Zhou Yuan nodded as he felt the tiny bit of progress he had made on the Taiyi mark. Mastering the Taiyi mark could not be done in a day, and he had to take things step by step.
Most importantly, he did not have many century old ancient wood left.
“Everyone, we’re about to reach the Black Flame Mountain Range.” At this moment, Li Qingchan’s indifferent voice sounded from outside.
Zhou Yuan left the room, only to find that everyone was already gathered outside. He lifted his head and peered into the distance, seeing a black mountain range appear at the end of the horizon.
An irritable heat emerged, as if they were approaching a mountain of fire.
“We’ll be lodging at the Black Flame City outside the Black Flame Mountain Range where all the teams from the other factions will also be staying. Besides this, the sect has also dispatched an elder to oversee the situation and communicate with the higher ups from the other factions.”
Li Qingchan looked towards the group and said, “We’ll first meet up with the elder in Black Flame City to get a grasp of the current situation.”
Everyone naturally had no objections and nodded in acknowledgement.
Li Qingchan said nothing else when she saw this. The yacht suddenly sped up, quickly approaching the Black Flame Mountain Range, as the silhouette of an enormous city appeared in the distance.
This city appeared to be a beehive of activity, glowing figures endlessly pouring into it from all directions.
“Due to the volcanic eruption, the Black Flame Province has become extremely busy recently, and numerous unaffiliated practitioners have come here to try their luck.” Li Qingchan kept the flying yacht as she spoke, before the group proceeded to land in the city.
Black Flame City was was a bustling place. Its wide, spacious streets were well connected, allowing the giant crowds to easily pass through, while also populated by all kinds of shops and stalls.
Li Qingchan did not linger in this area, leading the team towards the heart of the city instead, where a lavish and impressive looking building towered. There was even a wooden sign at the entrance that read ‘No one below the Alpha-Origin stage may enter’.
Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless when he saw these words. Such discrimination tsk...
“This place is currently the lodging area for the various powerful factions. If you lack strength, you’ll only be asking for trouble by entering.” Li Qingchan glanced at him before leading the way into the building.
Zhou Yuan and the rest hurriedly followed. The interior of the building was extremely spacious, though it was currently nearly bursting at the seams with people, making the insides quite a racket indeed.
However, one could tell that every individual inside gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations, a clear sign of their strength.
When the group stepped into the building, the originally noisy place immediately turned silent for an instant due to Li Qingchan’s beauty and presence as numerous gazes looked towards her.
However, these gazes immediately shrank back when they saw the Cangxuan Sect badges hanging from the waists of Zhou Yuan and the rest, no longer daring to look so wantonly. Likewise, the ones who had been about to hit on Li Qingchan quickly swallowed the words at the tip of their tongues. Everyone had obviously realized the identity of this group.
As one of the overlord sects of Cangxuan Heaven, it was obvious that almost no one dared to provoke them.
Li Qingchan’s beautiful face remained frosty, completely ignoring the gazes as she proceeded to walk up the stairs.
“Tch, isn’t this the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect, Li Qingchan? I can’t believe the sect sent you this time.” While they were walking up, a teasing girl’s voice was suddenly heard.
Li Qingchan’s slightly icy gaze followed the voice, before her eyes widened a little.
A group was gathered on one of the higher floors. Seated at the center was an extremely beautiful girl wearing a flowery long skirt, who was currently looking at them with a wide grin.
Most of the individuals around her were also girls, each one a beauty in their own right. As such, countless wolf-like gazes from the entire building would covertly glance at the group, though not a single soul dared to disturb them.
Because all of these girls were from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
The girl in a flowery long skirt was called Feng Ying, and was a Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.
“Feng Ying? To think that Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace dispatched you this time.” Li Qingchan’s tone was a little surprised as she gazed at the lovely girl. They were acquaintances of sorts, having met several times while on missions for their respective sects.
“Will you do me the honor of gracing us with your presence?” Feng Ying seemed to smile.
Li Qingchan did not hesitate as she walked over.
“Hehe, it’s brother Zhao Zhu. It’s been a long time since we last met…” As they approached, Feng Ying’s eyes swept behind Li Qingchan, letting out a laugh as she spotted Zhao Zhu.
Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, “Senior sister Feng Ying has become more and more beautiful.”
Feng Ying responded with a cheery smile. “How can I call myself pretty with the number beauty of your Cangxuan Sect present?”
While they were conversing, the gazes of Qin Hai and the rest swept towards the rest of the girls, before they could not help but stare at a certain beautiful individual amongst the pretty flowers.
Among the pretty female disciples of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was a young lady wearing a black dress. Her skin was fair as jade, while her facial features were extremely pretty. In fact, she did not lose to Li Qingchan at all.
The young lady’s most unforgettable trait were her limpid peach blossom like eyes that gave her a flirtatious look. This girl was definitely an extraordinary beauty.
An alluring aura such as hers was definitely held an almost fatal attraction to any guy. Hence, before Li Qingchan’s arrival, the majority of gazes in the entire building had likely been gathered on this girl.
The gazes of Qin Hai and the rest had been drawn by this girl. However, they quickly realized that there were already several males crowding around her. Each one had quite a presence, while a smiling young man in white robes appeared the most impressive amongst them.
The young man was quite handsome, while a kind smile hung from his lips. However, the eyes of Qin Hai and the rest widened slightly when they caught sight of the badge handing at this waist.
It was the badge of Sacred Palace.
Li Qingchan stared at the young man in white robes and indifferently said, “I did not expect that there will be someone from Sacred Palace here.”
The youth chuckled softly as he cupped his fists together. “Sacred Palace, Yang Xuan.”
“Hehe, as a Chosen, senior sister Li Qingchan can look for our Sacred Palace’s senior brother Wang Chi or Cao Jin if there are any problems. I’m merely a nameless nobody that shouldn’t take senior sister Li Qingchan’s attention.”
After politely finishing his greeting, his gaze turned back to the young lady in black as he tried to converse with her again. He was evidently not the least bit intimidated by the presence of the two Cangxuan Sect Chosens.
The girl in black wore a polite smile on her gorgeous face from start to end, seemingly friendly yet also giving others the impression that she wanted to maintain a little distance.
Feng Ying shrugged at Li Qingchan and said, “Although junior brother Yang Xuan is not a Chosen, he is quite famous in the Sacred Palace. However, I did not invite him. He’s here for this little junior sister of ours.”
Li Qingchan also glanced at the girl in black. That sweetly enchanting presence made even someone like herself unable to resist taking a second look.
The young lady in black lifted her face slightly, her limpid gaze looking towards the Cangxuan Sect group, jumping from person to person, before suddenly being slightly taken aback when she saw Zhou
Yuan standing at the back of the group.
Her eyes brightened slightly.
Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was also rather surprised to see that the girl in black was an old acquaintance, Zuoqiu Qingyu.
Back then, she and Luluo had joined the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace together. He had not anticipated that they would meet again here.
Since they were considered quite close friends, Zhou Yuan smiled as he lifted his hand and waved at Zuoqiu Qingyu.
His actions were naturally noticed by the crowd. Qin Hai and the rest were focusing on Zuoqiu Qingyu since the beginning, causing them to immediately frown upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s directness.
Do you really believe that you’re so charming? Can’t you see that the kid from Sacred Palace has been trying to chat with her for so long, but she still keeps a polite distance?
Li Qingchan and Feng Ying also glanced at Zhou Yuan.
Feng Ying playfully said, “This junior brother if yours is quite interesting.”
She was clearly under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just another smitten male that was trying to grab Zuoqiu Qingyu’s attention.
Li Qingchan’s expression was not looking too good as she glared at Zhou Yuan. He really wasn’t afraid of shaming himself in such a crowded place.
Zuoqiu Qingyu naturally saw Zhou Yuan’s wave. However, she did not respond in kind, merely sweeping an indifferent glance at him, before withdrawing her eyes.
Zhou Yuan’s hand froze, feeling a little awkward.
Qin Hai and the rest could not help but secretly laugh inside.
Zhou Yuan resentfully rubbed his nose.
*Giggle*
It was at this moment, however, that the unenthusiastic looking Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly giggled. She turned back and looked at Zhou Yuan as she placed a hand on her cheek. The lively smiling appearance she displayed was extremely enchanting.
Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she smiled like a sly little fox and said, “Hai, long time no see Zhou Yuan…”
The sight of the lively and charming smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu’s face stunned Feng Ying and Li Qingchan.
As fellow girls, how could they possibly be unable to tell that Zuoqiu Qingyu’s current smile was no longer the same civil smile from before, but one of sincere happiness from the depths of her heart.
Thus, the expressions of Qin Hai and the rest turned a little rigid.
The gentle smile on Yang Xuan’s lips also receded slightly, an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan...
After suddenly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention, the corners of Zhou Yuan’s lips twitched slightly as he looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu’s crafty fox like smile. Even a fool would know that he had just been played by Zuoqiu Qingyu...
This little enchantress was still as frustratingly annoying as before.
Chapter 402 Meeting Qingyu Again
No one in the noisy building had taken much notice of Zhou Yuan, but after Zuoqiu Qingyu looked at him with smiling eyes, he immediately became the focal point of the entire place, as numerous gazes shot towards him.
“You two know each other?” Feng Ying was also rather surprised, and soon began to size Zhou Yuan up.
She had previously thought Zhou Yuan to be the same as those fellows surrounding Zuoqiu Qingyi, men hoping to win the favor of this beauty. However, Zuoqiu Qingyu’s response clearly showed that the two of them were actually quite close.
Zuoqiu Qingyu’s sharp chin nodded as she grinned. “Senior sister Feng Ying, Zhou Yuan and I are from the same continent, and he was the most outstanding one amongst our generation back then. In fact, even Luluo and I couldn’t match up to him.”
Feng Ying gazed at the smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu’s face, before she turned back to Zhou Yuan with interest and said, “Though your Cangmang Continent is small, it seems to produce many talents.”
Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were extremely outstanding saplings amongst the newest batch of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples, and even the numerous elders of the palace had nothing but praise for these two girls, who were both from the remote Cangmang Continent.
She never imagined that Zhou Yuan was also from the same continent.
“Hehe, I’ve heard of the Cangmang Continent… however, distinguishing oneself at that level is quite meaningless. At the end of the day, what comes later is more important.”
“There are many who manage to pull off a brilliant performance for a time, but eventually fade into mediocrity.”
“Junior sister Qingyu is very talented, and will surely become one of the most famous individuals amongst our Shengzhou Continent’s younger generation in the future. There’s no need for you to be so humble.”
The group of young man around Zuoqiu Qingyu were the geniuses from the top factions of Black Flame Province, and commanded extremely high status locally.
They had been amazed the moment they saw Zuoqiu Qingyu earlier, and quickly crowded over like bees to a flower.
However, no matter how they tried to make conversation, Zuoqiu Qingyu had always responded with the same polite smile, keeping a certain distance. This made them feel rather defeated, yet also spurred them on.
However, the lively smile she displayed when she saw Zhou Yuan made them feel uncomfortable inside. As such, they began to speak out one after another, their words aiming to belittle Zhou Yuan.
Though the Cangxuan Sect was an overlord existence that their own factions could never hope to compare to, the youngsters present were not ordinary disciples in their respective factions. Hence, there was no reason for them to be overly fearful of a normal Cangxuan Sect disciple like Zhou Yuan. He was after all only a disciple, and not a Chosen like Li Qingchan and the rest.
Zuoqiu Qingyu maintained her smile when she heard their remarks, but a look of annoyance flitted across the depths of her eyes. These flies were really loathsome.
As for Yang Xuan, he did not join in to demean Zhou Yuan. His expression remained friendly like before, because he did not think Zhou Yuan was any threat at all.
Zhou Yuan merely smiled at these words, displaying no anger because of them.
It was Li Qingchan instead whose icy glaze swept over. She looked at the ones who had spoken and indifferently said, “It’s only been half a year since Zhou Yuan has joined the Cangxuan Sect, and he’s already our youngest purple sash disciple. In fact, he may even become a Chosen in the future. With such talent, there is naturally no need for anyone to doubt him.”
Although Li Qingchan had some opinions about Zhou Yuan due to his relationship with Yaoyao, the former felt that none of the geniuses from the various factions present could match up to his performance in the Cangxuan Sect.
Upon hearing Li Qingchan’s words, the young men’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. They looked towards Zhou Yuan in bewilderment, obviously unable to imagine how this unremarkable looking fellow could possibly be so capable.
Zuoqiu Qingyu also curiously looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile on her red lips. As expected, even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect, he was not going to live a peaceful and ordinary life.
It now Yang Xuan’s turn to react. He raised his brows slightly, as the unreadable look in his eyes seemed to grow a little deeper.
Zhou Yuan looked towards Li Qingchan in astonishment, clearly not expecting her to speak up for him since she had always treated him rather coldly.
Though he was surprised, the truth was that he did not really mind the views of these unimportant people.
Feng Ying covered her mouth and softly chuckled. “Looks like I’m not wrong. The Cangmang Continent has indeed been producing quite a few talented individuals recently.”
Li Qingchan say anything else on the topic. After a brief chat, she decided to leave.
“There will be a fair happening here tonight. If you have nothing else to do, you should come and take a look.” Said Feng Ying with a smile. She seemed to be on a holiday instead of a mission.
Li Qingchan offhandedly nodded before turning to leave.
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Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Zuoqiu Qingyu, faintly nodding before he turned to catch up to Li Qingchan.
As they left, a Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciple beside Zuoqiu Qingyu looked towards Feng Ying and asked, “Senior sister Feng Ying, was Li Qingchan really telling the truth earlier? The one called Zhou Yuan does not seem that strong.”
Feng Ying fell silent for a moment, glancing at Zuoqiu Qingyu who was also looking over, before she answered, “From what I can tell, Zhou Yuan is at most a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner.”
Upon hearing these words, the other pretty female disciples began to laugh. With the exception of new disciple Zuoqiu Qingyu, everyone else was at the very least the sixth layer. Zhou Yuan’s fourth layer was truly a little low to them.
The geniuses from the local Black Flame Province factions also smiled when they heard this, shaking their heads as they secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside. They had been under the impression that Zhou Yuan was quite capable. Turns out that he was merely at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage...
With such strength, he would pose no threat to them, even if he was from the Cangxuan Sect.
Zuoqiu Qingyu was the only one whose expression remained unchanged. She clearly understood that Zhou Yuan’s true power was never what it appeared to be on the surface.
Back then in the Saint Remains Domain, no one would ever have expected that even the strongest Wu Huang would be defeated by the weakest looking Zhou Yuan.
Feng Ying lifted her gaze to look at Zhou Yuan following Li Qingchan at the back of the group and shook her head as she left her final verdict.
“Li Qingchan is usually so cold. I did not expect her to brag so much just to protect one of her fellow junior brother disciples. Can’t believe I was nearly tricked by her…”
“However, it is no good to scam others, because the truth will be completely revealed once we enter the Black Flame Mountain Range…”
Chapter 403 Allocation of Tasks
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 218
