Han Li ran a hand over his chin, his awareness sweeping across the scene. "Who is this person?" "Such a unfamiliar face—perhaps a new disciple?" "Why is Master Mu accompanying him?" "Could it be that they are relatives? Master Mu, who never travels with male cultivators, is clearly making an exception here!" ...A series of questions and expressions of admiration reached Han Li's ears clearly and distinctly. On the surface, Han Li's expression remained calm, yet he silently sighed within. Then, he took a few steps away from the hall entrance and stepped into the crowd. Even so, he could still feel numerous eyes constantly scanning him. "Brother Han, I didn't expect to see you again after our parting all those years ago," a seemingly hearty voice suddenly came from behind him. Han Li paused, then turned to look back. Standing several zhang away behind him was a tall man—Du Dong. At that moment, he was smiling warmly and greeting Han Li. A strange expression flickered briefly in Han Li's eyes before a warm smile spread across his face. With great courtesy, he bowed slightly and said, "Ah, it's really Du Brother! I wonder how Brother is doing with Jiang Senior?" The Jiang Senior mentioned by Han Li was the white-haired elder who had taken Du away that day. "Good! Really good!" the big man chuckled, his expression seemingly simple and sincere. Han Li inwardly shook his head with a quiet smile, yet on the surface, he engaged in a pleasant conversation about their respective experiences leading to the parting. Upon hearing Du Dong's account, it seemed the white-haired elder believed he possessed exceptional talent in creating seals and intended to nurture him further—his enthusiasm was truly enthusiastic, as if excited beyond measure. Han Li, however, felt a sense of sympathy for the white-haired elder. Why couldn't he focus on someone else instead of this very person who seemed to harbor ambitions of his own? He likely would be affected by him in the future, perhaps in a significant way. With these thoughts in mind, Han Li naturally did not feel the need to mention or alert Jiang Senior. He simply continued chatting with the big man, speaking in a casual, flowing manner At that moment, Da Han suddenly adopted a mysterious expression and said to Han Li, "Han brother, do you know? The senior who has been specifically guiding you is actually the first beauty of our Tianquan Peak—ranked among the top three beauties of the Luoyun Sect as a whole. Now that you've both arrived together, I suspect quite a stir has already been caused." "Not just a stir—already quite a commotion!" Han Li chuckled, glanced around, and then sighed helplessly. "Besides, since you and Senior Mu have both arrived by means of your flying vehicles, has Senior Mu mentioned anything to you about the gathering today?" Du Dong's tone shifted subtly, asking casually as though it were a matter of course. "Oh! That one, actually—no, nothing at all. Has Senior Du heard any news? Then perhaps you could share it with me!" Han Li's expression remained unchanged, though a faintly amused, slightly skeptical gaze now settled upon Du Dong, as if hinting at deeper implications. The earnest smile of the Han official suddenly seemed to catch Han Li's attention, as though he had been seen through to the core. A surge of astonishment washed over him. But as soon as Han Li turned his gaze to another direction, that sensation vanished completely—like a mere illusion—leaving him even more puzzled. Thus, the Han official began to feel increasingly hesitant to remain in Han Li's company, forced to smile勉强ly and exchange a few more words before finally excusing himself and walking off toward another familiar cultivator from Tianqu Peak. As Han Li watched the figure depart, a faint scorn flickered across his face. At that moment, the voice of Yin Yue echoed in his mind. "Han brother, are you deliberately making the other person retreat? Don't you fear that he might grow suspicious of you over time and eventually pose a threat?" "This person's identity remains unclear, and his presence within Luoyun Sect is likely to bring no good. I prefer not to engage with him directly, and even have him proactively distance himself from me—preferably so." Should anything truly go wrong, I'd rather not be drawn into it. As for the suspicions that might arise, what's so remarkable about that? He himself harbors his own intentions—how could he possibly harm me? At most, he'll simply be a bit more cautious toward me. Even if he intends to strike me from behind, do you think he'd succeed? And I have no intention of obstructing him. I merely wish to cut off any further ties with him." Han Li replied slowly, through his divine awareness. Upon hearing Han Li's words, Yin Yue remained silent, clearly acknowledging the validity of his reasoning. After all, Du Dong Zhen's hidden plans within Luoyun Sect might eventually come to light. Should such a revelation occur, his close disciples would inevitably attract the attention and suspicion of the senior leadership. That wouldn't be something Han Li would welcome. Thus, in the following moments, Han Li quietly observed the group of junior disciples here. Among them, there were both old friends and newcomers, men and women alike. It's not necessarily true that older practitioners have higher cultivation levels—some younger ones have even reached the twelfth or thirteenth layers of the Qi Condensation stage. Among them, several young women with particularly attractive appearances draw considerable attention. Yet, beside every eligible female cultivator, there are almost always several male cultivators of similar age. It seems that the Luoyun Sect, like other sects, greatly values and attracts young, beautiful female practitioners. While Han Li was pondering this, the hall doors finally opened, and a solemn voice echoed inside, commanding respect. "All disciples from Tianquan Peak, please enter the hall!" This calm male voice belonged to the peak's master, the Xīn cultivator at the Jinlian stage, whom Han Li had met previously. Upon hearing the command, the disciples outside immediately bowed deeply and respectfully replied, "We shall carry out the master's instructions." Then, they filed in two by two. Since Han Li had arrived last, he naturally positioned himself at the end, joining Du Dong, and finally entered the Xishen Hall. The hall was exceptionally spacious, stretching over three or four hundred paces in width. Aside from several towering cylindrical pillars, the only furnishings were two chairs placed precisely in the center of the front section—one upright and one slightly offset. The rest of the space remained empty, with the pillars adorned with blocks of moonstone polished into angular shapes, emitting a soft, gentle pale glow. Already seated on the two chairs were two cultivators: one a refined, white-robed figure, and the other an elderly gray-robed man with wild, disheveled hair and a somewhat stern countenance. A few steps ahead of the chairs, a group of over a dozen foundation-stage cultivators stood in two parallel lines, neatly arranged. The cold-tempered Mu-family young lady and the young Yu-family member who had guided Han Li into the hall stood within the same line, while the young Mu-family cultivator who had been tested with the Mind-Query Seal stood at the head of the opposite line, still pale and frail, as if barely able to withstand the slightest breeze. As soon as the disciples entered the hall, the two seated cultivators bowed together in unison. "Please see Master Xin and Master Yu, the two senior masters!" "Alright, rise!" The middle-aged man seated in the center smiled and waved his hand, prompting all the disciples to stand. The junior disciples respectfully formed two lines and stood on either side of the hall, with Han Li and Du Dong positioned near the entrance. Han Li briefly scanned the stern-looking elder with his divine awareness and found that he was merely a Jian Dan stage cultivator. This was the well-known Deputy Peak Master, Master Yu, whom Han Li had long heard of but never met in person. After glancing at him for just a moment, Han Li dismissed the elder from his mind and withdrew his awareness. At that moment, the senior master named Xin began to speak slowly. "This gathering has been convened, and I believe several disciples have already guessed the reason. Indeed, yesterday our temple officially received the formal letter from Gu Jian Men. The Sword-Testing Assembly will be held six months from now. This is the first time it has been hosted here." Therefore, this time the Grand Assembly will be held at Baiqiao Pavilion, where the harmony and unity are shared. We, along with the disciples from Gujian Monastery participating in the trial, will head to Yunmeng's western branch for the event. However, according to the established tradition, the Trial of Swords is limited to thirty participants from each of the three monasteries, and only the top ten receive special rewards. Thus, all disciples from our Luoyu Sect must first undergo internal selection before final candidates are determined. "The middle-aged man spoke calmly, pausing slightly before continuing, "Of course, six of these spots are designated by our six Peak Masters—each appoints one disciple who does not need to compete and may directly participate. The remaining twenty-four spots are filled through competitive trials among eligible disciples from each peak. The winning candidates will then be personally guided and refined by the Sect's senior elders during the remaining time. Yesterday, our several Peak Masters had already discussed this with the Abbot, and the internal trial within the Sect will take place one month from now. But before that, I'd like to give a heads-up to the disciples who are less familiar with the Sword-Fighting Tournament. Any disciple over the age of thirty, or one whose cultivation level hasn't reached the tenth stage of Qi-Stage, is ineligible to participate. Beyond that, there are no other restrictions. Now, please take a moment of incense time to consider—any disciple who feels confident in their qualifications and is willing to take part in the competition may step forward on their own. I have a few more matters to share. By the way, for those who are participating without having to go through the preliminary trials, I and our Master Yu have jointly designated your Master Mu. That's all. Now, Jun'er! Let's begin calling out the names. "Understood, Master," the young disciple named Yu immediately stepped forward and swiftly produced a bronze tripod from his storage bag, placing it at the center of the hall. Then, he inserted a sandalwood incense stick onto the tripod and with a flash of flame, lit it. A gentle stream of green smoke rose steadily into the air.