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The banquet held before the secret realm, though nominally for "rest and recuperation," was primarily intended for disciples of the major sects to gather intelligence and weigh the strength of their opponents.

Who would actually throw themselves into the food like this?

Ning Ning ate with a smile on her lips: "Soft, cold, delicate, and silky. With one bite, the cool sweetness seems to turn into water, flowing straight into my stomach. White Jade Cake is the best in the world!"

Lin Xun's eyes were rimmed with red: "This fish soup is fresh, tender, and delicious. They must have used premium clear dew to remove the fishy odor. At the first taste, the rich fragrance overflows—it is truly unparalleled."

Xie Junming: ...

How are you two turning this into a food review, hey! And seriously, fellow Daoist, are you for real, getting so moved you're tearing up over a sip of fish soup?

"Naive. Don't you realize this banquet isn't meant for eating at all?"

Finally, someone with some sense.

Xie Junming looked toward the person who spoke. He saw He Zhizhou dressed in a white robe, his features handsome and his every gesture filled with a carefree, unrestrained air. Without a doubt, he was a dashing young gentleman.

Ever since arriving at Xuanji Peak, he had been observing all the sect disciples present with a grave expression. Surely, he was meticulous and secretly preparing a plan in his mind, waiting to stun everyone once the secret realm opened.

He Zhizhou paused for a moment after speaking, then widened his eyes and sped up his speech: "There are so many handsome guys and beautiful girls here, oh my god! Why aren't you feasting your eyes on them already!"

Xie Junming: ...

Fine, very well. As expected of your Xuanxu Sect.

Lin Xun was extremely shy by nature and didn't even dare to look at others in public; only Ning Ning honestly raised her head and nodded frantically: "Really, really! So many beautiful sisters!"

As she spoke, she picked up another dessert, her eyes shining: "That sister in the blue dress over there is so pretty. If only I could talk to her."

Xie Junming followed her gaze.

In the corner of the banquet sat a young girl in a water-blue dress. With phoenix eyes, vermilion lips, and skin like congealed fat, she was bathed in a faint layer of sunlight, making her appear so fair she was almost translucent.

The girl's features were as picturesque as a painting. As she sat alone, it felt as if even the wind around her had slowed its pace; she was incredibly quiet.

"That is Junior Sister Yun Duanyue from our Liuming Mountain. It's probably quite difficult to talk to her."

Xie Junming said honestly: "It's not that she is arrogant or difficult to approach; it's just that Junior Sister Yun is naturally afraid of people. Aside from her close friends and family, she never speaks to anyone else."

Doesn't that mean her social anxiety is even worse than Lin Xun's?

Ning Ning nodded in thanks and shifted her gaze to the other side.

Among the bustling crowd, there was another person who was equally eye-catching.

Unlike the solitary Yun Duanyue, this person was surrounded by many sect disciples and appeared to be quite popular.

It was a young monk, exceptionally handsome.

The young monk wore a white robe, his frame tall and slender. His peach-blossom eyes were always filled with a smile, and beneath a high-bridged nose, his light pink lips curved upward.

He was striking in appearance, with a vivid red mark between his brows. Yet, when he smiled, he looked like a snow lotus from the Heavenly Mountains—unreachable and possessing an extraordinary air.

"That is Mingkong of Fanyin Temple."

Xie Junming's gaze followed hers, and he explained with great patience: "A young genius, compassionate at heart."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a clear, youthful voice sounded beside them, carrying a lazy smile that felt like a cat's paw gently scratching against one's eardrums: "Which person present here isn't a young genius?"

The voice was pleasant to the ear. Ning Ning, her mouth stuffed with pastry, rolled her round, dark eyes.

Then, she heard He Zhizhou beside her let out a "wow."

The newcomer was a youth of sixteen or seventeen, his beauty not a whit inferior to Mingkong's—

In fact, in terms of being "alluring," he was a cut above.

The youth wore red as fiery as flames, standing out starkly against the black, white, and blue tones of the various sects' uniforms.

His ink-black hair hung loose behind him, setting off a face as white as jade. His thin lips were startlingly red, and his long, narrow eyes were brimming with laughter. He appeared nonchalant, but with a mere flick of his eye corners, he exuded a thousand kinds of flirtatious charm.

Not to mention the slight upturn of his lips, which seemed to contain a thousand shades of ambiguity, his allure entirely natural.

Xie Junming let out a cold snort: "A Charm Cultivator from Niguang Island."

Many disciples of these great sects looked down upon this sort of unorthodox cultivation art.

For Charm Cultivators, the more beautiful their appearance, the higher their talent. Since this youth had reached the Golden Core Realm at such a young age, one could imagine just how outstanding his appearance must be.

He ignored Xie Junming's attitude and curled his lips into a smile at Ning Ning: "This young lady must be a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. I am Rong Ci of Niguang Island."

"My name is Ning Ning."

Ning Ning swallowed her pastry, her eyes curving into crescents: "This is my first time seeing a Charm Cultivator. Do you cultivate on the island? What is the scenery like on Niguang Island? You're so good-looking, you must be very strong."

This time, it was Rong Ci's turn to be imperceptibly stunned.

When sect disciples met them, they either treated them with cold eyes or blushed, flustered and at a loss. This was the first time he had encountered someone who greeted him and then generously complimented him like this.

A little silly.

"What is the scenery like on Niguang Island..."

Charm Cultivators were straightforward by nature; once they locked onto their prey, they would strike proactively without hesitation. His smile deepened as he took a step closer to the young girl beside him: "Why don't you come with me and see for yourself? Young Lady Ning Ning is of exceptional beauty; if you could join me in a dual—"

Ning Ning listened to him very earnestly.

Dual what?

"Senior Sister."

However, before the words could be finished, someone interrupted.

Pei Ji had appeared not far away at some point, his brows slightly furrowed.

The male lead was worthy of being the male lead; even compared to the stunningly handsome Rong Ci, he did not fall behind in the slightest.

Pei Ji possessed an inherently beautiful appearance. Clad in black, the youth stood as upright as green bamboo in the wind, yet he also resembled a sharp sword suddenly unsheathed, carrying an unstoppable, piercing aura.

A cold, indifferent ferocity was crushed into the corners of his eyes, coalescing into a deep red tear mole at the tail of his eye. At this moment, he looked at the seductive cultivator in red with a faint, mocking smile, inexplicably exuding a sense of danger.