TAP, TAP—
Footsteps once again sounded from outside the Quiet Chamber.
A servant from the Fang Mansion in a blue uniform stood respectfully outside the door, holding a red invitation card of exquisite quality with gilded edges in both hands.
"Elder, the Lin Family has sent someone with an invitation. They request that you open it personally."
Fang Yuan's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. The flicker of joy that had just risen in his heart was instantly shrouded by a dark cloud.
He raised his hand, and the Tutor immediately stepped forward, took the invitation, and presented it to him.
Fang Yuan accepted it. It felt slightly heavy in his hand.
His gaze fell upon the invitation, where he saw words written in strong, forceful calligraphy:
"For the personal attention of Elder Fang Yuan. Tomorrow, a humble banquet has been prepared. We invite the Elders of the five families, along with the promising new talents from each family's Inner Hall, to gather. Firstly, so we old friends may raise our cups and reminisce. Secondly, to allow the younger generation to meet and interact. We sincerely hope you can spare the time to grace us with your presence. With respects, Lin Shan."
Every word and phrase seemed humble, courteous, and overflowing with enthusiasm, yet its purpose was painfully obvious.
The lines "along with the promising new talents from each family's Inner Hall" and "to allow the younger generation to meet and interact" were like a red-hot brand to his eyes, searing his heart with irritation.
"Hmph!"
A suppressed, cold snort escaped his nose.
Fang Yuan's knuckles whitened as he gripped the gilded invitation, the force so great that the paper began to crumple.
He could almost see the smug, triumphant smile of that old fool Lin Shan from the Lin Family. He could picture Lin Jiao from the Lin Family defeating all his peers at the banquet.
'This isn't an invitation from the Lin Family; it's a blatant show of force!'
'They want to use the other four families' younger generation as stepping stones to build a reputation for their Lin Family's Qilin'er.'
Elder Fang Yuan's gaze passed through the window lattice, drifting toward the distant training grounds. The glimmer of light in his eyes, ignited just moments before by Fang Han's breakthrough in Swordsmanship, was swiftly replaced by immense regret and frustration.
'Enlightenment... it came too late...'
He muttered to himself, his voice as low as a sigh.
'If only it had been a year or so earlier, even just half a year! How could the glory of Liangshui City's younger generation be monopolized by the Lin Family alone?'
He slowly closed his eyes, his fingers once again fiddling with his prayer beads, but his movements were now laden with heaviness.
At that moment, the gilded invitation felt as heavy as a mountain.
...
The next morning, the rarely seen Elder Fang Yuan appeared at the Inner Hall's training grounds.
Upon his arrival, he walked straight toward the area for the new Inner Hall Descendants. His gaze swept over Fang Han and Fang Lin as he gave his order.
"Fang Han, Fang Lin, come with me!"
Both Fang Han and Fang Lin were caught off guard by Fang Yuan's sudden summons.
The two hurried to catch up, leaving the training grounds with Fang Yuan under the curious and probing gazes of the other disciples.
Outside the mansion gates, a Fang Family carriage had been waiting for some time.
The three of them boarded the carriage. Its wheels rumbled over the bluestone road, heading toward the Lin Family estate, home to one of the other five great families of Liangshui City.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was silent. Elder Fang Yuan had his eyes closed in meditation, Fang Lin sat bolt upright and tense, while Fang Han gazed out the window at the fleeting street scenes.
He had been so busy with his Cultivation for the past two years that he hadn't left the Fang Family grounds in a long time. Seeing the sights of the city, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the Lin Family's impressive main gate.
A servant of the Lin Family, clearly having been instructed beforehand, respectfully led the three of them into the estate. They passed through several courtyards before finally arriving at an exceptionally well-appointed garden.
In the center of the garden, the most conspicuous feature was a dueling platform built from hard bluestone.
Its surface was smooth and polished, a clear sign of frequent use.
Almost as soon as Fang Han's group of three stepped into the garden, three other groups arrived one after another.
The Yue Family's Elder, Yue Lei, brought a burly young man with him.
Beside the He Family's Elder, He Xiong, stood a young woman with sharp eyes.
The Sun Family's Elder, Sun Kang, led a young man with a calm and steady presence.
The Elder-level figures of Liangshui City's five great families were all gathered here.
"Everyone, it's been a while!"
"Haha, it has been a long time!"
The Elders of the five powers exchanged pleasantries. On the surface, the mood was harmonious, but their gazes held a hidden edge when they met.
The Lin Family's Elder, Lin Shan—a lean-faced, sharp-eyed old man—stood in the host's position with a perfectly measured smile.
His eyes swept over the young talents brought by the other four families, lingering on Fang Han for a moment with a flicker of imperceptible scrutiny before he laughed heartily.
"My old friends, your presence with your families' talents brings light to my humble home!"
"Since we have this rare opportunity to gather, why not let the juniors spar a bit and learn from one another? It will both deepen their bonds and allow us to see the prowess of Liangshui City's next generation. What do you say?"
"Very well!"
Although Yue Lei, He Xiong, Sun Kang, and Fang Yuan were displeased, none of them refused.
Lin Shan's smile widened. This was clearly his true purpose for the day.
His gaze shifted to a young man standing behind him—tall and straight, with a cold expression and arrogant eyes. It was none other than Lin Jiao.
"Jiao'er, you can start things off and get the ball rolling."
Lin Shan's tone was filled with obvious pride.
Lin Jiao nodded slightly. With a light tap of his toes, he leaped nimbly onto the dueling platform.
He stood firm, his gaze sweeping over the disciples of the four families below with an air of superiority.
"Lin Jiao of the Lin Family. I await your guidance."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the garden.
"I'll go!"
The burly youth from the Yue Family, Yue Yan, was the first to lose his patience. With a low shout, he leaped onto the platform.
His strength was immense and his momentum overwhelming. The force of his fists was ferocious, indicating he followed a path of brute strength.
Moreover, the fact he was brought to this gathering meant his strength was not to be underestimated. Despite his young age, he was already at the Late Stage of Flesh Refining.
However, Lin Jiao's strength was clearly on a completely different level.
BAM—!
Lin Jiao's figure blurred as he dodged the fist, striking Yue Yan's chest with a backhanded slash from the blunt side of his blade.
A clear, bruised welt appeared on Yue Yan's chest. He let out a muffled grunt and staggered backward, defeated in a single move. His face flushed red with humiliation.
After Yue Yan, the young woman from the He Family, He Ling, took the stage.
He Ling's Body Technique was agile and her sword moved with nimble grace, but Lin Jiao's blade was simply too fast!
CLANG—!
A flash of brilliant steel swept past, and the longsword in He Ling's hand was knocked away by an immense force.
Her guard was wide open, and Lin Jiao's follow-up slash sent her flying off the dueling platform.
Next, the youth from the Sun Family, Sun Jing, went up.
He was more composed than the previous two. After getting on the platform, he fought steadily and cautiously, focusing solely on defense.
BAM—
But against Lin Jiao, who was approaching the Middle Stage of Muscle Refining in both power and speed, he only lasted four moves before a slash caught him under the ribs, forcing him back with a pained grunt.
Three battles, three swift victories, all within a few moves!
Lin Jiao stood on the platform, calm and composed. His disdainful gaze and invincible posture made the expressions of the disciples below turn exceptionally ugly.
It wasn't that they couldn't accept defeat.
Before coming, they already knew Lin Jiao had reached the Muscle Refining Realm and had anticipated losing.
But to be defeated in just a few moves made their young faces burn with shame.
"Fang Lin."
Elder Fang Yuan looked at Fang Lin.
Fang Lin took a deep breath and, steeling himself, leaped onto the dueling platform.
He went all out, unleashing the full extent of his Late Stage of Flesh Refining power, but the gap was simply too great.
A single slash from Lin Jiao made his blood roil and his arm go numb.
A second slash knocked him off the platform. He stumbled back several steps upon landing before steadying himself, his face deathly pale.
"..."
Lin Jiao's gaze fell upon Fang Han, and the corner of his mouth curved into a contemptuous smile.
Given the Lin Family's close watch on the other four great families, they naturally knew that Fang Han was not only at the "Late Stage of Flesh Refining" but had also reached Mastery in Swordsmanship. He was considered the one with the most "potential" among this new batch of disciples.
But in his eyes, this so-called greatest "opponent" of the day was nothing more than a slightly larger stepping stone.