Arranging lodging and then recuperating while awaiting the opening of the Grand Assembly. Ye Wen and his company arrived somewhat early, but even so, had it not been for the benefit gained from the Tianle Gang, they likely would not have found suitable accommodation by this time.

Guo Nu merely chuckled, saying, "Every time this Martial Arts Assembly convenes, every sect and faction must book their lodgings at least a year in advance, otherwise, there will absolutely be no place to be found when the time comes."

He then pointed toward several large mansions in the distance, "Those few estates are the property of the North Sword Sect. They were specially renovated for this grand event, set aside specifically for hosting the major factions! In the previous session, my Tianle Gang was also among those honored, but alas..." He left the rest unsaid.

Ye Wen did not inquire further, merely committing these facts to memory, thinking that when traveling and attending such assemblies in the future, he must absolutely avoid making such a basic mistake.

While the two were conversing in the main hall, several men brandishing sabers suddenly rushed into the inn, cursing loudly at the innkeeper who was happily tallying accounts behind the counter. "How are you running this establishment? You clearly agreed to reserve several guest rooms for our Haisha Gang members, why the sudden change of heart?"

The innkeeper smiled thinly, "Esteemed sir, I explained that this inn was already fully booked long ago. It was just that the guest said they weren't sure if they would use so many rooms at that time, and perhaps a few might remain vacant! I explained the situation to you at the time, merely saying that if there were any spare rooms, I could try to negotiate with that guest to let you stay. You know this as well!"

The man roared back, "It’s not like I can't afford the rent! Why can they stay, but I cannot? Isn't it just the Tianle Gang? What's so special about a third-rate gang that only runs brothels?"

The moment these words were spoken, Guo Nu, seated next to Ye Wen, narrowed his eyes. A wider smile spread across his face as he said softly, "My Tianle Gang hasn't done anything major these past few years, and now even these lowlifes who specialize in robbing waterways dare to insult us. It seems if I don't properly make known the prestige of the Tianle Gang this time, we won't have the face to move about in the martial world anymore!"

With that, he addressed the still-clamoring man, "What's all the noise about? If you want to quarrel, go find a place where no one is around!"

The man turned around, glanced at the smiling Guo Nu, and let out a scornful sound, "I wondered who it was. It turns out to be Elder Guo! We truly have fate..."

Ye Wen, hearing that this person knew Guo Nu yet still showed no fear, was inwardly surprised, thinking this man must also possess extraordinary martial skill. Just as he was preparing to enjoy a good show, Guo Nu also let out a sneer, "This Elder hasn't been active in the martial world for a long time. It seems few people still know my methods!"

Before he could finish speaking, the man from the other side interrupted again:

"I heard your Tianle Gang booked this entire inn. We won't waste time with pleasantries; give us a few rooms for our Haisha Gang. It'll be easier for us to see each other in the future..."

He hadn't finished his sentence before Guo Nu cut in directly:

"On what grounds should my Tianle Gang yield a few rooms to your Haisha Gang? I treated you politely before, and you actually take yourself for someone important?"

"Heh, old man, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! I know your background. You're a false monk who practices Chan School techniques, always sprawling on women's bellies. I assume your Wrathful Vajra form isn't up to much anymore! If you don't yield a few empty rooms today, I'll let you taste my Head-Chopping Saber! By then, all of you from the Tianle Gang will be rolling out of this inn!"

This intent clearly signaled robbery. Guo Nu was greatly enraged by this, and since he was not someone who shirked trouble, he never paid such petty folk any mind, letting alone tolerating such arrogance in his presence. He slammed the table and stood up abruptly, "I'd like to see what ability you have to make my Tianle Gang roll out!"

After releasing a breath and letting out a sharp shout, a faint golden sheen materialized around his body. The light was soft, not dazzling, adhering closely to his form as if he were covered in a layer of shimmering golden armor. At this display alone, the expression of the man opposite him changed, and he exclaimed in surprise, "You actually mastered the Golden Bell Shield?"

The Golden Bell Shield is a defensive martial art of the Chan School, possessing incredibly powerful defense. It is said that upon reaching mastery, a golden bell shields the body, not only warding off any attack but also emitting a tolling sound with every strike, shattering the opponent's will to fight. Even among those in Chan monasteries, few manage to master this technique.

Although Guo Nu's Golden Bell Shield was only in its nascent form, it was still beyond the other man's capacity to break. However, having spoken too boldly just moments ago, if he didn't act now, the surrounding crowd of onlookers would likely look down on him. He summoned his remaining courage, shouted, "I’d like to see how well-tempered your Golden Bell Shield is! Are you just conjuring up some shiny gold stuff to bluff people?"

"Heh! Try me and find out!"

Guo Nu sneered, adopted a stance, and remained motionless, uttering a provocative statement while waiting for the opponent to make the first move. The man wasted no time, raising his Head-Chopping Saber and bringing it down in a fierce slash aimed at Guo Nu's head.

This strike was ferocious in its momentum and astonishing in its power. Even an opponent of equal skill would likely choose to evade its sharpness. If an ordinary person took the full force of the blow, they would likely be cleaved into two pieces on the spot. But Guo Nu remained silent and still, waiting for the saber to strike him.

With a clang, it sounded as if the saber had struck an extremely hard piece of iron—the sound was dull, prolonged, and carried a faint metallic clash. Looking up, they saw Guo Nu still standing firm. Three inches from his eyes was a broken piece of the Head-Chopping Saber.

The man holding the saber stared blankly at his severed weapon, unsure what to do. He then turned to look at the half of the blade that had flown a considerable distance, involuntarily swallowing hard. He wasn't usually this foolish, but after searching many inns today and being told they were all booked, even this last glimmer of hope vanished. If he couldn't find lodging now, he might as well forget about joining the Martial Arts Assembly.

The frustration of walking around, coupled with the Tianle Gang having made a huge fool of themselves at the previous assembly, led them to act rather low-key these past few years. Believing the Tianle Gang was in decline, he decided to try and seize some lodging.

But with just one strike, he realized he was completely delusional. Even if the Tianle Gang was fallen, they were not someone of his low caliber could provoke.

Just as he was about to utter some conciliatory words, he heard Guo Nu let out a cold laugh, his face twisting into a ferocious grimace. He roared:

"Now it's this Elder's turn! Taste my fist!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the punch wind arrived. Just the force of the punch caused the man's hair to fly wildly and his body to lean backward. In a panic, he started to say, "Elder Guo, spare my life..."

Alas, halfway through his plea, the fist had already smashed into his chest. Then the punch force exploded, sending the man flying from the inn's front hall, through the open doorway, and almost crashing into the noodle shop across the street. This flight scattered a significant amount of crimson blood. When he landed, he was completely unconscious, and the latter half of his sentence remained unsaid.

His subordinates, seeing this, hastily hoisted their leader and vanished in a flash. It was clear that they would not be seen at this Martial Arts Assembly.

Guo Nu defeated his enemy with a single punch, immediately retracting his power. He returned to his usual smiling, round face and addressed Ye Wen, "I apologize for making a spectacle for Pavilion Master Ye to witness!"

Ye Wen quickly cupped his hands, "Not at all, I should thank Elder Guo for hosting my disciples. Otherwise, my Shu Mountain Sect probably wouldn't even have a place to rest!"

"Nonsense, nonsense. With Pavilion Master Ye's cultivation, even without lodging, you could easily find a place!"

Ye Wen remained silent, unsure how to respond. Forcing others out of their lodgings through sheer force was something he could not bring himself to do. Yet, the scene just witnessed clearly showed him that seizing accommodation by force was an ordinary occurrence here.

The Haisha Gang members had attempted to rob the inn booked by the Tianle Gang, and a large crowd had gathered to watch. Judging by the swords and sabers they carried, it was clear these people were assessing the situation.

If Guo Nu couldn't drive off the Haisha Gang decisively, it was likely that more factions looking to snatch lodging would arrive continuously. It was no wonder the foremost of the Four Great Elders, Guo Nu, was sent to maintain order; the Tianle Gang must have anticipated this scenario. Coupled with Pei Fu and Hua Yi being present, such a lineup was not something small sects could afford to provoke.

Sects that possessed some strength all wished to gain renown at the Assembly, making them even less likely to offend the Tianle Gang, lest they suffer losses before the Assembly even began.

Furthermore, countless factions had come to join the excitement, making it easy to target a weaker sect.

This could be considered a form of screening for the Martial Arts Assembly: the weak who couldn't even secure lodging might be eliminated before the start and depart in disappointment. Of course, many people, knowing their own limitations, prepared to sleep outdoors and simply observe the excitement before leaving.

The more they talked, the more Ye Wen understood about the Martial Arts Assembly, and simultaneously, his favorable impression of it dropped infinitely, even breeding a touch of disdain. Naturally, if his Dushan Sect could gain sufficient prestige, shine brightly at the Assembly, and occupy a high position lauded by countless martial artists, he would have no complaints.

He was contemplating when his own sect would be qualified to host such an assembly to display its might, when several figures entered through the main gate. The first two were a young man and woman. The man was quite handsome, perhaps not quite matching Xu Xian, but infinitely close to Ye Wen's own appearance.

Beside him was a woman around twenty years old. As for the few people behind them, dressed in handyman uniforms, they were comparatively inconspicuous.

Upon entering, the pair first cupped their hands toward Guo Nu and greeted him, "Your junior, Nangong Yun from Xiangzhou, pays respects to Elder Guo!"

Although their words were courteous, their tone carried an unmistakable arrogance that was distinctly uncomfortable. Even Guo Nu frowned slightly and asked, "People from the Nangong Family?"

The young man named Nangong Yun puffed out his chest, his face full of pride, "Indeed!"

This bearing earned silent curses from many onlookers. Ye Wen also muttered under his breath, "What an arrogant brat? It’s just the Nangong Family! I don't know how many years they’ve been playing supporting roles; what’s there to be so smug about? Looking at this kind of demeanor, no wonder they haven't produced anyone truly great!"

While silently criticizing him, Guo Nu inquired, "Although your Nangong Family carries some renown in the martial world, you never participate in this Martial Arts Assembly. Why have you come this time?"

Nangong Yun's expression flickered with displeasure upon hearing this, but he still replied, "It is because my younger sister is quite curious about this Assembly and wishes to see it firsthand. Also, we happened to be passing through, so we decided to take a look!"

Before he finished speaking, the young woman behind him suddenly said, "Brother, why are you still wasting words? I’m exhausted!"

Nangong Yun turned and glared at the woman, but she merely tilted her neck and glared back. Nangong Yun sighed helplessly, then turned back to Guo Nu, "This is my younger sister, named Nangong Zixin."

He then instructed Nangong Zixin, "Pay your respects to Elder Guo!"

Nangong Zixin, however, looked disgruntled, glaring at Nangong Yun several times. Although she performed the courtesy bow to Guo Nu, her eyes darted around, showing him no respect at all.

Guo Nu was no fool; how could he fail to see the mindset of these two youngsters? They were merely arrogant juniors relying on their family influence. However, the Nangong Family was indeed difficult to offend, and since they had at least extended the courtesy of greeting him, it showed some deference to the Tianle Gang. He couldn't outright chase them away, so he asked, "May I know what brings the two of you to seek me out?"

In reality, the question was superfluous; these two clearly arrived late and couldn't find lodging, intending to ask Guo Nu for a room to stay.

However, although this inn was booked by his Tianle Gang, it was just enough to house their own members. The few remaining rooms had all been yielded to Ye Wen's Shu Mountain Sect. Thinking of this, Guo Nu instinctively glanced toward Ye Wen, thinking that the resolution to today's matter would likely fall to him.

Ye Wen had been thoroughly enjoying the show, especially the sight of Guo Nu being secretly enraged yet unable to act. When Guo Nu glanced at him, Ye Wen knew trouble was coming his way. He immediately raised his teacup and began sipping his tea, remaining silent, choosing to observe how events unfolded.

But his silence did not mean trouble would avoid him. Nangong Yun suddenly spoke up, "I have learned that your esteemed Gang has booked this entire inn and still has spare rooms..."

As he said this, he suddenly pointed toward Ye Wen, who was sitting nearby sipping tea! "...This gentleman, I presume, is not a member of your Gang?"

His meaning was crystal clear: Nangong Yun would not clash with the Tianle Gang, but he clearly held no regard for the Shu Mountain Sect members staying there. He had spent the entire day searching for lodging and had only just learned that another sect was affiliated with the Tianle Gang (the Shu Mountain Sect members were neatly dressed, distinctly different from the Tianle Gang, making them easy to distinguish). His mind had quickly deduced the situation.

They were either small sects friendly with the Tianle Gang or minor forces seeking patronage. Regardless, Nangong Yun, hailing from the Nangong Family, placed no value on them.

As for offending the Tianle Gang? As long as the Tianle Gang leader wasn't a fool, he should be able to distinguish the vast difference between offending the Nangong Family and offending a small sect. Moreover, Nangong Yun felt he had shown the Tianle Gang sufficient respect by clearly targeting the other sect's lodging while being perfectly polite to the Tianle Gang; there should be no trouble.

He reasoned this out clearly, unaware that the relationship between the Shu Mountain Sect and the Tianle Gang was nothing like he assumed. His direct address to Ye Wen was based on a complete miscalculation.

"I believe this brother, having come to participate in the Martial Arts Assembly, is already aware of the rules here! Although I only just heard of them myself (otherwise, why would I have spent so long searching?), I feel these rules are not unreasonable!"

He then raised his hand, making a gesture of invitation, "I don't wish to press matters to extremes. As long as this brother’s sect yields five rooms, we will consider the matter settled! I, Nangong Yun, will owe your sect a favor!"

Ye Wen frowned, looking up. He saw that Nangong Yun, Nangong Zixin, and the clearly servant-like figures behind them numbered only five people. Although the words were polite, the arrogance was thinly veiled, showing no real intention of a peaceful resolution.

"Heh, so I should be grateful to you, sir?"

"It’s a small matter, a small matter..."

Nangong Yun assumed the young man, close to his own age, was intimidated by the reputation of the Nangong Family, and he nodded smugly.

Seeing this, Ye Wen grew even angrier. He ignored the schadenfreude on Guo Nu's face and simply stated, "We do have rooms, but they are all occupied by our Shu Mountain Sect members. I wonder by what right this young hero expects to take them!"

Nangong Yun's face drastically changed upon hearing this, as if he couldn't believe it. He stared at Ye Wen, finally uttering a remark, "It would be best if your esteemed master replies to this after consultation!"

The implication was that he considered Ye Wen’s previous words to be the rantings of an arrogant ignoramus and didn't wish to converse further with him.

At this point, Guo Nu interjected, "This is Ye Wen, Pavilion Master of the Shu Mountain Sect, known in the martial world by the moniker, the 'Gentleman Sword'!"

"The Gentleman Sword?"

Nangong Yun scrutinized Ye Wen again, finally letting out a cold laugh, "Quite the grand reputation!"

"No need for your concern!"

Ye Wen held not an ounce of goodwill toward Nangong Yun. At this moment, he couldn't even be bothered to look at him directly, simply raising his teacup and gulping down some cold tea to quell his rising anger.

Nangong Yun, however, had no intention of letting the matter drop. He stopped being polite and stated coldly, "Since you are ignorant of what is good for you, we shall proceed according to the rules!"

As he spoke, the Shu Mountain Sect members happened to emerge for a meal. They hadn't heard the preceding conversation, but they caught the last sentence clearly. Seeing the tense atmosphere between Nangong Yun and their own Pavilion Master, they immediately knew a conflict was brewing.

Before Ye Wen could reply, Xu Ping shouted, "What right do you have to be so rude to my Master?"

Nangong Yun paused, turning to see a man who appeared slightly older than himself glaring at him angrily. This man wore a long blue robe and carried two weapons strapped to his back—it was unclear if they were two long swords or two sabers.

"And what right do you have to speak to my brother like that?"

While Nangong Yun was assessing the situation, Nangong Zixin suddenly let out a sharp cry, adding, "Didn't you see my brother was talking to your master? Why are you interrupting?"

Before her words faded, she leaped forward, her hand moving, and from somewhere, a soft sword appeared. The blade twitched incessantly like a swift serpent, making it impossible to tell where it aimed to strike.

But the woman's next words revealed her malicious intent: "Let me first slice off your over-talkative tongue, so you learn not to insert yourself randomly in the future!"

"What an arrogant girl!"

The Shu Mountain Sect members’ faces changed upon hearing this. Ning Ruxue and Li Sen were about to step forward to teach this presumptuous Nangong Zixin a lesson.

They had already discerned that although the swordplay was exquisite, Nangong Zixin’s cultivation was limited and not overwhelmingly powerful. Currently, more than half of the Shu Mountain Sect members could easily subdue her. However, Xu Xian shouted, "I’d like to see what skill you have to take my tongue!"

With a flick of his hand, both his saber and sword were drawn simultaneously! He usually fought using either the saber or the sword; he had not fully mastered the Yin-Yang Chaotic Blade Technique. But he had already worked out some stances and routines for wielding both weapons concurrently. Drawing both weapons now was clearly his ultimate move born of extreme anger. The fact that Xu Ping had drawn both weapons at once clearly indicated his fury.

When these two weapons were revealed, Nangong Yun's eyelids twitched, and he immediately shouted, "Little sister, be careful! That man's martial arts might be tricky!"

Although he felt a flicker of unease, he only suspected that the Shu Mountain disciple possessed some rare and unusual technique. As long as he told his little sister to be cautious, there shouldn't be any problem.

"Although my little sister's skill is average, she should have no trouble dealing with the disciple of some obscure, small sect!"

Who knew that just as this thought formed, there was a series of crisp sounds—changkaduohua—followed by a soft sword, twisted into a messy tangle, flying to the side. Looking again, they saw Xu Ping holding the long sword firmly in his right hand and the saber across his left, perfectly resting against Nangong Zixin’s throat. The victory had been decided in an instant.

"How is that possible?"