Hello, Beauty!

Reaching perfection in two Body Tempering stages was enough to make someone a rare genius!

"Hao, you're too modest! Perfection in the Cowhide Realm! Perfection in Mighty Bull's Strength! So many people dream of those achievements!" Shi Yu continued to lavish praise on her boyfriend, her voice sickeningly sweet. At the same time, she didn't forget to cast a provocative glance at the expressionless Shi Qing.

Listening to his girlfriend's varied compliments and feeling the envious, amazed gazes directed his way, Li Hao was immensely pleased with himself. He straightened his back a little more, as though he were already a dragon or phoenix among men.

Watching the vain, affected couple echo each other, Shi Qing made no attempt to hide the flash of annoyance in her eyes. If not for the occasion, she would have loved to send the two noisy pests flying with a punch.

Just then!

A small commotion arose at the entrance to the manor.

Dongfang Yueming and Qian Jingming had arrived.

However, just as the two were about to step through the ornate gate, two fierce-looking guards in matching uniforms stopped them.

"Stop!" One guard fixed a sharp gaze on the long saber at Dongfang Yueming's waist, his tone icy. "Weapons are prohibited inside the gathering!"

Dongfang Yueming frowned slightly. He hadn't expected a gathering to have such a rule.

He replied calmly, "Isn't it normal for a martial artist to keep his saber at his side? Besides, this is just the saber I carry, not a murder weapon."

The commotion immediately caught the attention of Shi Yu and Li Hao, who were standing nearby.

Shi Yu looked over instinctively. When she saw Dongfang Yueming's tall, upright figure, his handsome face, and the composure he maintained even when stopped by the guards, a flash of amazement appeared in her eyes!

So... so handsome!

He seemed even more charming than Li Hao, who stood beside her!

Li Hao, however, frowned impatiently. He hated people who put on airs and played to the crowd.

"Hmph, easy for him to say!" Li Hao sneered, his voice tinged with superiority. "A true expert would command respect even if he were unarmed! Only those who lack strength and are weak at heart need weapons to bolster their courage!"

"Exactly!" Shi Yu immediately came to her senses and hurried to agree with her boyfriend, while remembering to glare at Dongfang Yueming with disdain. "He has no strength, yet he copies others by carrying a saber. What a poser!"

Hearing their comments, Dongfang Yueming frowned even more deeply. He turned to Qian Jingming beside him, a hint of confusion and inquiry in his eyes.

"Qian, you invited me to this gathering, didn't you?" Dongfang Ming said evenly. "Since this is your event, can't I even bring my saber?" He figured that since Qian Jingming had been able to bring him here, he ought to be able to handle a minor matter like this.

Dongfang Yueming's gaze made Qian Jingming's scalp tingle, and an utterly awkward expression appeared on his face.

He hurriedly pulled Dongfang Yueming aside and lowered his voice, explaining with a miserable expression, "Oh, come on! Boss Dongfang! Keep your voice down!"

"To tell you the truth... I wasn't actually... the one who invited you to this gathering." Qian Jingming finally revealed the truth, looking as though he might cry. "It was... it was Senior Shi Qing! She specifically told me I had to invite you here! I was just running errands!"

"Senior Shi Qing?" Dongfang Yueming was taken aback by the name. He felt as though he had heard it somewhere, but he couldn't remember where.

Just as he was thinking!

A figure radiating an oppressive presence strode out of the manor with steady, powerful steps and came straight up to them.

Dongfang Yueming instinctively looked up.

Then... he was utterly stunned!

This... was his senior?

She stood nearly 1.9 meters tall! Her shoulders were as broad as a small mountain! The muscles in her arms bulged with an explosive sense of power! The fluctuations of qi and blood condensed to the point of being almost tangible, making even him, a Flesh Refining Realm cultivator with Dragon Elephant's Force, feel a pang of trepidation!

Th-this physique?!

Dongfang Yueming felt that even at over 1.8 meters tall, he looked somewhat "petite" in front of this "senior"!

"B-boss..." Qian Jingming's voice trembled slightly with nerves. He hurriedly leaned close to Dongfang Yueming's ear and quickly introduced her. "This is Senior Shi Qing!"

He paused, then added something earth-shattering. "Also... the technique-transmission jade slip for your 'Layered Wave Skin Tempering Method' was 'lent' to me by Senior Shi, so I could pass it on to you!"

So that's how it is! Dongfang Yueming instantly understood!

No wonder Qian Jingming had been so "generous" before and so insistent that he attend the gathering! After all that, it was this "heavyweight" senior who had been pulling the strings!

Now that he understood the whole story, Dongfang Yueming immediately adjusted his attitude. Whatever her reasons, he was indebted to her for the "gift" of the technique.

A bright, sunny smile appeared on his face as he sincerely greeted Senior Shi Qing, whose build rivaled that of a giant bear.

"Hello, beauty! I'm Dongfang Yueming. Thank you for your gift, Senior!"

"Pfft-!"

Beside him, Qian Jingming nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood! He stared at Dongfang Yueming in utter horror!

Boss! You call her... a beauty?! Are you serious?! Do you have a death wish?!

However, to Qian Jingming's surprise!

Upon hearing Dongfang Yueming's heartfelt (?) form of address, Shi Qing's face, usually like ice ten thousand years old, actually curved into a rare smile!

Her facial muscles were so rigid that the smile looked a little awkward and strange, but paired with her bright, sharp eyes, it somehow had a tiny hint of... breathtaking beauty?

"Mm." Shi Qing nodded in response. Her deep voice seemed a little softer, too.

Then, as Qian Jingming watched with his jaw hanging open, Shi Qing naturally reached out a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan and grabbed Dongfang Yueming's wrist!

"Come on, let's go in."

Dongfang Yueming felt a tremendous force he could hardly resist, and his body involuntarily followed as Shi Qing "pulled" him toward the manor gate.

The two guards at the entrance, who had been so firm before, didn't dare let out a fart when they saw Shi Qing personally bringing someone in. They immediately stepped aside respectfully.

And so, "led" by the hand by Shi Qing, Dongfang Yueming entered the brilliantly lit gathering filled with handsome men and beautiful women.

The jarringly mismatched sight instantly drew everyone's attention!

Ignoring the shocked, curious, and even somewhat mocking looks around them, Shi Qing led Dongfang Yueming to a relatively quiet corner and released him.

She looked at Dongfang Yueming, a barely perceptible hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes, and asked in her deep voice:

"Junior Dongfang, may I ask you for a dance?"

"A dance?" Dongfang Yueming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled readily. "Of course! It would be my honor!"

Although he wasn't good at dancing, how could he refuse an invitation from a beauty (?)?

Nearby, Shi Yu, who had been watching them the whole time, was stunned at first. Then an undisguised sneer spread across her face, and she whispered to Li Hao, "Hehehe... look at Shi Qing! She must be so hungry she'll eat anything! She found herself a pretty boy for a dance partner!"

She was immensely pleased with herself. Once they start dancing, Shi Qing's brute strength might crush every bone in that pretty boy's body! What a show that'll be!

She could hardly wait to see Dongfang Yueming make a fool of himself and Shi Qing become even more of a laughingstock because of it!