A Beauty's Disaster

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the day Lihuo City had been abuzz about had arrived.

On this day, the vast city was exceptionally lively. The City Lord was getting married, and not just to a concubine, but to his official wife. This was undoubtedly a top-tier event. Everywhere you looked, lanterns and streamers adorned the streets, and gongs and drums sounded in unison.

"The final selection for Yanhuang Academy will be held at the City Lord's mansion today. After the City Lord completes the wedding ceremony, he can observe with the guests, allowing the younger generation to perform and liven things up for this joyous occasion."

"It's said that the City Lord will officially bestow the title of Heir Apparent upon Young Master Li Zifeng after he obtains the Yanhuang Token, and announce it to the entire city."

"For us in Lihuo City, this can be considered double happiness."

In the early morning, Li Tianming gently pushed Wei Jing into the courtyard, allowing her to bask in the warmth of the morning sun.

His mother knew that today was a special day.

"Mother, I have to go now." Once he obtained the Yanhuang Token, he would take her away from this place of sorrow.

"Go ahead." Wei Jing squinted her eyes in the sunlight. Her long hair had turned gray, and only in the sun could it retain some of its luster.

"Aren't you going to say something touching? Give me some words of encouragement or something?" Li Tianming asked with a smile.

"Encouragement? Where's the encouragement?" Little Yellow Chicken tumbled down from Li Tianming's head, asking fiercely.

Its nervous demeanor successfully made the mother and son laugh.

Amidst the laughter and joy, there was no trace of the tension of facing an upcoming battle.

"Go on, I'll take a nap, and you'll be back by then," Wei Jing said gently.

This battle was important, yet she didn't nag Li Tianming or put too much pressure on him. She was perhaps the person who had the most faith in Li Tianming in the world.

"Okay." Li Tianming helped her comb her white hair, his movements practiced and skilled.

After finishing, he gently patted Wei Jing's shoulder, then walked away without looking back, embarking on his journey.

Beneath the sunlight, a tear rolled down from Wei Jing's squinting eyes, while the corner of her mouth curved into a slight smile.

Judging by this, the tear did not signify sadness or worry, but rather a new beginning.

Everyone knew how much dignity she had lost in Lihuo City; she had even buried her youth and dreams in this place.

But today, she also yearned for her beloved child to reclaim everything that belonged to them!

Today, the City Lord's mansion in Lihuo City was like a heavily made-up beauty. From afar, it was brightly lit and filled with the clamor of a crowd.

It was said that not only were the prominent figures of Lihuo City present, but also guests from many other cities, and even experts from "Yandu," the capital of Vermilion Bird Country.

In this regard, Li Yanfeng, one of the top experts in the southern region of Vermilion Bird Country, possessed considerable prestige and influence, especially with his upward momentum in recent years.

Rumor had it that after establishing connections with the Thunder Venerable Mansion, Li Yanfeng's future extended beyond Lihuo City; he had greater room for advancement.

In the southern region of Vermilion Bird Country, Li Yanfeng was undoubtedly the most talked-about figure.

Li Tianming did not want to witness his wedding ceremony. He probably planned to enter the City Lord's mansion after the ceremony concluded and when the final selection for Yanhuang Academy was about to begin.

"Li Tianming, you can't enter." As Li Tianming once again stepped towards the main gate of the City Lord's mansion, Ma Chaoyuan, the deputy general of the city guards, blocked his path with a cold expression.

"Why?"

"You don't have an invitation, and you're not part of the City Lord's household. If you go in and cause trouble, my head will roll." Ma Chaoyuan said sternly. He wasn't a bad person, but he had to do his job by the book.

"Let him in." Just as Li Tianming was about to force his way in, a female voice came from inside. It turned out that Li Xuejiao happened to be passing by.

With her speaking up, Ma Chaoyuan no longer obstructed him; it wasn't his responsibility anyway.

"Don't cause any trouble once you're inside. Things are different now. Don't go in standing tall and come out horizontally," Ma Chaoyuan warned, glaring at Li Tianming.

"I'll take your good wishes." Li Tianming walked past him and straight into the City Lord's mansion.

"You actually dare to come. I thought you would have already fled Lihuo City like a stray dog," Li Xuejiao said, crossing her arms and looking at him with cold eyes.

"Is it at Tingfeng Tower?" Li Tianming ignored her, looking ahead and getting straight to the point.

"Yes."

He knew why Li Xuejiao wanted him to come in; it was nothing more than to humiliate him and make him pay for beating her last time.

Li Tianming, along with her, went directly to the "Tingfeng Tower," where the grand event was being held today.

Tingfeng Tower was very large, with a vast plaza in front called "Tingfeng Platform." Li Tianming had practically grown up cultivating on this Tingfeng Platform for sixteen years.

In front of Tingfeng Tower now, crowds of people were gathered. Many young people had been waiting for a long time and were extremely excited.

The City Lord had just completed his wedding ceremony in the presence of many high-ranking individuals, which meant that the Yanhuang Academy selection, serving as an entertainment program, was about to begin!

Li Tianming chose to come at this time because he didn't care who Li Yanfeng was marrying. He had already been driven out of the City Lord's mansion, and everything here no longer concerned him.

"The new mistress of Lihuo City is beautiful and alluring, definitely a femme fatale. No wonder she's so infatuated with Father," Li Xuejiao said, looking in the direction of the Tingfeng banquet. She had already seen Li Yanfeng's bride.

However, Li Tianming paid no attention to beauties. He had only one goal today, and that was Li Zifeng, and the Yanhuang Token.

To put it more complexly, it was to show everyone in Lihuo City that he, Li Tianming, had returned, and then, he would leave this place openly!

He had already spotted Li Zifeng. He was waiting in front of Tingfeng Tower, the center of attention. Today, Li Zifeng was dressed very solemnly and appropriately, but even so, it couldn't hide his dissolute nature.

Now, a group of his cronies were gathered together, their conversations revolving around the figure of a certain female Beast Master and the skills of the top courtesan at Jade Tower.

The final selection for Yanhuang Academy included many talented young men and women from various factions, many of whom were exceptionally attractive. Yet, even so, Li Zifeng stood out among them.

It's no wonder the outside world has always rumored that Li Yanfeng is very satisfied with his growth and performance over the years.

"Rumor has it that Father has already arranged for teachers from Yanhuang Academy to look after Second Brother. You never had that kind of treatment before, did you?" Li Xuejiao said with a cold laugh.

She stood next to Li Tianming, precisely to witness his humiliation up close.

Just as she finished speaking, a group of people appeared on Tingfeng Tower. They took their seats on a high platform, from where they could easily see the entire Tingfeng Platform.

As the protagonist of today's event, Li Yanfeng naturally took his seat in the most central position.

This man had a straight posture, with his temples slightly graying. After taking his seat, he placed his hands on the armrests of the chair. These hands were strong and powerful, exuding an aura of immense strength.

Just by sitting there, he exuded a commanding presence that silenced the previously boisterous Tingfeng Platform. In his aura, the young people dared not even lift their heads.

As someone from humble beginnings, Li Yanfeng was a prodigy in his youth. He started from scratch, carving out his own path through sheer force, and now held the high position of City Lord of Lihuo City. Many legends about him still circulated among the common folk.

Beside Li Yanfeng, a woman in red gracefully took her seat. Although she didn't possess Li Yanfeng's imposing aura, she was also the center of attention at this moment.

Li Xuejiao had called this woman a stunner, and seeing her today, it was indeed true.

She wore a crimson silk dress with a low neckline, her alluring figure far beyond that of a teenage girl. In the sunlight, her face was like a hibiscus, her eyebrows like willow, her skin like snow, and her eyes, more enchanting than peach blossoms, were captivating. Her black hair was styled into a high, elegant bun, adorned with countless jewels that glittered dazzlingly in the sun. Her bright red lips curved upwards slightly, as if the entire City Lord's mansion was already under her control.

She was Li Yanfeng's new wife, Liu Qing, a woman from the Thunder Venerable Mansion.

Even though there were many guests present who were Li Yanfeng's peers, and his other six wives and concubines were also in attendance, under the grandeur of today's event, none shone as brightly as these two.

Especially that peerless beauty, who made the young men's throats dry and prevented them from looking too much.

Li Tianming also glanced at her. He had to admit that this woman was indeed charming, her gentle allure capable of making one lose their composure. However, she was from the Thunder Venerable Mansion, and with such a background, Li Tianming felt only disgust.

Their appearance signaled that the finals of Yanhuang Academy were about to begin.

"Brother Feng, I can see it too. Within Lihuo City, Zifeng truly has no opponents," Liu Qing said from Tingfeng Tower, her voice soft and sweet to the ear.

"It's good that Zifeng has been able to grow to this extent here in Lihuo City," Li Yanfeng replied.

"I heard you have another son who also went to Yanhuang Academy and offended our Thunder Venerable Mansion's 'little monster'?" Liu Qing asked.

"He's already crippled, no need to mention him again," Li Yanfeng said with a deep gaze.

"Oh, I understand," Liu Qing said with a squinting smile, her face like a peach blossom.

Amidst the rapt attention of the crowd, Li Yanfeng waved his hand, and someone immediately stepped forward to announce, "The Yanhuang Academy finals officially begin."

At this moment, the Tingfeng Platform erupted!

"I'll fight!" As expected of Li Zifeng's ostentatious and arrogant nature, he had no patience.

As the finals commenced, he was the first to step onto the Tingfeng Platform, then summoned his Companion Beast, the Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird, from its Companion Space.

The Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird, burning with purple flames, stood shoulder to shoulder with the valiant Li Zifeng. A scorching, fierce aura surged outwards. The double-eyed Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird was filled with murderous intent, and as it swept its gaze across the crowd, many felt their hearts tremble.

"Who dares to come up and fight? I'm not afraid of a war of attrition!" Li Zifeng scanned the crowd. The young men, full of youthful vigor, were indeed passionate and full of fighting spirit.

On Tingfeng Tower, Li Yanfeng heard many compliments.

"City Lord Li, your son is truly a hero, full of courage, daring to be the first to take the stage to accept challenges."

"It's clear that his Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird has received the City Lord's true teachings."

Li Yanfeng smiled slightly and said, "Zifeng has made great progress recently. Within Lihuo City, he is far ahead of his peers, so he naturally has the confidence to be here."

"Indeed, much stronger than the one before," an old man remarked with emotion.

"Li Tianming? What a pity," another person sighed.

Li Yanfeng actually disliked hearing them discuss Li Tianming, especially since there were many people from the Thunder Venerable Mansion present. Yet, there were always one or two who didn't think things through.

"Let's not mention those who aren't here," Li Yanfeng said, his voice deepening.

Those who understood quickly fell silent. After all, they had all heard that before his marriage, Li Yanfeng had divorced his wife and abandoned his son, expelling that mother and son from Lihuo City completely. From then on, there would be no more jokes from Lihuo City.

While they were talking, someone had already stepped onto the stage to challenge Li Zifeng.

A Beast Master and their Companion Beast against another Beast Master and their Companion Beast!

The challenger's name was Du Yong, and his Companion Beast was the Green Wind Wolf. When this large wolf with green fur appeared before the Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird, people knew without a doubt that it was merely cannon fodder.

As expected, Li Zifeng didn't even make a move. His Companion Beast directly defeated the opponent, burning both man and wolf to a crisp.

"Too weak, are they all trash? Continue!" Li Zifeng was extremely arrogant, and his attacks were exceptionally brutal.

He was too lazy to fight extensively. Within the rules of the competition, he severely injured his opponents to intimidate others, thus hoping to obtain the Yanhuang Token faster!

Another person stepped up, and Li Zifeng still didn't move. His Fifth-Tier Companion Beast handled it!

A Fifth-Tier Companion Beast already had a very high growth potential for the future! Those who possessed Fifth-Tier Companion Beasts were basically geniuses of the Vermilion Bird Country in the future.

"Anyone else?" Li Zifeng was slaughtering his way through, eliminating more than ten people consecutively, defeating them all brutally. The Tingfeng Platform was filled with cries of agony.

The subsequent challengers posed a slight threat, but they were no match for him.

"Li Zifeng, he must have broken through to the Seventh Level of the Beast Vein Realm!"

"He's so strong, it must be. Four years ago, when Li Tianming obtained the Yanhuang Token, he was only at the Sixth Level of the Beast Vein Realm."

"I didn't expect Li Zifeng to be even more of a genius. No wonder the City Lord favors this second son more."

"Seventh Level of the Beast Vein Realm, he's guaranteed to enter Yanhuang Academy."

"See? The City Lord is already smiling."

After all, seeing Li Zifeng so dominant, defeating over thirty people in a row without a single opponent who could even put up a decent fight, was truly dazzling and made Li Yanfeng very proud.

About half an hour later, Li Zifeng had defeated everyone, and no one dared to step forward to compete anymore.

"A heaven-blessed talent, an unparalleled prodigy! This is what the Heir Apparent of our Lihuo City should be, a young man who commands the winds and clouds!" many exclaimed.

"Li Zifeng, although a bit arrogant, it's undeniable that he truly inherited the City Lord's true teachings!"

For a time, praise was heard everywhere.

As they praised, they naturally thought of the person who had defeated all rivals here four years ago. Although they felt regret, given Li Yanfeng's attitude and the scandal three years ago, they still had to sigh: a pitiable person must have their detestable aspects.

The new future of Lihuo City lay with Li Zifeng; this was no longer in doubt.

"Father, no one else is challenging, I won," Li Zifeng said, very satisfied. He looked up at Tingfeng Tower, his face full of excitement. When he saw Li Yanfeng's smile, he knew everything was settled.

Above Tingfeng Tower, Li Yanfeng suddenly stood up and leaped down, landing before Li Zifeng. His movement seemed light, but the pressure he exerted on the young man was like a colossal beast descending. Even the Purple-Eyed Chongming Bird cowered on the ground beneath his imposing presence.

Perhaps, in his hand, he was already holding the Yanhuang Token from Yanhuang!

Something big happened on the website. It's said that only handsome people can [Add to Bookshelf]. This madman tried and failed, so I don't know if any of you readers can succeed. Please go back to the book page and try it out.