Infamous

Infamous . . .

Qin Wentian's gaze lingered on the figures that had just made their entrance, casting an enchanting spell upon the entire atmosphere. It was as if a garden full of blossoming flowers had sprung to life. These remarkable maidens came from various corners of the Southern Phoenix Clan, a testament to the clan's ancient lineage and vast number of descendants. Among them, these thirty-six maidens stood out as the brightest stars of their generation.

These ethereal beauties were known as holy maidens, all vying for the coveted position of the holy successor.

"What a gathering of beauties," the banquet attendees marveled collectively. The sight before them was a spectacle, a visual feast of unparalleled charm.

"Nanfeng Qingruo possesses such elegance and refinement. She's a supreme beauty," the crowd whispered in admiration, their eyes fixated on one holy maiden clad in azure robes. Nanfeng Qingruo, a second-level immortal foundation expert, was undeniably one of the most beloved holy maidens among the thirty-six.

"Look at Nanfeng Shengge. Her beauty is otherworldly, as though she doesn't belong to our mortal realm," they remarked, shifting their attention to another holy maiden. Nanfeng Shengge, also at the second-level, was exceptionally powerful and equally renowned among the group.

"Nanfeng Aoxue exudes a cold, domineering charm. She's at the third-level of immortal foundation," they noted, their gaze landing on yet another holy maiden. Nanfeng Aoxue, like her counterparts, was among the select few who had captured the hearts of the crowd.

But the collective gaze of the attendees converged on one figure—Nanfeng Yunxi. She radiated unparalleled beauty, even amidst this gathering of exquisite women.

"Senior Brother, the Southern Phoenix Clan is truly a venerable and illustrious lineage. Their community is thriving, and the beauty here is as abundant as the clouds. If they were to host a son-in-law recruitment event, imagine the competition among talented individuals. The inheritance of such a grand clan would undoubtedly be impressive," Jun Mengchen whispered in awe. Qin Wentian smiled, nodding in agreement. When individuals of exceptional talent came together, their offspring were destined for greatness. This ensured that the Southern Phoenix Clan's legacy would endure through the ages.

"Well, if you were to become a son-in-law of the Southern Phoenix Clan, you'd have to marry into their family. Have you considered it?" Qin Wentian teased, a playful grin on his face as he looked at Jun Mengchen.

Jun Mengchen responded to Qin Wentian's jest with a carefree attitude. "Actually, I have no such concern. Everything depends on strength, and even if I marry into their clan, then when my strength surpasses them in the future, I'll still be as free as ever with nothing to restrict me."

Qin Wentian grinned, offering a piece of insight. "Marrying into their clan means joining it. In this city, the majority of the businesses here are all controlled by the Southern Phoenix Clan. Many of the sects and clans are their subordinates, founded by their own members."

Jun Mengchen chuckled in agreement. "True, joining them is easier said than done."

"Senior Brother, the Southern Phoenix Clan hasn't explicitly announced it, but from what I've heard of the rumors, I think they might really be selecting son-in-laws this time around," Jun Mengchen whispered to Qin Wentian. "Think about it—those invited are all heaven's chosen from major powers or descendants from immortal emperors. These holy maidens might want to form a good relationship with them, and if they truly connect, there might be talk of marriage. Being able to marry into the Southern Phoenix Clan is a dream and a temptation that almost no one in the entire southern region of the immortal realms would ignore."

Qin Wentian observed their surroundings thoughtfully. These holy maidens, despite their extraordinary status, were women who would eventually marry. Naturally, they would seek the most exceptional partners, not settling for mediocrity.

"So, I deduce that Nanfeng Yunxi might really be interested in you, Senior Brother," Jun Mengchen playfully suggested. Qin Wentian shot him a glance but didn't dismiss the possibility. "Maybe she invited me over to help her with something. Nanfeng Yunxi was acquainted with us in the City of Ancient Emperors, and the other holy maidens' strength isn't any weaker than hers. All of them must have been to the City of Ancient Emperors before, and gotten to know all these descendants of major powers. And so, they invited them for help as well this time around. In any case, the Southern Phoenix Clan is a transcendent power in the immortal realms. The status of a holy maiden is extraordinary, so it won't be so easy to marry them."

Meanwhile, in another part of the gathering...

"Fairy Aoxue, it's been a long time since we last met," Rong Xiao greeted Nanfeng Aoxue, his expression bright and friendly.

"Rong Xiao, it has been a while. You're as impressive as ever," Nanfeng Aoxue replied, nodding her head in acknowledgment. She then turned her attention to the others, sharing smiles and greetings. Rong Xiao noticed that he wasn't the only one Nanfeng Aoxue had invited; she had a small group of friends with her, both male and female. Among them, one figure stood out prominently, radiating a golden aura. Nanfeng Aoxue appeared particularly warm when chatting with him.

"Zong Zhan." The name of this exceptional individual was Zong Zhan. He possessed an air of sharpness, with a hint of something enigmatic and formidable.

Purgatory spoke in a hushed tone, her voice betraying her unease. She could sense an overwhelming demonic energy emanating from the man named Zong Zhan.

Zong Zhan's gaze shifted toward Purgatory, his golden eyes sharp and piercing, like a gleaming sword capable of cutting through anything. His intense scrutiny bore into Purgatory, causing her discomfort.

"He's a Golden Heaven-Warring Condor," Purgatory retorted, her voice cold. She revealed Zong Zhan's true form, a condor.

Zong Zhan smirked with a touch of arrogance as he corrected her, "It's the Golden Heaven-Warring Condor."

The interaction between Purgatory and Zong Zhan drew a secret smile from Qin Wentian. Despite her mature human form, Purgatory's emotions and reactions often mirrored those of a young girl. If Little Rascal were here, he might have behaved similarly if he encountered an attractive girl.

Nanfeng Qingruo and Nanfeng Shengge had invited an impressive group of friends, all of whom were extraordinary individuals. The heaven's chosen in attendance were undoubtedly the best of the best. Qin Wentian overheard conversations about the City of Ancient Emperors, suggesting that many of these heaven's chosen had once held high rankings on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.

All eyes converged on Nanfeng Yunxi, the young and radiant holy maiden with only a select few friends. No one knew who she had invited.

Suddenly, Nanfeng Yunxi turned her gaze in a particular direction, and her eyes lit up with a gentle smile. Her beauty seemed to blossom like a summer peach blossom, leaving many in the crowd mesmerized by her charm. She approached a young man, addressing him warmly. "It seems like I didn't place my trust in the wrong person. You're really here."

The onlookers were captivated by this encounter between Nanfeng Yunxi and the mysterious young man, and all eyes turned to Qin Wentian.

Smiling, Qin Wentian responded, "When a supreme beauty of the Southern Phoenix Clan extends an invitation from thousands of miles away, how could I possibly decline?"

Nanfeng Yunxi confessed, "I put in a great deal of effort to locate you. Fortunately, the invitation reached you in the end."

Qin Wentian, puzzled, inquired further, "Am I the only one you invited?"

Nanfeng Yunxi nodded. "Yes."

Qin Wentian couldn't help but express his surprise. "Aren't you worried that I might choose not to come despite receiving the invitation?"

"In that case, I can only chalk it up to my bad luck. Nevertheless, I was once a member of the Qin Sect, so I'm certain the sect leader wouldn't deny me this small favor," Qin Wentian responded.

Jun Mengchen chimed in, somewhat forlornly, "Hey, do you two have to keep flirting like this? I'm feeling left out here."

Nanfeng Yunxi turned her attention to Jun Mengchen with a smile. "I didn't expect to find you here too. It seems my luck is quite good today. By the way, is this the lovely lady Purgatory?"

Qin Wentian nodded in confirmation, and Nanfeng Yunxi continued, "To think that three members of the Qin Sect would grace us with their presence."

Just then, Nanfeng Shengge, a strikingly beautiful woman, joined the conversation. She greeted Qin Wentian with a smile, "You must be the Qin Sect leader from the City of Ancient Emperors who fought alongside Yunxi, aren't you? You used your incredible strength to defeat Zi Daoyang, the son of the Violet Emperor, and claimed the top spot in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, leaving all the city's heaven's chosen in the dust. It's no wonder Yunxi invited you."

Qin Wentian modestly replied, "Holy maiden, you're too kind with your praise."

Standing beside Nanfeng Shengge was a young man who exuded an enigmatic aura and an immense presence that marked him as an extraordinary individual. He fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian and spoke, "I've heard of your exploits as well. You severely wounded Zi Daoyang, which ultimately led to his demise at Mo Xie's hands. You were the catalyst that prematurely activated the immortal sense of the Violet Emperor, creating an opening for Mo Xie to eliminate Zi Daoyang. It's also said that you defeated Xuan Xing, the younger son of the Xuan Emperor, and Que Tianyi, the personal disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. You're truly a legend of our generation in the City of Ancient Emperors. Only Mo Xie is considered your equal."

As his words sank in, the expressions of those around them underwent a remarkable transformation. What was once filled with disdain and suspicion had now turned to shock and apprehension. Severely injuring Zi Daoyang, leading to his death, killing a son of the Xuan Emperor, and a personal disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor—this individual seemed far from the peaceful demeanor he projected. He had offended three immortal emperors; was he simply daring or truly fearless?