No Need to Be Afraid

"Why do you have to bring me along to your banquet?"

On the broad road, Li Qingyue looked helplessly at Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng.

The Tianquan Saint had arranged a banquet, inviting the saints of the various Holy Lands and the heirs of great families.

They were all people of nearly equal standing.

She was only a mortal. How was she supposed to conduct herself before so many people?

"We may head to the Primordial Ancient Mine after lunch. It'll be more convenient to set off together."

"Don't worry. You've got us!"

Yan Wushuang reassured her. After three days together, Li Qingyue had returned to her usual self.

Apart from occasionally asking about things she did not understand in the scriptures, she was as quiet as ever, reading all manner of books.

This also convinced him that Li Qingyue truly was no longer angry.

Now, he no longer had to tread so carefully when speaking to her.

In fact, an impulse had even stirred in his heart: Li Qingyue was more interesting when she was angry.

"With the saints of the Eastern Wasteland gathering, the banquet should be pretty good."

"Just focus on eating when we get there. Leave everything else to us!"

Yang Wuzheng offered reassurance as well, his words striking straight at Li Qingyue's weak spot.

He knew that the girl before him cared about food more than anything else.

"Eating?"

Li Qingyue swallowed, though not because she was craving food.

It was because whenever she ate, she could feel herself improving.

Especially now that the true qi vortex in her dantian had split into nine, greatly increasing her appetite.

Although she still could not break through her strength limit, she could steadily increase the power of the Kunpeng Swallowing Technique.

It also allowed her true qi to multiply.

By now, at least, the true qi within her dantian had almost filled it completely.

It was so dense that it seemed ready to liquefy.

This filled her with anticipation. Perhaps when quantity finally brought about a change in quality, she would be able to break through her first strength limit.

Eating truly held an unprecedented allure for her.

"Let's go. You two walk ahead!"

Li Qingyue spoke with sparkling eyes, a hint of anticipation entering her voice.

With a Sacred Body and a Dao Body beside her, her safety, at least, was assured.

And when it came to eating, she would yield to no one.

Yang Wuzheng and Yan Wushuang chuckled at her words. They finally knew how to coax Li Qingyue out of her anger if she got upset again.

At the very least, food was one of the keys to unlocking Li Qingyue's heart.

Perhaps we could tease her into getting angry more often?

The two exchanged a glance, seemingly seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.

Li Qingyue really was amusing when she was angry.

"All right!"

Both nodded in response and strode forward.

Li Qingyue followed silently behind them, like a little tail.

She kept her head lowered without looking around, ignoring the occasional glances from those nearby.

"Why are there so many people?"

When they reached Tianquan Holy Land's Restaurant, Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng both stopped short.

Even Li Qingyue felt a flicker of panic.

There were too many people.

People crowded around the magnificent, gold-adorned entrance, which resembled the gates of a palace.

The surrounding roads, over a dozen zhang wide, were filled with figures.

Even in the sky, streams of light flashed as countless figures hovered.

"What happened?"

Li Qingyue's heart raced, and she hurriedly asked in a low voice.

But Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng looked just as confused.

"No idea. Let's go inside first!"

As Yang Wuzheng and Yan Wushuang spoke, an imposing aura suddenly rose from them.

At that moment, terrifying blood energy swept across their surroundings like an azure dragon's roar, making countless people instinctively retreat.

They were too powerful.

Their blood energy surged like dragons, striking fear into both body and soul.

At the same time, waves of power at one with heaven and earth gently parted the crowd.

Some people had yet to react before discovering that they had already been moved elsewhere.

"Hiss... who are they? What terrifying blood energy!"

"Wait... I can clearly see that man, so why is there nothing at all when I sense him?"

"Heavens! They're so powerful!"

"..."

Murmurs suddenly rose all around.

But while everyone was still reeling, a hearty laugh rang out.

"Hahaha... Brother Yang, Brother Yan, you've finally arrived!"

Before the restaurant's grand entrance, the Tianquan Saint laughed aloud and strode forward, appearing before the two almost instantly.

His eyes swept around.

When he spotted Li Qingyue cautiously hiding behind them, his expression lit up with delight.

"Fairy Qingyue, we meet again!"

The Tianquan Saint spoke with inexplicable joy in his voice, then continued, "The banquet is ready. Come inside!"

With that, he turned and led the three into the restaurant.

His warm manner stunned everyone.

At that moment, it was not only Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng who were bewildered.

The onlookers were equally dumbfounded.

All this pomp had been arranged just to welcome these three.

"Who are they? Why is the Tianquan Saint greeting them in person?"

"Could one of them have a divine body?"

"No! With blood energy like that, he seems more like the legendary Human Sacred Body!"

"That can't be right... even the Sacred Body from the Central Province wouldn't warrant such a grand reception, would he?"

"..."

Waves of discussion rose and fell.

The Holy Land Holy Sons and the family heirs standing at the entrance were likewise stunned.

"The Tianquan Saint... was waiting to welcome them?"

"Didn't he say a Mighty One was coming?"

"Aren't they just the Sacred Body and Dao Body from the Central Province? He made us stand here waiting all this time for them!"

"Hmph! The Tianquan Saint certainly didn't laugh so heartily when we arrived!"

"I'd like to see just what this Sacred Body and Dao Body are capable of!"

"..."

All the saints and family heirs felt a surge of irritation.

They were all Holy Land Holy Sons, yet he had left them standing at the entrance in the cold wind for so long.

If they could stomach this, what could they not stomach?

Such a grand reception would have been enough to welcome a Holy Lord.

"Everyone, please take your seats!"

The Tianquan Saint looked exhilarated, his words brimming with a joy no one could explain.

His eyes, however, kept drifting toward Li Qingyue.

He even said warmly, "Fairy Qingyue, please!"

Nearly every Holy Land saint was baffled by the Tianquan Saint's behavior.

Why did it seem that the moment this girl arrived, the Tianquan Saint became so much happier?

"Wait... she's actually a mortal!"

Someone cried out in surprise.

Almost the very next instant, everyone's gaze turned toward the girl in the long white dress.

But once they saw her face, all the noise fell silent in an instant.

Only after a moment did someone speak in astonishment.

"What a beautiful woman!"

"Hiss... which Holy Land's fairy is she?"

"Could such a perfect woman truly exist in this world?"

"..."

Voices rose and fell like waves, filling the air.

Even some of the women cried out in wonder.

The girl's expression was cool, with an air of quiet composure.

Her figure was enchanting, yet her white dress was snowy and pure.

She was like a snow lotus dancing enchantingly in the sunlight atop a pristine, snow-covered mountain.

That presence both teased at the heart and filled it with peace.

Her face was flawless, and her large, bright eyes made it impossible to look away.

For a time, the girl became the focus of nearly every gaze.

Feeling those voices and the gazes lingering over her, Li Qingyue went rigid.

There were too many people.

Almost everyone on the entire street was looking at her.

When had she ever experienced anything like this?

Not even in her previous life.

Almost instinctively, she moved behind Yan Wushuang and Yang Wuzheng, letting their tall figures block most of those gazes.

"Hmph!"

Seeing this, Yan Wushuang suddenly snorted, divine light blazing in his eyes.

His blood energy surged like a dragon, golden light flared, and his powerful aura poured outward like a storm.

Intimidated, the crowd retreated again and again.

The might of the Sacred Body, towering as mountains, was laid bare.

Yang Wuzheng likewise merged with heaven and earth, drawing down their vast power.

In that instant, it was as though an invisible mountain had descended from the sky, pressing everyone down until they could not lift their heads.

His utterly calm eyes swept over the surroundings like lightning.

Only after seeing everyone instinctively lower their heads did he calmly speak to Li Qingyue.

"Don't be afraid. You've got us!"