Chương 82: The Arrival of Formidable Foes

"My deepest gratitude to you, Sect Master!" Reyn's heart swelled with a rare, genuine fervor as he bowed. Though his personal attachment to the Lei Clan was tempered by years of hardship, he knew how much the family's legacy meant to his late father. With the Xuanxiao Sect's formal protection, the Lei Clan would enjoy a millennium of security and prosperity—a feat that would have brought his father immeasurable peace. To Reyn, this was more than a reward; it was the fulfillment of a filial duty.

Beside them, Xuan Qing's expression flickered with a touch of melancholy. He realized that his hopes of bringing Reyn under his own wing were now utterly extinguished. He glanced at the youth one last time, let out a soft, resigned sigh, and remained silent, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of stoicism.

"Haha, I apologize for the long wait, fellow Daoists," Dan Chenzi said, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.

"Now that the alchemy assessment has concluded, the Xuanxiao Sect's Grand Tournament shall officially—" His words were cut short. From the north, two streaks of blinding light tore through the sky, accompanied by two waves of overbearing spiritual pressure that crashed toward the main hall like a tidal wave. The intruders made no effort to conceal their presence; it was a blatant, aggressive display of power. Inside the hall, the faces of the gathered experts shifted instantly.

The atmosphere, previously celebratory, turned icy and sharp. Sect Master Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi exchanged a grim look. Without a word, they rose in unison, their own Golden Core auras erupting to meet the incoming pressure head-on. The air between the hall and the northern horizon seemed to warp and crackle as the invisible forces of four Golden Core masters collided in a silent, high-altitude stalemate. Xuan Wuqing's eyes narrowed, but a subtle, mocking curl touched his lips.

Recognizing the signatures of the approaching cultivators, he cast a glance at Qingxiaozi that was thick with schadenfreude. In contrast, the ancestor Bai Sha grew even more somber, a murderous glint flickering in his eyes as he retreated into a brooding silence. Meanwhile, the contingent from the Qingyan Sect was revitalized. During the ceremony, they had been uncharacteristically subdued due to their Sect Leader's absence.

Now, the young disciples stood tall, their eyes gleaming with renewed arrogance as their own auras flared, causing the leaders of smaller sects to tremble in apprehension.

"Haha! We apologize for our tardiness. I trust Daoists Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi won't take offense?" A booming voice resonated from the heavens, vibrating the very foundations of the hall. Two figures descended from the northern sky, their flight-light dissipating to reveal their forms upon the grand terrace. One was clad in magnificent purple Daoist robes, his hair secured by a shimmering gold headband.

He carried himself with an indomitable, 'the-world-revolves-around-me' charisma that he refused to dampen even in the heart of a rival sect. This was Tiandaozi, the Sect Leader of the Qingyan Sect, a man whose cultivation had reached the terrifying peak of the Mid-stage Golden Core Realm. Beside him stood a withered, skeletal old man. A jagged scar ran across his face, bisecting his features and giving him a ghastly, predatory appearance.

Though he looked frail, the aura of a newly ascended Golden Core master radiated from him with unstable, jagged intensity.

"We pay our respects to the Sect Master and Ancestor Ming Diao!" The Qingyan Sect disciples, led by the three Xuan brothers, prostrated themselves with fervent joy. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Rise," Tiandaozi said, dismissing them with a casual wave. He then turned to the hall, cupping his hands in a perfunctory salute.

"My Junior Brother Ming Diao was at the critical juncture of his Core Formation, and I could not leave his side. Thus, we arrived later than the rest of you. I hope you can overlook this slight."

"Not at all, Sect Master Tiandaozi! Your presence is an honor."

"To protect a fellow Daoist during such a breakthrough is only natural. We would never dream of taking offense."

"It has been far too long. Your cultivation has clearly deepened, Sect Master; truly a cause for celebration!"

"Congratulations to Senior Ming Diao on his successful Core Formation! The Qingshui Gate offers our humblest felicitations!" A chorus of sycophantic praise erupted from the leaders of the smaller sects. Everyone present understood that the political landscape had just shifted. The Xuanxiao Sect had intended to use Dan Chenzi's breakthrough to assert dominance, but with the Qingyan Sect now boasting two Golden Core masters—including a Mid-stage powerhouse—the two sects were once again locked in a precarious parity.

The upcoming tournament was no longer a formality; it was a battlefield. Tiandaozi and Ming Diao took their seats among the Qingyan contingent. Immediately, their disciples leaned in, whispering a rapid-fire report of the day's events. Tiandaozi's expression remained impassive when he heard of Duan Zhonghua and Li Zidu's success. Even Ji Yueli's Dragon-Tiger Pill only earned a slight raise of his eyebrow.

However, when the report reached Reyn's feat—refining two Grade 3 High-tier Myriad Swallows Spring-Returning Pills—his eyes widened in genuine shock. After a long moment of processing the impossible news, Tiandaozi's face smoothed into a mask of geniality. He chuckled softly, his voice carrying to every corner of the hall.

"It seems I have missed quite the spectacle. Daoist Dan Chenzi, would you be so kind as to introduce this disciple of yours? I should very much like to meet the rising Alchemy Master of our North Yue State." Dan Chenzi hesitated for a heartbeat before nodding.

"Reyn, my disciple, since Sect Master Tiandaozi has requested it, step forward and pay your respects."

"Yes, Master." Reyn bowed to Dan Chenzi first, then walked with a calm, measured gait toward the Qingyan Sect's seating area.

"Junior Reyn greets Sect Master Tiandaozi." Despite standing before a Mid-stage Golden Core expert, Reyn's expression was neither servile nor arrogant. His composure earned him silent nods of approval from Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi. Tiandaozi's gaze was like a physical weight, probing Reyn's soul. After a long silence, he smiled.

"Such steady temperament. You truly are a genius of the Dao of Alchemy. Reyn, I shall make you a promise: if you are willing to join my Qingyan Sect, I will mobilize the entire sect's resources—regardless of the cost—to find a way to help you achieve Foundation Establishment. Would you consider changing your affiliation?" The hall fell into a suffocating silence. The offer was a bombshell, a blatant attempt to poach the Xuanxiao Sect's greatest asset in front of the entire cultivation world.

"Sect Master Tiandaozi, mind your conduct!" Dan Chenzi's face darkened, his voice dripping with ice.

"Reyn is my personal disciple. There is no possibility of him joining another sect." Meng Yuanche—Tiandaozi—did not look at Dan Chenzi. He kept his eyes fixed on Reyn, his smile never wavering.

"Why so tense, Daoist? It was a mere suggestion. However, I am truly curious... Reyn, what is your answer?" In truth, Reyn felt a flicker of temptation. His inability to reach Foundation Establishment was the greatest shackle on his path. But the thought was extinguished as quickly as it arose. To betray his sect now, under the eyes of the entire province, would be to invite eternal infamy. Moreover, given his current standing, he knew the Xuanxiao Sect would move mountains for him anyway.

There was no need to seek from an enemy what he already had from his allies.

"I thank Senior Tiandaozi for his incredible kindness," Reyn replied, his voice firm and resonant.

"However, I owe the Xuanxiao Sect a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. I will not leave my sect in this life. I hope Senior can forgive me." Tiandaozi's smile didn't falter, but his eyes grew deep and unreadable. He stared at Reyn for a heartbeat longer before throwing his head back in a sudden, booming laugh.

"Dan Chenzi, you have indeed found a remarkable disciple. I am truly envious. However, I did not come today merely to congratulate you. We are also here for the centennial Sect Grand Tournament. We have much to discuss regarding the arrangements between our two sects."