Because he had made such a large stir, the school's grand opening day would surely attract many onlookers, perhaps even leaders and influential figures from miles around to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony—a chance to make a name for himself on a national stage; CCTV had already confirmed they would be filming a special segment.

"That’s fine, maybe then I can finally see what that most mysterious department truly looks like!..." "The most mysterious department?..." Huayi removed her light-filtering glasses, then peeled an apple, finally cutting it into neat slices before offering one to Ye Wen with a toothpick.

Ning Ruxue sat nearby, and seeing Ye Wen open his mouth, leaning back expectantly for Huayi to feed him, couldn't help but let out a small huff.

"Hmm? Does my junior sister want some too?"

..., Huayi smiled, then pressed further, "What exactly is that most mysterious department? Could it be that one you mentioned before, the one that handles special incidents?..." Ye Wen waved his hand dismissively: "How could I attract those folks so quickly? The most mysterious department I speak of is called the 'Relevant Department.' It’s mentioned daily on the news and written about in the papers, but no one knows exactly which department it is, hence it’s called the most mysterious department!"... Both women were momentarily stunned by this unexpected answer. Not far away, Tommy was still energetically practicing his palm forms. The Mian Palm Ye Wen taught him was now being executed with such vigor that the word "Mian" (soft/cottony) seemed entirely absent. Ye Wen even suspected he might have taught him the Iron Palm instead.

"Tommy!..." "Yes, Master!..." After so many years, Tommy had finally managed to master conversational Chinese. Although his speech was heavily accented, at least his words were generally intelligible now.

"Strike again, but pull back your Dou Qi (Battle Aura). Get the routine down first!..." When Tommy struck just now, his entire body was engulfed in surging Dou Qi, making him look like a white ball of fire. Moreover, Tommy’s Dou Qi was growing stronger; it was nearing the peak of the White Dou Qi level, and it was uncertain when he might suddenly break through to achieve Yellow Dou Qi.

Once that happened, Tommy's strength would become truly usable. Even if he encountered junior disciples from the Cultivation World, he wouldn't be beaten without any power to fight back.

From some of Zhang Hengguang's earlier remarks, Ye Wen understood that junior cultivation disciples rarely possessed powerful spells; they relied mostly on magical artifacts for defense and attack. If Tommy could evade the artifacts and get close, he could likely subdue most disciples with just a few solid punches.

Tommy's rapid progress filled Ye Wen with confidence regarding his own future and that of the Shushan Sect. He didn't need many—just cultivating another ten disciples at Tommy’s current level, and they would begin to form a real force. Combined with his own considerable strength, securing a foothold in the Cultivation World should not be impossible.

Furthermore, his own power continued to advance steadily. The Zhen Qi from the Mei Xia Dang was growing denser, and he had already refined the majority of that Crimson Sunset-like Tianjing (Heavenly Crystal). He figured that in about another year, he could begin cultivating the third level of the Hun Tian Bao Jian.

As for the third level's Earth Kunlun Tianjing, he wasn't in a rush to summon it. He could summon it precisely according to the schedule dictated by his cultivation progress—that was the benefit of having a controllable primary cultivation method.

It was the random opportunities he couldn't afford to miss. If he could acquire some truly useful secret manuals, it would provide cultivation methods for his junior sister and Huayi, which would be far better than one focusing solely on tempering her Green Lotus Sword and the other still pondering how to adapt her own technique.

"Perhaps you could try altering your Aura Field again!..." The Demonic Power Field was an immensely potent ability. If Huayi could continue to strengthen her field, ordinary people wouldn't even be able to approach her. Paired with her "Nebula Chain" artifacts, she wouldn't be helpless even against formidable enemies.

The difficulty lay in the fact that the Demonic Power Field was profoundly esoteric, and the Heavenly Demon Art itself was an essence drawn from the Hundred Schools of Thought, incorporating various obscure fields. Huayi had no innate mastery of these subjects. Her ability to reach her current stage with the Heavenly Demon Art was entirely due to the crimson fruit essence within Ye Wen forcibly propelling her forward, not through her own comprehension or dedicated practice.

This meant she could, at best, only utilize seven or eight tenths of its intricacies. To truly unleash its full combat potential, she would need to relearn those ancillary studies and restart her Heavenly Demon Art cultivation from the basic to the advanced stages, achieving a process of refinement.

Ye Wen had offered this advice, and Huayi had been contemplating for days whether to follow his suggestion or forge a path entirely her own.

Following Ye Wen’s method meant Huayi would stagnate for a considerable time, but once she completed this trial-by-fire reconstruction, her future path would be much smoother. As for the second option, if she could overcome this threshold, she would forge a Dao entirely unique to herself, and the future remained unpredictable.

These matters weren't urgent, and within a few days, the designated day for the school's opening and plaque unveiling arrived. Countless officials and martial arts masters from all over the country converged on the Shushan Jiawu School, nestled in the mountains, alongside many curious spectators from nearby areas.

On that day, the sheer volume of vehicles parked created an enormous lot. The Shushan Wenwu School’s specially constructed parking area couldn't accommodate them all, forcing some cars to park outside the gates. Fortunately, there was a vast expanse of open, undeveloped land nearby, so space wasn't an issue.

Various officials chatted convivially with Ye Wen, occasionally weaving in subtle suggestions: "Invest in some other industries!" etc. Ye Wen parried these remarks with smiles, neither agreeing nor refusing, leading the group to inwardly curse the sly fox.

Then, hordes of reporters armed with cameras and video recorders descended, their equipment constantly capturing Ye Wen and other key figures.

The ceremony followed—ribbon-cutting, then tours. By the end of the circuit, everyone was lavish in their praise. The hardware of the Shushan Wenwu School was undeniably world-class. Attending school here wasn't just education; it was practically a luxurious retreat.

Some who secretly disapproved of Ye Wen grumbled, "Martial arts is a form of spiritual training. With such excellent surroundings, students will only become focused on pleasure, not true discipline."

This comment was clearly intended for Ye Wen, as the speaker hadn't lowered his voice at all, deliberately speaking loudly before feigning nonchalance and looking toward Ye Wen ahead.

The local officials walking alongside Ye Wen exchanged glances, then quietly inquired, "Who is this man?..." "Don't recognize him. Doesn't seem to be from around here. Perhaps one of Ye Wen’s invited guests?..." "If he’s a guest, why is he so insolent? I think he’s here to cause trouble!..." One of them smiled: "This man seems to be a relatively well-known martial arts master in our country. When Ye Wen first announced he was opening a school, this fellow claimed it was all hype in the newspapers. He's probably here deliberately looking for a fight!"... As they whispered, Ye Wen recalled who the man was. While this wasn't the Mian Palm master named Liu, this person belonged to the same faction—one of those who disliked him. He had often spouted arrogant words in the media. Ye Wen hadn't expected this fellow to show up uninvited.

Ye Wen couldn't be bothered dealing with such a petty individual at the moment. He continued leading the group on the tour. After completing the circuit, they arrived at the school's largest training ground, the main martial arts field situated behind the academic buildings, which also served as the school’s main square. Adjacent to the field were two standard soccer pitches, and on the other side, a basketball arena and a swimming complex. The completeness of the facilities left everyone astonished.

The teachers who had been recruited were mostly returning from their hometowns where they had been collecting their belongings. This was the first time they were seeing the actual place where they would be working.

"This is more luxurious than the best university in our country, isn't it?..." "I heard these facilities are accessible at all times, not restricted for students and teachers to use!" One person who knew more whispered to his neighbor, "To be honest, many schools can afford to build such facilities. But how many of those schools dare let students use them freely? They’re just decorative showpieces!"

The officials also nodded their heads, offering comments. What truly concerned them wasn't the amenities, but the sheer amount of money Ye Wen had poured into this venture without batting an eye. They inwardly concluded that their region had finally welcomed a god of wealth and they must treat him well to ensure he stayed.

After the tour concluded, they returned to the main square. Ye Wen walked to the front alone, turned, and addressed the crowd: "I know many people look down on me, and many others have various motives for wanting to challenge my skills. I won’t waste time with pleasantries. Those who wish to see my martial arts firsthand, feel free to step forward!..." As he spoke, Ye Wen shrugged off his suit jacket and removed his tie, handing them both to Huayi beside him. "Since we all claim to be martial artists, let’s resolve this the most straightforward way: let our hands do the talking!"... "Good!" The officials, though unsure what Ye Wen intended, generally assumed he was about to display his prowess to silence his critics.

But no one expected the situation to pivot in this direction. The man who had just mocked the school as unsuitable for martial arts training strode forward.

"Hey! You young man have some spirit, haven't you? I, Peng Lianshan, intend to strip that spirit away!"

Ye Wen spared the man a casual glance, not even truly looking him in the eye, merely asking, "What style of contest?"... As he spoke, Ye Wen gestured, and someone immediately brought out a weapons rack piled high with various arms. Seeing that Ye Wen was already prepared and had even arranged weapons, Peng Lianshan felt a slight tightening in his resolve: "Since this man anticipated this and took this stance, he must have something to rely on; he probably does possess some real skill!..." Yet, upon seeing Ye Wen, who appeared to be only around thirty, with features and physique that didn't scream 'martial artist,' the caution he had mustered dissipated. He scanned the weapons rack for a moment and selected a heavy Ringed Saber (Dahuan Dao).

The moment the saber settled in his hand, Peng Lianshan felt a heavy weight, nearly losing his grip: "What a heavy blade!..." Peng Lianshan considered putting the saber back and choosing one more suited to his hand, but Ye Wen had already approached and casually picked up an identical Ringed Saber from the rack.

Seeing that Ye Wen chose the same weapon, Peng Lianshan felt he would lose face by changing now. Gritting his teeth, he carried the heavy saber back to the cleared space in the center.

"This saber is so heavy it feels awkward even for me. With his build, this fellow definitely can't execute the finesse of saber techniques! Ye must just be forcing himself!"... Peng Lianshan considered himself a master of the saber. If this weapon felt clumsy for him, it would be even worse for Ye Wen. This thought restored some of his confidence, and he swung the heavy Ringed Saber into an initial stance.

Ye Wen merely held his saber and raised a hand toward Peng Lianshan: "Since you are the guest, please make the first move!"... Despite the polite words, Ye Wen had already taken offense at Peng Lianshan’s insolence. The hand gripping the saber handle tightened subtly beneath the fabric; he was determined to teach this man a lesson for his arrogance.

Peng Lianshan's heavy saber flashed like a startled swan, whipping up a powerful wind and exhibiting impressive momentum. He rushed forward a few steps, bringing the saber down diagonally toward Ye Wen's shoulder. The blade subtly vibrated, making it difficult to determine if the strike was truly aimed at the shoulder or if he intended to shift halfway through.

"He does have some skill!"

Unfortunately, in Ye Wen's eyes, it amounted to little. With a sweep of his own saber, he knocked Peng Lianshan's blade aside. Ye Wen struck only edge-to-edge, hitting the weakest point of Peng Lianshan's saber. With a mere tap, he deflected the heavy blade aside, and before the force dissipated, he smoothly rotated and swept his blade directly toward Peng Lianshan's neck.

"Tai Chi Saber?..." Peng Lianshan, having spent years immersed in martial arts, was familiar with many techniques. When Ye Wen's move first began, he thought it resembled the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber routine and prepared for a direct, hard clash. But the deflection followed by the sweeping cut had a shadow of Tai Chi in it. Thinking it over, it seemed closer to Tai Chi Saber.

In modern times, Tai Chi had evolved over countless years, branching into countless styles. There were many forms of Tai Chi Fist alone, and its use extended beyond the saber; there were Tai Chi Sabers, Tai Chi Spears, Tai Chi Fans, and countless others.

"But if one practices Tai Chi Saber, why use a Ringed Saber!..." Peng Lianshan retreated a few steps to evade Ye Wen’s cut, his mind swirling with questions. While Tai Chi Saber was a saber technique, it still retained echoes of swordsmanship. Furthermore, the hand guards of Tai Chi Sabers were specially made because certain moves required using that area—for instance, to lock an opponent's weapon.

The Ringed Saber, or Jiuhuan Dao, was heavy, with a wide, dull blade, not aligning well with the principles of Tai Chi. If Ye Wen was proficient in Tai Chi Saber, using such a weapon would be exposing his weakness! Even a Japanese katana would be more suitable than a Ringed Saber.

Peng Lianshan unleashed three rapid strikes, but Ye Wen neutralized them all with casual waves of his hand before countering, forcing him back. After several exchanges, Peng Lianshan’s confusion deepened; he couldn't grasp what style Ye Wen was using.

What he failed to grasp was that, to Ye Wen, these saber styles made little difference. Since he wasn't truly specialized in this field, using saber techniques against Peng Lianshan was merely intentional humiliation.

As for saber techniques, his best-mastered style was the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber, which suited the heavy Jiuhuan Dao perfectly. He had only let Peng Lianshan have a few opening moves to make him realize Ye Wen’s superiority, lest he finish the man in one move and then have to argue with him about various points later—Ye Wen had no patience for that.

After a few more exchanges, Ye Wen smiled and said, "My turn now!..." The moment the words left his mouth, his saber technique abruptly shifted. The Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber erupted. Ye Wen's footwork suddenly accelerated; the previous composure vanished. His saber danced into a streak of light, delivering two or three strikes in an instant, overwhelming Peng Lianshan's defenses. With a series of sharp cracks, Peng Lianshan's saber was knocked flying from his hand and clattered to the ground. Simultaneously, Ye Wen’s saber stopped less than three inches from Peng Lianshan’s forehead.

Peng Lianshan felt a chill on his forehead, and a few strands of hair, stirred by the breeze, drifted down past his eyes.

Cold sweat streamed down Peng Lianshan’s face. Only then did he realize Ye Wen had been deliberately letting him have his way. If Ye Wen had exerted full power from the start, he might not have survived the first move.

"Mr. Ye’s saber technique is formidable. I, Peng, have only humiliated myself..." He had intended to teach this junior a lesson, both to suppress Ye Wen's arrogance and to make a name for himself. Instead, arriving here, he realized he was nothing more than a clown, serving as a springboard for Ye Wen’s reputation. Feeling somewhat dejected, he uttered a few more words and turned to leave—the gazes of the crowd and the many cameras made it impossible to lift his head. He fled until he vanished without a trace.

After this bout, many who knew of Peng Lianshan’s skill put aside their underestimation. The teachers, already aware that their principal was a master, simply smiled knowingly while observing those "colleagues" who had privately indulged in endless sarcasm.

Placing his saber back on the rack, Ye Wen intended to call out the master surnamed Liu directly. However, the man emerged on his own, accompanied by another person.

This newcomer bowed slightly to Ye Wen, speaking courteously: "Mr. Ye’s skill is indeed extraordinary; I admire it greatly! However, I was invited by a friend, so I must request a demonstration of skill with you, Mr. Ye!..." Ye Wen turned to look at the man surnamed Liu. He saw an expression of smug satisfaction on Liu's face, as if he had already secured victory. That expression truly disgusted Ye Wen: "Shouting so loudly, turns out you’re just a coward borrowing the tiger's might!"... Upon hearing this, Liu’s face immediately changed. He wanted to retaliate, but recalling some information he had gathered, he knew he lacked a guaranteed chance of winning. He could only respond with a grim face, "Win over my friend first before you get too arrogant!"... Ye Wen scoffed even harder at this, not even sparing Liu a second glance, only addressing the man who had spoken first: "Your skill level aside, you have chosen a terrible friend!"... The man offered a wry smile and did not engage on that topic, instead bowing slightly: "I am Guan Luyan. My father once claimed our ancestor was the Martial Saint Guan Gong, the second master. Today, I shall use the techniques passed down by my ancestors to seek guidance from you, Mr. Ye!"...