Master Jin stood with an air of dignified confidence at the center of the arena, behind him were the members of the Wild Wolf Clan. Before stepping onto the stage, he had already assured Jia Tianlong that he alone could handle all the combatants from the Qi Xu Sect—though, as compensation for his all-encompassing victory, the originally promised 50,000 taels of gold had now been raised to 80,000. Thinking about the substantial sum he would receive afterward, Master Jin felt a surge of enthusiasm. With a look of disdain toward the opposing group, he was already eager to eliminate them all. Han Li was not standing beside Li Feiyu, but rather on the opposite side of the crowd. Since Li Feiyu and Zhang Xiu'er were together, engaged in a warm, intimate conversation, Han Li naturally did not wish to intrude upon their private moment. "I wonder what these two young lovers are thinking," Han Li mused, a hint of longing subtly rising in his voice. When he regained his composure, Han Li looked at the dwarf across the way with a sense of strangeness, much like the others. "The people from the Wild Wolf Clan had all retreated to the back, and yet here they send a dwarf in such plain attire to lead the charge—this is truly astonishing! Could it be that this dwarf possesses some remarkable skill or secret?" Han Li blinked, thinking this over. The Master of the Wang Sect clearly shared the same thought. Instead of having others rush forward, he dispatched a guard armed with a sword to meet the dwarf head-on, clearly intending to first assess the opponent's strength before making further plans, in order to avoid unexpected casualties. Though the battle was fought in the style of a chaotic melee, it was entirely reasonable to have a one-on-one duel if only one representative from each side engaged. That was precisely what the Master of the Wang Sect thought—and what he did. Seeing only one person approaching from the opposing ranks, Jin Guang realized now just what the opponent's intentions might be. He emitted a strange, hollow laugh, his voice like that of a broken bell, which made everyone who heard it feel a certain discomfort in their hearts. The guardian sent out to protect the scene was a sturdy man in his thirties, with a bold and vigorous demeanor; the palm holding his sword was veined and taut, clearly indicating a master of close-quarters combat. Though he heard the odd laugh, his expression remained calm and composed, clearly demonstrating considerable experience in battle. As the sturdy man closed in, Jin Guang the Master ceased his strange laughter and, without haste, drew out a yellow scroll from his cloak. The scroll shimmered with golden light, adorned with intricate golden characters and patterns—immediately evident as being of considerable value. The dwarf paid no attention to the approaching man, holding the scroll in one hand and beginning to chant a spell. Although the guardian of the Seventh Xuan Sect didn't know what was going on with the other person, he was exceptionally experienced in combat and understood that no matter what the dwarf was doing, it was best not to let him finish it—otherwise, it would surely be detrimental to himself. Without hesitation, he leapt forward with a sudden surge, covering the distance in several swift strides and reaching the figure of Jin Guang Shangren. He raised his steel sword, the blade flashing with a sharp gleam, and delivered a powerful, heavy blow straight toward the man's head, clearly exerting all his strength. As the blade was about to strike Jin Guang Shangren's head, the incantation had already been completed. At the very moment the sword approached, the guardian suddenly slapped the talisman paper against his chest, and instantly a brilliant, dazzling golden light erupted from the point of contact. This intense golden radiance dazzled the strong man to the point where he could barely see anything, yet he remained calm in his mind. The steel sword still pressed down with force and struck through. A resonant metallic clash echoed throughout the arena. The strong man felt a sudden warmth in his虎mouth, his weapon nearly slipping from his hands. He was startled, though his vision remained blurred—he knew at once that things were not going well. With a quick tap of his foot, he leaped backward several paces, coming to a stop and holding his sword firmly in a ready stance. This golden light was of some unknown substance, as solid and unyielding as steel, rendering the blade ineffective. Though the stalwart guardian had seen much and known many things, he was still stunned by this unprecedented spectacle. Holding his steel blade, he felt utterly at a loss, unsure whether to advance or retreat. Not only he was amazed—everyone on the slopes of the setting sun peak stood in quiet astonishment. After all, tales of immortals were rare among the common folk, and even rarer in such a remote locale. Thus, this magical phenomenon seemed profoundly mysterious, almost incomprehensible in its depth and grandeur. While Jia Tianlong privately rejoiced and the members of the Qi Xuan Sect exchanged puzzled glances, Han Li, standing behind the crowd, was far more astonished than anyone else. Han Li, perhaps the only person on the entire mountain besides the dwarves, possessed a genuine understanding of magic. It was clearly a kind of scroll similar to a calming seal, and apparently even more advanced. While others were distracted, Han Li silently recited the incantation for the Heavenly Eye Technique, secretly activating it on himself, and then hurried to gaze at the dwarf. Under the golden glow, faint wisps of white light drifted gently over the dwarf's body—so delicate compared to the golden radiance that they were nearly imperceptible unless one specifically looked for them. To Han Li's surprise, the dwarf was a cultivator whose magical power was significantly weaker than his own. This discovery brought him both joy and concern. He was glad—being a beginner himself, his magical strength surpassed that of the dwarf, indicating the dwarf was, at best, an average cultivator. Yet he worried: he had no idea how many spells the dwarf knew, or whether those spells were powerful enough for him to handle.