Although the Hundred Sects Conference had gathered the strongest sects of Qingzhou, the moment the Lingyun Sect's contingent appeared, the momentum of every other sect was instantly suppressed.
The Lingyun Sect truly deserved its reputation as the foremost sect of Qingzhou. Whether it was the talent of their disciples or the strength of their elders, they surpassed every other sect. And the figures who appeared with the Lingyun Sect at this moment commanded even greater reverence.
At the head of the group was a tall, upright elder with hair as black as ink. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, piercing and spirited — wherever that gaze swept, it sent chills down the spine. This was none other than the Lingyun Sect Master, Yan Yangtian.
Flanking Yan Yangtian were twelve elders, each radiating an imposing aura. Every single one of them was a ninth-level Xuan Wu Realm expert.
In any other sect, having even one such figure would be considered extraordinary. Yet the Lingyun Sect harbored a full twelve of them — a testament to just how formidable their power was, and how vast the gap between them and the rest. These twelve elders were none other than the Lingyun Sect's famed Twelve Protectors.
In addition to the Twelve Protectors, the Lingyun Sect's foremost disciple, Dugu Aoyun, also stood beside Yan Yangtian. This number one junior in Qingzhou still maintained a cultivation at the eighth level of the Xuan Wu Realm, but his aura had grown noticeably denser than before.
The strength of the Lingyun Sect left everyone dumbstruck. Not a single sect dared show the slightest disrespect, for the Lingyun Sect truly possessed power far beyond what any of them could hope to match. However, while most people were busy marveling at the Lingyun Sect's might, Chu Feng was quietly probing the cultivation of the sect master.
"This unfathomable aura — Yan Yangtian is no ordinary Xuan Wu Realm cultivator. Could it be that he's reached the Heaven Martial Realm?"
Chu Feng was stunned. He had sensed something extraordinary about Yan Yangtian — even with his Mental Power, he couldn't gauge the depth of the man's strength. This wasn't because Yan Yangtian was using some special method to conceal his cultivation; rather, his power had simply grown to a level that Chu Feng's senses couldn't penetrate.
The most likely explanation was that Yan Yangtian had broken through the shackles of the Xuan Wu Realm and ascended to that entirely new level that granted the ability to fly freely through the sky — a realm that wielded an entirely new source of power: Heavenly Force. The Heaven Martial Realm.
But the Heaven Martial Realm had vanished from Qingzhou centuries ago. Even the Elder of Void Flight had never managed to step into it. Could Yan Yangtian really have achieved it?
*Hummm.* Just as Chu Feng was reeling from this realization, he suddenly felt a powerful wave of Mental Power sweeping outward, scanning for his location. Upon sensing this, Chu Feng immediately retracted his own Mental Power, not daring to continue probing Yan Yangtian.
Because to his shock, he discovered that standing behind Yan Yangtian was an elder draped in a gray Spirit World Master's robe — unmistakably the Lingyun Sect's gray-robed Spirit World Master.
"What is it?" At that same moment, Yan Yangtian slightly turned his head to address the gray-robed elder behind him.
"I sensed a very strong Mental Power. It should be a gray-robed Spirit World Master," the elder replied.
"Oh? Did you find who it was?" Yan Yangtian's brows furrowed slightly, recognizing that the other party was no ordinary figure.
"No. Their sensitivity is remarkable. Their attainment in the arts of the Spirit World may well rival my own. There's a good chance it could be that long-vanished Gray-Robed Mister," the Spirit World Master said.
"It's fine. If the Gray-Robed Mister truly came here, it may not be a bad thing." Suddenly, Yan Yangtian smiled dismissively, then proceeded to invite all the participating sects into the Lingyun Sect. An extraordinary and spectacular welcoming ceremony commenced.
Within the Lingyun Sect stood a colossal plaza — magnificent in scale, built specifically for this Hundred Sects Conference.
At this moment, the sect masters, elders, and disciples from all the various sects were gathered in this plaza, listening as Yan Yangtian delivered his welcome address and outlined the rules of the Hundred Sects Conference.
"The Hundred Sects Conference gathers the strongest sects of Qingzhou. To ensure that outstanding sects receive the treatment they deserve, this year's conference has prepared a special quota."
"The sect that obtains this quota may be exempt from all matches of the Hundred Sects Conference. Its sect master and disciples will be permitted, at the very end of the conference, to directly challenge the strongest sect master and the strongest disciple who emerged victorious from the matches," Yan Yangtian announced in a resounding voice.
"Skip all the matches and challenge the strongest disciple and sect master? How strong would you have to be to do that?"
"Indeed. Every year, the strongest disciple and strongest sect master are claimed by the Lingyun Sect. Right now in Qingzhou, which sect even has the strength to challenge the Lingyun Sect?"
"Even though no matter which sect is chosen, they still couldn't beat the Lingyun Sect, this at least means that the chosen sect has earned the Lingyun Sect's recognition as the strongest sect in Qingzhou besides themselves."
"Exactly. This quota is a rare honor. In my view, the one most likely to receive it should be last year's runner-up — the current second-strongest sect in Qingzhou, the Three Emperors Sect."
"That's not necessarily true. Last year's conference, the Three Emperors Sect only won by a narrow margin. I'd say the Spirit Mountain Sect and the Swordless Sect both have a good shot."
"You're all wrong. This kind of special treatment is obviously reserved for beauties. I think the Jade Maiden Sect has the biggest chance." All the sects were buzzing with speculation about this sudden special quota, but their guesses were limited to the top five sects.
"As for who this special quota ultimately goes to, I invite our distinguished guest of honor at this year's Hundred Sects Conference, Lord Qi Fengyang, to make the announcement!" Yan Yangtian declared from the stage.
And at that moment, Qi Fengyang ascended the high platform and appeared before the crowd's eyes.
"That's the patriarch of the Qi clan from the Qilin Prince's Manor, Lord Qi Fengyang! I've heard that Lord Qi Fengyang stepped into the ninth level of the Xuan Wu Realm years ago and is now unmatched within the Xuan Wu Realm — a true powerhouse!"
"In previous years, the Qilin Prince's Manor never sent anyone to the Hundred Sects Conference. Why did they send such a heavyweight figure this year?"
"I've also heard that Lord Qi Fengyang has a very special relationship with the Azure Dragon Sect — he's the sworn brother of the Azure Dragon Sect's number one disciple, Chu Feng. He even personally presided over the Azure Dragon Sect's promotion ceremony not long ago. I wonder if that's true or not."
"Pah! You actually believe that kind of rumor? What merit does the Azure Dragon Sect have? How could they possibly be connected to Lord Qi Fengyang?"
"With Lord Qi Fengyang's status, forget that the Azure Dragon Sect was merely a second-rate sect — even if they had always been a first-rate sect, Lord Qi Fengyang wouldn't spare them a glance."
"Let alone becoming sworn brothers with that Yuan Martial Realm brat Chu Feng. This is definitely a rumor the Azure Dragon Sect deliberately spread to hype up their promotion to first-rate status."
When Qi Fengyang appeared, he once again drew gasps of astonishment from the assembled sects. Because of the Qilin Prince's Manor's special status, no matter how powerful any sect might be, none dared show disrespect.
At the same time, however, another figure had also caught people's attention — Chu Feng of the Azure Dragon Sect. Because nobody believed that a figure as important as Qi Fengyang would truly become sworn brothers with a mere greenhorn like Chu Feng, everyone was eager for Qi Fengyang to expose the truth and leave the Azure Dragon Sect and Chu Feng in an embarrassing position.
After all, seeing other sects humiliate themselves was always their favorite spectacle — especially a sect like the Azure Dragon Sect, which they looked down upon from the bottom of their hearts.