The fellow known as the foremost blade of the North fled in disgrace after Ye Wen's reprimand, and this one became the final challenger whom the Shu Mountain Sect had to deal with.

It wasn't that everyone was stunned into silence by the Shu Mountain Sect’s might, but rather that the Martial Arts Assembly was about to officially commence.

Ye Wen led the Shu Mountain Sect members up the mountain. This time, there would be no special reception. Although the Tianle Gang had lost its fixed seating allocation, the elders Guo Nu and Pei Wei had secured a relatively decent spot for them last year, allowing all the Tianle Gang members to sit in a specially designated area today, enjoying some fruits and tea.

Frankly, the Tianle Gang had earned their spot after winning the qualification bouts. Since the Shu Mountain Sect had not participated in the vying last year, they naturally wouldn't be assigned a separate area for this Assembly. Thus, Ye Wen could only lead his group to squeeze in the outermost periphery with numerous other martial arts peers, watching from afar.

The North Sword Gate had thoroughly renovated their martial arts field. The vast plaza was divided into countless zones, and the foremost and adjacent prime areas were partitioned into numerous smaller sections. One could tell which sect or faction each area belonged to from the fluttering banners.

Ye Wen peered intently and spotted the Tianle Gang members seated in an area that wasn't large, but certainly not the smallest either. Flanked by other sects, it would be difficult to discern them unless one looked specifically for them.

“Seeing this scene, why does it remind me of the sports day when I was in school?”

In reality, it was quite similar: everyone was arrayed in a quadrilateral formation, with the enormous central stage being the venue for resolving disputes at this Assembly.

Since it had just begun, everyone was still scrambling for positions; a few individuals had even started disputes over claiming a better spot. Fortunately, although the Shu Mountain Sect had faced constant troubles recently, they had also earned a formidable reputation, so ordinary gangs wouldn't bother them.

After finding a spot that was neither great nor too bad, Ye Wen stood firm with his people. Ning Ruxue and Xu Xian stood by his side, with several disciples positioned behind him, watching through the gaps left by those in front.

Huang Rongrong and Zhou Zhiruo, being shorter and female, were shielded in the middle by Li Sen, Guo Jing, and Xu Ping. Ye Wen, Xu Xian, and Ning Ruxue left a slight gap between them so the disciples could see clearly.

“The more I look, the more it resembles a sports day…” After glancing left and right for a while, Ye Wen’s anticipation for this grand martial arts gathering began to plummet infinitely, as the scene eerily overlapped with his school days.

Others, however, did not think as he did. Many marveled at the sight of the massive crowd, casting envious glances toward the factions seated far in the distance. Numerous others were loudly discussing or dreaming of their sect’s future.

“When will we be able to sit among them?”

“Heh, stop dreaming. If you can even beat those people from the Shu Mountain Sect, then you can start thinking about that! Didn't you see Ye Wen of the Shu Mountain Sect standing there just like us?”

Though the Martial Arts Assembly was grand, it clearly delineated the hierarchy of power within the martial world. Seated most prominently were the few sects holding the greatest influence in the current martial world. The Heavenly Dao Sect, the Zen Sect, and this year's host, the North Sword Gate, were all seated centrally.

Next were the Tianshan Sect, the Jade Cave Sect, and others arranged outward in succession. The larger the space occupied, and the higher the banner bearing their sect's name fluttered, the higher the sect’s status.

In the area where Ye Wen stood, there were numerous sects, disorderly and chaotic, only fit for those standing to observe the ceremony; there were no banners or anything of the sort—they were practically missing a signpost reading: "Extra!"

After some time, the clamor in the venue gradually subsided, and most martial artists who came to observe had generally found their places. Those with better strength naturally secured forward positions; the weaker ones had to stay further back, largely relying on snippets of conversation from those ahead to guess what was happening in the venue.

Fortunately, the central stage of the Martial Arts Assembly was not low; if a real fight were to break out, these people wouldn't have to worry about not seeing it.

Ye Wen finished observing his surroundings and turned to look at the stage, noticing it was constructed of solid stone and did not appear to be temporary scaffolding. There were also some unique markers of the North Sword Gate around it, suggesting the North Sword Gate already possessed such a stage, likely serving the same purpose as the stone-paved area within the Shu Mountain Sect’s grounds.

As he was watching, he saw the North Sword Gate contingent suddenly rise in unison, after which a woman in tight-fitting attire walked out from the crowd and stepped onto the stage.

“That is Bei Cheng Yan, the Mistress of the North Sword Gate!”

The benefit of having many people around is that when a question arises, an answer might unexpectedly come from somewhere, eliminating the need to ask. Ye Wen heard this, turned to look at Bei Cheng Yan again, and noticed the woman was around thirty years old, possessing above-average looks and an air of heroic spirit on her face; despite being a woman, she didn't inspire any sense of being underestimated.

Moreover, as the North Sword Gate was a famous major sect in the martial world, for Bei Cheng Yan to become its Mistress, she either had an exceptionally strong background or extraordinary means.

Thinking of this, he suddenly recalled his junior sister once having the singular ambition to become the leader of the Shu Mountain Sect, and he couldn't help but tease her: “A female sect master, are you jealous, Junior Sister?”

Ning Ruxue naturally knew what he was referring to and snorted in displeasure: “Are you very proud, Senior Brother?”

Ye Wen tilted his head: “A little!”

His statement was perhaps too blunt. Ning Ruxue was greatly annoyed in her heart but knew Ye Wen was deliberately teasing her, leaving her unsure how to respond, so she could only stand aside sulking silently.

Seeing his junior sister appear slightly angry, Ye Wen quickly said, “Just kidding!”

Fortunately, the two of them spoke very softly; unless one was extremely close, they couldn't be clearly heard, especially amidst the surrounding noise, so no one noticed their exchange.

As for the disciples behind them, they were entirely focused on Bei Cheng Yan on the stage. After saying a few words, the female sect master, in her characteristic manner, declared the Assembly open, stating that all grievances and grudges could be aired—everyone present would be the witness!—and then she stepped down. Such assemblies, despite their grandeur, usually began with trivial matters, naturally not requiring her personal presence to preside; sending a slightly reputable disciple would suffice for the initial stages.

The major sects currently had little interest in the stage. Following past precedent, there would always be some minor players causing a ruckus before things slowly transitioned to the main agenda.

For the major sects, now was not yet the time for them to steal the spotlight.

At this moment, the members of the Jade Cave Sect, although remaining seated without mingling with neighboring sects, Yu Qingzi and the Nine Sword Immortal were engaged in constant conversation: “After this outing, our Jade Cave Sect can enjoy about ten years of stability. Regrettably, we currently lack any outstanding disciples capable of carrying the main burden. After these ten years…”

According to the Nine Sword Immortal’s own estimation, within these ten years, he would likely attempt the legendary ‘Shattering the Void.’ Whether he succeeded or failed, the Nine Sword Immortal would cease to exist in this world.

Although Senior Brother Yu Qingzi remained, he was also growing quite old. If not for the persistent lack of exceptional disciples, he wouldn't have remained sect leader until this age, even needing to personally attend to sect affairs and travel around.

However, the Nine Sword Immortal was more philosophical. “Our sect has never sought dominance in the martial world; solely focusing on the Dao and cultivating the self is our fundamental tenet. Senior Brother is also an expert in mastering our sect’s essentials, why are you so attached? Even if you and I are gone, our disciples should be capable of self-preservation with our sect’s Mist-Water Palm and Reversing Circular Barrier techniques!”

Yu Qingzi sighed deeply: “All our martial arts are for self-defense. If Junior Brother hadn't created that Imperial Sword Marvelous Technique, we would have absolutely no means to kill enemies. But how long can a sect focused solely on self-preservation last in this martial world? Moreover, now that our sect has produced someone like Junior Brother, trying to maintain a low profile and survive in the future… Alas…”

The Nine Sword Immortal also fell silent. He had naturally considered this point but found no solution. Now that his Senior Brother mentioned it, he naturally had no adequate response, finally saying only, “We can protect ourselves for a time, but not for all time. We must let nature take its course…”

Compared to the slight melancholy of the Jade Cave Sect, the Tianshan Sect members were brimming with arrogance, many dissatisfied with the position their sect had been assigned.

“To be ranked alongside the Jade Cave Sect, a sect propped up by two old relics—what qualifications do they have to compare with the Tianshan Sect?”

This sentiment was mainstream among the Tianshan Sect members. Fortunately, the Tianshan Sect and the Jade Cave Sect were seated on opposite sides, one to the left and one to the right, so they weren't afraid of the Jade Cave Sect overhearing and causing a conflict. Of course, the Tianshan Sect members weren't afraid of the Jade Cave Sect hearing them either; perhaps starting a fight immediately would satisfy them.

Their confidence stemmed naturally from the man seated prominently in front. This man was around thirty years old, his eyes closed, seemingly recuperating his spirit. He held a cup of fine grape wine that was constantly emitting a chilling mist. Although it was already late autumn, it wasn't as cold as mid-winter; at most, it was crisp and pleasant. Yet, the cup of wine in his hand completely ignored the ambient temperature, continuously releasing cold vapor.

This display was naturally the marvel of the Tianshan Sect's ultimate technique, the Ice Soul Cold Art. Once mastered, this technique could emit the coldest yin energy; let alone slightly chilling a cup of wine, with deep attainment, one could freeze a living person solid. But the cup held by Li Xuan showed no sign of freezing, only emanating cold mist, demonstrating that the Tianshan Sect Master had achieved complete mastery and control over his cold arts.

Compared to these two sects, others, like the Azure Dragon Society, remained quietly silent. The Society Master, Dongfang Yi, had closed his eyes since the beginning, only occasionally opening them to glance toward the Tianle Gang's area before immediately retracting his gaze, as if nothing had happened.

Although his movements were brief and concealed, they did not escape the notice of many discerning individuals present. The Zen Sect Abbot and the Heavenly Dao Sect Master actually converged, exchanged greetings, and then began discussing the potential events of the Assembly.

The Zen Sect Abbot was an old monk who wore a perpetual smile on his face when meeting anyone, holding only a staff symbolizing the Abbot's status.

The Heavenly Dao Sect Master was a Daoist who appeared to be in his prime. Seeing his old friend, he casually quipped, “Venerable Master Huixin, still doing well?”

Master Huixin also chuckled, “Amitabha! Thank you for your concern, True Master. Your countenance remains unchanged; has your cultivation improved again?”

The Heavenly Dao Sect Master was called True Master Tianyi, though his real name was long forgotten. Although he appeared to be only in his forties, everyone in the martial world knew this was due to True Master Tianyi’s Daoist longevity arts reaching their peak, granting him this appearance of agelessness. Compared to the Zen Sect Abbot, whose age was immediately apparent, True Master Tianyi’s true years were difficult to gauge from his appearance. Fortunately, although this True Master didn't frequent the martial world often, he didn't avoid others, so many people recognized him, preventing awkward incidents of mistaken identity and provocation.

The two eighty-year-old titans exchanged pleasantries, then turned to the Assembly: “I presume this grand gathering will pass without incident, peacefully! Truly a blessing for the martial world!”

True Master Tianyi disagreed: “Not so. I sense considerable friction between Lin Hai, the leader of the Tianle Gang, and Dongfang Yi, the Master of the Azure Dragon Society. There is bound to be a major clash this time!”

Master Huixin then recalled, “Indeed. Lin Hai of the Tianle Gang suffered a humiliation last time and will inevitably seek opponents to restore his prestige! One only hopes that Gang Leader Lin’s actions are not overly ruthless, causing too many casualties!”

True Master Tianyi asked pointedly, “Does the Master predict that Gang Leader Lin will surely win this time? Dongfang Yi is not an easy man to deal with!”

Hearing this, Huixin merely smiled: “The True Master knows the answer already, why ask again?”

“Hahahaha! You cunning old monk, with so many thoughts churning inside, how do you cultivate that superior Buddhist doctrine? You are just like me, a mere mortal—how can you call yourself a monk?” True Master Tianyi laughed heartily, cracking a joke with his old friend. Having known Huixin for decades, he knew his old friend wouldn't take offense.

As expected, Huixin first recited a Buddhist invocation and casually replied, “The True Master knows well that my own master foresaw that my mind was too cluttered for significant progress on the path of Buddhism. That is why he passed the position of Abbot to me to handle worldly affairs! He even gave me the Dharma name Huixin, hoping I would guard my true heart and not stray onto the wrong path! In terms of profound Buddhist understanding, who can compare to Senior Brother Huigen?”

True Master Tianyi stroked his few remaining strands of glossy black beard and laughed, “The old monk is at it again. I’ve heard these words countless times. Why say them now, and to whom are you speaking?”

“Amitabha, this old monk speaks to those willing to listen!”

After chatting for a while longer, neither of them believed there would be any unexpected changes to the Assembly. Thus far, only a string of unknown, minor figures had appeared on the stage; no truly renowned figures of the martial world had shown up yet.

However, after some private estimation, they figured some significant figures should emerge shortly. After all, no one could just keep waiting. Many people came to the Martial Arts Assembly specifically to resolve grievances and disputes. With so many famous figures present as witnesses, seizing the opportunity to avenge oneself while simultaneously gaining renown would be irresistible to anyone with ambition.

As they were speaking, they heard a loud shout from the stage. Finally, a figure known in the martial world appeared: “I am Liu Bizhi of Xizhou! I invite Ye Wen of the Shu Mountain Sect to come up and speak with this old man!”

His shout resonated throughout the venue, jolting everyone to attention as they looked toward the stage. Previously, most people had lost interest in the minor squabbles of those unknown figures, and many were chatting with their neighbors. Now, this bold challenge, immediately displaying internal energy mastery, drew surprise from many.

“Who is this guy?”

“Oh my, you don’t even know him? Are you even active in the martial world?”

“Liu Bizhi of Xizhou, that is the old master of the Liu Family of Xizhou. Although this gentleman is still active in the martial world, he rarely seeks the limelight. I wonder why he is specifically calling out someone from the Shu Mountain Sect?”

The crowd buzzed with speculation, and Ye Wen himself was perplexed. He had never even heard of Liu Bizhi, let alone seen him before, but since someone had called him out by name, he couldn't very well ignore it.

Amidst numerous guesses, Liu Bizhi, with his entirely white hair, kept shouting: “Ye Wen! I know the Shu Mountain Sect is here. If you are a man, come out and accept this challenge from this old man!”

He had initially spoken of 'dialogue,' but now he clearly wanted to contend with Ye Wen. This immediately heightened everyone's interest.

“Could it be that Old Master Liu heard the rumors about the Shu Mountain Sect and wants to seize the opportunity to gain some fame?”

Since no one knew the inside story, this guess seemed the most plausible.

The major sects held similar speculations. Some scoffed: “Has this old ghost gone senile? If he wanted fame, he should have picked someone a bit more well-known, not a sect nobody has heard of. What's the use of winning?”

“Are you deaf? Don’t you know the Shu Mountain Sect has been making waves these past few days?”

“I heard! Didn't they just set up formations and scare away a few good-for-nothings? What skill is that?”

True Master Tianyi and Master Huixin exchanged glances. Huixin asked curiously, “Liu Bizhi isn’t someone rashly seeking fame. In the past, even when he attended this Assembly, he only watched for fun. Why is he actively challenging on stage this time?”

Master Huixin didn't know, and True Master Tianyi was equally puzzled, yet he was curious about the origins of the Shu Mountain Sect: “Is it possible that the Shu Mountain Sect is a sect from Xizhou, and they have some old feud with the Liu Family?” But after thinking it over, he couldn't recall anything about the Shu Mountain Sect, almost asking outright: “When did this Shu Mountain Sect appear?”

The Jade Cave Sect members were also curious. They knew the Shu Mountain Sect hailed from Pingzhou, while Liu Bizhi was originally from Xizhou and usually moved around that area. How could these two groups have developed enmity?

Of course, most people were curious about what Ye Wen of the Shu Mountain Sect looked like. Everyone peered around, waiting for Ye Wen to emerge from the crowd.

After a moment, a young man in a blue robe holding a long sword walked out from the throng. The onlookers immediately looked disappointed—just such a young man. Facing Old Master Liu’s challenge, he likely wouldn't end well. Most people assumed this bout would be another boring spectacle, probably just a farce of an elder bullying a child.

Just as they were feeling let down, Ye Wen suddenly leaped high into the air. Still several feet away from the stage, he sprang upward, then, keeping his form still, he bent in mid-air and floated directly toward the stage.

Those with keen observation immediately cried out, “Impressive lightness skill!”

The words had barely left their lips when Ye Wen landed softly on the stage, not only with extreme stability but without making the slightest sound.