The chubby Daoist priest thought for a moment and replied, "Our steward here is the Great Elder. The sect leader dissipated many years ago, shortly after I joined the Yan Huo Sect."
Yu Daohen then realized that this chubby fellow must have joined the Yan Huo Sect not too long ago. "Little master, you must have joined the Yan Huo Sect recently, haven't you?"
The chubby Daoist priest scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Benefactor, you guessed correctly. This humble Daoist only joined the Yan Huo Sect less than three months ago."
Yu Daohen nodded. "That explains it. My master left our sect many years ago, and ordinary new disciples wouldn't have seen the sect leader's token."
"I have some urgent matters to discuss with your Great Elder. Could you please lead the way, little master?" Yu Daohen said with a smile.
The chubby Daoist priest looked a bit troubled. Someone had come to challenge them earlier, and his master had specifically instructed him not to let ordinary people in.
"I'm sorry, Benefactor, but the sect has an order today not to let ordinary people in."
Yu Daohen frowned. "Did something happen to the Yan Huo Sect? In this situation, do I have to force my way in?"
Just as Yu Daohen was about to explain who he was, Wen Jiao, standing beside him, saw his predicament and interjected, "I am Wen Jiao from the Spiritual Affairs Bureau. I have important matters to discuss with your Great Elder."
As she spoke, Wen Jiao took out her Spiritual Affairs Bureau identification from her pocket and handed it to the chubby Daoist priest.
The chubby Daoist priest took the ID, glanced at it, and then returned it to Wen Jiao, a smile appearing on his face. "Oh, you're from the Spiritual Affairs Bureau. Please, follow me."
Although the chubby Daoist priest had joined the Yan Huo Sect less than three months ago, his master had told him about the Spiritual Affairs Bureau. The reason fewer people had challenged the Yan Huo Sect in recent years was partly due to that regulation, and largely because the Spiritual Affairs Bureau had intercepted them.
The chubby Daoist priest opened the main gate, allowing Yu Daohen and Wen Jiao to enter, and then led them towards the martial arts arena.
Yu Daohen looked at the surrounding buildings. In front was the main hall, where a stone statue was enshrined. Others might not know who this statue represented, but Yu Daohen knew it was the founding ancestor of the Yan Huo Sect.
In front of the main hall was a large cauldron of water, in which two goldfish swam. Coins had piled up to fill one-third of the cauldron.
On both sides were enshrined some celestial beings from Daoism. Although the Yan Huo Sect was not a true Daoist sect, some basic techniques originated from Daoism. As the saying goes, all Daoists in the world are one family.
The chubby Daoist priest led Yu Daohen and Wen Jiao around a small patch of grass to the location of the martial arts arena.
Even before they got close, Yu Daohen could see that the arena was already surrounded by quite a few people. It seemed a competition was underway.
A middle-aged looking Daoist priest saw the chubby Daoist priest leading a man and a woman and walked towards the three of them.
The middle-aged Daoist priest stopped in front of them and glared at the chubby Daoist priest.
Before the chubby Daoist priest could explain, the middle-aged Daoist priest reprimanded him, "You brat, didn't I tell you not to let anyone in?"
After scolding him, the middle-aged Daoist priest sized up Yu Daohen and Wen Jiao, and his expression instantly changed.
The middle-aged Daoist priest could sense auras between the brows of the two individuals. The woman was alright, but the aura of the pale young man beside her was terrifyingly dense, making one feel inexplicably tense.
The middle-aged Daoist priest clasped his hands and said, "So you are from the martial world. I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Please forgive me."
Yu Daohen shook his head and smiled, "It's alright, it's not a big deal."
"Thank you both for your understanding."
The middle-aged Daoist priest spoke very courteously. The woman's strength did not seem to be high, but the young man beside her was at least within the Earth Ranking.
At the same time, the middle-aged Daoist priest was puzzled. Among the younger generation, there were only a handful of individuals with such strength, yet this one was completely unfamiliar. He had never seen him at sect gatherings or any important events.
"May I ask what brings you two to the Yan Huo Sect?" the middle-aged Daoist priest asked with a smile, but he had already placed one hand behind his back, ready to strike down anyone who posed a threat to the sect.
Just as Yu Daohen was about to explain, a voice came from within the martial arts arena.
"Who is the next challenger?"
The middle-aged Daoist priest turned to look, his face extremely grim. Yu Daohen also realized something was amiss and smiled, "Don't worry, I have no ill intentions in coming here."
The middle-aged Daoist priest then walked towards the martial stage, and Yu Daohen and Wen Jiao followed.
Yu Daohen and Wen Jiao arrived at the martial stage. In the center of the stage, a middle-aged man around thirty years old scanned the crowd with a contemptuous expression, saying dismissively, "Is there anyone else who dares to challenge me?"
On the other side of the martial stage, six elders sat side by side. Yu Daohen looked at them and frowned. He didn't recognize the others, but the one on the left, leading them, was Zhao Huan, ranked forty-third on the Heaven Ranking, and also the Great Elder of the Zheng Dao Sect.
"No one dares to step forward and challenge?" the man who had been shouting earlier mocked again.
The middle-aged Daoist priest who had spoken to Yu Daohen earlier couldn't stand it and stepped forward towards the center of the martial stage.
"Liu Tong of the Yan Huo Sect, I request your guidance." Liu Tong arrived in the center of the martial stage and clasped his hands.
The shouting man picked his ear with his little finger and said lazily, "Cai Liangyi of the Zheng Dao Sect. Come on."
Saying that, he raised his other hand and made a gesture to come, his face full of disdain.
Yu Daohen then realized why the man on the martial stage looked familiar. It turned out to be Cai Liangyi, ranked twenty-eighth on the Earth Ranking.