That woman was sitting in the corner, pointing fingers at the people from the Shu Mountain Sect, and before long, she was noticed by them. But she seemed utterly oblivious, continuing her monologue without pause.

When she was done speaking, she rose, and at once, several tables of sturdy, well-built men stood up, forming an escort around the woman as they departed.

Seeing the person leave, Ye Wen turned to Xu Xian and asked, "That woman probably came specifically to see you!"

Xu Xian managed an awkward smile, merely lowering his head to eat. After all the commotion earlier, everyone at this table had finished eating except for him. Only now did he find a moment to shovel rice into his mouth.

Huang Rongrong sat quietly beside him, dutifully helping him to dishes. Unbeknownst to anyone, she had secretly maneuvered some of the best dishes toward her side, guarding them protectively. When Xu Xian was ready to eat, he wouldn't have to worry about having nothing good to accompany his rice. Ye Wen could only sigh internally at Huang Rongrong’s actions: "As expected of someone raised by thieves; this skill is truly practiced!" She had managed to stash away such a pile of food without me even noticing when she did it!"

However, he had overheard a bit of what that woman had said earlier. She actually looked down on Xu Xian, yet lavished praise upon her own young disciple, Guo Jing. Guo Jing was indeed handsome, and sitting quietly now, one couldn't discern his character, though he exuded a certain air of calm stability.

Coupled with the heavy sword conspicuously strapped to his back, it wasn't strange that he drew attention.

"But those reasons aren't enough, are they? What about the aura? Where is Xu Xian's aura?" Xu Xian's aura, which had always been overwhelmingly successful, especially devastatingly potent against women, was completely absent here. Ye Wen could only mutter, "What a strange woman!" He decided to let it go.

He wouldn't dwell on it, but others were about to have their minds burdened.

The next day, as soon as Xu Xian was summoned to the palace, he bowed his head to listen as the eunuch read out the appointments for this batch of newly qualified Jinshi scholars. To his surprise, Xu Xian was assigned a position with genuine authority.

"Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Personnel! That's quite a significant post!" Xu Xian was greatly astonished that the Emperor valued him so highly. He stole a glance to the side and saw that the assembled court officials were equally surprised by the Emperor's grand gesture. Those who possessed keen instincts all felt that this young man's future was limitless; gaining a substantive position in one of the Six Ministries right at the start of his official career was an experience few in this dynasty had ever encountered.

Though a Yuanwailang was only the deputy head of a subordinate department within the Ministry of Personnel, they still managed a considerable number of people, and their authority was not small. Moreover, the Chief Official of the Ministry of Personnel—responsible for assessing, promoting, and demoting officials—held a highly lucrative position. That vacant Yuanwailang post was eyed by countless people, yet it was now taken by the top scholar.

But that wasn't all. The Emperor waited cheerfully until the eunuch finished reading the rewards, then turned to Xu Xian and asked, "Has Your Excellency married or taken concubines?" His question focused only on marriage and taking wives, giving little heed to concubines. In his view, Xu Xian, hailing from a respectable background, must have already taken several concubines even if he hadn't managed to marry.

He never imagined that not only had Xu Xian not married, but he hadn't even taken a single concubine. Thus, when Xu Xian replied, "No, Your subject is neither married nor has taken concubines!"

"Oh?" Wei Hong was somewhat surprised, but even more pleased. He intended to offer his older sister, the current Grand Princess, in marriage to Xu Xian. Naturally, he had to first ascertain whether Xu Xian was married or had concubines. If there were too many concubines, he might have to ask Xu Xian to dismiss some so the Grand Princess could spend more time with her husband after marrying. It wasn't like they would demand all concubines be dismissed—the royal family wasn't that tyrannical—nor did they forbid a consort from having concubines. In fact, once the Princess married, the maids who accompanied her were practically sent over as concubines.

If he were already married, it would be more troublesome. Forcing a minister to divorce his wife would not earn him a good reputation. Having only recently ascended the throne and having few great achievements to his name, accumulating a negative reputation now could make it exceedingly difficult to turn things around later.

Hearing that Xu Xian had neither wife nor concubines saved him considerable trouble. Wei Hong was secretly delighted and immediately instructed the young eunuch, Xiao Chunzi, to read the next imperial decree.

This decree was not revealed upfront; only after receiving the Emperor's nod did the eunuch turn to receive a scroll from a young attendant waiting behind him before reading it aloud.

The contents were long and verbose, causing listeners to grow drowsy, but the subject matter stunned the assembled civil and military officials.

"A marriage decree?"

Xu Xian, who had been slightly listless, snapped to attention upon clearly understanding the contents of the imperial edict, thinking inwardly, "Trouble!" Yesterday, dodging the powerful officials trying to claim him as a son-in-law was headache enough, and he had even offended a Marquis who had nearly threatened to make things difficult for him later. At the time, he hadn't cared, as he had no interest in an official career. Who knew that just as he dealt with those people, the Emperor would now issue an edict commanding a marriage, offering the Grand Princess to him.

"Good heavens, doesn't that make me the Emperor's brother-in-law?" Cold sweat beaded on Xu Xian's forehead. That position would be difficult to maintain, but more critically, if he accepted, abandoning his pursuit of an official career would become utterly impossible. State affairs would become family matters, and there would be nowhere to hide.

After the eunuch finished reading the edict, he stepped down from the dais and presented it to Xu Xian: "Official Xu, please receive the decree!" The Shang Dynasty did not have those messy kneeling rituals; the assembled officials merely performed a deep bow before the Emperor. Kneeling was unnecessary unless one was a criminal. Receiving an edict certainly didn't require it.

Xu Xian bowed low, not daring to look up, and managed to say, "Your subject... dares not receive the decree!"

This statement shocked the assembled officials, and even the Emperor was momentarily stunned. Fortunately, Wei Hong held Xu Xian in high regard and was not inherently short-tempered. Seeing Xu Xian hesitate to accept the decree, he inquired, "Why dare you not receive it? Does Official Xu face some difficulty?" Xu Xian replied, "Your humble subject has already made an engagement with a woman; as soon as I return to my hometown, the marriage will take place. I absolutely dare not accept this imperial affinity!"

Wei Hong heard this and smiled faintly. "What of that? Just break off that engagement and be done with it! Once this decree spreads throughout the world, I imagine that family won't dare make trouble for you."

Xu Xian said, "The woman's entire family has already passed away; only she remains!"

"This..."

Hearing this, Wei Hong found the situation a bit tricky. The woman's family was entirely gone, and she was relying on Xu Xian to marry her. If the engagement were broken now, what would become of that young lady? Wouldn't that be harming her?

Wei Hong genuinely aimed to be a wise ruler, so he labored over this matter that would be a simple issue for many emperors.

As he pondered the difficulty, a civil official suddenly stepped forward, pointing at Xu Xian and shouting, "How audacious! The Emperor's bestowed marriage is a tremendous favor! Xu Xian, you repeatedly refuse; do you hold the Emperor in contempt?" He then bowed deferentially to Wei Hong and added flatteringly, "Your Majesty, this subject believes that one who disrespects Your Majesty in such a manner should be stripped of his official status and barred from employment forever!"

Xu Xian was just wondering which dog had started barking senselessly while flattering the Emperor, but when he heard the last two sentences, his eyes lit up. He fell silent, waiting calmly, thinking to himself, "If I can use this pretext to resign my post, that would be a good outcome!"

Unexpectedly, Wei Hong held high expectations for him and would not dismiss his future right-hand man over such a minor issue. With a wave of his hand, he chastised the official, causing many to snicker quietly: "He totally misjudged the situation! It seems the Emperor holds Xu Xian in high favor; perhaps it’s best not to cause trouble for this young man for the time being, lest we displease His Majesty!"

With this thought in mind, no one else stepped forward to reprimand Xu Xian. Several officials who had brought memorials intending to impeach Xu Xian—accusing him of mingling with ruffians and colluding with bandits—secretly tucked them away, remaining silent. A few days passed. News about the Martial Arts Assembly had gradually begun to circulate. These ministers all had means, and investigating Xu Xian's affairs was not difficult.

Moreover, the massive disturbances involving the Shu Mountain Sect and the Huang Family Fortress could not be entirely hidden; one only needed to inquire to learn the truth. If communication channels hadn't been so arduous, slowing the transmission of news, it might have already spread across the world.

"What? Why is no one stepping forward to accuse me? Come on, spray me! Dismiss me! If you don't attack me, how can I resign?"

Xu Xian glanced left and right, finding that everyone was displaying a remarkably cordial smile toward him. Even those who had previously shown a hint of disgust now adopted placating expressions. As the Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Xian was precisely the official responsible for assessing everyone's merits; who would dare offend him?

"Damn it! You grass-bending wall-sitters are too ineffective!"

Having spent much time with Ye Wen, he had picked up many strange exclamations. He cursed inwardly, unaware that above him, Wei Hong was also deep in thought. Finally, seeing that Xu Xian was determined not to accept the imperial marriage decree, he reluctantly withdrew it and ordered a young eunuch to take it away and burn it.

"Your Excellency Xu's devotion to trust and commitment deeply impresses Us!"

Ordinarily, the ministers would assume the Emperor was angry, but now, no one dared to voice dissent. Many even chimed in: "Official Xu's moral character is noble, his literary talent extraordinary... The Emperor's choice of Official Xu as the top scholar truly demonstrates discerning judgment..."

Seeing the ministers agree, Wei Hong was pleased and immediately announced a grand banquet for them, also using the occasion to allow these newcomers to the court to familiarize themselves with the established officials.

Everyone was eager for the opportunity—it was a prime chance to expand their social circles. Only Xu Xian inwardly lamented, "Another feast? I only ate half a steamed bun when I left home!"

While he was so hungry his vision was starting to blur, Ye Wen, on the other hand, was eating with great satisfaction, especially since the host was that disciple from the Heavenly Dao Sect who had looked down on him slightly when they first entered the city.

"I am Zheng Song of the Heavenly Dao Sect. I apologize for any offense I caused a few days ago; I hope Sect Leader Ye does not take it to heart!" Saying this, he handed over the small token he had confiscated that day, then continued, "I forgot to return this to Sect Leader Ye the other day; I specifically brought it for you today. Please accept it, Sect Leader Ye!"

Holding that small token, Zheng Song felt it weigh a thousand pounds, making his arm ache as if he could barely lift it. After inquiring from friends over the past few days about the Martial Arts Assembly, he finally realized what a formidable figure he had carelessly offended.

Upon further investigation, he learned that the Shu Mountain Sect's prestige now rivaled that of the great sects of the martial world, and their Sect Leader, Ye Wen, the esteemed "Gentleman Sword," had even been praised personally by his own Sect Master. Indeed, True Man Tianyi had spoken of Ye Wen's merits all along his journey, effectively running a great advertisement for him.

Now, the reputation of the "Gentleman Sword" was gradually spreading as people dispersed after the Martial Arts Assembly. While it hadn't yet echoed throughout the entire realm, it was only a matter of time.

Releasing sword energy barehanded, using sword energy to carve and inscribe a monument, casually destroying the Thunder Sword Gate, and fighting a major battle against Lin Hai, the leader of the Tianle Gang, severely wounding him—though Lin Hai ultimately chose his own death, the preceding battle could not be denied, and ordinary martial artists couldn't discern the nuances anyway.

Coupled with the displays of skill by Xu Xian and Ning Ruxue from the Shu Mountain Sect, the banner of the Shu Mountain Sect had truly been established in the Jianghu.

At the next Martial Arts Assembly, the invitation list would surely include the Shu Mountain Sect; receiving an invitation meant the sect's status was acknowledged by their peers in the martial world.

Furthermore, various secondary rumors mentioned that Ye Wen had exchanged a blow with the Nine Sword Immortal using the divine technique of controlling swords with intent—this single rumor caused astonishment among many, surpassing even the feat of Ye Wen severely wounding Lin Hai.

As for the reappearance of the Demonic Cult, it was largely ignored by some, intentionally or otherwise, and did not receive much attention. Everyone primarily remembered that a sect named Shu Mountain had emerged at this Assembly, bringing forth several young masters, chief among them the Shu Mountain Sect Leader, Ye Wen.

When Ye Wen heard these discussions, he guessed that the major sects had collectively promoted him while suppressing information about the Demonic Cult. Before everything was prepared, avoiding panic was the correct approach. However, it required a suitable focus for the propaganda; Ye Wen’s rise was opportune.

Regardless of the specifics, both Ye Wen and the Shu Mountain Sect gained substantial benefits. For an ordinary sect, achieving renown in the martial world typically wasn't possible through a single startling performance at a Martial Arts Assembly; it required years of accumulated effort to slowly elevate their prestige.

But the Shu Mountain Sect, due to unforeseen circumstances, instantly reached a level that others might take years to achieve, which was undoubtedly a great advantage for the sect's future development.

"That True Man Tianyi helped so much; his disciple merely showed a slight disdain for me, which is hardly worth mentioning!" Seeing Zheng Song looking nervous, with beads of sweat faintly visible on his forehead, Ye Wen felt it inappropriate to make things difficult for him. He smiled, took the small token, and casually said, "A small matter; let's not mention it again!"

Only then did Zheng Song breathe a sigh of relief. He then raised the cup brimming with wine before him and toasted Ye Wen: "I have been serving in the capital for some time. If Sect Leader Ye needs anything, please do not hesitate to ask! I am acquainted with the men of the Five City Military Command; you only need to find any low-ranking officer, and they will lead you to me!" Ye Wen was not polite, draining the cup in one gulp, exchanging pleasantries with Zheng Song, and finally watching him take his leave.

Zheng Song was not foolish. He knew that the things he had done with his cleverness back then, even if Ye Wen didn't dwell on them, remained a small obstacle. Although he and Ye Wen had the good fortune to meet, their relationship would likely end there. It would be extremely difficult to advance further, so he departed to attend to his own duties.

Ye Wen guessed his thoughts and did not stop him. After exchanging farewells, he sat back down and addressed Hua Yi, who stood quietly behind him: "You don't need to wait on me constantly."

"This is what a servant girl should do!" Ye Wen saw that no matter what he said, Hua Yi considered herself merely a maid, so he stopped bothering her. He then asked someone else nearby, "Let me ask you, do you still wish to study martial arts?"

Hua Yi blinked, unsure what Ye Wen meant by asking, so she simply remained silent.

Seeing her failure to answer, Ye Wen continued, "Your meridians have improved considerably; there’s no problem restarting internal cultivation now. Have you considered regaining your skills? Moreover, my Shu Mountain Sect is a martial sect located on a mountain; it’s inconvenient if you don't understand martial arts."

Hua Yi considered this, then said softly, "Since I was young, I only practiced the Profound Yin Qi. I don't know what to practice now. Master, would you be willing to teach me?" Ye Wen toyed with the wine cup in his hand: "If you wish to learn, I will first teach you a set of our sect's internal cultivation methods. We'll wait until you recover some of your power before moving on to other things!"

Although Hua Yi's power was ruined, her meridians remained, and they had become accustomed to the flow of relatively strong internal energy. If she were to practice internal cultivation now, it would be twice the result with half the effort.

Furthermore, since all of Hua Yi’s pure Yin energy had been stripped away, practicing any internal cultivation method would not conflict with what she originally practiced—meaning she could learn anything.

It was like a pure white sheet of paper, ready to be painted upon arbitrarily. Ye Wen planned to have her first learn the Complete Truth Heart Method, restoring most of her power so she would have some means of self-protection. Otherwise, in her current state, he dared not let her walk alone on the street, fearing she might be snatched away.

As for external martial arts, Ye Wen had always found Hua Yi’s external skills mismatched with her cultivation level. Now he understood why. Shen Yuqing had deliberately taught her this way, never intending to properly train a disciple. The silk ribbons were likely taught with the intention of having her learn dance; the movement techniques were truly for saving her life.

Beyond that, Hua Yi knew nothing else. If Hua Yi hadn't been raised by Shen Yuqing from childhood, she might have suspected her master's true motives long ago.

"If you want to practice martial arts, everything must start from scratch! While you have a foundation in internal energy, as for external skills..." Ye Wen scrutinized her from head to toe, wondering if Hua Yi's delicate appearance could endure such hardship.

As he spoke, Ning Ruxue happened to walk out and said to Ye Wen, "I will take charge of teaching Miss Hua's martial arts..."

Ye Wen didn't mind; teaching was teaching, regardless of who started. Although he had already decided which martial art he would teach Hua Yi—a sword technique he had summoned before descending the mountain, which he had set aside because no one on the mountain was suitable to practice it—it seemed perfect for Hua Yi now, so he decided to use that secret manual.

"Back then, I thought it was useless stuff, but it seems it isn't entirely so!"

He stroked his chin, musing that time passed too quickly, and the day he could summon another secret manual seemed to be approaching. He wondered what he might receive this time.

However, after much thought, what he needed most right now was cultivation time. Secret manuals were not an urgent necessity unless one suddenly yielded an overwhelmingly powerful manual. Otherwise, they offered little real benefit to his current state.

"Ring, oh Ring, please grant me something like the Primordial Heaven and Earth Manual!"

Just as he was thinking this, Xu Xian stumbled back in, saw Ye Wen sitting in the main hall, and asked, "Senior Brother, were you waiting for me here?"

Ye Wen paused, then said, "Yes, Junior Brother, why are you only returning now? Look, the entire table of food has gone cold!"