Without any conversation along the way, Ian Song and his party of three quickly arrived at the grand main hall of the Cloudwater Sword Sect.
A middle-aged man in blue robes, his hair tied up in a scholar's crown, sat high above the hall. On either side of him stood more than ten men and women. Needless to say, the man seated above was the sect master of the Cloudwater Sword Sect, Quentin Fan.
The people standing on both sides of the hall were clearly the elders of the Cloudwater Sword Sect.
"Come with me to pay respects to the sect master!"
Yvonne Chen reminded him.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Ian Song didn't dare be disrespectful and immediately followed Yvonne Chen in offering the salute.
"Elder Chen, and Junior Sister Jing, there's no need for such formalities."
Quentin Fan raised his hand slightly.
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
"Your name is Ian Song, correct? There's no need for excessive ceremony. Stand up!" Quentin Fan's gaze fell on Ian Song.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
Ian Song answered and straightened his posture.
"Ian Song, I heard from Junior Sister Yvonne that you've already reached the Innate realm." Quentin Fan looked at Ian and asked.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Ian Song nodded.
"Elder Han!"
Quentin Fan spoke to an elder standing to his left.
"Yes!"
The elder responded, then strode over to Ian Song, reaching out to grasp his wrist. Ian did not evade, allowing the elder to take hold—he knew this was a test to probe his cultivation.
As expected, once the elder grasped his wrist, he sent a strand of true qi into Ian Song's body to investigate.
But upon sensing Ian Song's true qi, a hint of doubt appeared on his face—because the true qi in Ian's dantian was very similar to that produced by the Cloudwater Sword Sect's Breath-Gathering Art, yet obviously several times purer.
He withdrew his true qi and reported to Quentin Fan, "Sect Master, this young man's cultivation has indeed reached early Innate, but his true qi bears certain similarities to our sect's Breath-Gathering Art!"
Immediately, the gazes of Quentin Fan and all the elders turned to Yvonne Chen.
Yvonne Chen said, "Sect Master, fellow senior brothers and sisters, why are you all looking at me? Surely you don't think I secretly taught Ian Song the Breath-Gathering Art?"
"It's not impossible!"
A female elder snorted coldly.
"Senior Sister Qiu, you'd better take responsibility for your words!" Yvonne Chen's expression darkened and she replied coldly.
"To reach Innate at such a young age, he must have started cultivating as a child. Maybe this kid is your illegitimate son raised outside!" Senior Sister Qiu mocked.
Hearing this, Yvonne Chen's face turned bright red. "Qiu Hanyu, if you dare sully my reputation again, don't blame me for being rude!"
"Junior Sister Qiu, that's enough!"
Seeing that Qiu Hanyu was about to speak again, Quentin Fan said this in a deep voice. Instantly, she swallowed her words. She had always been at odds with Yvonne Chen, and her earlier remarks were simply her usual habit of opposing Yvonne.
Quentin Fan looked at Ian Song and asked again, "Ian Song, what cultivation method do you practice, and why does it resemble our Cloudwater Sword Sect's Breath-Gathering Art?"
"Sect Master, I practice the Mist-Gathering Art. As for why it resembles the Breath-Gathering Art, I do not know!" Ian Song calmly replied. After his modifications, the Mist-Gathering Art did have similarities to the Breath-Gathering Art, but it was far superior; when mastered, it could reach the peak of Innate, on a completely different level.
"The names differ by only one character. I say he's practicing the Breath-Gathering Art!" Qiu Hanyu spoke up again.
"I don't think so!"
Elder Han, who had tested Ian Song's cultivation, spoke up, "This young man's true qi is several times purer than that produced by the Breath-Gathering Art. Although similar, it's definitely not the same level of technique!"
"Stronger than our sect's Breath-Gathering Art? I don't believe it. Let me see for myself!"
With a light shout, Qiu Hanyu's figure suddenly darted forward, instantly closing in on Ian Song and reaching out to strike him.
Seeing this, Ian Song frowned slightly and shifted to the side, dodging her palm strike.
"Harriet Qiu, do you have any shame at all? How dare you attack a junior!"
Yvonne Chen was furious.
She raised her palm to strike, ready to fight Harriet Qiu then and there, but Quentin Fan suddenly barked, "What kind of behavior is this? All of you, stand down!"
At once, both women stepped back.
"Sect Master, Harriet Qiu is going too far! Please, you must intervene!"
Yvonne Chen appealed to Quentin Fan.
"I'm only trying to prevent someone with ulterior motives from infiltrating our Cloudwater Sword Sect!" Harriet Qiu snorted coldly.
Quentin Fan's expression turned icy. He fixed Harriet Qiu with a glare and said, "Elder Qiu, step back. I'll handle this personally—no need for you to meddle!"
Hearing this, Harriet Qiu realized the sect master was angry and could only retreat awkwardly to her seat.
"Someone, call Victor Hu in!"
Quentin Fan ordered.
Victor Hu was one of Quentin Fan's disciples, ranked fifth among his students, and had already reached peak early Innate realm.
Soon, a young man in his early twenties strode in, first bowing to Quentin Fan, then greeting the other elders.
"Victor Hu, go test Ian Song's cultivation!" Quentin Fan instructed.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Victor Hu nodded, his gaze landing on Ian Song. "Junior Brother, please!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he took the initiative to attack.
Victor Hu unleashed a set of palm techniques, his elegant footwork giving him a carefree, graceful air.
Ian Song, completely unafraid, simply threw a direct punch.
Not only was his experience countless times greater than Victor Hu's, his cultivation was also far superior. He could see through the strengths and weaknesses of Victor's palm technique at a glance. As for why Elder Han only sensed him at early Innate, it was because Ian had dispersed most of his true qi throughout his body's acupoints.