Just then, a man in pristine white scholar robes stood up.

The second floor of Thousand Fragrance Pavilion quieted slightly.

The young man held a folding feather fan in his hand. His robes were spotless, his hair was bound neatly with a jade crown, and his every movement carried a restrained elegance.

He looked like someone who would defeat an opponent with three sentences, two arrangements, and one misplaced teacup.

The nearby young cultivators parted without being asked.

Clearly, his status was not low.

The scholar-robed young man walked toward Su Bai’s table and lightly cupped his hands.

"Brother Su."

His voice was gentle and refined.

"Fate gathers clouds, and clouds reveal mountains. Since we meet beneath Azure-Jade City’s sky, this one would be lacking in manners if he did not come forward to greet you."

He lowered his fan slightly.

"This one is Zhuge Jing, of the Divine Abacus Zhuge Clan."

The moment the name appeared, many people on the second floor became more serious.

Su Bai’s expression did not change, but his heart moved slightly.

Divine Abacus Zhuge Clan.

Among the righteous factions, the Zhuge Clan held a very special position.

They were known for calculation, strategy, formation deduction, and battlefield prediction.

The Zhuge Clan did not win by hitting harder. They won by making the enemy walk into a trap so complicated that even after dying, the enemy might still not understand which step had doomed them.

Su Bai stood slightly and returned the greeting.

"Brother Zhuge is too polite. I am Su Bai of Radiant Sky Sect."

Zhuge Jing’s fan covered the lower half of his face.

Only his eyes were visible. They curved faintly, as if smiling. But behind that fan, Zhuge Jing was not as calm as he appeared.

Earlier, when Su Bai had sealed Yan Lie, Zhuge Jing had activated his Profound Eye of the Heavenly Abacus.

That eye did not simply observe movement. It calculated momentum, Qi direction, meridian response, intent, rhythm, and possible outcomes.

With one glance, Zhuge Jing could usually deduce several layers of a cultivator’s method.

But when he tried to calculate Su Bai, his inner abacus stopped.

No. It did not stop.

It broke.

The result had not been "unknown." It had been worse.

It was as if the calculation itself had stepped into a bottomless fog, tripped over a missing number, and returned with a blank expression.

Zhuge Jing had never experienced that before.

A cultivator with no aura. A strike with no visible beginning. A result that should not have happened. And a body surrounded by dangerous objects that somehow did not feel burdened by them.

’Interesting.’

That was why Zhuge Jing came forward. Because Zhuge Jing could not see through him.

For a member of the Zhuge Clan, that was both irritating and irresistible.

Seeing Zhuge Jing greet Su Bai first, the others could no longer sit still.

A young woman in pale silver robes stood next.

Her sleeves were embroidered with tiny formation lines, and a small bronze mechanism floated beside her shoulder like a sleeping bird.

"Brother Su," she said with a clear voice, "I am Lin Weiyang of Divine Artificer Citadel."

Su Bai returned the greeting.

"Miss Lin."

Divine Artificer Citadel.

Su Bai had read about them.

They were the force most famous for crafting flying ships, moving fortresses, formation engines, mechanical beasts, and strange tools that other sects often pretended not to need before secretly buying in large quantities.

The huge transports outside Azure-Jade City were very likely connected to their work.

Getting acquainted with them was not bad. Perhaps there would be future business.

Lin Weiyang looked at Su Bai with bright, measuring eyes.

Earlier, when Su Bai struck Yan Lie, she had not looked at his face first.

She had looked at his movement.

A Golden Core Stage Three fire cultivator had released Overbearing Extreme Yang Fire, yet Su Bai had stepped through the pressure like a needle passing through cloth.

Lin Weiyang suspected that Su Bai’s bones, meridians, or cultivation frame possessed an extremely rare conductive property.

She wanted to take measurements.

Of course, she knew better than to say that aloud.

Soon, another figure approached.

This time, the atmosphere became quieter in a different way.

A young woman in white lotus robes walked forward. Her face was gentle, her eyes were clear, and a faint glass-like halo seemed to surround her body.

Her presence made the air feel cleaner.

"Brother Su," she said softly, "Bai Zhi, of the Glass-Lotus Holy See, greets you."

The Glass-Lotus Holy See.

Authority in purification, healing, and exorcism among the righteous path.

Su Bai returned the greeting calmly.

"Holy Maiden Bai."

His face remained unchanged.

Inside, however, he felt uncomfortable.

Bai Zhi’s aura was gentle to others.

To Su Bai, it felt like someone had placed a bowl of bitter medicinal light beside his nose and asked him to smile while drinking it.

Bai Zhi noticed nothing obvious. Or perhaps she noticed too much and did not show it.

Her eyes rested on Su Bai for a brief moment longer than necessary.

She had seen many strange bodies. Su Bai did not feel like any of them.

He felt empty at first glance. Then, beneath that emptiness, there was something layered.

It was cold, deathly quiet... and something that did not wish to be purified.

Bai Zhi’s gaze softened. But her scrutiny deepened.

Su Bai calmly pretended not to notice.

More young cultivators followed. One after another, the younger-generation figures who had held back earlier came forward.

Only now did Su Bai fully realize that the second floor of Thousand Fragrance Pavilion was not a casual gathering at all.

Many important people were here.

After exchanging greetings for a while, Su Bai found that these people were not simple.

Their ages were young, but their words were measured.

Their greetings were polite, but each sentence carried a little probe.

Especially Zhuge Jing.

Every word from him was wrapped in scholarly elegance, but Su Bai could feel hooks beneath the silk.

"Brother Su’s method is truly subtle," Zhuge Jing said lightly, fan half-covering his face. "A needle enters without wind, Yang fire retreats without blood, and the one struck remains whole. Such restraint is rarer than victory."

Su Bai smiled.

"Brother Zhuge praises too much."

"Not praise," Zhuge Jing said. "Only observation."

His gaze moved slightly.

"However, this one is somewhat curious."

Su Bai looked at him.

Zhuge Jing’s fan shifted, pointing very faintly toward Su Bai’s waist and wrist.

"The shard at Brother Su’s waist carries killing intent heavy enough to wound spirit sense. The manacle on your wrist is bleak and deep, like a prison that has forgotten the names of its prisoners. As for the thumb-ring..."

He paused for half a breath.

"The longer one looks at it, the more one feels that the soul itself is being invited to step closer."

The second floor quieted again.

Several cultivators unconsciously looked toward the objects on Su Bai’s body.

Zhuge Jing’s eyes narrowed slightly behind the fan.

"Such objects are not ordinary ornaments. To wear them calmly requires either ignorance, madness, or preparation."

His voice became even gentler.

"Considering Brother Su’s earlier words regarding Miss Tang’s challenge, may I guess that Brother Su is tempering body, mind, and spirit in advance?"

The words were beautiful. The meaning was clear.

The room became subtle again.

Many people looked toward Su Bai.

Su Bai, however, remained calm.

He knew Zhuge Jing was probing him.

The man spoke like a scholar, but each sentence was a fishing line.

Unfortunately, Su Bai had spent too many years around people who asked one question while wanting three answers.

He did not acknowledge. He did not deny.

He only smiled gently.

"Brother Zhuge is truly observant."

That was all.

Zhuge Jing’s fan paused.

The others, however, reacted differently.

To them, Su Bai’s answer sounded close to admission.

So it was true.

Several young cultivators looked at Su Bai with changed eyes.

Even those who had thought Su Bai strange now felt a faint admiration.

He looked sickly, but his heart was ruthless.

He looked gentle, but he was willing to torture himself for a challenge.

No wonder Tang Ziyan reacted to him differently.

Tang Sisi leaned toward Tang Ziyan and whispered, "Cousin, did you hear? Body, mind, and spirit."

Tang Ziyan’s ears turned red.

"Shut up."

"He is very sincere."

"He is very strange."

"That too."

Tang Ziyan glanced at Su Bai begrudgingly.

She knew better than the others. The objects on Su Bai’s body probably did not torment him the way everyone imagined.

Back then, he had treated poison like food and tears like payment.

If he wore those things so calmly, perhaps they were not burdens at all. Perhaps they were snacks.

The thought made Tang Ziyan’s expression become even more complicated.

What was he talking so grandly for?

Using her as a shield?

Across the table, Su Bai felt her gaze.

He smiled calmly.

Tang Ziyan’s eyes narrowed.

Su Bai looked away.

He had indeed allowed Zhuge Jing’s misunderstanding to grow.

It was convenient.

Besides, he had spoken boldly earlier for a reason.

He did not want too many people getting close to Tang Ziyan.

Her poison was rare. Her blood was valuable. Her tears were even better.

From Su Bai’s perspective, Tang Ziyan was not merely a person.

She was also a precious cultivation resource. A very fierce, very sharp, very difficult cultivation resource.

Just thinking about it made his stomach move.

Grrr!

The sound was very soft. But the table was quiet enough.

For one breath, everyone at the table became silent.

Su Bai calmly lowered his gaze.

His stomach had betrayed him.

Tang Ziyan stared at him.

"You..."

Su Bai coughed lightly.

"I skipped refreshments."

Tang Sisi slowly covered her mouth.

Her shoulders trembled again.

Zhuge Jing’s fan hid his expression completely.

Lin Weiyang looked at Su Bai’s abdomen with a strange measuring gaze.

Bai Zhi’s gentle eyes became even more concerned.

Su Bai suddenly felt that this table was dangerous in a different way.

Just then, Tang Ziyan’s gaze shifted.

A Scorching Sun Valley disciple finally seemed to remember Yan Lie.

"Senior Brother Yan..."

The disciple walked carefully toward Yan Lie.

H

e stretched out a hand, intending to help remove the seal.

Tang Ziyan’s eyes turned cold.

"Do not touch him."

The disciple froze.

Tang Ziyan said, "The Yang-Gate Locking Point was sealed cleanly. If you forcefully circulate his fire, his lower channel will backlash."

The disciple’s face changed.

He quickly withdrew his hand.

Yan Lie’s eyes trembled with shame and anger.

A few people looked at Su Bai again.

The seal had already shocked them.

But Tang Ziyan’s words confirmed something else.

Su Bai’s needle had not merely frozen Yan Lie.

It had done so cleanly without damaging him.

That kind of restraint was harder than injury.

The Scorching Sun Valley disciple cupped his hands awkwardly toward Su Bai.

"Brother Su... could you please release Senior Brother Yan?"

Yan Lie’s face stiffened.

Asking Su Bai to release him was another humiliation.

But remaining seated like this was worse.

Su Bai looked at Yan Lie.

Then he looked at Tang Ziyan.

Tang Ziyan held his gaze for a moment.

Then she looked away.

"Release him," she said coldly. "If he sits there any longer, people will think Thousand Fragrance Pavilion added a fire-attributed decoration."

Several people nearly laughed.

Yan Lie’s face darkened further.

Su Bai nodded.

He stood.

The room immediately quieted.

He walked back to Yan Lie.

Yan Lie glared at him, but he still could not move.

Su Bai looked at him calmly.

"Brother Yan."

Yan Lie’s eyes burned.

Su Bai continued, "When your Qi returns, do not force your fire through the lower channel immediately. Let it circulate through the side meridian three times first. Otherwise, your own technique will bite you."

Yan Lie wanted to snort, but he could not.

Su Bai raised two fingers.

A thin black needle appeared again.

This time, he did not stab Yan Lie.

He lightly tapped three places.

One below the ribs.

One near the shoulder.

One at the side of the wrist.

The trapped Yang fire loosened.

Yan Lie’s body trembled. A low breath escaped his throat.

His Qi began moving again.

The scorching aura tried to flare, but Su Bai’s earlier warning echoed in his ears.

Yan Lie clenched his jaw and forcefully restrained it.

After a few breaths, he could finally move.

The first thing Yan Lie did was stand.

But before he could speak, Tang Ziyan’s cold voice came from behind Su Bai.

"Sit properly."

Yan Lie froze.

The second floor froze with him.

Tang Ziyan looked at him expressionlessly.

"This is Azure-Jade City. If you want to lose face, do not drag me into it."

Yan Lie’s fists tightened.

His face changed several times.

Finally, under countless gazes, he sat down again.

This time, he was no longer sealed.

He was simply too humiliated to stand.