"That man looks like Yan Gu, the one ranked first!"
"Yan Gu? Are you sure you didn't mistake him for someone else?"
"No mistake. He's a disciple of the Jinfeng Lineage. We're fellow disciples—how could I fail to recognize him?"
Just then, hushed voices suddenly rose from the crowd, drawing many people's attention.
The middle-aged man and the younger man turned to look. They were none other than Gu Liangyunzong and Ye Qiuchen, but all they saw was Yan Gu's back disappearing into the crowd.
Quite a few people had already hurried after him, all wanting to see what Yan Gu looked like.
"So that's Yan Gu, first on the Heaven Ascending Ranking? I didn't notice anything special about him."
Ye Qiuchen gazed in the direction Yan Gu had disappeared, puzzlement in his eyes.
Gu Liangyunzong narrowed his eyes slightly and said quietly, "He has already reached the state of returning to simplicity and truth. We walked right past him just now without sensing any aura from him at all. That should tell you how powerful he is. If you encounter someone like that in the future, someone whose cultivation you cannot sense, you must be careful. The people who come to this trial ground are the finest martial geniuses from their respective worlds. You cannot afford to be careless!"
A gleam stirred in Ye Qiuchen's eyes at those words, and he nodded.
"You're right, Master. I'll remember your lesson!"
Gu Liangyunzong glanced at him. "You've advanced to the late Pre-Heaven Realm too, but your progress is still a little slow. Resources are plentiful here. You must use them to reach the peak of the Pre-Heaven Realm as soon as possible. Then we'll find a way to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm!"
"Yes, Master. I'll do everything I