Linshan City on New Year's Eve, the lights are brightly lit.
Lanterns are hung in front of every house, dispelling the chill of winter nights. The air is filled with the faint smell of saltpeter after the firecrackers have burned out, intertwined with the aroma of New Year's Eve dinner wafting from every house, giving off a strong New Year atmosphere.
Wang Clan Deep in the mansion, there is an elegantly decorated hall with a stove burning brightly.
Wang Clan Head Wang Zhengyang was dressed in brocade uniforms, with a leisurely smile on his elegant face, sitting around the fire with his son and daughter who had just returned home from the Azure Profound Sect.
The eldest son, Wang Miao, has a tall and straight body, a handsome face, and warm and steady eyes.
Although he was just sitting quietly, his whole body naturally exuded a heart-warming bearing, which was the unique confidence and brilliance of a young prodigy ranked Prodigy Ranking who was famous throughout the county.
Daughter Wang Meng is wearing an aqua-green embroidered plum dress, which makes her skin fairer and her facial features delicate and picturesque.
But at this moment, she lowered her eyes slightly, and her slender fingers unconsciously fiddled with a mutton-fat white jade pendant around her waist, looking a little absent-minded.
The fire crackles and the aroma of tea lingers.
Wang Zhengyang took a sip of the hot tea in the cup, his eyes passed over the pair of children, and finally landed on the daughter. He seemed to be thinking of something and asked casually.
"Meng'er, I remember the last time I went to the Fang Clan as a guest, Fang Shi's nephew, named Fang Han, seemed to have passed the assessment of the Azure Profound Sect? How is he doing in the Azure Profound Sect now?"
What he said was casual conversation, with a hint of the usual concern an elder would have for an old friend.
Fang Clan and Wang Clan are old friends. Fang Han can join Azure Profound Sect, which he thinks is good. As for developing within the sect, he must be wandering in the middle and lower reaches. After all, Azure Profound Sect is full of talented people and the competition is fierce.
However, as soon as he said these words, Wang Meng's fingers fidgeting with the jade pendant suddenly stopped.
The warm air in the flower hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
Wang Meng did not raise his head immediately. His long eyelashes covered his eyes, casting a small shadow on his eyelids, covering the sudden surge of complex emotions in his eyes.
Her pink lips tightened imperceptibly, and then relaxed again, but still no sound came out.
Wang Zhengyang naturally knew his daughter Wang Meng very well. He immediately noticed something strange about his daughter, and couldn't help but feel a trace of surprise in his heart.
He turned his questioning eyes to his eldest son Wang Miao.
Wang Miao gently put down Teacup in his hand, and the porcelain made a crisp sound when it came into contact with the sandalwood tabletop.
He glanced at the silent sister beside him, and understood in his heart. With a gentle and emotional smile on his face, he answered on his behalf.
"Father, Junior Brother Fang Han... is quite famous in the Azure Profound Sect now."
"Oh?" Wang Zhengyang became more interested when he heard this and leaned forward slightly, "Miao'er, please tell me carefully."
"Fang Han Junior Brother Beginner stage's time is short, but the speed of progress is astonishing. In one year, Beginner stage's ranking in the hospital has been improved from the bottom to the second."
Wang Miao pondered for a moment, seemed to be organizing his words, and then said slowly.
"Second in the hospital?"
Wang Zhengyang was a little moved, and his body unconsciously sat up straighter.
There are so many geniuses among the Azure Profound Sect. Being able to be ranked second in the academy in such a place has a much higher value than being the best among ordinary children from aristocratic families.
This is no longer just "good", but "excellent"!
"Not only that, just last month, Azure Profound Sect won the first place in the competition between Seven Sects and new Beginner stage disciples, in which junior brother Fang Han played the most important role."
"He defeated several talented disciples from other sects in a row, including Rain Listening Tower, the new Beginner stage's first person, Mo Chen."
Wang Miao nodded and continued.
Wang Zhengyang's hand holding Teacup froze in mid-air, and the leisurely look on his face was completely replaced by shock.
Winning the first place for Seven Sects Competition for the Azure Profound Sect!
The first person to defeat Rain Listening Tower and new Beginner stage!
Any piece of news is enough to make Fang Han's name famous among the younger generation of Qingyang Prefecture.
He suddenly remembered the answer given by Wang Meng when he privately asked his daughter Wang Meng about her opinion of Fang Han after visiting Fang Clan.
'In my mind, my future husband must be like my brother Wang Miao, a true genius who can be ranked Prodigy Ranking and famous in the whole county. He can't be that kind of person!'
At that time, he felt that his daughter was a little high-spirited, but it didn't matter. If it didn't work, it wouldn't work. With Wang Miao, a brother ranked Prodigy Ranking, he would definitely be able to find a better husband than Fang Han in the future.
But now... the potential and momentum shown by Fang Han.
An indescribable feeling of regret quietly crept into his heart.
He subconsciously looked at his daughter Wang Meng.
Wang Meng still lowered her head, but Wang Zhengyang could clearly see that the knuckles of her fingers holding the jade pendant were slightly white from the exertion.
Although she didn't say a word, her tense profile exposed the turmoil in her heart.
Wang Zhengyang sighed secretly in his heart.
His daughter has had an extraordinary appearance since she was a child, and has a high spirit and high vision.
At first, I didn't pay much attention to Fang Han, and I was extremely repelled by the two elders' attempts to bring them together, but now I have been "responsed" by reality.
This feeling may be extremely uncomfortable for this daughter, who has always been proud.
He no longer asked about Fang Han, but instead raised the teapot, refilled the hot tea for his children, and changed the topic in a gentle tone.
"Speaking of which, Miao'er, how many days can you stay at home when you come back this time? The competition on Prodigy Ranking must be getting more intense..."
Wang Miao understood and continued following his father's words, talking about some interesting things in the sect and Prefecture City's experiences.
The atmosphere in the hall gradually became lively again, but the vague embarrassment and silence still lingered around Wang Meng, lingering.
Wang Meng did not participate in the conversation from beginning to end.
She just listened quietly to the conversation between her father and her brother, and occasionally glanced at the dancing fire, her eyes a little wandering.
No one knows what she is thinking in her heart at this moment. Is she regretting her original decision or questioning her own vision?
Perhaps, it's both.
Outside the window, the sporadic sound of firecrackers gradually became denser, and the vague sound of bells came from the distance, heralding the official arrival of the New Year.
Wang Zhengyang stood up, smiled and called his children to go to the courtyard to see the night view and welcome the New Year.
Wang Meng then slowly raised his head, his face had returned to its usual cold expression, but deep in his eyes, there was a trace of unnoticeable loneliness and complexity that could not be completely concealed.
She stood up, straightened her skirt, and followed her father and brother to the door. Her steps were still elegant, but she seemed a bit heavier than before.
In the hall, the fire was still warm and the aroma of tea had not dissipated. However, the brief conversation about Fang Han was like a pebble thrown into the middle of the lake. On this New Year's Eve, it stirred up ripples in Wang Meng's heart, which could not be calmed down for a long time.
And the regret in Wang Zhengyang's heart for missing her wonderful son-in-law turned into a silent sigh as the New Year's bell sounded.
New Year's Day, early morning.
The hustle and bustle of last night has not completely dissipated, Fang Mansion The red shavings of firecrackers and the faint smell of gunpowder smoke still remain everywhere.
The servants got up early and began to clean up the courtyard. They greeted each other "good health in the new year" with a festive aftertaste on their faces.
Inside the Rain-Listening Pavilion, Fang Han opened the door and took a deep breath of the crisp and fresh air.
His eyes were calm, looking in the direction of "Pine Wave Pavilion" where Clan Head Fang Lingyuan lived.
Breakthrough Seventh Rank, the agreement with Clan Head has been reached, it is time.
He walked calmly through the increasingly busy courtyard corridor and went straight to the outside of the Pine Wave Pavilion.
When Guard on duty saw Fang Han, he quickly bowed and saluted. "Master Han, have a happy new year! Are you going to see Clan Head?"
"Well, please send me a message, Fang Han has something to ask for."
Fang Han nodded slightly.
Guard did not dare to neglect and quickly stepped inside to report. After a while, Fang Lingyuan's steady voice came out.
"It's Fang Han, come in."
Fang Han stepped into the pavilion and saw Fang Lingyuan sitting alone in front of the tea table, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, with a rosy complexion and a hint of relief unique to the New Year between his brows.
Seeing Fang Han, he showed a gentle smile and pointed to the seat opposite.
"On the first day of the new year, why don't you Rain-Listening Pavilion spend more time with your parents? Come here so early, but what's the emergency?"
Fang Lingyuan spoke in a relaxed tone, obviously not expecting the news that Fang Han was about to bring.
Fang Han did not sit down immediately, but stood in front of Fang Lingyuan, with a calm expression and eyes as firm as a rock.
He pondered for a moment, then said, "Back to Clan Head, my disciple practiced last night, and luckily... he broke through to Seventh Rank."
"Pfft--"
Fang Lingyuan Teacup had just been brought to his lips and he paused suddenly. A few drops of hot Tea splashed out and landed on the back of his hand, but he seemed unaware.
The smile on his face instantly froze, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.
"You... what did you say?"
Fang Lingyuan's voice had an imperceptible tremor. He put down Teacup, leaned forward subconsciously, and stared at Fang Han with his sharp eyes.
"Seventh Rank? Fang Han, this matter is not trivial, are you sure?"
It's not that he doesn't believe Fang Han, it's just that the speed is too fast!
It's been just over a day since the last discussion, which was full of success!
It took more than a day to go from touching the bottleneck to completely breaking through the Seventh Rank mark? This is simply unheard of.
Fang Han understood Clan Head's shock. He stopped talking. With a thought, Internal Qi in his body was running at full speed.
"Buzz--"
A powerful Internal Qi wave suddenly rose from his body.
Different from Ling Li Feng Rui at Grade Eight, this aura is deeper and more majestic, like an undercurrent hidden in the abyss, containing explosive power.
The air around him seemed to be squeezed by an invisible force, letting out a low whimper. Where he stood, the dust on the ground was flying automatically without wind.
Fang Lingyuan As a Seventh Rank warrior, he is very familiar with the Internal Qi fluctuations in the Seventh Grade Internal Qi realm.
His pupils suddenly shrank, and the doubt on his face was instantly replaced by huge shock.
This breath, condensed and thick, has definitely reached the Seventh Grade Internal Qi level!
"Hiss--"
Fang Lingyuan couldn't help but take a breath of cold air and stood up from his seat suddenly.
He walked around Fang Han for two steps, feeling the real fluctuations of Seventh Grade Internal Qi. The shock on his face finally turned into uncontrollable ecstasy and excitement, and he kept saying.
"Okay! Okay! Okay! God bless me Fang Clan! God bless me Fang Clan!"
He patted Fang Han hard on the shoulder, with great force, showing his inner agitation.
"One day! Just one day! Fang Han, you really gave me, Fang Clan, a big surprise!"