Xie Yun lowered his head and glanced at himself. That dark shadow made him feel a chill throughout his body. His stiff body hardly dared to move. Xie Yun could clearly sense that someone was standing right in front of him, locking him in place with their aura, yet he couldn't see anyone at all.

"It's him." Nangong Shang's eyes flashed with shock. He clearly hadn't expected the owner of this shadow to appear at this moment.

"Xie Yun, step back," Xie Canglan commanded. As the Grand Elder of the Canghai Sect and over sixty years old, his extensive experience helped him understand what this shadow represented.

This was the Shadow Martial Soul, an extremely mysterious type of martial soul. It was said that after awakening, a Shadow Martial Soul user could completely merge their presence into shadows—visible only as shadows, not as a person. Even their aura would become hidden.

This type of martial soul was terrifying. Imagine if a Shadow Martial Soul user wanted to assassinate you in the darkness—how easy would that be? No one would want to offend someone with such power, and Xie Canglan certainly didn't either.

Xie Yun's stiff feet began to move, his face pale. He stepped back, not daring to utter a single word. Such was the deterrent of overwhelming strength.

"May I ask which esteemed expert you are? Could you reveal yourself?" Xie Canglan addressed the shadow on the ground. Since the shadow was there, so too was the person.

"Control your sect, and stop wavering. This disgrace, the sect cannot afford it." The raspy voice came again. Then, a gust of wind swept across the platform, and the shadow suddenly disappeared as if vanishing into thin air.

"So terrifying." The crowd could feel their hearts involuntarily beating faster. Taking a deep breath, they realized what true martial soul power really was.

"Who could this person be? Judging by his tone, he seemed to be addressing the sect master." Someone recalled the raspy voice and whispered.

"He must be a senior expert of our Canghai Sect. Even the Grand Elder didn't know him—seems our sect has hidden masters."

Nangong Shang gave a bitter smile. Perhaps he was the only one here who knew who the shadow belonged to. Reflecting on his actions, Nangong Shang felt a trace of guilt. In his decisions, he always weighed the pros and cons, considering only the sect's interests but forgetting the sect's reputation. Indeed, he had been too hesitant and indecisive.

"Young Master Dapeng, let's call it a day for now. Please take your leave, and give my regards to Sect Master Chu," Nangong Shang said as he looked at Chu Tianpeng.

"Just let it go?" Li Xin was stunned for a moment. Did that mean she was expected to leave and let Li Xiaoyao go just like that?

"Senior brother," Li Xin called out softly. Chu Tianpeng's expression fluctuated, and then he chuckled lightly. "Sect Master Nangong, I've heard that Canghai Sect is full of talented disciples. I, Tianpeng, would like to see if any disciple from Canghai Sect is willing to spar with me," he said.

Although Chu Tianpeng's tone was gentle, he implied that any disciple from Canghai Sect could challenge him, clearly provoked because his goal hadn't been achieved.

Li Xiaoyao saw this and guessed the situation. Li Xin must have brought this enigmatic young man to Canghai Sect to demand something.

"Young Master Dapeng's reputation precedes him in Xueyue. Our Canghai Sect disciples still have much to learn and improve. Perhaps we'll have another opportunity to spar in the future," Nangong Shang replied, shaking his head.

"Sect Master Nangong..." Chu Tianpeng was about to speak again, but Nangong Shang interrupted, his tone suddenly losing its warmth. A cold and sharp aura radiated from him as he stared directly at Chu Tianpeng. As the Sect Master of Canghai Sect, he had already tried twice to dismiss the guest politely, giving Chu Tianpeng ample face.

However, it seemed that Chu Tianpeng, likely due to his extraordinary talent and pride, had grown accustomed to arrogance and even disregarded Nangong Shang's status. While Yuehui Sect was indeed stronger than Canghai Sect, Chu Tianpeng was still a generation below Nangong Shang.

Chu Tianpeng's face stiffened for a moment, but then a strange smile reappeared on his face. Coldly, he said, "If that's the case, then I, Chu, shall take my leave."

With a mighty flap of the wings of his Dapeng Martial Soul, a strong gust of wind surged. Chu Tianpeng grabbed Li Xin, and with the rapid flutter of the Dapeng's wings, his figure shot forward, flying over the crowd of Canghai Sect disciples. The violent wind scattered the crowd, causing chaos.

"I, Chu, will take note of today's matter." The Dapeng soared into the sky, and as the people who had dodged it regained their balance, they felt a deep sense of shame—this was blatant contempt.

"Li Xiaoyao, at the annual meeting, I will make you regret it, unless you plan to cower within Canghai Sect forever," Li Xin's voice followed closely behind.

Watching the soaring Dapeng, Li Xiaoyao sneered inwardly. Did he need to hide within Canghai Sect?

Nangong Shang looked at the crowd that had fallen to the ground, his face darkening. Although Young Master Dapeng was arrogant, his strength and talent were indeed far beyond that of the disciples of Canghai Sect.

"Within five years, I hope someone from Canghai Sect can emerge to rival Young Master Dapeng," Nangong Shang thought to himself. One of the eight young masters of Snow Moon Kingdom, Young Master Dapeng was only ranked sixth, yet he dared to act with such arrogance in Canghai Sect. This was truly the misfortune of the sect. Nangong Shang couldn't help but wonder how strong the other seven young masters were.

"Today's matter ends here. Disperse," Nangong Shang waved to the crowd, preparing to leave.

Xie Yun remained unmoved, staring at Li Xiaoyao. At this moment, Xie Yun already harbored deep resentment towards Li Xiaoyao. Likewise, Li Xiaoyao had also marked Xie Yun, the elder of the sect.

"I said, today's matter ends here," Nangong Shang's voice grew heavier as he scolded Xie Yun, who had been glaring at Li Xiaoyao. Xie Yun's body stiffened before he reluctantly stepped forward to follow Nangong Shang.

"I'll have to be careful of this person in the future," Li Xiaoyao thought cautiously. At present, his strength was far too weak, and the gap between him and Elder Xie Yun was immense.

As he lifted his foot to leave, a voice entered directly into his ear.

"If you want to be respected, you must possess great strength and talent. Otherwise, no one will care about a little humiliation—and even if you die, no one will sympathize."

Li Xiaoyao's steps faltered slightly. These words were spoken by Nangong Shang, transmitted directly to his ears.

"I understand well enough," Li Xiaoyao chuckled inwardly. Every step he took was firm, like a stairway leading toward the path of strength.

In a walled stone cave on Tongtian Peak, Li Xiaoyao sat cross-legged as the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth transformed into wisps of soft white radiance that continuously seeped into his body, increasing Li Xiaoyao's internal energy and strengthening his sinews and blood.

Qi Martial Realm martial cultivators practiced both strength and Qi, allowing the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth to refine their flesh, strengthen their sinews and bones, expand their blood vessels, enhance their strength, perfect their bodies, and store internal Qi.

The Qi Martial Realm is the first realm of martial arts cultivation, and also the foundational realm. Only by solidifying this foundation can one steadily advance in cultivation and grow stronger step by step.

Li Xiaoyao urgently needed strength. He needed to become strong and quickly break through the Qi Martial Realm and step into the Spirit Martial Realm. Only by entering the Spirit Martial Realm could he become an inner disciple and be recognized as a true member of the sect, earning respect.

Upon stepping into the Spirit Martial Realm, it is said that one's Martial Soul undergoes a Native Awakening, allowing the Martial Soul to undergo a qualitative change and greatly increase in strength.

Just like Young Master Dapeng's Roc Martial Soul, which was able to soar the skies after undergoing its Intrinsic Awakening, or Li Xin's Ice and Fire Homogeneous Martial Soul, which was born after a mutation in the process of its Intrinsic Awakening.

As for Li Xiaoyao, he believed that his Darkness Martial Soul, which could enhance all of his abilities, would undergo a tremendous boost once it experienced its Original Life Awakening.

Thus, after Han Kui had recovered from his injuries, Li Xiaoyao came alone to one of the eight pillars of Tongtian Peak and found this hidden walled cave to meditate and cultivate, hoping to step into the Spirit Martial Realm as soon as possible.