Mountain Sea Pavilion

Li Xiaoyu pressed his palms together and bowed to the young monk.

He could sense that the monk before him was about his own age, yet his Cultivation was profound. He had unmistakably reached the Jade Purity Realm Seventh Layer.

His aura was pure, and the Buddha's light within him was restrained. Clearly, he was a disciple of a prestigious sect.

"This humble monk is Faxiang of Heavenly Sound Temple. It's a pleasure to meet you, Senior Brother Li."

The young monk returned the greeting with a smile, his voice as soothing as a spring breeze.

Heavenly Sound Temple. Faxiang.

Li Xiaoyu's heart stirred.

Heavenly Sound Temple, Green Cloud Sect, and Incense Burning Valley were known as the three great orthodox sects, each with unfathomable strength.

He had heard of Faxiang. They said he was the most outstanding disciple of the Young Generation at Heavenly Sound Temple, deeply versed in Buddhist teachings and highly valued by Master Puhong.

He hadn't expected to meet him here.

"So you're Senior Brother Faxiang. I've long admired you." Li Xiaoyu spoke politely.

As they exchanged pleasantries, an arrogant voice cut in.

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

Everyone turned toward the voice. A young man and woman in crimson robes were walking in through the entrance.

The man was handsome, with a trace of arrogance between his brows.

The woman was tall and strikingly beautiful, her expression cold.

Their clothes and the scorching Spiritual Energy radiating from them gave away their identities.

Disciples of Incense Burning Valley.

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

The man named Li Xun cupped his hands toward Faxiang, his manner reasonably courteous.

But when his gaze shifted to Li Xiaoyu and the others, it turned scrutinizing and contemptuous.

"Yan Hong."

The woman beside him gave a cold nod in greeting.

Li Xun's gaze lingered on Lu Xueqi for a moment, admiration flashing in his eyes. Then it settled on Li Xiaoyu, his contempt growing even stronger.

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

His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

"Seeing you in person is not like hearing about you. You don't seem nearly as extraordinary as the rumors made you out to be."

His words were openly provocative.

Incense Burning Valley and Green Cloud Sect were both leaders of the orthodox path, and had long competed behind the scenes.

Li Xiaoyu had risen to prominence in the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, overshadowing the younger generation of Incense Burning Valley. That had rankled Li Xun, whose pride knew no bounds.

Now that they'd met, he saw that Li Xiaoyu's Cultivation was only at the sixth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, lower than his own and Lu Xueqi's. He could no longer conceal his disdain.

Before Li Xiaoyu could respond, Qi Hao behind him let out a cold laugh.

"Senior Brother Li Xun, you're mistaken. My Senior Brother Li's abilities can't be judged by ordinary standards."

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

He wanted nothing more than for Li Xun and Li Xiaoyu to start fighting right there, so he could watch Li Xiaoyu make a fool of himself.

The atmosphere in Mountain Sea Pavilion's main hall grew tense.

The young leaders of the three great orthodox sects had gathered in Heyang City under such circumstances.

Green Cloud Sect's internal strife, Incense Burning Valley's provocation, and Heavenly Sound Temple's quiet observation.

All sorts of feelings mingled, while currents of tension stirred beneath the surface.

Everyone's eyes fixed on Li Xiaoyu.

As Green Cloud Sect's leader and the eye of the storm, how would he respond?

Li Xiaoyu's expression remained calm.

He acted as though he hadn't heard the provocation in Li Xun's words, or noticed Qi Hao fanning the flames.

He smiled at Li Xun.

"Senior Brother Li Xun, you're joking."

He continued, "Rumors are just rumors. They're not to be taken seriously. Disciples of Green Cloud Sect have never relied on empty fame to make their way in the world."

"We rely on the swords in our hands."

His words were mild, yet filled with confidence.

The meaning was clear: My strength isn't proven by talk or rumors. It's proven by my sword. Want to find out?

Li Xun's smile stiffened.

In Li Xiaoyu's calm eyes, he sensed danger.

It was a killing aura tempered amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood, something no sheltered flower could possess.

Li Xun's heart tightened, and he took half a step back.

Then he realized he'd lost his composure. His face flushed with shame and anger.

"You—"

Just as he was about to lash out, Faxiang stepped forward and smoothly intervened with a smile.

"Amitabha. Senior Brothers, we have all come because of the matter at Kongsang Mountain. We are allies."

"The Demon Sect's fiends are moving in secret. We should work together to fight evil. Why let this sour our relations?"

Faxiang's words were like a gentle breeze, dispelling the tension.

Li Xun seized the chance to back down, gave a cold snort, and said no more.

Li Xiaoyu glanced at Faxiang.

This young monk of Heavenly Sound Temple was no simple man.

"Senior Brother Faxiang is right."

Li Xiaoyu nodded and addressed everyone. "You've all traveled a long way and must be tired. Why don't we return to our rooms and rest for now, then meet here later to discuss what to do next?"

Faxiang smiled and nodded. "Very well."

Li Xun was displeased, but had no grounds to object. With a cold expression, he turned and left with Yan Hong.

Li Xiaoyu didn't linger. He led the other three upstairs, following the inn's attendant.

Qi Hao followed behind, watching Li Xiaoyu's back with an increasingly dark expression.

He was finding it harder and harder to understand this junior brother.

Li Xiaoyu's growth was so rapid that it frightened him.

Lu Xueqi watched Li Xiaoyu's profile, her eyes shining.

This was the man she loved.

Composed, confident, and responsible.

No matter what situation he faced, he remained calm and in control.

Night fell, and the city's lights began to glow.

Mountain Sea Pavilion's restaurant was ablaze with lights, its tables filled with guests.

Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, Qi Hao, and Zhang Xiaofan took seats by a window on the second floor.

They had arranged earlier to meet the disciples of Heavenly Sound Temple and Incense Burning Valley here to discuss important matters.

But they waited and waited, and the other two sects still didn't show.

Qi Hao grew impatient and snorted. "What an attitude. We agreed on a time, and now they're nowhere to be seen. I say the monks from Heavenly Sound Temple and the people from Incense Burning Valley don't take Green Cloud Sect seriously at all!"

His complaint was clearly aimed at Li Xiaoyu, their leader.

Li Xiaoyu didn't mind. He lifted his teacup and took a sip.

"Don't get worked up. Something may have held them up."

His gaze swept over the street below as he spread his spiritual sense across all of Mountain Sea Pavilion.

Li Xiaoyu could sense that Faxiang and Li Xun were both in their respective rooms, with no sign that they had gone out.

They were doing it on purpose.

It was a test and a show of force from the other two sects, aimed at Green Cloud Sect—or rather, at him, their leader.

They wanted to see how he would respond.

If he lost his patience and went to hurry them along, he would give up the upper hand and lose the initiative.

Li Xiaoyu sneered inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged.

He turned to Zhang Xiaofan, who looked uneasy, and smiled warmly. "Junior Brother Xiao Fan, don't be shy. Order whatever you want."

"Oh, all right. Thank you, Senior Brother Li."

Zhang Xiaofan hurriedly picked up the menu, but the expensive dishes listed there left him unsure what to choose.

At Big Bamboo Peak, he was used to home-cooked meals. He had never seen anything like this.

Zhang Xiaofan studied the menu for a long while. In the end, he pointed at the cheapest vegetable dish in the corner and said quietly, "I'll have the greens with tofu."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone at the next table snickered.