Eggy continued to explain, "Of course, I can't be one hundred percent sure about her feelings for you, but there shouldn't be any malice. Even if there's no admiration, she definitely cares about you. So, you can rest assured about this girl. In a nutshell, the person you need to be cautious of is that old shaman Wu Tian."

Feng Yi gave a wry smile and spread his hands, half-jokingly saying, "Haha, such a cute little fan girl... It's a pity there's no chance, or I would've definitely enjoyed myself."

"Hehe, after you've had your fun, don't forget to let your brother have some fun too," Eggy said, his eyes still bearing a comical expression.

"Forget it, you're really coming? I'm not accustomed to overstepping bounds, and these things are no longer significant to me now. If one day I'm truly gone, remember to occasionally look after Xiu Yi, okay? That child is still too young; adventures outside are bound to cause trouble."

"Why do you care so much about Xiu Yi, is it because of Guo Guo?"

"No special reason, let's leave it at that for today."

Their conversation came to an end after the lights were turned off, and a day later, as promised, Feng Yi arrived at Immortal Mountain Martial Arts Arena early in the morning.

The summit of Immortal Mountain was enveloped in mist, feeling the gentle breeze brushing against his face, and breathing in the fresh morning air seemed to invigorate his spirit considerably.

"Master of the Sect, General Feng Yi has arrived at the Immortal Mountain Martial Arts Arena," reported a disciple within the Jade Clear Sect to Wu Tian.

"Ah, this early?" Wu Tian was slightly startled and began to wonder aloud, "Is General Feng Yi so eager to know why I invited him here? He really is an impatient one. Ah, what to do?"

Despite what Wu Tian said, his face maintained a slight smile without any sign of peculiarity.

The inner sect disciples and elders around him looked at each other, unsure of what to do, while Mingfei whispered, "What does the master mean?"

"Hehe, the clever General has been misled by his cleverness. I did invite him here for a reason, but it's not what he thinks."

The people in the hall were even more confused as Wu Tian continued, "Hmm, let him wait there by himself for a while." After all, Feng Yi hadn't arrived at the agreed time, but fortunately, he didn't care about such formalities, and it wasn't until an hour later, as the morning sun rose, and representatives from various factions had arrived, that Feng Yi perched on a pine tree suddenly noticed the banquet was still prepared in the vast Martial Arts Arena.

Soon, a disciple ran up, inviting Feng Yi to join the seating area, but he declined politely, claiming he preferred to watch from the periphery. He found it more relaxing to sip some fine wine and wait for the passage of time, as watching the fight wasn't his main purpose for being there.

"Master, Feng Yi said…" The disciple quickly relayed the message to Wu Tian.

Wu Tian told the disciple that he could go, understanding that Feng Yi, as a warrior from the battlefield, was not accustomed to the theatricality of this setting and thus would not press him.

It seemed the heads of the four major factions noticed this as well, not questioning him; in comparison to their genial interactions the previous day, it was clear that the chief battles were the key reason for this gathering.

Now, the Bishop of the Holy Hall, Forbes, no longer wore the benevolent expression of the day before. While he did exchange surface-level pleasantries with the heads of the various factions, the undeniably sharp glint in the eyes of Holy Hall's disciples suggested they were here with intentions far from benign.

In contrast, the head of the Tianyin Sect, Qing Yin, had a deeply reserved and somber demeanor, his face as icy as a sculpture. Even his smile was merely a facade.

Only the members of the Yanhuang Soul still adhered to standard protocols, as Yanhuang Soul, being a major legitimate faction, pursues a naturalistic approach, unlike these hidden factions with their lofty ideals of the Holy Path. For Yanhuang Soul, participating wholeheartedly was more important than victory, embodying the essence of Ancient Martial Arts.

Unfortunately, this battle for chief positions was beyond the view of ordinary people, and even external disciples weren't permitted here, making the extensive area of the Immortal Mountain Martial Arts Arena seem less crowded than it actually was.

But those present were elites from various major factions, possessing exceptional talents and deep, unfathomable strengths, skilled in various extraordinary techniques, creating an atmosphere more like a private gathering among an exclusive circle.

Even Feng Yi, sitting far apart, could faintly sense the tense atmosphere around him, indeed void of the former days' harmony, replaced now by solemn expressions.

At that moment, Wu Tian slowly spoke, his resonant voice not loud but piercing enough to resonate across the arena: "The competition for chief positions is a tradition among the hidden factions. I hope all great sects present here will not hesitate to enlighten us."

Qing Yin's voice, also full of penetrative power, replied: "Master of the Sect need not be overly modest. Since it is to continue the tradition, we are ready to begin at any time, and I presume no one disagrees."

An elderly man with white beard from Yanhuang Soul chuckled, looking up at the sky as he said, "Ready at any time, indeed."

Bishop Forbes, meanwhile, made a sign of the holy cross at the same time, signifying assent.

However, this first battle was not as fierce as one might imagine. According to tradition left by the ancients, it aimed to demonstrate martial courtesy by limiting the combat to non-lethal engagements. As for Mengdie, the top disciple expected to represent the Jade Clear Sect, representatives from other sects would spar with her, meeting in martial exchanges rather than serious combat.

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