Qingfeng Pavilion.
As a famous house of pleasure in Dongyang City, it echoed with songs and dances year-round.
In the main hall, a middle-aged man wearing gorgeous robes and with a slightly pale complexion was leisurely listening to a tune and enjoying the singing and dancing.
Two junior servants stood behind the man, while he held an scantily clad beauty in his arms, occasionally lowering his head to whisper and flirt with her.
This person was none other than Ye Wushuang's biological father, the second son of Ye Nantian, Ye Yuanshan.
Suddenly, an imposing, tall man walked in.
As soon as the man entered, he looked around. Catching sight of Ye Yuanshan, a look of delight appeared on his face, and he strode over, calling out from afar:
"Brother Yuanshan! Brother Yuanshan, congratulations!"
Displeasure appeared on the faces of the patrons present.
Who was this, daring to make such a racket inside Qingfeng Pavilion and ruin their mood?
However, upon seeing the middle-aged man clearly, the dissatisfaction on everyone's faces vanished instantly.
For the newcomer was none other than Helian Wu, the younger brother of the commander of the City Guard!
The City Guard answered directly to the royal family of Tianxuan Country and was responsible for maintaining order within the city.
Overbearing in their actions and transcendent in status!
Yet, as the saying goes, a mighty dragon does not crush a local snake.
All affairs in Dongyang City were ultimately decided by the four great families.
Even so, on the surface, even the four great families gave the City Guard some face and dared not fall out with them in public.
Thus, this Helian Wu held a truly extraordinary status in Dongyang City; even the heads of the four great families would converse with him courteously upon meeting.
Why would a figure of such real power take the initiative to greet Ye Yuanshan?
And he looked so amiable, as if the two of them were old friends of many years!
"Brother Helian, you congratulate me?"
"What is the meaning of this?"
Ye Yuanshan stood up, asking with some confusion.
Although his talent was mediocre and his nature dissolute, he was, after all, the son of Ye Nantian.
Meeting Helian Wu, he had no need to be panic-stricken or terrified.
Still, he had self-awareness regarding his own standing.
A playboy like him, lacking in natural talent, would normally never catch Helian Wu's eye.
What was happening today?
This fellow was being so polite it almost bordered on bootlicking!
A beaming smile covered Helian Wu's face, as if some great joyous event had occurred in his own household, and he patiently explained to Ye Yuanshan:
"Brother Yuanshan, you have a good son!"
"Your son, Ye Wushuang, was tested today and found to possess an Earth-grade Lower-tier Spirit Vein!"
"A peerless prodigy! Natural-born talent indeed!"
"What?!"
Ye Yuanshan let out a gasp of shock, his face filled with sheer disbelief.
At the same time, an instant uproar broke out among the seated guests.
"Holy shit! An Earth-grade Lower-tier Spirit Vein?!"
"Good grief, did I hear that right?!"
"Trash like Ye Yuanshan actually lucked out like this?"
"Is this for real? No way!"
"How many years has it been since a genius like this appeared in our Tianxuan Country?"
"Helian Wu said it himself, could it be false?"
"Brother Yuanshan, congratulations!"
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
……
Qingfeng Pavilion instantly livened up, and the sounds of flattery echoed endlessly.
Some offered congratulations on the surface, but a strange glint flashed in their eyes before they quietly slipped away.
"Hahaha!"
Ye Yuanshan suddenly burst into roaring laughter, his expression wild with rapture:
"My son Wushuang possesses the bearing of the Heavenly Sun!"
"Splendid! Suxin has given me a good son!"
"Let's go! Home!"
Ye Yuanshan gave a grand wave of his hand, pushing away the beauty in his arms:
"Brother Helian, I'm heading home to check on this. We shall chat another day!"
A smile lingered on Helian Wu's face, showing not the slightest hint of displeasure:
"Naturally! Of course!"
Ye Yuanshan's two servants straightened their backs as well, joy written across their faces, and shouted in response:
"Yes, Young Master!"
……
Inside the main hall of the Qin Family, the atmosphere was currently a bit peculiar.
The members of the Qin Family and the Ye Family sat on opposite sides in relative silence.
The difference was that the faces of the Ye Family members were brimming with irrepressible joy.
As for the Qin Family members, they wore looks of utter bewilderment.
Qin Qingxiong, the head of the Qin Family, sat at the head of the right side, face-to-face with Ye Nantian.
Both men were in their fifties, yet they looked like middle-aged men in their thirties, showing not the slightest trace of the passage of years.
In fact, considering the lifespans of Wheel Sea Realm experts, they were indeed in the prime of their lives.
At this moment, Qin Qingxiong's mind was also in a complete daze.
Although the four great families of Dongyang City constantly clashed behind the scenes due to conflicting interests, it generally never escalated to life-and-death struggles at the top level.
This was because, while the strengths of the four families varied, they were roughly on the same tier.
If a true clan war broke out, the cost was something no one could afford to bear.
Even the victor would win a pyrrhic victory and be left vulnerable to the prying eyes of the other two families.
Therefore, Ye Nantian's sudden visit—bringing along all the elders of the Ye Family, no less—was a display so grand that it genuinely baffled Qin Qingxiong.
Qin Qingxiong's gaze swept over Ye Wushuang.
He even brought along a handsome young child...
After pondering for a long time, Qin Qingxiong decided to break the silence and ask first:
"Brother Ye, may I ask the purpose of this visit today?"
"Family Head, it's bad! It's bad, Family Head!"
A voice suddenly rang out, and a Qin Family guard rushed in frantically.
Upon seeing the members of the Ye Family seated there, the guard's expression froze, and the words he was about to speak instantly swallowed back down.
Qin Qingxiong frowned and scolded:
"What is the meaning of this frantic panic!"
"Can't you see there are guests present?"
Noticing the guard's strange expression and hesitant look, Qin Qingxiong rebuked him once more:
"Out with it, what is the matter?!"
"This..."
The guard glanced at the Ye Family members, stammering and hesitating.
"Never mind, let me tell you instead!"
"I imagine the matter he has to report is the very same thing I am here to say."
Ye Nantian raised a hand to rescue the Qin Family guard from his awkward predicament.
His expression remained calm and steady, carrying a faint, subtle smile.
"Oh?"
Qin Qingxiong's eyes flickered as he looked at Ye Nantian.
"In that case, I must ask Brother Ye to clear up my confusion!"
The members of the Qin Family also looked toward Ye Nantian with curiosity.
Ye Nantian gave a slight smile and spoke:
"You must all be aware that today is the Ye Family's annual day for testing the spirit veins of our younger generation."
This was no secret.
Qin Qingxiong picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and waited quietly for the rest.
"Heaven has favored us, actually bestowing upon the Ye Family a peerless prodigy!"
"None other than my grandson, Ye Wushuang!"
As Ye Nantian spoke, he pulled Ye Wushuang to his front.
Qin Qingxiong glanced down at the bright-eyed, fair-skinned six-year-old child.
So he came here to show off!
Still, was there any need to put on such a massive spectacle?
And this old fellow sure had a lot of nerve!
Calling him a peerless prodigy, no less!
What an untraveled bumpkin, he sure knew how to blow his own horn!
Qin Qingxiong sneered inwardly.
At this moment, he remained completely calm.
After all, as the head of the four great families of Dongyang City, the Qin Family was the only one among the four to boast two Wheel Sea Realm experts!
And he, Qin Qingxiong, was even a Second-layer Wheel Sea Realm expert, overshadowing the heads of the other three families!
His son, in his thirties, had already reached Spirit Gathering Realm Layer 7 and was poised to enter the Wheel Sea!
His granddaughter had been tested two years prior and found to possess an Earth-grade Medium-tier Spirit Vein!
The strength and foundation of the Qin Family could not be described as anything less than profound.
Coming here to show off?
You picked the wrong place!
Yet on the surface, Qin Qingxiong still maintained proper decorum, cooperating as he asked:
"Oh? I wonder what grade Wushuang's spirit vein is?"
Ye Nantian smiled faintly, his tone casual as he replied:
"Earth-grade Lower-tier!"
Clatter!
Screech!
Slash!
The sound of a teacup shattering, the sound of a chair scraping across the floor...
The members of the Qin Family abruptly surged to their feet, Qin Qingxiong included, their faces painted with utter shock and dismay.
Accompanied by several gasps of astonishment.
"What?!"
"Earth-grade Lower-tier?!"