The Fang family was located in the northernmost part of the Central Region, with its main gate facing south, exuding grandeur.
In the Thunder Wind Realm, most families and structures, including the Thunder Emperor Hall, were built facing south.
However, three peak powers were an exception; their mountain gates all faced north.
These were the Liu family, the Huo family, and the Kai Tian Sword Sect.
Since these three families were situated in the southern part of the Central Region, if their mountain gates were designed to face south, it would create the impression of turning their backs to the Central Region and gazing towards the Southern Region. Furthermore, it was not ideal in terms of aura and feng shui.
Therefore, the mountain gates of these three families all faced north, looking out towards families like the Fang family and overseeing the Central Region.
At the entrance of the Liu family's mountain gate, hundreds of rogue cultivators were queuing, waiting for identity verification. They hoped to become a part of the Liu family's influence, securing a life of comfort and ease. If luck favored them, great success was not out of reach.
“Brother Lu, do you think my brother and I can join the Liu family this time?”
A scruffy cultivator with a goatee rubbed his hands together, appearing somewhat nervous.
“Young brother Zheng, why are you worrying? With our Nascent Soul stage strength, surely the Liu family won't reject us?”
“What if they do? We’re just minor figures in the early Nascent Soul stage. I fear they might look down on us.”
“Nonsense. You call Nascent Soul cultivators ‘minor figures’? You’ve been stuck at the Core Formation stage for years and still have that weakling mentality. Don’t forget, reaching the Nascent Soul stage already qualifies you as a strong practitioner.
Besides, even if the Liu family rejects us, we can always try the Huo family or the Kai Tian Sword Sect. Those two also recruit rogue cultivators.”
“But… I feel uneasy about this. With the barbarians invading, we’re not helping to defend, but rather aiding and abetting. Is this…?”
“Oh, my young brother Zheng still has a conscience? How much is a conscience worth? Can it buy spirit stones or magical treasures? What you’re saying, a cultivator’s livelihood depends solely on their own strength, right? Everything else is empty, false.”
“What you say makes sense. Alas, someone is coming this way.”
Young brother Zheng pointed to a dejected young man ahead.
“Hey, brother, what happened? They didn’t accept you?”
The young man looked up at young brother Zheng, sighed, and shook his head.
“Alas, they said my aptitude is too poor, and my cultivation is too low. I have no value, so they rejected me.”
“Oh, that’s quite unfortunate.”
“Yes, I’ll go check out the Thunder Emperor Hall. I heard they are also recruiting people, perhaps they’ll accept me.”
After speaking, the young man flew straight towards the north.
“Alas, how pitiful. The benefits offered by the Thunder Emperor Hall are not as good as the Liu family’s,” Brother Lu shook his head.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Previously, the Nine Great Powers were extremely strict in recruiting rogue cultivators; they required both strength and good character, as well as excellent aptitude. This almost cut off our lifeline as rogue cultivators. Who would choose to be an unstable rogue cultivator if they could join a major power?
Now, both factions are expanding to counter each other, creating opportunities for us.
I’ve made up my mind. If the Liu family rejects me this time, I won’t go to the Huo family or the Kai Tian Sword Sect. I’ll go to the Thunder Emperor Hall. Although the benefits are less, at least I’ll have the reputation of loyalty and righteousness, won’t I?”
“Get out of here. Those who are truly loyal and righteous towards the world have already gone to the Thunder Emperor Hall and wouldn’t be here at the Liu family. Don’t think that because the Thunder Emperor Hall offers fewer benefits than the Liu family, they recruit any less people. When you get there, how much can you expect to get?”
Young brother Zheng shook his head. “Alas, if only we knew someone in the Liu family who could recommend us. I heard that if someone recommends you to the Liu family now, you can get in without an assessment. It’s a pity that recommendations require gifts.”
“Heh, you know, I actually know a steward in the Liu family, but he fell out of favor a few years ago, so I haven’t been in contact much.”
Brother Lu sighed, looked around, and suddenly his eyes lit up. He waved his hand and called out,
“Steward Liu, Steward Liu, it’s me, Little Lu, over here.”
He saw Steward Liu Luhang flying towards them with two people.
“Little Lu?”
Liu Luhang focused his gaze, and after a moment of thought, he remembered.
“Ah, yes, yes, yes. You still remember me.”
“Oh, I remember now. You handled some business for me in a city a long time ago.”
“Yes, yes, you still remember me.”
“Yes, why are you here at the Liu family?”
“We heard that the Liu family is recruiting guest elders, so my brother Zheng and I came to take a look. We didn’t expect to run into Steward Liu here. Isn’t this a coincidence?
Steward Liu, could you possibly make an exception and bring us two brothers in?”
Little Lu bowed and fawned over Liu Luhang, his eyes full of hope.
Liu Luhang frowned. He was about to take the Alliance Master Wan and the Holy Son on a top-secret mission and feared any complications. Just as he was about to refuse, Alliance Master Wan’s voice suddenly transmitted into his mind,
“Take them along. Use them to create confusion.”
“Alright, then. It just so happens that I met these two friends on the way and was planning to recommend them as guest elders at my home. Adding two more won’t make much difference. Let’s go together.”
Liu Luhang nodded calmly.
This delighted Little Lu and Little Zheng, who quickly left the queue and followed behind Liu Luhang.
The others in line looked on with envy, regretting that they had only focused on cultivation in the past and had not properly befriended important figures.
“Steward Liu, back then I already felt you were extraordinary and had the aura of an important figure. Seeing you today, it’s indeed true.”
“Yes, Steward Liu. Although I, Little Zheng, am meeting you for the first time today, your demeanor has deeply captivated me. I truly admire you.”
“If you ask me, it’s our Liu family that is destined for greatness. That insignificant Thunder Emperor Hall dares to contend with our Liu family. Isn’t that overestimating themselves?”
“Exactly, exactly. Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Our Liu family has the arrival of a demon god, and unifying the Thunder Wind Realm is a manifestation of heavenly will. We are willing to offer our meager strength to help the Liu family unify the Thunder Wind Realm.”
“That insignificant Thunder Emperor Hall, that insignificant Wan Lei, a presumptuous ant who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth, is merely relying on his status as a descendant of the Thunder Emperor to forcefully gather a mob. These people, where is their cohesion?
That brat, what skill does he have? Just a young whelp, with some fortuitous encounters, he dares to call himself the Son of the Plane?”
“Isn’t that so? Our Liu family has been passed down for tens of thousands of years. How can a nascent small force compare to us?”
Little Lu and Little Zheng flattered and fawned incessantly, speaking in turns. Liu Luhang, walking ahead, smiled on the surface but was internally screaming.
"Gentlemen, you are my lords, alright? Please, stop talking, okay?
Do you know who the person on my left is?
It’s the brat you’re talking about.
Are you trying to get me killed?”