Preparations Before the Celebration

Ye An and Elder Zhou arrived at the gates of the Four Symbols Sect in the afternoon sunlight.

They followed the stone steps across the Inner Sect square. Disciples they met along the way stepped aside and saluted them with clasped fists.

Ye An and Elder Zhou nodded in acknowledgment.

"Elder Zhou, please report on our trip to deliver the Invitation Letter. I'm not much of a speaker." Ye An felt it would be awkward to recount it himself, so he made the request.

Elder Zhou gave Ye An a surprised look. Was he serious? Still, he nodded. "Of course, Chief Disciple Ye. If I get anything wrong, please correct me."

With that settled, the two entered the Main Hall together.

The hall was empty except for Zhao Xuanji.

When he saw them enter, he put down the book in his hands and looked up at them.

"How did it go?"

"Sect Master, everything went smoothly." Elder Zhou stepped forward first and saluted him, a note of excitement in his voice.

"I personally delivered the celebration Invitation Letter to Sect Master Yin of the Jade Balance Sect. She promised to attend the banquet herself."

Zhao Xuanji nodded, his expression unchanged.

When Elder Zhou saw that Zhao Xuanji had no questions, he raised his voice slightly and continued on his own.

"While we were delivering the Invitation Letter to the Jade Balance Sect, Chief Disciple Ye encountered a disciple named Qi Li. He asked Chief Disciple Ye for 'guidance'... and Chief Disciple Ye raised his hand, struck once, and defeated him with ease!"

"Qi Li ranks third among the Jade Balance Sect's younger generation. He's at Late Qi Condensation, and his saber technique has reached Penetration. Yet he couldn't even withstand a second move from our Chief Disciple Ye!"

"The entire