As it turns out, Lin Jin'er is indeed the kind of carefree and easy-going person who makes friends without hesitation. Unsurprisingly, after experiencing Zhang Yiyi's swordsmanship, she decisively conceded, jumping down from the platform on her own without requiring Zhang Yiyi to finish her off with a kick. She admitted defeat with a smile. "Thank you, Sister Han, for your mercy. Since I didn't receive that last kick, I managed to exit the platform with my dignity intact."

Below the platform, after suppressing her chaotic energy, Lin Jin'er sighed in relief and enthusiastically waved at Zhang Yiyi on the stage. "Sister Han, don't forget, I'll come looking for you soon to have some fun." Zhang Yiyi wasn't the only one amused; many in the audience found Lin Jin'er's lighthearted demeanor entertaining, easing the previously tense atmosphere of the tournament.

"Investigate the background of this female cultivator with the surname Han," Tang Jin instructed, his tone thoughtful. From where he stood in the Qinghe Tang family's area, he watched intently. Unlike others, Tang Jin could see the fight clearly: this female cultivator was more than just powerful. Although she used the same sword move each time, each opponent felt its force differently. Her precision and control were remarkable, worthy of admiration. Was such a talented sword cultivator truly just an ordinary guest of the Wang family? Tang Jin doubted it.

Based on her real age, she was around twenty years old. Even if she had started cultivating from birth, reaching the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment within two decades would put her on par with the best talents from the top five families. Not to mention, her combat power likely surpassed the average Golden Core cultivator. When did such a sword-wielding prodigy emerge?

Shortly afterward, his subordinate returned and quietly reported, "Third Master, the female cultivator on the platform was recruited as a third-grade guest by the Wang family just a month ago after successfully challenging and defeating a Golden Core opponent. She has a Golden Core-stage elder brother who was promoted to first-grade guest status after saving the Wang family's fifth young lady. Before this, both were unaffiliated cultivators, and no further information is available."

"Unaffiliated cultivators?" Tang Jin chuckled meaningfully. "Have you ever seen such powerful unaffiliated cultivators?" Even the top five families struggled to produce such talented disciples, let alone unaffiliated cultivators without any foundational resources.

"My apologies, Master; aside from this, I could find nothing further. The siblings' past before joining the Wang family seems to have been completely erased, and the Wang family's own investigation has been equally fruitless," the subordinate admitted, apologizing for failing to meet his master's expectations.

"Enough, I understand," Tang Jin waved him off without further scolding. The subordinate exhaled in relief and resumed his respectful stance, ready for the next order.

It seemed that Tang Jin was intrigued by the female unaffiliated cultivator on the platform. In all his years, he had never seen Tang Jin so curious about anyone or anything, and he couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse for this mysterious cultivator.

Meanwhile, another challenger stepped onto the platform, but Tang Jin could see that this opponent would be no match for Zhang Yiyi—one sword move and a kick would be more than enough. In fact, the remaining contestants in the preparation area were no match for her, and her "one sword, one kick" solution would continue to be effective. Thankfully, tournament rules limited her to ten rounds; otherwise, Zhang Yiyi would likely dominate the entire Foundation Establishment competition, leaving no room for the other families.

Losing interest in the now predictable battles, Tang Jin turned his sharp gaze toward Luo Qiheng standing among the crowd on the opposite side. This was the brother of that formidable female cultivator. Tang Jin's keen eyes noted an uncanny similarity in the siblings' aura—a purity and intensity unmatched by ordinary cultivators. This confirmed that the two shared an extraordinary and mysterious background.

Soon, Luo Qiheng would represent the Wang family in the Golden Core tournament, and Tang Jin was equally eager to see what talents the elder brother would display.

Sensing Tang Jin's scrutiny, Luo Qiheng glanced over. After his recent breakthrough, his senses had sharpened significantly. Their gazes met—one was playful and nonchalant, the other cold as ice—and after a brief moment, they both looked away as if by mutual agreement.

"Interesting, indeed," Tang Jin murmured to himself, his face impassive, yet a flicker of curiosity sparked within. Comparing Luo Qiheng's aura from earlier, he noticed that it had grown stronger and more stable. Such rapid progress was unusual, achievable only through an epiphany. The siblings' composure in such a chaotic environment hinted at exceptional self-control, another point that piqued his curiosity.

Unaware that his recent epiphany had been detected, Luo Qiheng was indifferent to Tang Jin's attention. He took the opportunity to observe Tang Jin in return, now slightly understanding what Zhang Yiyi had meant by saying, "It seems like there's something extra yet also something missing." Despite Tang Jin's Golden Core later stage status, for a moment, Luo Qiheng sensed a depth far beyond that level, an aura that he couldn't fully comprehend.

However, the sensation was fleeting, and Luo Qiheng didn't dwell on it. Zhang Yiyi's advice was wise—such unpredictable individuals were best avoided.

Meanwhile, the battles continued one after another on the platform, progressing quickly.

At first, the onlookers from various families were shocked and in disbelief, but eventually, they had to accept the reality, and by the end, they had become numb to it all. Zhang Yiyi had completely won them over. Winning ten consecutive matches without any real variation—one sword strike and one kick had become her signature move, simple yet brutally effective. Many felt relieved that each participant could only compete in a maximum of ten rounds; otherwise, if there were no limit, it seemed likely that Zhang Yiyi, appearing as a delicate beauty but truly fierce and formidable, would ruthlessly defeat every participant in the Foundation Establishment group.

The only difference among her opponents was that the smarter ones jumped off the platform after being struck by her sword, while the less fortunate only received one additional kick. If not for the preliminary checks on all contestants, no one would believe that this Wang family guest, named Han Lin, was really at the Foundation Establishment stage. Some even suspected she might be hiding her true cultivation level with some kind of secret artifact or technique. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Han Lin's reputation as a wandering cultivator has been solidified through this competition.

Not only did she leave an impression on the ten smaller families competing, but she also stood out among the twenty mid-sized families observing the event. After scoring ten points, Zhang Yiyi could no longer compete. She descended from the platform with a satisfied smile and returned to her seat, her task successfully completed. Once back, she received warm congratulations from the Wang family members, though no one dared to approach her too closely due to the ongoing competition.

Of the twenty-five contestants in the Foundation Establishment group, Zhang Yiyi single-handedly defeated ten. The Wang family had four other representatives among the remaining fourteen contestants, ensuring their lead in points. Indeed, the remaining Wang family members, inspired by Zhang Yiyi's performance, fought with even greater vigor, winning an additional seven points. With a total of seventeen points compared to the highest score of three and the lowest of zero among the other families, the Wang family led by a wide margin.

When preparations for the Golden Core group began, the Wang family patriarch himself came over to praise and encourage Zhang Yiyi and her brother, Luo Qiheng, clearly delighted. The patriarch, the eldest brother of Wang Xiaodan's father, was newly appointed but highly capable. Under his leadership, the Wang family had rapidly developed over the past century, with an unprecedented ambition to become a mid-sized family.

Zhang Yiyi accepted his praise humbly, while Luo Qiheng, as always, remained silent and didn't even look at the patriarch. Familiar with the siblings' personalities, the patriarch was not offended. In fact, he graciously expressed his hopes that Luo Qiheng would perform well in the Golden Core competition.

After the patriarch left, Luo Qiheng went to the preparation area, and only then did Cheng Yang seize the opportunity to speak to Zhang Yiyi. "Look over there. Is the Fifth Miss showing interest in your brother?"

After the first round of chaotic battles, Cheng Yang returned to his seat, prompting Wang Xiaodan to vacate his spot reluctantly. She had been eager to sit beside Luo Qiheng during Zhang Yiyi's platform matches, hoping to have a word with him or even just sit close by. However, due to Luo Qiheng's indifferent attitude, she managed to restrain herself, avoiding any embarrassment in public. Yet, for some reason, she had now followed Luo Qiheng to the preparation area.

Zhang Yiyi glanced over and quickly lost interest. "What's unusual? My brother is a young prodigy; it's only natural for admirers to gravitate toward him." She didn't even bother using her spiritual sense, confident that Wang Xiaodan wouldn't make a scene.

"True, very true..." Cheng Yang chuckled. "I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that, despite the Fifth Miss's interest, it's not likely to work out. Your brother has barely even looked at her."

Just as he said this, Wang Xiaodan, realizing her efforts were in vain, left disappointedly without making any further attempts.

"If you have something to say, Uncle Cheng, just say it directly. This roundabout way doesn't suit you," Zhang Yiyi remarked, sensing that Cheng Yang had more to convey.

Realizing that Zhang Yiyi had picked up on his implication, Cheng Yang lowered his voice and said, "I've heard that the Fifth Miss greatly admires your brother, and given the patriarch's warm treatment of you two, it's possible the Wang family may be hoping for a match."

With this, he'd said enough. Cheng Yang discreetly warned the siblings to stay cautious, as he believed the Wang family, recognizing their immense potential, might attempt to bind them closer to the family through marriage. With the Fifth Miss infatuated with Luo Qiheng, the family could see marriage as a secure way to keep them tied to the Wang family.

Zhang Yiyi understood his warning fully, her brow furrowing slightly. She hadn't considered this before, and Luo Qiheng likely wouldn't have either. If the Wang family truly had such intentions, they would need to prepare, as Luo Qiheng's blunt personality could easily lead to tension.

"Thank you, Uncle Cheng, for the warning." Zhang Yiyi expressed her gratitude and then turned her attention to the Golden Core platform matches. She hoped the Wang family would exercise some wisdom and refrain from using any underhanded tactics. Otherwise, they might need to seek new paths.