On the most bustling Nanling Street in the southern part of Jiayuan City, there stands a grand manor spanning several acres. On the black-oak gate of the manor, a plaque inscribed with the characters "Mo Mansion" hangs proudly. Below the plaque, eight well-dressed men stand at attention on either side, their heads held high, eyes fixed straight ahead—distinguished, disciplined, and imposing, making one immediately take them seriously. A few steps away, across the street, lies the Xiang Family Restaurant, a three-story inn of notable reputation throughout Jiayuan City. Particularly renowned is its signature beverage, "Baili Xiang," a fine wine that has attracted many visiting merchants from afar. At this very moment, it is lunchtime, so the restaurant is bustling with activity—tables from the ground floor to the third floor are fully occupied, crowded with diners. Passersby on the main street can easily smell the rich aroma of food and wine rising from the restaurant, a fragrance so inviting that it makes one's appetite stir. A young man sat at a table by the window facing the street on the second floor. The table was set with several delicious light dishes, both meat and vegetable, and a bottle of the renowned "Bailixiang" clear wine. Behind the young man stood a towering figure, the very man who had come to gather information—Han Li. Because of her renowned beauty, countless young gentlemen and noble heroes have pursued her. Among them, Mo Yu Zhu stands out as exceptionally beautiful, attracting the largest number of suitors. Her recent engagement has stirred a great uproar, leaving many of her admirers heartbroken. Some of the more martially skilled ones have even launched challenges against the young Wu gentleman, only to be successively defeated by Wu Jianming—whom he has triumphed over in sixteen consecutive encounters. As a result, Wu Jianming has earned a reputation as an unparalleled martial artist, and his bond with Mo Yu Zhu has grown increasingly intimate and passionate. Han Li found the whole situation quite amusing and ironic. While others were unaware of Wu Jianming's true standing, Han Li himself was well-informed. Wu Jianming was likely sent by the rivals of Doctor Mo, as the prolonged absence of Doctor Mo had raised suspicions among them. Wu's arrival appears to be a strategic move to test their resolve. It was unclear how he had won the trust of the Mo family, and surely ordinary tokens or letters wouldn't have easily convinced Mo Doctor and his wives. Han Li lightly tapped the table with his finger while pondering the question in his mind. "Sir, please take a seat! Your dishes will be ready shortly." A young waiter in a white short jacket led a blue-dressed young man, in his twenties or early thirties, up to the second floor and seated him beside Han Li at an empty table. Then he hurried off to attend to other guests. The young man had a well-proportioned face, thick eyebrows, and bright eyes, exuding a certain air of elegance and strength. After sitting down, he glanced around the room, and his gaze met Han Li's just at that moment. Han Li felt a deep, mysterious intensity in the young man's eyes, as if an invisible pull were drawing him in. Startled, Han Li quickly turned his head, his face slightly flushing. The man was also unexpectedly startled, but after giving Han Li a cold glance, he turned away and paid no further attention to them. Han Li's face had turned pale; the single glance from the other had given him the sensation of being completely exposed and scrutinized, leaving him deeply unsettled. This feeling of being instantly seen through—something he had never experienced before—was now vividly clear to him. After the wine and dishes were laid out, the blue-robed man began to eat and drink heartily, savoring each bite with the air of someone completely at ease. In contrast, Han Li felt increasingly restless and uneasy. Though he had not yet used his celestial eye technique to observe the blue-robed man, the subtle yet powerful spiritual energy emanating from him had firmly captivated and stunned him. He was certain that the man was undoubtedly a cultivator whose magical prowess far surpassed his own. Han Li had previously only encountered two cultivators—Yu Zichong and Jin Guang the Monastic. One of them was a pure spirit with both body and spiritual power completely lost, while the other was barely able to maintain his spiritual strength and had been defeated by Han Li at their very first meeting. Thus, Han Li still knew very little about cultivators, and in his mind, they remained shrouded in mystery. He was genuinely unsure how to handle a situation where his opponents were clearly far stronger than himself. "Will this blue-robed man be as direct and unyielding as he was toward Jin Guang the Monastic, and immediately wipe him out upon his first move?" Han Li thought to himself, worrying about the worst-case scenario. Yet, amid Han Li's growing anxiety and unease, the blue-robed man finished his meal. He wiped his lips with a handkerchief, then dropped a silver coin and drifted away without a single glance toward Han Li, as if he had completely forgotten him. Only after Han Li and the others saw the blue-robed man completely depart from the inn did they finally exhale, sinking back into their chairs. Though the blue-robed man's meal had been brief, it felt as though it had lasted an entire day—his mental pressure had been immense, as if he had just survived a fierce battle against someone. The yellow-robed man glared at the blue-robed one and scolded him impatiently. "Haha! I see, I see. That'll be the last time! By the way, I met other cultivators at the dining place." To shift the topic, the blue-robed man quickly brought up his encounter with Han Li. "Oh? How strong is their internal energy?" The yellow-robed man indeed turned his attention to this point. "Their internal energy is quite shallow—seems they've just reached the seventh or eighth level of their foundational cultivation techniques, barely qualifying to attend the Ascension Assembly. I really can't understand. With such a modest foundation, why are they coming to Lanzhou to make a fuss? Do they truly believe they'll have good luck and win the final competition at the Ascension Assembly?" The blue-robed man pouted. "How old is the other person?" "Seventeen or eighteen years old." "Ah, that makes sense. They're probably coming with their elders, just hoping to gain some experience and broaden their horizons. I'd wager they won't truly participate until the next Ascension Assembly in ten years' time." "The yellow-robed person smiled and said, 'I always thought so! With that, the other party's potential is quite good. If another decade passes, this person might truly reach my level.' The blue-robed person proudly declared, 'You're exaggerating! Just look at your newly mastered tenth-level technique—how many times do you have to attend the Ascension Gatherings to achieve such a level? You can boast of reaching the eleventh or twelfth level when you're ready!' The yellow-robed person sighed, a mix of irritation and amusement, then turned and walked away, no longer paying attention to this lively companion. 'Honestly, if one doesn't need to take the Foundation Pill to reach ten layers or more, then what's the point of attending the Ascension Gatherings? I could simply go to seek a master instead!' The blue-robed person mumbled behind, following closely, and then also departed."