A colossal, multicolored crane took to the skies, instantly sweeping across the land and appearing beyond the Tianmu Mountain range. At once, the entire audience turned their attention skyward. The name of Feng Xiaoji, the young lady from Fenglei Pavilion, was well known throughout northern Zhongzhou—many were familiar with her extraordinary talent and brilliance in cultivation, having been personally adopted as a disciple by the Eastern Pavilion's headmaster. It was said she held the highest potential among the younger generation to one day become the headmaster of the Eastern Pavilion. The Fenglei Pavilion's strength ranks among the very elite even when measured against the central plains. Whoever manages to control it will undoubtedly see their status soar dramatically. Thus, whenever people speak of this young lady, Feng, they can't help but express admiration and envy—such a position is something even ordinary individuals would find difficult to achieve through a lifetime of effort. First striking the eye was the graceful figure in a vibrant, multicolored gown standing at the crane's head. The woman wore a seven-hued robe, radiating an unmistakable air of nobility from a distance. With a slightly slender face, perfectly shaped like a lotus, and deep purple-brown gemstone eyes, she appeared as if a princess from some distant empire—elegant and pure, out of place among the bustling crowd. Yet, there was a subtle flaw: an air of reserved coldness, somewhat distant and difficult to approach. However, as the saying goes, "No jade is flawless—only the most precious is revealed through its imperfections." That faint coldness did not diminish her outward appeal in the slightest. Her grace and beauty were truly exceptional, earning even Xiao Yan a quiet admiration. Yet, his gaze quickly shifted backward, ultimately settling on the two elderly figures standing behind her. These two elderly figures seemed as if they would collapse at the slightest breeze. However, when Xiao Yan's gaze settled upon them, his expression grew noticeably serious. Though they fell short of Fei Tian's caliber, they were significantly stronger than the three senior elders who had previously besieged them—clearly at least at the level of six-star Domain Masters. With a gaze that carried a touch of seriousness, Xiao Yan slowly exhaled, easing his breath. Fortunately, it wasn't Fei Tian—the ancient sage of mysterious prowess. Though these two six-star Domain Masters were certainly formidable, facing them was far preferable to confronting Fei Tian. After all, under the hands of that elderly master whose strength and speed were both astonishing, Xiao Yan had often had to rely on sheer luck and cleverness merely to escape. "Is that Feng Miss from the Wind-Thunder Pavilion?" Indeed, she lives up to her name—elegant and noble, like a phoenix. I didn't expect even she to have been drawn here by the Blood Pool of Tianmu Mountain; it seems the ten-spots spot will surely include her. Hmm, not necessarily. The Central Plains are brimming with talent—how many hidden gems there are! To secure one of those ten spots, it's not enough to rely solely on appearance or lineage. The terrain of Tianmu Mountain is peculiar. If someone of exceptional strength enters, they'll inevitably trigger energy tides, which will only leave them struggling. Thus, within the mountain, the only viable path is self-reliance—support from the sect's strong guardians proves quite inadequate. ... Hearing the murmurs around them, Xiao Yan found himself stirred. So, the Tianmu Mountain could actually restrict the entry of those with strong abilities? Then, with Feitian's strength, he must surely be unable to make it... Upon reaching this conclusion, Xiao Yan finally set aside his concerns, truly respecting that old monster. "Though my judgment is sharp, I still cannot discern the precise strength of this Wind Lady. I suspect she must be carrying some unusual item that masks her true aura. Yet I need not fear her, as long as she doesn't come to bother me within the mountain range—I have no desire to engage her at all..." Xiao Yan slowly shifted his gaze, murmuring to himself. Drawing his gaze back, Xiao Yan directed his attention to the entrance of the Tianmu Mountain Range, where a dense crowd had already gathered. However, at present, few people were entering the range. Everyone knew that the mountain range was teeming with powerful beasts, some of whom were exceptionally formidable. Entering now would likely mean walking straight into their path. Thus, most people were patiently waiting for the energy tides to begin—only then, under the pressure of the tidal forces, would the beasts within the range subside, making it the safest time to enter. "I believe the energy tides will commence within the next few days. At that point, the number of people entering the range will reach an astonishing figure. As for how many will ultimately make it all the way to the Tian Shan Blood Pond—well, that remains to be seen. For now, we can only patiently wait..." With a soft sigh, Xiao Yan gently shifted his gaze back and settled into meditation. … “Master Mu, did any of the other three halls send representatives to the Tianmu Mountain Range?” On the great crane, the woman in a vibrant multicolored skirt gently scanned the crowd below before speaking. Her voice was clear and crisp, subtly tinged with a touch of coldness. “Hehe, how could they not come? Tang Ying of the Wan Jian Hall, Wang Chen of Huang Quan Hall, and Mu Qingluan of the Xing Yin Hall—these three are the most outstanding young talents from their respective halls and have all been dispatched. Each has already reached the peak of the Dou Huang stage. If they can soak in the Blood Lake of Tian Shan Mountain and make it to the Dou Zong level, it’s only a matter of time. Such an opportunity—how could anyone possibly pass it up?” Behind the woman in the colorful skirt, an elderly woman in green robes chuckled warmly. Upon hearing this, the woman nodded slightly. A faint smile now softened the slightly cold expression on her face. “Then this Blood Lake competition this time must be quite lively.” "Miss, the Master mentioned before departure that you should be especially cautious this time. The Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool has drawn a considerable number of young talents from the Northern Region. Aside from the three we already encountered, there are others who are equally qualified to challenge you. Therefore, you should remain vigilant at all times." Another elderly man in a red robe spoke slowly. "For instance, the one named Xiao Yan?" The lady in a colorful skirt raised a subtle curve at her lips, with a slightly cold tone, speaking softly. "He is a major threat and must not be underestimated. On our journey, we met the Northern Master Fei Tian. The fact that Xiao Yan managed to escape from him is no small feat—among his peers, such ability may be found in no more than five individuals. You are well aware of the Northern Master's strength, so you must understand just how difficult it is to escape from him. Moreover, news about Xiao Yan has been spreading rapidly throughout Fenglei Pavilion lately. You have likely heard of him as well," the man in red robes said solemnly. "Nature has indeed heard of such feats—being able to break through the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison array laid down by the three senior elders of the North Pavilion. How could he be merely an ordinary figure? Yet, one still wonders: can he achieve this solely through his own strength? Within the Tianmu Mountain range, there exists a tidal flow of energy that suppresses fluctuations; when energy exceeds certain thresholds, it inevitably triggers this tidal surge. Thus, within the mountains, one must rely entirely on personal prowess and draw upon external forces to make any real impact." The woman in a colorful skirt gently brushed a strand of dark green hair from her forehead, her purple-brown eyes sparkling with subtle light, and spoke softly. "Hah! Old Fire, today you're all but praising others' accomplishments. That young man may indeed possess some talent, but I believe it's largely due to the strength of his soul body. This advantage will fade entirely within the Tianmu Mountain range. If the Lady had not encountered him, that would be ideal. Should she meet him, I'd simply dispatch him on the spot and present him to the North Pavilion Master—thus securing a favor for them." The elderly woman in green robes smiled and said, "The young lady's prowess, as Master has himself noted, is such that even among the Douzong-tier cultivators, she is hard to find a match. Should she encounter any Douzong-level强者, she would still possess the strength to stand her ground. So, do not underestimate her, young lady." Upon hearing this, the elder in red robes furrowed his brow, about to speak, when the young woman in a colorful skirt gently waved her snowy-white wrist and said softly, "Fire Elder, please rest assured. I know how to manage myself and will be careful." "I only offered a slight reminder, and even whether Xiao Yan will come remains uncertain. Just last month, the Northern Master personally pursued him, and though the young man managed to escape, he likely still feels shaken." The elder in red robes smiled and added. The young woman in a colorful skirt smiled gently, her expression carrying a subtle, hard-to-hide coldness. Her beautiful eyes swept downward before slowly closing. Now, all she needed to do was wait for the beginning of the energy tides, then swiftly reach the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. With the other three halls having dispatched their three representatives, this competition would surely be quite interesting—she had no doubt it would prove worthwhile. As for the man previously mentioned, Xiao Yan, she had placed him slightly lower on her priority list. Though Xiao Yan's victory over Shen Yun, his decisive breakthrough of the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison, and other notable feats had generated considerable buzz, many attributed these achievements primarily to his powerful soul body. His actual combat prowess, however, had drawn growing skepticism. And she, too, shared that very skepticism. For the time that followed, life continued much as it had, simply unfolding through waiting. But after this waiting persisted for nearly three days, the energy throughout the realm suddenly surged forth—like a wave breaking suddenly upon the shore. At the very instant the celestial energy shifted, Xiao Yan, seated atop the tree, opened his eyes with a subtle flicker of unusual radiance passing through them.