402: Chapter 402: Upon learning that the mountain gate was besieged, they were extremely excited.

On the other side, on the Martial Arts Arena of the Hehuan Sect, it was packed with people.

The entire Hehuan Sect, from Elders to Disciples, from handymen to cooks, everyone who could walk and move had come.

A rough count showed there were over three hundred people.

These people formed a large circle, leaving an empty space in the middle.

Xu Ruyu stood in the center of the open space, with Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, Ning Caihe, and Qingyan standing behind him, and further back were core figures such as the Grand Elder, Granny Liu, and Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan.

Xiao Nianyin stood quietly three paces behind Xu Ruyu, head lowered, without saying a word, as if she were just an insignificant bystander.

Outside the Martial Arts Arena, the clamor of the Taihu Clan members could be faintly heard—

"Xu Ruyu, come out and pay with your life!"

"Murderer, get out here!"

"Cowards of the Hehuan Sect, come out if you have the guts!"

"If you don't come out, we're storming in! We'll kill all you trash!"

The voices rose wave after wave, shaking the trees on the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

Occasionally, even more unbearable foul language could be heard, things like "Hehuan Sect sluts," "vixens," and "Bed-warming maid," which were too offensive to listen to.

However, the people of the Hehuan Sect inside the Martial Arts Arena showed no trace of fear on their faces.

On the contrary, their eyes flickered with an inexplicable light—a light called excitement.

"Hey, listening to this racket, there must be at least two or three hundred people outside, right?"

A burly male Disciple grinned, rubbing his hands, looking eager to give it a try.

He was Zhou Daniu, Zhao Yan's Junior Brother, who usually practiced boxing with Zhao Yan and had a very fiery personality.

A tall, thin Disciple next to him chimed in: "Two or three hundred? I don't think so. I took a peek at the valley entrance earlier, and it was a sea of people, at least four or five hundred! Several of the leaders are at the Foundation Establishment Peak, and there are even a few at the Golden Core Stage!"

"Four or five hundred?" Zhou Daniu's eyes brightened even more. "That's even better! A smaller number wouldn't be enough for me to practice with! It's the perfect chance to test the progress I've made over the last half month!"

"Oh, give it a rest," the tall, thin Disciple rolled his eyes at him. "With your Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation, you wouldn't be enough to satisfy them if you went out there. Those Golden Core Stage guys outside could crush you with a single slap."

"So what if I'm at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage?" Zhou Daniu said unconvinced, slamming his fist into a stone pier nearby, causing it to crack and send stone shards flying. "I've been practicing the Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art; I can now punch with three times the power I had before! So what if I'm at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage? I can still beat up a Golden Core! Don't believe me? Want to spar?"

"Fine, fine, fine, you're amazing, you're amazing. When we go out later, you charge first, and I'll wave the flags and cheer you on from the back."

"Coward!" Zhou Daniu sneered, but the Battle Intent in his eyes grew even stronger.

Not far away, several female Disciples were whispering to each other.

A round-faced female Disciple excitedly pulled on the Senior Sister next to her: "Senior Sister, Senior Sister, have you broken through to the Nascent Soul stage? I just felt your aura, it's so strong!"

That Senior Sister nodded slightly, an irrepressible smile on her face: "Yes, I just broke through the day before yesterday. It's all thanks to the Sect Master's Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art; otherwise, I would still be stuck at the Golden Core Peak, and who knows for how long."

"I'm almost there too!" The round-faced female Disciple's eyes were full of envy. "I feel like I'm just one step away. If I could have a fight, I might just break through!"

"That's what I was thinking too!" Another female Disciple nearby chimed in. "I've been cooped up for so long, finally there's a chance to vent! You have no idea; last time I went to the Spirit Medicine garden to collect Materials, those Taihu Clan Disciples blocked me and said so many nasty things. Things like 'Hehuan Sect vixen,' 'useless trash who only knows how to seduce men'... I was shaking with anger, but I had to hold it in!"

"I've encountered that too!" The round-faced female Disciple gritted her teeth. "They rely on being from the Taihu Clan to bully us at every turn. They deduct our Materials, mock us when we walk by, and if we talk back even a little, they beat us. I can't swallow this anger!"

"We can vent it today!" A trace of coldness flashed in that Senior Sister's eyes. "Today, let them know that our Hehuan Sect is not to be trifled with!"

In the center of the Martial Arts Arena, Leng Ningshuang stood quietly, a faint chill radiating from her body.

Her aura was much stronger than before—it was clearly the fluctuation of the Soul Transformation Stage!

And not just the early Soul Transformation Stage, but the third level of the Soul Transformation Stage!

Half a month ago, she had just broken through to the third level of the Nascent Soul stage. Half a month later, she had broken through several realms in succession, reaching the third level of the Soul Transformation Stage!

Such speed was unbelievable to anyone who heard it.

But the Qi Induction and Micro-Movement Art was just that magical.

Once you mastered the method of drawing energy from the air, your cultivation speed would skyrocket, rising rapidly.

Zhao Yan stood beside her, steam rising from his body, his muscles knotted, looking like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

His aura had also reached the Soul Transformation Stage!

He grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, his eyes full of eagerness to give it a try.

"Senior Sister Leng," he said in a muffled voice, "when the fighting starts later, leave those Golden Core Stage guys to me. My fists have been itching for a long time; it's the perfect time to test them out on them."

Leng Ningshuang glanced at him and said indifferently: "Don't be careless. Although the people outside don't have high cultivation, they are numerous. Besides, Mo Feng and his people are behind them."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Zhao Yan said dismissively. "So what if there are many of them? We aren't few either! Besides, with the Sect Master here, how could we possibly suffer?"