Ye Wen was still waiting there expectantly when the light of the saber descended from Behe Jushi. After exchanging courtesies with the assembled group, Behe Jushi hadn't even had time to get a clear look at who was present before Xuan Ningzi pulled him forward. This maneuver meant that Ye Wen, already tucked away in a less conspicuous spot within the crowd, became even harder to spot, so Behe Jushi did not see him at all, merely smiling and stepping to the front to greet a few people.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone made a hand seal, employed a minor illusion technique, or simply used talismans and artifacts to obscure their tracks, before mounting their magical treasures and soaring into the sky, heading straight for Diancang Mountain.

This gathering consisted entirely of cultivators with profound cultivation and unique skills, so there was no need for rigid formation; those who were close friends simply traveled together. Since the destination was settled, they figured they could regroup upon arrival anyway.

The pre-arranged meeting was nothing more than a quick introduction—a way to see who had come to lend support, lest they clash mid-journey. Conflicts were common among cultivators, and with so many rushing toward Diancang Mountain, it would be impossible to know friend from foe otherwise.

It was only by gathering here that they learned exactly who their opposition was, and that the opposing side consisted of only a single faction.

The group sped or drifted along on streams of sword light, their pace dictated by their whim, appearing in no hurry. Seeing this, Ye Wen also relaxed. When more than half the crowd had departed, and the remainder had floated into the air, he finally conjured his own sword light and ascended.

Unexpectedly, the moment his sword light flickered into visibility, Behe Jushi, who had already ascended high above, instantly noticed him. He turned his head and locked eyes with Ye Wen. Immediately, he turned back to Xuan Ningzi beside him, spoke a few hurried words, and then floated toward Ye Wen.

Ye Wen's sword light had just appeared and hadn't yet built up speed, so as the thought arose, he reeled the light back in, stopping before Behe Jushi. Ning Ruxue floated serenely behind him, observing the approaching Behe Jushi.

At this moment, Yan Xing and Zhou Chong realized that Behe Jushi actually knew Ye Wen, and a flicker of curiosity sparked within them as they secretly pondered Ye Wen's true origins.

Behe Jushi had lived in seclusion on Kunlun Mountain for centuries, practicing his cultivation. He called himself Behe Jushi and was recognized as one of the more famous masters in the current cultivation world. His skill was profound, and his signature artifact was the Star River Divine Saber—that very sliver of blue light resembling scattered starlight. Though named a Divine Saber, it was actually crafted from a rare treasure: Celestial River Divine Sand.

Using the Divine Sand as a blade not only showcased Behe Jushi's fierce saber techniques but also manifested the artifact’s formidable power. Thus, merely catching sight of that river-like, deep-blue saber light was enough for everyone to know that Behe Jushi had arrived; it had become his personal trademark.

Furthermore, Behe Jushi had originally belonged to no major sect; he was a solitary cultivator. However, as the dynamics of the cultivation world shifted, relying on no sect affiliation inevitably led to disadvantages. Consequently, Behe Jushi registered his name with the Kunlun Sect, effectively becoming one of them.

He chose Kunlun for two reasons: first, he cultivated within Kunlun Mountain, making him already familiar with the sect; second, the legendary cultivation realm, the Kunlun Immortal Realm, was located there, giving the Kunlun disciples an inherent advantage.

As Behe Jushi approached Ye Wen, he performed a respectful bow, saying, "I did not expect to encounter a senior here..."

This statement caused an immediate, dramatic shift in the expressions of those nearby, even before the ones who had traveled farther away could react!

Although Behe Jushi wasn't ancient, he had cultivated for nearly three hundred years. In the cultivation world, those he addressed as "Senior" were invariably the ancient behemoths from various sects. Even those of his own generation were mostly deep in secluded practice.

No one knew Ye Wen's background; he wore clothing typical of the mortal world, looking much like a junior disciple of the Emei Sect. If not for Behe Jushi’s address, none of them would have guessed this person held such high status.

Xuan Ningzi merely looked astonished, but Yan Xing and Zhou Chong exchanged glances, their eyes conveying shock mingled with a touch of embarrassment.

They considered themselves the most outstanding disciples produced by the Emei Sect in the last two centuries. Though they had only cultivated for a hundred years or so, their power was considerable. Combined with their frequent service to their sect, they felt their judgment and experience were unparalleled. To think they had misjudged so completely, taking an elder whom even Behe Jushi treated with such deference for a mere nobody!

Fortunately, Ye Wen seemed relatively easygoing, suggesting he wouldn't press the issue. Still, any future conversation with this old senior would require careful thought to avoid inadvertently offending him.

Even as exceptional Emei disciples, the current situation showed that true masters were becoming increasingly rare, and old seniors who had cultivated for untold years were even scarcer. Any one of them—even an unheard-of figure—was someone they could ill afford to slight.

Zhou Chong leaned close to his senior brother and whispered, "This person just mentioned the Shushan Sect. Could the Shushan Sect have a longer lineage than Emei, which is why we haven't heard of them?"

Yan Xing considered this possibility as well. Hearing his junior brother, he nodded, "It's possible. And these old seniors love to enter seclusion. Perhaps this few centuries happened to be one of his long retreats, which is why we don't recognize him! Given the increasingly harsh environment now, perhaps this senior was forced out of seclusion and has only now revealed himself."

Though they spoke in low voices, their conversation did not escape Ye Wen’s ears. Hearing their speculations brought him a slight sense of satisfaction. The more you think this way, the better! Guess wildly, the further off the mark the better!

Behe Jushi then raised a hand toward Ye Wen: "If I had known you were here, Junior, I wouldn't have rushed over unnecessarily!"

Xuan Ningzi wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. While he hadn't been overly concerned when Behe Jushi called Ye Wen "Senior," hearing Behe Jushi say this made it impossible for him to remain composed.

Who in the cultivation world didn't know the terrifying might of Behe Jushi's Divine Saber? He was renowned as one of the top combatants among contemporary cultivators. Legend held that within the Kunlun Immortal Realm, despite the abundant spiritual energy, there were many ferocious spirit beasts and poisonous creatures, most notably the venomous snakes inhabiting the floating mountain range called Longkong Mountain. Most people gave this mountain a wide berth!

Yet, Behe Jushi frequented it for practice, calling it a means to temper his saber art, and he always returned unharmed, a testament to his ferocious combat prowess.

Originally, having such a powerful figure arrive to assist provided Xuan Ningzi considerable reassurance. He felt that even if they couldn't subdue the arrogant Diancang Zhenren this time, at least the Diancang Sect would be preserved.

But to see someone of Behe Jushi’s stature show such deference to Ye Wen, and utter those words… Xuan Ningzi began to wonder if he himself had been overly discourteous in the presence of this elder. This type of person was likely an ancient monster who had lived for nearly a millennium, perhaps even longer.

In reality, when Behe Jushi had sensed Ye Wen's incomparably fierce, soaring sword qi from afar that day, he hadn't initially thought his Divine Saber was inferior. It was only when Ye Wen revealed his divine sense that he was greatly astonished, leading him to assume Ye Wen was an old senior. He was unaware that Ye Wen’s divine sense was cultivated through a specialized method, which, combined with a good foundation, led to rapid progress.

Moreover, Ye Wen’s method of probing with divine sense differed slightly from merely projecting it. It incorporated certain principles from the Intent Probe Talisman, allowing for a vastly greater detection range than pure divine sense projection, though it was far less precise in minute detail. While each had its merits, Behe Jushi made a critical misjudgment in that instant, believing Ye Wen had extended his divine sense that far, leading to the misunderstanding.

Simultaneously, Ye Wen demonstrated his unique skill of drawing his sword into his body. Behe Jushi was then convinced that Ye Wen had attained the realm of Man and Sword Unity. This magnified the misunderstanding considerably, as ordinary sword cultivators' flying swords cannot be retracted into the body. Even sword cultivators specializing in the flying sword path must reach the Man and Sword Unity realm to achieve this. Beyond that, only specific divine swords could be stored internally; normally, they were carried on the person or kept in a storage bag.

Under any circumstance, Ye Wen’s maneuver compelled Behe Jushi to treat him with extreme caution. Despite his own formidable power, Behe Jushi admitted he hadn't refined the Star River Divine Sand to the point where it could be stored within his body; he still had to keep the Celestial River Divine Sand in his pouch. He concluded that in terms of realm attainment, this senior was likely a step above him.

The few individuals traveled slowly on their sword lights, exchanging occasional words. It wasn't until Behe Jushi glanced at the sword light surrounding Ning Ruxue, and then at Ye Wen’s purple sword light, that he suddenly laughed: "The devilish couple and their peculiar swords..." He then turned to look at Yan Xing and Zhou Chong, who were drifting slowly alongside, also encased in purple and green sword lights, respectively.

Ye Wen smiled: "Just a coincidence!"

Behe Jushi nodded, not dwelling on it. Besides, Ye Wen and Ning Ruxue were merely riding their sword lights; their physical swords were nowhere in sight! This indicated that the couple’s flying swords were stored within their bodies, meaning they didn't need to manifest them externally for flight!

Looking at the other two, their flying swords constantly emitted radiant sword qi just ahead of them, enveloping the pair as they moved forward. This distinction immediately highlighted the gap.

Although Behe Jushi could also fly without projecting the Celestial River Divine Sand, his speed would be significantly slower. It was then he truly felt the immense gulf between himself and this senior.

Separately, Xuan Ningzi floated nearby on a yellow cloud. Ye Wen occasionally glanced at the cloud beneath the old Daoist’s feet, thinking it added a certain ethereal quality to the Daoist.

He had also seen several people depart on clouds earlier. Not only was their speed not slow, but he also noted that hardly any of them used concealment techniques like the illusionary spell. He surmised that the yellow cloud itself likely possessed the effect of masking one’s presence.

That technique is quite interesting. Shame that now that my reputation as a senior is established, it's awkward to ask about it!

Xuan Ningzi had no idea that such an 'old senior' was contemplating his yellow cloud. This was hardly a rare spell; anyone with some cultivation could master a flight technique, and the Yellow Cloud was something almost everyone learned. Legend held that mastering this spell at a high level could lead to riding five-colored auspicious clouds, but no one in the cultivation world had achieved it. Even the most famous old masters only managed to ride clouds tinged with five colors (though not the auspicious kind...).

As they spoke, everyone arrived at Diancang Mountain.

Their gathering spot was not far from Diancang Mountain, and with their swift flight, they reached their destination in moments.

Ye Wen looked down at the mountain and spotted a Daoist temple. A few young Daoist acolytes moved in and out, appearing no different from ordinary people.

As expected, the group did not land at the temple. Xuan Ningzi pointed toward a seemingly unremarkable spot behind the temple: "Let's go down here!"

He led the way, descending. Ye Wen gathered his divine sense into his eyes and finally discerned that the area was protected by an illusionary spell. Behind the main temple, where the mountain peak appeared to be, was actually a cluster of buildings. Many people were already gathered there—the cultivators who had departed earlier.

Ye Wen exchanged a look with Ning Ruxue. He saw the cyan lotus pattern appearing on his junior sister's forehead; she, too, was channeling her divine sense to perceive the location. They realized then that channeling divine sense could break through the illusionary spells used to fool mortals—a valuable lesson learned.

After a silent acknowledgment, they retracted their sword light and landed. Only then did Ye Wen notice that Behe Jushi and the two Emei disciples had remained behind him, waiting for him to land before following, likely out of respect for him as a senior.

As the group settled down, all eyes turned toward them, freezing momentarily upon seeing Ye Wen land first. This reaction intensified when they observed Behe Jushi’s manner when addressing Ye Wen; they were utterly perplexed.

"Who is that person? Why is Behe Jushi so deferential to him?"

"How should I know..."

While the crowd was speculating, Xuan Ningzi, who had walked directly inside, emerged alongside a white-haired old man. Though his hair and beard were white, the old man's complexion was ruddy, showing no signs of age. His voice carried impressive energy even as he spoke, and he strode with the powerful gait of a young man, showing no weakness compared to the younger generation.

He approached the assembled crowd and cupped his hands: "Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for coming to offer assistance. I, Liu, thank you here first!" Upon hearing this, everyone returned the salute, proclaiming, "Sect Master Liu is too kind!" Liu Su exchanged pleasantries with everyone before finally approaching Ye Wen and his companions.

This wasn't for any other reason than that the people surrounding Ye Wen were undoubtedly the most distinguished figures present among the aid contingent. Behe Jushi needed no introduction. As for Yan Xing and Zhou Chong, they represented the Emei Sect, one of the top-ranking major sects in the cultivation world, whom one could not easily offend, especially since they had sent disciples to help this time.

Although Liu Su vaguely sensed the subtle implications this situation carried, he dared not neglect the requisite courtesy. Thus, his manner of address was extremely polite.

As for Ye Wen and Ning Ruxue, though he didn't recognize them or know their names, his old friend Xuan Ningzi had given him one crucial instruction: "Behe Jushi calls him Senior and states his power is immense; treat him with utmost respect." "Senior Ye..."

Liu Su had cultivated for less than three hundred years. Having started his practice late, his hair had already turned white by the time he achieved success. Even though his appearance no longer showed age, he couldn't revert his hair color unless his cultivation advanced further to regain his youthful look.

Since Behe Jushi called Ye Wen Senior, Liu Su had no choice but to use the same title, speaking courteously and daring not to drop an ounce of respect.

This immediately drew a collective gasp from the onlookers: "So, this person is an old senior?"

"Oh? Named Ye? I wonder where he cultivates..."

"I heard he cultivates in the Shu region..."

"Could he be connected to the Emei Sect? Perhaps an old acquaintance of one of their elders? Look how respectfully those two Emei disciples treat him!" "Who knows?"

The crowd buzzed with speculation. Liu Su was about to invite everyone inside to rest—the ordinary attendees would be looked after by disciples, but these key figures required his personal attention.

Just as he began the invitation, a brilliant light shot down from above the crowd, revealing a white-haired elder with a long, sage-green beard, suspended in mid-air. He surveyed the people below and burst into loud laughter: "Did you think gathering this collection of riff-raff would suffice? Liu Su! I told you that if you surrendered your mountain gate within half a year, I would let bygones be bygones. Half a year has passed, and judging by the scene, you have no intention of yielding..."

With that, he landed squarely in the courtyard, completely unconcerned by the cultivators glaring at him from all sides: "Since that's the case, let's settle this with actual combat. But know this: all those who die today will be because of you, Liu Su! Don't hold me responsible for this ledger!"

"Arrogant!"

"Presumptuous!"

"You're courting death!"

A barrage of curses erupted instantly, with many jumping and shouting insults. This provoked Diancang Zhenren into a rage: "A flock of jumping clowns, daring to run wild before this Zhenren?"

His voice crashed like thunder, shaking many in the crowd until they stumbled. Those with lower cultivation staggered, their heads spinning, and many spat out mouthfuls of blood—a cultivator’s blood contains their very essence and is not easily expelled. Spitting blood signified a severe injury. This one shout from Diancang Zhenren, without lifting a hand, forced many to vomit blood, causing every face present to change color.

Only those with profound cultivation remained unaffected by Diancang Zhenren's roar. Liu Su, Xuan Ningzi, and Behe Jushi all maintained composed expressions. The two young Emei disciples looked slightly pale but recovered their composure moments later.

As for Ning Ruxue and Ye Wen? They looked around curiously, seemingly unaffected by the thunderous shout.

At this point, the disparity in cultivation levels among those present was starkly revealed. Diancang Zhenren had initially been quite smug about his shout, but seeing several people remain utterly unfazed, his brow furrowed. He muttered inwardly, These individuals possess the deepest cultivation. They must be the main trouble today!

As he pondered this, he suddenly spotted the cyan lotus on Ning Ruxue’s brow. His face registered shock, followed by a flash of joy, which immediately gave way to grave concentration. He focused his vision, examining the cyan lotus on Ning Ruxue's forehead closely.

Ning Ruxue noticed him staring fixedly and felt a slight annoyance. She whispered to Ye Wen, "This man is utterly rude!" Ye Wen had noticed as well, but before he could speak, Diancang Zhenren suddenly laughed heartily: "Heaven truly favors this Zhenren! Having only recently emerged from seclusion, I am guided right to you!" He extended a hand directly toward Ning Ruxue: "Little girl, come with me!" Before the words faded, his sleeve underwent no visible change, but its opening suddenly magnified countless times, the cuff becoming an abyss of absolute blackness, as if a ravenous beast had opened its jaws to swallow Ning Ruxue whole.

However, before the sleeve could fully descend, a delicate snort was heard, followed by an explosion of cyan sword light. That massive sleeve instantly shattered into countless fragments!