Shi Qing!

Outside the door, Qian Jingming was growing anxious from waiting and couldn't resist urging him again. "Boss, are you ready yet? It's getting late! If we wait any longer, we'll miss the start!"

"Got it, coming." Dongfang Yueming answered.

He stood up and felt the surging torrent of power within him, along with the entirely new changes brought by the Flesh Refining Realm (Dragon Elephant's Force). His heart swelled with heroic spirit. Still, Point Allocation had caused quite a commotion just now, and he had worked up a sweat. He had better change into clean clothes.

But just as he was about to take off his old clothes, he suddenly froze!

Somewhat stunned, he looked down at a certain part of his body...

"Huh?!"

Down there... because he had just practiced the Crimson Sun Flesh Refining Method, his yang energy had grown excessively vigorous, and his qi and blood had surged upward. At this moment, it had assumed an abnormally... powerful posture!

Dongfang Yueming's face turned red in an instant!

Holy shit! What's going on?! Could this be a side effect of the Crimson Sun Flesh Refining Method?! He was both embarrassed and shocked!

Thank goodness! Thank goodness Qian Jingming had gone out earlier! If he had seen this, wouldn't Dongfang Yueming's lifetime of glorious renown (even if it had only just begun) have been ruined in an instant?!

He hurriedly took several deep breaths and forcibly circulated the qi and blood that had already undergone a transformation, calming the overly turbulent "Crimson Sun power." Fortunately, after advancing to the Flesh Refining Realm, his control over his body was no longer what it had been. He soon suppressed the embarrassing condition.

"Phew... I'll have to be more careful when I practice the Crimson Sun Flesh Refining Method from now on." He wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead.

He quickly changed into a clean, neat set of casual clothes. After a moment's thought, he tucked the poisoned dagger he had gotten from Scorpion into his boot. It was always good to have an extra precaution.

Only after finishing his preparations did he open the door.

Qian Jingming was waiting outside. As soon as he saw Dongfang Yueming emerge, he instinctively felt that something about him seemed... different? His whole aura seemed more concentrated and profound? Was it his imagination?

But the gathering was what mattered now! He had no time to think it over. He quickly put on a broad smile. "Boss, are you ready? Then let's hurry!"

"Mm." Dongfang Yueming nodded.

Qian Jingming eagerly led the way.

After a couple of steps, his gaze happened to fall on the long saber still hanging at Dongfang Yueming's waist. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he felt a wave of helplessness.

My god... is this boss really planning to bring a saber to the gathering?! He simply couldn't understand how Dongfang Yueming's mind worked. Forget it, forget it. As long as he's willing to go! If he wants to bring a saber, so be it! Hopefully he won't stir up any trouble...

He didn't dare say anything more and could only pray to himself.

The two wasted no more time and hurried toward the gathering.

As night deepened, a lively gathering was underway at a brilliantly lit, lavishly decorated estate.

This was a place where students of the Martial Arts Academy with outstanding family backgrounds or exceptional strength could mingle and expand their connections. Handsome men and beautiful women, fragrant clothes and coiffed hair, raised cups and clinking goblets made for a lively scene.

Amid all the bustle, however, one corner stood out in particular.

Senior Shi stood there alone, like a crane among chickens. Her imposing physique and domineering aura caused the people around her to keep their distance without even realizing it, creating an invisible vacuum around her. Holding a glass of wine scarlet as blood, she watched the crowd inside exchanging false pleasantries, her face expressionless and her gaze cold.

Just then, a man and a woman walked straight toward her.

The woman was strikingly beautiful and wore a revealing evening gown. Her arm was linked with that of a handsome, upright young man beside her, and the faintest trace of mockery played across her face.

"Well, well, isn't this our high-and-mighty eldest young lady Shi?" The woman's voice was sharp, her ridicule undisguised. "What's this? At such an important gathering tonight, did Senior Shi come alone again? Couldn't you even find a decent male companion?"

The woman's name was Shi Yu. She was also a descendant of a branch of the Shi family, and she and Senior Shi (Shi Qing) had never gotten along.

Shi Yu looked at the older cousin before her, who had once been so breathtakingly beautiful that she had left Shi Yu unable to catch her breath, but had now turned into this "man-woman." Her heart filled with perverse pleasure and pride!

Hmph, so what if she's talented? She's trained herself into such a ghastly state. What man would dare have her? How pitiful! She gloated inwardly.

Hearing this, Shi Qing slowly turned her head, her icy gaze falling on Shi Yu with almost tangible force.

With just that one look, Shi Yu felt a terrifying pressure rush toward her! It was as though a primordial beast had fixed its gaze on her. Her breath caught, and an uncontrollable fear surged into her heart! The pride and mockery she had felt moments ago vanished like smoke!

But she forced herself not to retreat and craned her neck. "Wh-what are you looking at?! Did I say something wrong? The family's grand competition isn't far off! Don't tell me you can't even find a partner to compete with? You do know this contest is two against two!"

"My affairs are none of your concern." Shi Qing's voice was low and calm, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

Shi Yu was momentarily at a loss for words, and her expression soured. But she soon tightened her grip on her companion's arm with pride and boasted, "Hmph! If you can't find one, forget it! Unlike me, my boyfriend Li Hao has already reached the greater mastery stage of Bone Tempering! He's preparing to break through to the Tendon Transformation Realm!"

Hearing this, the handsome young man beside her, Li Hao, revealed a restrained but proud smile and said with feigned modesty, "Xiao Yu, you flatter me. I still plan to consolidate my cultivation for a while longer and try to polish my Bone Forging Realm cultivation to perfection before considering a breakthrough to the Tendon Transformation Realm. The foundation is more important."

"Wow! Brother Hao, you're amazing! Pursuing a perfect realm!" Shi Yu immediately gazed at Li Hao with eyes full of admiration, her voice cloyingly sweet. "And I heard you also reached perfection in both the Skin Tempering and Flesh Refining stages, Brother Hao! That's incredible!"

"Hehe, not at all." Li Hao's words were modest, but he couldn't conceal the pride on his face. "In the Skin Tempering stage, I was merely lucky enough to reach perfection in the Cowhide Realm. As for the Flesh Refining stage, I only reached perfection in the lowest level, Mighty Bull's Strength. It's not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

Despite his words, the pride and self-satisfaction in his tone came through clearly to everyone present.