The two young men headed toward Zhou Ziyun's direction. Many eyeballs followed their movement, many almost salivating at the combination of Huang Yaoying and Deng Lun. One was the epitome of manliness while the other exuded a calm and scholarly temperament. They were a perfect match and together, could satisfy the appetites of all women in the world.
Zhou Ziyun's expression narrowed as they stopped a few paces from her. The other participants had all stopped talking and were staring at the trio. The forested arena also seemed to have gone silent all of the sudden. She could feel their invisible pressure intensify, as many tens of thousands of women were fiercely glaring at her.
Her lips tightened into a slight frown. She was not usually the type to act narrow-minded or petty in front of strangers. That was more of Lin Qingcheng's style. However, it didn't mean that she was a pushover. As Chen Wentian's second disciple and the one largely in charge of the day-to-day operations of the sect, she was the boss, a true boss.
"Gentlemen, are you lost?" She asked.
Huang Yaoying's smile faltered ever so slightly before recovering, "You are Zhou Ziyun of Ten Thousand Flower Valley? Well met. Well met! I didn't think I would meet a disciple of the famous Immortal Blue Dragon at this Great Dao Preaching Event. A pleasant surprise, surely."
"Oh? I didn't know you are a fan of my master." She replied.
Huang Yaoying let out a burst of laughter, "Miss Zhou's joke is sharp and vigorous. Hahaha! I am not but actually; my brother Deng here is a tremendous fan of your master!"
Saying that, he slapped a palm on Deng Lun's shoulder and laughed some more.
Deng Lun didn't react strongly and merely brushed the hand off of his shoulder. He cast a light smile toward Zhou Ziyun and said, "Please don't misunderstand, Miss Zhou. I am not a fan of your master but I am a little fascinated by you."
"Me?" Zhou Ziyun said in surprise.
She looked this frail-looking scholar up and down again. He had on a simple outfit of a slightly peach color. It matched his demeanor; clean, reliable, and conservative. Although he couldn't be considered strikingly handsome, his features were pleasant to look at. There were also hints of mysterious qualities waiting to be discovered if only one was patient enough to get to know him.
She rubbed her chin absentmindedly. If she had to go by first impressions, she didn't really like Huang Yaoying but this Deng Lun was more suitable to her tastes. There was more to a person than their outward appearance and aura but if she had to choose, like she was choosing between two similar items at a vegetable market, she would definitely choose this scholar over the other one.
Deng Lun, unaware he was being compared to vegetables, inclined his head as a show of respect and said, "Miss Zhou Ziyun, the second disciple of Immortal Blue Dragon Chen Wentian. Not yet twenty-two years old and you have already reached the 8th Level of the Spirit Initiate Realm. By any measure, whether it is here in the Eastern Sanmu Metropolis or another land of great cultivation like the Martial Brilliance Continent, you would be considered a genius."
"Not yet twenty-two?" Huang Yaoying blurted out in surprise.
Those nearby that heard Dung Lun's words reacted with equal levels of surprise. It had to be said that the average age for cultivators at the upper levels of the Spirit Initiate Realm to be considered talented was the mid to upper twenties. For someone to be only twenty-one, it was difficult to believe. Even Huang Yaoying, considered a top-level genius in the city, was already twenty-five even though his cultivation was equal to Zhou Ziyun.
Deng Lun ignored everything around him and continued, "That's not all. If it was merely your age, I would have only found you somewhat fascinating. Instead, the truth is even more astonishing. If the records are not wrong, you were still at the 5th Level of the Mind Focusing Realm during the Immortal Sect Competition that was held two years ago?"
"I suppose so?" Zhou Ziyun replied.
Deng Lun's eyes gleamed with an unknown emotion as he said, "And during the competition, there was an event that tested comprehension ability. In that event, you managed two breakthroughs in the span of one hour, completely shattering what people thought was possible, reaching the 7th Level of the Mind Focusing Realm at the age of only nineteen! Such a feat, I have never heard of it before or ever again!"
"What?"
"How is that possible?"
"Unreal!"
A few people jumped from their seats. Others were starting with open mouths. These fellow participants were not stupid and could comprehend why Deng Lun was so interested in this person. This Zhou Ziyun, this unassuming young lady was a true dark horse, someone who could potentially stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the four geniuses of the metropolis.
What did it mean to break through two levels during a test of one's comprehension?
Not everyone could come to the exact same conclusion but the gist was the same. This person was unnatural, definitely someone to watch out for!
Zhou Ziyun furrowed her brow and stared at Deng Lun. She thought about it and then asked, "Sir Deng, do you have a problem with me?"
This was a judgment she had come up with rather quickly. She felt that this person named Deng Lun acted calm and benign on the surface but hid many emotions beneath the surface. His gaze was deep and mysterious. She could only conclude that he was far more complicated than someone like Huang Yaoying who seemed to wear his emotions on the outside.
She tried to guess what kind of person he truly was. Her best guess was that it had something to do with his sect, the Lotus Tower.
It was known that all core members of the sect were men, handsome and talented men that were rarely found across the land. And if the rumors were true, all these men were members of Gong Liyun's harem. The sect operated less like a sect and more like a personal playground for a horny old granny.
She suppressed a smirk from imagining Deng Lun having to perform sexual acts on a wrinkled old monster like Gong Liyun. No wonder he was in such a bad mood. Anyone would be. It was only natural. Just the thought of it made her want to throw up. For a young man in his prime, regardless of what awesome benefits he received in return, it was still a tough life.
Even so, she still wasn't sure if he was a good person or a bad person so she decided on a wait-and-see approach.
"Do you… perhaps dislike me for some reason?" She probed.
Deng Lun's mouth twitched but he remained silent. It seemed that he was also contemplating various matters. And before he could respond, another voice joined the fray, ringing bright and vibrant through crowd noise.
"Sister Zhou, are these smelly men bothering you? I'll help you get rid of them!"
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A/N Always appreciate the support from everyone. Just a reminder, I am also working on a pet cultivation novel named "Summon the Eternal". It is a mature story with violent battles, sex, and also pet cultivation! There is 50 chapters out already. I would really appreciate it if people can go check it out at
royalroad.com/fiction/74102/summon-the-eternal-pet-cultivation