The grand gathering saw a brief **stir on the first day due to the sudden rise of the Shushan Sect, but it soon settled back into its customary calm and uneventful rhythm. After securing a seated spot for his own sect, Ye Wen ceased making appearances on the stage to steal the limelight.

The Shushan Sect had already garnered enough attention on the first day; pushing further might inevitably draw unwanted scrutiny. He sensed a nascent danger from the wary and meaningful gazes of the surrounding sects.

Now that their reputation was established, a calculated period of low profile was the wisest course to consolidate their newfound fame. Given the strength currently displayed by the Shushan Sect, ordinary sects wouldn't dare cause trouble.

As for the major powers, they had no immediate need to confront Ye Wen. While the Shushan Sect’s demonstrated strength was not to be underestimated, threatening the established dominance of these great sects wasn't something achievable merely by showing off a little skill or making a few splashes.

Otherwise, how could the Tianshan Sect, possessing a master like Li Xuan and possessing considerable strength itself, still fail to surpass the Chan Sect and the Tiandao Sect as the foremost power in the martial world? It was because a sect's true strength depended on many objective factors beyond just having top-tier experts.

Therefore, in their eyes, the Shushan Sect was currently nothing more than an upstart with some potential. “To attain the status of a first-rate sect, Ye Wen still needs at least another decade of effort!” In a place unseen by others, Li Xuan uttered this decisive judgment.

Only those from his Tianshan Sect were present to hear it, so the evaluation remained unheard by outsiders. The members of the Tianshan Sect offered no rebuttal to this assessment, for Li Xuan was the greatest contributor to their current standing, virtually a deity among Tianshan disciples.

His authority within the sect meant his words were beyond question. “If the Sect Master says ten years, then it is ten years!” This was the prevailing sentiment among the majority of Tianshan disciples.

On the second day, Ye Wen and his disciples sat quietly below, observing—making no sound, causing no trouble, much like the numerous second and third-rate sects present merely to watch the spectacle. By the third day, the multitude of second and third-rate sects finally became the main focus of the event, though the Shushan Sect still had no part to play in it.

The Shushan Sect had only just risen and had no established history with these factions, thus offering no grievances to settle. The only group holding a grudge, the Lei Jian Sect, had already been dismantled and their banner stripped away on the first day.

These people knew they couldn't afford to offend the Shushan Sect and certainly wouldn't invite trouble for themselves at this juncture. As for the Tianle Gang?

They had larger objectives and weren't looking to fall out with Shushan immediately. Watching True Man Tianyi and Abbot Huixin take turns mediating the disputes among the various sects below, Ye Wen finally understood that these two elders had this secondary duty every time they attended the tournament.

These second and third-rate sects comprised the largest demographic in the current Jianghu. Allowing Bei Chengxuan, a disciple, to handle the mediation would likely seem dismissive, potentially sparking greater conflict.

Thus, the two elders would make an appearance as necessary, leveraging their superior seniority and lifetime of accumulated prestige to resolve these quarrels. The recipients of this mediation didn't feel wronged by the arrangement either.

Witnessing this, Ye Wen sighed, “The formidable status of the Chan Sect and Tiandao Sect is deeply ingrained in the minds of everyone in the martial world; not a single person feels it inappropriate to be managed by them! No wonder the Tianshan Sect struggles to surpass them; such profound prestige cannot be shifted in just twenty years!” Turning his gaze toward the Tianshan Sect, Li Xuan maintained his posture, his left hand propping up his cheek while his right toyed with a wine goblet.

This pose, radiating an arrogant authority, clearly belonged to someone exceedingly proud and likely uninterested in such mediation matters. This Li Xuan, Ye Wen concluded, was clearly a man who valued sheer power above all else.

Only such individuals could climb so high and so far on the path of martial arts. Ye Wen was uncertain if he could ever reach that level, as his own mind was complex and impure; his yearning for strength was far less absolute than that of the true martial artists in this world.

“If it weren't for this treasure… perhaps I would still be nothing more than a country boy stuck in Shushan County!” Lost in thought, he rubbed the unremarkable ring on his finger a few times. Just then, Ye Wen noticed Li Xuan looking his way.

Their gazes met across the distance, and Li Xuan raised his wine cup, tilting it toward Ye Wen as if offering a greeting. Though uncertain, Ye Wen maintained propriety.

He picked up the tea cup before him and mirrored the gesture toward Li Xuan, taking a small sip while keeping his eyes fixed on him. Only when Li Xuan also took a drink did Ye Wen confirm he was indeed being acknowledged.

“Why would Li Xuan greet me? He doesn’t seem like the type to be polite!” Ye Wen wondered internally, audibly cursing in his mind: “You should be an arrogant overlord who views everyone as ants!

Damn it! Don't ruin your persona!” Ye Wen felt that neither he nor the Shushan Sect should warrant the interest of such a master.

Judging by the Tianshan Sect Leader’s demeanor these past few days, the only one likely to pique his interest would be a powerhouse like Nine Sword Immortal. Li Xuan’s dialogue should have been: “Fight!” Or perhaps: “I alone defy the heavens!

I am the strongest in this world!” Yet, that small gesture shattered Ye Wen’s preconceived image. Of course, he dared not voice these thoughts; if Li Xuan happened to be petty, it would be asking for trouble.

Admittedly, due to Ling Xuzi, the Shushan Sect and the Tianshan Sect were likely destined for a confrontation, but it shouldn't be now. “For now, accumulating strength is what matters!” He stealthily glanced at Xu Xian sitting beside him.

His junior brother hadn't spoken much since avenging Huang Rongrong that day, yet his expression wasn't one of distress; rather, it held a look of triumphant satisfaction. “Did this kid actually go through with it with Rongrong?” Now that Xu Xian had mastered the Supreme Pure Yang Art, his True Yang Qi was condensed and stable, free from the former prohibitions.

Furthermore, unlike the Unrivaled Pure Yang Art, the Supreme Pure Yang Art had no such restrictions, meaning he no longer needed to rigorously guard his virginity since switching to this technique. Considering his current demeanor, Ye Wen’s suspicion was understandable.

He turned to look at Huang Rongrong, who had recovered significantly but sat silently and obediently. “Rongrong has been a bit unusual these past few days too… could it really be?” His gossip-loving spirit flared intensely, causing him to momentarily forget Li Xuan.

He secretly used the secret transmission technique to call out to his junior brother, asking strangely, “Junior Brother, what’s been going on with you these few days?” Xu Xian turned, saw Ye Wen’s expression unchanged as if still engrossed in the arena fight, and replied via secret transmission: “Nothing much! Senior Brother, what makes you ask?” Ye Wen scratched his head, truly unable to formulate how to inquire about such matters in this world.

In a moment of exasperation, he hit upon how to phrase it: “Junior Brother… why did you claim that day that Rongrong was your fiancée?” Only then did Xu Xian realize why Ye Wen was speaking to him privately. This was indeed a matter not suited for public discussion, so he answered, “If I hadn't, I couldn't have avenged Rongrong!” Ye Wen was unsatisfied with the answer: “You publicly declared in front of all the heroes that Rongrong was your betrothed wife.

This essentially confirms your marriage. If you don't find a way to resolve this, do you truly intend to marry Rongrong?” He expected Xu Xian to devise a clever solution, but instead, his junior brother looked puzzled and simply asked, “Why would I need a solution?

Rongrong is excellent! Marrying her would also give my mother, who constantly nags me, some peace!” Ye Wen realized then that Xu Xian genuinely didn't care about the matter of marriage; for this Young Master Xu, marrying anyone was the same.

Just as he was about to speak, Xu Xian added, “Rather than marrying some noble daughter whose temperament I don't even know, I’d prefer to marry a woman I find agreeable!” Xu Xian had been pestered by his family (in fact, his mother was also utterly annoyed by the endless parade of matchmakers) and intensely disliked the idea of marrying a stranger. Having been controlled for over twenty years, he was finally free and wanted to do as he pleased, hence this decision.

Ye Wen listened, unsure how to judge whether this was right or wrong. He turned back to observe Huang Rongrong, noting her downcast eyes and the subtle sorrow etched around her brows.

She had lost her earlier boisterous energy, speaking listlessly, drifting through the days in a daze. Ning Ruxue had tried to counsel her, but only received the reply: “Sister, don't worry, I’m fine!” and nothing more followed.

“Do you like Rongrong?” Hearing Ye Wen ask this, Xu Xian thought for a moment before giving an answer that nearly made Ye Wen spit blood: “I don't dislike her, and her seemingly inexhaustible energy makes me feel happy when I see it!” Ye Wen stopped questioning. It seemed Xu Xian was only mildly fond of Rongrong, and pressing further might lead the conversation into even more awkward territory.

He decided to let them resolve their own affairs. Huang Rongrong liked Xu Xian, and Xu Xian didn't object to Huang Rongrong—at least that was a foundation!

“Alas! The world is like this; one makes do, and making do becomes the way of life…” With that self-consolation, Ye Wen refocused his attention, only then noticing a very familiar figure standing on the stage.

“When did Guo Nu get up there?” His low murmur was overheard by Ning Ruxue, who rolled her eyes slightly and casually remarked, “While you and Junior Brother were suspiciously whispering to each other!” Ye Wen flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't realized that his secret communication with Xu Xian, seemingly unnoticed, had been entirely transparent to Ning Ruxue beside him.

He laughed awkwardly to cover the lapse, then asked nonchalantly, “Have they fought yet?” “They have. He knocked a person from the Wuding Sect off the stage!” Ning Ruxue knew Ye Wen had been distracted and clueless about what was happening onstage, so she explained, “It seems the Wuding Sect offended the Tianle Gang at the last tournament; the Tianle Gang is settling the score this time!” Ye Wen knew the Tianle Gang had lost their fixed seats and suffered great humiliation at the previous event, but no one had given him the details.

Guo Nu was extremely secretive about that incident, offering only fragmented words. So Ye Wen never knew exactly what happened, only now learning that the Wuding Sect was somehow involved.

However, seeing how easily the Wuding Sect was dispatched by Guo Nu, Ye Wen couldn't fathom what they had done to survive until this tournament. Baffled, he finally gathered a small piece of intelligence from snippets of conversation among the surrounding sects.

It turned out that during the last tournament, when the Tianle Gang was humiliated and several of their top experts injured, the Wuding Sect saw an opportunity, thinking the Tianle Gang was on the verge of collapse. How could they pass up such easy pickings?

They rushed forward to heap further insults upon the Tianle Gang, taking advantage of their inability to use their full strength to land several humiliating blows and steal the spotlight. Afterward, the Tianle Gang didn't seek immediate revenge for two reasons: first, the Wuding Sect was in a remote region, and upon seeing that the Tianle Gang hadn't disintegrated after the tournament, they immediately retreated to their home base and refused to emerge.

Second, the Gang Leader Lin Hai publicly declared: “Where the humiliation was inflicted, that is where it shall be reclaimed!” This was the only reason the Wuding Sect survived until now; otherwise, given their mediocre strength, the Tianle Gang would have wiped them out countless times over. Subsequently, the Wuding Sect sent several more men onto the stage, but Guo Nu met them all, defeating each one with his Vajra Arhat Fist, leaving the Wuding disciples in utter misery.

Even when their Sect Master took the stage, he couldn't penetrate Guo Nu’s Golden Bell Shield defense, allowing Guo Nu to seize an opportunity and blast him out with a single punch, forfeiting the Wuding Sect’s banner. The Tianle Gang then burned the Wuding Sect’s flag in front of all the heroes, making a public declaration: As long as the Tianle Gang exists, the Wuding Sect shall not exist!

The two sects could not coexist in the world! No one objected to the Tianle Gang’s actions; at most, they mocked the Wuding Sect for inviting disaster by seeking undue attention—they brought this fate upon themselves.

True Man Tianyi and Abbot Huixin did consider mediation, but as soon as Guo Nu stepped onto the stage, Lin Hai immediately stated: “No one is to mediate this match! Between the Tianle Gang and the Wuding Sect, it is either one of us or none of us!” At this, True Man Tianyi didn't seek further involvement, merely offering Abbot Huixin a wry smile and saying, “Well, next, we’ll have to see your Chan Sect disciples sweep the field!” He had already preemptively judged that Guo Nu alone could destroy the Wuding Sect.

Abbot Huixin showed no trace of complacency. Hearing this, he simply chanted a Buddhist phrase without responding.

With the Wuding Sect eliminated, the crowd had more to discuss, noting that this tournament was indeed lively, with two sects already erased from the Jianghu before the main events had even begun. Including the fights among the lone wanderers in recent days, casualties were significant.

After all, this martial world ultimately spoke with swords, and when theory failed, death served as the ultimate resolution. Furthermore, not all grudges could be mediated; mortal enmities resulted in bloody, chaotic slaughter.

However, once a resolution was reached during the martial arts tournament, regardless of whether the outcome was satisfactory, no further private retaliation could be sought. Just as the Shushan Sect annihilated the Lei Jian Sect—that matter was concluded, and they couldn't seek trouble with any remaining Lei Jian members who fled or didn't attend the tournament.

The same applied to avenging lone travelers: if resolved at the tournament, the matter ended there, witnessed by all heroes. If one failed to kill the opponent on stage but chose to stand down, then later reneged and hunted them down, they would face the scorn of the entire Jianghu, and their reputation would plummet.

After the Wuding Sect incident concluded, Guo Nu did not leave the stage. Ye Wen had anticipated this, knowing that the Tianle Gang destroying the Wuding Sect was merely the prelude; the true main event was just beginning.

“I call upon the leader of the Azure Dragon Society to step forward and respond! The ongoing disputes between my Tianle Gang and the Azure Dragon Society shall be settled today as well!” Guo Nu directly targeted the Azure Dragon Society, one of the foremost first-rate sects in the Jianghu.

The Tianle Gang hadn't planned to make a move so early, but to avoid future complications, resolving this matter sooner settled a major concern. “While Shushan’s Ye Wen wishes to keep a low profile, let us settle our affairs first!” Guo Nu had discerned Ye Wen’s intention, understanding that the Shushan Sect had gained too much attention this time and needed to retreat momentarily.

He suggested his Gang Leader use this window while their own fighting strength was at its peak to accomplish their major goal. Lin Hai pondered, finding Guo Nu’s suggestion reasonable, and made his decision: “Very well!” Guo Nu knew his Gang Leader would not enter the fray immediately; this was akin to two armies meeting, where the commander never goes first, sending subordinates out as vanguards.

Eliminating the Wuding Sect had indeed been, as Ye Wen suspected, just an excuse for Guo Nu to take the stage and simultaneously restore the honor lost previously. The Azure Dragon Society was not surprised to be challenged by the Tianle Gang.

A confrontation between the two sects at this gathering was inevitable; it was only a matter of time. Dongfang Yi seemed to ignore Guo Nu’s words, merely glancing behind him.

Dongfang Wu Ji, Dongfang Yi’s eldest son, spoke up: “I shall handle this bout!” Nodding his consent, Dongfang Wu Ji appeared unsurprised, as if expecting this. He nodded again, rose from his seat, and leaped onto the stage.

Although the stage was not close to their seats, for cultivators of their level, leaping across was not difficult. Dongfang Wu Ji flipped and turned in mid-air before landing gracefully on the platform with his hands behind his back.

Ye Wen observed clearly from below. Dongfang Wu Ji appeared to be in his early thirties.

While his movement technique just now was impressive, it was not extraordinary enough to catch Ye Wen’s serious attention. What piqued his curiosity was how Dongfang Wu Ji intended to break through Guo Nu’s Golden Bell Shield.

Since he carried no weapon, it seemed he intended to settle the score with bare-hand martial arts against Guo Nu. “So, he plans to rely on internal force to contend with Guo Nu’s defense?” Common sense suggested that protective skills like the Golden Bell Shield could indeed deflect various forms of inner force.

However, if the opposing force was sufficiently strong, it could be more effective than blades and swords, capable of completely shattering the opponent’s protective True Qi, unlike a blade which might cut an opening but leave the overall structure largely intact. While he was pondering this, he suddenly heard a sound like a dragon’s roar echoing from the arena—clear and loud enough to demand attention, even slightly impacting the minds of the spectators.