"I don't know either." Li Lin shook his head. Without seeing the strength and cultivation level of all the participants, he couldn't judge either. Moreover, those who dared to participate in the Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament all had their trump cards. Cultivation level was only one aspect. Just like himself, if he played all his trump cards, his strength would not be as simple as his cultivation level suggested.

"That's true." Yun XiaoTian gave a wry smile and said, "I was too anxious. This time, our YunYang Sect cannot afford not to have disciples entering the top three. Even the several Supreme Elders in our sect are paying great attention to this matter."

"I will do my best." Li Lin said softly. He wasn't too surprised about the Supreme Elders of the YunYang Sect. When the secret ground was opened, the aura of those people had reached an absolutely terrifying level. That was the true strength of the YunYang Sect.

"This time, my hopes are on you and HongLing." Yun XiaoTian looked at Li Lin, then showed a slight smile and said, "Lin'er, now I will talk to you about a private matter."

"Oh, Sect Master, please speak." Li Lin raised his eyebrows and said.

"The matter between you and HongLing, although I did not mention it last time, I have seen it. I have only one daughter, and now I want you to tell me personally, how have you decided about HongLing." Yun XiaoTian looked at Li Lin and asked.

Li Lin was startled, not expecting Yun XiaoTian to ask about this. He felt a slight heaviness in his heart. Putting aside Yun XiaoTian's identity as the Sect Master of the YunYang Sect, he was also his future father-in-law. He had already recognized HongLing as his woman, and it was a matter that he would have to face sooner or later.

"I will use my life to ensure that HongLing will not be wronged. As for anything else, I cannot guarantee." Li Lin looked up at Yun XiaoTian, not avoiding his gaze anymore.

Looking at Li Lin, Yun XiaoTian didn't speak, seemingly lost in thought. Then, he said with a deep tone, "It's not my place to interfere too much in the matters of you young people, but now I still have to tell you, if you let HongLing suffer in the future, I will not let you off. Do you understand?"

"Disciple thanks the Sect Master for his consent." Li Lin stood up, then bowed, understanding Yun XiaoTian's intention. He was somewhat touched, having been worried that Yun XiaoTian would oppose. Now it seemed that Yun XiaoTian was not such a difficult and rigid person.

"Don't be too happy too soon." Yun XiaoTian's expression became serious, and then a sly smile appeared in his eyes. "I haven't said anything yet. If you want my approval, you must enter the top three of this Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament, otherwise, forget about it."

"What…" Li Lin was stunned, not expecting Yun XiaoTian to use this as a threat.

"Alright, go and prepare well. The first competition of the Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament is tomorrow. Don't make any mistakes," Yun XiaoTian said.

Leaving Yun XiaoTian's room, Li Lin showed a bitter smile. It seemed that Sect Master Yun XiaoTian was quite cunning, using both threats and inducements to make him give his best effort. To become the master of a sect was indeed not simple.

However, at this moment, Li Lin was already thinking about giving his all to enter the top three so that he could have a chance to obtain the Millennium Red Copper.

Returning to his room, Li Lin immediately took out a fourth-grade low-level demon pill and swallowed it. For Li Lin, who was at the level of a martial general, half a day and a night were enough to refine a fourth-grade low-level demon pill. Although refining a fourth-grade low-level pill was like dropping a bucket of water on a cart of hay in terms of breaking through his current strength, it could still enhance his strength somewhat. After setting up the Little Dragon as a guardian, Li Lin entered a state of cultivation and was soon enveloped in a pale yellow halo.

As time passed slowly, the people in TianJian City became more numerous as the Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament approached. The normally quiet streets were filled with dense crowds.

The next day, in TianJian City, it was the early spring season. When the first ray of sunlight rose from the horizon, the azure sky instantly brightened.

In TianJian City, the occasional spring breeze passed through, carrying the bustling noise of the city to the distance.

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This day, from early morning, was even busier than usual because the Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament, held once every fifteen years, was taking place today.

The Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament, a major event on the continent held once every fifteen years, attracted many martial artists to the streets early in the morning. Among the crowds, one could see some spirit practitioners mixed in, although they were not in large numbers.

All the people were heading towards one place, TianJian City Square, the venue for today's competition. The huge square had been sealed off by the TianJian Gate half a month ago and was only opened today.

Otherwise, people would have gone to secure a good spot days ago.

Soon after dawn, the streets became bustling and lively. Many people from the shops on the streets closed their shops and headed straight to the square.

However, some shops were exceptionally busy today, especially the betting shops. It was unclear where these shops got the information on all the participating disciples, but with fifty-six people, one could bet on who would make it into the top twenty-eight.

One could also predict who would enter the top five, top three, or even become the champion. Of course, the odds for these predictions changed daily. Since all the participants had not yet made their moves, most people were hesitant to bet.

These betting shops were numerous, with at least one on every street, and the amount of money involved was enormous. Therefore, to run such a betting shop, one needed the support of the TianJian Gate; otherwise, how could the information on these participants be known so clearly before the Three Sects and Four Gates Tournament even started?

After hurriedly placing their bets, many gamblers also continued to head towards the square. Today was the day when the young elites of the continent, and even those nurtured by the Three Sects and Four Gates, would compete, arousing great interest among everyone. Everyone wanted to know the gap between themselves and the disciples nurtured by the Three Sects and Four Gates. The disciples nurtured by the Three Sects and Four Gates were rumored to have astonishing talents and strengths.

Normally, it was very difficult for ordinary people to see the direct disciples of the Three Sects and Four Gates, especially the top-tier direct disciples.

Everyone knew in their hearts that these direct disciples who were able to participate in the Grand Assembly of the Three Sects and Four Schools would almost certainly have boundless prospects within their respective sects or schools in the future. Their future positions would either be as protectors or elders. The status of the protectors and elders within the Three Sects and Four Schools in the outside world can be imagined.

And at the Grand Assembly of the Three Sects and Four Schools, the leaders of the Three Sects and Four Schools would basically all attend, along with the elders from their respective sects or schools. Having the opportunity to see the leaders and heads of the Three Sects and Four Schools at the same time was a grand occasion that only came once every fifteen years.

Many people had been looking forward to it for months. It was said that the leaders and heads of the Three Sects and Four Schools were each among the top ten powerhouses, and having the opportunity to see seven of the top ten powerhouses at once was something that everyone looked forward to with anticipation and excitement.

"Sigh..."

When the first ray of light shone into the room through the window, Li Lin exhaled a breath of turbid air from his dantian qi sea. After half a day and a night of cultivation, he had once again refined an early-stage fourth-order inner core. At this moment, Li Lin felt that his cultivation had reached the middle stage of the first level of martial general. Although there seemed to be no significant progress in terms of levels, Li Lin could feel that his strength had indeed increased.

Opening his eyes, a sharp light flashed through them. He stretched lazily, feeling the abundant true qi within his body and the spiritual power in his mind. Li Lin smiled slightly, got out of bed, and at this moment, Bai Ling and Little dragon also stopped their cultivation.

"Bai Ling, do you want to go and see the Grand Assembly of the Three Sects and Four Schools?" Li Lin asked Bai Ling softly.

"Of course, I want to go and see," Bai Ling replied softly.

"Boss, you have to give it your all today," Little dragon said, raising his little head.

A moment later, inside the hall, the protectors and elders of the Yunyang Sect had already arrived. When Li Lin arrived at the great hall, Yun Hongling, Han Feng, Zhao Qinghai, and Qu Daojue, among others, had also all arrived inside the great hall.

"Lin'er, be careful today. Do not be careless," Yu Yu approached Li Lin as soon as she saw her beloved disciple.

"I will be careful," Li Lin nodded and said.

"Li Lin, our competition begins today," Qu Daojue said with a slight smile.

"Alright, I'm waiting," Li Lin replied lightly.

"Are the five participating disciples ready?" Yun Xiao Tian's voice came from outside the hall, and as his voice fell, his figure had already entered the great hall.

"The disciples are ready," the five nodded in response.

"Then let's go, someone has come to pick us up outside," Yun Xiao Tian said lightly.

As everyone walked out of the great hall, a huge flying beast appeared in the sky, with a body length of over two hundred meters, resembling an eagle, and its aura had reached the fourth-order level.

A grey-robed elder took the lead in descending from the back of the flying beast, landing lightly on the ground without stirring a single hem of his robe.

"A martial marshal powerhouse," sensing the person's aura, Li Lin could tell that this person's cultivation had reached the level of a martial marshal, and his aura was not inferior to the Xie and Song elders.

"Greetings to Sect Master Yun and all the elders," the grey-robed elder bowed in front of Yun Xiao Tian.

"Elder Shi, you're too polite," Yun Xiao Tian returned the greeting with his hands together in a slight bow.

"Elder Shi, long time no see. Your cultivation has become even more refined," the Elder with the surname Song said with a slight smile.