94: Attending the meeting in Tiannan City

Spring departed, autumn arrived, and the seasons changed.

Only seven days remained until the "Seven Sect Martial Gathering," which would determine the Sect's fate for the next ten years.

For these three months, the entire Qingyun Sect had been immersed in an almost frenzied atmosphere of preparation.

From the Sect Master to the ordinary Disciple, everyone was like a wound-up machine, dedicating all their energy to this preparation that concerned the Sect's honor and disgrace!

And Lin Ye, the "secret trump card" on whom the highest hopes were placed, had taken the concept of "seclusion" to its extreme.

On that isolated Peak, rich in Spiritual Qi and secluded from the world, he had completely vanished from everyone's sight.

No one knew what kind of magnificent and crazy transformation was hidden beneath this deathly calm!

Inside his Immortal Cave, Lin Ye sat cross-legged, like an ancient stone statue that had long since merged with heaven and earth.

In the depths of his consciousness, the light blue System panel was operating rapidly.

After three months of relentless, massive resource accumulation, and the "Ultimate Acceleration" AFK that would make any Genius despair, the data on his panel had undergone earth-shattering changes!

host: Lin Ye

Cultivation: Treasure Body Realm (Early Stage Peak)

Cultivation Technique:

Heaven Burning Heart Sutra (Earth Rank Low Grade): Second Layer (Perfection)

Nine Heavens Star Array (Earth Rank Low Grade): Basic (Proficiency 850/1000)

Wind Chasing Sword Technique (Profound Rank Medium Grade): Perfection

...In just three months, his cultivation had broken through from the Early Stage of the Treasure Body Realm, soaring all the way to the Peak of the Early Stage! He was only one step away from the legendary Middle Stage of the Treasure Body Realm!

And the Nine Heavens Star Array, on which he had placed great hopes, had already been AFK'd to the "Basic" Realm!

In his mind, that vast star map was no longer a jumble of chaotic symbols. He could clearly "see" the trajectory of every star, the arrangement method of every Formation eye, and the profound changes of every time he drew upon the power of the stars!

He had already gained the true confidence of a Formation Master!

...Seven days later, Qingyun Sect, Mountain Gate.

When the first ray of morning light pierced through the sea of clouds and shone upon the ancient mountain gate archway, a team representing the Qingyun Sect's highest combat power, personally led by Sect Master Su Changqing, was already standing solemnly there.

At the very front of the team were three Core Elders with unfathomable auras.

Behind them were dozens of the most top-tier Genius Disciples, carefully selected from the entire Inner Sect!

Su Qingyue was prominently among them.

She was still dressed in white, pure as snow, with her black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her exquisite face was covered with a layer of coldness that kept people at a distance of a thousand miles. But in her clear, cold eyes, there was a more condensed and sharper Sword Intent than three months ago!

Clearly, her strength had also made a leap forward in these three months.

As for Lin Ye, he was still the "same old self."

He wore an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple uniform, blending his figure into the back of the team, his face showing a perfectly appropriate "nervousness" and "unease."

His Breath Concealment Art, which had already reached the "Perfection" Realm, perfectly concealed his terrifying aura of the Treasure Body Realm. From his appearance, he was still that inconspicuous "Body Refining cultivator" with only Qi Refining Realm cultivation and a thin body, completely out of place among the fierce-looking, Spirit Qi-filled Inner Sect Geniuses around him.

"Depart!"

With Su Changqing's command, a massive flying boat, ten zhang long, crafted entirely from thousand-year-old ironwood, and adorned with countless wind-controlling runes on its hull, slowly rose from the sea of clouds!

Everyone boarded the flying boat in turn.

When Lin Ye's feet finally stepped onto the solid deck, he turned back and glanced at the Sect that had nurtured him.

A hint of determination flashed in his dark eyes.

This time, he was no longer fighting for himself.

But for... glory!

...Tiannan City.

It was located in the most central and prosperous plain of the Tiannan Dynasty.

This was the center of the entire Dynasty's politics, economy, and... cultivation world!

When the Qingyun Sect's flying boat finally descended slowly outside this extremely majestic giant city after a full five days of long travel, even Lin Ye's usually unperturbed state of mind couldn't help but be stirred.

Completely different from the wild and desolate scene of Black Wind City, this city was built entirely of an unknown jade stone that emitted a faint white glow. The city walls were a hundred zhang high, sparkling brilliantly under the sunlight.

On the city gate, the two characters "Tiannan" were written in a powerful, flowing script, full of supreme majesty and dominance!

At this moment, the huge square outside the city gate was already crowded with people, and banners fluttered!

Teams from the other six great Sects had already arrived here first!

On the east side of the square, a group of Disciples wearing fiery red robes and exuding a wild and hot aura were gathered together with arrogant expressions. On their chests was embroidered a blazing flame totem.

— Xuanhuo Sect!

On the west side, dozens of Disciples, each carrying an ancient sword box and emitting a soaring Sword Intent, were meditating with their eyes closed. Their sharpness even distorted the surrounding air!

— Heavenly Sword Manor!

On the north side, a group of burly Disciples, whose skin was covered with various Yao Beast totems, were playing with several terrifying Spirit Beasts, appearing wild and... dangerous!

— Beast Taming Sect!

...When the Qingyun Sect's slightly simple flying boat slowly descended, almost all eyes instantly focused on it!

There was no awe or friendliness in those gazes.

There was only undisguised mockery, full of contempt, disdain, and schadenfreude!

"Oh, isn't this the 'perennial last-place' Qingyun Sect? This year, they actually weren't late?"

"Hahaha! What? Knowing that you're here to accompany the prince in his studies, so even your attitude has become more proactive?"

"Alas, how pitiful. I heard they didn't even make it into the top five in the last Martial Gathering. I wonder where they got the courage to send people this time."

All sorts of humiliating whispers, like a tide, surged from all directions, clearly reaching the ears of every Qingyun Sect Disciple!

In the team, those young Geniuses who had been high-spirited earlier now had flushed faces, their fists clenched tightly. The pride and dignity belonging to Qingyun Disciples were trampled beyond recognition at this moment!

Even Su Changqing's perpetually dignified face showed a trace of imperceptible gloom.

However, amidst this hostile atmosphere, a loud voice, full of endless arrogance and dominance, suddenly boomed like a clap of thunder, instantly suppressing all the noise!

"Sect Master Su! Still well, I see!"

From the Xuanhuo Sect's team, a tall, handsome young man wearing a magnificent crimson-gold flame robe, surrounded by a group of Disciples, swaggered out!

He exuded a terrifying aura as hot and violent as a blazing sun!

Treasure Body Realm... Middle Stage!

He was Yan Lie, the current Chief Disciple of the Xuanhuo Sect, and one of the biggest favorites to win this Seven Sect Martial Gathering!

He didn't even bother to look at Su Changqing. His eyes, full of aggression and possessiveness, merely brazenly scanned Su Qingyue's beautiful figure back and forth.

"Junior Sister Qingyue, after a few months, your charm is even greater than before." A confident smile played on his lips. "After this Martial Gathering concludes, when I ascend to the champion's position, I will personally go to the Qingyun Sect to propose marriage to Sect Master Su!"

His "declaration of love," full of endless arrogance and dominance, made everyone present turn their heads!

Su Qingyue's face was instantly covered with a layer of frost that could freeze everything!

However, before she could speak, Yan Lie seemed to lose interest, shifting his gaze from her. He disdainfully scanned the Qingyun Sect Disciples behind her, who were already angry but dared not speak, as if inspecting his territory.

Finally, his gaze fell on Lin Ye, who had been keeping his head down and looked inconspicuous.

"Oh?" A playful arc formed at the corner of his mouth. "It seems your Qingyun Sect is truly... full of talent this time."

"Even such a Qi Refining Realm waste is qualified to participate in the Seven Sect Martial Gathering?"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, full of undeniable dominance and mockery, clearly spreading to every corner of the entire square!

"Sect Master Su, I advise you all to go back early."

"Lest you make a fool of yourselves on the arena."

"After all, the taste of 'accompanying the prince in his studies' is... not pleasant!"