A large group of young n and won were gathered in the backyard.
So were from the Liu Family, while others were scions of other families.
They had all been invited here to celebrate two individuals.
One was Liu, today being his engagent day. The other was Liu Yang, who had broken through to the Peak of the Postnatal Realm. His strength had increased imnsely, giving him the potential to beco a candidate for the Ten Greats.
"Xiaoying, do you see this? This is the splendor of a second-tier family. It’s worlds beyond our Fang Family."
In the crowd, two young won stood together.
Fang Ying was about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a yellow gown. Her figure was slender, her face lightly powdered, and her features were exquisitely beautiful, frequently drawing the gazes of those around her.
The one speaking beside her was three years older, bedecked in jewels and finery. Compared to Fang Ying, who wore almost no accessories, her attire was far more luxurious. However, her looks were a far cry from Fang Ying’s.
This was Fang Li, a true-blooded mber of the Fang Family—unlike Fang Ying, who was rely an adopted daughter.
Fang Ying’s expression was bleak, her spirits so low she couldn’t utter a word.
"What, are you still thinking about that Zhao Peng? Xiaoying, I’m not trying to pick on you, but Zhao Peng has no background or status. He just dreams all day of becoming an Alchemist, but his skills are absolutely abysmal. In a whole year, how many elixirs can he even make?"
Fang Li scolded in a low voice, "And then look at Young Master Liu. Even though he isn’t the current Clan Leader’s son, he still has Liu Family blood and cos from a great house. Isn’t he ten, no, a hundred tis better than Zhao Peng?"
"But..."
Fang Ying opened her mouth to speak but was imdiately cut off.
"Shut up. No ’buts.’ Fang Ying, our Fang Family has raised you for so many years. Now that the family is in trouble, are you telling you’re not willing to make a small sacrifice? Are you so kind of ungrateful wretch, with no idea how to repay a debt of gratitude? Do you want to anger your father and mother to death and betray all the years they spent raising you?"
"Don’t forget, if our Fang Family hadn’t taken you in, you would have died long ago!"
Fang Li’s voice was stern, her gaze frigid.
"Fang Ying dare not forget the kindness of my adoptive father and mother in raising ."
Facing Fang Li, who had always been so strict and harsh with her, Fang Ying’s heart trembled, and she didn’t dare to argue back.
"All right, get a hold of yourself. If Young Master Liu cos over later, you’d better look happy. Understand?"
"Yes."
This conversation took place quietly between the two of them.
The young n and won in the backyard were also divided into several cliques.
People like Liu and Liu Yang were currently gathered together.
The guests they were entertaining were all outstanding figures.
They either possessed impressive strength or a noble status.
As for Fang Li and Fang Ying, they were not in the sa circle and were not qualified to mingle with them.
Liu had to first entertain these wealthy and influential guests, so he paid no mind to Fang Ying for the mont.
After all, gatherings like this were pri opportunities for networking. Making the right connections could bring imnse benefits in the future.
"Brother Liu Yang, your breakthrough to the Peak of the Postnatal Realm is truly enviable," soone complinted.
Hearing this, Liu Yang couldn’t help but show a hint of pride. Having reached this Realm, he was now at least qualified to contend for a spot as a candidate for the Ten Greats this year.
"You’re all too kind. Actually, my little bit of progress is nothing special. Has everyone heard that a fierce new figure has appeared in Luoyang City recently?" Liu Yang said.
As soon as he said this, peculiar expressions appeared on the faces of the crowd.
"Of course. Brother Liu Yang, you must be talking about the one they call the White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang, right?"
"The White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang... beat Huang Qing half to death with one punch, defeated Gao Jin with a single strike, and then single-handedly swept through a host of candidates for the Ten Greats. It’s truly incredible."
"That’s right. When I first heard about it, I found it hard to believe too. If this White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang is really that powerful, he should have made a na for himself in Luoyang long ago. How could he just appear out of nowhere without any prior news?"
"The legends about the White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang are too exaggerated. They say with a sword in hand, he’s invincible in the Postnatal Realm. I don’t believe a word of it."
"I don’t believe it either."
Everyone chid in. More than half the people here found the stories unbelievable.
The White-haired Ghost, Ning Jiang.
That na had already stirred up trendous waves among the younger generation of Luoyang, but most people remained skeptical of the news.
"By the way, I invited one of the candidates for the Ten Greats, Gu Zheng, today," Liu Yang said. "I’m not sure if he’ll show up, but if he does, we can just ask him."
Luoyang’s younger generation was divided into several tiers.
The first tier consisted of the Ten Greats. The second was comprised of the candidates for the Ten Greats. These people here were all in the third tier.
Hearing that Gu Zheng might co, many faces lit up. It would be a joyous occasion if they could use this opportunity to befriend him.
Of course, no one was getting their hopes up.
Gu Zheng was on a different level; he wouldn’t necessarily deign to join their circle.
"Huh? Why are people from the Liu Family here?"
Suddenly, the young people cried out in surprise, their gazes instantly converging on the newcors.
"It’s Liu Mi! She’s ranked in the top five of the Liu Family’s younger generation!" Many of the young n present stared with fervent eyes.
The Liu Family’s two most famous beauties, Liu Xianyu and Liu Shiyi, were far too out of reach for them, offering basically no opportunity to get close.
And while Liu Mi might not compare to those two great Ming Zhu, she was a beauty second only to them, and there was no shortage of admirers for her in Luoyang City.
"I recall it’s about so business between the Liu Family and my Liu Family," Liu Yang said.
A fiery glint appeared in his eyes as an idea began to form in his mind.
"Miss Liu Mi, your presence truly brings honor to our Liu Family." Liu Yang and his group hurried to greet her, their enthusiasm blazing.
"You’re too kind."
Liu Mi gave a faint, lukewarm nod.
Although both were second-tier families, this Liu Family was one of the weaker ones. Her Liu Family, on the other hand, had once been a First-Class Noble House. As a mber of that family, she naturally carried herself with an air of arrogance.
She was only here today because of so business between her father and the Liu Family. As it happened, she had been feeling down lately and decided to co out with him for a change of scenery. Otherwise, she would never have bothered with a circle like this.
After all, the people she typically associated with were at least from the second tier.
She looked down on everyone here.
"Xiaoying, do you see that? See how impressive the people from the Liu Family are? The mont Liu Mi arrived, everyone started fawning over her like she’s the moon and they’re the stars."
Fang Li watched from the side, green with envy.
The two of them, her and Fang Ying, had been pitifully ignored so far.
The stark contrast made her wish she could be the one in Liu Mi’s shoes.
"This is the difference status makes. Soone like Zhao Peng, who has none, isn’t even qualified to attend a party like this." Fang Li’s voice was full of disdain as she ntioned Zhao Peng.
With her gentle temperant, Fang Ying simply lowered her head, not daring to argue.
While the atmosphere in the backyard sizzled with excitent over Liu Mi’s arrival, a pair of young n appeared outside the main gate of the Liu Family’s estate.
One was dressed in white with white hair and an otherworldly air about him. The other was broad and stout. They were none other than Ning Jiang and Zhao Peng.
"Stop. Do you have an invitation? No one is allowed inside without one."
At the gate, the Liu Family Guards stopped Ning Jiang and Zhao Peng.
"Here are three hundred Primordial Stones. Please, let us through."
Zhao Peng took out three hundred Primordial Stones to bribe the Guard.
This was a steep price. An ordinary Postnatal Realm Martial Artist might only have a net worth of a thousand Primordial Stones in total.
"You’re a sensible kid. I’ll take these Primordial Stones." The Guard accepted the stones without a shred of courtesy.
"Thank you. So, you’ll let us in now, right?" Zhao Peng sighed in relief.
"Go in?" A mocking glint flashed in the Guard’s eyes. "You’re Zhao Peng, aren’t you? Young Master Liu already gave orders. If you dared to show up, I was to beat you and throw you out. And you still want to go in? If you know what’s good for you, scram. For the sake of those three hundred Primordial Stones, I won’t bother teaching you a lesson today."
"You!"
Zhao Peng’s face contorted with rage. He understood now—the guard had clearly just played him for a fool.
"Scram," the Guard barked again.
Zhao Peng’s face turned ashen. He was trapped, unable to advance or retreat.
If he couldn’t even get through the gate, how was he supposed to see Fang Ying?
"Huh?"
Just then, the Guard glanced over and saw another young man approaching. A look of delight instantly appeared on his face. "Young Master Gu Zheng, you’ve arrived! Young Master Liu Yang specifically ordered to wait for you."
However, Gu Zheng completely ignored the Guard. He walked right up to Ning Jiang’s side and said with pleasant surprise, "Young Master Ning, I didn’t expect you to be here as well."
"Uh, Young Master Gu Zheng... you know them?" The Guard’s expression suddenly beca a sight to behold.
"I do."
Gu Zheng nodded. Paying the Guard little mind, he said enthusiastically, "Young Master Ning, let’s head in together."
"But... Young Master Gu Zheng, they don’t have an invitation," the Guard said, his mouth twitching.
"An invitation? With Young Master Ning’s status, he doesn’t need one. His presence here is an honor to Liu Yang. If you offend Young Master Ning, you won’t have enough lives to pay the price."
Gu Zheng shot the Guard a cold stare. How could he possibly care about a re gatekeeper?
With that, he and Ning Jiang walked inside. The Guard didn’t dare to stop them.
Before stepping inside, Ning Jiang gave the Guard a cool glance. "Three hundred Primordial Stones aren’t so easy to take."
The Guard’s heart trembled. He felt that gaze pass over him like a sword at his throat, making him gasp for breath.
"Young Master Ning, why did you co here?" Gu Zheng asked after they had entered the Liu estate.
"This friend of mine has a small grudge with the Liu Family. I’m here to resolve it," Ning Jiang said calmly. "Also, just treat as an ordinary person. Don’t say anything about my identity."
"Alright, I understand your aning, Young Master Ning," Gu Zheng nodded.
If his identity as the White-haired Ghost Ning Jiang were to be revealed, it would instantly cause a massive uproar at the gathering. But from the sound of it, Ning Jiang wanted to keep a low profile.
「At the sa ti.」
「Luoyang City, Wanqing Manor.」
Within the manor stood clusters of magnificent and stately halls.
Countless Alchemists in Luoyang City dread of setting foot inside.
The reason was simple: this was the domain of Luoyang’s foremost Alchemy Master, Du Wanqing.
「At this very mont.」
Inside a quaint and ancient Alchemy Room.
Du Wanqing held an elixir in one hand and a Pill Formula in the other, his expression one of utter excitent.
’The quality of this elixir... even an Alchemy Grandmaster couldn’t produce sothing like this. Just who in the world was the alchemist that refined it?’
On the Pill Formula were two words.
Bodhi Pill!
"Master, you were looking for ?"
A knock ca from outside the room, followed by an ice-cold voice.
It was the Iceberg Beauty, Wei Yanran.
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