Yunxi blurted out, "Ancestor, could we give the Weiyu Realm's cultivators a lift back on the way?"
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn smiled. "Silly child, not every cultivator wishes to return to the Weiyu Realm."
Yunxi swept her divine sense over the crowd and indeed found reluctance in some eyes. She smiled and said, "This junior was meddling. I will depart with Ancestor now."
Han Lian had planned to hitch a ride, but after a moment's thought she gave up the idea. She intended to return to the Weiyu Realm's location on her own. With her current strength, she was no one's soft target in the Weiling Realm, and the journey would be a good chance to temper herself and grasp the power of the Void Refining stage.
So she said to Yunxi, "Yunxi, I will head to where the Weiyu Realm is on my own. I can sort out this new realm power on the way. Let us keep in touch."
Yunxi nodded, then transmitted a message, "Be careful of Han Xiao. Among those who ascended, she gained the least and is at the bottom. Do not let her cling to you under our Master's name."
Han Lian laughed and replied by transmission, "Relax. This is the Weiling Realm. She is not a peak figure here either, and I am not easy to bully. She cannot even match my escape speed now. What could she possibly use to cling to me?"
Seeing that Han Lian truly did not mind, Yunxi waved her goodbye. Under many envious gazes, she vanished from the receiving platform together with the cultivators who had ascended from Haoran Sect.
Over the next two hours, many clans and sects arrived to select outstanding cultivators, persuading them to join with tempting offers. Some departed in their wake.
Others, like Han Lian, asked Ling Qingsheng for directions, then left the receiving platform on their own aboard a flying boat. With new identity jade tokens in hand, they could travel anywhere. A new world beckoned.
Yunxi felt her vision blur. In the next instant she stood in a familiar place, before Hao Yi, Hao Yan, and the newly emerged Hao Hui and Hao Qing, all smiling, and her own Master Yu Ling.
Yunxi lifted her chin with a hint of pride. "We did it."
Hao Yi laughed boldly. Hao Yan's phoenix eyes curved with a smile. Hao Hui and Hao Qing were grinning as well. Even the usually cool Yu Ling allowed the corners of her lips to rise. They had witnessed a whole-realm ascension. They had truly accomplished it, lifting a small world and succeeding.
Hao Yi looked at the somewhat aged Hao Ran Zhēnzūn. "Senior Brother, why do you look like this? Were you injured?"
She invited Hao Ran Zhēnzūn to the seat of honor as she spoke.
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn waved it off. "It is only a shell. I was hurt fighting an evil-cultivator powerhouse, so I withdrew from the Ancient Battlefield. Otherwise, we might not have met Ran Xi today."
Everyone sighed. The joy from before vanished at the thought of the war on the Ancient Battlefield.
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn spoke lightly, "Do not worry overmuch. For now the war remains within control and will not reach here quickly. You have time to prepare."
"You are right, Senior Brother. Then how should the sect arrange things next?"
With her pillar returned, Hao Yi asked directly.
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn stroked the short beard at his chin. "After I ascended I stayed with the Loose Cultivator Alliance and did not join any sect. It is freer and does not hinder my cultivation. Now that your whole sect has risen, move to the place where I cultivate in seclusion.
This is not a place to linger. The spiritual energy here cannot compare to the Weiling Realm and will slow your breakthroughs. Also, this is too close to the sealed grounds of the evil god's body. In the end, the Western Region will become a garrison area for disciples of every region. I fear you will not be able to keep what you hold.
The great sects and clans of the Spirit Region will likely seize territory. I am only a loose cultivator. My odds against them are not high. Rather than be forced to join them later, better to leave first. At least the resources you painstakingly amassed will not be handed over."
Hao Yi nodded. "You are right, Senior Brother. This was our worry when we planned the whole-realm ascension. With you to anchor us, we have time to grow. I will give the order. We depart at first light."
She glanced to the other four. None objected. Yu Ling cupped his hands and left the council hall first to arrange the sect's departure.
During the realm ascension, to guard against mishaps, Haoran Sect had activated the Sect Protection Grand Array and had still not lowered it, wary of powerful Weiling Realm cultivators who might try to rob by force. They could not be careless.
Now that Hao Ran Zhēnzūn had returned to sit in town, they no longer feared being bullied at the door.
Sect Master Yu Geng and the peak lords had gathered on Haoran Peak, awaiting the Ancestor's command. When Yu Ling appeared in the main hall, all looked to him nervously.
Yu Ling spoke bluntly, "By Ancestor's order, each peak is to make ready. Take everything that can be carried. At first light tomorrow, the entire sect leaves the Western Region. Weiling Realm cultivators will take over this place."
Yu Geng asked at once, "Yu Ling Zūnzhě, where are we going to move? Is it safe? Will we be making wedding clothes for others?"
Yu Ling said in a deep voice, "Do not worry. Hao Ran Zhēnzūn has already brought Ran Xi back to the sect to sit in town. With his escort there will be no fools who dare strike us.
We are moving to Hao Ran Zhēnzūn's seclusion grounds. There will be much to do when we arrive. Prepare yourselves. This is, after all, the Weiling Realm."
"Understood. I will give the order." Yu Geng bowed and withdrew.
Yu Ling then flashed back to the Hive. There were many things there to take, especially the "worker bees" the sect had released. He had not recalled them. He would now send messages to those disciples. Whether they chose to leave or return would be their decision. He would not force them.
All of Haoran Sect stirred into motion. The lower-ranked disciples, upon learning they would move to a Mahayana Zhēnzūn's seclusion grounds to continue cultivating, could hardly stop smiling. Having a sturdy backer felt wonderful.
Haoran Sect also contacted Ming Jia of Mingjian Gate to ask their plans. If none, they could travel together for now and decide on the road.
Ming Jia replied that they had received an invitation from Lingjian Sect to join en masse. After consideration, he agreed. They said that sword cultivators did not twist around with schemes. If there was a place to land, they would not be picky, and better still to lean against a great tree.
At first light the next day, Haoran Sect brought out their largest five-deck flying boat. It burned spirit stones, but only this flying boat could carry the entire sect.
As the flying boat rose slowly from Haoran Sect's square, all disciples stood solemn and straight. This was their past and the start of their new chapter. One day, they would return.
After a month of flight, Haoran Sect's flying boat halted before a desolate cluster of peaks.
Hao Yi pointed with a trembling finger at the barren mountains below. "Senior Brother, this is your seclusion ground? There is not even a single spirit vein."
Hao Ran Zhēnzūn coughed lightly, embarrassed. "I am a loose cultivator. Having so large a territory is already not bad. Make do for now. Once I set up several Spirit Gathering Arrays, this place will surely become the richest in spiritual energy."