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**
The official start time for the Yun Lan Sect's Disciple Recruitment Ceremony was set for high noon.
However, at this moment, most of the guests had basically arrived.
Even Yun Shan, who had previously made a deal with Xiao Lin, had likewise arrived in the main hall. By his side, the young Yun Yun was dressed in a formal palace gown, standing tall and elegant.
A smile was currently plastered across Yun Shan's face.
This smile was not just because of today's recruitment ceremony, but also because of that earlier deal with Xiao Lin. Thinking about the contents of his transaction with Xiao Lin, Yun Shan's heart couldn't stop a surge of excitement!
To the point where, as soon as he arrived in the main hall, he subconsciously glanced toward the direction where the Xiao Clan was located. Subsequently, Xiao Lin and Yun Shan locked eyes, nodding to one another in a way that was almost imperceptible to others.
Others might not have seen this scene, but Xiao Zhan, who had been following beside Xiao Lin the entire time, would not overlook it.
"Father, did you settle things with Sect Master Yun Shan?"
Xiao Zhan asked subconsciously.
"What do you think?"
Xiao Lin teased his son with a faint smile.
Seeing the relaxed look on his old man's face, Xiao Zhan instantly revealed an expression of admiration. Afterward, he didn't speak further, quietly sitting beside Xiao Lin.
At this time, because the Yun Lan Sect's Disciple Recruitment Ceremony had not yet officially begun, many people were exchanging pleasantries with one another. The one surrounded by the most people was, naturally, Yun Shan.
Next were the three Dou Huang powerhouses: Jia Xingtian, Fa Ma, and Hai Bodong.
Following them were Xiao Lin and the other Dou Wangs. However, as they were exchanging greetings, Hai Bodong suddenly seemed to think of something. He pushed through the crowd and walked straight toward Yun Shan's direction.
This scene naturally attracted the attention of everyone present.
At the same time, Yun Shan also shifted his gaze toward Hai Bodong, who was gradually approaching him.
Watching this, a sharp glint flashed through Xiao Lin's eyes. He seemed to vaguely guess what Hai Bodong wanted to do. After all, as Hai Bodong walked toward Yun Shan, the battle intent in his eyes was almost undisguised!
"Sect Master Yun Shan!"
"Hai Bodong!"
The two of them addressed each other by name.
"I wonder if the matter you once promised me back then still counts?"
Suddenly, Hai Bodong spoke a sentence that sounded somewhat baffling to the others.
"Of course, I, Yun Shan, have always been a man of my word!"
Clearly, Yun Shan knew exactly what Hai Bodong was referring to.
Rather, when the Yun Lan Sect released the news that they would hold a Disciple Recruitment Ceremony today, Hai Bodong had already hinted to him about what he wanted to do today.
He likewise had no reason to refuse, did he?
One could even say that having such an event happen on the eve of the recruitment ceremony would help increase the prestige of his Yun Lan Sect!
Therefore, the two of them were basically just speaking formalities at this point.
Meanwhile, the well-informed Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma also seemed to know what the conversation between Yun Shan and Hai Bodong was about. Because of this, they had also parted the crowd and walked to a spot not far from Yun Shan and Hai Bodong.
However, they just watched quietly and did not say much.
"Whew— alright. Sect Master Yun Shan, excuse my presumption, but today, I wish to challenge you! Although I know I am not your match, I also want to see just how great the gap is between me, Hai Bodong, and the strongest person in my Jia Ma Empire!"
Taking a deep breath, Hai Bodong spoke with incomparable gravity. As Hai Bodong's voice fell, those around who were unaware of this arrangement immediately broke into an uproar.
Except for a small handful of people, it was believed that most people present at the moment would never have expected such a scene to occur during the Yun Lan Sect's recruitment ceremony!
Immediately afterward, every single one of them became excited.
After all, this was an exchange between two Dou Huang powerhouses!
Although Hai Bodong admitted he was inferior to Yun Shan, he was currently a Four-Star Dou Huang powerhouse after all. Between Dou Huang powerhouses, the gap is actually limited.
Even if Yun Shan was already a peak Nine-Star Dou Huang, if he wanted to defeat Hai Bodong, he would clearly have to put in some effort. For most of the people on the scene who hadn't even reached the Dou Wang level, wouldn't such a match be a visual feast?
"Good heavens, Hai Bodong is actually going to challenge Sect Master Yun Shan?"
"Great, we get to see a battle between Dou Huang powerhouses!"
"A Dou Huang... that is truly a realm so distant that I won't be able to touch it in a lifetime."
"Who says otherwise? But being able to witness such a battle today is worth it, isn't it?"
"Say, who do you think will win their fight?"
"Are you an idiot? Sect Master Yun Shan reached the Nine-Star Dou Huang realm several years ago. Although Hai Bodong is also a Dou Huang, he's probably at most a mid-level one right now. How could he possibly defeat Sect Master Yun Shan?"
"Exactly, didn't you hear Hai Bodong admit it himself?"
"Why care so much? We'll just watch the show!"
...
For a moment, everyone in the hall was buzzing with discussion because of the challenge Hai Bodong issued to Yun Shan.
Because Xiao Lin had already made a guess, he remained very calm, merely taking a sip of tea and quietly watching the excitement from the side.
"President Fa Ma, it seems you knew about this in advance?"
Jia Xingtian leaned in toward the Alchemist Association President, Fa Ma, and whispered.
"Aren't you the same?"
Saying this, Fa Ma gave Jia Xingtian a sidelong glance.
Then, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.
If there was excitement to watch, they were certainly willing!
Coincidentally, they also wanted to take this opportunity to see what level Yun Shan's strength had reached. One must know that in the current Top Ten Powerhouses Ranking of the Jia Ma Empire, Yun Shan was ranked first!
Closely following him was Jia Xingtian, who was likewise a Nine-Star Dou Huang powerhouse. Next were Fa Ma and Hai Bodong. These were currently the only four Dou Huang powerhouses within the borders of the Jia Ma Empire.
The rest were all Dou Wangs.
Oh, right.
Xiao Lin, with his surface strength of a Four-Star Dou Wang, was ranked seventh in this Top Ten Powerhouses Ranking of the Jia Ma Empire. The two people above him were Yan Shi and Feng Li, two rogue cultivators.
Nalan Jie and Mu Chen were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively.
Tenth was He Gan of the He Clan.
Of course, in reality, there were still many older generation Dou Wang powerhouses within the Jia Ma Empire. Their realms were even higher than the Four-Star Dou Wang level that Xiao Lin had currently exposed on the surface.
However, most of them were so old that their blood and Qi had withered.
Moreover, at such an advanced age, they naturally didn't want to compete for rankings with the younger generation. Therefore, their names were not on this so-called Top Ten Powerhouses Ranking of the Jia Ma Empire.
At the very least, Xiao Lin knew that both the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family and the Yun Lan Sect had these kinds of old Dou Wangs in existence.
**
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