The group didn't linger, and as soon as Xu Xian and Huang Rongrong arrived, they departed immediately, heading straight for Mount Emei.

The flight time this time was not long; coupled with the significant advancements in everyone's cultivation, their speed was much greater than before. Since the distance was so short, "it felt as if they had barely taken off before they were already descending!"

For this Cultivator Assembly, the Emei Sect had specially assigned disciples to act as greeters. When they encountered fellow cultivators approaching, someone would come forward to welcome them. As Ye Wen flew, he used his mind's eye to detect other cultivators approaching from different directions, being ushered into the hidden entrance of the Emei mountain gate. Yet, when his party arrived, they were completely ignored.

Halting his sword light, Ye Wen swept his divine sense over the area and found numerous Emei disciples concealed nearby, watching him with cold detachment. From their expressions, it seemed they were simply treating the arrival as an amusing spectacle.

"Jumping fleas!"

Ye Wen laughed in anger, but he didn't bother drawing out the hidden Emei disciples. Instead, he abruptly opened his eyes. A pair of seven-colored glazed pupils unleashed a dazzling divine light that enveloped the void, cleanly shattering the illusionary array the Emei Sect used to conceal their mountain gate. Even several other cultivators who had just arrived nearby had their spells undone, revealing their forms.

A chorus of gasps erupted, one after another. Ye Wen closed his eyes again, observing the now chaotic Emei disciples, then gestured to those beside him: "Let's go in!"

Unexpectedly, just as they moved forward slightly, a group of Emei disciples suddenly materialized, blocking Ye Wen and the others. The one leading the charge shouted, "Which base vermin dares to cause trouble at our Emei Sect?"

"Vermin?" Ye Wen let out an angry snort. The younger disciples of Emei felt as if a clap of thunder had sounded next to their ears, leaving them dizzy and unstable in the air, nearly causing them to fall. "I, Ye Wen, have come openly and honestly, unlike some who only hide on the sidelines, like cowardly rats spying from the shadows!"

That single sentence verbally assaulted all the Emei disciples present. However, currently dizzy and disoriented, they were unable to refute Ye Wen. They also knew that a master like Ye Wen was not someone they could afford to provoke—how ridiculous that they had initially dismissed him, planning to make him suffer a setback!

Originally, the leading senior brother had presumed that on their home turf, even Ye Wen’s arrogance would be somewhat restrained, and they hadn't dared to use overly harsh tactics. But Ye Wen already harbored little goodwill towards the Emei Sect, and just as he was contemplating whether to find an excuse to erupt, this group had unwittingly walked right into his line of fire.

Ye Wen ignored these clownish figures and led his group directly down to the Emei Sect's entrance. He then released his students and disciples from the sword light, and the entire party proceeded inside with an air of measured calm.

At this moment, the Emei disciples were busy circulating their energy to recover. Ye Wen's angry snort, while causing no substantial physical harm, had unsettled their blood and qi enough to cause them trouble, meaning they wouldn't be available to settle accounts with Ye Wen anytime soon.

Ye Wen naturally paid them no mind. However, the moment he landed, he noticed the gazes of everyone around him constantly flickering towards him—a confusing mix of curiosity, fear, and undertones of greed, envy, and jealousy. If Ye Wen hadn't been using his mind's eye to perceive details often overlooked, he might not have noticed them so clearly.

"So-called righteous path cultivators are not all inherently noble in character!"

He had initially assumed that only the Emei Sect, due to its rapid development, had neglected the cultivation of one's character, leading to such behavior. Now, he realized his assumption was flawed. In comparison, the so-called famous sects of his previous world were far more worthy of that title; at least in their conduct, they were truly upright. Even if there were a few rotten apples, they were rare exceptions. But looking at this crowd, they were outwardly polite, yet turned away with expressions of disgust. Such a scene...

"I wonder if the state of the cultivation world influences the secular world, or if many secular concepts have influenced the cultivation world!"

Ye Wen couldn't find an answer. Just as they were walking deeper, the Monk Dihong soared out from the grand hall on a golden light. The moment he spotted Ye Wen, he roared, "How dare you! How dare you come to the Emei Golden Summit? You are truly courting death!"

It turned out that someone had secretly rushed back to inform Monk Dihong the moment Ye Wen arrived. Everyone in the Emei Sect knew that Monk Dihong had previously fought a major battle with Ye Wen, and having failed to kill Ye Wen, his junior brothers saw it as a disgrace. Throughout the entire Emei Sect, Monk Dihong harbored the deepest grudge against Ye Wen, repeatedly declaring in various settings, "If I ever see that fellow again, I will surely take his life!"

Furthermore, many Emei disciples held intense hostility towards Ye Wen for having slapped the sect a few times, with the faction under Monk Dihong being the most severe. The one who took the lead in trying to teach Ye Wen a lesson earlier was precisely Monk Dihong’s disciple. He just hadn't expected Ye Wen to be so domineering, immediately shattering the Emei Sect's mountain-concealing illusion array upon being barred entry.

As for the exact spell Ye Wen used, none of the cultivators present could identify it. Most only saw a divine light flash from Ye Wen's eyes, and the Emei mountain gate was exposed. This appearance was somewhat reminiscent of the legendary Divine Eye.

Even if it was an obscure technique unpracticed in the current cultivation world, its ability to break the protective illusion array of a major sect with a mere glance was astonishing. It was precisely because Ye Wen displayed such power immediately upon arrival that even though many eyed the Kyushu Tripod with hostility, none dared to approach and cause trouble for him.

However, as the saying goes, men die for wealth just as birds die for food. Even with the proven record of slaying Ren Tuze, Ye Wen had not frightened everyone away. These people were merely waiting for an opportunity. Seeing Monk Dihong preparing to strike, they all showed expressions of delight.

They were unaware that Ye Wen saw every subtle shift in their expressions. Ye Wen, however, was unafraid, merely thinking to himself, "After today, if any of you dare to make a move, feel free to come; I guarantee not a single one will return!"

As for Monk Dihong before him, although Qiu Yuanlong had offered to deal with this fellow, the current situation was that the monk himself had come looking for trouble, leaving Ye Wen with little choice. With a flip of his hand, the blue water energy of the Indigo Deep Sea instantly formed in his palm, and he threw a punch directly at the charging Monk Dihong.

This move utilized the 'Towering Tide' fist technique from the Indigo Deep Sea. With a swing of his fist, wave-like energy formed into a colossal, clear blue wave that crashed down upon Monk Dihong. This terrifying strike shocked the monk, who immediately used his alms bowl to illuminate the area, forcing the wave-like energy to momentarily halt before he seized the chance to dodge.

Monk Dihong secretly wiped a cold sweat, and his anger immediately surged. He cursed inwardly, "He still dares to attack? Today, I will ensure you have no place to be buried!"

Monk Dihong had been accustomed to unchecked power for centuries and was not prepared to reason with anyone now. He felt that attacking Ye Wen was granting him face; if Ye Wen dared to retaliate, he was being ungrateful.

In other words: if I insult you, you should smile and offer your cheek to be slapped. If you dare to retort, it’s your fault! What? Why is it wrong? That’s none of your business! It’s simply your fault!

The Emei Sect had been like this for hundreds of years, and Dihong saw nothing wrong with it now. Not only did he summon the golden wheel behind his head, but he immediately unleashed the Eight Divisions Raging Water Dragon technique upon initiating combat.

In front of the vast Emei Sect hall, under the gaze of numerous fellow cultivators, Monk Dihong threw up his sleeves, ready for a real fight!

Ye Wen said nothing more, simply waving his hand to have his companions retreat to the side. Then, he fully unleashed the energy of the Primordial Chaos Mirror. He extended his left hand, and just as he was about to pass by Monk Dihong, his entire arm suddenly snapped forward like a whip. This tremor precisely struck the side of the golden wheel. The energy contained within that wheel was instantly neutralized by the Dark Chaos energy Ye Wen mobilized.

The sixth layer of the Primordial Chaos Mirror, Dark Chaos, specialized in dissolving all forms of energy. Moreover, Ye Wen possessed the Immortal Indestructible Body, and when used together, the power was even greater, making it nearly impossible for ordinary attacks to harm him.

However, having practiced martial arts for so long, Ye Wen had developed ingrained habits; when he could evade, he would evade—after all, nobody enjoys getting hit!

He then flipped his hand, seemingly pinching a ball of water between his hands, and made a standard throwing motion, launching the water sphere—aimed directly at Monk Dihong’s face.

"Show off!"

Monk Dihong had felt provoked when Ye Wen used water energy against him initially. Later, after he summoned the golden wheel, Ye Wen seemed to switch to a different type of energy, which made the monk think Ye Wen recognized the danger.

Who would have thought Ye Wen would then toss out a water sphere? Monk Dihong felt as if Ye Wen was laughing openly at his old face. Enraged, he became even more determined to show Ye Wen the might of his water techniques.

"A mere Minor Water Lightning Bolt? Does this Zen Master truly fear it?"

It turned out Ye Wen’s water sphere was only the size of a head, appearing as if condensed from Primordial Water energy, much like a Primordial Water Divine Thunder. It was designed to explode with explosive water energy upon impact.

This was a very common and practical spell, whose power no ordinary cultivator would underestimate. But Monk Dihong was different; he was a master who had evolved this technique. With a wave of his right hand, one of the water dragons from the Eight Divisions Raging Water Dragons opened its massive maw and swallowed the water sphere whole.

Monk Dihong assumed this mere Minor Water Lightning Bolt would be consumed by his water dragon, neutralized before it could even erupt.

Unexpectedly, the moment his water dragon swallowed the sphere, it froze. Then, its entire body began to writhe and twist as if in extreme pain. The massive dragon body thrashed across the wide ground, creating continuous booming noises. Fortunately, the area was large, and the water dragon was positioned on the open field, so no surrounding structures were destroyed.

Ye Wen snorted and, without waiting for Monk Dihong to recover, rushed forward. His left hand wielded the Indigo Deep Sea, and his right hand, the Rose Dusk Sweep. These two completely opposing energies were unleashed simultaneously, creating a force no one dared to meet head-on.

Moreover, Monk Dihong was a cultivator who relied on magical artifacts and spells for combat. He dared not directly clash with Ye Wen’s charge. He hurriedly commanded the water dragon beneath his feet to dodge sideways, while the dragon violently whipped its tail towards Ye Wen.

Witnessing this might, everyone present thought that if they were in that position, they would immediately retreat to avoid being hit by the tail, as its visible power suggested it carried the force of ten thousand catties—a blow their bodies certainly couldn't withstand.

But Ye Wen was different. Seeing the tail sweep towards him, the energy in his hands did not dissipate; instead, it subtly shifted, meeting the dragon tail head-on. This strike utilized the 'Shocking the Hundred Miles' from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms!

This palm strike was renowned as the most powerful move in the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. When combined with the energy from the Primordial Chaos Mirror, its power ascended another major level. The onlookers barely saw what happened before a deafening crash erupted near their ears. Following the thunderous sound, the overflowing residual energy caused many nearby cultivators to stumble, taking considerable effort just to remain standing.

When they looked up again, the water dragon that Monk Dihong had been standing on was now reduced to only half its length. The upper half, beneath Dihong's feet, had been shattered into fragments by Ye Wen's palm strike. Countless azure water vapors scattered into the air, then slowly dissipated into nothingness.

Ye Wen’s palm strike succeeded, and without pause, he flipped his hand and struck again towards the stunned and unsure Monk Dihong. Fortunately, the water dragon and the golden wheel acted on their own to save their master. The dragon opened its massive maw to bite at Ye Wen, while the golden wheel sliced toward Ye Wen’s waist from the side, forcing Ye Wen to use his palm to defend himself, thus granting Monk Dihong time to leap onto another water dragon.

However, his previous arrogance had vanished. The fact that Ye Wen had shattered his spells using only his bare fists was too astonishing!

He had seen martial cultivators before, but he hadn't valued them highly. When he previously fought Ye Wen, he felt Ye Wen’s strength was mostly derived from that purple flying sword. He hadn't witnessed the martial cultivator's supposed mastery in close combat, so he assumed Ye Wen, as a martial cultivator, was no different from himself, merely relying on flying swords and spells to fight.

But today, Ye Wen used neither his sword nor any spells. That so-called Minor Water Lightning Bolt from earlier—he could now sense through the water dragon—was nothing more than the most solidified ball of true qi. Swallowing it as a spell had been a huge mistake. The water dragon was now almost destroyed internally by that energy. If he didn't disperse it quickly, the terrifying Minor Water Lightning energy contained within would detonate, harming friend and foe alike.

If Monk Dihong had maintained a sufficient distance and relied on his spells and artifacts, he certainly wouldn't have been pushed into such a desperate situation. But he had been blinded by rage from the start, rushing forward aggressively. Moreover, the spells he used were most effective when distance was maintained.

Not only was he constrained from using his most powerful techniques in his own courtyard, but being too close also prevented him from deploying many high-yield moves, especially with many guests nearby; accidentally injuring any of them would not bode well for the Emei Sect.

While Dihong was preoccupied with these concerns, Ye Wen had far fewer reservations. He swatted the golden wheel aside with one palm, then used his right finger to point, unleashing a streak of Purple Firmament Dragon Qi sword energy. A purple sword ray flashed; the golden wheel let out a sharp ding before being violently knocked far away, spinning until it crashed into the courtyard wall.

With a resounding boom, a large section of the wall collapsed, kicking up a massive cloud of dust!

But that wasn't all. Ye Wen's form seemed not to have moved, yet he suddenly vanished. As everyone wondered, Ye Wen reappeared directly in front of the rebounding golden wheel. He extended his right hand forward, swept it around, then spun his body and slammed his left hand down. The golden wheel crashed heavily onto the ground, followed immediately by a foot stepping directly onto it.

This foot was imbued with dense Dark Chaos energy. Those who peered closely could barely discern the shape of the foot due to the sheer density of the energy. As this foot pressed down on the golden wheel, the Dark Chaos energy immediately began to permeate the object. Monk Dihong, standing quite far back, hadn't taken it seriously at first, but then his spirit convulsed. Exclaiming in shock and rage, he roared, "Insolent brat, how dare you!"

Forgetting all caution about collateral damage, the remaining water dragons violently rose and charged straight at Ye Wen.

"Heh, finally getting anxious?"

Ye Wen seemed not to notice the water dragons, focusing instead on continuously channeling the Dark Chaos energy into the golden wheel, struggling against the trace of divine sense residing within it.

The golden light on the wheel beneath his foot flickered erratically—faint to the point of near invisibility at times, revealing the wheel’s body engraved with scriptures, and blindingly bright like the midday sun at other times, making it impossible to look at directly. This presented no issue for Ye Wen, who kept his eyes closed!

When the water dragons reached him, Ye Wen merely stood still, his slightly glowing right finger pointed towards the foremost dragon. He then added, in a deliberately provoking manner, "Show off!"

The crowd initially didn't understand the phrase, thinking Ye Wen had gone mad from the terrifying magic and was babbling incoherently. But the very next second, the world around them seemed to freeze. On the entire plaza, nothing else seemed visible; in the space before Ye Wen, there were no water dragons to be seen—the onlookers saw only one thing.

Sword Qi!

Boundless purple sword energy enveloped that small expanse of heaven and earth like a massive net. The crisscrossing purple sword light and the incessant piercing sound of air being cut sent a chill through everyone. All those who had held covetous thoughts about Ye Wen's Kyushu Tripod suddenly broke out in cold sweat.

This terrifying sight vanished instantly, as if everything they had witnessed was an illusion. However, the completely disappeared water dragons confirmed to everyone that what they saw was real.

Monk Dihong's forehead broke out in a heavier layer of cold sweat: "Ov—Over... What kind of technique is this?"

Many of the younger, well-traveled cultivators: "..."

Zhou Lei clutched her chest, her eyes sparkling: "Wow! That's the Lightning Flash Speed Fist! Is the Master secretly a Saint Cloth Warrior?"