What the hell is Zonghua? Shi Xuan was both amused and exasperated by his antics. "Shouldn't they wear the sect's uniform to be easily identifiable?"

If the six major sects gathered together, most people wouldn't be able to tell who was who if it weren't for their clothes.

Lu Wenxing scratched his head, looking a little disappointed, and said, "We have to wear sect attire for the banquet, and we have to wear uniforms on the day of the competition. When will it be our turn to wear our own clothes?"

Shi Xuan comforted him, saying, "How about we go to the market down the mountain tomorrow and wear the dress you gave me?"

"It's a deal!" Lu Wenxing was still looking forward to the market, and he also thought of his third junior sister. "We can ask around along the way if any female cultivator who likes to wear red has ever sold spiritual food here, and how her business is. The market at the foot of our sect's mountain is notorious for its 'Tang' spirits'!" He chuckled as he spoke, clearly already having a picture in his mind.

However, reality was different from what they had imagined. Most of the female cultivators who came to the banquet were not wearing sect disciple robes. Instead, they were all dressed up in their own way, each one dressed in a colorful and dazzling manner. This made Shi Xuan, who was wearing the Lianfeng Sword Sect disciple robes, stand out even more.

Lu Wenxing gave Shi Xuan a reproachful look, wishing he had listened to him.

Shi Xuan sat casually at the table, took a small sip of the spirit wine in front of him, and leisurely observed the disciples of the six sects who were entering the venue one after another. His relaxed appearance did not resemble that of a new disciple participating in a large-scale event for the first time. On the contrary, he was more casual than the elders leading the six sects.

The Divine Cauldron Sect was the last to arrive, almost every year. As the winners of the annual Alchemy Competition, they were more confident in being the final sect to appear. Fan Hongde probably thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

This year was no different; as soon as they appeared, they attracted everyone's attention.

Fan Hongde, dressed in a black robe with dark gold patterns, walked at the front. Beside him was Fan Mingzhu, who was beautiful and dressed in flowing white. Behind them were more than a dozen disciples and an elder, all with proud expressions.

They wouldn't have such an air about them if it were the Six Sects Dharma Assembly, but this is the Grand Alchemy Competition, where the other five sects are mere novices in the art of alchemy. Clearly, they've adopted this same approach.

Shi Xuan sat on one side of the passage, near the front. The Shen Ding Sect group kept their eyes straight ahead, clearly not paying attention to the small fry they passed along the way.

Shi Xuan found it amusing and casually placed the spirit wine cup in his hand on the jade table. The "click" sound was particularly clear in the quiet meeting room.

Everyone at the banquet, including the sect leaders seated at the head of the table and the group from the Divine Cauldron Sect who had not yet taken their seats, all looked at her.

It has truly attracted widespread attention.

"Sorry, it was a slip of the hand." This statement was far from sincere.

However, Fan Hongde and his daughter's expressions changed slightly.

Fan Mingzhu nearly twisted her ankle, but luckily her disciple helped her up, preventing her from embarrassing herself in public. She looked at Shi Xuan with a frightened expression, her face turning pale.

Isn't this Shi Xuan, who should have died after her spirit was swapped? She's not dead? Why is she at the banquet of the Alchemy Grand Competition? Is she going to expose her for having her spiritual root swapped? In just an instant, dozens of thoughts flashed through Fan Mingzhu's mind. Finally, she looked at her father in front of her and barely calmed down.

Don't panic, your father is here.

Fan Hongde narrowed his eyes and looked at Shi Xuan, his emotions fluctuating. Shi Xuan seemed very different from usual; his gaze was direct and bold, and if one didn't look closely, one would never guess who he was.

He did not continue forward, but stopped in front of the Lianfeng Sword Sect's location. He cupped his hands towards the leader, Shu Yuanguan, and said, "Fellow Daoist Shu, was this disciple recently taken in? She is a traitorous disciple of my Shending Sect who has committed a crime. She escaped from the sect and is currently wanted by our sect. Please return this traitorous disciple to our sect, and our sect will reward you handsomely."

A murmur of discussion arose beside them; the disciples from various sects were astonished that such a thing could happen!

Before Shu Yuanguan could speak, Shi Mingxiu, who was sitting in the head seat with the other sect leaders, stood up. He said loudly, "Shi Xuan is a disciple who was accepted through the proper channels by our Lianfeng Sword Sect. He is a direct disciple listed in the sect's disciple register. How can we arbitrarily decide his whereabouts based on a single word from Sect Leader Fan!"

Fan Hongde's expression darkened at being rejected so bluntly. He said seriously, "But this boy is indeed a runaway disciple of our sect. If all sects take in runaway disciples, wouldn't the six sects be in chaos!"

Fan Hongde's words also make a lot of sense. There are some unwritten rules among the six sects. Disciples who commit serious mistakes and run away will not be accepted by other sects in the Qian Yuan Western Region.

The problem is that the other five sects did not receive the arrest warrant issued by the Divine Cauldron Sect and did not know that they were arresting such a traitorous disciple. At this time, Fan Hongde suddenly stood up and said that Shi Xuan was a traitor of their sect, which made people suspicious.

If a disciple commits a serious offense, he will be put on the sect's wanted list. But how could a disciple who has committed a minor offense be allowed to disregard his reputation and beg for his money in front of the six sect leaders and disciples?

Shi Mingxiu did not believe his one-sided story. He turned to Shi Xuan, lowered his voice as if afraid of frightening her, and asked, "Is what he said true?"

Shi Xuan stood up from his seat at this moment, smiling and replying in a strong voice: "Of course it's not true! I suppose Sect Master Fan saw at a glance that I have extraordinary talent in alchemy, and he was afraid that I would win the championship in this year's Six Sects Alchemy Competition and steal the limelight from his Divine Cauldron Sect."

"Nonsense!" Fan Hongde flung his sleeves and roared, "You are ignorant and arrogant! My disciples can testify that you are a disciple of my Divine Cauldron Sect! How dare you try to deny it with your clever words!"

"Those are all your sect's disciples. You are their sect leader, so whatever you say goes. Even if you call a deer a horse, they probably wouldn't dare to utter a word." Shi Xuan said, glancing flippantly at the row of disciples behind him, which angered the Divine Cauldron Sect disciples.

Fan Mingzhu, who was standing to the side, finally calmed down. Seeing her father's behavior, she felt more confident. She frowned slightly and said with a tone of comfort, "Junior sister, why do you have to be like this? After you left the sect, Master was very sorry for you. He didn't put you on the wanted list. I think that after you return to the sect and Master punishes you, it will be over. We can still be good sisters."

Shi Xuan then spared a glance for Fan Mingzhu and smiled, "You've recovered so quickly? Weren't you pale with fright when you first saw me?"

These words are tantamount to admitting that she knows Fan Mingzhu and others, but the truth of the matter seems to be another story.

Fan Mingzhu was speechless. She was secretly angry, but she couldn't show it on her face. She just said with a wronged expression, "Junior sister, why are you like this? I was just worried about you." As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes as if she was about to cry.