All tidied up, with silver taels and weaponry secured. Yu Ye was indeed an impressive craftsman; the Huoshan Sect's armaments were now completely refreshed. Not only were they far superior, but they were also engraved with the Shushan insignia, letting others know that they, too, were a major sect capable of self-producing weapons.

Thinking of this, Ye Wen recalled the Wudang and Huashan sects in the books; they all had their own manufactured weapons. Setting aside those with unusually shaped designs, even the most common long swords bore the mark that they were the property of that sect, establishing their great sect's majesty.

He inquired with Chen Yizhong and learned that this world was no different. For instance, major sects like the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Tianshan Sect all manufactured their own blades, unless they acquired some renowned divine or sharp weapon from elsewhere.

Lesser sects, such as the Thunder Sword Gate, also possessed their own unique weapons. The weapons confiscated when Huang Rongrong killed many Thunder Sword Gate disciples were all engraved with the characters "Lei Jian" (Thunder Sword)! This served as an identifier and a symbol of status, indicating that anyone possessing such a weapon was a disciple of the Thunder Sword Gate, and others had best be wary and consider whether they could afford to offend them.

Even if he obtained these weapons, they couldn't be used casually. Ye Wen had entrusted them all to Yu Ye to be reforged in the furnace.

As for the sect's unified attire, that was also quite common! In fact, the most fundamental reason for unified clothing was that these disciples were supported by the sect, and the sect providing clothing was only proper. One couldn't possibly tailor a unique set of clothes for every newcomer, right? So, it was simply better to have the same style for easier ordering.

The Shushan Sect had also unified its uniforms over the past six months. Since the numbers were growing, Ye Wen could wander around the sect without necessarily recognizing if a person was one of their own disciples; unifying the attire made identification easier.

He had consulted with several people and finally decided on blue as the color for the sect's attire. To distinguish between inner and outer disciples, outer disciples wore short tunics, while inner disciples wore nothing but long robes (the general style referencing the Qionghua Sect's attire, simply substituting white with light blue would suffice).

As for Ye Wen and a few others, there was naturally less fuss. As the Sect Master, he had a certain privilege; basically, he could wear whatever he pleased—however, to fit the identity of a Shushan member and since this was a collective expedition, Ye Wen still wore the "uniform." The cut of his clothes was similar to that of the inner disciples, but the dark blue areas on his garments leaned toward purple.

"Well now, my techniques already bring a shade of purple to the fore, and wearing this outfit makes it even more so..." Ye Wen's few sets of clothes were just finished as they prepared to descend the mountain. Wearing them now, with a contingent of disciples whose attire was strikingly similar following behind, indeed lent an imposing aura.

Among this group, only Ning Ruxue’s attire was light cyan, and only Hua Yi’s was vastly different—she had prepared not only a pink shirt and skirt but also wrapped several layers of flowing silk ribbons around her shoulders and arms as spares. Coupled with the recovery of her cultivation, the image of those floating ribbons threatening to fly away certainly drew attention.

Perhaps due to her recovered power and inner joy, she didn't walk normally but drifted and fluttered. If her appearance hadn't been so exquisite, ordinary people might have mistaken her for a female ghost during the day.

"Elder Hua, aren't you heading to the Tianle Gang..."

Hua Yi floated to Ye Wen's side and replied with a smile, "Since we'll see our own people at the assembly hall, why should I bother making a detour back?" The martial arts gathering was being held at the Beijian Sect in Hezhou. Hezhou bordered Pingzhou on one side, so the journey was southwestward and did not pass by the Tianle Gang's branch headquarters. Hua Yi not wanting to take a detour was a reasonable excuse.

"With Elder Hua's lightness skill, she should be able to reunite with her gang members quickly, right? Why travel only with us..." Ye Wen was puzzled why Hua Yi showed no sense of urgency to rush back with news.

Hua Yi knew what he was thinking as soon as he asked, and she smiled, "It’s too late to rush there now anyway! Why bother being anxious? It's better to travel slowly! Traveling is quite tiring..." Hua Yi’s lightness skill was extraordinary, but she wasn't suited for long-distance running. Simply put, if Ye Wen and Hua Yi raced now, Hua Yi would have the advantage initially, but within half a day, Ye Wen would overtake her and pull further and further ahead!

In terms of long-distance running, Xu Xian was the most skilled among this group. His Tread Snow Without a Trace technique left no marks, was incredibly fast, and remarkably economical with energy. With Xu Xian's current cultivation, he could run for half a month without issue. However, Xu Xian seemed unwilling to expend the effort to compete with Hua Yi on foot speed.

Given his temperament, even if Hua Yi had proposed a contest, he would have lightly said, "You win! I concede..."

In truth, Ye Wen knew that Xu Xian held strong traditional views on masculinity, and he had privately heard this fellow say things like, "A true man doesn't compete with women for precedence..."

True chauvinism meant not taking women seriously at all. While Xu Xian wasn't that severe, he clearly leaned in that direction! That's why, when Huang Rongrong was boisterous, he merely watched the excitement from the sidelines, never thinking there was anything wrong with it.

Ye Wen didn't share that mindset, but it didn't stop him from placing women in a different category. The only two women he had separated out were the two junior sisters he intended to marry in the future, and Hua Yi, whom he had initially been wary of but no longer feared.

Because her cultivation had increased significantly, Hua Yi seemed to show him some restraint as well, and nothing untoward happened during their journey. Just as they were about to leave Pingzhou, they coincidentally ran into Guo Nu.

"It's not a coincidence. I have been waiting for Sect Master Ye and his party for several days!" Ye Wen's brow twitched, but his expression remained courteous. He clasped his hands: "To think Elder Guo would trouble himself to wait here—I am truly too grateful..." "It's nothing! Since I'm heading to Hezhou for that grand event anyway, it’s boring to travel alone. Traveling with Sect Master Ye will be more lively..." Saying this, he glanced behind Ye Wen at the large group of people. Dressed in matching attire, they indeed possessed an imposing presence.

Furthermore, Ye Wen seemed to have a preference when choosing disciples; they were all above average in appearance. Even the simple and honest Guo Jing was a handsome young man with defined features, and when silent, paired with this attire, he looked quite heroic.

Xu Ping had been a guard in the Xu family; a major family like that wouldn't hire an unattractive person. Li Sen, the former escort, although his appearance was average, was extremely pleasing to the eye. Thinking about it, if he looked hateful, Ye Wen wouldn't have dared to entrust him with handling all matters of the Shushan Sect; outsiders seeing him would immediately feel disgust, and no business could be discussed.

As for the rest of the group, there was no need to mention them—definitely handsome men and beautiful women... plus one person who was so stunningly beautiful that it was hard to tell their gender, possessing the posture of a crane among chickens: Xu Xian.

Fortunately, Guo Nu was sharp-eyed and immediately recognized Xu Xian as a man, so he didn't look further. He then glanced at Ning Ruxue and Zhou Zhiruo. Knowing his boundaries, his gaze only swept over them briefly without lingering, before turning back to chat and laugh with Ye Wen: "Sect Master Ye has brought so many people!"

"The people of our sect are too young and inexperienced; encountering such a grand event, they naturally need to come out and broaden their horizons!" Ye Wen's words were very modest, but a hint of self-satisfaction showed in his demeanor! This group was the elite of his Shushan Sect; just these few people could wipe out the Tianle Gang branch headquarters or the Thunder Sword Gate without issue. However, wiping out the Tianle Gang branch would require considering a counterattack from their main headquarters.

Guo Nu was unaware of Ye Wen's thoughts and showed a very amiable smile: "With Sect Master Ye leading the Shushan Sect, why worry about not dominating the martial world..."

His voice was quite loud, clearly audible throughout the hall, immediately drawing countless gazes toward Ye Wen. Some who recognized Ye Wen's name introduced him to those nearby: "This group is from the Shushan Sect; the one in front is the Gentleman Sword, Ye Wen!" Those who didn't know shot glances filled with cold light, and a few showed disdain.

Ye Wen calmly surveyed his surroundings, aware that many present were martial artists heading to the martial arts conference. Guo Nu's recent words had clearly displeased some. He knew he had to display some capability today, or there would likely be much trouble on the road ahead.

"Elder Guo truly praises me too highly!" This sentence was soft, as if spoken only to the person beside him, yet everyone in the hall heard it with perfect clarity, as if someone had spoken directly into their ear.

Those who understood the situation immediately turned away and stopped staring. Some friends even warned them: "This person is not someone we can afford to offend; don't look too much..."

Only a few stubborn fools were looking around, seemingly trying to find the source of the voice. These people were not highly skilled and lacked experience; even if they attended the martial arts conference, they would just be there to join the fun. If they dared to seek trouble with the Shushan Sect, anyone on their side could easily deal with them.

Everyone understood the situation, and Guo Nu naturally did not fail to realize it. His expression also shifted slightly. He praised, "Sect Master Ye is too modest; truly worthy of the title of Gentleman..." But in his heart, he thought, "This Ye Wen's internal energy is surprisingly formidable, perhaps even surpassing mine. It was the right choice not to engage when he attended the banquet last time..."

Internal energy cultivation was the most troublesome aspect. Guo Nu didn't believe Ye Wen could significantly boost his internal energy in such a short time; he presumed Ye Wen already possessed this level of power, which made him secretly glad he hadn't acted rashly back then; otherwise, the Tianle Gang would have suffered heavy losses, and their great plan would have been ruined.

Having roughly gauged Ye Wen's cultivation, Guo Nu stopped employing underhanded tactics. Doing too many of those things served no benefit and only incurred more aversion, so it was better to do less.

After chatting for a while, Ye Wen led the sect members to find the waiter for rooms to rest. Only then did Guo Nu give Hua Yi a look, and the two turned into a private room to discuss matters.

"Why did you take the liberty of bringing Ye Wen here..." Once they confirmed they were alone and could speak freely, Guo Nu immediately put on a cold face and reprimanded her: "Don't you know how important this assembly is to our Tianle Gang? How could you make decisions without authorization..."

It turned out that Hua Yi had taken the initiative to tell Ye Wen about the martial arts gathering and invite him to attend, entirely on her own accord, without any prior instruction.

Now, as Guo Nu began to scold, Hua Yi merely said, "Since our two sects have disputes anyway, isn't it perfect to resolve them at the martial arts assembly? Besides, I heard that Gang Leader Lin has emerged from seclusion, and his skill has advanced. Defeating Ye Wen should be as easy as turning a hand..."

"Nonsense..." Guo Nu interrupted Hua Yi before she could finish, erupting in a stream of reprimands: "Gang Leader Lin's purpose during this seclusion was monumental; his original plan cannot be altered because of a remote sect like Shushan..."

Hua Yi didn't know this, but Guo Nu, as the foremost of the Four Elders, was privy to much. Lin Hai's seclusion was precisely to bring his state to its peak before the assembly began, allowing him to fight for greater benefits for the Tianle Gang at the event. He would have to contend with numerous experts then, which was never a sure thing, and now Ye Wen had added an unpredictable variable.

When he tried to probe in the hall just now, he wanted to determine the extent of Ye Wen's power. If it was similar to his own, he could take on the fight for the gang. Even if they had to make concessions to the Shushan Sect later, the Gang Leader's major plans could not be jeopardized.

But upon testing, he realized Ye Wen's power surpassed his estimate. Currently, besides Gang Leader Lin Hai, perhaps only one other person in the Tianle Gang could match him in battle.

"Isn't there my Master as well..." Hua Yi finally realized she might have done something wrong. However, she had written an account of the matter and sent it to Guo Nu in a letter the day after arriving at Shushan. Guo Nu should have reported to the main headquarters, so she didn't think it was a big deal.

Guo Nu didn't know how to respond upon hearing this, merely stating helplessly, "Your Master originally intended to guard the main headquarters, but because of your unauthorized actions, the plan had to change—she must now accompany Gang Leader Lin to the martial arts assembly..."

Speaking of this, Guo Nu recalled that while the reply from the main headquarters didn't explicitly say much, he vaguely sensed dissatisfaction from their end: "Elder Hua, this time you truly... sigh. You must fend for yourself..."

Upon hearing this, Hua Yi also felt a wave of fear, but it vanished in an instant. She had been pampered since childhood, acting on whim for everything she did, and her Master had never scolded her. Bringing Ye Wen here now, she figured her Master wouldn't blame her. Moreover, she had devised this strategy considering what was best for the gang.

"Yes! I suppose Master won't be too angry..."

After consoling herself internally, a smile reappeared on her face. Guo Nu, watching from the side, knew this Elder Hua hadn't taken the matter to heart at all. He thought that since encountering Ye Wen, this Hua Yi had repeatedly acted recklessly, which caused him trouble. Yet, someone even stronger protected her from above, so he couldn't properly reprimand her. Offering a reminder was the extent of his duty as an Elder.

"Let her be... It has nothing to do with me." In fact, far away from Pingzhou, two other people were also discussing Hua Yi's situation.

One of them sat in the main seat of a room, eyes closed in concentration. Though motionless, majesty radiated from him. If Ye Wen were present, he would surely mock, "Why release that oppressive aura for no reason..."

But this person wasn't releasing it randomly; it was the natural result of long-held high status and innate dominance, something that couldn't be simply summoned or dismissed. Sitting there, he casually remarked, "Your disciple seems to be getting more accustomed to acting willfully." On a chair not far away sat a beautiful woman who appeared to be around thirty. Although she wore a veil, it couldn't hide her exceptional grace. Hearing this, she frowned slightly, yet it gave the impression of pitiable fragility, making one instantly wish to reach out, smooth the wrinkles on her forehead, and say a few words of tender concern to please her.

However, moments later, the desolate and sorrowful look vanished, replaced by a bright smile. She spoke softly and delicately, "This time, I must teach her a good lesson to prevent her from being so reckless again..."

At this single statement, the person on the upper seat opened his eyes, letting out a hidden sigh, unsure why. When his eyes opened, a divine light shone from them, making it difficult to look directly at him. But this had no effect on the beautiful woman, and he didn't care at all. He casually said, "Can you bear to? That is an excellent Cauldron Vessel you spent years searching for and finally found!"

The beautiful woman covered her mouth and chuckled lightly: "No matter how fine a Cauldron Vessel, it is still just a vessel! Just like the name I gave her, Hua Yi—gorgeous clothing, but even the most splendid garments will eventually be discarded. This little girl is becoming increasingly willful. If it weren't for her gradually improving Yin essence..."

Saying this, she suddenly turned to the man and said, "Does Gang Leader Lin harbor any thoughts about my disciple? Perhaps once she's useless, we could send her to the Gang Leader as a plaything..."

Gang Leader Lin showed no joy but looked helplessly at the beautiful woman, seeming to want to say something but ultimately stopping himself, letting out a long sigh: "No need..."

"What a pity! I originally thought it was better to benefit our own than an outsider..." This sentence carried no suggestive meaning, but coming from the lips of this beautiful woman, it always made one think of something inappropriate.

When the Gang Leader heard the words "our own," his heart gave a sharp thump, accelerating rapidly out of nowhere. If he hadn't known that this was not the woman's true intention, but rather the potent effects of the Seduction Arts she practiced, coupled with his own considerable cultivation, he might not have maintained control.

His eyes flickered, and he glanced at the woman again. Gang Leader Lin stood up from his seat and walked to the window, seemingly observing the cloudless sky and the gradually yellowing leaves outside.

"What do you think of the Shushan Sect..."

Even regarding serious matters, the beautiful woman seemed to maintain the same demeanor; although her reply produced no overtly suggestive sounds, it always stirred carnal thoughts in the heart.

"A sect that is rapidly gaining strength. Sect Master Ye must have had some fortunate encounter. Moreover, judging by the news Guo Nu transmitted and the fact that he hasn't engaged Shushan yet, Ye Wen's skills must be quite impressive. Unfortunately, our Shushan Sect has some friction between them, so this trip might bring many complications..."

"You think so too..." Lin Hai felt a sense of helplessness as his original plan for this trip was about to change, and the root cause was that increasingly reckless Hua Yi.

The beautiful woman chuckled lightly, comforting him: "Why worry, Gang Leader? Even if Ye Wen is truly powerful, doesn't he have someone accompanying him? If Elder Guo cannot handle Ye Wen, that person will naturally step in! Why else would she follow the Gang Leader all the way to Hezhou..."

"Mmm..."

Gang Leader Lin did not reply, continuing to look up at the sky, which was clean with not a single scattered cloud, his eyes filled with confusion about what he was truly thinking.