The next day, the entire Qin mansion was brightly decorated and filled with guests. Magpies chattered incessantly
in the courtyard. The air was filled with the sounds of music and dance, a joyous celebration of good fortune. The 'Bixiao Garden,' where the First Madam's family resided, was especially festive, adorned with bright red 'longevity' characters, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of New Year's Eve. Exquisite lanterns hung from the trees, and scarlet carpets were laid along the cobblestone paths to welcome guests. The main hall of 'Bixiao Garden,' where the First Madam entertained guests, was now a riot of color and splendor. Laughter and cheerful voices could be heard from within. It was truly a scene of vibrant celebration. ... Zhuijin Garden. Qin Yan's residence. It was noon. Qin Yan, dressed in his finest clothes, was attended to by his two personal maids, 'Shiyun' and 'Dieyi'. Both maids were fair-skinned and delicate, with exquisite features, and exuded a cleverness. They were about the same age as Qin Yan. In their eyes, their young master, Qin Yan, was always kind and gentle to them, never putting on airs. Therefore, they served Qin Yan with great diligence and attentiveness. "Young Master, Bixiao Garden is so lively! So many guests have come, including other powerful families from our Blue Sky City: the Luo family, the Zeng family, the Xu family… and quite a few guests from the Madam's family, the Ling family… The banquet is about to start, Young Master, you should hurry over…" The maid, Shiyun, said crisply, pausing for a moment, her eyes filled with a pitiful look, "However, Young Master, the other day, I heard people in the manor say… say… at the Madam's banquet, it seems… it seems the guests from the Ling family… might… take the opportunity to make things difficult for you… Young Master, please don't take it to heart, don't get angry, getting angry is bad for your health, it's not worth it…" "Heh… don't worry, Young Master won't get angry…" Qin Yan smiled slightly, turned and walked out. The sun was shining brightly, Qin Yan walked briskly, his energy and spirit in excellent condition. At this moment, his internal energy was intertwined with his meridians, muscles, and bones, not sinking into his dantian. Therefore, it was impossible for ordinary people to discern anything about Qin Yan or to fathom his level of internal energy cultivation. Before long, Qin Yan arrived at the Bixiao Garden, in the spacious courtyard in front of the main hall. Suddenly , Qin Yan stopped. He saw a large group of vibrant young men and women walking towards him from the left, chatting and laughing. Qin Yan glanced at them discreetly; they were Qin Feng, Qin Shuang, Qin Lei, Qin Yu, and several adopted sons and daughters of the First Madam. Also present were a young man and woman. Both were young, but their auras were deep and their eyes shone brightly; it was clear at a glance that they were promising young martial arts talents. One was a man dressed in a long robe adorned with purple and gold fragments, about the same age as Qin Feng. He was handsome, with delicate features, his face sculpted like a fine brushstroke, thin lips that gave him an air of cold arrogance, a slightly high nose, and a full forehead. Notably, his temples were surrounded by a faint golden aura. His eyes held a natural arrogance, like a wealthy young master from a big city who had arrived in a remote, impoverished rural area. Beside him was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, her eyes brimming with intelligence. Her figure was light and graceful; she was a rare beauty. Unfortunately, her aura was extremely sharp, almost radiating an unyielding edge. She was like a sharp blade capable of cutting a hair with a single blow; a glance from her sent a suffocating feeling, as if her throat would be slit. 'It's her? Ling Yingxue?' No doubt about it! "It's Ling Yingxue..." At this moment, Qin Yan recognized the girl, and a vague memory flooded back... This girl was named Ling Yingxue, a younger generation disciple of the Ling family. She had visited the Qin family as a child. In terms of seniority, Ling Yingxue should address the First Madam as "Aunt." Back then, the Ling family intended to marry Ling Yingxue to Qin Yan as his principal wife. They probably thought Qin Yan, being Qin Tianpeng's only son, could be won over and used. However, later, because Qin Yan lacked martial arts talent and was too mediocre, the marriage was abandoned and never heard from again. Now, Qin Yan's memory of Ling Yingxue was very faint; he only vaguely remembered her as a carefree playmate from his childhood... Qin Yan didn't intend to pay attention to this group and was about to enter the hall. At this moment... "Qin Yan!" Qin Lei, the First Madam's third son, shouted... and then a group of people rushed forward. "Qin Yan, you really lack manners," Qin Lei said, winking at Qin Yan with a mocking expression. "The Ling family's distinguished guests have come from afar, and you, as the host and the son of the family head, actually hid and didn't come out to greet them... I don't know how your second uncle raised you. What's the difference between a person who doesn't know manners and an animal? Hahahaha..." A group of people burst into laughter. Only Qin Feng maintained his detached expression, calm and composed, looking at Qin Yan as if he were some insignificant nobody. The young man in the purple-gold-flecked robe standing next to Ling Yingxue didn't even glance at Qin Yan, turning his head away. Ling Yingxue seemed to recognize Qin Yan as well. Seeing that Qin Yan still seemed to be stuck at a low level of internal energy cultivation, disappointment and pity appeared in her eyes. Compared to a month ago, Qin Yan was much more composed and reserved, and had developed some composure. Faced with ridicule, Qin Yan's expression was indifferent, and he didn't say anything more. He silently buried his intense killing intent deep within his heart, knowing that once his strength reached a sufficient level, a bloody battle was inevitable… At this moment, Qin Lei turned to a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy beside him and said, "Qin Hu, you're two years younger than Qin Yan, but last month you successfully advanced to the third level of the Inner Qi Realm… Qin Hu, now show Young Master Qin Yan the aura of the third level of the Inner Qi Realm… Hahahaha… Young Master Qin Yan will never be able to cultivate to the third level of the Inner Qi Realm in his lifetime. We should pity him and occasionally show him our cultivation, let him broaden his horizons… and comfort his weak heart… Hahahaha…" Qin Hu was an adopted son that the First Madam had brought from Lingxiao City a few years ago. Although young, he was vigorous and had considerable martial arts talent. "Brother Lei, I don't think there's anything to show off, there's no need for that. The comprehension and cultivation of Inner Qi is talent. Those who can comprehend it are geniuses, those who can't are… trash! Useless for their entire lives!" Qin Hu looked at Qin Yan and said sarcastically. "Hahahaha~~~~~~" A burst of laughter erupted. "Alright, stop teasing Young Master Qin Yan. Everyone has dignity. If you keep provoking him, he might just vomit blood and faint on the spot..." Qin Yu said with a sinister smile. "Let's go in, the banquet is about to begin," Qin Shuang said impatiently. "Just a martial arts scumbag... There's no point in mocking someone like that." With that, the group swaggered into the hall.
Qin Yan stood motionless, unmoved by the relentless mockery... for arguing was pointless. Instead, he remained increasingly composed, his extraordinary experiences and improved strength, coupled with the unparalleled potential of a demon warrior, giving him a natural confidence and a calm demeanor... 'It won't be long before I completely surpass these clowns. Of course, that includes Qin Feng and Qin Shuang...'
"Qin Yan, it's been many years..." Ling Yingxue didn't immediately enter the hall, but remained standing. Her beauty was ethereal, her figure graceful yet powerful. She gazed at Qin Yan with pity in her eyes, her voice gentle.
"Oh?" Qin Yan smiled. "Ling Yingxue, I didn't expect you to still remember me."
"Yes..." Ling Yingxue's face showed a look of reminiscence, her eyes like drifting clouds, before she shook her head slightly. "However, memories always fade, and some people and events will eventually fade away with time. Qin Yan, although your martial arts talent is lacking, as long as you don't go astray, can endure hardship, accept adversity, and live a good, ordinary life, without being aggressive or ruthless, and know how to make choices... that might not be a bad thing. Trying to shake a tree is the most foolish thing..."
Ling Yingxue's words were double-edged, clearly implying that Qin Yan should submit to the tyranny of the First Madam's faction and not try to resist.
Hearing this, Qin Yan laughed angrily, his tone indifferent. "Ling Yingxue, life's encounters are like dreams, unpredictable. Fortune changes every thirty years. The future is uncertain."
"Sigh..." Hearing Qin Yan's almost sarcastic words, Ling Yingxue sighed with pity, "The current situation... well, Qin Yan, you'd better take care of yourself." With that, she turned and walked straight into the hall.
Immediately, Qin Yan also entered the hall. In
the main hall of Bixiao Garden,
guests filled the room with lively music and laughter. A dozen tables were set up, the atmosphere bustling and vibrant.
The First Madam, dressed in a bright red robe, sat at the head of the main hall. A large table of rosewood tables was laden with congratulatory gifts, gleaming with jewels.
Her flawless face radiated joy, her eyes sparkling, her demeanor commanding and radiant.
Maids and servants had prepared gifts for Qin Yan, which had been delivered to Bixiao Garden the day before. Qin Yan only needed to offer a few words of congratulations and a bow before taking his seat.
However, Qin Yan merely glanced at the First Madam, seemingly without any intention of offering his congratulations.
It was well known that the First Madam had hired someone to kill Qin Yan; had he not encountered a fortuitous event, he would be dead by now… The feud between Qin Yan and the First Madam was now irreconcilable!
As the saying goes, enemies are especially hateful when they meet. Qin Yan wished he could tear her to pieces, dig up her grave, and whip her corpse… At this
moment, he didn't immediately lash out and rush to kill the First Madam. A cup of wine and a spear were already the limit of his restraint; how could he possibly congratulate and pay respects to his mortal enemy? At this moment, the First Madam's gaze also turned to Qin Yan. Suddenly, her smiling eyes turned icy cold, veiled with a layer of malevolence, her killing intent hidden, forcibly suppressed…
The First Madam's disgust and murderous intent reached Qin Yan's heart, but he remained unmoved. Now, Qin Yan had fused with a portion of demonic blood, his temperament was completely different, possessing an aura that was not to be profaned. Qin Yan sneered and walked straight to the seat where his father, Qin Tianpeng, was, and sat down.
"Hmph~~~" The First Madam snorted coldly and turned her gaze away.
At this moment, countless gazes swept across Qin Yan in the hall…
Among these gazes were disdain, gloating, pity, disgust, contempt, and even some exerting mental pressure on Qin Yan… all of which Qin Yan ignored.
"Yan'er, you've arrived…" Qin Tianpeng said softly, his gaze involuntarily turning to the east side of the hall, his expression anxious. "Today, quite a few guests from the Ling family have arrived…"
Qin Yan followed his gaze…
On the east side of the hall, two pear wood octagonal tables were set up, around which sat more than a dozen distinguished-looking young men and women. Among them were Ling Yingxue and the man in the purple-gold shard robe. Clearly, these two tables belonged to the younger generation of the Ling family. They all sat calmly and composedly, exuding an air of authority, as if they were princes and ministers sitting on a throne in a golden palace. Their majestic bearing and profound, unfathomable martial arts cultivation and talent were evident in their eyes. There was a noble air about them, as if everyone else was inherently inferior in their gaze.
Qin Yan's gaze shifted, and he noticed a table of elderly people. Each of them had skin without a single age spot, as smooth and lustrous as jade, reflecting a strange radiance. Streams of energy flowed across their bodies like precious light. Their eyes shone like the sun, making it difficult to look directly at them. The internal energy cultivation of these elders was incredibly profound and abundant. These were the old relics of the Qin and Ling families, who usually cultivated in seclusion and would not easily reveal themselves except for crucial moments.
In addition, some prominent figures from other wealthy and powerful families in Blue Sky City, as well as many talented young people, had also come.
The scene was very grand; everyone present was of high status and extraordinary importance.
However, the City Lord of Blue Sky City did not send anyone to offer congratulations; City Lord Lingxiao also did not attend.
Sitting at the same table with Qin Yan and his son were Qin Tianpeng's trusted confidants, several of Qin Yan's uncles, and several of Qin Tianpeng's retainers.
"The First Madam is indeed adept at navigating social situations, inviting so many people..." Qin Yan chuckled coldly to himself. If it were the old him, facing such a gathering, he would have been terrified, his eyes darting about, barely daring to breathe... But now, he was completely at ease, his mind relaxed and carefree. Qin Yan understood that among the dozen or so guests, the strongest martial arts cultivator was only at the tenth level of the Inner Qi Realm; there were no super experts at the Explosive Qi Realm. Explosive Qi Realm experts were like dragons lying in wait, rarely showing themselves. The First Madam didn't have the influence to invite such a powerful figure.
"As long as I don't face someone at the Explosive Qi Realm, I can handle anything..." Qin Yan thought calmly.
Soon, the banquet began.
The sounds of string and wind instruments suddenly arose, and a troupe of singers and dancers entered the hall, performing graceful songs and dances. A multitude of delicacies,
including rare and exquisite dishes, were served in a continuous stream. After several rounds of drinks, an elder of the Qin family spoke in a loud voice, "Lingxiao City is a large city with tens of millions of inhabitants, a place of wealth and prosperity. To our tiny city of Lantian, it is merely a vast river before us, a towering mountain to be revered… Today, the distinguished guests of the Lingxiao City Lord's family have graced our Qin family with their presence, truly bringing us great honor…"
"Hahahaha..." An elderly man in brocade robes from the Ling family laughed loudly, "You're too modest, esteemed elders of the Qin family. The Ling and Qin families have a long-standing kinship. My current patriarch, the eldest daughter of the city lord of Lingxiao City, is a daughter-in-law of the Qin family... You could say the Ling and Qin families are in-laws! Now, the land is in chaos, heroes are vying for power, and war rages. Our Ling and Qin families should be of one mind..." He paused, then his gaze shifted, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the seats of Qin Tianpeng's lineage. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "Gentlemen, martial arts are flourishing across the land, and our powerful families have established themselves through martial arts... To put it bluntly, for a powerful family to maintain its prosperity in the long run, it is not about who has the widest network of connections, but about who has the strongest fist... Whoever has the strength will gain fame, fortune, power, and status... Under the control of overwhelming power, everything is within easy reach... How about this, I see that there are quite a few talented young people from the various powerful families in Blue Sky City. Let's take this opportunity to let the younger generation have a friendly competition. What do you all think?"
The martial arts spirit was extremely strong across the land. Almost every powerful family would deliberately arrange for their younger members to spar and compete at every gathering, to see which family or lineage's disciple was more outstanding. This would bring glory to the head of the family and increase their standing within the clan…
As soon as this was mentioned, the hall erupted in response, with the younger generation especially eager to test their skills.
However, some shrewd individuals turned their gazes towards Qin Tianpeng's lineage's seats, their eyes filled with schadenfreude and a desire to stir up trouble. Many had guessed that the arrival of the First Madam's family from the Qin family mansion this time was likely not for the main purpose of their visit…
but rather to take the opportunity to put pressure on Qin Tianpeng's lineage… perhaps
even to severely humiliate Qin Tianpeng's lineage in front of the Qin family elders, thus establishing the First Madam's lineage's prestige…
In Blue Sky City, the open and covert struggle between the Qin family's head lineage and the First Madam's lineage was already an open secret…
At this moment, Qin Tianpeng's brows were deeply furrowed…
'Is the First Madam's carefully orchestrated drama finally about to begin…' Qin Yan put down his chopsticks.
At this moment, the old man in brocade robes from the Ling family revealed a sinister expression through the slits of his eyelids, his gaze fixed on Qin Tianpeng, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Patriarch Qin, over the years, you have brought great prosperity to the Qin family. We all admire your talent... As the saying goes, like father, like son. Presumably, the young master of the Qin family must also be a peerless genius with extraordinary talent... So, this time, let a few of my unworthy children from the Ling family learn a few martial arts moves from the young master of the Qin family... Hahaha... A contest between the younger generation is harmless..."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the guests from the other wealthy families of Lantian City present suppressed their laughter and looked at Qin Tianpeng with very strange expressions...
Some even whispered sarcastically, "A peerless genius with extraordinary talent? Heh... A peerless genius at the second level of the Inner Qi Realm in martial arts is indeed an anomaly..."
The First Madam's lineage was even more excited at this moment, and everyone's face was beaming with joy.
The First Madam took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The rise and fall of a powerful family can be seen in the disciples of the clan. If they don't value martial arts and are physically weak, then the entire family is showing signs of decline... Yan'er bears the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Qin family, and we all hope he can grow up quickly... Tianpeng, I wonder if Yan'er's martial arts cultivation has improved recently... Let him come out and try..."
Qin Tianpeng's face immediately turned red and purple, and he was furious. He shook his hand, "There's no need for a competition. Yan'er has been unwell recently..."
"Tianpeng... don't make excuses..." At this moment, an old man from the Qin family smiled sinisterly, "It's only natural for the younger generation to spar and exchange skills... What do you mean by making excuses?"
"Third Uncle, you!" Qin Tianpeng was furious. This old man from the Qin family who spoke had always been on good terms with the First Madam, and had even openly supported her. He knew perfectly well that Qin Yan's martial arts talent was terrible, yet at this critical juncture, he actually came out to incite and provoke him, clearly wanting to help the First Madam and slap Qin Tianpeng in the face!
"What, Tianpeng, are you still so angry?" the Qin family elder suddenly said sternly, "I think you're just afraid to let Yan'er participate in the competition! Over the years, the family has carefully cultivated Yan'er, never mistreating him in the slightest. However, he has truly disappointed us utterly! Now the entire Blue Sky City is laughing at our Qin family! The son of the family head, the future heir to the Qin family, is actually such a hopeless case! Furthermore, Tianpeng, you also bear responsibility for failing to raise your son properly! As the family head, your primary responsibility is..." What they wanted was a prosperous lineage, a worthy successor! If the Qin family had to rely on Yan'er to lead the way, it would inevitably decline!
This barrage of attacks enraged Qin Tianpeng, making him feel like his insides were burning, almost spitting out blood, but he couldn't find a rebuttal…
Just then, Qin Yan stood up first and calmly said, "Fine, I, Qin Yan, will do as you wish and spar with the younger generation of the Ling family…"
These words clearly reached the ears of everyone present…
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