Just as everyone in the Lotus Garden was captivated by Li Shiyu and Ning Yu’an, the arrival of one person instantly stole all the attention.
A young man of about twenty-five descended from mid-air.
He was tall and slender, his hair bound in a silver coronet. His handso face was sharply chiseled, and beneath his sword-like brows, his pitch-black eyes held a dangerous glint. His gaze contained a strange, bewitching power that could unsettle one’s very soul.
This was an Innate Limit Strong Person!
"Welco, Young Master Floating Snow. I’m honored you’ve co from so far."
A man laughed heartily and flew out to et him, stepping into the air to greet Young Master Floating Snow.
"I received your invitation, Brother Huangfu. Congratulations. From now on, you are also qualified to contend for the title of Young Master."
Young Master Floating Snow nodded. Although he was not from Golden Cauldron City, he had known Huangfu Xiao for a long ti. When Huangfu Xiao broke through to the Innate Limit, he had sent a special invitation, so he had co to see for himself.
"Hahahaha! Your presence here does great honor, Young Master Floating Snow."
Huangfu Xiao laughed. Being able to invite such a distinguished guest was a testant to his connections.
Young Master Floating Snow, Cheng Hanshan, was ranked fifth among the Nine Great Young Masters and twenty-fifth on the Innate List. He was, by all accounts, a renowned figure.
It should be noted that among the Nine Great Young Masters, only the top five had even made it onto the Innate List.
"To think that even Young Master Floating Snow would co. Huangfu Xiao must have so serious influence."
"The Cheng Family of Young Master Floating Snow and the Huangfu Family have always been on good terms. Didn’t a pearl of the Cheng Family marry into the Huangfu Family over a decade ago?"
"Tsk, tsk... Young Master Floating Snow. He’s ranked fifth among the current younger generation. Only four people are stronger than him. I wonder if I’ll ever reach his level?"
Many of the young people present watched Young Master Floating Snow in a daze, their gazes a mixture of envy and jealousy. The man seed to possess a natural aura that made him the center of attention.
anwhile, many of the young won in the crowd were unabashedly appraising Young Master Floating Snow.
Each of the Nine Great Young Masters was famous throughout Cyan Cloud, leaders of their generation in the Cyan Cloud Country. They had no shortage of admirers, and Young Master Floating Snow, being naturally and strikingly handso, was no exception.
As a result, he was incredibly popular among the young ladies.
Huangfu Xiao and Cheng Hanshan exchanged a few pleasantries in mid-air, then walked together toward the pavilion where Li Shiyu was.
Once again, all eyes turned to Li Shiyu’s pavilion.
"Shiyu, long ti no see," Cheng Hanshan greeted Li Shiyu.
Li Shiyu was also a famous figure in Cyan Cloud Country. While her renown couldn’t match that of the Nine Great Young Masters, Cheng Hanshan knew her quite well.
In fact, he had even pursued her once.
To his slight regret, she had politely turned him down, claiming she wanted to focus on her cultivation and not on matters of love.
"Young Master Floating Snow."
Li Shiyu acknowledged him with a nod. She felt neutral toward Cheng Hanshan—she didn’t like him, but she didn’t exactly dislike him either.
It was simply that her standards were too high, leading her to reject even the advances of Young Master Floating Snow.
As she herself had said, only the number one expert of Cyan Cloud Country’s younger generation, soone with achievents comparable to Young Master Soaring Dragon, could ever be worthy of her.
"Brother Huangfu, this must be the Miss Ning Yu’an you ntioned in your letters. It’s true what they say—hearing about her is nothing compared to seeing her in person. Miss Ning is truly a peerless beauty. It’s no wonder you’ve lost your heart to her, Brother Huangfu."
Cheng Hanshan looked at Ning Yu’an. Given his status, he had seen countless beauties, and many had even thrown themselves at him. However, among all the won he had ever seen, Ning Yu’an was definitely among the very best.
Here was an absolute beauty, not the least bit inferior to Li Shiyu.
"Haha, you flatter , Brother Cheng."
Huangfu Xiao smiled faintly, a fervent heat deep in his eyes as he looked at Ning Yu’an. "Miss Ning, allow to introduce you. This is the renowned Young Master Floating Snow, Cheng Hanshan. He is ranked fifth on the Innate List, and his fa is known throughout Cyan Cloud."
"Mm."
Ning Yu’an pursed her red lips and gave a faint nod. Her attitude was lukewarm, showing not the slightest interest in getting to know him.
A flash of embarrassnt crossed Huangfu Xiao’s face. He quickly said, "Brother Cheng, please don’t take offense. Miss Ning isn’t very good at socializing; she’s rather withdrawn."
"Never mind. It’s nothing."
Cheng Hanshan’s expression remained impassive, but he was inwardly displeased. ’I’m one of the Nine Great Young Masters. Who dares to slight like this?’
However, with Huangfu Xiao present, he had to show him so courtesy.
"Oh, by the way. I brought so news for you," Cheng Hanshan said suddenly.
"Oh? I’m listening."
"Your rival, Wei Tianchen, has also broken through to the Innate Limit."
"Wei Tianchen!"
Hearing this na, a solemn look flashed in Huangfu Xiao’s eyes.
This man was a Direct Disciple, personally trained by Pill King Lu Changsheng, and was ranked second on the Famous Family List.
However, even though he was ranked number one on the Famous Family List, one spot above Wei Tianchen, that didn’t necessarily an he was stronger.
This was mainly because Wei Tianchen split his ti between cultivating Martial Arts and practicing Alchemy.
He was an Alchemy genius famous throughout Cyan Cloud, and he had beco an Alchemy Master before he was even twenty.
"Wei Tianchen was never weaker than to begin with. It’s not at all surprising that he broke through to the Innate Limit," Huangfu Xiao said.
With one ranked first and the other second, they were natural rivals.
"But there’s more." Cheng Hanshan shook his head, his expression turning grave. "Not only has his cultivation reached the Innate Limit, but on the very day of his breakthrough, he successfully refined a Treasure Elixir. He is now an Alchemy Grandmaster!"
"What!"
At this, Huangfu Xiao’s expression changed drastically, and even Li Shiyu was secretly astonished.
There are fewer than ten Alchemy Grandmasters in all of Cyan Cloud Country, and every one of them holds an incredibly prestigious position.
"Does that an Wei Tianchen reached this milestone even earlier than Pill King Lu Changsheng did?" Huangfu Xiao asked in shock.
Pill King Lu Changsheng was already nearly thirty when he beca an Alchemy Grandmaster, while Wei Tianchen was just over twenty-five.
Nearby, Ning Yu’an was unimpressed.
’So what if he’s an Alchemy Grandmaster?’
’My younger brother is a Pill King, one who awed every Alchemy Master in Luoyang City. Even a Grandmaster like Tan Jinglin was completely respectful, not daring to overstep in the slightest.’
’Is Ning Jiang okay now?’
’Have his injuries healed?’
Ning Yu’an’s mind began to drift. Not a day had passed since her arrival at the Li Family’s estate that she didn’t worry about Ning Jiang.
"It’s been so ti, Brother Cheng. Your Sword Technique must have improved greatly. I wonder, have you managed to achieve Heart Sword Control yet?" Huangfu Xiao asked.
Young Master Floating Snow, Cheng Hanshan, was a Sword Cultivator. His Sword Technique was subli, and when unleashed, the light from his blade flickered like falling snow—hence his title, Young Master Floating Snow.
"Heart Sword Control is no simple matter. Even the great Sword King Chu Bai only achieved it at twenty-three. Still, I’m confident I’ll grasp it before I turn thirty."
Cheng Hanshan was twenty-five now, aning he was giving himself five years.
"Speaking of Heart Sword Control, for the White Head Sword Sect to reach the level of a Sword Sect at only sixteen... it’s simply incredible." Huangfu Xiao’s eyes narrowed. If the White Head Sword Sect hadn’t been removed from the Famous Family List, he would still be stuck in second place, unable to claim the top spot.
"Heh. A Sword Sect at sixteen? Who’s to say he didn’t use so unorthodox tricks to fool everyone? I’ve heard of certain Demon Dao techniques that can grant a massive boost in power, but they co at a terrible price—sotis even one’s life. His death might very well be related to sothing like that."
Cheng Hanshan said indifferently. He had, of course, heard of the White Head Sword Sect, who beca famous throughout Cyan Cloud for achieving Heart Sword Control at the tender age of sixteen.
He had to admit, deep down, he felt a sting of resentnt and jealousy.
Sixteen... It was simply unheard of!
Back when the White Head Sword Sect beca famous, he’d even heard people comparing the two of them, saying the boy’s potential far exceeded his own.
Such dismissive talk had left a sour taste in his mouth, fostering a sense of resentnt toward the White Head Sword Sect.
"Brother Cheng has a point. I agree that’s a strong possibility," Huangfu Xiao said in agreent.
"Hmph."
Just then, Ning Yu’an let out a cold snort, her lovely face frosting over. "The White Head Sword Sect achieved Heart Sword Control through his own ability. Just because you can’t do it yourselves, you slander him behind his back. It’s contemptible."
Ning Yu’an’s words were completely devoid of courtesy.
She wouldn’t have cared if they had insulted her directly, but they were slandering Ning Jiang—the person she cared about most in the world. She couldn’t stand for it.
"Oh? You claim it was his own ability? And what proof do you have of that?" Cheng Hanshan asked, his face darkening.
"Proof? He’s my younger brother! Is that proof enough for you?!" Ning Yu’an declared proudly.
The group was visibly startled.
Even Li Shiyu was taken aback. This was the first she was hearing of it. "Ning Jiang... Ning Yu’an..." she said in astonishnt. "You both have the surna Ning. So that’s the connection."
"He’s your brother. Of course you’re biased and would speak up for him."
Cheng Hanshan said with a sneer, "Besides, even if he really was a Sword Sect, his cultivation was only at the Postnatal Realm. If he were standing in front of , I could slap him to death with one hand."
"You!" Ning Yu’an was furious.
"Ahem." Seeing the mood sour, Huangfu Xiao quickly stepped in to placate Cheng Hanshan. "Brother Cheng, the man is already dead. There’s no point getting worked up over a corpse."
"Heh, you’re right. The shortest-lived number one in the history of the Famous Family List," Cheng Hanshan jeered.
"Who says he’s dead!" Ning Yu’an retorted furiously. "My younger brother is alive! And I know he’ll co to Golden Cauldron City to find !"
"Miss Ning, you’re losing your composure."
Huangfu Xiao said in a cold voice. As much as he desired Ning Yu’an, he wasn’t about to offend Cheng Hanshan for her. Besides, her constant, distant rejection had long since begun to grate on his nerves.
"Am I losing my composure?"
Ning Yu’an shook her head, unwilling to explain further. She stated directly, "Young Master Huangfu, I ca here today to make one thing perfectly clear. I do not like you in the slightest, and I will not enter into a marriage alliance with you. I hope you understand."
At her words, Huangfu Xiao’s expression instantly darkened.
"Your refusal is useless. The Li Family has already agreed. Your will alone cannot change the situation. And I’ll be direct: everyone in Golden Cauldron City already knows about our marriage alliance. If you back out now, how could I not lose all face? Therefore, you will agree to this, whether you want to or not!"
Huangfu Xiao’s voice was domineering. His gaze then shifted. "Heh, it seems the elders of both our families have arrived."
PS: I’m not feeling my best today, so I’m very sorry, but there’s only one update. I’ve been updating two Chapters a day for over two months straight without a single break. Please allow this one day to rest and recuperate.
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