"Divine Fire Manor, the Dongfang Family has arrived!"
Following a loud shout, the attention of the entire crowd was instantly drawn to a palanquin in the sky.
Surrounding the palanquin were numerous guards, all wearing the distinct uniforms of Divine Fire Manor. Just looking at the faint fiery aura radiating from them, one could tell their strength was formidable!
"Hoh, are those the people from Divine Fire Manor? Such a strong fiery aura!" Li Quzhuo couldn't help clicking his tongue at the sight.
"I heard my family mention before that unlike us long-established families of the Taoist League, Divine Fire Manor was built entirely from scratch by its master, Dongfang Guuyue."
"I heard that the fire used by the people of Divine Fire Manor is the legendary demon-slaying divine fire, the Pure-White Solar Flames! Senior Dongfang Guuyue relied on this fire to carve out a resounding reputation among the demon race and founded today's Divine Fire Manor."
At the mere mention of Dongfang Guuyue, Wangquan Zui's eyes instantly sparkled with stars, appearing to hold him in the highest regard.
"I heard that the visitors from Divine Fire Manor this time are two young ladies of the Dongfang family: the older sister is Dongfang Huaizhu, and the younger sister is Dongfang Qinlan. Hehe, Boss, are you really not interested in going up and getting to know them?"
Seeing the mischievous grin on Li Quzhuo's face, Wangquan Baye immediately gave him a light rap on the head with a look of exasperation.
Though small in stature, what kind of filthy thoughts were even packed into that brain of his...
Amidst the crowd, Yang Qingyuan also looked toward the palanquin in the distance with wide-eyed curiosity.
After all, the mothers of the two protagonists were both sitting right inside; it would be a wonder if he could suppress his curiosity.
Come to think of it, the future hope of the One Qi Taoist League was entirely packed inside that palanquin...
Facing the young ladies of the zenith-bound Divine Fire Manor, there were naturally quite a few young scions from other prominent families in attendance who wanted to boldly step forward and make their acquaintance.
However, faced with these requests for an audience, Dongfang Huaizhu didn't even need to show her face—the guards on duty directly intercepted and turned them away on the spot.
Although he couldn't see them, Yang Qingyuan had a vague premonition that the only two Emperor-level powerhouses currently in the One Qi Taoist League, Dongfang Guuyue and Wangquan Shouzhuo, had definitely both arrived.
The Blue Sky Assembly was of such immense importance, gathering almost all the young children of the major families within the One Qi Taoist League.
If demons were to pull the rug out from under the Taoist League at this moment and wipe them all out in one fell swoop, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Therefore, even just as a precaution, Dongfang Guuyue and Wangquan Shouzhuo would certainly be guarding the place in person.
After all, all their own children were down there as well, leaving them no choice but to give it their absolute all.
Seeing that everyone had nearly arrived, Steward Fei slowly walked up to the high platform under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Beside him, a young Daoist priest held a tray in both hands, and resting upon that tray was a stone of utterly unremarkable appearance.
"Hahaha, everyone, no need to be tense; just relax. Held once every thirty-six years, the Blue Sky Assembly aims to select gifted talents from the younger generation of all Taoist League families. Since everyone has more or less arrived, I hereby declare the Blue Sky Assembly officially open!"
Under Steward Fei's announcement, the Blue Sky Assembly officially commenced.
After gathering their children together and running through the precautions they needed to keep in mind for later, the adults from each family departed one by one.
Up on the city tower, Yang Yifang and the other heads of the Taoist League families looked down at the children below.
"The Blue Sky Assembly, held once every thirty-six years. I wonder how many children will bring us surprises this time," Yang Yifang remarked with emotion.
Back in the day, he had naturally participated in the Blue Sky Assembly himself, only to find his talent limited, unable to discern anything from this "Taoist League Secret Transmission."
It wasn't that Yang Yifang's talent was particularly poor; rather, the requirements of the "Taoist League Secret Transmission" were simply too harsh.
Keep in mind that at the last Blue Sky Assembly, not a single youngster from all the Taoist League families was able to perceive anything from this stone!
Even looking further back through thousands of years, the children who could see anything within this "Taoist League Secret Transmission" were practically vanishingly rare.
"Surprises? Hehe, at the last Blue Sky Assembly, not a single child could see anything. And according to records, the information most people saw was either repetitive or utterly incomprehensible. The Blue Sky Assembly, hehe, if you ask me, is nothing more than going through the motions."
The speaker was Xiao Wancheng. As a father, he naturally knew the exact limits of his own two children's capabilities.
Therefore, regarding this Blue Sky Assembly, Xiao Wancheng's internal attitude could only be described as thoroughly pessimistic.
"I wouldn't say so. Look over there—he dared to test the Taoist League Secret Transmission right off the bat. The youngsters of this generation are much more interesting than the previous ones, aren't they?"
Xiao Wancheng looked down and saw Wangquan Baye hovering mid-air below, slowly sheathing the precious sword in his hand.
Clearly, he was the one who had just struck the Taoist League Secret Transmission with a sword right at the start.
"The young master of the Wangquan family? He indeed possesses extraordinary cultivation at such a tender age. The elderly master of the Wangquan family has a worthy successor..."
After finishing his sigh of praise, Xiao Wancheng abruptly changed the subject, turning his gaze toward Yang Yifang beside him.
"During the last Yang family banquet, young master Yang Yitan of the Yang family also made a move. I saw it myself back then—he was similarly gifted and is bound for greatness in the future. It's just..."
"Just what? Family Head Xiao, speak your mind!"
Yang Yifang frowned. With the lingering animosity from last time, no matter how he looked at Xiao Wancheng now, he found him thoroughly grating.
"Old Family Head Yang, don't get angry. I was just wondering: at the last Yang family banquet, that kid who dared to strike the Yang family's prospective son-in-law should be here this time too, right?"
"This is family business of the Yang family; Family Head Xiao needn't concern himself."
"Of course, of course. I heard my good-for-nothing son mention it—that kid is called Yang Qingyuan, right? Oh my, I wonder what kind of surprise this Yang Qingyuan will bring us at this Blue Sky Assembly..."
Watching Xiao Wancheng's veiled insinuations, Yang Yifang involuntarily clenched his fists, a flash of anger surging in his eyes.
Yet, after thinking twice, he forcefully suppressed the urge to strike out on the spot, turning his gaze back down below.
On the open ground below, seeing Wangquan Baye draw his sword and slash directly at the "Taoist League Secret Transmission" without a second word, Yang Qingyuan couldn't help clicking his tongue.
Is it any wonder he's the young master of the Wangquan family?
He cuts the "Taoist League Secret Transmission" just like that, and after the cut, the little Daoist priest on the stage still has to crack a smile and praise, "Young master, fine swordsmanship."
Tch, that's the Wangquan family for you...
"Alright, young masters. This Taoist League Secret Transmission is impervious to blades, spears, water, and fire—its resilience has naturally been verified long ago. If we were to test it one by one, it would simply waste too much time. Everyone, line up according to your family's order and come forward to examine it one by one."