As the crowd craned their necks in anticipation, a graceful, statuesque woman suddenly entered the scene. She was exquisitely beautiful, her brow conveying an air of sharp, icy severity. Upon entering, her gaze swept over the assembly with cool detachment. Though her features were striking, she showed no shyness under the scrutiny of the crowd; rather, her bright, piercing eyes caused some of the cultivators to instinctively avert their gaze.

The onlookers observed her and murmured in secret amazement: Which sect did this female cultivator belong to? How could her aura be so potent? Even more remarkably, her appearance and demeanor were so exceptional! Had the cultivation world birthed another female cultivator capable of rivaling Zi Yuan?

Ding Nan, standing right next to Zheng Yuan, felt a fresh surge of shock. She gritted her teeth and muttered inwardly, Damn it, I thought my cultivation speed was fast enough, but I didn't expect Zhou Qin to be even faster! So vexing! Why am I always one step behind her? Am I truly inferior to her? Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Zheng Yuan, standing nearby, stared fixedly at Zhou Qin, his face etched with disbelief. He thought, How can this be? She’s actually reached the Foundation Establishment stage! How could her cultivation speed be this rapid?! Damn it, Li Yundong must have given her the Human Origin Golden Elixir!

While the two harbored their own turbulent thoughts, they suddenly noticed a girl with bright, darting eyes following close behind Zhou Qin. This girl possessed a spirit and vitality that made her features shine; her beauty was alluring and charming, yet threaded with a certain nascent immaturity. However, in the flicker of her eyes, one could already glimpse a myriad of charms, leading observers to instinctively think: When this girl grows up, she will surely become a devastatingly beautiful enchantress!

This girl was none other than Su Chan. The moment she saw the crowd’s unwavering gaze fixed upon her, with undisguised greed and possessiveness flashing in the eyes of many male cultivators, she immediately startled and recoiled, hiding behind Li Yundong as if only in his shadow could she find any sense of security.

Li Yundong smiled, patted the little girl’s head, and then walked in himself.

As soon as he stepped onto the yacht, he felt the gazes of the crowd turn sharp and piercing, like a battlefield bristling with spears, swords, halberds, and axes, the air thick with murderous intent.

In the past, Li Yundong’s entire aura would likely have been provoked, erupting like an exploding bomb. But now, his energy had shifted from external display to internal containment, and his temper was no longer so quick to ignite.

If the former Li Yundong was like the surging Nu River, roaring mightily at any obstacle and raising massive waves against any impediment, the present Li Yundong was like a majestic, towering mountain—let others be strong; the gentle breeze merely brushes past the peak.

Facing those oppressive, suffocating stares, Li Yundong offered a faint smile, cupped his hands in a greeting to the assembly, and then, with Su Chan and the little foxes trailing him unhurriedly, proceeded toward where Zi Yuan was seated.

The cultivators aboard the yacht, observing Li Yundong’s calm and steady bearing—lacking the startling sharpness or overbearing presence rumored about him—secretly wondered: Has Li Yundong lost his nerve?

Only a select few cultivators, like Zhang Ling and Zhang Tianhe, vaguely sensed that Li Yundong’s entire presence had subtly transformed, though they couldn't quite articulate how it had changed.

Zhang Cunyi of the Qingcheng Sect watched Li Yundong swagger in with his entourage of fox spirits, especially as he sat down beside Zi Yuan in full view of everyone. He couldn't help but snort coldly, "What an aberration. In this day and age, bullies run rampant and monstrous spirits dance about, hehe!"

Zhang Tianhe, nearby, glanced at Zhang Cunyi upon hearing this, then snorted dismissively to himself, glaring malevolently at Li Yundong. Especially when he saw Li Yundong conversing intimately with Zi Yuan, an uncontrollable flicker of envy and resentment crossed his eyes.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh without him even noticing.

Most of the cultivators next to Zhang Tianhe were focused on Li Yundong and the conspicuously dazzling fox spirits. Only Zou Ping looked at Zhang Tianhe with deep affection. But when she saw the uncontrollable movement in his eyes as he watched Zi Yuan, a sharp pain pierced her heart. She ground her teeth inwardly: If it weren't for that little slut Zi Yuan, my junior brother would be with me! It’s all because that slut Zi Yuan stole my junior brother's heart, and now she sits openly with Li Yundong—this is betrayal! Does this woman have any sense of shame? Hmph, I will make sure she is utterly disgraced!

Though Li Yundong possessed formidable cultivation, he was, after all, not an immortal, and could not possibly fathom the private calculations swirling within the hearts of everyone from every sect.

After boarding the yacht, he quietly surveyed the surroundings. In his view, the vessel was set up with perhaps two or three dozen square tables, each surrounded by ten stools. On the tables sat incense burners. In the center of these dozens of tables was arranged a single, rather large central table. Behind this central table, against the wall, stood a statue of the progenitor of Taoism, Lao Tzu, or Taishang Laojun. Flanking Lao Tzu were statues of Yuanshi Tianzun and Lingbao Tianzun.

Next to Yuanshi Tianzun were statues of Luo Gongyuan and Ye Fashan, the great Daoist adepts from the Tang Xuanzong era who founded the Lotus Gathering Assembly. On the other side, near Lingbao Tianzun, were the statues of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West.

On the wall behind these idols hung a massive diagram of the Yin-Yang Bagua. Flanking the Bagua were a couplet: The right side’s upper line read: Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things; the left side’s lower line read: Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Dao, Dao follows Nature. The horizontal scroll in the center bore the bold, flowing characters: The Great Dao is Formless!

Seeing this couplet, Li Yundong inwardly praised it. He turned to Zhou Qin and said, "Zhou Qin, look at this couplet; it encapsulates the profound mysteries of our cultivation. You must commit it to heart!"

Zhou Qin nodded in agreement, then pointed to the statues before the couplet, asking, "I recognize some of these deities, but not others. Master, could you explain them to me properly?"

Having emerged from the Three Thousand Minor Worlds, Li Yundong was no longer the novice he once was. He had thoroughly studied the classics of both Buddhism and Taoism. He smiled and began to explain them one by one. Beside him, Su Chan and the little foxes listened with rapt attention, hanging on every word.

As they spoke in low tones, a crisp, clear ding suddenly sounded.

This sharp sound resembled the ringing of a tiny bell. Everyone turned their gaze toward the source of the sound. Li Yundong and his group also ceased their conversation and looked up.

Li Yundong saw a cultivator about five feet seven inches tall emerge from the back of the cabin—a man with deep-set eyes, a high nose, and a short goatee. This was Wan Zhenyuan, the Sect Master of the Gezao Sect and the host of this Lotus Gathering Assembly!

Wan Zhenyuan wore a sweeping, flowing Taoist robe that made him appear rather aloof and dashing. His eyes, sharp and bright, quickly scanned the crowd. When his gaze swept over Li Yundong’s table, his eyes paused briefly before he quickly moved on.

Wan Zhenyuan approached the foremost central table, cupped his hands toward the assembly, and spoke, "Fellow Daoist friends, I am deeply honored that you have graced my Wan Zhenyuan with your presence at the Lotus Gathering Assembly! This session of the Assembly, hosted by..."

Before he could finish speaking, an impatient voice shouted out, "Sect Master Wan, hurry up and bring out the rewards for this Lotus Gathering Assembly! We are here for treasures, not to listen to you drone on!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Li Yundong wore a knowing smile. The speaker was none other than Dang Qiang of the Penglai Sect, whom he had met several times before.

Dang Qiang sat beside a table, one foot propped up on a nearby stool, cracking melon seeds while shouting loudly. His behavior stood out sharply among the crowd, earning him numerous glares from his neighbors.

Dang Qiang’s interruption left Wan Zhenyuan momentarily speechless. He inwardly seethed and shot a look at Dang Qiang, but maintained a hearty smile, saying, "Ah, it is a Daoist friend from the Penglai Sect. A pleasure, a pleasure!"

Dang Qiang laughed heartily, "Sect Master Wan, you must really want to slap me silly. You wanted to last time at Gezao Mountain, and you surely want it even more now! Stop with the hypocritical courtesies; let’s get down to business!"

Although Dang Qiang, this boor, behaved like a rogue, his crude words held undeniable truth. Some cultivators in the cabin couldn't help but laugh, urging him on: "Well said, Sect Master Wan, get to the main point! We’ve been itching for action, we’re getting impatient!"

"Exactly! After over ten years of cultivation, did we come here to listen to your nonsense? Let's start the fights!"

"Yes, Sect Master Wan, what is this year's treasure? Bring it out so we can feast our eyes!"

Wan Zhenyuan's expression grew strained. Forcing a smile, he was about to speak when Zhang Ling of the Zhengyi Sect suddenly slammed the table and stood up, barking sternly, "Nonsense! Do you take this place for a marketplace? For cultivated Daoists, you act like a rabble of hooligans, as if you were organizing street gangs or criminal syndicates!"

Zhang Ling was a renowned great cultivator in the martial world and the elder sister of the Zhengyi Sect’s Celestial Master. Her bearing and prestige were immensely high. At her sharp reprimand, the entire hall fell into a sudden, complete silence; not a single cultivator dared speak further.

Wan Zhenyuan glanced uncomfortably at Zhang Ling, thinking: The might of the Zhengyi Sect is indeed impressive. Does this formidable dragon, Zhang Ling, intend to stir up trouble and seize control of the Lotus Gathering Assembly from me?

As he pondered this, he heard Zhang Ling address him: "Sect Master Wan, the quadrennial Lotus Gathering Assembly is no ordinary event. It is an excellent opportunity for our Daoist lineage to recuperate and reassert our orthodoxy, and also a wonderful chance for Daoist sects to cast aside past grievances and advance hand-in-hand..."

Hearing this, Wan Zhenyuan instantly grew wary. He thought: Hmph, reassert orthodoxy? Whose orthodoxy? Cast aside past grievances and advance together? Heh, the Zhengyi Sect truly couldn't hold back; they are about to show their true colors! They intend to unify all the Daoist sects!

With this realization, Wan Zhenyuan couldn't help but interrupt Zhang Ling, asking with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Then may I ask, Immortal Zhang Ling, what constitutes orthodoxy?"

Zhang Ling snorted, waved her hand, and immediately, all the Zhengyi Sect members wearing Daoist robes stood up with a rustle. Zhang Ling pointed to the robes they wore and declared, "This is orthodoxy!"

This single statement was pregnant with meaning; it simultaneously mocked others for forgetting their ancestry—not even wearing the attire proper for a Daoist at the Lotus Gathering Assembly—and implied that the Zhengyi Sect alone represented the world's true orthodoxy.

Wan Zhenyuan burst into laughter. "Wearing a Daoist robe makes one orthodox?" He waved his hand and commanded, "Come out, all of you!"

Immediately afterward, a host of Daoists wearing robes poured out from the cabin, their gazes fixed menacingly on the Zhengyi Sect members.

Zhang Ling watched as these Daoists effectively blocked the yacht, forming a siege perimeter. She smirked and said, "What, Sect Master Wan, are you planning to capture us all in one fell swoop?"

Although the provocative, divisive intent of her words was clear to anyone, the crowd couldn't help but feel a jolt of alarm and suspicion, turning hostile eyes toward the other Daoists of the Gezao Sect.

Just as the situation on the deck seemed ready to erupt into conflict, a slacker's voice drifted lazily, "If wearing a Daoist robe makes one orthodox, then this Daoist is orthodox too!"

Everyone looked and saw Dang Qiang, that rogue, saying this with a cheeky grin.

Someone next to him scoffed, "You, with your vest, how are you wearing a Daoist robe?"

Dang Qiang laughed, jumped up, and announced expansively, "Then, fellow Daoists, watch closely!" With that, he began swiftly stripping off his clothes. In a short time, he was entirely bare, completely naked.

The male cultivators in the cabin erupted in horrified laughter, while the female cultivators blushed furiously, spat out, and averted their faces.

Wan Zhenyuan shouted out in shock and anger, "Dang Qiang, what are you doing!"

Dang Qiang laughed heartily, lifting a cup of tea in one hand. "I’m showing you what a Daoist robe looks like!" Saying this, he poured the tea all over himself and began quickly smearing it around with both hands.

The crowd watched as if his palms held a ball of ink; wherever he smeared it, a patch of pitch black appeared. In moments, Dang Qiang had painted a tight-fitting Daoist robe onto his body, like performance body paint.

After finishing his painting, Dang Qiang clapped his hands and laughed, "How about it, fellow Daoists, is this a Daoist robe?"

The crowd saw a painted robe on Dang Qiang’s front, but his back was a expanse of pale flesh. They laughed in astonishment and amusement, echoing, "Dang Qiang, what kind of robe is that?"

"What about your backside? Why isn't your rear covered by the robe?"

"Dang Qiang, what is that thing in the front? Is that a dust handle?"

Dang Qiang, showing no sign of shame, replied, "What is a Daoist robe? Does it cover shame? If it truly covered shame, why would we be arguing so fiercely here at the quadrennial Lotus Gathering Assembly?"

This double entendre instantly drew cheers from all the cultivators of the various sects, significantly easing the tension that had been hanging like drawn blades.

Li Yundong also smiled inwardly and nodded toward Zi Yuan, chuckling, "This Dang Qiang is a scoundrel in manner, but not in principle!"

Zi Yuan’s cheeks flushed slightly. She softly rebuked him, "Even so, he didn't need to... strip so utterly naked, did he?"

Li Yundong laughed loudly, "One comes into this world naked and leaves it naked; that is the true free spirit!"

Zi Yuan shot him a playfully annoyed glare. "Then why don't you go be spirited?"

Li Yundong chuckled, not taking the bait. At this point, Wan Zhenyuan, sensing the shift, let out a cold snort and waved his hand again. The Daoists instantly vanished from where they stood, as if they had never been there. He glanced at Dang Qiang, then gave Zhang Ling a cold smile. "I am only showing you, Immortal Zhang Ling, that you are not the only one who remembers the Daoist orthodoxy!"

Zhang Ling also sneered, "I only meant to kindly remind the cultivators here not to forget their roots during the Lotus Gathering Assembly!" With that, she led her sect members back to their seats.

When the members of the other sects witnessed the subtle yet fierce battle of words between Wan Zhenyuan and Zhang Ling—which was, in reality, a proxy fight between the largest Inner Elixir sect and the largest Outer Elixir sect—they couldn't help but frown inwardly, thinking: Has the conflict within the cultivation world become this white-hot? They can barely exchange a few words at the Lotus Gathering Assembly before nearly drawing swords and flashing blades?

Su Chan curiously tugged at Li Yundong’s sleeve and whispered, "Yundong, why do I feel like they were about to start fighting?"

Li Yundong chuckled darkly and whispered back, "It’s fine, just watch them bite each other’s heads off!"

As they conversed quietly, they heard Wan Zhenyuan speak again: "...Since everyone is unwilling to listen to pleasantries, I, Wan, shall not waste time. I will now have the prizes for this Lotus Gathering Assembly brought forth!"

He then roared out, "Bring forth the Dharma Treasures!"

Su Chan and Li Yundong simultaneously stopped talking, both looking toward the center of the deck, eager to see what prizes the quadrennial Lotus Gathering Assembly would offer this time.