You're Not Qualified

The carriage rolled smoothly through the cobblestone streets of Azure Sky City as evening approached.

Inside, Ye Xian sat between Ye Ling'er and Sheng Qianying, the close quarters creating a rather intimate atmosphere.

"Brother Xian, you seem different lately," Ye Ling'er said, feeling embarrassed about the seating arrangement.

Earlier, when she and Sheng Qianying had taken their seats, there had still been some space left.

As a joke, she had casually said "sit here" to Ye Xian, never expecting him to actually squeeze between them without a second thought.

She felt mortified, thinking her Brother Xian had become quite bold—or rather, incredibly thick-skinned.

What she had meant as playful jest, Ye Xian had taken completely seriously, settling between them shamelessly.

Now she couldn't do anything about it since he was already seated, and she had been the one to suggest it in the first place.

She felt her heart beating faster and faster. To break the awkward tension, she quickly spoke up, her peach blossom eyes studying his face.

"More... shameless—I mean, confident somehow."

Ye Xian smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps I've just been cultivating more seriously. After all, a man must grow stronger to protect the people he cares about."

His words made both girls blush slightly. Sheng Qianying remembered their earlier embrace, while Ye Ling'er felt her heart skip a beat at his meaningful gaze.

Ye Xian was having the time of his life—not that he would show it. Sandwiched between two beauties, he felt like a dumpling wrapped in premium silk.

As the ride grew quieter, Ye Xian slowly stretched out his right arm and sneakily wrapped it around Sheng Qianying's waist.

"Ah!" she yelped softly in surprise.

"What's wrong, Aunt?" Ye Ling'er asked, tilting her head curiously.

"N-nothing, I was just startled," Sheng Qianying replied quickly, forcing a smile.

'By what?' she thought bitterly.

Ye Ling'er tilted her head thoughtfully. 'Aunt Qianying has been glowing lately, always seeming so happy. Her skin looks more radiant each day. What kind of beauty treatment is she using? Maybe I should ask her secretly later...'

Meanwhile, Sheng Qianying shot a glare at the perpetrator beside her. She looked down and saw Ye Xian's hand sneakily resting on her waist, pulling her even closer.

Her heart raced as she felt his hand move lower, cupping her rear with deliberate care.

Her eyes widened, and an involuntary moan escaped her lips.

"Ahhh~"

She quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified.

"What happened, Aunt?" Ye Ling'er asked again, turning to look at her.

"Nothing, I was just startled... by a bump in the road," Sheng Qianying replied quickly, shooting a warning glance at Ye Xian.

Ye Ling'er frowned. 'That's the second time she's said the same thing...' she thought, suspicion flickering in her mind.

Suddenly, Ye Xian winced slightly.

"Ouch," he muttered under his breath.

"What happened, Brother Xian?" Ye Ling'er asked, now looking between them suspiciously.

"Nothing, I was just... surprised by that same bump," Ye Xian said, giving Sheng Qianying a knowing look.

Ye Ling'er frowned. "That's strange. You both said the exact same thing..."

Sheng Qianying smiled sweetly, her ocean-blue eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked at Ye Xian. She felt quite satisfied with her little revenge.

'Two can play this game,' she thought smugly.

Ye Xian chuckled inwardly. 'This woman is more spirited than I thought...'

The carriage continued its journey toward the City Lord's mansion, the three passengers now engaged in their own silent battle of wits and gentle mischief, while poor Ye Ling'er remained obliviously caught in the middle.

When they reached the City Lord's mansion, which stood at the center of Azure Sky City, crowds were entering through the gates.

Carriages lined up outside the grand estate, their occupants eagerly waiting their turn.

As they passed through the gates, they saw many people with their families and friends chatting happily. The atmosphere was lively.

Guards politely directed Ye Xian small group to enter the main mansion, so they made their way through the crowd of people who were enjoying drinks and lively conversation in the large courtyard.

The courtyard was beautifully arranged for the evening's celebration, with lanterns casting a warm glow over the gathering.

Upon entering the mansion, they immediately noticed many familiar faces from around the city.

The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with elegant decorations and soft lighting creating a welcoming ambiance.

Ye Xian's eyes swept across the room. He quickly spotted the Ye clan patriarch, Ye Tian, who was engaged in serious conversation with other prominent figures of Azure Sky City.

The older men stood in a small circle, their voices low as they discussed what appeared to be important matters.

His gaze then wandered until it fell upon his stepmother, Sheng Qinhua. She was talking with a group of well-dressed women near the far wall.

The moment she felt Ye Xian's eyes on her, her expression twisted into something unpleasant for a brief moment.

She quickly caught herself and regained her composure, forcing a smile as she continued her conversation with the other ladies.

Meanwhile, her twin daughters could be seen at the elaborate food table. They were happily indulging in various pastries and delicacies, seemingly oblivious to the adult conversations happening around them.

Ye Shen was hanging out with his age group when one of them pointed at Ye Xian and asked curiously, "Is that your brother who's about to marry Meng Xueqing in three weeks?"

Ye Shen's eye twitched like he'd been poked with a stick. His stomach churned with irritation—he felt like he'd somehow lost to that bastard again.

"Hahaha..." The young man laughed, watching Ye Shen's sour face. He totally got what Ye Shen was feeling.

After all, wouldn't he be bitter watching his own 'useless' stepbrother suddenly become the golden boy of the city—the very person he hates the most?

Lu Aotian was standing beside his younger brother Lu Shi and some other youngsters from the Lu clan.

When Lu Aotian spotted Ye Xian, his mood couldn't help but improve. He could barely wait for the next two weeks to humiliate him. There were only two weeks left until the five-year competition held in Azure Sky City.

He couldn't wait to find an opportunity to make Ye Xian lose face in front of this gathering, where both major and minor families of Azure Sky City had arrived. What could be a better chance than this?

Lu Aotian whispered some words to one of the Lu clan youngsters. The youngster nodded and walked away with a knowing smirk.

Soon, City Lord Ru Shi made his grand entrance, descending the long, curved staircase like he was walking down from heaven itself.

Everyone's eyes turned to him as congratulations poured in about his son's coming-of-age ceremony and breakthrough to Element Disciple realm.

"Congratulations, City Lord! Your son reached Element Disciple realm at just 18!"

"Amazing achievement, City Lord!"

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate with this old father. My family only has my son, so having you all here means the world to me. I'll never forget this kindness," City Lord Ru Shi said, his voice booming loud enough for people in the courtyard to hear.

"City Lord, where's young master Ru?"

"He'll be down shortly. He just broke through recently, so he's busy stabilizing his foundation."

Ru Shi replied with a proud father's smile.

"How about we liven things up with some friendly spars while we wait for the young master?"

"Great idea!"

"I'm ready to stretch my muscles!"

The suggestion came from a Lu clan member, and others quickly jumped on board like kids hearing about free candy.

"Go ahead, enjoy yourselves," the City Lord said. Just then, something made his ears twitch. He received a ki transmission.

Ki transmission is a form of telepathic communication that uses ki to speak directly to another person's mind. Others can't eavesdrop unless their cultivation is significantly stronger.

Everyone flocked to the massive courtyard that could fit thousands. There was even a proper arena used for the city's five-year competition.

The battles began when some participants challenged others. Their supporters cheered them on, and some clever folks even set up betting stalls. Who would have thought they had brought goods specifically for such an occasion.

"Ye Xian! I challenge you to fight me!"

Ye Xian didn't even glance at him. Nestled between two beauties.

"You're not qualified," he said flatly, as if swatting away a fly.

The crowd burst into muffled laughter.