Leaving the attic, Shen Han recounted the conversation between him and Su Jinyu to his uncle.

"They really consider themselves important, demanding a sacrifice for the Shen Family at the drop of a hat, as if the whole world revolves around them."

Just hearing the retelling, the uncle from the Yun Family became instantly infuriated.

"Han, rest assured and participate in this Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering. With your perception, you may well surpass those prodigies in the future."

Shen Han nodded and walked back to the center of the grand gathering.

Many people were seated around, observing the artwork before them, silently and intently comprehending it.

Shen Han also took a look at the painting, but just after a few more glances, he started to feel a bit dizzy.

That's odd, his spiritual power far surpasses his Martial Path prowess, how could this be...

He averted his gaze from the painting and shook his head.

The "Gen Mountain Secret Technique," the "Celestial Dao Sword Momentum," coupled with his frequent extractions of entries, have greatly enhanced his spiritual power.

Logically, a mere painting shouldn't cause such dizziness.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Han looked at the painting again.

The dizziness didn't disappear, rather it intensified.

Before Shen Han could withdraw, he felt the painting before him transform into a vortex, sucking everything around into it.

Shen Han wanted to escape, but the next moment, he too was drawn in.

In a daze, Shen Han slowly regained consciousness.

In front of him was a towering mountain, and behind him a clear stream.

Reaching out to touch the grass in front of him, the texture felt so real.

Not far away, a young man and woman were playfully splashing water in the stream.

Running ahead for a distance, Shen Han greeted the two, but they completely ignored him.

In the next moment, they passed right through him.

Phantoms!

The surrounding scene was clearly the landscape depicted in the painting.

Immortal Heluo's painting indeed possesses such marvelous abilities.

Walking around in this piece of heaven and earth, it felt serene and tranquil.

Having a loved one to accompany in such a world is indeed a great blessing.

But now, have I become trapped in it?

Thinking this through, Shen Han concentrated his mind, and with a thought he was free.

Looking around, he realized he had stayed within that painting for quite a while, at least for half a two-hour period.

But upon checking the time, less than a quarter of an hour had passed since he got sucked into the painting!

This painting truly was strange...

The edge of the grand gathering.

Though Stepping into the Thousand Autumns hadn't started, the crowd was already buzzing with excitement.

The roster of more than two hundred participants had been released.

A group of people gathered in front of the roster, abuzz with noise.

"The young nobleman from the He Family in Lianfeng County actually came, and he's only fifteen. Isn't he a bit young for the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering?"

"The young lady from the Yan Family in Fenglin City is also here."

"Look here, even the young uncle from the Shan Family of Xinlin City is here!"

...

A group of enthusiasts chatted noisily, discussing which of the family's prodigies would shine in this series of the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.

Some even opened betting rounds, as gamblers seemed to be everywhere...

As they spoke, someone pointed to the lower right of the roster.

"Yun'an City, Shen Han? Is this Shen Family's descendant?"

Ever since Shen Ye reached the 96th layer in Stepping into the Thousand Autumns, his reputation in Heyang City had grown immensely.

Countless young women saw Shen Ye as the moonlight in their hearts.

Extending this, the Shen Family was highly esteemed in Heyang City as well.

Amidst the exclamations, some quickly came forth to explain.

Many had carefully investigated the Shen Family.

Among this generation of Shen Family's youth, although Shen Ye was exceptionally outstanding, only he was truly exceptional.

Among the rest of the descendants, only the child Shen Ao could be considered promising.

"Isn't Shen Han the one betrothed to Su Jinyu?"

"Who else could it be? I heard about his and Su Jinyu's matter when I passed through Yun'an City.

It's said he came to participate in the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering to prove himself superior to Su Jinyu."

Hearing this, the people around him looked at him speechlessly.

"Is he sure... he wants to prove he's better than Su Jinyu?"

"Shen Han is already 18 years old and reportedly only at the Eighth Grade in martial prowess, surpassing Su Jinyu..."

"He does have courage, harboring thoughts of comparing himself to Su Jinyu."

As the conversation continued, the topic shifted to matters between the Shen and Su families and the Imperial Court.

The world doesn't lack intelligent people, and many have discerned the hidden secrets behind the betrothal.

However, since this concerns the Imperial Court, the crowd speaks cryptically, occasionally using codewords as substitutes.

After listening to the explanation, some couldn't understand, but others felt Shen Han should indeed fight for himself; why should he sacrifice himself?

Noon had passed, and it was 1:00 PM.

The middle-aged Captain from earlier emerged to announce the start of Stepping into the Thousand Autumns.

With the first step into the Thousand Autumns, several young people were already eager.

As soon as his words fell, they immediately moved toward the Thousand-Autumn steps.

Shen Han was not in a hurry, and walked in a later position.

These originally ordinary steps seemed to have entranced those who stepped onto them.

Soon, one of them snapped back to their senses and stepped onto the 2nd layer.

Within just a few dozen breaths, the first batch of people to step on the 1st layer had all moved beyond it.

Subsequently, the second batch of people stepped up, quickly moving beyond the 1st layer as well.

After quite some time, it was finally Shen Han's turn.

With a slight frown, Shen Han stepped onto the 1st layer of the Thousand-Autumn steps.

At the instant his feet touched the steps, his consciousness was immediately engulfed in a dense forest.

A wild boar with tusks charged directly at his face.

With the refined body technique Lonely Wind Snow-Treading Step, naturally, it couldn't harm him.

Observing his surroundings, only a single wild boar was present.

With a swift movement, he ended the wild boar's life with a punch.

As the wild boar breathed its last, Shen Han felt his consciousness abruptly eject.

At this moment, he realized he was the only one left on the final step.

"That Shen Han took almost half a quarter of an hour to complete the first layer; that's quite subpar..."

The maid beside Su Jinyu remarked mockingly.

Such a performance suggested he might not even reach the 10th layer.

"Sharing the same surname as Brother Ye is an affront to Brother Ye...

I wonder where his confidence comes from..."

Su Jinyu observed the scene with a cold expression, involuntarily shaking his head.

He vaguely felt associating his name with Shen Han's was a form of humiliation.

Within the crowd of the grand gathering, a short, plump man with a mustache used a Sound Transmission Magical Artifact to relay the situation from the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.

"Old Dowager, please rest assured. Shen Han took half a quarter of an hour to pass the first layer; with such capability, he'll reach at most the 10th layer."

Yun'an City, Shen Mansion.

The Old Dowager, Madam He, and Madam Xie were leisurely seated in the garden, listening to the Sound Transmission Magical Artifact's report on the Thousand-Autumn Grand Gathering.

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