Listening to these people rambling and boasting is actually quite interesting at times.
However, from their conversations, Yang Qingyuan could also glean a thing or two.
That is to say, in this era, the conflict between humans and demons has become sharply acute beyond measure.
Even with the blindingly obvious fact right before everyone's eyes that the Tushan fox demons have never harmed a soul, they simply refuse to believe it.
In the eyes of these Taoist priests, any demon should be killed, any demon deserves to die.
Even if it has done nothing at all, a single phrase—"those not of our race must surely have different hearts"—is enough to sentence it to death.
With Taoist priests who wield power acting like this, it goes without saying how the unarmed ordinary people behave.
This was entirely consistent with what Yang Qingyuan had seen and heard in the Yang family all these years.
Therefore, Yang Qingyuan had always felt that against such a background of the times, it was indeed no small feat for someone like Mu Mie's father to emerge.
However, when you show yourself to be utterly incompatible with everyone around you, it is not necessarily a good thing.
In this world, if you are too bad, they will destroy you; if you are too cowardly, they will trample you; and if you are too good or too strong, they still will not feel at ease with you—they will suppress and alienate you.
Only when you are much like them will they feel secure in accepting you and view you as one of their own.
The tall tree stands out in the forest, and the wind will surely break it; and one whose conduct surpasses the crowd will surely be condemned by them.
Such is the ingrained baseness of human nature, for which there is simply no remedy.
The only thing you can do is that, until you possess sufficient strength to oppose "them," you should try your best not to display your uniqueness, and do your utmost to disguise yourself as the person they expect you to be.
This is the true survival guide for ordinary people.
Feeling that he had heard enough, Yang Qingyuan called the waiter to settle the bill and made his way back to the Yang family estate.
From that day on, Yang Qingyuan's life returned to its former tranquility.
Over the next few months, apart from occasionally going out every few days to improve his meals, Yang Qingyuan spent almost all of his time staying in his room practicing the Eight-Nine Arcane Art.
Even though the Eight-Nine Arcane Art had now broken through to the second revolution, Yang Qingyuan did not dare to slack off in the slightest.
Because he had a vague premonition that he probably wouldn't be staying in the Yang family much longer.
Given the Xiao family's vengeful nature, how could they possibly suffer consecutive setbacks at his hands and return home without making a single move?
Did the Xiao family really possess such a magnanimous measure?
Heh, Yang Qingyuan would rather believe that a sow could climb a tree!
The present peace felt just like the calm before a storm, giving one a deeply oppressive sensation.
However, as far as Yang Qingyuan was concerned, all of this didn't really matter.
When soldiers come, send generals to block; when water comes, build earth embankments to cover.
If he truly couldn't hold out, at worst he would just run away.
To this end, Yang Qingyuan had even specially entrusted Yang Yan to spend a hefty sum to buy some Earth-Shrinking Talismans for himself, purely to guard against any unexpected events.
All in all, no matter what, seizing every spare moment to enhance his own strength could never be wrong.
As for Yang Yitan, although he occasionally came over to check on Yang Qingyuan at first, for some reason he later stopped being so eager to spar with Yang Qingyuan.
Even when they occasionally bumped into each other, he would only calmly say, "See you at the Blue Sky Assembly."
At this, Yang Qingyuan was left completely baffled for a moment.
One could only say that a child's mind is indeed hard to guess...
In the mountains, years slip by unnoticed, and winters pass without counting the years.
Unconsciously, in the blink of an eye, the date for the Blue Sky Assembly arrived.
This Blue Sky Assembly was held once every thirty-six years, and the One Qi Taoist Alliance attached the utmost importance to it every time it was convened.
Even Dongfang Guuyue, who was far away at Divine Fire Mountain Villa, had specially sent people to escort his two beloved daughters on the long journey to attend. From this, one could see how much the people of the Taoist Alliance valued the Blue Sky Assembly—or rather, how much they valued the "Taoist Alliance Secret Transmission."
Actually, at first, Yang Qingyuan had no desire to attend this so-called Blue Sky Assembly.
The so-called "Taoist Alliance Secret Transmission" wasn't it just some information left behind by that monkey from Aolai Kingdom concerning the lands outside the circle, along with methods on how to repair that "circle" left behind by him?
Yang Qingyuan had even briefly and maliciously speculated whether these "Taoist Alliance Secret Transmissions" were simply rock fragments bounced off from the body of the Third Young Master of Aolai Kingdom—in other words, "womb-born stone debris."
Ahem, although it was a bit far-fetched, regardless of what it was, the "Taoist Alliance Secret Transmission" held no secrets whatsoever for Yang Qingyuan, so he hadn't been very keen on joining the bustle at first.
With that kind of time, he might as well practice the Eight-Nine Arcane Art a bit more. Once his strength became powerful enough, he could just casually toss out some rocks of his own—which would be called the "True Lord's Secret Transmission"!
However, a single remark Yang Yitan made before departure suddenly piqued Yang Qingyuan's interest.
"It is said that some people have obtained feedback in the form of power from the Taoist Alliance Secret Transmission, resulting in a great surge in their cultivation..."
The moment those words were spoken, Yang Qingyuan instantly changed his mind.
You should have said there were "experience packs" earlier!
I'm not interested in secrets, but my interest in power right now is exceptionally huge!
Thus, Yang Qingyuan immediately followed the members of the Yang family to the venue of the Blue Sky Assembly.
By the time Yang Qingyuan arrived at the scene, a massive crowd had already gathered densely, the vast majority of whom were adults and children from the major clans of the One Qi Taoist Alliance.
Since the Blue Sky Assembly would not begin for a while yet, the waiting crowd spontaneously formed small circles.
The adults had their own circles, and the children naturally had theirs.
For a top-tier Taoist alliance family like the Heavenly Eye Yang family, the friends Yang Yitan normally associated with were naturally all children from top-tier Taoist alliance clans.
Operating on the principle of "since we're already here," Yang Qingyuan simply decided to tag along with Yang Yitan to see what these future Masked figures had looked like in their childhood.
"Brother Yitan, Yang Qingyuan, over here!"
Before they even got close, Yang Qingyuan saw Wangquan Zui waving her hands animatedly in the distance from afar.
"Yang Qingyuan, is he that fierce warrior who decided the outcome with a single punch at the Yang family banquet?"
Beside Wangquan Zui, a child wearing a golden headband-like circlet on his head brightened up immensely.
"Mm, it's him."
Wangquan Banye smiled faintly and raised a hand to greet Yang Yitan and Yang Qingyuan.
"Oh? Interesting. I really should get acquainted," muttered the long-haired child beside Wangquan Banye in a low voice.
"Greetings, Young Master Wangquan, Miss Wangquan."
As soon as they met, Yang Qingyuan, just as before, politely bowed to Wangquan Banye.
"I told you there's no need for that..."
Wangquan Banye shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Brother Yang, let me make introductions. My name is Li Quzhuo, and this is my older brother, Li Zizai."
"Nice to meet you..."