Finding Trouble
Amidst Qin Wentian's captivity within the cave, a significant event unfolded in the Unmatched Realm—Fatty had fallen head over heels in love!
Now, if Fatty's affection were directed toward just anyone, it might not have stirred much commotion. However, the problem was that his affection was aimed at none other than Xuan Xin, the little princess of the Mystic Maiden Palace.
Naturally, this situation escalated into a major affair.
Fatty was on the verge of matrimony!
Distinct from many other factions, the Mystic Maiden Palace exclusively admitted female disciples of remarkable talent. Xuan Xin, the palace's little princess, was a shining example.
Within the Unmatched Realm, a group of individuals huddled together. Among them were Wang Xiao's girlfriend, Qiao Xuan, and Liu Xi, who had previously faced Qin Wentian's wrath. While these ladies would typically envy Xuan Xin, their expressions currently mirrored icy rage as they observed Fatty's audacious antics from a distance.
Fan Le, also known as Fatty, was a close associate of Qin Wentian.
"Xuan Xin, come here," Li Shiyu, a Mystic Maiden Palace disciple, commanded. Possessing an eighth-level Yuanfu cultivation, Li Shiyu was a chosen representative of her sect. But despite her achievements, she didn't hold the title of 'Princess'.
"Sister Shiyu, we're truly in love," Xuan Xin stammered, casting glances at the Mystic Maiden Palace crowd with trepidation.
"Xuan Xin, don't be fooled by the sugary words of this fatty," Li Shiyu retorted with icy resolve. "Come here first."
"No need, Sister Shiyu," Xuan Xin asserted, gripping Fan Le's hand while feeling a tinge of fear. Fan Le squeezed back with determination, and under the scrutiny of many hostile gazes, he puffed his chest out, attempting to emanate a gallant aura. Normally, this action would have melted hearts, but in Fan Le's case, it prompted spectators to chuckle inwardly. The consensus among them was that a radiant blossom like Xuan Xin shouldn't be paired with Fan Le; the dashing young men of the Unmatched Realm simply wouldn't accept it.
"I'm taking Xuan Xin as my wife," Fan Le declared with utmost seriousness. This time, Xuan Xin's charm had truly touched his heart. Despite her keen intellect, she had chosen not to expose Fan Le's fabrications, finding delight in his company and his ability to draw laughter from her.
"You want to make Xuan Xin your wife? On what grounds? Stop daydreaming," Li Shiyu coldly interjected. "Do you even understand who Xuan Xin is?"
"Someone who doesn't grasp the vastness of the Heavens and the Earth, an unimpressive toad yearning for a graceful swan." Lin Haotian's arms folded defensively as he scorned. The ladies of the Mystic Maiden Sect had consistently captivated numerous talented prodigies from the Azure Continent. Who could have predicted that this rotund fellow would succeed in capturing the heart of their little princess?
"Li Shiyu, even in the Unmatched Realm, you couldn't easily handle him. If he genuinely cherishes the little princess, why not grant him a chance? Ask him if he's willing to accompany you all to the Mystic Maiden Palace," Yue Bingying mused, a faint smile gracing her lips. She had spent months searching for Qin Wentian's whereabouts, all in vain.
Throughout this period, it seemed Qin Wentian was intentionally evading her. Now, an opportunity lay before her. Having heard that Fan Le was closely linked to Qin Wentian, she believed that if anything were to befall Fan Le, Qin Wentian would undoubtedly emerge.
"True, Xuan Xin. If he professes love for you, then question whether he dares to join us at the Mystic Maiden Palace," Li Shiyu urged, her gaze fixed on Fan Le.
Xuan Xin shook her head. "No, I won't let him go there."
"You..." Li Shiyu's countenance shifted from defiance to menace.
"Hey, Li Shiyu, I think my friend could be a great match for Xuan Xin. Why the fuss? Could it be that you're having trouble finding a match for yourself?" A straightforward voice, rich with laughter, resonated. Li Shiyu turned her attention and quickly spotted Ouyang Kuangsheng and his companions approaching. It was Ouyang Kuangsheng who spoke.
"Ouyang Kuangsheng, don't presume that being from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan will exempt you from my retaliation. Watch your words," Li Shiyu retorted icily.
"Hold on, did I hit a bull's-eye? Is the fear of being an old maid getting to you? No worries, have you met my close friend Chu Mang? His talents are exceptional and should complement you quite well. Perhaps you should consider him," Ouyang Kuangsheng jested, pointing in Chu Mang's direction. This action prompted Chu Mang to glance at Li Shiyu before uttering in a subdued tone, "I'm not interested..."
As his words lingered, the expressions of those around froze. Even Ouyang Kuangsheng was taken aback by Chu Mang's directness. Chu Mang's honesty was undeniably charming.
Li Shiyu's visage darkened instantaneously. Sweating could be seen on the brows of the onlookers. Chu Mang's remark implied that even if Li Shiyu were offered to him as a gift, he'd still reject her. Furthermore, he had spoken with a serious tone.
"All of you, splendid. Marvelous." A chill emanated from Li Shiyu as an aura of intense pressure cascaded from the other Mystic Maiden Palace disciples. The crowd instinctively retreated several paces, creating a buffer between the two parties. Ouyang Kuangsheng's brow furrowed; an altercation now would certainly not end favorably for his side.
From the Mystic Maiden Palace, five individuals stood, one at the eighth level of Yuanfu, two at the seventh level, and the remaining two at the sixth level. On Fatty's side, aside from Xuan Xin, only Chu Mang and Ouyang Kuangsheng were present. Clearly, the combat prowess disparity was significant, with only two at the seventh level and one at the sixth level. Engaging in battle would undoubtedly lead to their disadvantage.
Others from the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, like Ouyang Ting, were also present. Duan Qingshan had already departed to prepare for his Heavenly Dipper breakthrough, while Ouyang Ting chose to stay in the Unmatched Realm for cultivation. She had reached the sixth level of Yuanfu, yet she had no intention of intervening. The situation stemmed from Ouyang Kuangsheng's desire to assist his external friends and bore no connection to their Ouyang Clan. If Ouyang Kuangsheng was inclined to help, then he should resolve the matter independently.
In the distance, a human and a beast soared through the sky. Upon spotting the gathering below, they couldn't help but be taken aback.
The individual was none other than Qin Wentian. Upon seeing Fan Le and his companions embroiled in a confrontation, his curiosity was piqued.
"What's happening here?" Accelerating, Qin Wentian moved like the wind, hastening towards the assembly. His sudden arrival prompted the crowd to shift their attention to the incoming figure, leaving them momentarily stunned.
Finally, Qin Wentian had emerged.
Several pairs of eyes turned to Yue Bingying, aware that she had been on the search for Qin Wentian for some time. Up until this point, Qin Wentian had seemingly vanished into thin air, almost as if he were deliberately evading her.
"You've finally shown up." Ouyang Kuangsheng, who hadn't encountered Qin Wentian in a long while, broke into a warm smile at the sight of his friend.
Hovering in mid-air, Qin Wentian was met with a group of individuals obstructing his path. This group was none other than members of the Sword Extinction Sect.
Stepping forward, Lin Haotian met Qin Wentian's gaze head-on. His stare bore the intensity of a sharpened blade, penetrating straight through Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian shifted his attention briefly to Lin Haotian. This was the individual who had disrupted his concentration during a crucial moment. According to Cang Lan, Lin Haotian was a subordinate chosen by Situ Po's companion, assigned with the task of arranging a meeting with him.
"Fatty, did you once again stir the pot?" Qin Wentian's gaze then drifted to Fan Le. Observing Xuan Xin's undeniable infatuation with Fan Le, Qin Wentian couldn't help but internally scold his friend. Fatty was, without a doubt, a true prodigy, even managing to win over Xuan Xin's heart.
In his heart, Qin Wentian couldn't help but wish Xuan Xin well. How could this innocent young lady endure Fatty's shamelessness in the long run?
"I'm madly in love with Xuan Xin. How can that be considered stirring the pot?" Fatty retorted unabashedly. "Although I only recently discovered Xuan Xin's identity as the little princess of the Mystic Maiden Palace."
Fatty beamed, his lips curving with unmistakable pride. His significant other was a princess of the Mystic Maiden Palace!
"I see." Qin Wentian's comprehension of the situation was immediate, and his appreciation for Fatty surged to a new level.
"However, it seems I'm not the only one eager to 'stir the pot'," Fan Le quipped, glancing toward Lin Haotian, who stood as an obstacle in Qin Wentian's path. Rumors surrounded Lin Haotian, painting him as an immensely formidable opponent. He was groomed to be a chosen of the Sword Extinction Sect, eclipsing most of the younger generation except for Situ Po. Without Situ Po's presence, he'd likely be the sect's top prodigy.
"Before playing hero, perhaps you should address your own matters. How do you propose we handle this unresolved dispute?" Lin Haotian's words were like honed blades as he stared intently at Qin Wentian. "You told me to get lost during our last encounter, but now you're without your Divine Inscriptions for protection. Let's see how you intend to settle this."
"Indeed, it's high time we resolve our issues." Qin Wentian nodded solemnly. Lin Haotian had disrupted his crucial breakthrough and now, with the audacity to approach him for a 'resolution'? In the realm of cultivation, power often dictated right from wrong.
"Tell me, how do you suggest we settle this?" Qin Wentian locked his gaze on Lin Haotian, posing the question.
Lin Haotian cast a sidelong glance at Yue Bingying, who stood nearby. Following his gaze, Qin Wentian remembered her identity—a woman from the Azure Emperor Palace whom he might encounter again in the future. As he grew stronger, his path would lead him to reclaim the authority that rightfully belonged to him and reshape the Azure Emperor Palace.
"Test him out first to see if he's worth my time. If he's not up to the task, handle it as you see fit," Yue Bingying said nonchalantly. In truth, she was curious and simply wanted to witness Qin Wentian's capabilities firsthand. As someone who had gained approval from all thirty-six halls, she was keen to compare his strength to her companion, Situ Po.
However, Qin Wentian declined her offer.
Spar?
A cold laugh escaped Qin Wentian's lips. Yue Bingying was indeed overestimating herself. Did she think he had to appear just because she wanted to fight him?
Swiftly, the two experts from the Sword Extinction Sect leaped into action, their sword lights flashing. Simultaneously, Lin Haotian drew his sword from its sheath, emanating a powerful surge of sword intent. He was well aware that even with the aid of his two fellow disciples, they couldn't defeat Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian had once defeated Liu Xi, who stood at the peak of the sixth level.
The two swordsmen transformed into streaks of light, hurtling toward Qin Wentian. However, the anticipated clash of swords never came. The onlookers turned in surprise as they realized that the swordsmen were suspended in mid-air, their swords unable to advance an inch despite their momentum and effort.
The very edges of their blades were held firmly by Qin Wentian's bare hands!