Chapter 779: What on Earth is Going On?

After everyone left, Sun Zimei and the others were still in a daze.

"What on earth is going on?"

Sun Zimei looked at the storage rings in his hand, but there was no joy on his face—only confusion.

After all, there had to be a reason for these people to bring gifts.

They couldn’t just be currying favor for no reason.

But no matter how hard they racked their brains, they couldn’t figure out what was happening.

Just then, another servant rushed in to report.

"What now?" Sun Zimei couldn’t help but ask.

"Elder, representatives and elders from over fifty sects, including Hulang Sect, Qianmen Sect, Lingbei Sect, Quyi Sect, Zhanzi Sect, and Feiling Sect, have arrived at our mountain gate!" the subordinate said, trembling.

In all his years guarding the gate, he had never seen so many sects gather at once.

"What? Another fifty sects?"

This news shocked Sun Zimei and the others present, making them even more anxious.

They had just sent off thirty sects, and now another fifty had arrived. Yet, they still had no idea what was happening.

But there was no time to dwell on it. With over fifty elders waiting outside, they couldn’t afford to be negligent. Offending one or two might be manageable, but fifty? They didn’t dare delay.

The group hurried out to welcome them.

As soon as they reached the mountain gate, Sun Zimei and the elders prepared to greet the visitors.

But before they could even speak, one of the visiting elders took the lead.

"Elder Sun, you’re too kind! There’s no need to come out and welcome us in person. We could have just walked in ourselves."

"How could we do that?" Sun Zimei quickly replied. "You’ve traveled so far. It would be rude not to greet you properly."

"Why not?" the elder responded. "When younger brothers come to visit their elder brother, it’s not right for the elder brother to come out and greet them."

"That’s right, that’s right. We’re just younger brothers paying a visit. Elder Sun, you’re too polite," others chimed in.

The term "younger brothers" sent a shiver down Sun Zimei’s spine.

A series of question marks popped up in his mind.

What… younger brothers?

Were these the same elders who used to look down their noses at everyone?

"Elders, you’re too kind. Our Bailian Sect doesn’t deserve such respect. What have we done to earn this?" Sun Zimei said, furrowing his brow, both flattered and bewildered.

"Elder Sun, there’s no need to be so modest!" one of the elders said, casting a reproachful look at Sun Zimei.

"That’s right, we understand being humble, but you’re taking it too far!"

"Claiming you don’t deserve this only makes us feel ashamed…"

"Exactly, stop pretending. We already know…"

The elders’ words left Sun Zimei and the others even more confused.

Know what? What did they know?

And what was he pretending about?

In the midst of their confusion, the fifty-plus elders repeated the same familiar routine.

They handed over fifty storage rings.

Sun Zimei and the Bailian Sect elders were utterly dumbfounded. They exchanged bewildered glances, as if asking each other, "What on earth is happening?"

Sun Zimei couldn’t hold back any longer.

He decided he had to get to the bottom of this, no matter what.

"Everyone, could you please tell me what’s going on? Why have you all suddenly…"

But before he could finish his sentence, another arrival interrupted.

A massive flying ship appeared in the sky, gliding toward them.

At the sight of the ship, Sun Zimei and the others widened their eyes. Ignoring the fifty elders, they hurried to welcome the new arrivals.