Beyond the Dantai lies a square paved with smooth granite, a bustling hub of activity that sees a constant flow of people throughout the day—indeed, one of the most vibrant districts of the Saint Dant City. Yet at this very moment, the square, usually teeming with life, has gathered a vast crowd. Within this crowd, a clear open space stands, where nearly a hundred figures stand straight and upright, exuding a palpable, cold aura that causes several nearby observers to pause in mild apprehension. Clearly, these are no ordinary guests, and their presence here, so prominent and deliberate, suggests they have come with intentions that are not merely friendly. "Looks like members of the Xuanming Sect." "Is that elderly gray-robed figure leading them none other than Master Chen Tianan, the Patriarch of the Xuanming Sect? I didn't expect even such a seasoned elder to personally step forward. What exactly do they intend?" "It's said that everything seems to be aimed directly at Xiao Yan. There's a rumor that within the Dan Realm, the young deputy master of Xuanming Sect, Chen Xian, was killed by Xiao Yan. This old master must have come here to seek vengeance, then. Isn't that why he's so full of murderous intensity? It seems today's situation won't end well." Hearing the murmurs of the crowd around him, the gray-robed elder standing at the forefront of the group narrowed his eyes, his cold gaze sweeping steadily through the crowd. Wherever his gaze fell, the people felt a sudden chill, quickly falling silent. The Xuanming Sect wasn't exactly easy to get along with—frequent incidents of sudden sword clashes were common, and with their reputation for holding grudges, anyone who offended them invariably faced a terribly grim fate. "Master Chen, this is the Dan Tower. You've come here with so many people, all radiating such intense hostility. What exactly do you wish to achieve?" "While everyone was struck by Chen Tianan's solemn, eerie gaze, a sudden sharp command rang out from within the Dan Tower. Instantly, an elderly figure emerged, leading a group of powerful Dan Tower elders, and took position on the plaza. Upon seeing them, everyone recognized the figure as the Dan Tower's Grand Elder, Qiu Ling. 'Qiu Elder, you needn't use the Dan Tower to pressure me,' Chen Tianan said, his eyes coldly fixed on Qiu Ling. 'Others may fear this, but I don't. My son died at Xiao Yan's hands. Today, I'll lay down this firm word—myself, I shall go and accompany him to the afterlife!' Qiu Ling remained unmoved, speaking calmly, 'I've already told you this—this matter must be addressed to Mu Gu, the old man from the Spirit Palace.' 'Mu Gu may bear responsibility, but Xiao Yan is also a murderer. Hand him over to me, and I'll leave immediately!' Chen Tianan said, his voice cold. 'Do you think the Dan Tower is merely a mere backdrop? Do you think I can simply hand over someone just because you say so? Have you ever seen Chen Tianan display such authority before "Seeing this old man so stubborn, Qiong Ling couldn't help but grow irritated, and barked, "Qiong Elder, how bold of you! After all, Xuanming Sect is one of our Three Lower Sects of Tianming Sect. If even the son of a Sect Master's grievances can't be avenged, then who else will still believe in Tianming Sect?" As Qiong Ling's cold voice fell, a figure slowly stepped forward from behind Chen Tian Nan, smiling calmly. "Who are you?" Qiong Ling narrowed his eyes at the figure who had emerged. The person appeared young, tall and well-proportioned, with a face exceptionally handsome—almost feminine—but a subtle sharpness in his brows and eyes gave his refined appearance a certain coldness. "Tianming Sect, Yi Chen." The handsome man smiled gently, displaying a refined bearing. Yet even as the simple name was uttered, a sense of cold, decisive strength seemed to radiate directly toward the listeners. "Tianming Sect, Yi Chen?" "Heard this, Qiu Ling was slightly taken aback, then suddenly remembered something, frowning slightly. 'Yi Chen? Is it Yi Chen from Tian Ming Sect—the one they call Yi Xiu Luo?' The crowd stirred with excitement at the name of this handsome man, and the gazes directed toward him carried a growing sense of awe, as though Yi Chen were some primordial beast. The name 'Yi Xiu Luo' was no mere ordinary one in the Central Region—it was a formidable reputation, forged through countless battles and bloodshed. Within the realm governed by Tian Ming Sect, the very name of Yi Xiu Luo could send people trembling merely upon hearing it. Compared to his reputation, if Xiao Yan hadn't won the Dan Festival championship, his standing in the Central Region would have been far behind." Yi Chen, hailed as the most outstanding disciple of Tianming Sect in the past century, naturally commands deep respect even from the senior elders—every time they see him, they bow with deference. All recognize that with his formidable prowess and his unyielding, even ruthless tactics, he is destined to become the next Sect Master. Though there are other contenders within the Sect, no one seriously believes that any of them could truly challenge this figure, whose very presence makes even the current Sect Master feel intimidated. In comparison to his formidable reputation, Yi Chen’s actual strength is equally astonishing. The Tianming Sect’s method of cultivating disciples is notably bloody and rigorous. It is said that upon reaching a certain stage in their training, each true heir is sent to the Sect’s sacred precincts, where, amid the daily camaraderie, they must ultimately fight and kill one another. Only those who emerge victorious from this ordeal are recognized as the Sect’s true core disciples. Moreover, the cultivation techniques of the Tianming Sect are exceptionally cruel and domineering—they can forcibly absorb others' qi only if it is accompanied by flesh and blood. Those who ultimately emerge from the sacred sanctuary invariably carry a strong scent of blood, as the qi and flesh of their fellow disciples who remain behind are fully consumed and become vital nourishment for the final victors. Yi Chen is the only one from this generation to have survived and walked out of the Tianming Sect's sanctuary. Over the years, he has fought and slain countless strong opponents on behalf of the Sect, and through these relentless battles, his own power has surged rapidly. Today, he stands as one of the rare individuals in Tianming Sect history to reach the pinnacle of the Douzong stage by his thirties, and even shows clear signs of making significant strides toward the Douzun rank. If the Huan Pavilion is enigmatic and unpredictable, then the Tian Ming Sect is truly bloodthirsty and cruel. Yet in this world, strength always triumphs over weakness—only in the Tian Ming Sect is this principle magnified to an extreme. And given the growing strength of the Tian Ming Sect, it's clear that this cruel selection process is indeed a unique and effective method. Of course, while the Tian Ming Sect's cultivation technique—drawing strength from the blood and flesh of others—is formidable, it comes with significant drawbacks: all those who reach the peak of this practice inevitably perish under the reverse effects of its power. Thus, it functions more like a catalyst, extracting life force to generate powerful strength, even if only temporarily. At least, it once shone brightly—perhaps this is exactly what the successive Masters of the Tian Ming Sect have always envisioned. "Master Qiu, this matter, though, is essentially Chen Bo's personal affair—a debt of vengeance for the loss of his son. If the Dan Tower becomes involved, it would indeed be rather inappropriate. "The soft whispers around him did not stir the serene smile on Yi Chen's handsome face. His gaze remained fixed on the hills, and he spoke calmly, "I have long stated that it was not Xiao Yan who killed Chen Xian, but Master Mu Gu. You have mistaken the target." The hills replied in a steady tone. "Had it not been for Xiao Yan's severe injuries to my son, they would have managed to escape Mu Gu's grasp. In any case, he cannot escape responsibility. Should this matter remain unaddressed today, the Xuanming Sect will not rest until it is settled!" Chen Tianan's eyes glowed with cold, venomous intensity, his voice frosty. "Are you threatening me, Dan Tower?" The hills' expression darkened, and he spoke coldly. "Ah, Elder Qiu. For years, Dan Tower has stood in opposition to Huan Pavilion, while our Tianming Sect has remained neutral. Should certain issues not be resolved, we might be forced to shift some of our hidden allies toward the opposing side. Such a development would not be favorable to Dan Tower." Yi Chen sighed softly, saying this. This time, indeed, the丘陵 had to slightly pale. While others might have dismissed such remarks, this Easy Chen—now firmly established as the next abbot of Tianming Sect—had made his voice carry more weight. Though the Dan Tower was strong, similar large-scale powers like Tianming Sect were equally formidable, and a confrontation with them could prove troublesome. "Such words, I urge you to speak less of. Moreover, as the abbot of Chen Sect, you're taking action against a junior member—how would that reflect on your prestige?"丘陵 said solemnly. "I care not whether he's a junior or not," Chen Tiannan sneered, yet before he could finish his strained words, Easy Chen stepped forward, gently intercepting him, and smiled slightly. "Then, in light of the Dan Tower's standing, how about this: today, we refrain from pressing our demands." "Heard this, Chen Tiannan grew anxious, yet he noticed the cold, composed smile forming at Yi Chen's lips. With the robust aura of his cultivation power amplifying his voice, his words now resonated powerfully across the sky. 'Then, at this very spot, I shall set up a match. Please, come forth, the fellow who has won the Herb Conclave championship—let us engage in a bout. Does this rising star of the Herb Conclave possess the courage to face me?' Upon hearing Yi Chen's call, Qiu Ling's expression instantly tightened. Who among the gathered could not speak of the formidable reputation of the former? Should Xiao Yan accept the challenge, the outcome would surely be either victory or defeat! 'This man—what a ruthless move!' Mentally cursing, Qiu Ling was about to issue a strong command when he suddenly observed the space before him subtly warping. A slender figure, gradually emerging amidst the astonished gazes, slowly materialized. His heart immediately sank with concern. As the figure fully came into view, a calm, gentle laugh drifted like a soft breeze across the plaza."