Provocation!
This was outright provocation!
Although it was at the Ascension Assembly, Gongyushan couldn't directly attack him. However, with such blatant provocation, it was reasonable to teach him a lesson.
Before Gongyushan on the high platform could react, the crowd below quietly moved further away.
Likely fearing they would be splattered with blood.
"Hmm?"
Gongyushan let out a soft hum and looked down at Yunze, "You, do you know what you are saying!"
Pressure swept over him!
But a smile played on Yunze's lips.
Got you!
This Gongyushan definitely had a problem!
For ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, the pressure emanating from a Golden Core stage expert was similar, both being forces that were difficult to resist.
But Yunze was different. He had been injured by Gongyushan before and had experienced the feeling of his pressure descending.
Now, feeling it again, it was clearly not as strong as before!
And... it was just pressure?
Given Gongyushan's temperament, shouldn't he have spat blood by now?
"Of course, I know!"
Yunze took another step forward, looking at Gongyushan, "What? Don't you know?"
"Unreasonable!"
Gongyushan snorted coldly, but no longer spoke, instead closing his eyes to rest.
This made Yunze's suspicion even stronger.
But he didn't expose it at this moment, instead taking a step back and returning to his original position to sit down, "So stingy, if you don't want to say it, then don't."
Although he now knew Gongyushan had a problem, he didn't know the details. It was best to observe first, at least until Xiao Jixiu arrived by his side.
If all else failed, he would take Zi Ji and Ji Xiu and slip away.
After all, the only goal this time was Ji Xiu, and a safe exit was the best option.
Silence returned to the eighth and ninth high platforms.
The others dared not approach Yunze again, but the veiled woman walked up, asking curiously, "Does fellow Daoist truly wish to know about this matter?"
"Of course," Yunze replied casually.
"But why do I feel there's more to your words?"
The veiled woman retorted, then took out a slip of paper from her Sumeru ring and quietly handed it to Yunze.
The movement was quick and extremely discreet.
If she hadn't tugged Yunze's sleeve, Yunze might not have even noticed.
Yunze lowered his head, his gaze falling on the paper, and his pupils trembled.
After just a glance, the veiled woman took the paper back, as if nothing had happened.
The content on the paper was...
The one on the stage was not Gongyushan!
She had also guessed it!
No, it wasn't a guess; what was written on the paper was not speculation, but certainty!
She must know something.
Yunze turned to look at the veiled woman, but could not discern the expression or face behind the veil, "Fellow Daoist, why do you say that?"
"Eh, your little disciple's test seems to be nearing completion."
The veiled woman changed the subject and then slowly stood up, "Shall we go take a look together?"
"Alright."
Yunze knew she wanted to speak in private, so he nodded and followed her.
The two arrived at the fifth high platform, where Zi Ji and the outer disciple of the Tianxiang Sect cupped their fists at them.
Besides Ji Xiu, another person was participating in the Tianxiang Sect's assessment.
Neither of them stepped forward to disturb them, but stood dozens of meters away, watching silently.
A few breaths later.
Seeing that the veiled woman remained silent, Yunze finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist, that slip of paper..."
"You've discovered it too, haven't you?"
"It's just a suspicion, I can't be certain," Yunze frowned, he did not reveal that he had used the difference in pressure to discern Gongyushan's identity.
"It's not easy to even sense something is amiss."
The veiled woman replied, then said, "Later, find an opportunity to quickly leave with your little disciple.
As for this outer disciple, to avoid arousing the suspicion of the one on the stage, I suggest you leave him behind."
"Leave him behind?"
Yunze frowned, "What exactly do you know?"
"You don't need to ask about that."
The veiled woman had no intention of telling Yunze, "If it weren't for your little disciple's astonishing talent, and the fact that you've discovered something, I wouldn't tell you this. Oh, right..."
The veiled woman took out a token from her Sumeru ring and handed it to Yunze.
"Keep this safe. After you leave, if you encounter anyone from the Demon Den, give it to him. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Demon Den?
How was this related to the Demon Den again?
Weren't they fighting the Xiu family in Zhongxuantian?
Yunze took the token and was about to ask for more information when he heard Zi Ji's voice from not far away.
"Grade A, Passed!"
Zi Ji announced to Ji Xiu with a hint of joy in his voice, "Congratulations, Junior Disciple. Once you join the sect, you will be a member of my Tongtian Academy!"
"Yay!"
Ji Xiu cheered, and seeing Yunze not far away, he rushed over and burrowed into Yunze's arms, "Master! I can finally call you Master!"
"There, there, good disciple!"
Yunze forced a smile and rubbed the little fellow's head, "Good boy, Master needs to discuss something with this senior. Can you wait aside for a moment?"
"Okay!"
Ji Xiu responded and obediently stood aside.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Tu, on gaining a talented disciple."
The veiled woman cupped her fists at him, her tone noticeably more urgent than before, "You have at most a quarter of an hour. If you don't leave soon, you won't be able to."
"You want me to leave an outer disciple here without any explanation, that's not how I do things."
"Heh, good advice is wasted on a stubborn fool."
The veiled woman said casually, her gaze falling on Ji Xiu, "Let's be clear, if you die, I'll take this promising talent for myself.
If you die with regrets and become a vengeful spirit, don't come looking for trouble with me."
Saying that, the veiled woman flew back to the high platform.
Seeing this, Yunze did not follow, but instead beckoned Ji Xiu over, calling him to his side.
"Master, are you done talking?"
"Yes, we're done."
Yunze raised his hand to rub his head, secretly took out the token the veiled woman had given him, and handed it to Ji Xiu, "Xiao Xiu, can Master ask you to do something?"
"Master, tell me, your disciple will do his utmost, and die only after he has exhausted his efforts!"
"You don't need to go that far, it's just delivering something."
Yunze crouched down and said, "Take this to the Royal Villa and find Senior Yu. He'll know what to do after he sees it."
It wasn't that he didn't want to inform Yu Xian directly via a sound transmission jade slip.
But given that guy's usual behavior, he was definitely sleeping right now. Even if a sound transmission jade slip vibrated next to him, or even if thunder struck beside him, it might not be enough.
He could only have Little Ji Xiu make the trip.
It also served as a way to get him out of this dangerous environment.
After all, if Gongyushan really decided to do something, with his own strength, he could at most protect himself, and he would have no time to protect others.
That was a late-stage Golden Core expert!
Even Di Sha back then could only barely withstand an early-stage Golden Core cultivator who had just entered the Golden Core stage.
"Okay!"
Ji Xiu obediently agreed, clutching the item protectively, and walked down the high platform.
Yunze watched him until he reached the bottom of the high platform, then watched him weave through the crowd, all the way to the edge of the formation.
But just as he was about to pass through the formation and leave the Ascension Assembly, an anomaly occurred!
A tremor suddenly struck, and the entire Ascension Assembly began to shake violently, accompanied by the confusion and roars of the crowd.
The area below instantly descended into chaos.
"What's going on!"
"Don't panic! Don't move! Steady yourselves!"
"Who! Stop pushing! Everyone stop pushing!"
The people on the eighth high platform shouted in alarm.
"Silence!"
Seeing this, the veiled woman stepped forward, "Anyone who causes further disturbance will be immediately disqualified from participating in the Ascension Assembly!"
With that declaration, the commotion subsided considerably.
But in the next instant...
Bang!
A cultivator, who had just been identified as having a dual-attribute, Xuan-grade low-tier spiritual root, exploded!
The Ascension Assembly instantly fell into a deathly silence!