How many years had passed?

Suddenly seeing an additional person on the long mountain path of Kunwu, many younger generation cultivators felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Halfway up the mountain, a circular platform had appeared at some unknown time, with cultivators sitting or standing upon it. Almost all were sect leaders and elders from the major sects of the Left Three Thousand in the Central Domain. Having entered the path of cultivation for quite some time, witnessing Master Hengxu and Fudao Shanren standing side by side, they all shared the same sigh of “he’s back again.”

Yashan Sect Leader Zheng Yao was among them.

He raised his head and looked up at Fudao Shanren, who still stood there with his usual carefree attitude, revealing a smile that was hard to describe.

Standing beside him was Elder Pang Dian from Dragon Gate. Although he had lost the small Dragon Gate’s underwater lake and stormed off in a huff that day, looking at him now, there was hardly any trace of anger left on his face.

Seeing that faint smile on Zheng Yao’s face, he leaned over and also looked up with a sigh: “Now Sect Leader Zheng must finally be able to release that breath he’s been holding in his heart, right?”

“I suppose half of it is released.”

Zheng Yao heard this and smiled bitterly.

Pang Dian was puzzled: “Half?”

“Elder Pang has forgotten that the rules for this Small Gathering were all devised by Senior Uncle Fudao. I’m not worried about Senior Uncle Fudao at all, but I’m worried about the young cultivators who will participate in this Small Gathering…”

He could only hope they wouldn’t be tormented too badly.

Thinking this, Zheng Yao suddenly felt inexplicably guilty.

“…”

Pang Dian was also suddenly at a loss for words.

Left Three Thousand Small Gatherings with Fudao Shanren present were almost always like nightmares.

He cast his gaze down toward the sea of people at the foot of the mountain, immediately feeling an indescribable sympathy: most of the cultivators below had only entered the path of cultivation in the past ten or twenty years, and probably knew nothing about such distant stories from three hundred years ago.

Looking at these people, their faces full of anticipation and enthusiasm…

Pang Dian slowly turned his head and looked up again.

Kunwu’s Master Hengxu still wore his dignified Daoist robes today, no different from usual; the robes on Fudao Shanren were still greasy and hadn’t become any cleaner because of such a major event as the Left Three Thousand Small Gathering.

What a joke—the Left Three Thousand Small Gathering that occurred once every ten years was naturally a rare event for new cultivators.

But…

For thousand-year-old monsters like Fudao Shanren and Master Hengxu, it really felt commonplace, to the point where they felt like vomiting just hearing about it.

Fudao Shanren was better off, having not returned to exercise his authority for a long time, but Master Hengxu had been here for these three hundred years, so he was even more indifferent.

Everyone below was watching them, yet Master Hengxu’s expression showed no change whatsoever.

He was one of the most respected and powerful cultivators in the entire Central Domain, and also the leader that all people of Kunwu looked up to.

In the gradually fading tail note of the great bell, his voice also transmitted clearly and distantly throughout the entire range of Kunwu’s eleven peaks.

No matter where the cultivators below stood, they could all hear him clearly.

“Another decade has passed. Three thousand sects, three thousand great paths. Today, fellow Daoists gather again at Kunwu, and this poor Daoist’s heart is deeply moved. The Left Three Thousand Small Gathering has a long history, and this is now the three hundred and sixty-first gathering…”

“Enough, enough! When will these pleasantries ever end!”

Originally, Master Hengxu was speaking well, and everyone was listening attentively, but unexpectedly, an impatient voice interrupted.

The crowd below was almost scared out of their wits.

Who was this?!

How dare they interrupt Master Hengxu’s speech—did they not want to live?!

Everyone felt that although this voice was rude, it seemed to ring right in their ears. After looking around for a long time, they finally discovered that the speaker was actually Fudao Shanren standing beside Master Hengxu!

My god!

What was this about?!

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Below, led by Jian Chou, the Yashan crowd suddenly all had the urge to cover their faces.

They were all too familiar with Fudao Shanren’s character.

Especially Jian Chou, who had felt early on that Fudao Shanren standing beside Master Hengxu looked inappropriate no matter how she looked at it, and instinctively felt that her unreliable master was probably going to cause trouble.

Unexpectedly, Master Hengxu hadn’t even said a few words before he couldn’t stand it anymore.

Standing at the high end of the mountain path, Fudao Shanren, after interrupting, even turned his head to glance at Master Hengxu.

Master Hengxu looked at him and sighed: “Then you do it.”

“If I’m to do it, then I’ll do it.”

Fudao Shanren threw away the half-eaten chicken leg in his hand, directly stepped forward, and swept his gaze over the crowd below with a look that carried quite a bit of disdain.

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat and formally began.

Fudao Shanren spoke: “I suppose many young people don’t know who I am, so I’ll introduce myself. I come from Yashan, and I am Fudao Shanren of Yashan. If you haven’t heard of me before, that’s fine—now you have. A Small Gathering is held every ten years, and if you haven’t gotten tired of the pleasantries, I have. Looking at the time, it’s getting late, so let’s get straight to the point.”

Tired of hearing it, pleasantries, get to the point!

Oh my, you really dare to say such things!

Countless people below were already frantically wiping cold sweat. Those with shallow knowledge might not have heard of Fudao Shanren, but they had at least heard of Yashan!

Anyone who could stand together with Kunwu’s Master Hengxu couldn’t be a simple character!

Without a doubt, a giant!

But was there anyone who would undermine things like this…

Although, upon hearing “get to the point,” everyone was indeed somewhat curious to listen.

Cough.

Jian Chou below had automatically become expressionless.

Standing beside her was a young man dressed in purple martial attire, carrying a purple longsword—this was Tang Wansheng, currently ranked ninth among the hot favorites for the One Person Platform. Standing further back was Qi Shaofeng, who had gone to Black Wind Cave last time to rescue Jian Chou, and he was also full of helplessness at this moment…

Great Uncle Fudao really dared to say anything.

So worried about his safety, truly afraid that after this Small Gathering, he would be dragged out and beaten up by Kunwu’s people.

Seeing that no one below said anything, Fudao Shanren was quite satisfied.

Good that no one was arguing.

So he continued: “This Small Gathering’s rules differ from the past, and that’s what you’re most concerned about. So now I’ll explain them to you one by one. I believe you’ve all seen the high platforms surrounding us. Each platform imitates the shape of Kunwu’s main peak, turned upside down and placed on the ground. Thirty platforms in each of Kunwu’s four directions, called the Four Directions’ Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms.”

Four Directions’ Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms.

Jian Chou’s gaze couldn’t help but move over, carefully examining the outline of the platforms. They indeed resembled Kunwu.

But…

Making these “Heaven-Reaching Platforms” that obviously required people to stand on them in the shape of miniature versions of Kunwu—what were your intentions, old man!

She could only feel sweat breaking out on her forehead and a chill running down her back as she looked toward Master Hengxu at the end of the mountain path.

Master Hengxu’s face was calm, with a peaceful expression, as if he held the world in his chest yet remained humble, not caring about Fudao Shanren’s behavior at all.

Suddenly remembering Xie Buchen’s matter, Jian Chou’s gaze gradually grew cold.

The location of Kunwu’s people was actually not far from Yashan.

Gu Qingmei and another young man stood at the front, also in the foremost position. However, after hearing Fudao Shanren’s words, Gu Qingmei couldn’t help but frown tightly, harboring no fondness in her heart for this old man who had once slapped her away.

Yashan?

No matter how powerful, they shouldn’t steal Kunwu’s limelight!

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but look to the side at Jian Chou standing in front.

One hundredth…

Hmph.

The so-called famous Yashan Senior Sister was nothing special after all.

Gu Qingmei found it amusing in her heart, finally feeling much more at ease, then turned her head to continue listening to Fudao Shanren speak.

“This Small Gathering has many participants, but only one person can occupy one platform at a time. With too many people, entanglements are inevitable. These Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms are the standard for measuring whether you qualify to participate in the Small Gathering. The general rule—”

As soon as Fudao Shanren said this, everyone immediately perked up.

The main event was coming!

He didn’t keep them in suspense either, directly pointing his finger in the air, and the shadow of a platform actually appeared in mid-air.

“Three days from now, only the one hundred and twenty cultivators who can stand on the Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms will gain entry qualification!”

This was indeed quite different from the past.

Everyone couldn’t help but be surprised.

A selection of one hundred and twenty people?

Fudao Shanren’s face showed a smile.

“As for the specific rules…”

“First, as usual, any cultivator below the Out-of-Body stage who has never participated in a Small Gathering before is qualified to participate in this Small Gathering.”

“Second, to ascend these platforms, one must obtain a Dao Seal from Kunwu’s steward elders—one per person, no more allowed. The Dao Seal is the key to opening the Heaven-Reaching Platform, allowing cultivators to smoothly enter the Heaven-Reaching Platform, with a total of ten opportunities.”

As he spoke, he pointed his finger again.

Above the giant Heaven-Reaching Platform shadow floating in mid-air, a ring-like stone seal suddenly appeared.

This was the Dao Seal, covered with ancient and clumsy patterns all around, with ten long lines extending from the center that divided the Dao Seal into ten small sections, each section flickering with azure spiritual light.

“Snap.”

Fudao Shanren directly made a finger gesture, and the Dao Seal slowly sank down, approaching the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

“When the Dao Seal approaches the Heaven-Reaching Platform, it automatically opens.”

“Each time the Heaven-Reaching Platform is opened, one spiritual light extinguishes. When the Dao Seal completely dims, the cultivator represented by that Dao Seal no longer has the qualification to open the Heaven-Reaching Platform.”

As his words fell, the Dao Seal in the shadow indeed triggered the Heaven-Reaching Platform. After a burst of bright light, it landed on the Heaven-Reaching Platform, and the topmost section’s spiritual light indeed extinguished.

Everyone understood at once, but doubts also arose in their hearts: one Dao Seal had ten opportunities, but what exactly were the rules?

Jian Chou had already vaguely guessed and immediately cursed inwardly: Really knows how to torment people.

Sure enough, the next moment, Fudao Shanren’s face revealed a malicious smile.

He casually pointed twice, and two human shadows actually appeared on the platform—one was himself, the other was Master Hengxu.

“I suppose you’re all curious about the specific usage. It’s simple—the entry test for this Small Gathering is defending the platform!”

“Those holding Dao Seals can open the Heaven-Reaching Platform.”

“When one person enters the Heaven-Reaching Platform, the platform can accommodate a second cultivator’s entry. Fight however you want—winner stays, loser gets kicked out of the Heaven-Reaching Platform. If you lose ten times in a row, you’ll naturally bid farewell to the One Person Platform forever.”

In the shadow in mid-air, Fudao Shanren’s own shadow slapped away the shadow of Master Hengxu standing opposite him, showing a victorious expression while standing high on the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

The flying Master Hengxu revealed an expression of extreme pain, with a Dao Seal suspended above his head.

At this moment, one could clearly see that only nine sections of the Dao Seal still glowed with spiritual light.

“…”

Complete silence.

Countless people understood the rules but were frantically wiping cold sweat!

Wasn’t this shadow demonstration of the rules just provoking Kunwu and provoking Master Hengxu?!

The faces of many Kunwu disciples at the foot of the mountain turned red with anger, their hands pressed on their swords at their waists, looking like they were about to start fighting immediately.

The Yashan crowd here all wanted to cover their faces: what an embarrassing elder!

On the mountain platform, the many sect leaders and elders also went weak in the knees, almost kneeling before Fudao Shanren.

Why did it suddenly feel like a great war between Yashan and Kunwu was imminent?

Perhaps, fortunately in this misfortune, Fudao Shanren seemed unaware that he had done anything wrong, and Master Hengxu also seemed unaware that Fudao Shanren had done anything wrong.

After witnessing the “miserable state” of “himself” being soundly beaten by the brilliant and mighty Fudao Shanren, Master Hengxu remained completely composed, not even moving his eyes.

Everyone couldn’t help but admire: This is the demeanor of a true master!

Fudao Shanren gestured with his finger, satisfied as he watched his high-end, grand image fall onto that Heaven-Reaching Platform.

“As long as you can stand on these Heaven-Reaching Platforms before the three-day deadline ends, you can smoothly enter the next round. Of course, which of the Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms you choose to challenge is your freedom, and when you challenge is also your freedom.”

“There is only one restriction here: after sunset each day, the cultivator occupying the Heaven-Reaching Platform leaves the platform, the occupation status is preserved, the Dao Seal doesn’t extinguish any section, and the Heaven-Reaching Platform automatically closes to all others.”

“Of course, if this cultivator lacks sense and stays on the Heaven-Reaching Platform all along, others can still choose to continue challenging. The closed state will last until dawn the next day when the Heaven-Reaching Platform automatically opens. If the occupier doesn’t return and the Heaven-Reaching Platform can still accommodate one more person, it will wait for the old occupier for one hour. During this period, if the occupier doesn’t return, the Heaven-Reaching Platform changes ownership.”

…

Anyone who stays on the Heaven-Reaching Platform at night would be an idiot!

Everyone below rolled their eyes at that moment!

These rules—

Very good, very perverted, very Fudao Shanren!

Although there was the restriction of closing after sunset, the entire ruleset was clearly insane!

The nights might be peaceful, but during the day, cultivators would face continuous wheel battles and continuous wheel battles!

There were only one hundred and twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms, and they were almost certainly only open during the day. Three days was already reduced to half, but how many cultivators were here?

Looking around, there were densely packed crowds, thousands upon thousands, even tens of thousands, and each person had ten opportunities!

To occupy a Heaven-Reaching Platform and laugh until the end…

Without waiting for the official start, everyone could already foresee how brutal and fierce this qualification battle would be!

But at the same time, they all understood—

There might be very lucky opportunists who could stand until the end, but most of those who remained would definitely be powerhouses with exceptional strength!

At the foot of Kunwu Mountain, the Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms were about to become a battlefield of carnage!

Still complete silence.

But this time, it carried a different flavor.

Under such rules, no one knew who their opponents would be, no one knew what situations they would encounter, and even many powerful individuals frowned tightly.

If there were truly unlucky ones with poor fortune who continuously faced strong enemies, even those with great strength might not avoid being eliminated.

A set of rules full of challenge!

Fudao Shanren was extremely satisfied with the effect he had created.

He chuckled, directly using his arm to nudge Master Hengxu beside him.

Master Hengxu glanced at him, understood his meaning, and nodded.

So Fudao Shanren raised his hand, lifting a azure broken bamboo pole, and declared loudly: “Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms, open!”

Open!

The moment that word fell, Master Hengxu almost simultaneously raised his hand!

Swish!

Swish!

A azure-green light and a pale azure light shot out from Fudao Shanren and Master Hengxu respectively, like heavenly fire meteors falling from the heights of Kunwu’s main peak, accurately and fiercely striking the Hundred and Twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms!

In an instant, each Heaven-Reaching Platform was enveloped in a layer of dazzling white light!

Everyone understood—

The entry selection had officially begun!

“Clang!”

Another great bell rang!

Fudao Shanren and Master Hengxu slightly nodded toward those below, then directly flew down to the mountain platform where the sect leaders and elders gathered.

At the same time, Kunwu Elder Gu Pingsheng descended from the long mountain path, leading a group of elders down.

“The Small Gathering has officially begun. Fellow Daoists interested in participating, please obtain Dao Seals from our Kunwu elders.”

Eight elders stood at eight directions at the foot of Kunwu’s main peak, preparing to distribute Dao Seals to the numerous disciples.

Many disciples below, those who were eager, almost immediately swarmed forward.

However, there were naturally those who weren’t in a hurry at all.

After all, there were three days.

From the rules, entering the field earlier was more strenuous, but in the long run, those without sufficient strength couldn’t possibly last until the end.

Although one hundred and twenty people was many, Jian Chou thought about it—she was only ranked last after all.

She glanced at Fudao Shanren, who was now socializing with sect leaders and elders of the Left Three Thousand sects alongside Master Hengxu on the mountain platform, and finally withdrew her gaze.

The young man in purple martial attire was already somewhat eager to try, glancing at Jian Chou: “Senior Grand Uncle, aren’t you going to get a Dao Seal?”

“I’m not in a hurry.”

Jian Chou looked at him.

This was Yashan’s rising star from the past ten years, Tang Wansheng. He wasn’t very familiar with Jian Chou, but he seemed like an enthusiastic young man who wanted to immediately get a Dao Seal but was too embarrassed to go since she wasn’t going.

Jian Chou smiled slightly, glanced at Qi Shaofeng behind him who was also somewhat excited, and said peacefully: “Now that our Yashan has dozens of disciples, I’m not in a hurry for now, so please, Junior Nephew Tang, lead everyone to get the Dao Seals.”

“…”

Looking at Jian Chou with some surprise, Tang Wansheng quickly bowed.

“Yes, Senior Grand Uncle.”

Jian Chou nodded, watching as Tang Wansheng couldn’t hide the smile on his face, waving his hand to lead away dozens of Yashan disciples.

Everyone bid farewell to Jian Chou and squeezed into the crowded throng.

“I I I I got it!”

A cheer erupted from a muscular man at the foot of the mountain.

Since they had just started distributing Dao Seals, as the first person to get one, this man couldn’t help but laugh wildly.

“Let me be the first to taste the feeling of ascending the Heaven-Reaching Platform!”

Having said this, the man didn’t hesitate, directly leaping into the air and throwing his ring-like Dao Seal toward the Heaven-Reaching Platform closest to him!

Snap!

When the Dao Seal was only three zhang away from the Heaven-Reaching Platform, the previously hidden white light immediately brightened.

Whoosh!

The Dao Seal touched the light barrier without any obstruction and directly entered within.

The man also followed directly inside, standing on the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

“Rumble…”

A tremendous sound.

Everyone at the foot of the mountain heard it and couldn’t help but turn their shocked gazes over.

Jian Chou had originally seen the location of the Wuwang Zhai group in the distance and was about to look for Nie Xiaowan when she also turned her amazed gaze over at this sound.

Under countless shocked gazes, the Heaven-Reaching Platform that had been standing with its tip pointing downward on the ground began to tremble violently after the man entered, slowly detaching from the ground and rising into the void, ascending higher and higher!

The enormous Heaven-Reaching Platform, in the blink of an eye, differed from the other one hundred and nineteen, suspended a full ten zhang in the air!

The man also hadn’t expected this: “Opening the Heaven-Reaching Platform has this effect? Haha, refreshing, refreshing, refreshing!”

Holding the Dao Seal in his hand, the man laughed heartily.

Someone below immediately recognized him and exclaimed in shock: “It’s Xuanyang Sect’s Fang Dachui!”

Xuanyang Sect’s Fang Dachui, ranked fifteenth, just after Wuyi Sect’s Tao Zhang!

With no one challenging him for the moment, everyone was just curious about the Heaven-Reaching Platform setup.

Following the man, someone immediately rushed to get a Dao Seal and directly flew onto a Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Sure enough, another rumbling sound arose throughout the mountain foot area, and the Heaven-Reaching Platform again lifted off from the ground, suspended high in mid-air!

One after another…

Many people opened Heaven-Reaching Platforms.

Around Kunwu’s four directions, a spectacular scene suddenly appeared.

The one hundred and twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms rose one after another, like isolated islands floating in the air!

Countless people watched in amazement.

High above in mid-air, all those standing below could only look up.

Eastern thirteenth platform.

Gu Qingmei pressed her Dao Seal and directly landed on the platform, also raising the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Below, there was immediately a burst of discussion.

“It’s Kunwu’s Fairy Gu!”

“Heavens, Fairy Gu ascended the Heaven-Reaching Platform so early—she must be very confident in herself.”

“This time, Fairy Gu is ranked seventh; she’ll be able to laugh until the end, right?”

…

As the Heaven-Reaching Platform rose, Gu Qingmei’s field of vision also broadened.

She naturally heard the discussions below but didn’t care at all.

Now she had also broken through to Golden Core and was a Kunwu disciple with many Dao Seals—why couldn’t she be a bit arrogant?

Gu Qingmei’s face showed a proper smile, fully displaying the demeanor of a disciple from a major sect like Kunwu, earning even more praise from below.

In the distant forest.

Eight beauties in white dresses, their jade feet floating one foot above the ground, suspended in the air without touching any earthly filth.

They surrounded a floating flower platform, with carefully arranged flowers of various colors piled together, emitting an enchanting fragrance.

A man with robes embroidered with various colorful patterns that were even more delicate and beautiful than the flowers piled on the platform. He was barefoot with loose hair, reclining sideways on the flower platform, one elbow propped up to lazily support his head, gazing at the already boiling foot of Kunwu Mountain.

“Young Master, shall we not go?”

A beauty’s voice was clear and moist. She also glanced ahead and asked puzzledly.

The man’s narrow phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, giving an androgynous beauty.

He touched his moist, thin lips with his finger, broke into a smile, and said leisurely: “Haven’t seen any satisfying prey yet, no rush.”

At the gathering place of the Fengmo Sword Sect disciples.

Zhang Sui, who had traveled with Jian Chou when she first entered Shijiu Zhou at the Immortal Path Thirteen Islands, couldn’t help but look around after obtaining his Dao Seal.

He was just one of the Fengmo Sword Sect disciples who came to participate in the Left Three Thousand Small Gathering this year.

Surrounded and protected like stars around the moon was a young man in a dark red robe. That blood-red scar falling from his brow center still carried three parts of cruel beauty. His hands hung at his sides, and a corner of a Dao Seal could be seen in his left sleeve.

His gaze swept around and finally landed on Zhang Sui.

The young man slightly lowered his eyes and suddenly spoke: “I heard Senior Brother Zhang once knew that Senior Sister from Yashan.”

Zhang Sui, who was preparing to leave alone to meet up with Zhou Kuang and Nie Xiaowan, suddenly stopped and looked at the young man.

In the crowd.

One hand stroking his small mustache, the other gripping a hard staff, Jin Suanpan Qian Que forcibly suppressed his inner fear and swaggered past under Gu Qingmei’s Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Only after walking far away did he heavily pat his chest.

Mother! Although he knew the probability of being discovered among so many people was too low, and he had a disguise, it was still heart-stopping!

Fortunately, he had escaped this calamity.

Qian Que looked ahead, preparing to quietly get a Dao Seal.

Unexpectedly, this glance made him see a tall, sturdy figure in the crowd.

Meng Xizhou carried a long staff on his shoulder, looking toward where the Dao Seals were being distributed.

So many people…

The queue would take a while. Maybe he should wait?

He pondered.

Qian Que suddenly had a particularly wonderful premonition.

Looking at the long staff in his hand, he stared at the tall, sturdy young man ahead, his eyes rolling around.

When he had desperately impersonated Meng Xizhou in an emergency and escaped when encountering Gu Qingmei, where was the real Meng Xizhou?

“Hey, fellow Daoist, could you help me give this spirit stone to that male cultivator over there? This is payment.”

Qian Que directly patted the shoulder of a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator beside him, pulled out a handful of spirit stones, and pointed at Meng Xizhou in the distance with his other hand, showing a kind smile.

The small cultivator was somewhat dazed—he had never seen so many spirit stones.

Almost the instant he heard Qian Que’s words, the small cultivator nodded like a pecking chicken: “Good, good, good!”

On the other side.

A young man with a small braid tied behind his head had eaten most of a watermelon’s flesh. When he lifted his head from the watermelon rind, his face was already covered with watermelon seeds.

He looked around, puzzledly, and scratched his head.

Strange, why did he seem to hear someone cheating just now?

Could he have heard wrong?

Must have heard wrong.

The young man showed a big smile, his white teeth gleaming in the morning sun, and buried his head down again with a “crunch” to eat the melon.

In the hidden mountain forest.

Taking this scene in, the red-faced old man bit the handle of his carving knife and lightly tapped the six-foot-long “One Person Platform Handbook” master copy, highlighting the line “Twelfth, Xiao Jin.”

Then he pondered for a moment, lightly tapped the two characters “Xiao Jin” with his carving knife, steadily and accurately carving a fold line, then carving a few more characters.

“Xiao Jin loves to smile, enjoys eating melons.”

Finally, he withdrew his carving knife and lightly tapped the six-foot handbook with the knife handle.

“Ding.”

A crisp, light sound.

Throughout all of Shijiu Zhou, all recently sold new editions of the “One Person Platform Handbook” flashed with thin streams of light, forming a small knife-shaped symbol representing the latest revision!

Countless purchasers of the handbook immediately began flipping through it.

“It’s been revised!”

“Haha, finally, there are simple introductions to the cultivators on the rankings.”

“My god, what is this?”

“Hahaha, look at the twelfth—eats melons, haha, eats melons!”

…

A burst of discussion suddenly reached Jian Chou’s ears.

She turned to look and saw many people holding small folded booklets, examining them. It seemed the “One Person Platform Handbook” had undergone some changes.

Maybe…

She should also buy one to play with.

“Sister Jian Chou.”

A greeting suddenly rang out from diagonally ahead.

Jian Chou turned to look and saw Wu Duan walking down from the mountain.

“Junior Brother Wu?”

Wu Duan came before Jian Chou, also glanced around, and smiled: “Seeing things are about to get lively, I came down to take a look. I want to know when Sister Jian Chou will ascend the platform. Please don’t blame me, Sister Jian Chou.”

“…I’m afraid I’ll disappoint Junior Brother Wu.”

Jian Chou sighed inwardly.

Since that day’s battle with Zhou Chengjiang on the Nine-Headed River, Wu Duan seemed to have developed a great interest in her.

Yashan’s disciples all resided on Kunwu Mountain, so Wu Duan would come to chat with her from time to time, ostensibly to exchange cultivation insights but asking about irrelevant matters.

Jian Chou felt Wu Duan’s brain had probably been caught in a door, but in her heart, she really thought Wu Duan was a decent person. Since their conversations were never long, she was too lazy to fuss about it.

Now Wu Duan had come again, and Jian Chou didn’t understand.

Wu Duan wasn’t embarrassed at all, only saying: “Then it seems Sister Jian Chou is also planning to conserve energy. Just right—I saw that Zhilin Sou’s ‘One Person Platform Handbook’ was newly revised, and many of Sister Jian Chou’s future opponents now have some information. I heard Sister Jian Chou hasn’t prepared a handbook yet, so why don’t you take a look at this one first?”

With that, he directly extended his hand, and a small jade-colored booklet appeared before Jian Chou.

This was identical to the booklet Yu Shanxing had been reading before.

Jian Chou originally wanted to refuse.

Wu Duan only added: “It’s just a booklet. Isn’t Sister Jian Chou curious about her opponents?”

“Curious, but curious…” Jian Chou glanced at him and suddenly muttered quietly, “Just afraid that if I accept this gift, I won’t be able to repay it later…”

However, despite saying this, she ultimately accepted the booklet Wu Duan handed her.

Jian Chou walked with the flowing crowd while opening the booklet.

Wu Duan followed beside her, watching her gentle profile with smiling eyes, and spoke: “Currently, few people in the entire Central Domain know Sister Jian Chou’s true strength. I barely count as half a person, but I always feel Sister Jian Chou hadn’t used her full strength that day. Although I, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, say this might seem like bullying the weak, but… I want to ask Sister Jian Chou—after the Left Three Thousand Small Gathering, would you be willing to have a match with me?”

“Snap.”

Carelessly, the small booklet was closed by Jian Chou’s trembling hand.

She managed to suppress her twitching with great effort and finally looked up at Wu Duan, who was completely serious and didn’t seem to be joking at all.

Hehe…

You also know you’re Nascent Soul stage, you also know you’re somewhat bullying the weak…

And yet you still dare to speak up?

Jian Chou thought to herself: If I were Nascent Soul stage, I’d have beaten you into a pig’s head already, no need for you to ask.

“Sister Jian Chou?”

Seeing that Jian Chou hadn’t answered for a long time, Wu Duan couldn’t help but ask again, his heart unusually filled with some anxiety.

Jian Chou came back to her senses and put on a calm smile: “If it’s a sparring match…”

“Senior Brother Wu!”

A charming shout suddenly interrupted Jian Chou’s words.

Wu Duan had originally been delighted to hear Jian Chou begin to answer, but before he could be happy for long, he was interrupted.

He felt inexplicably displeased, frowning as he looked up.

The voice came from above—it was Gu Qingmei on the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

It turned out that at some point, Jian Chou and Wu Duan had coincidentally walked to the foot of Gu Qingmei’s Eastern Thirteenth Heaven-Reaching Platform and were spotted by her.

Gu Qingmei and Wu Duan were originally from the same sect. Although Wu Duan had no particular background, he was a true disciple under Master Hengxu. Even though Gu Qingmei was Elder Gu Pingsheng’s daughter, she couldn’t compete with his status.

Kunwu’s thirteen leading true disciples each held a higher status than any other disciple, and each was a senior brother.

Therefore, there was inevitably some warmth in Gu Qingmei’s voice when she called out to Wu Duan.

Jian Chou also looked up, and hearing the familiar voice, it was indeed Gu Qingmei.

What was this…

Little Marten still obediently crouched on Jian Chou’s shoulder. Since entering Kunwu, it hadn’t spoken, as Jian Chou had specifically warned it not to, fearing that if Little Marten made a sound, it would expose their identity.

However…

The moment it suddenly saw Gu Qingmei, Little Marten’s fluffy tail hidden behind Jian Chou began to wag happily, even standing up to gently poke at Jian Chou: Master, master! It’s that fat sheep from the Crimson Slaughter Realm!

Jian Chou felt Little Marten’s tail touching her, but her smile didn’t change at all, as if she had never known Gu Qingmei before.

At this moment, Gu Qingmei had also seen Jian Chou.

Only then did she notice that Wu Duan and Jian Chou were standing very close together, causing her to hesitate.

Wu Duan didn’t particularly like Gu Qingmei and those associated with Xie Buchen. When he spoke, his tone was indifferent and not very warm, carrying only an ordinary smile: “Junior Sister Gu ascended quite early. Now we’ll watch you and Junior Brother Xie bring glory to our Kunwu. I’m taking Sister Jian Chou for a walk around. Junior Sister Gu should do her best.”

Gu Qingmei glanced at Jian Chou and found that Jian Chou was also looking at her.

A strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart…

Could it be that she was someone Senior Brother Wu had taken a fancy to?

Uh…

That seemed quite nice.

For a moment, Gu Qingmei found that she didn’t dislike Jian Chou as much anymore.

This was Yashan’s Senior Sister, and also someone famous throughout the entire Central Domain.

If she could befriend her…

Wouldn’t that bring honor to her?

With this thought, Gu Qingmei cupped her hands toward Jian Chou: “So you are Yashan’s Senior Sister Jian Chou. I’ve long admired your reputation. Qingmei pays her respects here.”

“…Junior Sister Gu need not be so polite.”

Jian Chou returned the greeting indifferently, feeling quite strange inside.

Little Marten, sitting on Jian Chou’s shoulder, seeing the two acting this way, quickly covered its about-to-open “bloody maw” with both paws.

Wuu wuu wuu…

Can’t laugh, absolutely can’t laugh!

Laughing would get me beaten, so difficult…

But watching a master deceive people so hypocritically feels great!

Little Marten’s behavior immediately caught Gu Qingmei’s attention.

The fluffy, cute little animal, soft and bright-eyed, instantly captured Gu Qingmei’s attention.

“Ah, is this a spirit pet that Sister Jian Chou keeps? So cute!”

“…Uh… I suppose so.”

A rather stupid spirit pet.

Jian Chou didn’t know how to respond and even felt somewhat absurd.

Seeing how much Gu Qingmei looked like a silly girl at this moment, Jian Chou couldn’t help but doubt whether the cruel person who had been so ruthless in the Crimson Slaughter Realm was her.

If she knew that the little marten crouching on her shoulder had once broken her soul-stealing bell sound with a single roar, ruining her plans;

If she knew that this “Senior Sister Jian Chou” standing before her was the one who had stolen her opportunities and ruined her plans in the Crimson Slaughter Realm;

If she knew that she had once been Xie Buchen’s wife, had also stolen the Dijiang Bone Jade that originally belonged to Xie Buchen, and had cultivated the Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings…

Thinking this, Jian Chou found it somewhat exhilarating.

She secretly decided that she should use the Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings sparingly and avoid using the Ghost Axe if possible. At most, she’d fight the world with fists and feet. Unless necessary, she’d better not expose her identity from the Crimson Slaughter Realm.

After all…

Who knew what this “silly girl” might turn into when she changed her face?

It was better to see her in this stupid appearance—it was more pleasing to the eye.

With this plan in mind, Jian Chou’s smile became even more genuine.

Gu Qingmei momentarily thought that Jian Chou had good feelings toward her. All her previous ill feelings toward Jian Chou began to gradually disappear, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness: This Yashan Senior Sister was completely different from other snobbish Yashan disciples, like that half-dead Qu Zhengfeng!

“I also want such a cute spirit pet. Hmm… but Senior Brother Xie says that such small spirit pets generally don’t have much use, so I didn’t keep any…”

Wu Duan was about to say, “Don’t you have so many spirit beast rings to keep them for fun,” but the spirit pearl in his sleeve suddenly trembled.

He extended his hand, and the spirit pearl appeared in his palm.

As soon as his spiritual consciousness touched the pearl, Wu Duan immediately frowned: “What, can’t enter?”

Communication spirit pearl!

Gu Qingmei naturally recognized this item!

She immediately thought of something and asked urgently from the Heaven-Reaching Platform: “Senior Brother Wu, is this news from Senior Brother Zhao?”

Kunwu’s eldest senior brother, Zhao Zhuo, following Master Hengxu’s orders to go to the Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm to investigate Xie Buchen’s life and death—this was no secret to either Kunwu or the Yashan sect.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Jian Chou immediately understood.

Xie Buchen…

Had Qu Zhengfeng spared his life?

She also looked toward Wu Duan.

Since this matter was significant, Wu Duan didn’t say much, only cupping his hands toward Jian Chou: “There’s an urgent matter in the sect that I must report to my master. Senior Sister, I must take my leave.”

Jian Chou smiled slightly and calmly patted Little Marten’s head.

“No matter, Junior Brother Wu, please go ahead.”

Wu Duan immediately transformed into a snow-white stream of light, flying directly toward where Master Hengxu was currently located on the mountainside.

On the Heaven-Reaching Platform, Gu Qingmei watched Wu Duan’s figure anxiously. Gritting her teeth and stomping her foot, she left the Heaven-Reaching Platform directly!

Snap!

Almost the moment she left the Heaven-Reaching Platform, the Dao Seal she wore immediately dimmed by one section!

Gu Qingmei had voluntarily given up one opportunity to chase after Wu Duan.

This…

Could this be called infatuation?

Jian Chou tilted her head and suddenly revealed an indescribable mocking smile.

In the past, she, too, had been infatuated with Xie Buchen’s charm and couldn’t extricate herself. Even now, she didn’t deny Xie Buchen’s inherent charisma, but what did this have to do with their hatred?

She wondered if Xie Buchen could make it to this Small Gathering.

Jian Chou opened the newly revised “One Person Platform Handbook” and directly tapped on the ranking line “Tenth, Xie Buchen.” Then, a line of small text introduction appeared.

“Kunwu’s Xie Buchen, thirteenth true disciple under Master Hengxu.”

“Foundation Establishment in ten days, easily defeated Dragon Gate’s Zhou Chengjiang on the thirteenth day, listed on the Second Heavenly Tablet.”

“Suspected to possess Tianpan, cultivation at Foundation Establishment peak.”

“Combat power preliminary assessment: Golden Core middle stage.”

“Note: Abnormal strength, Heaven’s favored child, currently trapped in a certain isolated island hidden realm in the mortal world, has not yet entered the Small Gathering.”

Looking at these lines of text, Jian Chou lowered her eyes and slowly closed the handbook.

Ahead, a red-clothed young girl and a burly man carrying an axe came together.

The moment she saw Jian Chou, the girl immediately became happy and called out: “Senior Sister Jian Chou!”

The clear voice carried over.

Jian Chou looked up, and her eyes immediately filled with a smile: “Junior Sister Xiaowan!”

It was indeed Wuwang Zhai’s Nie Xiaowan, whom she hadn’t seen since parting at the Immortal Path Thirteen Islands!

At the age of growing taller, Nie Xiaowan had grown a full head taller. Seeing Jian Chou looking over with a face full of smiles, she became somewhat embarrassed and blushed, hesitating to approach.

After all, Jian Chou had changed greatly in these two or three years.

Zhou Kuang was more open. Although he knew that the current Jian Chou had been completely transformed, he felt she was not the type to be snobbish.

Therefore, Zhou Kuang walked directly over and cheerfully cupped his hands toward Jian Chou: “I pay my respects to Senior Sister Jian Chou!”

“Junior Brother Zhou, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?” Jian Chou also returned the greeting.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister Jian Chou. I’m doing quite well. Although I haven’t taken any contracts, I’ve also reached Foundation Establishment peak, so I came to participate in the Small Gathering this year too.”

Zhou Kuang carried his large axe, scratched his head, and smiled honestly.

Nie Xiaowan finally came over too, saying timidly: “Xiaowan greets Senior Sister Jian Chou.”

“Are your injuries healed?”

Jian Chou bent down slightly to ask her.

Nie Xiaowan’s ears turned completely red as she nodded and mumbled: “All healed. With master’s help, I was also fortunate to form my Golden Core…”

Even Xiaowan had formed her Golden Core.

That was quite fast.

Jian Chou was also happy, but thinking of the mysterious Xu Lan’er ranked eleventh, she couldn’t help but frown: “Since we’re rarely all together, have you both obtained Dao Seals? Speaking of which… where is Junior Brother Zhang?”

“Senior Brother Zhang is still with the Fengmo Sword Sect people, seems to be talking about something. We didn’t want to disturb them, so we came first.”

Zhou Kuang looked back in that direction, but it was already blocked by crowds, and he could no longer see the Fengmo Sword Sect group.

Nie Xiaowan also said: “Seems to be that Xiahou something… not sure exactly. But we haven’t gotten our Dao Seals yet. Senior Sister Jian Chou also hasn’t gotten hers, right?”

“Then let’s go together.”

Whether getting them early or late, it was still getting them—better to be prepared.

At this moment, the place where the Dao Seals were being distributed had fewer people.

When Jian Chou and the other two went over, the Kunwu elder making the Dao Seals, looked at Jian Chou one extra time, then made a gesture with his hand, drew a line on the blank Dao Seal, and handed it to Jian Chou.

The Dao Seal was identical to what they had seen in the shadow before.

After Jian Chou received hers, Zhou Kuang and Nie Xiaowan also quickly obtained their Dao Seals.

At this moment, some of the surrounding one hundred and twenty Heaven-Reaching Platforms had people beginning to challenge them, with spectators below, and some even floating directly in mid-air to see more clearly.

Jian Chou looked up and immediately heard exclamations coming from the southern third Heaven-Reaching Platform!

A figure was sharply slapped out of the Heaven-Reaching Platform by someone, falling to the ground below, immediately becoming disheveled!

“Won!”

“Worthy of being ranked third, so powerful!”

“Young Master Xie, living up to his reputation!”

…

Ranked third?

If she remembered correctly, the third was a Kunwu cultivator named Xie Ding?

Jian Chou focused her gaze.

A refined and scholarly cultivator held a folding fan in his hand, gently fanning twice, then bowed toward the cultivator he had thrown off the Heaven-Reaching Platform and spoke leisurely: “I yield.”

Kunwu’s wind blew around him.

With his elegant scholarly air, bright eyes, and clear features, he was indeed another extremely graceful Kunwu expert.

However…

Why did this appearance give Jian Chou a somewhat familiar feeling?

Nie Xiaowan stood beside Jian Chou, following her gaze, and said quietly: “This is one of this year’s championship favorites, Kunwu’s Young Master Xie Ding. He’s a Kunwu inner disciple. Although he’s not as famous as the renowned Heaven’s favored child Xie Buchen, he’s also very powerful. Others call him Young Master Xie because he bears some resemblance to Xie Buchen.”

Zhou Kuang also came over: “Everyone says that now that Kunwu’s Senior Brother Xie isn’t here, Young Master Xie might be able to drop the ‘Young’ from his title.”

Jian Chou stood below, her pale, slender fingers hooking the Dao Seal, slightly squinting as she looked up.

Why did she find him somewhat displeasing to the eye?

Her hands began to itch.

Xie Ding had entered the sect earlier, but unfortunately, wasn’t a true disciple under Master Hengxu.

Therefore, even though Xie Buchen had come later, others still called him “Young Master Xie,” which was extremely frustrating.

He stood high on the Heaven-Reaching Platform, striking a suave pose with that scholarly coldness, and his facial features indeed bore some slight resemblance to Xie Buchen.

Of course…

Xie Buchen was famous and extremely beloved by the female cultivators in the sect. Xie Ding indeed unconsciously imitated Xie Buchen’s behavior, thinking that even if he couldn’t be Xie Buchen, he might become a second Xie Buchen.

Before this Small Gathering, he had encountered a fortuitous opportunity, and Zhilin Sou had ranked him third, which was completely unexpected.

Now that Xie Buchen wasn’t even participating in this Small Gathering, perhaps he had a chance. He might finally shed the title “Young Master Xie” and return in triumph!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Thinking this, Xie Ding’s eyes carried some hidden smugness.

For a moment, no one dared to step forward to challenge this third-ranked Kunwu genius.

Facing everyone’s praise, Xie Ding smiled slightly and said with ulterior motives and false modesty: “Everyone flatters me. Compared to Senior Brother Xie of our sect, I’m not worth mentioning and don’t deserve such praise—eh?”

Xie Ding was still speaking when suddenly a slender, graceful figure landed in front of him.

The Dao Seal hooked on her finger had already lost one section of light. This female cultivator who appeared while he was speaking stood on a golden round mirror, with a gentle smile on her face, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

Below, there was immediately an uproar!

Young Master Xie had just experienced a battle, yet someone immediately dared to jump up and challenge him again—such courage!

You must know that Xie Ding was ranked third. Logically, only the mysterious “Xiahou She” and the eccentric “Young Master Ruhua” ahead of him could defeat him!

What was the background of this female cultivator?

Jian Chou was deaf to the discussions below.

She had been a bit willful without thinking.

She extended her hand, grasping the round mirror, smiling kindly and brilliantly: “Yashan disciple Jian Chou requests Young Master Xie of Kunwu to enlighten me.”

Xie Ding was stunned.

Yashan’s Jian Chou?!

Everyone below was also shocked, then erupted in tremendous uproar!

The Yashan genius ranked one hundredth, the one with Tianpan?

She came to challenge the third-ranked Xie Ding right away?!

Had she taken the wrong medicine?!

The tremendous uproar almost overturned the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Almost all eyes at the foot of Kunwu Mountain converged on this spot in an instant!

The Small Gathering had just begun—was it necessary to be this exciting?!!

Nie Xiaowan and Zhou Kuang below were also dumbfounded.

At the slightest disagreement, she just… went up…