"Welcome, Sect Leader Yan…"
Ge Shulin, one of the Four Elders of the Huashan Sect, was specifically responsible for receiving and hosting distinguished guests from various martial arts sects. Whether he encountered famous figures like Wan Yunting or the leaders of minor, third-rate sects, Ge Shulin treated everyone with courtesy and politeness, ensuring that all attendees of the martial arts convention felt the respect and importance bestowed upon them by the Huashan Sect.
"When your Shenjian Sect called the Martial Arts Association earlier saying you would participate, we were initially disbelieving," Ge Shulin said with clasped fists to Yan Changjian, the Sect Leader of the Shenjian Sect, who stood before him. "We never expected Sect Leader Yan himself to come."
Yan Changjian clasped his fists in return and smiled, "Elder Ge, the Martial Arts Convention is a grand event held once every three years for all major sects. How could the Shenjian Sect possibly be absent?"
"Indeed, indeed."
Ge Shulin nodded with a smile and continued, "This is my first time meeting you, Sect Leader Yan. You truly are the Sect Leader of the Shenjian Sect; your demeanor is beyond compare. And your disciples, each one vibrant and full of spirit; any one of your younger members could astonish any major sect."
Faced with Elder Ge's flattering words, Yan Changjian, without lifting his gaze, subtly adopted an air of arrogance and nodded with a smile, "My Shenjian Sect rarely makes appearances, choosing instead to focus on closed-door cultivation. Therefore, each of our disciples possesses extraordinary strength."
Seeing Yan Changjian preen and boast about his disciples, Ge Shulin couldn't help but inwardly grumble. Yet, on his face, he maintained his cheerful demeanor, saying, "I eagerly await the start of the Martial Arts Convention tomorrow to witness the performance of your Shenjian Sect disciples."
"Come, Sect Leader Yan, since you have arrived, please join Sect Master Wan of Wuliang Daoist Temple, Sect Leader Liu of the Qingcheng Sect, and Sect Leader Zhou of the Emei Sect. Ascend the mountain with me." Ge Shulin gestured to Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi, who were gathered with Liu Bing and representatives from three other major sects behind him.
Yan Changjian glanced over. To his left stood a youth in a blue robe, exuding an imposing aura. His eyebrows were as sharp as sword edges, and his piercing, starlike eyes had been fixed on Wan Yunting since their appearance.
Wan Yunting could sense the provocative gaze of this Shenjian Sect disciple, which made him narrow his eyes in puzzlement.
Ge Shulin led Yan Changjian and their twenty Shenjian Sect disciples forward. He pointed to Wan Yunting and introduced, "Sect Leader Yan, you likely do not know Sect Master Wan?"
"I do!"
Yan Changjian's gaze fell upon Wan Yunting, and he smiled, "Since I set out to sea, I have heard rumors of a martial arts prodigy emerging in the martial world!"
Ge Shulin laughed heartily, "It seems Sect Master Wan's reputation is known far and wide."
Yan Changjian's sharp eyes fixed on Wan Yunting, and he nodded with a smile, "At such a young age, to possess such a martial realm, you are indeed a rare martial arts prodigy."
Wan Yunting clasped his fists in greeting and smiled politely, "Sect Leader Yan is too kind."
Yan Changjian waved a hand and then pointed to the young disciple standing to his left, stating, "However, my disciples from the Shenjian Sect are no less than you, Sect Master Wan!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback. They watched as Yan Changjian's gaze, filled with provocation and disdain, fell upon Wan Yunting. He smiled and said, "Sect Master Wan, I wonder if you would be willing to let my disciple here spar with you?"
With that, the youth named Jian Feng stepped forward. He was tall and straight, with eyes like stars. In his hand, he held a seemingly extraordinary long sword. His presence was like that of a drawn, sharp blade, emanating a powerful sword aura. He looked at Wan Yunting with an arrogant gaze and smiled, "I request your guidance!"
Faced with the sudden provocation from the Shenjian Sect, Wan Yunting's eyes narrowed. Confronting the piercing sword aura of this young disciple from the Shenjian Sect, he smiled, maintaining a posture as steady as a pine tree, his own aura no weaker than the other.
Gu Luotang, Zhou Ruoxi, Yang Jingyi, and Master Yunbai beside him felt their hearts tighten. They hadn't expected the Shenjian Sect to provoke Wan Yunting so abruptly. Elder Ge Shulin of the Huashan Sect quickly reacted, stepping between Wan Yunting and Jian Feng to de-escalate the situation. He said with a smile, "Sect Master Wan, Sect Leader Yan, please do not engage in sparring here!"
"Two such talented individuals should wait for tomorrow's Huashan Sword Debate to settle your scores. If you were to fight here, it would only disturb the surrounding tourists."
"Therefore, I ask for your favor, and let us ascend the mountain first to discuss matters properly, shall we?"
Seeing Ge Shulin's pleading expression, Wan Yunting withdrew his aura and nodded with a smile, "I will do as Elder Ge asks."
Yan Changjian also signaled his disciple. Jian Feng then took a step back. Yan Changjian smiled at Ge Shulin and said, "My apologies, Elder Ge. We simply encountered a martial arts prodigy like Sect Master Wan and wished to exchange some pointers."
"I understand, I understand…"
Relieved that they had stopped, Ge Shulin felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. If they had truly fought there, it would have directly impacted the reputation of the Huashan Sect.
"Everyone, let's not linger here and chat. Please, follow me up the mountain quickly. Our Sect Leader is eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Ge Shulin didn't want them to stay any longer and urged them to ascend. He wanted the Sect Leader to personally host these guests, while he, merely a welcoming pine, didn't want to get caught in any crossfire.
Wan Yunting clasped his fists and smiled at Yan Changjian, then turned back to glance at Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao, signaling that all was well. He then called out to Zhou Ruoxi, Yang Jingyi, Master Yunbai, and Liu Bing and the others, and ascended the mountain ahead of the Shenjian Sect.
"What's with this Shenjian Sect? It feels like they're deliberately provoking us!"
Yang Jingyi frowned, finding Sect Leader Yan of the Shenjian Sect rather peculiar.
"Hmph, if Elder Ge hadn't stopped them, Wan Yunting should have taught them a good lesson."
Duan Yingying, walking beside them, seemed eager for trouble and couldn't stand the arrogance of the Shenjian Sect members.
Zhou Ruoxi turned her head, her autumn eyes glancing at the man, and said with a raised eyebrow, "The people of the Shenjian Sect have considerable strength!"
"Indeed."
Wan Yunting nodded, his own eyebrows raised. "Setting aside their Sect Leader, even their disciple has a martial realm no inferior to mine!"
"What? That powerful?" Qi Miaomiao's almond eyes widened. Gu Luotang's soft eyes revealed concern; she felt a little worried.
Zhou Ruoxi, Yang Jingyi, and Master Yunbai all frowned, unable to resist looking back. They glanced at Yan Changjian, the Sect Leader of the Shenjian Sect, and the disciple named Jian Feng, who were walking with Liu Bing of the Qingcheng Sect and Ge Shulin. Master Yunbai said, "Those disciples of the Shenjian Sect, each one appears to have good martial arts skills, and they seem different from those of our sects!"
Wan Yunting nodded and said, "It's clear that the Shenjian Sect pursues the way of the sword!"
Yang Jingyi and Zhou Ruoxi nodded. "Poised to strike, this Shenjian Sect will undoubtedly put pressure on our various martial arts sects!"
Wan Yunting and Master Yunbai and the others nodded. It seemed that this martial arts convention, with the presence of the Shenjian Sect, would be quite spectacular…
At the Huashan Sect, the South Heaven Gate, as Ge Shulin led Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang, Yang Jingyi, Qi Wu, and other Wuliang Daoist Temple disciples, along with Zhou Ruoxi and Master Yunbai of the Emei Sect, Sect Leader Liu of the Qingcheng Sect, and Yan Changjian and Jian Feng of the Shenjian Sect, as well as Tan Song, the Sect Leader of the Taishan Sect, who had been following along, they ascended Huashan together. Upon entering the South Heaven Gate, they had indeed entered the inner sect of the Huashan Sect.
"Sect Master Wan, Madam Yang, Sect Leader Liu, Sect Leader Zhou, Master Yunbai, it has been a long time…"
Shi Yizhen, the Sect Leader of the Huashan Sect, clad in a magnificent long robe, along with several elders and young disciples of the sect, stood on the steps outside a grand hall to welcome them…
"Sect Leader Shi…"
Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, Zhou Ruoxi, Master Yunbai, Sect Leader Liu, and Elder Jia all clasped their fists in greeting…
Ge Shulin came forward and pointed to Yan Changjian of the Shenjian Sect. Shi Yizhen's old face showed slight surprise. However, the Shenjian Sect had a very low presence among the major sects, considered a third-rate sect. Therefore, Sect Leader Shi's old face broke into a smile, and he said, "Sect Leader Yan, forgive us for not meeting you sooner."
Yan Changjian noticed the disdain in Sect Leader Shi's old eyes and instantly released a powerful sword aura, his eyes shooting out two beams of sword light, causing the faces of Wan Yunting, Zhou Ruoxi, Master Yunbai, and Liu Bing nearby to change.
Shi Yizhen's old face also changed dramatically, and he thought to himself with alarm: Such powerful sword intent!
Yan Changjian's sword aura vanished as quickly as it appeared, and he returned to normal. He clasped his fists towards the solemn Shi Yizhen above and said proudly, "Sect Leader Shi, forgive my rudeness."
Shi Yizhen, having recovered, subtly deepened the expression on his old face. He knew Yan Changjian was giving him a subtle show of dominance. But judging from the powerful sword intent he had just displayed, he could tell that Yan Changjian's martial realm had definitely reached the inner Qi of Gang Jin.
Although extremely uncomfortable, Shi Yizhen dared not show any further contempt towards Yan Changjian. With an awkward smile on his old face, he said, "Sect Leader Yan, please come into the main hall…"
Yan Changjian walked with his head held high, followed by his attendant sword boys and disciples like Jian Feng. He strode confidently up the steps, not forgetting to glance back at Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi, who were still deep in thought…
Shi Yizhen also turned back and smiled at Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, and the others, "Esteemed guests, please enter the main hall…"
Wan Yunting, Yang Jingyi, Zhou Ruoxi, Master Yunbai, Sect Leader Liu, and Elder Jia Hongji nodded and also ascended the steps, entering the vast main hall. However, seeing Yan Changjian, they couldn't help but be astonished.
They never expected that the Sect Leader of a third-rate sect like the Shenjian Sect would possess such formidable martial arts skills. No wonder Sect Leader Shi of the Huashan Sect dared not utter a word, as in the fifty years he had practiced, he hadn't become as strong as Yan Changjian.
Upon entering the main hall, they discovered that chairs were already arranged in three rows on either side, with many disciples from various sects standing behind their respective sect leaders or elders, murmuring and discussing in hushed tones.
Wan Yunting saw Zhong Yulong, the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect. Short in stature, dressed in a gray Daoist robe, he looked like an ordinary old man, exuding a sense of approachability.
Accompanying Sect Leader Zhong were Elder Zuoqi, senior disciple Xian Yun, second senior disciple Qi Xiu, third senior sister Xu Yuxin, seventh junior sister Zi Qing, eighth junior brother Huo Fei, and ninth junior sister Chong Ling'er. Along with disciples like Lan Xin, the Wudang Sect had brought over thirty people this time.
Yuan Gaowu, the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, along with Grand Elder Zhang Qing and a group of young male and female disciples, were also present…
Lu Chenzi, the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, also brought several elders and a group of young male and female disciples…
Also present were the Baji Men, Tan Tui Men, Ying Zhua Men, Da Dao Men, and other major martial arts sects, all gathered within the main hall, conversing with each other.
However, as Yan Changjian, the Sect Leader of the Shenjian Sect, entered the hall with disciples like Jian Feng, all eyes of the assembled martial arts sects immediately focused on them. For a moment, no one recognized which sect they belonged to…