Pan Long recounted the whole affair in detail, sticking to the facts without offering any of his own guesses.
Lie Yukou had attained the Dao long before Lanling Kuang or Bi Lingkong. He had been among the first disciples accepted after Dao Ancestor Taishang's disciples founded the Daoist School. He had become one of the Immortals and Buddhas as early as the beginning of the Warring States era. Though he could not claim the seniority of those who had attained the Dao before the Daoist School existed, within the school he was an elder through and through.
Otherwise, he would not have been qualified to debate anyone at the Daoist School's assembly.
An Immortal like Ren Changsheng, even if he attended the assembly someday, would only be allowed to sit and listen. Unless Chunyangzi, the founder of his lineage, appointed him as a representative, what right would he have to speak for the Pure Yang Lineage?
Lie Yukou, however, could serve as a representative. At times, he could even speak for the Daoist School itself.
Among the Hundred Schools of Thought of the Warring States era, ten Immortals were the most renowned. They were known as the "Ten Heroes Under Heaven," and Lie Yukou ranked fifth among them, worthy of being named alongside Master Lu, head of the Confucian School.
As for Lanling Kuang... he had not made the Ten Heroes. Supposedly, he had always resented that, convinced everyone had underestimated him.
Lie Yukou truly had crossed more bridges than Pan Long had eaten salt. Anything Pan Long could think of, he could think of too—and far beyond it.
So Pan Long did not interfere with his reasoning by offering guesses. He simply laid out the known facts.
Inside the bamboo pavilion, Lie Yukou sat before a ring of light.