Chapter Seventy-One: The Barking of Dogs

A sky full of stars.

Yet beneath this vast, starlit expanse, the mountains were anything but lonely.

At the summit of Falling Cloud Peak, exceptional young talents from all directions had gathered. Among them appeared Huang Huifeng, whose cultivation had reached the Golden Core stage, granting him absolute authority in Falling Cloud City. With an amiable smile, he clasped his hands and addressed the assembly, “I thank all you young heroes for giving our city lord this honor by coming from afar to attend the Falling Cloud City Gathering of Geniuses. There are no rules for tonight’s banquet—drink as you please. This is simply an opportunity for you all to meet and converse, to foster bonds among the younger generation of cultivators in Yunzhou. So please, feel free to enjoy yourselves.”

As soon as Huang Huifeng finished, the audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

Wang Ran, sitting in a corner, scoffed to himself. In the world of cultivation, cunning and rivalry ruled the day; only those at the Foundation Establishment level could still sit together and talk of camaraderie. The Golden Core elders, he suspected, probably could barely tolerate each other. And as for the Nascent Soul cultivators—who would bother promoting friendship here?

Not to mention, even Ye Cang hadn’t appeared, nor had the outstanding disciples from Yunzhou’s top sects. Wang Ran suddenly realized he might have overestimated the importance of this so-called Gathering of Geniuses. The only thing that piqued his curiosity was the mysterious city lord and the powerful Wu family backing him.

No wonder Xu Ke, after attending several times, found the event increasingly dull. The first encounter with anything always feels fresh and wonderful, but after a while, the novelty fades.

At this thought, Wang Ran felt a wave of laziness wash over him. He began planning to seek out Huang Huifeng after the banquet to trade his talismans.

By then, Huang Huifeng had finished his speech. With a brief gesture, he turned and left in haste, his expression betraying a hint of urgency.

The banquet was held in the front courtyard of the city lord’s residence. From here, one could see a gilded, resplendent palace not far off—the city lord’s mansion.

With Huang Huifeng’s departure, the crowd of young talents began mingling, conversations springing up throughout the courtyard.

In reality, the young geniuses naturally divided themselves into two distinct circles. The more prestigious group consisted of core disciples from prominent sects and noble families; on the fringes were those like Zhu Tianyun and Qin Yu.

At that moment, Bei Minglie and Chu Yichen from the Chu family were chatting and laughing together.

Bei Minglie was a prodigy from a major sect, his grandfather a cultivator of the Golden Core stage, and his own talent remarkable—naturally, Chu Yichen regarded him as a confidant.

Chu Yichen remarked, “Brother Bei, I heard you suffered a setback in your sect recently?”

“How did you know?” Bei Minglie was puzzled for a moment, then remembered that the man before him was the brother of Chu Yingxuan; it would be no trouble for him to learn such news. He sighed. “Ah, it was just a moment’s carelessness.”

Chu Yichen grinned, “What exactly happened? Come on, tell me.”

He knew only that his friend had encountered some trouble in the sect, but not the details. Sensing a good story, he pressed for more.

Chu Yichen was a notorious playboy—idle and frivolous, his family’s status his only shield. If not for the Chu family behind him, Bei Minglie would have never befriended him.

Bei Minglie wore a smile, but contempt flickered in his eyes. He brushed off the matter and shifted the conversation. “Ah, it’s nothing worth mentioning. But you, Brother Chu, live a carefree life. I hear you’re never short of female company—how enviable.”

Chu Yichen’s face lit up with pride, as if his debauched lifestyle were a badge of honor.

“Actually,” Chu Yichen said with a sly smile, “I’ve set my sights on a new target tonight. But since this is the Gathering of Geniuses, I’m not sure about her background, so I haven’t made a move yet.” His gaze drifted toward a corner.

Bei Minglie followed his eyes, and his previously indifferent expression froze. For a split second, deep fear flashed in his gaze.

Oblivious to Bei Minglie’s reaction, Chu Yichen stroked his chin and chuckled, “Well? Isn’t that girl charming? I noticed her as soon as I arrived, but I don’t know who that boy with her is. What a beauty wasted on such company.”

The one Chu Yichen referred to was none other than Wang Ran’s group; his interest was piqued by the junior sister, who at that moment was stuffing her mouth with food.

Seeing Wang Ran, Bei Minglie’s initial fear quickly gave way to a surge of hatred. Hearing Chu Yichen’s words, an idea sparked in his mind.

“If you like her, Brother Chu, then why not go for it? With your status, what girl wouldn’t be eager for your attention?” Bei Minglie offered a sinister smile, suggesting, “Those boys with her are just from minor families. They’re no match for the Chu family. When Young Master Chu makes a move, they won’t dare say a word.”

This was precisely Chu Yichen’s concern. He’d been captivated by the junior sister’s pure and delicate beauty, but hesitated because of those around her. With Bei Minglie’s encouragement, his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Just then, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew lively. Egged on by the crowd, several young women from noble families performed a sword dance to entertain the guests.

Inspired by the moment, Chu Yichen strode over to Yan Wanrou’s group.

“Young lady, I am Chu Yichen of the Northern Marsh Chu family. Would you do us the honor of performing a sword dance to liven up the banquet?”

The junior sister, still chewing her food, blinked her large eyes in confusion. “Me? Sword dance? No, no, I can’t. I don’t know how.”

Chu Yichen narrowed his eyes and tried again, “Then perhaps we could get to know each other and chat a while?”

“I don’t want to!” she retorted.

Wiping the grease from her lips, she turned her head away, refusing even to look at him.

Chu Yichen’s face darkened instantly. In Yunzhou, the Chu family commanded respect wherever they went. Never had a woman he fancied refused him.

Before Chu Yichen could retort, a few of his usual hangers-on swaggered over and jeered, “Ungrateful wretch! Our Brother Chu shows you favor and you dare give him the cold shoulder?”

Hearing their taunts, the junior sister frowned. “So being many makes you right? Does it give you the right to bully others?”

Though kind by nature, she was a genius of the Only Me Sect and had a powerful elder as her grandfather. She had no reason to fear these people and paid them little heed.

But to Chu Yichen, her response was intolerable. Enraged, he lunged to seize her by force.

The junior sister was just about to dodge when suddenly, a fair hand intercepted Chu Yichen’s, gripping it tightly.

“My, my, junior sister, a dog is barking for you to call me senior brother. Lucky for you, teaching dogs is my specialty.”