Lai Li’an felt a cold sweat break out on his back. Fortunately, the other party wasn’t here to arrest him. Separated by such a large crowd, Yin Wuji shouldn’t be able to recognize him.

However, the mere fact of Yin Wuji’s presence here was enough to shatter his previously good mood.

Why would an Elder of the Blood Lotus Sect be standing together with a disciple of the Misty Moon Sect?

It seemed this Alchemy Conference was not going to be peaceful.

He stood on the steps, watching the figures of Yin Wuji and Shao Jiao disappear into the crowd, a bad premonition welling up in his heart.

But now was not the time to think about this. He had more important things to do; he had to find Meng Qiuran first and secure his qualifications as a judge.

The problem was, he didn’t even know where the judges were supposed to check in.

Lai Li’an circled the plaza twice and asked a few cultivators who looked like staff. The first two completely treated him like a Rogue Cultivator trying to sneak into a restricted area and impatiently told him to get lost.

The third one, however, was polite. He pointed to the crimson building at the highest point, “The judges should all be over there. However, fellow Daoist, that place is strictly guarded. Ordinary people cannot enter.”

Lai Li’an thanked him, straightened his robes, and stepped towards the crimson building.

Sure enough, standing in front of the building were two Late Foundation Establishment guards, one on the left and one on the right, with dharma swords hanging at their waists. Seeing him walk over, they reached out to stop him.

“This is a restricted area for the judges. Unrelated personnel are not allowed.”

Lai Li’an was not annoyed and said plainly, “This Venerable was invited to serve as a judge for this conference and has come to report.”

The two guards exchanged a glance. “Invited? Does fellow Daoist have an invitation?”

Lai Li’an froze for a moment. Meng Qiuran had indeed invited him back then, but he only gave him a Jade Slip recording the time and location; there was no formal invitation.

“I do not have an invitation,” Lai Li’an said truthfully. “However, it was Little Friend Meng, Meng Qiuran of the Alchemy Sect Branch, who personally invited this Venerable.”

The guard on the left furrowed his brows even tighter. “Senior Brother Meng invited you? Fellow Daoist, over the past few days, we have blocked no less than seventy-eight groups of Rogue Cultivators trying to sneak in. An excuse like yours, however, is a first. If you cannot produce an invitation, please go back.”

The guard on the right was even less polite, letting out a cold sneer. “What kind of status does Senior Brother Meng have, that he would personally invite you? Fellow Daoist, it’s not that we look down on people, but those sitting in the judges’ seats are all prominent Alchemy Dao Grandmasters of the Cangwu Realm. And you… covering half your face, not even daring to show your true appearance, how do you expect us to believe you?”

Lai Li’an just remembered that he was still wearing a mask on his face. He hesitated for a moment, then took off the mask, revealing a handsome and well-featured face.

The two guards looked at his face, their expressions not changing at all; obviously, they didn’t recognize this face.

“Taking off the mask is useless,” the guard on the right crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t enter without an invitation. If you, fellow Daoist, really have the ability to make Senior Brother Meng personally invite you, why not use a sound transmission to contact him now? If he replies and confirms it, we will naturally let you pass.”

Lai Li’an’s expression stiffened slightly.

How could he know any Sound Transmission Technique? Let alone sending a sound transmission to Meng Qiuran, he didn’t even know where Meng Qiuran was right now.

“This Venerable did not keep his Sound Transmission Imprint,” Lai Li’an said without changing his expression. “Can’t you just find Fellow Daoist Meng and verify it with him?”

The suspicion on the two guards’ faces grew stronger. The one on the right sneered, “We don’t know where Senior Brother Meng is either, and you didn’t even keep a Sound Transmission Imprint, yet you still dare to say Senior Brother Meng personally invited you? Fellow Daoist, this lie you’ve spun is far too perfunctory.”

“Alright, alright, hurry up and leave,” the guard on the left waved his hand impatiently. “The conference is about to begin, and we don’t have time to waste on you.”

Lai Li’an stood at the door, neither able to enter nor retreat. He had pretended to be an expert countless times in his life, but this was the first time he had been blocked outside by two gatekeepers, unable to even get in the door.

As they were locked in a stalemate, a voice came from behind.

“What’s going on?”

Lai Li’an turned his head and saw an old man walking up the steps. The old man had gray hair and a lean face, but his eyes were filled with hidden sharpness.

It was Elder Sun.

Lai Li’an’s heart skipped a beat; this was the exact same Elder Sun who had interrogated him in the Public Hearing Hall.

Elder Sun walked up, his gaze falling on Lai Li’an’s face, and he slightly paused. He clearly recognized this face.

“Elder Sun,” the guard on the left quickly cupped his fists and bowed. “This person claims to have been invited by Senior Brother Meng to be a judge, but he can’t produce an invitation. I was just about to…”

“Fellow Daoist Lai?” Elder Sun interrupted him, a hint of surprise in his tone. “You’re also here for the conference?”

Lai Li’an cried out bitterly in his heart, but on the surface he remained as calm as water. He cupped his hands toward Elder Sun: “Elder Sun, we meet again. This Venerable is indeed here at the invitation of Little Friend Meng to serve as a judge. It’s just that back then, Little Friend Meng only gave the time and place without leaving a formal invitation. It was my negligence.”

Hearing this, Elder Sun slightly raised his eyebrows.

This guy surnamed Lai, acting as a judge?

His impression of Lai Li’an was still stuck in the Public Hearing Hall, a Rogue Cultivator who had been played for a fool by a swindler and had almost been charged with theft.

Although it was ultimately proven that Qian Fu was indeed a swindler, this Fellow Daoist Lai didn’t exactly appear sharp during the whole process. If Meng Qiuran hadn’t promptly shelled out five thousand Spirit Stones to bail him out, he probably would have been eating prison food in the dungeon for a few days.

Someone like him could be a judge at the Alchemy Conference?

Elder Sun pondered for a moment, but his words were not very polite: “Fellow Daoist Lai, the judges of this conference are all long-established Alchemy Dao Grandmasters in the Cangwu Realm. Although Fellow Daoist… um, has an extraordinary bearing, forgive this old man for being blunt, but Fellow Daoist’s name doesn’t seem to be common in the Cangwu Realm. Without Martial Nephew Meng’s confirmation, this old man dare not rashly let you pass.”

Lai Li’an heard the underlying meaning and smiled bitterly in his heart. He was indeed a nobody in the Cultivation World. The only time he became “famous” was when he was caught and taken to the Law Enforcement Hall as a thief.

Just as Lai Li’an was racking his brains to make up some background, a lazy voice came from the stairs.

“What are you arguing about? It’s early in the morning, aren’t you going to let anyone rest?”

A man who looked to be in his early thirties walked down the stairs. He wore a dark purple brocade robe. His long, narrow phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, as if he hadn’t fully woken up yet, but the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye was particularly conspicuous in the dim stairway.

As soon as this person appeared, the two guards immediately stood up straight, their attitude even more respectful than when they faced Elder Sun moments ago: “Greetings, Elder Pei.”

Elder Sun also nodded slightly, showing a bit of respect: “Alchemist Pei, you are up rather early today.”

Pei Changjing, Alchemy Sect Branch Elder and Rank Six Alchemist, was currently leaning lazily against the stair handrail. His gaze swept over the few of them before finally landing on Lai Li’an.

“Who is this?”

Elder Sun explained, “This Fellow Daoist Lai claims to have been invited by Martial Nephew Meng to serve as a judge, but he does not have an invitation. I am currently verifying it.”

Pei Changjing raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest appearing in his sleepy eyes. “Oh? That kid Meng Qiuran personally invited him?”