"Look quickly! The elders are here!"
A disciple cried out, and the others looked in that direction as well.
Nine elders descended through the air, carrying a natural majesty that instantly flooded the area with an overwhelming pressure.
As the elders settled steadily into the void, a figure stepped out from behind the Fourth Elder.
It was Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī!
Yìng Dàoyī first stepped forward to pay his respects to the elders, then landed alone among the ranks of the holy sons.
By this point, the five holy sons, two holy maidens, and nine elders were all gathered.
The sight filled the Yìng family disciples below with burning passion and boundless excitement.
BOOM!
At that moment, a thunderous explosion seemed to rock the sky, and a brilliant light curtain unfurled across a vast swath of the starry firmament.
At the center of the light curtain, a pair of youths—a golden boy and jade maiden—radiated an awe-inspiring might that made it difficult to look upon them directly.
A moment later.
The white light vanished, allowing the disciples to finally see clearly.
"Could that be... the Dao Child and the Dao Maiden?!"
"How... how can such perfect people exist?"
"Lord Dao Child is so handsome!!!"
"Ah! Lord Dao Child just glanced at me—!!!"
"Could Lady Dao Maiden be an immortal fairy reborn?!"
"What a peerless pair of youths, a match made in heaven!!!"
...
Watching the crowd below, Yìng Wúyī silently clicked his tongue in amazement.
He had to admit this gave him a whole new perspective on the family head.
He truly never expected that someone usually so stern...
...would pull off such a flashy entrance for him and his younger sister.
...Still, it was pretty good!
Yìng Wúyī quietly made a mental note.
Heh heh, learned another trick!
"Wúyī (Tiānyáo), paying our respects to the elders."
Yìng Wúyī offered a slight bow to the assembled elders, then narrowed his eyes and looked down at the seven holy sons and holy maidens.
Down below.
Aside from Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī and Holy Soness Yìng Luòxī, the rest made no attempt to conceal their auras, releasing a formidable and oppressive might!
Their stance and intentions were crystal clear.
It looked like things were going to get interesting today!
"Tiānyáo, are you scared?" Yìng Wúyī asked softly.
"Not scared!"
"Tiānyáo isn't scared of them at all!"
Yìng Wúyī instinctively raised a hand to pat his sister's head, but stopped halfway and lowered it again.
"Good! Today, the two of us siblings will properly play along with them!"
"Mmhmm~"
The reason Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī had not released his aura was because of something that happened long ago.
At that time, Yìng Wúyī had just been born, and Dàoyī's own master had gone to assist with the birth.
When his master returned, Dàoyī went to pay his respects, only to hear his master say:
"Dàoyī, you are gifted with extraordinary talent and a sharp mind; you are destined for great things."
"In the coming golden age, you will surely be a dragon among men, with the ambition to challenge the heavens."
"But you must understand, some people are destined from birth to survey the winds and clouds and rule over all ages."
"If so, you must seize the moment. If one day you can follow the Dao Child..."
"Trust your master, that will be the most correct decision of your life!"
Yìng Dàoyī: ???
...
Back in the present, the atmosphere crackled with hidden sparks, while the disciples at the very bottom held their breath, not daring to make a sound as they watched intently.
At that moment, Holy Soness Yìng Luòxī stepped forward first.
"Luòxī pays her respects to Dao Maiden Tiānyáo and Lord Wúyī!"
"We pay our respects to the Dao Child and Dao Maiden!"
Only then did the surrounding disciples exhale in relief and follow suit with a bow.
Next, Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī stepped forward as if after much internal struggle, bowed with folded hands, and said:
"Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī, seeing the Dao Child and Dao Maiden for the first time, offers his greetings here. Should there be any offense in the days to come, I beg the two lords not to take it to heart and disrupt the harmony of the younger generation."
"Oh?"
Everyone caught the scent of gunpowder in the air, yet found it rather peculiar.
"Think nothing of it! Wúyī has often heard the Fourth Elder speak of you. Seeing Senior Brother Dàoyī today, you truly are a dragon's colt and a phoenix's chick, a brilliant young talent."
Yìng Wúyī smiled and offered a polite counter, making no further moves.
"The Dao Child flatters me."
Yìng Dàoyī nodded and stepped back.
The scene grew quiet once more, the atmosphere sinking into a dead silence.
While watching the spectacle, the Yìng family disciples prayed silently that they wouldn't get caught in the crossfire.
Up above, the elders acted as though nothing were happening, simply standing to the side with focused expressions, awaiting the appearance of the family head without the slightest intention of speaking.
Seeing that the others were also holding their ground and showing no reaction, Yìng Míngyǔ couldn't help letting out a soft sigh inwardly.
He slowly stepped out into the void, his aura climbing steadily with every pace.
"I have long heard, Imperial Son, that your talent is peerless and monstrous, but unlike others, I am not one to easily believe mere rumors."
"Today, I wish to test your foundations!"
"I wonder if the Imperial Son might grant me this opportunity?"
"Audacious!"
Seeing someone provoke her older brother, Yìng Tiānyáo's voice rang out crisp and clear as she rebuked:
"You think you're qualified to challenge my brother!?"
At Yìng Tiānyáo's words, Yìng Míngyǔ's aura erupted as well!
His eerie purple malevolent qi seemed to warp the very space around him.
Yìng Wúyī was about to speak, but Yìng Dōngjí beat him to it: "Exactly! Lord Imperial Son is still young."
"Yìng Míngyǔ, don't you think you're just bullying a child?"
Standing beside them, Yìng Tiānzhòu also chimed in:
"You're a holy son yourself; doing something so shameless, aren't you afraid of losing face?"
"And to take a step back, even if you win, I, Yìng Tiānzhòu, will be the first to refuse to accept it!"
Yìng Dōngjí continued: "Furthermore, it would still be unfair if you suppress your cultivation to match the Imperial Son's current realm!"
"Hmph! Then what do you propose?" Yìng Míngyǔ asked, barely containing his rage.
"Propose?"
"Since the Imperial Son has come here to claim invincibility and tread the supreme path..."
"Then I, Yìng Dōngjí, am willing to pave the way for the Imperial Son!"
"If the Imperial Son still falls behind us even then, you might as well cede the position of Dao Child. When the Imperial Son is older, we can always return it to you."
"Holy Son Tiānxiào, what do your thoughts lean towards?"
With that, Yìng Dōngjí looked toward Yìng Tiānxiào.
"No objection!" Yìng Tiānxiào reined in his aura slightly, his eyelids still half-closed and his expression indifferent.
"And what does the Imperial Son think?"
Only then did Yìng Dōngjí look up to ask Yìng Wúyī.
Beside him, Yìng Tiānyáo had been stopped by her brother and kept silent, but she quietly noted down each of their faces in her mind.
Yìng Wúyī merely smiled faintly without replying, watching the group put on their little play with amusement, choosing not to expose them.
After all, the showdown was bound to happen eventually; since some were eager to go first, he might as well let them.
"In that case, I am also willing to pave the way for the Imperial Son!" Yìng Míngyǔ declared.
"I will be waiting ahead for the Imperial Son, and I hope the Imperial Son will not disappoint me too much."
Yìng Wúyī caught the underlying meaning in Yìng Míngyǔ's words and gave a slight nod.
The others also stepped forward one after another to declare their intentions.
"Holy Son Yìng Dàoyī, willing to pave the way for Lord Dao Child!"
"I, Yìng Tiānzhòu, am willing to pave the way for the Imperial Son."
"Yìng Líng'ér, willing to pave the way for cousin Tiānyáo."
Yìng Líng'ér's declaration at this moment carried an obvious intent.
Up above, Yìng Tiānyáo looked back at her and gave a slight nod.
Verbal sparring at this point was pale and feeble; it only served to expose one's own foolishness.
Meanwhile, Yìng Luòxī turned her gaze toward Yìng Líng'ér.
The two exchanged a glance, yet neither said anything more.
People simply had different paths to follow.
"This humble one, Yìng Luòxī, is willing to follow Lord Dao Child and blaze a supreme path ahead of him!"
WHOOSH—!!!
At that instant, not only the disciples present, but even the other holy sons and numerous clan elders were utterly shocked.
When Yìng Luòxī had spoken earlier, everyone had assumed she was merely acknowledging Yìng Wúyī out of basic respect.
But to make such a declaration now was entirely different from the others.
A holy soness was pledging her allegiance and discipleship?!
"Goddess—my Goddess Luòxī!!"
"Could... could this trace back to that time in the purple bamboo forest!?"
"The Dao Child hasn't left seclusion since then, has he?!"
"Does that mean a single meeting back then was enough to make Holy Soness Luòxī submit?!"
"Hiss—"
"Lord Dao Child is truly terrifying..."
"This is going to be a good show..."
Meanwhile, Yìng Tiānyáo looked at her brother with eyes sparkling.
She whispered softly, "As expected of Wúyī gege, simply amazing!"
Even Yìng Wúyī was momentarily taken aback. Hearing his sister's soft murmurs, he first ruffled her hair, then replied in a voice meant only for the two of them:
"Yala yala, that girl is truly a handful."
"Doesn't gege just love girls who are a handful?"
(●'◡'●)
Yìng Wúyī's mouth twitched at her words.
He subtly shifted his hand to pinch his sister's slender waist, though his gaze remained fixed entirely on Yìng Luòxī.
After a moment of silence, his expression softened as he said, "Then I leave the trouble to you, Luòxī."
With that, however, his gaze shifted toward Yìng Tiānxiào.
The look caused the corners of Yìng Tiānxiào's mouth to twitch as a wave of foreboding washed over him.
"Luòxī will not fail this trust!"
Beneath her veil, Yìng Luòxī's cheeks flushed slightly as she gave her resolute reply.
Just then, Family Head Yìng Zhédào appeared from the void with his hands clasped behind his back.
A low-profile yet luxurious halo manifested around his form, and with every step he took, shockwaves of energy bloomed beneath his feet before slowly dissipating.
What a majestic sight!
Yìng Wúyī grinned as he watched the scene unfold.
Showing off!
As expected, this old man simply loved to put on airs!
The elders at the side opened their eyes in unison.
Everyone cried out: "Pay respects to the Clan Head!!!"
At that moment, Family Head Yìng Zhédào slowly raised a hand to support everyone, proclaiming:
"Today, for the two new taboos of our clan—Yuān and Línglóng!"
"We worship the Dao and tread the supreme path!!!"
"Furthermore! If any holy sons or holy maidens of our clan so desire, you may join them!"