A massive, jade-colored whirlwind shimmered and, within just a few breaths, materialized above the vast plaza. It gently trembled, then suddenly surged, dispersing into countless luminous points. Among these, two figures gracefully descended from the sky, riding a soft breeze, settling gently upon their designated seats. As for Mu Qinglun in the green robe, Xiao Yan had already seen her, so his gaze didn't linger on her for long. Instead, his eyes suddenly stopped on the elder standing before her. The elder wore a deep blue robe, his long hair flowing freely over his shoulders, exuding a sense of ease and grace. Though his face wasn't particularly striking, even with his age, there was still a subtle elegance and charm that hinted at youthful beauty—likely, he had been quite handsome in his younger days. Among the four elders, he stood out most in appearance. Moreover, perhaps due to his cultivation of wind-energy aura, his presence carried a certain ethereal, elusive quality, giving off an air of mysterious unpredictability. "Is this the Wind Elder?" Xiao Yan slowly examined the elderly man in blue robe from head to toe, his eyes flashing with a touch of excitement. He had heard of this Wind Elder from Yao Lao on numerous occasions—indeed, he was considered one of Yao Lao's closest companions and life-long allies. If this were true, and if the Wind Elder truly valued loyalty as Yao Lao had described, then this time, Xiao Yan would surely have found a genuine, powerful ally. As excitement stirred within him, the Thunder Elder and Sword Elder, seated at the dais, both smiled and bowed slightly upon seeing the Wind Elder take his place. Though the Wind Elder had established his reputation earlier than any of the three of them, and though their titles were now equal, both still offered a respectful bow to show courtesy. However, the Yellow Springs Elder seemed to have a slight distance from the Wind Elder—after a brief, narrowed gaze, he turned away as though he had not noticed at all. Master Feng, dressed in a robe of deep green, always carries a warm, pleasant smile, and responds politely to the courtesies of Masters Lei and Jian. As for Master Huangqu standing beside him, however, Master Feng has never given him much attention. Though within the Four Palaces, mutual caution and restraint are constant, Master Feng and Master Huangqu have long been at odds. He particularly dislikes the latter's gloomy demeanor and his tendency to act with calculated, often unyielding, strategies. Master Lei's voice was calm yet resonant, echoing throughout Leishan as if thunder itself had rolled across the peaks. Within it lay a palpable aura of thunderous power, causing even those of slightly weaker strength to feel subtle tremors in their bodies. His words carried an unmistakable sense of authority—firm, unyielding, and inherently imposing, much like the thunder itself, which could not be challenged. Though such tone might not always be pleasing, under the weight of his overwhelming prowess, no one in the hall dared to dissent. The sheer commanding presence of a Battle Sovereign was truly unparalleled. Upon seeing no objections from the audience, Master Lei nodded slightly, then raised his hand, and a clear, crisp chime of a bell rang out once more, lingering gently in the air. As the sound of the bell rang, the Voice of the Thunder Sovereign echoed once more. Immediately after the Sovereign's voice settled, a gust of wind swept across the plaza, followed by a series of young figures darting in, eventually settling in a scattered formation around the perimeter, each one maintaining a watchful posture. With their arrival, the atmosphere of the gathering instantly heated up, erupting into thunderous cheers that surged like a tidal wave over the summit, rising straight into the sky and causing ripples to form even in the distant cloud layers. As the contestants entered, the three seated figures—Mu Qinglun, Tang Ying, and Wang Chen—locked eyes with one another and then moved gracefully, drifting down into the plaza. Upon their arrival, a clear circle of space opened up around each of them, as everyone present knew their standing and naturally avoided stepping into their immediate vicinity. As one of the headliners of this grand gathering, the entrance of Mu Qinglun and her two companions immediately intensified the cheers surrounding the plaza, swiftly elevating the atmosphere atop the mountain into a vibrant climax. When Feng Qing'er appeared, expressions of astonishment passed over the eyes of the Wind Sovereign, the Sword Sovereign, and the Yellow Springs Sovereign. The Sword Sovereign then smiled gently, saying, "It seems the Thunder Sovereign has truly invested considerable effort—having personally stepped in to conceal his true strength. Does he perhaps intend to catch us off guard?" Hearing this, the Thunder Sovereign chuckled warmly, responding, "The Sword Sovereign is mistaken. This girl holds a particularly unique status, so I've had no choice but to act this way—forced into it, as it were." "It appears the Thunder Sovereign is genuinely eager to secure his position as the leading figure of the Four Pavilion Hall once again. This year, the Wind and Thunder Pavilion has likely achieved the highest win rate." The Wind Sovereign paused his gaze on Feng Qing'er's graceful form before softly adding, "The Wind Sovereign has filtered out the fact that Qing Luan is actually a member of the Heavenly Crane Clan. Should she awaken her bloodline potential, she would certainly stand out as a rising star among the younger generation." "Master Lei waved his hand, smiled, though a subtle sense of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes—indeed, he had entered this competition with the firm conviction of securing the position of Senior Master of the Four Palaces. As for Master Feng's response, he only smiled, remaining unconvinced. Meanwhile, Master Huangqu furrowed his brows. Wang Chen had proven himself one of his most outstanding disciples over the years, yet compared to Feng Qing'er, there still seemed to be a slight gap. Thus, it appeared that Huangqu Palace's standing in this gathering would remain relatively stable. Though Huangqu Palace has consistently ranked last among the Four Palaces, Master Huangqu found himself at a loss—after all, in terms of the system for nurturing younger generations, Huangqu Palace genuinely lagged behind the other three palaces." On the silver platform, Xiao Yan's gaze remained firmly fixed on Feng Qing'er. He always felt an ever-present, subtle sense of danger toward her—something intangible, unrelated to her strength, merely an inexplicable, hazy feeling. Frowning slightly, he shifted his gaze and slowly swept it across the plaza. At every corner, contestants stood with expressions of cautious alertness. Though their ages were not particularly advanced, their strengths were exceptional. Indeed, those qualified to participate in this grand assembly were far from ordinary—either possessing outstanding cultivation potential or backed by formidable supporting forces. "Indeed, the Central Plains are no ordinary place—such a young Supreme Sovereign-level powerhouse is rare even in the Black Angle Region. I didn't expect that merely one gathering at the Four-Directional Pavilion would attract so many... " Xiang Yan sighed, clearly impressed. The Central Plains truly are the cradle of the most powerful cultivators on the Continent, where prodigies gather like stars. Who knows—suddenly, a black-horse prodigy might emerge from nowhere. Xiao Yan's brow furrowed. With his current strength, such a familiar sensation shouldn't have appeared out of nowhere. As he pondered this, the black-robed man grasped his hands, and instantly a long spear materialized. At the same time, his body shifted slightly, just enough to allow Xiao Yan to catch a glimpse of his side profile. Gazing at that side profile, which carried a touch of familiarity, Xiao Yan stood still for a moment before suddenly slapping his hands together, his eyes flashing with astonishment. "Lin Yan? How is it that he's here?" The person who appeared before Xiao Yan's eyes was none other than Lin Yan, the one who had accompanied Xiao Yan from the Gan Nan Academy to the Jia Ma Empire back then. However, when Xiao Yan emerged from his seclusion in the valley, Lin Yan, Lin Xiu'ya, and Liu Qing had already departed together, heading ahead of him. It was unexpected to encounter him here now. As the astonishment gradually faded from his eyes, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shake his head. In less than half a year since arriving in the Central Plains, he had already met so many old acquaintances from his past—how truly hard to fathom the concept of fate. "Since everyone has arrived, let us begin the grand tournament," said the Thunder Sovereign, pausing his conversation upon seeing the full attendance. Raising his hand slightly, he spoke calmly, and his voice echoed clearly in the ears of every person present.