Dong Yan

"The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate" is a poem or verse in which a man pleads for love with a woman.

Princess Dou even brought a musical ensemble and set up a set of chime bells, all to hear Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou recite his poem, waiting for him to demonstrate his ambition to win the heart of a princess.

She gave Zhang Xuezhou plenty of face, but her gaze couldn't help but sweep around, trying to see where the beauty Zhang Xuezhou was so obsessed with was.

However, the banquet at the mansion was attended entirely by married women.

"Dongfang Shuo, where is the beauty you long for so desperately?"

After exchanging pleasantries with the new emperor, Princess Dou quickly moved on to the fun she was looking for.

She glanced at Wei Shao'er beside Chen Zhang and felt that Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't be so absurd as to pursue a married woman. As for Chunyu Tiying beside Zheng Wukong, she was too old, and Zhang Xuezhou's tastes shouldn't be that bad. Moreover, since Princess Dou had met A Qiao, she didn't think that Zhang Xuezhou and his wife would hold banquets and remarry repeatedly.

After eliminating a handful of people, Princess Dou realized she hadn't even seen a glimpse of the woman.

"No rush, no rush!"

Zhang Xuezhou glanced outside the mansion and realized that it would be quite difficult for Yi Shuo to ask for leave from Changxin Palace today, as she had not yet left the palace.

"Today is not a day off for the ladies-in-waiting of Changxin Palace. Could she be stuck in the palace and unable to leave?"

The new emperor knew who Zhang Xuezhou was marrying. After pondering for a few seconds, he felt that Yi Shuo was very likely still in the palace.

Looking at Zhang Xuezhou, he felt that this was the first time he had ever attended such a bizarre wedding banquet.

The guests have all arrived, but the bride is still in the palace and cannot leave.

"Taking leave for weddings or funerals is no problem; Changxin Palace won't be so heartless," the new emperor thought. "I'll send someone over to check on things!"

The residence was close to the palace, making things easier. After a brief discussion, the new emperor summoned a palace guard to search for the person.

"You call this a marriage?"

Princess Dou, seated in the second seat, was also speechless after listening to the conversation between the new emperor and Zhang Xuezhou.

All the gifts for the guests had been given, but the bride was stuck in traffic on the way.

If Zhang Xuezhou hadn't invited such distinguished guests, this wedding would have been a one-man show.

"Everyone, please eat and drink to your heart's content!"

Zhang Xuezhou looked embarrassed, then raised his cup to Dou Taizhu again.

"I wonder who this handsome man is beside the Prince?"

If you don't want to embarrass yourself, you have to embarrass others.

While waiting for Yi Shuo to arrive, Zhang Xuezhou quickly changed the subject.

"This gentleman is dashing and handsome; he's clearly a rare young and good-looking man. I wonder which noble family he comes from," Zhang Xuezhou praised. He then added, "We have plenty of seats at this banquet; why should His Highness make him stand?"

"Hehehe," Master Dou laughed, "Lord Dongfang really knows how to flatter. Dong Yan is not the son of some prince or noble family; he is an outstanding disciple whom our Master Huang has nurtured for many years!"

"I see," Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed. "No wonder I sensed his extraordinary talent at first glance; he's a top student of the school!"

"Aunt, what skills does Dong Yan possess?" the new emperor couldn't help but ask.

"Dong Yan, go down and demonstrate!"

Princess Dou gestured, and Dong Yan bowed in greeting before entering the open space in the center of the banquet.

He reached into his robes and took out a piece of silk. After twirling it several times, hundreds of butterflies fluttered out from the silk.

Dong Yan reached out and drew the butterflies, which fluttered their wings and lifted him about a foot off the ground, moving slowly in a magical manner.

Of course, if Li Shaojun were here, he would definitely comment that it's "flashy and gaudy".

From a practical standpoint, Dong Yan's Technique Method was substandard, but in terms of its Technique Method pleasing performance, even Li Shaojun couldn't find a single flaw.

Zhang Xuezhou reached out his hand, and Dong Yan, as if knowing what everyone was thinking, had the butterflies on his body flutter and fly closer to them.

A butterfly landed in Zhang Xuezhou's palm, and then revealed its true form in his hand.

"To transform from a leaf into a butterfly—that's an amazing ability!"

A butterfly fluttered in, landing in the palm of the hand and transforming into a leaf. This transformation was extremely exquisite. Zhang Xuezhou nodded in praise, while the new emperor couldn't help but marvel.

"Dong Yan's cultivation level hasn't reached the Divine Ability, and his Daoist skills are still somewhat lacking," Dou Taizhu laughed. "If he could transform water into a blade and instantly kill an enemy, that would be a truly remarkable skill!"

"That's already incredibly strong!"

The new emperor shook his head.

This technique is slow to activate and has almost no lethality, but it only requires a slight transition from performance to killing.

In his hand, there could be an ordinary leaf, or there could be a poisoned leaf.

Dong Yan's Technique Method has many uses when used for surprise attacks.

The new emperor was overjoyed at the prospect of such a target. If Dong Yan had not been a member of Princess Dou's faction, he would have almost wanted to recruit him into the court and promote his cultivation.

"Excellent Daoist magic!"

Zhang Xuezhou pointed, indicating that Dong Yan could take a seat.

Dong Yan then looked at Princess Dou, and only after Princess Dou nodded with a smile did he choose a table near Huo Qubing and sit down.

"His Technique Method have been cultivated and refined, and Dong Yan's temperament is natural, as if he were born with an air of nobility. This kind of confidence and composure is rare," Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed. "The talents cultivated by the Great Master Huang Lao Dao are truly remarkable!"

"Indeed," the new emperor nodded in agreement. "No matter how many Technique Method Divine Ability one possesses, one still needs to remain calm and composed to unleash their full potential. Some cultivators consider themselves experts, but when faced with risks, they become flustered and their strength drops to less than a tenth of what it usually is. Some even suffer defeat and death, their cultivation ultimately amounting to nothing!"

As the new emperor grew older, he learned more and more principles.

In the past, he only sought cultivation level, believing that the higher the level, the more powerful he would be, and that with strong individual strength, he could control everything.

But society is not as simple as he thought, and a cultivator's methods are not solely determined by their level of cultivation.

For example, the new emperor has been frequently comparing Prime Minister Tian Fen to others recently, and he feels that Tian Fen's claim to be at the True Self Realm is highly questionable.

Lacking both life-or-death battles and sufficient opponents of equal caliber, Tian Fen's cultivation level appeared extremely weak, and his skill in using the Sky Shuttle was still inferior to Zhang Xuezhou's.

Of course, even if the new emperor doesn't agree, Tian Fen's level of skill is genuine.

He could only conclude that Tian Fen was a prodigy skilled in cultivation realms, and with the strong support of Changxin Palace, he was able to unleash his greatest strengths.

If Tian Fen is used as a True Self Realm cultivator, Tian Fen is not qualified; however, if Tian Fen is used as a Sole Self Realm cultivator, Tian Fen is very qualified.

The new emperor knew very well that his high standards and excessive expectations of Tian Fen were the reasons for his dissatisfaction with Tian Fen's performance.

If Tian Fen's Technique Method were as refined as Dong Yan's, and he had experienced numerous battles and killings, he might truly have become a pillar of the Great Han.

The new emperor had something on his mind, and he would occasionally discuss Dong Yan with Princess Dou, suggesting that Princess Dou should nurture Dong Yan well, so that perhaps Huang Laodao could produce another extraordinary great cultivator.

Amidst the cacophony of voices, the sound of someone running wildly towards the mansion's entrance could be heard.

"Brother Dongfang, you want to marry me!"

Yi Shuo's hurried, slightly trembling voice came from the entrance of the mansion, followed by the appearance of the person wearing the uniform of a physician from Changxin Palace.

Princess Dou glanced at it several times, then quickly shut her mouth, which was about to speak. She felt as if the beautiful scene of the phoenix seeking its mate in her imagination had been shattered.