Besides Ming Zun, there were also three men and two women present in the hall.
Of the three men, one was broad and towering, clad in black armor with a fiercely menacing appearance. Another was covered in wrinkles, ancient and frail, leaning on a golden dragon-headed staff.
The last man was a refined, scholarly-looking youth who appeared no older than twenty, though he carried an extraordinarily peculiar green bamboo tube on his back.
The two women were beauties of entirely different bearing. One had a face as round as the full moon, around thirty years old, dressed in a yellow Daoist robe — a Daoist nun. The other woman had slightly dark skin but was adorned with pearls and jade in her hair, wearing a pale green palace gown, her eyes exceptionally lively.
"Yin Gangzi, you're late this time. If I remember correctly, you love these clashes with the powerful the most and never like to be left behind." The armored giant rubbed his completely bald head and suddenly burst into hearty laughter toward Yin Gangzi.
"Heh, I ran into a small trouble on my way here and was delayed by a few days. Otherwise, I'd certainly have arrived even earlier than Fellow Daoist Hua Ying." Yin Gangzi seemed extremely familiar with the bald giant, replying without a care.
"I have long heard of Brother Yin's Fortune Creation Body, yet on our several encounters I've never had the chance to see it. This time the opponent is a True Immortal from the Immortal Realm — I trust I won't miss it again." The palace-gowned woman said with a light laugh.
"Madam Wu's innate divine abilities are truly the pinnacle of the Spirit Realm. What can my meager powers possibly compare?" Facing the palace-gowned woman, Yin Gangzi didn't dare show the slightest disrespect, forcing a smile onto his face.
As for the other three, though they hadn't spoken to Yin Gangzi, their gazes toward him carried faint smiles — they were clearly no strangers to one another either.
Small wonder!
Every one of them was a renowned powerhouse among the Mahayana cultivators, and having lived for untold tens of thousands of years, they had all crossed paths to some degree.
In contrast, they were naturally rather more curious about Han Li, the new face among them.
"Brother Ming, who is this fellow Daoist? I don't believe we've seen him before." The Daoist nun glanced at Han Li a few times before finally asking with a smile.
"This is Fellow Daoist Han Li of the Human Race. Although he has only recently advanced to Mahayana, I'm sure you've all heard his name." Ming Zun replied with a smile.
"Han Li? The Mahayana from the Human Race who slew the Moth Mother in the Demon Realm?" The Daoist nun was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
"Slaying the Moth Mother was by no means my accomplishment alone. The rumors outside have been greatly exaggerated." Han Li replied with a faint smile.
The bald giant, the palace-gowned woman, and the others all showed varying degrees of surprise.
Clearly, these truly powerful Mahayana cultivators all knew to some extent just how formidable the Moth Mother had been.
"Tsk, tsk. In any case, the Moth Mother was an existence that even immortals couldn't truly subdue. With you joining us this time, we'll have that much more confidence." The bald giant clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Fellow Daoist Han, you've only recently advanced to Mahayana and likely haven't met most of these cultivators before. Allow me to make introductions. This is Fellow Daoist Hua Ying of the Giant Hand Clan — his concealment abilities are renowned across the continent. And this is Madam Wu of the Ancient Li Clan, whose innate Zhurong Divine Fire possesses boundless power, capable of boiling seas and melting mountains..." Ming Zun pointed at the bald giant, the palace-gowned woman, and the others, introducing them one by one to Han Li.
Though these people were rarely known among ordinary cultivators, there was no doubt they were the true apex beings of the Spirit Realm.
"Brother Ming, our target this time is a True Immortal — surely it won't just be us?" Once Yin Gangzi and Han Li had taken their seats, he asked Ming Zun straightforwardly.
"Of course not. Besides the fellow Daoists present here, Fellow Daoist Leng of the Gold Stone Clan, the brother-and-sister pair Yun Dan and Yue Shu of the Celestial Cicada Clan, and Xuan Jiuling will all be arriving shortly." Ming Zun answered without hesitation.
"Yun Dan and Yue Shu..."
"Xuan Jiuling..."
Yin Gangzi and the scholarly youth who had remained silent both blurted out at the same time.
Everyone else besides Han Li also showed subtle shifts in expression, as though all three names inspired considerable wariness.
"Those two terrors, Yun Dan and Yue Shu, actually agreeing to join forces — that's extremely rare indeed. Brother Ming, how did you convince the siblings?" The scholarly youth asked with great gravity.
"Hmph. Xuan Baling has now changed his name to Xuan Jiuling — it seems he's slain yet another True Spirit beyond the boundaries. That madman may have practically lost his mind in cultivation, but his powers only seem to grow more unfathomable. I'm also curious — how did you manage to persuade him?" Yin Gangzi asked with an uneasy expression.