At dusk, a group of young men and women, brimming with vitality, gathered at the gates of the Yuan family, surrounding Yuan Ye.
Xiao Chen followed Yuan Ye, hands clasped behind his back, listening to the effusive compliments directed at the young master.
"Hehe, Brother Yuan Ye is truly well-respected," Xiao Chen remarked. "He can bring so many of us together!"
"Of course! This is the mighty Brother Yuan Ye, after all!"
"That's right. Attending a gathering of the younger generation is usually impossible for us. But for Brother Yuan Ye, it's a mere trifle!"
"I've long admired these gatherings. Today, I finally get to experience one."
Yuan Ye's face displayed undisguised self-satisfaction.
"Haha, it's nothing," he said. "Only the strongest and most talented young people in Yunhai City are qualified to participate. I'm quite familiar with them, and since I joined the Tianyuan Sect, they allowed me to bring a few more people along."
Yuan Mengyao, standing nearby, pursed her lips, observing Yuan Ye. His high spirits, boundless confidence, and overflowing pride were evident. Almost involuntarily, she glanced at Xiao Chen.
He remained calm, seemingly indifferent to the gathering. She shook her head, feeling a fresh wave of disappointment.
The gathering was held within a towering, ancient castle. Luxurious carriages were already parked quietly outside.
At the entrance, two guards with imposing auras meticulously checked the information of each guest.
As the Yuan family group arrived, a guard's deep voice challenged them. "Who are you? Do you have an invitation?"
"This…" The Yuan family members exchanged uneasy glances, looking to Yuan Ye. Their own strength and status were insufficient to warrant an invitation.
The guard smirked. "Do you even know what place this is? How dare you come here! Get out!"
"My name is Yuan Ye!" Yuan Ye stepped forward, hands still behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the guards. "While I don't have a formal invitation, it shouldn't be a problem for me to bring a few people along."
"Yuan Ye!" Recognition dawned on the guard's face, his demeanor shifting instantly to respectful. He saluted, hands folded, and said carefully, "May I inquire if you are the number one genius of the Yuan family?"
"Yes, I am." Yuan Ye lifted his chin, a hint of arrogance in his voice.
The two guards exchanged shocked glances. They hadn't expected such a prestigious figure at this gathering. Yuan Ye was undoubtedly the most outstanding among Yunhai City's younger generation. In fact, he had already broken through to the Spirit Incarnation Realm, a feat that commanded respect even from some of the city's most influential figures.
With a thud, the two guards knelt, scrambling to apologize. "We were unaware that Young Master Yuan would be gracing us with his presence. Please forgive us!"
Yuan Ye, basking in the attention, glanced at Xiao Chen and said with a touch of condescension, "It doesn't matter. May we enter now?"
"Of course, of course! This way, please." The guard, head bowed, gestured respectfully.
Yuan Ye strode into the castle, head held high.
Behind him, the younger generation of the Yuan family stared in awe.
"Oh my god! Has Brother Yuan Ye become so famous? Even a mere guard knows his name!"
"A mere guard? Those two guards… I could sense their cultivation had reached level nine of the Body-refining Realm!"
"What? Level nine of the Body-refining Realm?!" A collective gasp rippled through the group. Such strength was not to be underestimated in Yunhai City. Yet, before Yuan Ye, they could only kneel and worship.
"Haha, Brother Yuan Ye is truly powerful!" someone exclaimed, their eyes involuntarily drifting towards Xiao Chen. A shake of the head followed. "Compared to him, Xiao Chen is truly insignificant, like an ant."
"A good-for-nothing like him isn't even worthy of being Brother Yuan Ye's rival in love. Brother Yuan Ye could defeat him in seconds."
Yuan Mengyao, her gaze fixed on Yuan Ye, barely registered Xiao Chen's existence. He was completely dismissed from her thoughts.
Inside the hall, the eyes of the young Yuan family members widened with excitement. They recognized many prominent figures and began whispering excitedly.
"That's Ning Wu of the Ning family! He's here too!"
"Ning Wu is a level seven Body-refining Realm genius!"
"And look! That's Han Xuan, a level nine Body-refining Realm genius! He was chosen as the successor of the Han family long ago!"
Their own cultivation paled in comparison. They were either too young or simply not talented enough to reach such heights. They were still two or three levels below these geniuses.
Even Yuan Mengyao's composure faltered. She couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at seeing so many of Yunhai City's most outstanding individuals. Among the younger generation of the Yuan family, only Yuan Ye could rival them.
"Hey, Yuan Ye, you're here?" A young man in a thin blue shirt approached, a hearty laugh echoing through the hall. His aura was so powerful that it made many nearby breathless.
"That's Xu Yao! He defeated a ferocious tiger when he was only ten years old! His physique is legendary in Yunhai City!" Yuan Ye said, smiling as he introduced Xu Yao to Yuan Mengyao.
"Is he Xu Yao?" Yuan Mengyao breathed in surprise. She had, of course, heard of him.
"I'm nothing special," Xu Yao said, shaking his head. He looked at Yuan Ye with a hint of envy. "I heard you're an external disciple of the Tianyuan Sect. I'm so jealous."
Others might consider him powerful, but in his own eyes, Yuan Ye was the truly remarkable one. Not only had he reached the Spirit Incarnation Realm at a young age, but he had also been accepted as an external disciple by the prestigious Tianyuan Sect! Such achievements were unparalleled in Yunhai City.
As they chatted, a sudden commotion arose.
"Hm? Is that Young Master meng?" Xu Yao asked, a smile spreading across his face.
"Young Master meng? Is it the lord of the city, Young Master meng Yang? Is he here too?" Yuan Mengyao whispered.
Yuan Ye nodded. "Yes. Let's go and greet him. Speaking of which, Young Master meng is my senior brother, although he has long been a formal disciple of the Tianyuan Sect, and his cultivation has already reached level three of the Spirit Incarnation Realm!"
Xu Yao agreed. "You two are ranked number one and number two experts in Yunhai City. I think you'll have much in common."
Yuan Ye shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm ranked second in Yunhai City and have a little reputation, but compared to Young Master Feng, I'm nothing. Young Master meng is practically a celebrity within the Tianyuan Sect!"
As he spoke, the group moved towards the entrance, quietly awaiting meng Yang's arrival.
Soon, a young man in azure robes entered, a radiant smile illuminating his face. As he appeared, a chorus of greetings erupted.
"Young Master meng!"
"Haha, Young Master meng, your presence honors us."
"It's our privilege to have you here!"
Meng Yang exuded an aura of confidence and power. He smiled, nodding to the crowd, and said in a clear, resonant voice, "Everyone, please don't mind me. Eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves. You are all geniuses of Yunhai City. You should mingle and get to know each other."
With that, he joined a small group and began conversing in hushed tones.