Within My Sect, All Realms Unite

As the hall remained filled with a subtle tension, Lin Xiao Tian raised his hand calmly, and in the next moment, thirty-five cushions appeared neatly arranged across the floor as if placed by an invisible force.

Without wasting any time, he gestured lightly for everyone to sit, his movements natural and unhurried as the disciples quickly followed, settling into their positions with varying degrees of composure.

However, as his gaze swept across them, it paused briefly upon Xiao Xiaoshan, where the cushion beneath him had simply vanished without a trace, leaving him seated awkwardly lower than the others in a way that slightly disrupted the formation.

The other disciples were barely containing their reactions, their expressions tightening as they struggled not to laugh, while Xiao Xiaoshan remained stiff, clearly aware of the situation yet unsure of how to respond.

Just how big are you planning to grow, Lin Xiao Tian thought calmly, his gaze steady as a faint trace of amusement flickered within his mind before disappearing just as quickly.

Letting out a quiet sigh, he waved his hand once more, and a much larger cushion appeared beneath Xiao Xiaoshan, restoring the balance of the arrangement as if nothing unusual had happened.

Once everyone had settled properly, his expression turned slightly more serious, and as the faint noise within the hall faded completely, his voice carried clearly across the space.

"During cultivation, martial arts and techniques are just as important as one’s cultivation level, yet they are far more difficult to advance," he said calmly, his tone steady as if laying down a fundamental truth.

"They require not only practice, but true understanding, and in many cases, even a glimpse into the Dao itself before one can truly progress," he continued, his gaze moving across the disciples as the weight of his words settled in.

As he finished speaking, Lin Xiao Tian raised his hand once more, and a slender incense stick appeared between his fingers, its surface faintly glowing with a soft, restrained light that hinted at its extraordinary nature.

With a calm motion, he placed it into an incense pot before him, and the moment it settled, a thin wisp of smoke began to rise slowly, carrying with it a subtle fragrance that spread gently across the hall.

"This incense will burn for the next three days," he said evenly, his voice steady as his gaze swept across the disciples, ensuring that each of them understood the significance of what stood before them.

"It has been refined using rare and valuable materials, including the roots of an Enlightenment Tree and a sentient ginseng, along with other ingredients that aid in stabilizing the mind and enhancing perception," he continued, his tone carrying quiet authority.

As the fragrance deepened, the atmosphere within the hall began to change subtly, the restless thoughts within one’s mind gradually settling as a sense of clarity emerged, allowing even the flow of qi within their bodies to become smoother and more controlled.

"Under its influence, your minds will become clearer, and your comprehension of techniques will improve significantly, though how much you gain will depend entirely on your own understanding," he added calmly, his gaze lingering briefly before returning to stillness.

Slowly, as the incense stick began to burn, faint strands of haze spread through the hall, curling gently in the air as they carried a subtle and calming fragrance that gradually filled the surroundings.

With each passing moment, the haze thickened slightly, and under its influence, the restless fluctuations within everyone’s minds began to settle, allowing them to enter a state of quiet clarity that bordered on enlightenment.

Even Tian Jian Zun showed a rare trace of surprise, yet he did not waste the opportunity, immediately immersing himself within that state as he began refining the Dao of Silence, his presence gradually fading as if merging with the stillness itself.

Not far away, Han Leu’s aura began to shift as well, and behind him, the vague outline of an immortal demon figure slowly grew more defined, as the demonic and spiritual qi within his body started to fuse with far greater ease and harmony. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The others followed their own paths, some focusing on refining their cultivation, while others tempered their bodies through their respective techniques, each advancing at their own pace under the influence of the incense.

Only Yan Feng stood apart. Like Tian Jian Zun, he focused entirely on his sword techniques, his attention unwavering as his comprehension deepened steadily, ignoring all other aspects of cultivation.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian let out a quiet sigh, his gaze resting briefly upon Yan Feng as he understood the reasoning behind his choice without needing any further observation.

Yan Feng had already reached the mid-tier within his cultivation technique, and further progress in that area would require time and accumulation, making it inefficient to force advancement at this stage.

Focusing on refining his sword intent was the correct decision.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian no longer paid further attention to the others and instead closed his eyes slowly, allowing his focus to settle inward as he began refining his own cultivation art with steady control.

The incense continued to burn quietly, its haze thickening as it spread across the hall, and under its influence, time seemed to lose its usual weight as every disciple sank deeper into their own state of comprehension and refinement.

Moments turned into hours, and hours passed without disturbance, the hall remaining in a rare state of complete stillness where even the flow of qi became smooth and uninterrupted, as if the very environment had aligned itself with their cultivation.

Beyond the sect, however, the atmosphere across the entire region was far from calm, as news of the upcoming tournament spread rapidly, drawing the attention of countless forces and stirring anticipation among both sects and independent cultivators.

This was not merely a competition, but an opportunity that appeared only once in decades, where strength, talent, and destiny would all collide under the watchful eyes of greater powers.

Compared to previous years, the scale and significance of this event had grown far beyond expectation, and with it, the excitement and tension surrounding it reached a level that had not been seen in a very long time.

Even as silence ruled within the hall, the outside world was already beginning to move.