Glaring, colorful light emanated from all sides, whether from the upper ground of the Central Courtyard or the lower levels, clashing against the thick, poisonous purple cloud of smoke that enveloped the entire lower Kunlun ground.

The acrid smell of the noxious fumes stung the nostrils and made eyes water, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.

The light clearly came from the Inner Disciples or rather their jians, who were shrouded in the dense purple cloud, desperately trying to dispel it simultaneously with sweeping arcs of their jians.

As they prepared to slash through the poison, amidst the chaotic rumble of Outer Disciples coughing and gasping for air, the clanking of fake Outer Disciples' jians ringing, and their fierce battles with the Official Disciples, a voice suddenly rang out with crystalline clarity.

"Rising...Gale..." It was soft and melodic, unmistakably a woman's voice, instantly drawing all attention like a beacon in the hazy chaos. The next moment, a massive swirling vortex of wind suddenly gathered at a single point, its powerful suction violently sucking in the thick purple cloud of smoke and revealing the pandemonium of the lower Kunlun ground.

Outer Disciples lay unconscious on the cold marble floor, some twitching as they struggled to breathe. Official Disciples stood stunned by the incredible sight, lowering their swords just after deflecting a fake Outer Disciple's jian. Ji Wuye's group stared in awe at the slender figure responsible for this awe-inspiring display of skill.

"Junior Sister Song..." Lian Rougang's voice was tinged with awe as she watched the swirling vortex of poisonous purple smoke rise higher, carrying the shadowy figure at its core as Song Jia slowly floated, or rather descended gracefully, in mid-air.

"Wow..." Ding Xiuying, standing by Ji Wuye's side, was utterly awestruck as the vortex dispersed the thick purple smoke into the air with powerful gusts. The delicate figure of Song Jia, now fully visible in the warm sunlight filtering through the clearing smoke, was descending like an ethereal fairy.

Her eyes were narrowed in intense focus, her silky, maple-colored hair gently fluttering in the dissipating breeze, framing her youthful, heart-shaped face. The soft features that normally gave her an innocent, almost childlike appearance now looked magnificent and regal as she gracefully landed with just a small hop at the end of her controlled descent.

"Ehe... I did it!" The next moment, her cold, majestic beauty was shattered by a wide, beaming smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes as she gave a thumbs-up gesture. Her squinted eyes gleamed with unrestrained joy as she looked over at Ji Wuye and his group with innocent pride.

This unexpected shift in her demeanor, from awe-inspiring martial art movement to an almost childlike exuberance, touched even all of his Senior Sisters. Especially, his Senior Shen Bi couldn't help but smile and gaze at Song Jia with clear admiration in her eyes.

Of course, the stunned moment briefly halted all activity in the lower level, but it was merely the pause before the storm.

Soon after, the Official Disciples and Inner Disciples sprang back into action, their swords flashing as they swiftly subdued and restrained the remaining Outer Disciples with expert precision, including Song Jia, who was speechless and stunned by this attitude.

...

A few moments later, the earlier commotion had fully subsided. All of the Outer Disciples, including Ji Wuye, had been thoroughly inspected.

The first day of the gathering had already stirred a whirlwind of opinions among the guests, especially in light of Kunlun's bold and uncompromising move to ruthlessly root out villains, even at the risk of disciples' lives.

Meanwhile, after ascending to the Inner Courtyard and heading toward the Elder Qiao's Courtyard, Ji Wuye found himself alone once again.

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His long white hair fluttered gently in the increasingly strong mountain breeze as he made his way up the winding white marble steps that led to the lofty cliff where Elder Qiao's courtyard resided.

His pristine white martial robe, accented with aqua stripes, billowed elegantly with each purposeful stride, though his expression remained an inscrutable mask of indifference. He stole sideways glances at the breathtaking view that surrounded him on either side, the misty peaks almost close enough to reach out and touch.

Eventually, he returned to the familiar cliffside terrace, where a vast plain stretched out before him.

A large and long koi pond with a rustic arched bridge served as a natural divider, separating the verdant spaces into two distinct sections - one for guests and the other residents.

But right now, in the guest section or area, almost all of his Senior Sisters were already gathered there, awaiting his arrival.

Including...

"Junior?!" A familiar voice called out, laced with both surprise and concern. The furrowed brows and worried expression belonged to none other than Lian Rougang, clearly baffled and stunned to see Ji Wuye's presence there against all protocol.

Standing slightly in front of her was an row of six Inner Disciples, including Li Rong, Su Xinyi, and Wei Xun, their faces a mix of guarded caution and curiosity.

Before them sat the familiar figure of Elder Qiao, seemingly out of place yet utterly in command as she casually lounged at her 6-chi height, meticulously tending to the long-stemmed ivory pipe clenched between her full, crimson lips.

She sat regally upon a stone chair, the very picture of nonchalant elegance, those crimson lips now curved into an enigmatic, almost teasing smile as her keen eyes spotted Ji Wuye's.

"Good, you're here, Little Brother," Elder Qiao's melodic voice carried easily across the area.

Her keen eyes scanned Ji Wuye from head to toe in an almost appraising manner before she gestured languidly for him to take a seat opposite her stone chair, where another seat awaited across a low rounded table that served as an elegant divider between them.

"Greetings, Big Sister Qiao," Ji Wuye responded respectfully, cupping his hands in a formal salute as he passed by the row of Inner Disciples. He stole a sidelong glance at Lian Rougang, unable to stifle an inward chuckle at her utterly dumbfounded expression, mouth agape in stunned disbelief at his unorthodox presence there.

"Greetings, Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers," he added, pivoting gracefully to offer another cupped-hand salute of respect to the six Inner Disciples.

"Greetings, Junior Brother," came the trio of feminine replies, each inflected with subtle nuances. Li Rong's tone was the most standard and formal, a polite-yet-distant acknowledgment. Su Xinyi, squinted her eyes as if visually assessing the true depths of Ji Wuye's martial prowess.

Wu Xin, the plump Senior Sister who had previously tested his skills, reacted in the strangest manner of all - her greeting carried the barest hint of a seductive purr as her intense gaze seemed to linger appraisingly over his form.

In stark contrast, the three Senior Brothers - the male Inner Disciples - initially reacted with varying degrees of indifference to Ji Wuye's salutation.

Each studied his ethereal, almost immortal-like appearance through narrowed eyes before dawning realization slowly spread across their features as they recognized this unassuming "Junior Brother."

"It's surprising to see our famous Junior has a personal connection with Elder Qiao," one of them remarked, his tone hovering in that indistinct space between mockery and genuine praise.

This disciple had short, jet-black hair bound in pony tail, with squinting eyes and an inscrutable half-smile gracing his angular features.

"Nice to meet you, Junior Brother Ji. I'm Kang Xiang, known as the Swift Blade of Qiao Peak," he added confidently, cupping his hands in a perfunctory salute towards Ji Wuye.

"I'm Yu Lei. Just don't cause any trouble," another male disciple stated flatly, far less energetic as he offered a lazily cupped salute of his own.

Yu Lei appeared to be in his late thirties, with long unkempt hair partially obscuring one eye and dark circles that spoke of restless nights. An air of perpetual fatigue clung to his lanky frame.

Yu Lei's disinterested demeanor hinted that he was likely one of those reluctant disciples, perhaps even forced to join Kunlun against his will.

His tone lacked any real enthusiasm or investment in the interaction, as if desperate to simply get through the obligatory niceties as quickly as possible.

"Yuan Xu," the last Inner Disciple introduced himself flatly. He had striking, bold eyebrows that seemed permanently furrowed over narrowed, scrutinizing eyes that surveyed Ji Wuye with unveiled disdain. His messy black hair hung in unkempt disarray, matching his overall disheveled appearance.

Yuan Xu was also the shortest of the three male Inner Disicples, standing just slightly taller than the petite Senior Sister Shen Bi. But, an aura of brazen arrogance radiated from his squat frame, as if he had been mentally dismissing and judging Ji Wuye from the moment he arrived.

If the diminutive Elder Qiao stood at a regal 6 chi and Ji Wuye's height hovered around the 5 chi mark, then this Yuan Xu was only fractionally taller than the tiny Shen Bi.

"Nice to meet you, Senior Brothers," Ji Wuye replied evenly, offering only the faintest whisper of a polite - perhaps even forced - smile as his gaze skimmed impassively over the trio.

He then turned and lowered himself gracefully into the stone seat across from Elder Qiao, who had been watching the entire exchange with an inscrutable yet slightly amused expression, her delicate chin resting casually atop one propped hand.

Just as Ji Wuye settled into his chair, his Senior Sister Lian Rougang unexpectedly stepped forward to stand squarely in the middle between him and the rounded dividing table. Her eyes flicked towards him, still slightly widened in apparent disbelief at his unorthodox presence there.

"Ah! Hello, Senior Sister," Ji Wuye greeted her with an exaggerated start, raising his eyebrows comically high and widening his eyes in mock surprise, as if only just noticing her despite her rather conspicuous position.

This teasing act earned him a pointed narrow of Lian Rougang's eyes as she pressed her lips into a thin line, clearly unamused. She looked as if about to rebuke him, but then seemed to reconsider given their elevated surroundings, settling instead for an exasperated sigh.

"It's not like—"

"—Quiet," a sharp, cold voice cut through Ji Wuye's attempt to continue needling her. The harsh interruption came from his Senior Brother Yuan Xu, who now glared at him with obvious irritation etched across his features.

"Then I will report the current situation," Lian Rougang stated calmly, casting an indifferent glance towards the arrogant Yuan Xu before turning her solemn gaze back towards Elder Qiao, who had been watching the entire exchange with an enigmatic smile playing about her full crimson lips.