Chen Qing’s interest was piqued. "What was the result?"

"He lost! Feng Shuhao... lost too!"

Li Wang took a deep breath. "According to the news from the spectators, the two fought for little more than seventy moves before Feng Shuhao’s Burning Flame Saber Astral was shattered by Xiao Bieli’s Flowing Cloud Thousand-Layered Sword. He suffered internal injuries and conceded on the spot! To think that Feng Shuhao, the number one expert of Qixia Manor’s younger generation and one of the Five Heroes, couldn’t even last a hundred moves!"

Chen Qing frowned slightly.

Feng Shuhao’s reputation among the younger generation of Yunlin Prefecture was immense. He was widely acknowledged as a top-tier expert.

That even he was defeated so cleanly meant Xiao Bieli’s strength was likely even more unfathomable than the rumors suggested.

"After defeating Feng Shuhao, Xiao Bieli only rested briefly at Qixia Manor before setting off again."

Li Wang looked at Chen Qing and said, word by word, "His next stop is none other than our Wutai Sect! According to reliable sources, he will arrive by tomorrow at the latest!"

Chen Qing said slowly, "Senior Brother Yan is profoundly strong. I think he can handle the pressure."

「The next morning.」

The thin mist had not yet completely dissipated, and the surface of Dingbo Lake was veiled in a light gauze.

Chen Qing was in his small courtyard, practicing his Spear Technique as usual.

In his hands, the Cloud-Coiling Spear became a vigorous green blur. At times, it was as steady as a mountain, unleashing Mountain-Breaking Rainbow Piercing. At others, it struck like a sudden thunderclap, swift and unpredictable.

The spear tip cut through the air, emitting a low, sharp hum.

Just as he reached the apex of his Spear Technique, his breath and Spear Momentum becoming one—

"Xiao Bieli of Cold Jade Valley has come to pay his respects! I invite the brilliant talents of the Wutai Sect—to offer their guidance!"

A clear and powerful voice, like rolling spring thunder, suddenly exploded over the Wutai Sect’s mountain gate!

The voice was not a shout, yet it was infused with an unstoppable True Qi. It pierced the thin mist and ignored all distance, echoing clearly into every corner of the Wutai Sect.

"Xiao Bieli! It’s Xiao Bieli! He’s here!"

"He really came! He’s right outside the mountain gate!"

"Quick, let’s go see!"

"Where’s Senior Brother Yan? And Senior Sister Nie?"

"Even Feng Shuhao lost. Can Senior Brother Yan really win?"

"I heard it was in less than a hundred moves! That’s terrifying!"

A tide of discussion surged from every courtyard.

Countless disciples dropped their cultivation and chores, swarming like a tide toward the mountain gate.

Disciples on the Transmission Square, servants in the dining hall, and even some of the Elders were startled by the sound and emerged to see what was happening. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Chen Qing glanced toward the mountain gate. His body had already shot out of his courtyard like a silent arrow loosed from its bow, melting into the crowd.

Outside the mountain gate, a large crowd had already gathered.

The Wutai Sect disciples spontaneously cleared a path, watching the few figures in the open space with a mixture of emotions.

The one in the lead stood as straight and tall as a lone pine on a precipice. He wore the signature moon-white martial attire of Cold Jade Valley, with a plain long robe over it.

His features were plain, but his eyes held a sharp intent, like an unsheathed, peerless sword. It was none other than the "Flowing Cloud Sword," Xiao Bieli!

He stood with his hands behind his back. Just by standing there, an invisible pressure emanated from him, causing the noisy crowd to quiet down instinctively.

Half a step behind him stood a woman dressed in a white that was purer than snow. She was tall and slender, with a temperament as cold as a pool under the moonlight. It was Ye Qingyi.

Her calm gaze swept over the Wutai Sect crowd, finally lingering for a moment on the hastily arriving Nie Shanshan, Yan Yaoyang, and the others.

And behind Xiao Bieli and Ye Qingyi stood an old man in a simple gray robe.

The old man’s hair and beard were completely white, and his face was gaunt. He looked completely unremarkable, like an ordinary village elder.

His eyes were slightly closed, his hands tucked into his sleeves. His aura was so completely withdrawn that one would almost overlook him if not looking for him intentionally.

However, when the eyes of every Elder-level figure from the Wutai Sect, including the just-arrived Sang Yanping, fell upon this old man, their pupils subconsciously contracted slightly.

The Cold Jade Valley Astral Force Elder, "Jinghai Hand" Mo Yun!

A figure whose name was as renowned as thunder among the older generation of Yunlin Prefecture.

Farther away, under the shadows of the trees on the shores of Dingbo Lake, stood numerous indistinct figures.

There were scouts from the great families of the Prefecture City, Wandering Martial Artists who had heard the news and come to watch the spectacle, and even experts sent by Qixia Manor, the Xuanjia Sect, and others to observe the battle.

Everyone’s gaze was focused on Xiao Bieli, clad in snow-white robes before the mountain gate, and on the chief disciples of the Wutai Sect who were waiting in grim readiness.

.....

.....