Three days later
Xiao Feng opened his eyes after finishing his cultivation. As he spread his hands, Vermillion Bird Flame blazed fiercely. Unlike ordinary mystic fire, which was red with a hint of yellow, Vermilion Bird Blaze was crimson gold mixed with dark blood-red. Beneath its holiness lurked an eerie quality; sacred flame could also purge evil!
The Vermillion Bird Requiem had nine realms in total. The first four merely enhanced one's control over Vermilion Bird Blaze and were comparatively easier to comprehend. The latter five, however, each corresponded to a Vermillion Bird Mystic Skill! Every level was exceptionally difficult to grasp.
Yet with ten years of preparation, coupled with his terrifying talent in the Mystic Dao, Xiao Feng had "mastered" the Vermillion Bird Requiem at an astonishing pace.
He brought his hands together, and the flames vanished. Yet the divine radiance concealed within made Xiao Feng's eyes shine like a sun that purged evil.
"Congratulations." Xiao Ling'er walked in and looked at Xiao Feng with a smile. "Your progress is much faster than I imagined. You have now fully mastered Vermilion Bird Blaze and the Vermillion Bird Requiem. It is time to set out..."
"Today is already the third day?" Xiao Feng looked stunned. Ever since obtaining the complete formula of the Vermillion Bird Requiem three days ago, he had entered a state of cultivation and completely lost all sense of time. To him, it felt as though not even a day had passed.
"You entered a state of profound enlightenment. Such a state can only be encountered by chance."
"That is why I did not disturb you. I had intended to wake you today, but it is naturally best that you awakened on your own," Xiao Ling'er said slowly.
Then she fixed Xiao Feng with a serious gaze. "Feng'er, remember what I am about to tell you. After today, you will certainly face ridicule and mockery from some people... How you act and how you respond will be entirely up to you. Just remember that I will always stand behind you..."
After saying this, Xiao Ling'er's expression turned somewhat melancholy. "Sigh... Back then, your mother entrusted you to me. She told me that she did not need you to become the ruler of any land; she only wished for you to live your life safely and peacefully, without becoming like your father..."
"But perhaps not even your mother anticipated just how... terrifying your talent in the Mystic Dao would be."
"And yet I broke my promise. I think the right to decide everything should be left to you..."
"..."
"I understand." Xiao Feng slowly nodded after listening to her. He reached out and took Xiao Ling'er's soft, fair hands in his own, his eyes filled with resolve. Any further words would have seemed pale and powerless.
"I will never disappoint your expectations of me... Never!"
Yet Xiao Feng did not know that including himself, only two people in this world had ever completely cultivated the Vermillion Bird Requiem!
Qi Family Martial Arts Grounds
As one of the four great families of Flowing Wind City, the Qi Family's holdings were naturally immense. Nearly one percent of the entire city belonged to them.
The martial arts grounds, which were specifically used by Qi Family disciples for cultivation, occupied two-thirds of the entire Qi Family estate.
Moreover, for the sake of this Mystic Dao Assembly, they had specially erected a square fighting stage within the martial arts grounds, measuring a hundred li in both length and width. It was constructed from incomparably sturdy materials, ensuring that no one would be constrained by the venue and unable to perform at their best.
When Xiao Feng arrived at the Qi Family, the entrance alone was already packed with people. He saw a long line of families entering one after another with invitations issued by the Qi Family.
Xiao Feng naturally had an invitation as well. A Qi Family servant had delivered it to the Medical Clinic, and Xiao Ling'er had handed it to him.
Just as he was preparing to line up and wait for entry, he felt someone watching him. Turning around, he found that it was... Qi Panjian?
Xiao Feng was deeply puzzled upon seeing him. Why did he run into this man every single time? He was beginning to wonder whether Qi Panjian spent all his time looking for him.
It was not that he was being narcissistic. The coincidences were simply too much of a coincidence.
"Hahaha! Little Brother Xiao, it has been a while. I knew you would come." Qi Panjian made no effort to lower his voice, drawing many people's attention to Xiao Feng.
With so many gazes sweeping over him, Xiao Feng could only sigh helplessly.
"Brother Pan, it has indeed been a long time." Xiao Feng cupped his fists in greeting.
"Come, come... Since you are here, Little Brother Xiao, why bother lining up? Come in with me." Qi Panjian warmly approached Xiao Feng and spoke as though he were about to throw an arm around his neck and drag him into the Qi Family estate.
"That would not be appropriate..." Xiao Feng tactfully declined. It would have been fine if no one noticed, but with so many people watching, it would be rather awkward for him to "take a shortcut."
"Sigh... That is not right at all. Ask them—who would not be willing?" As he spoke, he pointed at the crowd waiting in line.
The moment his words fell, someone chimed in, "Since Divine Doctor Xiao is here, Divine Doctor Xiao should naturally be allowed in first."
"Exactly... exactly."
"That is only proper."
After the first person spoke up, more and more people echoed the sentiment. After all, it would cost them nothing to say a few flattering words. But if anyone stepped forward now and embarrassed the young master of the Qi Family, they would certainly be remembered for it and suffer the consequences.
Following Qi Panjian into the Qi Family martial arts grounds, Xiao Feng found that the entire place was vastly different from how he remembered it. It had likely been renovated before, and the layout had probably been altered considerably for this assembly.
Furthermore, an enormous mystic formation enveloped the entire martial arts grounds, making the Abyssal Dust within extremely thin.
The Qi Family had truly spared no expense this time. The number of Mystic Crystals consumed every second to maintain a mystic formation of this scale was surely unimaginably high.
By now, people had already begun taking their seats. However, Xiao Feng noticed that the seating area to the east remained empty. It was also distinctly divided into four colors: blue, green, purple, and white. Those were likely the viewing areas reserved for the four great families.
Blue represented ice and belonged to the Ximen Family. Purple represented lightning and belonged to the Si Family. Green represented wind and belonged to the Wang Family. The final color, white, likely represented the Qi Family, whose members primarily cultivated sword aura.
These elements were likely related to the White Tiger, the god worshipped by the Wind Cloud Empire. It was said that the White Tiger cultivated the three elements of ice, lightning, and wind back then!
"None of the other three great families have arrived yet?" Xiao Feng asked Qi Panjian.
"Tch..." Qi Panjian curled his lips disdainfully. "Those people will never arrive until the very last moment. Every one of them wants to make the final entrance, acting all high and mighty..."
Xiao Feng: "..."
"Xiao Feng, you came?!" A gentle voice rang out. He turned and discovered Qi Qingyun standing beside him.
Her beautiful eyes shone with light and overflowing delight. When she had spoken with Xiao Feng before, he had not stated it outright, but his words had clearly implied that he would not be coming.
Thus, she had clearly not expected Xiao Feng to come after all. Her surprise was evident, and her joy could not be concealed.
"Yes, I came..." Xiao Feng smiled at Qi Qingyun.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." At the sight of Qi Qingyun, Qi Panjian immediately bared his teeth in displeasure.
"Qing Yun, this is too unfair. When I came to call you out, you would not even let me into your room. You said you did not want to go out, but now look at you. The moment you sensed Little Brother Xiao's aura, you ran out on your own." Qi Panjian complained.
Qi Qingyun's expression did not change after hearing him. Instead, she concealed the joy she had displayed and returned to her usual aloof demeanor. "I did not want to come out then. I merely feel like coming out for some air now, that is all. Is there a problem with that?"
Qi Panjian seemed to deflate. "Sigh... You have grown up. Even this older brother's words do not work anymore."
Xiao Feng timely changed the subject and asked, "I see that many families have come for this competition. Will all of them be taking the stage to compete?"
Seeing that it was time to show off his knowledge, Qi Panjian hurriedly cut in. "This competition will use a king-of-the-hill format. One person takes the stage, and after someone else defeats them, the victor continues defending the stage..."
There are far too many participants in this competition. Those small families are all old foxes. They know that even if Qing Yun truly chooses someone to become engaged to, they will have no chance at all. The reason they still foolishly offer so-called 'betrothal gifts' is certainly because they have other motives.
Their main purpose in coming is to display the strength of their younger generation, allowing those juniors to join great families and obtain better resources.
Others hope to discover exceptionally talented juniors and recruit them into their own families, strengthening their foundations.
Some families even sell entry slots, allowing juniors from households without invitations to join their family and participate in the competition. If they become famous far and wide, countless families will seek to recruit them. That would also bring glory to their household.
"I see..." Xiao Feng summed it up. "So the true purpose of this assembly is more of a platform to display talent and recruit geniuses?"
"Correct." Qi Panjian slowly nodded. Flowing Wind City had not held this type of competition in who knew how long. Everything needed an opportunity to make it happen, and the opportunity that brought this about was Qing Yun becoming a "retainer knight," which had stirred things up without anyone realizing it.
"..."
Before you continue