Chapter 22 ·True Martial Assembly!

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the hour of Si, inside the Teaching Hall, the Taiyi Dao Sect’s grand lecture held every seven days began as scheduled.

Gu ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yan and Lin Wei found seats toward the back and sat down.

Elders ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍from the three peaks took turns stepping onto the stage, and the three-hour lecture passed in the blink of an eye.

Just ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as the lecture was nearing its end, Elder Daoxuan slowly stepped forward, yet did not announce dismissal as usual.

“Everyone, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the True Martial Assembly of our Taiyi Dao Sect, held once every fifty years, will commence next month.”

Elder ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Daoxuan’s gaze swept across the audience.

“All inner sect disciples may register. Though participation is not mandatory, the top ten will receive generous rewards.”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall.

The younger disciples’ eyes lit up as they exchanged excited glances.

The True Martial Assembly was the stage for inner sect disciples to compete and make a name for themselves.

The victors would not only receive rich rewards from the sect, but might even be chosen by an elder as a personal disciple.

With a flick of his sleeve, Elder Daoxuan signaled, and three attendant disciples stepped forward, each holding a sword case.

The moment the cases opened, three streaks of cold light burst forth.

The three longswords lay quietly within, their blades shimmering with a starlike radiance.

“These three swords are all forged from meteorite iron from beyond the heavens, unmatched in sharpness.”

“The top three of this assembly may each obtain one.”

Gu Yan’s gaze lingered on the three swords for a moment.

Their appearance was indeed impressive, but they were ultimately mortal weapons.

To him, a cultivator at the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment, they were no different from ordinary iron.

Yet the surrounding disciples could hardly contain themselves, whispering among each other.

“That azure one—did you see the patterns on its hilt? Truly extraordinary!”

Beside him, Lin Wei leaned slightly closer and asked in a low voice: “Junior Brother Gu, will you participate in the True Martial Assembly?”

Gu Yan shook his head: “No. The swords are good, but they are useless to me.”

Lin Wei blinked, not surprised by the answer.

However, she had noticed the brief pause in his gaze when he looked at the swords.

“I see… I thought Junior Brother might be interested.” Lin Wei said softly.

“But I do want to try.

During this period, thanks to your guidance and the help of those pills, I have reached the mid-stage of Third Revolution.

I’ve heard that no Fourth Revolution disciples will participate this time. I might have a chance to compete for the top three.”

Gu Yan nodded: “Senior Sister’s cultivation has advanced rapidly. You should achieve a good ranking.”

“Then… during the matches, will Junior Brother come watch?”

Gu Yan was silent for a moment before saying, “For Senior Sister’s matches, I will be there.”

A faint smile curved at the corner of Lin Wei’s lips, and she said no more.

Elder Daoxuan then announced the registration details.

From today, registration would remain open for half a month. One month later, the competition would officially begin at the martial arena of Cloud-Mist Peak.

The rules were simple—one-on-one elimination. The top ten would be decided within seven days, and the final rankings determined on the last day.

After the lecture ended, the disciples left in small groups, their discussions continuing endlessly.

In the following days, Lin Wei entered secluded cultivation.

Gu Yan, on the other hand, enjoyed the peace.

But that peace did not last long.

On the afternoon of the fifteenth day, Lin Wei came to Gu Yan’s courtyard.

“Junior Brother, Senior Sister Liu of Cloud-Mist Peak is hosting a banquet, inviting inner sect disciples from various peaks… would you like to go with me?”

“When?”

“Tonight, at Flowing Cloud Pavilion on Cloud-Mist Peak.”

Gu Yan thought briefly, then shook his head: “With the True Martial Assembly approaching, such banquets are likely occasions to probe each other’s strength.

Since I’m not participating, going would only invite unnecessary trouble.”

“However, if Senior Sister wishes to go, you may go on your own.”

Hearing this, Lin Wei immediately said: “Then I won’t go either. Rather than wasting time on social formalities, I might as well practice my sword techniques a few more times.”

......

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the True Martial Assembly arrived as scheduled.

At the mountain gate of Cloud-Mist Peak, a massive wooden board listed the names of over two hundred registered disciples.

As Gu Yan passed by, he glanced at it and saw Lin Wei’s name.

He also saw familiar names such as Ye Chen and Xu Gang.

In the martial arena, ten platforms had already been set up, each surrounded by dense crowds.

On the high platform, elders from each peak sat upright, their auras deep and vast like the sea.

Gu Yan spotted Lin Wei’s master at a glance—Elder Qingquan.

This female elder appeared to be only around thirty, yet in truth she was already over sixty.

Her late-stage Fourth Revolution cultivation preserved her youthful appearance, her temperament as calm as a mountain spring.

As if sensing Gu Yan’s gaze, Elder Qingquan’s eyes swept lightly over him, pausing for a brief moment.

Then they turned toward Lin Wei in the distance, who was making preparations, and she let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

Gu Yan naturally understood the meaning behind that sigh.

It was probably something like—one’s tender cabbage… eventually… ahem.

Gu Yan’s expression remained calm as he withdrew his gaze and chose an inconspicuous corner to stand.

He had come today only to watch Lin Wei’s match.

Before long, Lin Wei stepped out from the crowd. Her eyes swept around, and when she saw Gu Yan, they lit up slightly.

Gu Yan nodded in response.

“First round, Platform Seven, Lin Wei versus Zhao Yan!”

An attendant disciple announced loudly.

Lin Wei leaped onto the platform. Opposite her stood a male disciple from Sword-Resting Peak, holding a heavy sword. His aura was steady, his strength roughly at the late stage of Second Revolution.

“Please instruct me, Senior Sister Lin.” Zhao Yan cupped his fists.

“Please.”

At the sound of the gong, Zhao Yan attacked first.

He knew his realm was inferior; only by seizing the initiative could he have a sliver of a chance.

The heavy sword struck with immense force, stirring whistling gusts.

Lin Wei did not meet it head-on. Her figure drifted like the wind, and her sword light suddenly split into three shadows, thrusting toward Zhao Yan’s upper, middle, and lower positions.

This move was precisely the Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword technique she had once taught Gu Yan in the outer sect.

With Gu Yan’s occasional guidance during this time, she could now unleash three strikes simultaneously.

Zhao Yan barely blocked two of the sword shadows, but the third had already tapped his wrist.

The heavy sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a clang.

“Thank you for the match.” Lin Wei withdrew her sword, her breathing steady.

Zhao Yan smiled bitterly and cupped his fists: “Senior Sister’s swordsmanship is exquisite. I am convinced.”

The entire match lasted less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea.

Though the disciples of Sword-Resting Peak sighed below the stage, none questioned the fairness.

After all, while drawing lots involved luck, luck itself was also a part of strength.

After stepping down, Lin Wei walked straight toward Gu Yan, a faint smile on her face: “Junior Brother, how was Senior Sister’s performance just now?”

“Clean and decisive.” Gu Yan gave a two-word evaluation.

After a brief exchange, Gu Yan turned and left.

Lin Wei had only this one match today; the second round would be tomorrow.

For him, watching matches of this level truly did not hold much interest.

Over the following days, Gu Yan appeared punctually each day, leaving immediately after watching Lin Wei’s matches.

Lin Wei advanced steadily, winning consecutive battles and smoothly entering the top sixteen.

Her mid-stage Third Revolution cultivation already placed her among the top tier of the inner sect. Combined with her increasingly proficient Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword, she rarely met an opponent she could not defeat.

At the same time, another name began to spread among the disciples.

Ye Chen.

This disciple, who had been only at the early stage of First Revolution in the outer sect a few years ago, had, after joining Sword-Resting Peak, advanced rapidly to the mid-stage of Second Revolution.

Even more astonishing was his combat strength.

In the second round, he had already defeated a senior brother at the early stage of Third Revolution, crossing realms in battle. His sword techniques were fierce and sharp, giving no ground.

“It’s said he obtained a secret inheritance from some senior…”

Various discussions occasionally drifted into Gu Yan’s ears, but his expression remained unchanged.

He was far too familiar with Ye Chen’s rise.

A genius’s ascent, inheritance obtained, emotional entanglements, fighting beyond one’s realm… a perfect protagonist template.

But what did all this have to do with him?

He only wished to be a quiet observer, occasionally giving a push to those around him—that was already enough.

RelatedRelatedRelated