Mountain Sea Pavilion

Li Xiaoyu pressed his palms together in a salute toward the young monk.

He could sense that while the young monk before him was of a similar age, his cultivation was profound, impressively reaching the Jade Purity Realm Seventh Layer.

His aura was pure and his Buddhist radiance restrained, clearly marking him as a disciple of a prestigious sect.

"This humble monk is Faxiang of Heavenly Sound Temple. Greetings, Senior Brother Li."

The young monk returned the salute with a smile, his voice as comfortable as a spring breeze.

Heavenly Sound Temple, Faxiang.

Li Xiaoyu's heart stirred.

Heavenly Sound Temple, along with Green Cloud Sect and Incense Burning Valley, were known as the three great pillars of the righteous path, their strength unfathomable.

He had heard of the name Faxiang; it was said he was the most outstanding disciple of the Young Generation at Heavenly Sound Temple, possessing profound mastery of Buddhist dharma and held in high regard by Master Puhong.

He had not expected to encounter him here.

"So it is Senior Brother Faxiang. I have long admired your reputation," Li Xiaoyu said courteously.

As the two exchanged pleasantries, an arrogant voice cut in.

"I didn't expect our friends from Green Cloud Sect and Heavenly Sound Temple to arrive so early."

Everyone turned toward the sound to see a young man and woman dressed in crimson robes walking through the entrance.

The man had a handsome face, his brows etched with arrogance.

The woman was tall and slender with beautiful features and a cold expression.

The attire they wore and the scorching fluctuations of Spiritual Energy revealed their identities.

Disciples of Incense Burning Valley.

"Li Xun of Incense Burning Valley greets Senior Brother Faxiang and everyone from Green Cloud Sect."

The man named Li Xun cupped his hands toward Faxiang, his attitude reasonably polite.

However, when his gaze shifted to Li Xiaoyu and the others, it became filled with scrutiny and contempt.

"Yan Hong."

The woman beside him nodded coldly, acknowledging them as a greeting.

Li Xun's gaze lingered on Lu Xueqi for a moment, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes, before it fell upon Li Xiaoyu, the look of contempt deepening.

"This must be the champion of this year's Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, Senior Brother Li Xiaoyu, right?"

His tone was sarcastic.

"Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times over; you don't seem as miraculous as the rumors suggest."

The words were filled with provocation.

Incense Burning Valley and Green Cloud Sect were both leaders of the righteous path, and they competed against each other in the shadows.

Li Xiaoyu's rise during the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament had overshadowed the Young Generation of Incense Burning Valley, which left the proud and arrogant Li Xun feeling displeased.

Seeing him today and discovering that Li Xiaoyu's cultivation was only at the Jade Purity Realm Sixth Layer—lower than both his own and Lu Xueqi's—he could no longer hide his contempt and disdain.

Facing this provocation, before Li Xiaoyu could speak, Qi Hao behind him let out a cold laugh.

"Junior Brother Li Xun is mistaken. The abilities of this Senior Brother Li of mine cannot be judged by conventional logic."

Qi Hao's words sounded like a defense of Li Xiaoyu, but the gloating tone was obvious to everyone.

He was practically hoping for Li Xun and Li Xiaoyu to start fighting right then and there so he could enjoy the spectacle.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the main hall of Mountain Sea Pavilion became subtle.

The young leaders of the three great righteous sects had gathered in Heyang City in such a manner.

The internal conflicts of Green Cloud Sect, the provocations of Incense Burning Valley, and the detached observation of Heavenly Sound Temple.

Various emotions mingled, and undercurrents surged.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Li Xiaoyu.

As the leader of the Green Cloud Sect and the center of the storm, how would he respond?

Li Xiaoyu's face remained calm.

He seemed not to have heard the provocation in Li Xun's words, nor did he care about Qi Hao's fanning of the flames.

He smiled at Li Xun.

"Senior Brother Li Xun is joking."

He spoke, "Rumors are, after all, just rumors and cannot be taken as truth. We disciples of Green Cloud Sect have never relied on empty fame to establish ourselves."

"We rely on the swords in our hands."

His words were plain, yet filled with confidence.

The meaning was clear: the extent of his strength was not determined by words or rumors, but would be proven by his sword. Did he want to test it?

The smile on Li Xun's face stiffened.

He read a sense of danger in Li Xiaoyu's calm gaze.

It was an aura of slaughter honed in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, something a flower raised in a greenhouse could never possess.

Li Xun felt a shiver run through his heart and took half a step back.

He immediately realized his loss of composure, his face flushing red with a mixture of shame and anger.

"You."

Just as he was about to lash out, Faxiang stepped in from the side, smiling to smooth things over.

"Amitabha. Fellow brothers, since we have all come for the sake of the Kongsang Mountain affair, we are comrades."

"Now that the Demon Sect evildoers are moving in secret, we should be working together to suppress the demons. Why damage our harmony here?"

Faxiang's words were like a gentle breeze, dispersing the tense atmosphere.

Li Xun took the opportunity to back down, snorting coldly without another word.

Li Xiaoyu looked at Faxiang.

This young high monk from Heavenly Sound Temple was no simple character.

"Brother Faxiang is right."

Li Xiaoyu nodded and said to the group, "Everyone has traveled a long way and must be exhausted. Why don't we return to our rooms to rest and gather here later to discuss our next steps?"

Faxiang nodded with a smile. "Excellent."

Li Xun was displeased, but finding no reason to object, he could only turn and leave with Yan Hong, his face cold.

Li Xiaoyu did not linger; he led the three people behind him upstairs under the guidance of the waiter.

Qi Hao followed behind, watching Li Xiaoyu's back, his eyes growing increasingly gloomy.

He realized he was finding it harder and harder to see through this junior brother of his.

Li Xiaoyu's growth was so fast that it made him feel afraid.

Lu Xueqi looked at Li Xiaoyu's profile, her eyes shimmering with brilliance.

This was the man she admired.

Composed, confident, and responsible.

No matter what situation he faced, he could handle it calmly and maintain control over the big picture.

Night fell, and the lanterns were lit.

The Mountain Sea Pavilion restaurant was brightly lit and filled with guests.

Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zhang Xiaofan sat at a window-side table on the second floor.

They had agreed to meet the disciples of Heavenly Sound Temple and Incense Burning Valley here during the day to discuss important matters.

But after waiting for a long time, the people from the other two sects still had not appeared.

Qi Hao was somewhat impatient and snorted coldly, "What high and mighty airs. We agreed on a time, yet they are nowhere to be seen. I think the monks from Heavenly Sound Temple and those fellows from Incense Burning Valley don't hold our Green Cloud Sect in any regard at all!"

His words were full of complaints, aimed directly at Li Xiaoyu, who was serving as the team leader.

Li Xiaoyu, however, did not mind, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

"Patience. Perhaps they were delayed by something."

His gaze swept across the street below, and his divine sense spread out, covering the entire Mountain Sea Pavilion.

Li Xiaoyu could sense that both Faxiang's and Li Xun's auras were in their respective rooms, with no signs of them having gone out.

They were doing this on purpose.

This was a test and a show of force from the other two sects toward the Green Cloud Sect—or rather, toward him as the leader.

They wanted to see how he would react.

If he lost his composure and went to urge them, he would be playing into their hands and lose the initiative.

Li Xiaoyu sneered inwardly, but his expression remained calm.

He turned to look at the restless Zhang Xiaofan and smiled gently. "Junior Brother Xiaofan, don't be nervous. Order whatever you'd like to eat."

"Oh, right, okay, Senior Brother Li."

Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly picked up the menu, but seeing the expensive dishes listed, he didn't know what to choose.

He had only ever eaten home-cooked meals at Big Bamboo Peak; he had never seen such a display.

Zhang Xiaofan flipped through the menu for a long time before finally pointing to the cheapest vegetable dish in the corner and whispering, "I'll just have this vegetable and tofu."

As soon as he finished speaking, a scoff came from the neighboring table.