Chapter 258: Wind Moves

Han Li was amazed, but also a little puzzled. Although Han Li wasn't proficient in such techniques, he knew a bit about them.

The "Heavenly Eye Technique," which all cultivators master, is actually considered the most basic spell. If two cultivators' cultivation levels differ significantly, using the Heavenly Eye Technique to look into the opponent's eyes could cause them to lose control of their mind and fall into a passive state during combat. Other types of spell-like techniques also primarily rely on a huge disparity in cultivation levels to forcibly control an opponent's mind.

Dong Xuan'er was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, and the flamboyant man was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Normally, such a small difference would never lead to the absurd situation where someone is immediately subdued just by making eye contact. This would only be somewhat possible if the opponent were a Core Formation cultivator specializing in such spells.

However, judging by the flamboyant man's expression and the resentful look he had when leaving, it didn't seem like that at all. It was certainly not a Core Formation cultivator pretending to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator to trick them. Thinking this, Han Li felt a little more at ease. After all, the resentful expression on the flamboyant man's face when he left had truly concerned him.

When he looked up from his contemplation, he saw Dong Xuan'er flirting and bantering with the two men again. Her previous pitiful demeanor had long vanished without a trace. Seeing this, Han Li sighed inwardly, stood up, and prepared to return to his room.

Just as Han Li placed his hand on the wooden door, before he could even push it open, he suddenly heard a loud male voice from outside the inn. "Listen up, guests of the inn! Tomorrow's Treasure Seizing Convention will be divided into two groups. Cultivators from our country will gather on the western peak of Yanling Fortress, while cultivators from other countries will gather on the eastern peak. Please arrive promptly tomorrow morning. Those who fail to arrive on time will be considered to have automatically forfeited the competition."

The voice repeated this announcement three times outside the inn before the person seemed to depart. Han Li paused at the words but then, unconcerned, pushed the door open and returned to his room.

While Han Li was somewhat surprised by the decision to separate cultivators from different countries for the competition, he didn't perceive anything amiss. After all, if cultivators from the Seven Sects and those from other countries competed together, it would surely lead to many incidents. This exclusive mindset is the same everywhere, as evidenced by the confrontation in the tea house that day. As Han Li pondered, he sat cross-legged on his bed, preparing to meditate and refine his Qi for the night, in preparation for tomorrow's Treasure Seizing Convention.

In a civilian residence within Yanling Fortress, the flamboyant and eerie man sat on a wooden chair. Several men and women respectfully reported to him. The man listened expressionlessly, a glimmer of light occasionally flashing in his eyes, and he inexplicably sneered.

Meanwhile, on the western peak of Yanling Fortress, over a dozen green-robed individuals from the Ghost Spirit Sect were busy on the mountaintop, occasionally burying things underground. The Young Lord of the Ghost Spirit Sect and two Core Formation cultivators floated in mid-air, coldly observing everything below.

"How is it? This temporary Yin Fire Great Array has been weakened so much; will it still be effective?" the Young Lord of the Ghost Spirit Sect suddenly asked.

"Rest assured, Young Lord! There will be no problem. Although it's only a temporary formation, with us brothers presiding over it, its ability to trap enemies will still be quite effective. Of course, if there are late Foundation Establishment cultivators within the formation, or if someone possesses exceptionally powerful magic tools, then it's hard to say! But the vast majority of cultivators will certainly not be able to escape," the elder of the Li brothers said with a few light coughs, his voice slightly trembling.

"Good, I'm relieved then! The Twelve Ghost Spirit Guards I brought with me aren't just for show. With their strength, dealing with a few stragglers will be more than enough!" the Young Lord of the Ghost Spirit Sect said without a hint of worry.

Hearing this, the Li brothers also felt there were no issues and fell silent. In fact, if it weren't necessary to preserve the complete souls and primordial spirits of these cultivators, the two brothers could have directly intervened and annihilated some Foundation Establishment cultivators, which would have been a trivial matter. There would have been no need for such trouble! the Li brothers thought proudly.

Thousands of miles away, in a secret chamber within Yellow Maple Valley in the Taiyue Mountain Range, seven or eight Core Formation cultivators were gathered. They listened nervously to a yellow-robed elder with white hair and beard, their expressions constantly shifting as he spoke. Han Li's master, Li Huayuan, Fairy Hongfu, and the corpulent Lei Wanhe were all among them, their faces equally anxious.

Not long after the cultivators emerged from the secret chamber, Yellow Maple Valley erupted into a flurry of activity. Various lights flew wildly across the high skies, while at lower altitudes, cultivators bustled about. After a while, hastily formed teams of cultivators departed from Yellow Maple Valley overnight, heading towards unknown destinations in separate directions.

Similar scenes unfolded in the other six sects, with messengers constantly shuttling back and forth between them. It seemed that overnight, the entire cultivation world of Yue State became filled with a murderous aura.

In the following days, various families, both large and small, across Yue State successively received a conscription order jointly signed by the leaders of the Seven Great Sects. It demanded that outstanding disciples from each family report for duty. Those who defied the order would face extermination by an enforcement team composed of cultivators from the Seven Sects, acting with ruthless determination. Of course, when the conscription order reached the Yan family three days later, the place was already empty.

Han Li and the cultivators from the Seven Sects within Yanling Fortress were naturally unaware of these events, being too far from their respective sects.

Thus, as dawn broke on the second day, some cultivators arrived early at the small western peak. A large formation had already been set up there, with two middle-aged men dressed in Yan family robes meditating with their eyes closed inside it. Behind the formation was a low earthen platform. On the platform, over a dozen Yan family members, faintly obscured by mist, stood discussing something. It appeared they were waiting for all cultivators to arrive before the convention would begin.

Han Li had also arrived at the peak. He hadn't come out with Dong Xuan'er, instead habitually arriving a step earlier by himself. On the peak, he happened to meet the middle-aged cultivator surnamed Ba from the Giant Sword Sect, who had also arrived early. The two naturally engaged in casual conversation.

"Brother Ba, do you know what this formation is for?" Han Li asked after observing the massive array several times, finding it somewhat unsettling.

"I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't know much about formations! But I'd guess it's some kind of protective barrier or restriction. After all, if we Foundation Establishment cultivators truly sparred, we'd definitely need to be confined within a certain area, otherwise, this small mountain wouldn't be able to withstand a few rounds of our fighting!" the cultivator surnamed Ba said, stroking his chin dismissively.

"Oh, that's very likely!" Han Li said, though he still subtly felt an unsettling aura emanating from the formation. This had nothing to do with the depth of his magic power; it was purely an intuitive feeling.

Han Li frowned and looked around. By then, over thirty cultivators had arrived. Acquaintances like the pair of Daoists from the Clear Stream Sect and the woman surnamed Fang from Heavenly Gate Fortress had all arrived, gathering in small groups and seemingly discussing something.

"Brother Han, why don't we go say hello? Look, Wuzi and the others are over there!" the cultivator surnamed Ba suggested with a smile, looking towards where others were gathered.

"Brother Ba, please go ahead! I have a few things to consider, so I won't disturb you all!" Han Li gently shook his head, unwilling to join such a large group, as it would draw too much attention.

The cultivator from the Giant Sword Sect shrugged. Though somewhat puzzled, he still walked over by himself. After all, opportunities to socialize with so many cultivators from other sects at once weren't common, and he wouldn't easily pass it up.

Seeing the cultivator surnamed Ba walk away, Han Li didn't remain in place either. Instead, he habitually sought out a secluded corner, the furthest from the formation, and walked there. From there, he coldly observed the actions of the other cultivators.

Another half an hour passed before Dong Xuan'er and Senior Brother Feng finally arrived. Upon arriving, they immediately joined a group comprised entirely of Yellow Maple Valley cultivators. Soon, Dong Xuan'er was interacting effortlessly and intimately with several male disciples. What surprised Han Li was that Yan Yu, who usually stayed close by her side, was nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, the dozen or so cultivators standing on the earthen platform, dressed in Yan family attire but actually members of the Ghost Spirit Sect, were counting the number of attendees.

"Young Lord, two people are still missing, and it's already getting late. Should we wait a little longer?" a Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator reported to the Young Lord after counting the attendees.

"No need to wait any longer. Immediately inform the two elders to activate the great array. Otherwise, if too much time passes, some clever cultivators might sense something amiss, which would be even worse! As for the two missing cultivators, send Guards Number Eight and Twelve from the Twelve Guards to hunt them down. Regardless of why they didn't show up, they must not be allowed to leave Yanling Fortress alive!" the Young Lord of the Ghost Spirit Sect commanded without hesitation, his words brimming with murderous intent.