Reunion

Chu Xingchen hesitated slightly, his gaze shifting toward the composed Li Moze.

If it was Bai Xuanling’s request, there must be some reasoning behind it, right?

Surely, the Tianyan Sect’s sect master had also been consulted?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Chu Xingchen made up his mind. He raised his head slightly, casting a faintly disdainful glance at the two across from him, his expression hovering between amusement and provocation—almost asking for a beating.

“If you put it that way, then yes, for your Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect… that’s certainly the case.” Chu Xingchen’s eyes wandered idly before he sighed lightly and turned to Yanyun with a questioning look.

“Yanyun, what do you think?”

As his words fell, silence instantly blanketed the scene.

Xu Jin’s brows furrowed slightly, his expression not one of anger but confusion—just how strong must this guy be to act so brainlessly?

Lv Xuan’s gaze flickered with surprise before swiftly turning to Bai Xuanling—This is your doing?!

Lv Xuan had interacted with Chu Xingchen before. Without someone egging him on, there was no way he’d act so recklessly arrogant.

Bai Xuanling met the sect master’s accusatory stare with unshaken calm, his expression practically saying, This is just how he is—you misjudged him.

Yanyun looked at Chu Xingchen, her expression complicated—Why drag me into your mess?

Though she felt somewhat backstabbed, she knew where her loyalties lay.

Her expression tightened slightly as she spoke. “Well… that’s how it is, I suppose.”

A faint smile touched Li Moze’s stern face.

“The Tianyan Sect has two such talents, each with their own brilliance. As for the current Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect, outsiders might indeed find it lacking.”

Chu Xingchen’s face lit up with understanding, and he grinned.

“Oh? Then I’ll eagerly await the unseen brilliance of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect that Sect Master Li speaks of.”

Li Moze’s expression remained calm, though his smile faded slightly.

“There will be opportunities.”

Lv Xuan sighed inwardly. If the tone’s been set high, then let it stay high. Otherwise, if we back down now, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect will have the last laugh.

Originally, he had planned to keep things low-key, but who knew Bai Xuanling would play him like this?

Lv Xuan’s demeanor grew more solemn as he lifted his chin slightly.

“Isn’t this the opportunity? We came precisely to properly witness the brilliance of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect.”

Bai Xuanling’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as his leisurely gaze settled on Li Moze.

“We elders have lost some of our edge, but the younger generation thrives on this kind of competitive spirit.”

Lost some edge?

Li Moze studied Bai Xuanling, whose shameless demeanor remained unchanged, and understood their intentions. He replied coolly,

“Naturally. My disciple, Xu Jin, has long awaited this. After all, aside from kindred spirits, true rivals are rare.”

Chu Xingchen beamed. “Sect Master Li truly knows how to speak. In all this time, I’ve yet to meet a worthy opponent—what a pity.”

Xu Jin stepped forward, locking eyes with Chu Xingchen.

“That’s only because Brother Chu has encountered nothing but mediocrities.”

Chu Xingchen met his gaze unflinchingly, his grin widening—This should be… sufficiently obnoxious, right?

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Then, a voice echoed from outside.

“The Taidao Sect has arrived.”

Li Moze withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.

“Esteemed friends of the Tianyan Sect, please take your seats.”

Lv Xuan swept his sleeve, his robes billowing as his demeanor turned cold and imposing, exuding an air of one who held the secrets of heaven itself—no longer the mischievous elder who enjoyed watching his disciples flounder.

Bai Xuanling followed silently behind Lv Xuan as they took their seats.

Seeing her master’s seriousness, Yanyun’s expression also turned icy, her gaze devoid of emotion. As she passed, she glanced briefly at Xu Jin.

Chu Xingchen trailed Bai Xuanling, shooting him a look—Like this?

Bai Xuanling raised a brow—Perfect.

As Chu Xingchen and the others settled in, the Taidao Sect’s delegation entered the hall.

Leading them was the Taidao Sect’s sect master, followed by Daoist Yuyang—whom they had clashed with before—and several elders.

Compared to the Tianyan Sect’s confrontational stance, the Taidao Sect was far more diplomatic, exchanging pleasantries before taking their seats.

This gathering of immortal sects had not invited all eighteen major factions, only a select few.

After all, more participants meant more conflicting interests, complicating matters.

Moreover, if the Buddhist sects had come, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect wouldn’t have been the primary target.

To maintain control, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had chosen to host the event, which implicitly granted the Tianyan Sect the right to extend invitations.

While the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect organized the gathering, the Tianyan Sect had invited the Vast Heaven Palace, the Xiaoyun Hall, and the Taidao Sect.

Though the Tianyan Sect and Taidao Sect weren’t on the best terms, annoying the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect took precedence.

The invited sects arrived within moments of each other, having coordinated their schedules beforehand.

However, while the Tianyan and Taidao Sects brought their sect masters and elite disciples, the Vast Heaven Palace and Xiaoyun Hall seemed more like token participants—led by elders with a handful of core disciples in tow, far from the all-out displays of the others.

Still, their presence alone was a statement. And those who came were, after all, future pillars of their sects.

They weren’t here to embarrass themselves—only to show face.

Among the familiar faces, aside from Daoist Yuyang of the Taidao Sect, there was one from the Xiaoyun Hall—Ye Antao.

The same reckless hothead from the Mist Mystic Temple incident, whom Chen Mouguang had deemed a true fool after she removed her mask twice.

She wasn’t a core disciple of the Xiaoyun Hall, but her inclusion suggested she held some standing.

Yet from the moment she entered and spotted Daoist Yuyang, her head remained bowed, her figure shrinking into the background as if terrified of being recognized.

Only after safely taking her seat did she exhale in relief.

Back then, she had been causing trouble for the Taidao Sect. Though she’d worn a mask, if Daoist Yuyang remembered her, it wouldn’t end well.

The battle at Mist Mystic Temple had left her thoroughly shaken.

But while Ye Antao was busy hiding, someone else was far more brazen.

She watched as Chu Xingchen—mask long discarded—casually nodded at Daoist Yuyang with an air of utter nonchalance.

Daoist Yuyang, however, only offered a perfunctory response.

Just as Ye Antao marveled at Chu Xingchen’s audacity—and the fact that she’d once schemed alongside someone of his caliber—his greeting gaze landed on her.

Good news: Chu Xingchen remembered their past camaraderie.

Bad news: Daoist Yuyang’s suspicious eyes followed.

Ye Antao’s eyes widened, her face frozen in an expression of sheer panic.