Walking alone on the mountain road, no one else was seen along the way, and it wasn't until arriving at the mountain road intersection that four disciples were spotted.

  It's just...

  These four disciples, to his surprise, not a single one was recognized by him. What's more astonishing is that all four of them were in the Foundation Building stage, and one of them even had a deeper cultivation than him. Who are these people? How did they end up at the back mountain of our sect?

  Zuo Mo was on high alert.

  The four disciples saw Zuo Mo and were taken aback for a moment before hastily lining up to pay their respects, shouting: "Greetings, Left Brother!"

  "Left Shixiong? Could it be the new disciple our sect recently took in?" Zuo Mo's mind was filled with doubt, but he asked calmly: "Everyone looks unfamiliar, I don't know when you joined my Wu Kong Sword Sect?"

  Among the four, the one with the deepest cultivation stepped forward and bowed his head: "We were originally disciples of Weijianmen. Two months ago, we officially joined this sect. Under the order of the sect leader, we are guarding the back mountain."

  Zuo Mo heard this and his mind became even more confused, he couldn't help but ask: "You are disciples of the Sword Testing Gate, how did you think to join our sect?"

  The four of them exchanged a smile, and the one who spoke first explained: "Shixiong is in seclusion and may not have known about the drastic changes that have taken place within our sect. It's not just Weijianmen, nearly half of the sects in the Eastern Floating region have been incorporated into our sect."

  Zuo Mo was left staring in shock.

  The four of them saw Zuo Mo and were stunned, not daring to disturb him. Although everyone's cultivation was similar, their status differed greatly. The sect master didn't play favorites, but as an original disciple of the Empty Sword Sect, Zuo Mo's status had risen with the tide. Moreover, Zuo Mo wasn't just any ordinary original disciple; he was one of the core disciples.

  According to those original Wu Kong Jian Men disciples, Zuo Mo's status was even above that of Luo Li Shixiong, so they didn't dare to be negligent. At the Dong Fu Sword Testing Conference, Zuo Mo also made a big show, his zombie face was very impressive, and the four of them recognized him as soon as they saw him.

  They suddenly realized that the back mountain was Zuo Mo's closed-off territory. From the moment they were sent here, they had been curious about what secrets this back mountain held, and why the sect leader had assigned them four to guard it. And every so often, Master Li Yingfeng would come once, but she would be tight-lipped, never mentioning anything.

  Before his voice had fallen, countless sword lights flew in from all sides, and the leader was none other than the sect master Pei Yuanran and Shi Fengrong.

  The radiance of Zuo Mo's emergence from the formation shocked the entire Voidless Mountain.

  Pei Yu Ran saw Zuo Mo, his eyebrows furrowed slightly but immediately returned to normal. However, Shi Feng Rong's face beside him showed genuine delight.

  The four guardians of the rear mountain were shocked to see Pei Yu Ran and Shi Feng Rong, and they hastily paid their respects. The four people in their hearts also reevaluated the importance that the sect leader attached to Zuo Mo.

  "You've finally come out. Not bad." Pei Yuanyan smiled warmly: "Your master is anxiously waiting for you."

  "It's all right if you come out!" Xi Feng Rong had a deep affection for Zuo Mo, this talented yet extremely frustrating disciple. As soon as she spoke, her eyes reddened.

  His nose slightly sour, he was deeply moved in his heart. He sincerely and solemnly bowed: "Master!"

  After chatting with Zuo Mo for a while, the sect master left as he had many things to attend to. Shi Feng Rong accompanied Zuo Mo back to his West Wind Yard.

  Just as he walked to the valley, a white shadow rushed into Zuo Mo's arms. Zuo Mo was caught off guard and stumbled. The silly bird! The silly bird nudged his chest with its head, and Zuo Mo scolded, "You silly bird!" But in his heart, he felt a warmth.

  The west wind courtyard is still the same as before, no difference, usually someone should be taking care of it.

  It seemed that Zuo Mo was perplexed, and Shi Feng Rong smiled: "At the beginning of that time, Xiao Guo came to tidy up every day. Later, after Xiao Guo was sent to Tianyin City, a few outer sect disciples were sent to tidy up."

  Recalling that timid apple face, Zuo Mo felt a bit downhearted and asked with a smile: "How's Xiao Guo doing lately?"

  Shi Fengrong was obviously very satisfied with another one of her disciples: "Xiao Guo's innate talent may not be as good as yours, but she is extremely hardworking. With the rapid expansion of our sect in the past half year and the abundance of resources, she has made rapid progress and is already close to reaching the Condensing Pulse stage. The Sect Master thinks that she needs to gain more experience, so he sent her to manage Tianyin City."

  "Where's Big Brother? Where's Luo Li?" Zuo Mo couldn't help but ask.

  Shi Feng Rong said: "Your Eldest Senior Brother and Luo Li Senior Brother, at first followed your Second Master Uncle. Later on, in order to speed up their journey, they each led some junior brothers and split into two paths. Unfortunately, no one knew you would leave the formation today, otherwise that Li Ying Feng girl would definitely have left a few days later. Your Yan Le Master Aunt needed someone's help, so she called your Senior Sister Li Ying Feng over."

  Zuo Mo felt even more desolate in his heart. No one had expected that after staying in the big array for half a year, everything would be different when they came out.

  "How come we're expanding so aggressively?" Zuo Mo couldn't help but ask: "Aren't the other sects interfering?"

  "It's not just us expanding, everyone has been expanding in the past half year." Shi Feng Rong's face showed a few more shades of worry: "The situation in the Tian Xue Blood Domain is getting worse and worse, now it's chaotic. At this time, all the powerful sects are expanding. Only by concentrating our strength can we possibly have a glimmer of hope. The Tian Yue Domain is not far from the Tian Xue Blood Domain, everyone is anxious. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed, being soft-hearted and weak-willed won't do. The Sect Master now only hopes to complete the integration before bad news arrives."

  "Is it that bad?" Zuo Mo was shocked.

  "Hmm." Shi Feng Rong's face grew even more worried, she hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Originally, you had just come out of the array and should be resting well. But now the situation is severe, there are some things I must tell you. Don't slack off, this isn't the time to relax. Originally, at present, there are seven people in the Golden Elixir period, thirty disciples in the Condensing Aperture period under our sect, and about two hundred or so Foundation Building disciples."

  Zuo Mo vaguely knew what his master was going to say, but for some reason, he felt very calm in his heart.

  "The sect has expanded too rapidly, although it's also a helpless move, but there are many hidden dangers, and the internal harmony is not as good as before." As she said this, she couldn't help but sigh: "You must work hard and condense your veins quickly!"

  "The disciple understands." Zuo Mo also knew that his master was doing it for his own good.

  Shi Fengrong once again exhorted and reminded him, then left.

  The night was as dark as water, Zuo Mo sat on the rooftop, with the Sound Beads placed beside him, their sound still echoing. The silly bird stood by his side, seemingly able to sense Zuo Mo's emotions, but it too remained silent.

  The Pao body has been motionless since it last entered a state of meditation.

  Fortunately, there is no change in the sea of fire, the tombstone has not changed, and the Pu demon sitting on the tombstone has not changed either.

  Pao You entered meditation, and none of Da Shixiong, Luo Li Shixiong or Xiao Guo were around.

  Sitting on the rooftop, looking at the sky. The sword light in the sky is dozens of times more than before, coming and going, bustling. However, this prosperous scene makes Zuo Mo feel very strange and cold.

  Suddenly, something was tugging at his hem, and when he turned around, he found it was a silly bird.

  "What's wrong? Stupid bird!"

  The silly bird flew down from the rooftop with a flutter, and Mo's gaze fell on where the silly bird was standing.

  Isn't that the entrance to the underground stone chamber?

  The entrance to the stone room was carefully hidden by Zuo Mo, who had even set up an illusion array. No one had discovered it. Suddenly, Zuo Mo felt a few sparks of interest and slipped into the stone room.

  As soon as I entered, a wave of damp and chilly air hit me in the face.

  Scanning the stone room, Mo suddenly revealed a look of surprise on his face.

  Huh?

  Black Gold Bug!

  Hei Jin Chong also found Zuo Mo and transformed into a black light flying onto Zuo Mo's shoulder. Seeing this little guy, Zuo Mo was in a great mood, just like seeing an old friend. He only then remembered that Hei Jin Chong had always liked to stay at the Ling vein in the stone room, and he had long forgotten about it.

  Put the black gold worm in the palm of your hand and take a closer look. Zuo Mo was even more surprised to find that the black gold worm's grade was obviously higher than before, and it also had more spiritual energy.

  What has this guy eaten again?

  When his gaze fell on the uneven spiritual vein, he suddenly realized. Indeed, when he walked to the position of the spiritual vein, no spiritual energy could be felt there. There was a small hole on the ground, extremely deep, and Mo Yue used his divine sense to detect it for a while, at least several dozen feet deep. It must have been the work of the Black Gold Worm, and the elixir nurtured in the Spiritual Spring probably entered this little guy's belly early on.

  "Can't see it, but you're quite capable, aren't you!" Zuo Mo laughed and said to the Black Gold Bug.

  With the black gold insect, he walked out of the stone room, and Luo Mo's mood improved a lot.

  Wu Kong Tang, Pei Yuanran and Shi Fengrong were discussing something.

  Pei Yu Ran smiled and said: "Just now I received a flying sword message from Third Master, good news, Xin Hu Sword Sect has agreed to give us Huang Mu Jiao."

  Shi Feng Rong's face involuntarily revealed a hint of joy: "If it's really good! The Araki Reef is next to the boundary river leading to Xiaoshan, and we've also gained an extra route for retreat. However, what conditions does the Heart Lake Sword Sect require?"

  "They want Gui Cheng, I agreed. Gui Cheng is of little use to us, and we can exchange it for Huang Mu Jiao, which is a good deal." Pei Yuanran said decisively.

  Shi Fengrong nodded repeatedly.

  "I plan to send Zuo Mo to the Desolate Wood Reef." Pei Yuan Ran suddenly said.

  "Why?" Shi Feng Rong suddenly stood up, her face furious: "Left Mo had just come out of the array, and you sent him to such a desolate place. How barren is Huangmu Jiao, we walked through it back then, I remember clearly. I disagree!"

  Pei Yuuran helplessly rubbed his brow, and with the other hand he signaled to Shi Fengrong: "Don't be impatient, listen to me finish speaking."

  Shi Feng Rong let out a cold hum and didn't say anything.

  For his own junior sister, Pei Yu Ran also had some helplessness: "Although the desolate wood reef is very difficult to deal with, it's crucial for us, and my junior sister understands that. Otherwise, why would Third Master have to personally run an errand to Heart Lake Sword Sect? Such a strategic location, if not in our own hands, will always be a worry. Wei Sheng and the others all have tasks at hand, who else can I send?"

  Pei Yuanyan threw out a hand and countered with a question to Shi Fengrong.

  Shi Fengrong sneered, "Don't use these grandiose excuses to talk about it. Isn't it just that you think Zuo Mo doesn't have a condensed meridian and his sword intent hasn't reached the realm of turning one's heart? I absolutely will not agree to this!"

  Pei Yu Ran revealed a bitter smile: "Ah, what can I say? You left Zuo Mo at the gate, is that good for him? What's the current situation with the sect, you're not unaware! Do we have time to protect him? You don't! I don't either! Wei Sheng and the others aren't here, no one will help him, it's not beneficial for him!"

  Seeing Shi Fengrong's expression ease, he continued patiently: "Although Huangmu Jiao is remote and desolate, it is very safe. It is behind us and is our rear route. Let's go there, although we will suffer a bit, at least our lives are guaranteed. If the situation really gets worse and we need to withdraw, we must take the Huangmu Jiao route. At this time, apart from preserving our lives, what else can you expect?"

  Shi Fengrong didn't say anything else, she knew that her senior brother was right.

  After struggling for half a day, she finally raised her head and gritted her teeth: "In the hands of materialists, he cannot be shortchanged."

  "Good." Pei Yuanshan answered readily.