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

Qin Yuan seemed oblivious to the surrounding chatter and stares. He waved his hand to dispel the pure spiritual mist on the table and continued to leisurely sip his tea and read the jade slip, as if everything that had just happened was merely a gentle breeze.

Just as the atmosphere became delicate, a slightly hesitant voice sounded from the side:

"This... Fellow Daoist Qin?"

Qin Yuan looked up and saw a young cultivator, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a handsome face and refined demeanor, standing not far from the table, with a kind smile on his face and bowing in greeting.

This young man was at the late Nascent Soul stage, with a pure and gentle aura and clear eyes, completely different from You Wuying's cold and eerie temperament just now.

"My name is Situ Ming, from the Qingyun Sect." The young man introduced himself humbly. "I just witnessed you exchanging words with that You Wuying... uh, I mean, your demeanor is truly admirable. Please forgive my intrusion."

Qingyun Sect? Qin Yuan had seen this name in the jade slip. It was ranked in the twenties, which meant it was either a low-ranking first-class sect or a top-ranking second-class sect. Its reputation seemed to be quite good, and it was known for its array formations and beast taming.

"Is there something you need, Fellow Daoist Situ?" Qin Yuan put down his teacup, his tone calm.

Seeing that Qin Yuan didn't intend to keep him at arm's length, Situ Ming's smile became even more sincere. He stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Indeed, I have something to discuss. Have you heard that there's a small gathering tonight at Lan Yue Tower in the west of the city?"

"reunion?"

"Exactly." Situ Ming nodded. "The initiator is Liu Mubai of the Tianxuan Sect, who is currently ranked second on the list of geniuses. The invitees are all young talents who have made a name for themselves or whose potential is highly regarded in this grand event. Rather than a gathering, it is more like a... preliminary meeting between geniuses, or rather, a preliminary assessment."

Qin Yuan's gaze flickered slightly. Liu Mubai of the Tianxuan Sect, ranked second in the jade slip, only after Li Han, was a holy son whom the Tianxuan Sect had devoted all its efforts to cultivating. He possessed the cultivation of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm and was said to possess some kind of ancient Dao body, making his strength unfathomable. A gathering initiated by him would certainly be of a high standard.

"What does Fellow Daoist Situ mean?"

Situ Ming's face showed a perfectly measured mix of embarrassment and frankness: "To be honest, I also managed to obtain an invitation by sheer luck. However... the Qingyun Sect's strength in this grand event isn't particularly outstanding. With my meager cultivation level, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have the qualifications to speak on equal terms with others in such a setting. So..."

He looked at Qin Yuan with earnest eyes: "Just now I saw that you, Fellow Daoist, possess astonishing supernatural powers and extraordinary demeanor. Even You Wuying was unable to gain the upper hand. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of coming here to invite you to join me. With your exceptional strength, you will surely shine brightly at the gathering."

And I... can also benefit from this, so I won't be too embarrassed. In return, I'm willing to share with you what I know about the gathering and about some potential rivals. Moreover,

He paused, then offered a tempting offer: "I've heard that Liu Mubai is hosting this event, and not only has he prepared the finest spirit wine and immortal brew, but he will also bring out a Dao Enlightenment Stone for the attendees to briefly observe and contemplate, in order to facilitate exchange and learning."

Enlightenment Stone?

A hint of surprise flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes. He had heard of this thing before; it was a rare treasure of heaven and earth, containing the natural Daoist essence. When a cultivator sat quietly beside it, there was a very high probability that they would enter a state of deep enlightenment, which had incredible benefits for breaking through bottlenecks, comprehending supernatural powers, and even realizing one's true nature.

Even a small piece is of immeasurable value. Liu Mubai is actually willing to take it out? It seems this gathering is not so simple.

"Why did you seek me out?" Qin Yuan asked directly. "You weren't the only one who witnessed my actions today. There are likely others with far greater reputations than me who also received invitations."

Situ Ming smiled wryly: "Those with illustrious reputations have their own circles; why would they care about my meager assistance? As for others… to be frank, when You Wuying was here just now, most people avoided him like the plague. Very few dared to face him as openly as you. And from my observation, although you possess formidable strength, you are not arrogant, and you act with propriety. You are not the kind of person who is difficult to get along with. More importantly…"

He looked at Qin Yuan earnestly: "Fellow Daoist comes from the Xuan Yuan Sect, where your foundation is the weakest. Traveling with me is a mutually beneficial arrangement, where each of us can gain something from the other, which is the safest option. Although my strength is lacking, my sect has accumulated some knowledge in intelligence and unorthodox methods, which may be of some benefit to you."

These words were frank and honest, pointing out Qin Yuan's shortcomings while also demonstrating his own value, and placing both parties in a relatively equal cooperative position, rather than simply being dependent on each other.

Qin Yuan pondered for a moment. As a newcomer, his understanding of the top genius circle in Tianxuan City was indeed limited. This gathering initiated by Liu Mubai was undoubtedly a good opportunity to quickly gain insight, obtain first-hand information, and even assess the strength of some opponents in advance.

Judging from his words and actions, Situ Ming is a meticulous person who knows when to advance and when to retreat. He is suitable as a temporary guide and partner.

"Fellow Daoist Situ," Qin Yuan said, a faint smile appearing on his lips, "you really think highly of me."

Seeing that Qin Yuan didn't directly refuse but instead smiled, Situ Ming felt relieved and laughed along, a smile tinged with self-deprecation and magnanimity: "There's no other way. If your strength isn't enough, your judgment has to be more accurate. Otherwise, in this gathering of geniuses, you probably wouldn't even get a hot sip of soup. Fellow Daoist Qin... you've agreed?"

Qin Yuan nodded: "When and where?"

Situ Ming was overjoyed: "Tonight at 3:45 PM, at the 'Star-Picking Pavilion' on the top floor of the 'Moon-Gazing Tower' in the west of the city. I will be waiting for you there!"

"Can."

"Then it's settled! I'll take my leave now, so as not to disturb your peace!" Situ Ming cupped his hands again, satisfied, and retreated to his original seat, his face still showing excitement.

Qin Yuan withdrew his gaze and continued looking at the jade slip. His fingertips unconsciously tapped lightly on the table.

Liu Mubai's gathering... Enlightenment Stone...

The undisguised killing intent emanating from You Wuying…

Li Han's infamous reputation as the "Number One Person in the Lower Sect"...

And then there's Elder Zhou of the Taiyi Sect's earth-shattering wager: "The number one prodigy, who can choose any of the five sects..."

The waters of Tianxuan City are indeed very deep.

Tonight's gathering at Lanyue Tower may be just a pebble thrown into the water; let's see what ripples it will create.

At the third quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM), the sky had completely darkened. However, Tianxuan City was not asleep. Instead, illuminated by various arrays and spirit lamps, it was as bright as day, appearing even more prosperous and magnificent, like a dream.

In the western part of the city, in a relatively quiet area, stands a nine-story tower. The tower is neither wood nor stone, but resembles jade and crystal, and its entire body radiates a soft, moon-white light. The spire is hidden in a thin mist of ethereal clouds, as if one could truly reach out and pluck the stars and grasp the moon. This is the "Moon-Gazing Tower".