Chapter 11: The Blue Sky Assembly

Listening to these people rambling and boasting, it was actually quite entertaining at times. Yet, from their conversations, Yang Qingyuan gleaned some harsh truths.

In this era, the conflict between humans and demons was sharper than ever. Even the glaring fact that the Tushan fox demons never harmed humans was met with disbelief. To these Taoist priests, any demon was a target to be killed without question. Even if the demon did nothing wrong, the mere notion of “not of our kind” was enough to sentence it to death.

If Taoists wielding power held such rigid views, ordinary unarmed people were even less tolerant. This mirrored what Yang Qingyuan had witnessed over the years within the Yang family. Thus, he believed it was no small feat for someone like Mu Mie’s father to stand out in such a time.

However, standing apart from everyone else was not always a blessing. In this world, if you were too wicked, they would destroy you; too weak, they would trample you; too good or too strong, they would distrust and suppress you. Only when you resembled them closely would they accept you as one of their own.

“A tall tree catches the wind, a person above the crowd draws criticism.” Human nature’s dark root seemed immutable. The only way was to hide one’s uniqueness until strong enough to face “them.” This was the true survival path for ordinary people.

After listening enough, Yang Qingyuan called the waiter to settle the bill and returned to the Yang estate. From that day forward, his life regained its former calm.

In the following months, aside from occasionally going out to improve his meals, Yang Qingyuan spent nearly every day in his room cultivating the Eight-Nine Profound Skill. Though he had already broken through to the second stage, he dared not slacken. He had a premonition his time at the Yang estate was limited.

Given the Xiao family’s vindictive nature, how could they remain silent after suffering two defeats at his hands? Did the Xiao family have such a broad heart? Ha! Yang Qingyuan would sooner believe pigs could climb trees.

The current peace felt like the calm before a storm, heavy with oppression. But to Yang Qingyuan, none of this mattered. When the enemy came, he would block it; when the water came, he would dam it. If all else failed, he could always run.

To that end, he had Yang Yanhua spend a fortune buying him some teleportation talismans as a safeguard against accidents. In any case, it was never wrong to use every moment to strengthen oneself.

As for Yang Yitan, at first he occasionally came to visit Yang Qingyuan, but later, for some unknown reason, he no longer seemed eager to challenge him. Even when they met by chance, he would merely say, “See you at the Blue Sky Assembly.” Yang Qingyuan found this puzzling. Children’s hearts were indeed hard to read...

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Time passed unnoticed, and soon it was the date of the Blue Sky Assembly. Held every thirty-six years, the Taoist Alliance always treated this event with utmost importance. Even Dongfang Guyue of the Divine Fire Villa sent escorts for her two beloved daughters to travel a great distance to attend, showing just how much the Alliance valued the Assembly, or rather, the “Taoist Alliance Secrets.”

At first, Yang Qingyuan had no desire to attend. The so-called “Taoist Alliance Secrets” were merely clues left by the Monkey King of Aolai Kingdom about the outside world and methods to repair the “barrier” he left behind.

He even maliciously speculated that these “secrets” might be fragments of the Stone Born, the pieces of the stone the Third Young Master of Aolai Kingdom was born from. Though far-fetched, to Yang Qingyuan, these secrets held no real mystery, so he wasn’t keen to join the commotion. He preferred to spend time cultivating the Eight-Nine Profound Skill, and when strong enough, he could just throw some stones around himself—his own version of “True Lord Secrets.”

However, a single remark from Yang Yitan before departure piqued his interest: “It is said some have gained power from the Taoist Alliance Secrets, making great breakthroughs…”

That was enough to change Yang Qingyuan’s mind instantly. If there was an “experience pack,” why hadn't he heard sooner?

Secrets held no allure, but power was something he craved immensely.

Thus, Yang Qingyuan accompanied the Yang family to the Blue Sky Assembly. Upon arrival, the venue was already packed with a throng of people, mostly adults and children from prominent families within the Taoist Alliance.

Since the assembly was still some time away, the crowd naturally formed small groups — adults mingling with adults, children with children.

For a top-tier family like the Yangs, Yang Yitan’s usual circle consisted exclusively of children from the foremost Taoist families.

Having come this far, Yang Qingyuan decided to follow Yang Yitan and observe these future faces, curious what they were like as children.

“Brother Yitan, Yang Qingyuan, over here!” Before they even approached, Yang Qingyuan spotted Wang Quanzui waving enthusiastically.

“Yang Qingyuan—isn’t he the fierce fighter who settled the Yang family wedding with a single punch?” A child beside Wang Quanzui, wearing a golden circlet resembling a crown, suddenly brightened.

“Yes, that’s him,” Wang Quanhaye replied with a slight smile, extending a greeting toward Yang Yitan and Yang Qingyuan.

“Oh? Interesting. We must get to know each other better,” murmured a long-haired child beside Wang Quanhaye.

“Greetings, Young Master Wang, Young Miss Wang,” Yang Qingyuan politely bowed as he had before.

“No need for such formalities…” Wang Quanhaye shook his head with a hint of resignation.

“Brother Yang, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Li Quzhuo, and this is my elder brother, Li Zizai.”

“Greetings to both of you…”