Inside the Heavens Martial Hall.
Qin Keqin was smiling at Lu Qingyun as she said to him. "Well, I should call you my senior brother for now."
Lu Qingyun panicky said, "I really dare not! Master is still my master and I am always your protege."
He had stopped short of denying Qin Keqin as his dao cultivation partner though.
Just as everyone was still gasping with great shock and disbelief that Lu Qingyun had just sounded the Great Origin Golden Bell 9 times to become a Holy Son of the Heavens Ridge Villa, an elder had panicky entered the Martial Hall and said with great urgency, "Urgent matters to report! Supremacy Wen Hongguang from the Solitary Manor is seeking an audience with our acting sect leader!"
Qin Keqin responded, "Oh? Why is he looking for me?"
The elder replied, "He says that since Celestial Qin happens to be in New Empyrean City, he will like to pay you a visit or it will be a missed opportunity once you have left the city."
Qin Keqin rolled her eyes, "What if I refuse to see him?"
Celestial Bai Laoxiong immediately acted to say solemnly, "Acting Sect Leader Qin, I think that may not be such a good idea. After all, he may think our sect leader is afraid of him. Worse, he may think our Heavens Ridge Villa is afraid of him. This is after all our territory. Why should we be afraid of seeing him?"
Immediately many of the core protégés were muttering among themselves, "Celestial Bai is right. Why should we be afraid of him?"
"So what if he is a sixth realm expert? We are many and he won't be so foolish as to offend us."
"Our Heavens Ridge Villa and the Solitary Manor are actually not in the best of terms…"
Lu Qingyun was clenching his fists, however.
It was because he had already known that Bai Laoxiong and Supremacy Wen Hongguang were out to embarrass Qin Keqin. After all, he had overheard their conversations at the Heavenly Lotus Teahouse as they collaborated together.
Qin Keqin raised her alluring voice to say, "Since Supremacy Wen wants to see me, why not? It is not as though I will be eaten by him?"
Bai Laoxiong was smiling broadly as he thought: How wrong can you be. He will eat you so completely that not even bones will be left.
Lu Qingyun was startled: She is granting him an audience? Did she not know that he will only be here to harm her? How is she going to handle a sixth realm cultivator? Moreover there is Celestial Bai who is secretly conspiring with him…
Quietly Qin Keqin had given him a discreet look as she nodded lightly toward his direction.
He returned an anxious look at her and said silently: Keqin, be very careful…
A short while later...
Supremacy Wen Hongguang and his entourage of twenty protégés had entered the Heavens Martial Hall with great haughtiness and disdain for the protégés of the Heavens Ridge Villa.
They had every reason to justify for their actions.
Although the Heavens Ridge Villa was one of the four powerhouses of New Empyrean City, the Solitary Manor had looked down upon her protégés. It was because the Solitary Manor at least had a sixth realm expert while the Heavens Ridge Villa had none to speak of.
Although the Heavens Ridge Villa was founded by Fairy Jade Light who was a seventh realm expert but she was rarely even seen around by anyone. Maybe she had even failed in her ascension as an immortal and had gone to ashes.
Therefore Supremacy Wen Hongguang was not in the least respectful when he had walked into the grounds of the Heavens Ridge Villa, treating it like his own clan's backyard.
But the minute he had stepped into the martial hall, he was a little astonished when he saw Qin Keqin looking at him lazily as she sat on her sect leader seat; she was shaking her legs and her beautiful white jade leg could be seen through the silt of her dress.
He was left thinking with astonishment at her peerless beauty: To think that she will actually be such a peerless unrivaled beauty…
It was not only him who was awed by her beauty. His protégés were all staring at her as if they have never seen an exquisite beauty before.
Even the protégés and elders of the Heavens Ridge Villa were casting a subtle look at her exposed thigh as she shook her legs.
Even Lu Qingyun was thinking: She really has beautiful legs…
But his attention was quickly returned to Supremacy Wen Hongguang and he was clenching his fists tightly as he thought: This man does not have any good intentions. I can't believe that our clan Celestial Bai is actually in cahoots with him…
Qin Keqin smiled when she saw Supremacy Wen Hongguang, "Manor Grandmaster Wen, what brings you here today?"
Supremacy Wen Hongguang found it a little weird that she was not overwhelmed by his superior supremacy air and she was looking quite casual. The fact that he was a supremacy alone would be enough to awe most cultivators and they would quickly humbled themselves in front of him. Or at the very least, they would at least be respectful toward him.
But Qin Keqin was neither rude or respectful. It was as though she was simply speaking to a casual friend.
He straightened his back as he looked at around the hall, "I've heard that Sect Leader Qin has recently arrived at the Heavens Ridge Villa to take over as acting sect leader. Therefore it is such a golden opportunity for me to offer my sincere wishes to you and at the same time I am here to befriend Sect Leader Qin so that our two celestial clans will be able to work in harmony together."
He had thoroughly rehearsed for this speech today so that it would appear as though he had the best of the goodwill.
Qin Keqin chuckled, "It is good that Manor Grandmaster Wen has the heart. But where are the gifts? How sincere you are, depends on your gift offerings. Am I right to say so?"
Supremacy Wen Hongguang was a little startled. It was because he had not prepared any gift at all.
His purpose was to shame her and to humble her in front of the Solitary Manor therefore it never crossed his mind to bring any gifts.
Usually no one would ask to see the gift in such a situation as this. Even a blind person would be able to see that he was being sarcastic.
Was she stupid or too inexperienced?
Supremacy Wen Hongguang smiled forcefully, "The gift can naturally wait until we have exchange formalities. We should attend to business first."
"Business? What business?" Qin Keqin asked curiously.
Supremacy Wen Hongguang laughed aloud, "I've heard that you are testing your protege here today. Therefore I am curious to know how strong your core protege really is. Just now, I have heard the echoes of the Great Origin Golden Bell. I can't believe that you have a fragment of the Great Origin Golden Bell to test your proteges..."
Then he turned to stare at the numerous protege of the Heavens Ridge Villa that was presented, "I wonder who that protege that had just made the Great Origin Golden Bell to sound 9 times? Why don't you step out and have a little spar with my core protege?"
Qin Keqin frowned, "This is an aptitude test only. Do you really have to spar with my protege?"
Supremacy Wen Hongguang smirked at Qin Keqin, "Don't tell me that the proteges of your Heavens Ridge Villa only have aptitide but none of them can really fight in actuality?"
Lu Qingyun had immediately stepped forward as he said politely, "I am the one that has sounded the Great Origin Golden Bell 9 times. I don't mind sparring with your protege..."
Supremacy Wen Hongguang roared with laughter as he interrupted Lu Qingyun when he used his divine sense to read his cultivation core, "You are only a first realm expert. Are you joking with me?"
The rest of his proteges were all laughing jovially while the many of the proteges of the Heavens Ridge Villa had an ugly face.
Celestial Shi Guanyin quickly said, "Protege Lu Qingyun doesn't know any profound arts. This won't be a fair fight at all. Moreover, today is his official first day with us..."
Supremacy Wen Hongguang interrupted with jovial laughter, "So the one that can sound the Great Origin Golden Bell is nothing but a coward. I am truly disappointed!"
Lu Qingyun was unhappy that this Supremacy Wen Hongguang was here to make trouble for Qin Keqin so he said coldly, "I am willing to accept this challenge!"
When he had said that, Lie Xingyuan, Ouyang Xue and even Grand Elder Yun Xing were all startled.
Even Leng Qiuyue was gasping softly as she muttered softly, "Don't..."
It was because she knows that this Supremacy Wen Hongguang was making use of this opportunity to get rid of the Holy Son of the Heavens Ridge Villa before he has the chance to grow further!
But Qin Keqin was nonchalant about this as she smiled wryly, "Why not then?"
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Author Note:
1. Thanks for the great support! As promised, the free chapters are extended to up to 60. You can send gifts if you want to though!