I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Even the three Overlord Sect cultivators behind Xiang Long showed expressions of horror, clearly terrified of the name "Li Han".

Only Qin Yuan remained expressionless, as if he had only heard an insignificant name, though a deeper chill flashed in his eyes.

"The top person in the lower sect... Interesting. Envoy Xiang, do you know where he can usually be found?"

Seeing that Qin Yuan remained unfazed despite Li Han's fearsome reputation, Xiang Long's opinion of him rose even higher, and his attitude became even more respectful: "This man is indeed difficult to find, as his whereabouts are elusive. However... he seems to have some inexplicable connection with the Tianxuan Sect, the leader of all sects. And a month later, the once-in-a-century Grand Gathering of the Hundred Sects will be held, hosted by the Tianxuan Sect, in its home city of Tianxuan City."

As is customary, such grand events not only attract the prodigies of various sects, but also some reclusive, powerful cultivators. Given Li Han's personality and his persistence in certain matters, the possibility of him appearing in Tianxuan City at that time is... extremely high.

"The Gathering of Prodigies, Tianxuan City..." Qin Yuan repeated softly, then nodded. "I understand. Thank you."

Xiang Long wisely refrained from asking further questions. After thanking him repeatedly, he gestured for his men to quickly help up Xiang Tian, ​​who was still distraught and seemed to have lost all his energy. He then hurriedly took his leave.

As Xiang Tian was being helped past Qin Yuan, he stumbled slightly. He turned his head slightly and glanced at Qin Yuan's calm profile with a complex look in his eyes. His lips moved, but it turned into a barely audible sigh, as if he had exhausted all his strength. He was then slumped out of the side hall.

This battle, this capture and this release, utterly shattered all his pride and confidence, casting a heavy shadow over his future path.

After the members of the Overlord Sect disappeared outside the hall, the side hall remained silent for a long time.

Chu Wuyue took several deep breaths to barely suppress the shock and lingering fear in her heart. She looked at Qin Yuan, her voice hoarse, "Junior Brother Qin, that Li Han is actually... the number one person in the lower sect? We..."

Qin Yuan turned and looked at the gloomy sky outside the hall. Dark red clouds hung low, as if foreshadowing an impending storm. His voice was calm, yet carried a resolute determination to cut everything off:

"What he took, I will take back. What he injured, I will make him pay a hundredfold."

"The number one person in the lower sects... it's time to change that title."

"See you in Tianxuan City in a month."

His figure stood straight as a spear, and an invisible aura of sharpness and confidence spread out, quietly dispelling the dark clouds of fear that shrouded Chu Wuyue and the others.

A grand gathering of geniuses? A gathering of heroes?

Just right.

It's time for the name of the Xuan Yuan Sect to resound throughout this battlefield. And Li Han is the first stepping stone.

Amidst the battlefields of a hundred sects, on the endless wasteland, lies a place transcending the mundane world.

This is not any city, but a crystal platform suspended thousands of feet in the sky.

The platform was built of an unknown white jade, with clouds churning around its edges and shimmering with rosy light. The rich spiritual energy almost condensed into tangible spiritual rain, which dripped down to nourish the few rare and exotic plants on the platform that exuded an amazing medicinal fragrance.

In the center of Sendai, the most eye-catching feature is a giant mirror that is ten feet tall and about five feet wide.

The frame is neither gold nor wood, but is engraved with ancient patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and peaks. The mirror does not reflect the scene before your eyes, but flows like water, clearly dividing it into thousands of images. Each image shows a scene happening in a different corner of the Hundred Sects Battlefield—cultivators fighting, demons rushing, exploring secret realms, attacking and defending cities... every detail is shown.

This is the supreme treasure of the five great sects that oversees the battlefields of the hundred sects—the "Mirror of Heaven and Earth".

At this moment, on the Sendai, in front of the giant mirror, are five cloud beds emitting a faint, clear glow.

The five figures sat casually, their auras sometimes ethereal, sometimes deep, sometimes sharp, and sometimes obscure, but without exception, they were all like the deepest abyss, unfathomable.

They are the five elders of the upper sects who are in charge of supervising and selecting talents this time.

In the center was an elderly man in purple robes, with a lean face, three long wisps of beard, and eyes that were gentle yet insightful. He was none other than Zhou Qingxuan, the elder of the Taiyi Sect, the head of the five great sects.

To his left were, in order, the aloof swordsman elder of the Myriad Swords Pavilion and the dignified middle-aged man of the Profound Heaven Sect. To his right was the gaunt old man from the Green Wood Sect who had taken Lin Qing'er away—Mu Sangzi—and finally, the Netherworld Palace elder with a slightly effeminate aura.

The five people's gazes mostly swept casually across the mirror, occasionally lingering on the image of a cultivator who performed exceptionally well.

"what?"

Zhou Qingxuan suddenly let out a soft exclamation, his gaze focusing on a corner of the mirror. There, in a side hall of Lava City, Qin Yuan confronted Xiang Long of the Overlord Sect, then calmly inquired about Li Han's whereabouts. The image was clear, and even the sounds of their conversation were captured by some kind of power of rules, faintly audible.

Zhou Qingxuan pointed his finger, and the image instantly magnified, occupying a large area in the center of the mirror. He looked at Qin Yuan's calm face with great interest, listened to Xiang Long's description of Li Han as "the number one person in the lower sects," and recalled the scenes of Qin Yuan walking out of the Time Remnant Palace, capturing Xiang Tian with one hand, and even earlier, breaking Chen Xingzi's Beidou Zhushen Sword with a single punch.

"This boy..." Zhou Qingxuan stroked his beard and smiled, his admiration growing stronger. "From the early stage of Nascent Soul when he entered the battlefield to the initial stage of Deity Transformation now, how long has it been? A month? The solidity of his foundation is truly the best I have ever seen in my life."

Despite the fearsome reputation of being the top disciple of the lower sects, he remained unfazed and had a well-thought-out plan. Even more commendable was his loyalty and righteousness towards his fellow disciples, and his clear distinction between rewards and punishments. Even when faced with the Tyrant Sect's offer of substantial compensation, he did not pursue them relentlessly, demonstrating tact and restraint. Excellent! Very good!

He made no attempt to hide his admiration, turning to look at the other four, especially Mu Sangzi, and said with a smile, "Old Mu, I remember that your Qingmu Sect took a girl with an innate wood spirit body from the Xuanyuan Sect a few days ago? This Qin Yuan is also from the Xuanyuan Sect, and he must have a close relationship with that girl, right? However, this boy's path seems to be more in line with the Taiyi Sect's principle of inclusiveness, moderation, and peace. This time, I must take the lead."

Mu Sangzi's thin face showed little expression, but her heart sank.

He certainly recognized Qin Yuan, the Qin Yuan that Lin Qing'er had been longing for before she was taken away. He had also received some reports from the Qingmu Sect about Lin Qing'er and knew that Qin Yuan was extremely important to her.

As is customary, although the five major sects compete with each other, they usually do not break off relations over a genius from a lower sect, especially if it involves an old friend of another genius.

However, Zhou Qingxuan is the chief elder of the Taiyi Immortal Sect this time, and his position is highly respected. If he is determined to take the person, it is not worth it for me to stand up for a Saintess friend who has not yet officially joined the sect. I cannot stand up for him.

He paused for a moment, then smirked, "Elder Zhou has a discerning eye; this young man is indeed extraordinary. Our Qingmu Sect has already found a genius; how dare we be greedy? Elder Zhou, please proceed."

Even so, he couldn't help but feel some regret and worry. If Qin Yuanruo entered the Taiyi Immortal Sect, the chances of him seeing Lin Qing'er again in the future would be slim, which might affect the girl's state of mind.

Moreover… he glanced at Qin Yuan's imposing figure in the mirror; this boy's potential was probably even more terrifying than they had previously estimated. What a pity, what a pity.