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

Immediately, it exploded like cold water thrown into boiling oil!

"That's right! The old man with the Yin bones is right!"

"Thinking about it carefully, something really doesn't seem right! How could anyone decipher such an ancient stele so easily?"

"The longer it goes on, the stronger the impact of the Daoist energy becomes. How could he possibly have no reaction at all?"

"Could it be that he was faking it because he felt embarrassed at first due to the short duration, so he just forced himself to sit there until the end?"

Once the seeds of doubt were sown, they quickly took root and sprouted. The gazes of many people towards Qin Yuan immediately shifted from amazement and awe to questioning, scrutiny, and even disdain.

After all, a cultivator from an obscure small sect displaying such extraordinary abilities is bound to arouse suspicion. Moreover, the presence of an experienced veteran cultivator like Elder Yin Bone raising reasonable questions is a significant advantage.

Situ Ming was extremely anxious and hurriedly stood up, wanting to explain: "No! Fellow Daoist Qin, he..." However, his cultivation and reputation were far inferior to that of the Yin Bone Elder, and his words sounded weak and powerless in his anxiety, which only made him seem more guilty.

Sitting in the main seat, Liu Mubai's gentle smile faded slightly, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his gaze towards Qin Yuan carried a hint of inquiry and subtle scrutiny.

If what the Old Man of Yin Bone said is true, then Qin Yuan's scheming and methods are rather despicable, and have undermined the original purpose of this gathering.

You Wuying sensed the change in the surrounding atmosphere, especially noticing the subtle shift in Liu Mubai's expression. The pent-up frustration and jealousy in her heart finally found an outlet, and her expression immediately softened. A cold smile returned to her lips, and her eyes filled with mockery and pleasure as she looked at Qin Yuan. Yes, that's it! How could he possibly be so much stronger than her? He must be faking it!

Just as the doubts reached their peak, countless eyes, like searchlights, focused on Qin Yuan, waiting for the moment when his act would crumble and he would be exposed—

Qin Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes remained clear, yet seemed even more profound than before. In the depths of his eyes, phantoms of stars rising and falling, and the void shifting, flashed by.

He opened his eyes naturally, without any sign of exhaustion or dishevelment, as if he had just taken a short nap.

However, the moment he opened his eyes—

A sudden change has occurred!

The ancient stele of enlightenment, which was about ten feet tall and exuded a vast and ancient Daoist charm, suddenly emitted a deep, resonant hum, as if it originated from ancient times!

The stele shone with a bluish-gray light, and the mysterious patterns on its surface seemed to come alive, flowing wildly!

Then, to everyone's astonishment and disbelief, the enormous ancient stele began to shrink rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye!

One zhang... five chi... three chi... one chi...

In the blink of an eye, the originally majestic and solemn Enlightenment Stele had transformed into a miniature stone stele, only the size of a palm, with a chaotic luster flowing throughout. With a "whoosh," it turned into a stream of light and disappeared into Qin Yuan's brow!

The courtyard was deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's expression froze on their faces.

Questioning, mockery, scrutiny, curiosity... all froze, and then were replaced by unparalleled shock and horror!

The Enlightenment Stele...has recognized its owner?!

It shrank... and entered Qin Yuan's body?!

This...this isn't about how long you can hold out!

This is the recognition of the source of the Enlightenment Stele, and an unprecedented opportunity!

The sinister and smug look on the old man's face froze instantly, turning into ashen white. His mouth was open, and a strange "hoarse" sound came from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word.

You Wuying's icy smile shattered completely, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints, and his body swayed slightly uncontrollably, as if he had suffered a tremendous shock. He stared intently at Qin Yuan's calm and composed face, his eyes filled with extreme shock, resentment, bitterness, and a hint of fear that even he himself couldn't deny...?

Liu Mubai suddenly stood up from the main seat. For the first time, his usually gentle and composed face revealed an undisguised expression of emotion as he looked intently at Qin Yuan.

Lei Zhenzi, Liao Chen, Fairy Miaoyin, Chen Xingzi... all the top geniuses were dumbfounded and speechless with shock.

Situ Ming was so excited he almost jumped up, his face flushed, his eyes filled with ecstasy and admiration!

Qin Yuan slowly stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from his robes. He felt the cool, warm touch between his brows, and the profound and mysterious "Undying Body of the Universe Stars" inheritance and its nascent refinement in his mind. His heart remained calm and undisturbed.

He raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire room, finally settling on the ghostly-faced old man and the extremely sinister-looking You Wuying. He spoke softly, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"Any more questions?"

The banquet hall was deathly silent.

You Wuying stood rooted to the spot, the ghostly flame deep within his pupils flickering violently, almost dissipating. He stared at the fading golden characters on the Enlightenment Stele, his fingertips digging deep into his palm, drawing blood.

Qin Yuan's talent wasn't just a little bit faster, it was utterly crushed.

He slowly turned his head to look at the figure in blue robes still standing in front of the monument. Qin Yuan's expression was calm, as if he had only done something insignificant, and he was raising his hand to withdraw it from the monument.

There was no ostentation or smugness in that demeanor, only a matter-of-fact indifference. It was precisely this indifference that fueled the venomous fire in You Wuying's heart—the other party didn't even consider him a serious point of comparison.

Not only him, but all the other geniuses in the hall, including Liao Chen, Fairy Miaoyin, and even Chen Xingzi, who were ranked in the top ten, were somewhat dazed. They were all the pride of their respective sects, nurtured with all their might, and possessed unwavering Dao hearts. Yet, witnessing such an almost absurd gap still shook them to their core. It wasn't a difference in cultivation level, but rather a disparity in innate talent, comprehension, and even some deeper level of inherent ability.

A gleam of admiration filled Liu Mubai's eyes. He clapped his hands and sighed softly, his voice breaking the tense atmosphere: "Fellow Daoist Qin is truly... astonishing."

His smile was gentle, but his gaze swept over Qin Yuan with undisguised scrutiny and interest. "Subduing the Enlightenment Stele—even within the upper sects, only a handful of people have such a record. Mu Bai has truly broadened his horizons today."

Before he finished speaking, a clear push came from the two heavy, gilded doors of the banquet hall.

"Squeak—"

The sound wasn't loud, but it instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Everyone instinctively looked over and saw a figure walking slowly into the corridor against the light from outside. The person was dressed in a dark silver outfit, with a tall and straight posture, a cold and stern face, and features that looked as if they had been carved by a knife and axe.

His black hair was simply tied up, with a few strands falling across his forehead. When his eyes swept across the hall, they carried a natural aloofness and sharpness.