Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

From that day on, Wen Qingye noticed that Gao Yuerou often came to visit, though she wasn’t there to see him, but Zhang Xiaoyun.

This made Wen Qingye wonder. ’What is Gao Yuerou doing, coming to see Zhang Xiaoyun every day?’

Unable to figure it out, Wen Qingye decided not to dwell on it. Using his own Pill Furnace and the herbs he had acquired, like the Star Mist Flower, he refined another seven or eight Fifth-Grade pills that enhanced cultivation.

In just two short days, Wen Qingye’s cultivation had grown at an astonishing rate. He knew he should stop for the time being. A breakthrough would come naturally when the conditions were right, and once it did, he could begin practicing the first form of the Undying Seal Technique.

「Three days later.」

The whole of Phoenix City was exceptionally lively, especially the entrance to the Wen Mansion, which was bustling with a constant stream of people and carriages.

The marriage of the Zhang Family Patriarch’s daughter to the Wen Family’s Wen Tongyu as a concubine was a major event in Phoenix City. Many people from surrounding powers even came to offer their personal congratulations. In an instant, Phoenix City was abuzz, teeming with powerful experts who had answered the call.

Wen Qingye arrived at the entrance of the Wen Mansion. Two young servants immediately blocked his path, saying, ”Please present your invitation.”

The guests came from all over the regions surrounding Phoenix City. With so many different and complex factions attending, no one was permitted to enter without an invitation.

Wen Qingye tossed the invitation to the two servants and continued on his way.

Upon entering the Wen Mansion, Wen Qingye immediately felt the festive atmosphere. Red paper-cuttings adorned everything from the main hall to the door curtains, and red silk ribbons were draped around the pillars. The entire Wen Mansion seemed to exude an aura of immense wealth and prestige.

Wen Tongyu was merely taking a concubine, yet the affair was this extravagant. When Wen Qingye had his official wedding at the Zhang Family, not a single person from the Wen Family attended, and the Zhang Family itself had rushed through the proceedings. The difference in their treatment was truly night and day.

A crowd had gathered at the entrance to the Wen Mansion. There were faces Wen Qingye recognized, and faces he did not.

At that moment, Wen Xu and Zhang Hua were in conversation with a middle-aged man. Beside the man stood a young man and woman. The young man was quite handsome with a tall, straight posture. The woman was bewitching, her tight-fitting purple dress perfectly accentuating her exquisite figure. She was like an peerless enchantress, exuding an aura that could captivate the world.

Many of the men present snuck glances at her, gulping as they couldn’t help but think, ’What a seductive woman.’

Wen Qingye raised an eyebrow. The middle-aged man and the youth beside him looked very familiar, as if he’d seen them somewhere before. His mind raced.

Yao Luojun! Yao Qi!

The middle-aged man was Yao Luojun, the current Patriarch of the Yao Family of Kaiyang County, and Yao Qi was his beloved son.

Wen Tongyu’s mother, of the Yao Clan, and Yao Luojun were cousins. Wen Qingye remembered that her status in the Yao Family hadn’t been high before she married into the Wen Family, as she was the daughter of a concubine.

As for the woman beside them, Wen Qingye didn’t know her. Seeing the crowd’s fawning expressions and her intimate demeanor with Yao Qi, Wen Qingye secretly wondered, ’Could she be the important person Zhang Hua mentioned?’

There were other members of the Wen Family nearby, but Wen Qingye had no intention of greeting them.

When Wen Hao and Wen Hai saw Wen Qingye, they both trembled. As if they were mice and he was a cat, they quickly averted their gaze and scurried away in a panic.

Wen Xu smiled at Yao Luojun. ”Brother, it’s been a long time.”

Yao Luojun nodded. ”It has been a while. And you’ve raised a fine son. His name is now known throughout the Celestial Martial Country. In a few decades, Tongyu is sure to become one of the most renowned experts in our nation.”

Wen Xu’s eyes crinkled with laughter. He waved his hand dismissively. ”He’s just alright, I suppose. Has a bit of talent.”

Despite his words, his face was alight with pleasure.

Ever since Wen Qingye and Wen Tongyu were born, Wen Xu had favored Wen Tongyu. He felt the boy was just like him—in personality, aptitude, and everything else, a dragon among men.

Wen Qingye, on the other hand, was different. His personality was unbearably weak, his aptitude was below average, and he never seemed to put any effort into his cultivation. The more Wen Xu looked at him, the more he disliked him. Sometimes, Wen Xu even wondered if Wen Qingye was truly his son.

Over time, Wen Xu grew extremely cold toward Wen Qingye, and even his relationship with Wen Qingye’s mother, of the Liu Clan, became one of distant formality.

Just then, Gao Yuerou and Liu Ling walked in. Gao Yuerou’s stunning face and flawless skin immediately outshone every other woman present. Even though she stood in a corner, she still drew frequent glances from many of the talented young men.

Liu Ling gave Gao Yuerou a curious look. ”Yuerou, what are you looking for?”

Ever since they had entered the Wen Mansion, Gao Yuerou had been constantly scanning her surroundings, which made Liu Ling quite curious.

Gao Yuerou quickly replied, ”It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since I’ve been back, so I’m curious to see if there’s anyone I know.”

Liu Ling nodded and said with a smile, ”By the way, do you know that my brother asked my grandfather to go to your family to propose marriage? You’re about to become my sister-in-law!”

Gao Yuerou bit her lip. ”I won’t marry your brother. I don’t like him.”

”Feelings can grow over time. That’s how it was for my mother and father,” Liu Ling said hurriedly.

Gao Yuerou slowly shook her head. ”I already have someone I like.”

Liu Ling’s eyes widened. ”What? You like someone? How did I not know? Who is he?”

Gao Yuerou’s brow furrowed for a moment before relaxing. In the end, she said nothing.

Just then, Liu Wen spotted Gao Yuerou. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over.

”Yuerou, long time no see!” Liu Wen said joyfully.

”Yes, it has been a while,” Gao Yuerou said, nodding coolly.

......

Wen Qingye was standing alone, feeling rather bored. Just then, his mother and Liu Tianli emerged from the rear courtyard. His mother spotted him at once, and the two of them walked over.

Liu Tianli walked up to Wen Qingye and clapped him on the shoulder. ”Qingye, you’ve done well.”

He was, of course, referring to Wen Qingye getting into Qig Mountain Academy.

”Grand-uncle,” Wen Qingye said with a smile. ”It was just a stroke of luck.”

Liu Tianli chuckled. ”Be that as it may, Qig Mountain Academy is one of the three great academies in our Celestial Martial Country. Now that you’re in, your future is secure. Your mother can finally stop worrying about you.”

His mother nodded in agreement. ”That’s right. You must cultivate diligently at the academy. Don’t give up on yourself like you did before.”

Wen Qingye nodded. Just then, two figures appeared at a rear entrance. One of them spotted Wen Qingye, his eyes brightening, and he strode quickly toward him.

As soon as the pair entered, many eyes turned to them. Their attire marked them as prodigies from the Purple Sun Prefecture, and their heroic bearing and remarkable presence made it clear that they were no ordinary figures, even within the Prefecture itself.

”Qingye!”

Wen Qingye looked at the man before him and chuckled lightly. ”Wen Shibei!”

The young man before him was Wen Shibei, the second-greatest genius in the Wen Family. He and Wen Tongyu had been extremely close since childhood. However, he had a warmer personality and was friendly toward everyone in the Wen Family. Thus, despite his bond with Wen Tongyu, his relationship with Wen Qingye wasn’t as bad as one might imagine.

Wen Shibei sighed with some emotion. ”I heard you went to Qig Mountain Academy. I’m happy for you, but at the same time, I think it’s a waste. Qingye, you really should have chosen Purple Sun Prefecture.”

”I think Qig Mountain Academy is just fine,” Wen Qingye replied.

”Ai,” Wen Shibei said, waving his hand. ”That’s only because you haven’t compared it to Celestial Academy or Purple Sun Prefecture. The three academies are tiered, and the gap between them is enormous.”

Wen Qingye smiled faintly. ”It’s the same no matter where you are. The individual is what matters most.”

”Well, you’re not wr—”

”A dragon does not consort with snakes. He’s just showing some self-awareness. Shibei, it’s pointless to say any more.”

The man beside Wen Shibei cut him off before he could finish.

Wen Shibei looked embarrassed. ”Qingye, don’t mind him,” he said to Wen Qingye. ”This is Jia Lu, one of the more outstanding new Outer Courtyard students at Purple Sun Prefecture this year. He’s a bit hot-headed and speaks his mind.”

Wen Qingye remained silent, but a peculiar glint appeared in his eyes. ’Hot-headed and speaks his mind? That was a blatant insult.’

Wen Qingye looked at Jia Lu and smiled. ”It seems you and Wen Tongyu are on good terms.”

”Wen Tongyu is my big brother,” Jia Lu said with immense pride.

At this, Wen Tongyu’s mother, who was standing nearby, let out a cold sneer. After Wen Shibei and Jia Lu had arrived the previous day, she had relentlessly poured out her ”grievances” to them. It seemed her efforts had paid off.

Hearing this, Wen Qingye understood everything. He scoffed, ”You weren’t wrong in what you said just now. I quite agree—a dragon truly doesn’t belong with snakes.”

Wen Shibei, thinking Wen Qingye was backing down, inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Jia Lu burst out laughing. ”Hahaha! So you do know your place after all.”

At Jia Lu’s words, Wen Qingye’s mother couldn’t help but frown, her expression darkening.

Wen Qingye suddenly shook his head and sighed. ”No, I misspoke. You’re not even worthy of being called a snake. At best, you’re just a pathetic worm squirming on the ground.”