This time, it was a stark contrast to how deserted it had been on the eighth.
Before Xiao Chen even got close to the tree stump he'd found last time, he saw many unfamiliar faces.
There were also numerous Cultivators, either masked or wearing Cloaks to conceal their identities.
They moved with purpose, most of them alone. Even those in small groups were silent, focused only on getting to their destination.
Xiao Chen followed the crowd. The only people he saw not moving were three Cultivators in black clothes and Conical Hats, sitting under a tree by the roadside, apparently resting.
He saw no one else loitering. Soon, he arrived at the valley entrance.
Once he got there, he saw a line had formed.
To the side, several Cultivators wearing identical Moon Hats were spread out along the perimeter, seemingly standing guard.
Another Cultivator, at the ninth level of Qi Refining, stood at the valley entrance, checking everyone's Tokens.
