in a large forest clearing, waiting in silence.

And behind these formations, every single one of the Elder Ancestors of the Five Sects was present.

No one spoke. The atmosphere was eerily quiet.

Suddenly, all eyes turned to the distant sky.

A small black dot appeared, growing larger as it flew rapidly toward them.

Shen Lang descended from the sky, dressed in black martial attire with a long saber on his back and wearing an Evil Ghost Mask.

Within the Five Sects, there was absolutely no one besides Shen Lang who could make a group of Elder Ancestors wait in silence without a single complaint.

"Something came up that delayed me. Sorry for being late."

Shen Lang cupped his fist in salute to the crowd.

He glanced at the five distinct formations, sensing the auras the people were intentionally or unintentionally exuding, and gave a faint nod.

"The Elder Ancestors have already explained the details to you. I am giving you the right to choose."

"If you have questions, ask them now. If you cannot accept the terms, you may leave. No one will give you trouble. If there are no problems, step forward by your formations, from left to right, and offer your Soul Blood."

Shen Lang’s method for controlling this force was simple: have them swear a Heart Demon Blood Oath and offer their Soul Blood.

The Heart Demon Blood Oath was shocking enough, but the act of offering one’s Soul Blood was simply terrifying.

To offer one’s Soul Blood was to place one’s very life and soul in his hands.

Even these men, the most loyal to their Sects, had been unable to remain calm and had caused quite a commotion earlier.

If the Elder Ancestors hadn’t been there to control the situation and promise that this was voluntary, things might have gotten completely out of hand.

Those who couldn’t accept the terms had already left.

Although many of those who remained were still apprehensive and hesitant, the things the Elder Ancestors had told them were simply too astounding. They wanted to get more confirmation before making a final decision.

From the Thunder Guard’s formation, a masked man at the very front took two steps forward and said respectfully, "Ying Huo, Commander of the Thunder Guard, greets you, my lord!"

"No need for formalities. If you have questions, feel free to speak," Shen Lang said with a nod.

Ying Huo took a deep look at Shen Lang and said in a clear voice, "We would never dare to doubt the words of our Elder Ancestors. However, their explanations were vague, which has left us feeling very uneasy. Therefore, there are some questions we hope to ask you directly, my lord."

"Go ahead," Shen Lang said, looking at him calmly.

"I wish to understand, first, what exactly is this ’age of chaos’ the Elder Ancestors spoke of? Why is it that even if our Sects form an alliance, our chances of survival are slim, and only under your leadership, my lord, do we have a hope of fighting our way out?"

"Second, the Elder Ancestors said that if we offer our Soul Blood and follow you, my lord, we will receive an unimaginable opportunity. I’d like to have a general idea of what this opportunity entails. To what extent?"

"Third, what is the purpose of bringing our group together to form this organization?"

"Fourth, isn’t swearing an oath of loyalty enough? Why must we offer our Soul Blood? These are questions I believe everyone wants to ask. We hope you can provide us with some answers, my lord."

After speaking, Ying Huo stood there quietly, watching Shen Lang as a gentle breeze rustled his long hair.

Shen Lang glanced over the men in the various formations and said in an even tone, "The matter of the coming chaos is of grave importance. I cannot speak of it plainly until you have offered your Soul Blood. I also cannot predict exactly what will happen."

"The only thing I can tell you is this: a Demon who once nearly plunged the entire Human Realm into eternal damnation is about to be reborn. His return will mark the beginning of the age of chaos. No one knows how chaotic it will get, but it is clear that no one will be able to escape it."

"As for your second point, what constitutes an opportunity for a Martial Artist? Powerful Cultivation Techniques? Supreme Divine Weapons? Elixir Pills that can raise your Cultivation by three levels in a row? All of these would count, wouldn’t they? And I can provide you with all of them."

"What exactly can I provide? Just look behind you..."

As he spoke, Shen Lang raised his hand and pointed behind the crowd.

Stunned, everyone turned to look.

But behind them, aside from their Elder Ancestors, there was only a bare stone cliff.

"That’s right. I’m telling you to look at your Elder Ancestors. To put it bluntly, if you follow me, your Cultivation may soon surpass theirs."

As soon as he said this, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

’How arrogant! How utterly conceited!’

Even the twenty Elder Ancestors at the back were dumbfounded.

Shen Lang gave a dry cough and said, "Of course, I’m speaking of a hypothetical situation where I have no relationship with the Elder Ancestors. In reality, I will also help them advance further on the path of Martial Arts. Many years from now, your ultimate achievements will depend on your own hard work and destiny."

As he spoke, he flicked his right hand, and a suit of gleaming, jet-black Armor slowly rose into the air.

"This is a suit of Armor I refined some time ago with the help of the Elder Ancestors. The main materials used were the scales of a King Martial Realm Fifth Heaven Four-winged Green-scaled Python. Based on the materials alone, this Armor would be considered Profound Level Fifth Grade. However, I spent a considerable amount of time inscribing the Spirit Array Map within it. It is at least on par with an Imperial Artifact of Emperor Level Third Grade or higher."

As these words were spoken, another intense commotion swept through the crowd.

Even the twenty Elder Ancestors at the back, who had remained calm until now, revealed looks of raw desire.

Shen Lang chuckled and said, "The Four-winged Green-scaled Python’s body was quite large, but unfortunately, with over a thousand of you here, it’s impossible to provide a suit for everyone. I estimate that about one hundred and twenty of you can be equipped with this type of Armor."

HISS!

A collective gasp was heard from the entire crowd.

’Profound Level Fifth Grade... That’s the level of a Treasure of the Sect for a Profound Iron Level Influence!’

’Sects like the Profound Dao Sect and the Xiu Hua Sect couldn’t even produce a few of these.’

’To think this mysterious man is handing out one hundred and twenty of them like cabbages at a market!’

"As for the rest of you, you will have to wait for now... As long as I have the materials, I will personally refine the most powerful Divine Weapons for you! The same goes for Elixir Pills and other such items."

"And now, as for Cultivation Techniques..."

Shen Lang’s gaze slowly swept across the crowd before he suddenly raised his hand and pointed toward the Mahayana Sect’s formation. "You. Step out."

The Purple-clothed Guard from the Mahayana Sect was taken aback, but he immediately walked out under everyone’s gaze and stood next to Ying Huo.

Shen Lang smiled. "Ying Huo, you are the Commander of the Thunder Guard, with a Cultivation at the Xuanwu Realm Seventh Heaven. Is that correct?"

Ying Huo replied respectfully, "Yes."

Shen Lang then turned to the Purple-clothed Guard from the Mahayana Sect. "And your Cultivation is at the Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven?"

The Purple-clothed Guard glanced at Shen Lang, then at Ying Huo, and said timidly, "Uh... my lord, you don’t want me to duel Lord Ying Huo, do you? You think too highly of me. My Cultivation is the worst among the Purple-clothed Guard. I only joined the Guard less than three months ago..."

"You bastard!" A man from the Purple-clothed Guard’s ranks stepped forward, practically roaring, "Just do as our lord commands! Even if you’re no match for Ying Huo, are you too scared to even make a move? You’re a disgrace to the Purple-clothed Guard!"

A group within the Purple-clothed Guard’s formation immediately started scolding and pointing at the unlucky fellow.

’Damn it, that bastard has disgraced the entire Mahayana Sect.’

’It’s one thing to be outmatched, but he’s not being asked to fight to the death. Why is he so scared?’

’Why did our lord call that good-for-nothing out? He really is the worst among us... And Lord Ying Huo is the Commander of the Thunder Guard, their strongest member. This is a bit unfair!’

The Purple-clothed Guard standing next to Ying Huo was on the verge of tears.

’Damn it, if you’re all so tough, why don’t you come out and fight him!’

’Even Black Death, the Commander of the Purple-clothed Guard, suffered a huge loss against Ying Huo. Sending me to fight him is just asking me to die, isn’t it?’

Shen Lang raised his right hand and pressed it down, silencing the crowd’s chatter.

Then he said, "Don’t overthink it. Go stand thirty meters away."

"My lord, so we still have to fight? Can’t we just not?" the Purple-clothed Guard said pitifully, his knees going weak.

The Purple-clothed Guard’s Commander, Black Death, couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward and gave the guard a series of noogies, making him yelp in a ridiculously comical scene.

Shen Lang shook his head helplessly. "I’m not asking you to fight Ying Huo. I just want you to use one move and see if Ying Huo can block it."

"What?"

Everyone was shocked.

’What does he mean by that?’

’He’s having a guy at the Xuanwu Realm Third Heaven use one move against the Thunder Guard Commander, who’s at the Xuanwu Realm Seventh Heaven?’

’And he’s going to see if Ying Huo can block it?’

’Even if Ying Huo just stood there and let him attack a hundred times, he probably couldn’t even injure him, right?’

Just as everyone was completely bewildered, wondering what trick Shen Lang had up his sleeve...

Shen Lang gave a wry smile and said, "Ying Huo, you should use your full strength. Block it if you can. If you can’t, then run."

Ying Huo glanced indifferently at the distant Purple-clothed Guard and smiled arrogantly. "It’s not that I, Ying Huo, am arrogant, but with his Cultivation and the grade of the Spiritual Artifact in his hands, he couldn’t injure me even with ten strikes, let alone one."

--------The next Chapter will be out in a few minutes. I’ll post it soon, I’m exhausted today.