Xiao Yan descended to a quiet spot on the mountain peak, then turned down the mountain slope, gazing at the dense stream of people beyond the Fenglei Mountain range. He shook his head in resignation, certain that these people had all come for the famed Si Fang Pavilion Grand Assembly. "I wonder if the Si Fang Pavilion Grand Assembly has even started yet?" murmuring to himself, Xiao Yan paused thoughtfully, then suddenly withdrew a thin, translucent, leather-like object from his meditation seal and placed it over his face. Instantly, the contours of his face began to shift subtly—so subtly that one might hardly recognize him upon close inspection. This item, capable of slightly altering one's appearance, had been a small gift given to him by Xiao Yishen when they first traveled to Chu Yun Empire. He hadn't thought he'd still find it useful after all these years. He had masked his appearance not merely to avoid unnecessary complications. Now, everyone knew of his grievances with the Fenglei Pavilion. Should he appear here openly, the Fenglei Pavilion would surely not remain passive. Within the Eastern Pavilion, the ranks of powerful cultivators were thick, and there was even the Pavilion's Master, Lei Zun, present. Though Xiao Yan had now reached the Douzong level, he still found himself compelled to remain cautious in the face of such formidable strength. Amidst this bustling crowd, the various sounds created a constant ringing in Xiao Yan's ears. Yet, he could only shake his head with a苦笑, forcing himself to endure. "Man, there are just too many people here. Does the Eastern Pavilion have room for all of them?" "The grand assembly is about to begin, so naturally, the crowd will be large. It's said that representatives from the Four Pavilion halls have already arrived at the Eastern Pavilion." "The last champion was from the Fenglei Pavilion. I wonder who will emerge as the winner this time?" "Hard to say. Feng Qing'er, Tang Ying, Wang Chen, and Mu Qingluan—none of them are easygoing. In fact, they recently entered the Tianshan Blood Pond in the Tianmu Mountain Range. I'm certain their strength has been significantly enhanced. Heh, though I'm curious whether any of them has leveraged the pond's power to break through to the Duke of the Realm level." "These four all possess peak Duke of the Realm strength, and with their techniques, they can even challenge some Duke of the Realm-level cultivators. If any of them achieves a breakthrough at this stage, the outcome will surely be decided. "Who knows? The hidden talents of the Central Plains are countless. At every Gathering of the Four Palaces, there are always some unexpected stars rising. Who knows, this time, which one will make the leap?" "Indeed, the rising star must be the young man named Xiao Yan, who has been making waves recently in the Northern Realm. Even the Northern Master of the Fenglei Pavilion, Fei Tian, was defeated when he personally stepped in—how formidable this young man must be." "Hmph. Though Xiao Yan is strong, this is the headquarters of the Fenglei Pavilion. Do you really think he dares to come here?" "...” Hearing the surrounding chatter, which eventually culminated in a surge of noise directed right at him, Xiao Yan found himself momentarily stunned. He unconsciously rubbed his face, surprised that even in the Northern Realm, he now held such a reputation. Yet, this wasn't exactly what he had hoped for. If his name reached the ears of the Spirit Temple, things would surely become even more complicated. Under the relentless noise, Xiao Yan finally managed to enter the mountain range through the entrance. Around the entrance, disciples from the Fenglei Pavilion maintained order. As for the sky domain of the Fenglei Mountains, ordinary visitors were not allowed to fly there—only specially invited guests were permitted. Thus, to avoid revealing his identity, Xiao Yan had to walk through the terrain. Once inside, he quickly separated himself from the main crowd, turned into a more secluded forest, and hastened his pace, swiftly moving deeper into the mountain range. According to the information he had heard earlier, today should mark the beginning of the Si Fang Pavilion's gathering. Even more encouraging, all the members of the Si Fang Pavilion had already arrived—this meant that Feng Master must have also arrived. If he truly encountered Feng Master, he would first observe him quietly before making contact. Though his teacher had emphasized full trust, caution remained essential. His figure blurred and flowed through the mountains, yet in his mind, thoughts raced swiftly. With the responsibility of rescuing the Elder Medic and his father resting solely on his shoulders, he had to ensure his own safety, remaining cautious about any uncertainties. The Fenglei Mountains were vast, and even at his swift pace, it took nearly half an hour to reach the central region—where stood a majestic and imposing peak known as Lei Mountain. Lei Mountain was exceptionally tall; from the base, the view stretched to the horizon. Above the mid-slope, thick mist swirled, the clouds being dark and tinged with subtle flashes of lightning. From afar, the mountain appeared as though enveloped in countless streaks of lightning, magnificent and awe-inspiring. After marveling at the majestic grandeur of Lei Mountain, Xiao Yan moved his body and landed at the foot of the mountain. The Fenglei East Pavilion stood atop the mountain, naturally fortified with an exceptionally rigorous defense—perhaps due to the approaching grand assembly, the defenses had been further strengthened, and occasionally, figures with vibrating aura wings would glide across the sky, weaving a comprehensive patrol network that covered the entire mountain. To avoid disturbing the senior cultivators of the Fenglei Pavilion, Xiao Yan naturally chose not to make a blunt rush. Though the queue at the foot of the mountain was quite long, he possessed the patience to wait. Following the procession steadily, they eventually halted as they ascended. Before them now lay two stone pathways: one designated for attendees of the grand assembly, and the other reserved for the younger, more dynamic cultivators participating in the event. Before the two stone paths, nearly a hundred disciples of the Fenglei Pavilion in martial attire stood guard, their stern expressions conveying a palpable sense of authority that kept everyone from causing any disturbance. At the forefront of these hundred disciples were two elders—one male and one female. When Xiao Yan's gaze settled upon them, his eyes narrowed slightly, confirming that these two were indeed the very individuals who had accompanied Feng Qing'er to the Tianmu Mountain Range the previous day. "These two are quite strong. I wonder if my altered appearance will pass their scrutiny," Xiao Yan furrowed his brow. "I didn't expect the contestants to be selected by the two senior elders of Dong Pavilion—the Fire and Wood Elders—whose status within Fenglei Pavilion is quite high. The Pavilion is known for its rigorous selection process, and now that I see them in action, their reputation truly lives up to the name. Good thing I only came to observe; I won't have to go through their review." As Xiao Yan pondered, the group ahead began to engage in quiet conversation. Hearing this, Xiao Yan's mind stirred—seemingly, not everyone had to undergo the review of these two. "Our Fenglei Pavilion's regulations, I'm sure all of you are familiar with. To qualify for the grand assembly, one must first achieve at least Three-Star Duke Monarch rank, second, be under thirty years of age, and third, endure three rounds of combat under my personal watch. Only when all three conditions are met can one secure a spot. Of course, if one merely comes to observe, they may simply ascend the mountain via the left stone path." As the red-robed Fire Elder spoke calmly amidst the murmurs of the group, a wave of excitement rippled through the ranks. Meeting just one of these three requirements was already quite challenging, let alone all three—indeed, the standards were remarkably rigorous. Under such rigorous selection conditions, the vast majority of people chose the stone path on the left, and after a moment's hesitation, Xiao Yan also followed the crowd toward that same path. His sole objective was to locate Feng Zun, and he had no intention of engaging anyone within the Feng Lei Pavilion—should he be recognized, he would inevitably face considerable trouble. While most were ascending the left stone path, several younger contenders, confident in their own strength, attempted to break through to the right corridor. However, without exception, they were all effortlessly pushed aside by the elder with the fire robe. Though these individuals had just met the requirements for three-star Duophoenix rank, they clearly relied on potions or celestial treasures to maintain their performance, and their actual combat strength only equaled that of two-star Duophoenix. The fire and wood elders barely glanced at them, while Xiao Yan, observing the scene, smiled to himself, quickened his pace, and then took a decisive step onto the left stone path. "Wait a moment!" As萧In's steps just touched the stone path, before he had even ascended, the Fire Elder suddenly turned his head, his brows furrowed, gazing at萧In. Upon hearing the call, the fist clenched within萧In's sleeve tightened slightly, and he slowly turned to face the Fire Elder. With a steady gaze sweeping over萧In's face, the Elder said calmly, "I believe you've met the qualification to participate—why not give it a try?" The moment those words were spoken, a wave of eyes turned toward萧In. Among so many who had previously failed the assessment, this seemingly ordinary figure now seemed capable? "I have little interest in the grand assembly. I came merely to find people,"萧In said, his voice slightly hoarse under restraint. Then, without further regard for the Fire Elder, he turned and began walking steadily toward the summit, leaving behind a crowd of stunned onlookers. "Really... this one is far too confident." The elderly woman by Fire Elder's side glanced at Xiao Yan's back and furrowed her brow, saying, "What's wrong with this person?"