Chapter 16: The Origins of Yang Qingyuan

"Yes, Master."

The moment he heard those words, Steward Fei respectfully clasped his fists toward the empty air, then immediately set about making arrangements.

"Master..."

Yang Qingyuan looked up at the figure hovering in the sky. Before he could clearly see the person, the image suddenly blurred and vanished from his sight.

"That must be Wang Quanshouzhuo, the current head of the Wang family..."

Impressive. Just a glance was enough for Yang Qingyuan to realize that a powerhouse of this caliber was far beyond what he could contend with at present.

Wang Quanshouzhuo was a figure most people underestimated. Many only knew him as the father of Wang Quan Baye, but few realized that his talent might not be inferior to his son's.

It was said that Wang Quanshouzhuo, wielding the Wang Sword, could still hold his own against a demon emperor despite having a congenital physical defect.

One could hardly imagine the extent of his power had he been in his prime.

After Wang Quanshouzhuo disappeared, the scene gradually calmed under Steward Fei’s orderly direction.

"Yang Qingyuan, you really have guts. Now you’ve stolen not only our spotlight but even my boss’s glory," Li Quzhuo said, stepping forward with an easy familiarity, draping his arm over Yang Qingyuan’s shoulder while winking at Wang Quan Baye.

"You scoundrel..." Wang Quan Baye shook his head helplessly, but when his gaze fell on Yang Qingyuan, there was an inexplicable expression in his eyes.

Unlike the lively atmosphere around Yang Qingyuan, Xiao Tiansheng nearby felt his face burning as if he had been slapped several times.

"Young Master Xiao, this..."

"Shut up. Let’s go!" Xiao Tiansheng snapped sharply, hastily trying to lead his group away with tails between their legs.

Just then, Li Quzhuo, who had been chatting and laughing with Yang Qingyuan moments before, suddenly blocked their path.

"Hey, wait! Why are you in such a hurry? Didn’t someone just say Yang Qingyuan wouldn’t be able to tell anything? Why aren’t you barking like a dog anymore?"

"Hmph! What’s there to be so proud of? Maybe he didn’t see a thing and just made up some lies to fool us!"

"Lying so casually? Do you think everyone is as shameless as your Xiao family?" The speaker’s words hit home.

At that moment, behind Li Quzhuo, a little girl in a black robe subtly lowered her head.

"Big brother, enough," Xiao Tianhao tugged at Xiao Tiansheng’s clothes, trying to lead him away.

"Hmph!" Xiao Tiansheng snorted but ultimately followed Xiao Tianhao away in disgrace.

"Hahaha, what a ridiculous clown!" After driving Xiao Tiansheng off, Li Quzhuo laughed heartily, oblivious to his sister’s face nearly buried in shame behind him.

Yang Qingyuan noticed Li Muchen’s strange behavior but, knowing the full context, said nothing.

Earlier, after absorbing a small portion of the Third Young Master’s secret transmission from the Dao Alliance, his Eight-Nine Profound Skill had experienced a minor breakthrough.

This gave Yang Qingyuan a new idea for rapidly cultivating the Eight-Nine Profound Skill. If he could absorb all the secret transmissions left by the Third Young Master, then...

Of course, this was just a daydream. Those transmissions were scattered between the Dao Alliance and the major demon kingdoms. Apart from the Dao Alliance’s copy, the others were likely guarded by the Four Great Demon Emperors.

After all, any artifact linked to the Third Young Master was prized by the strongest demons.

But then the question arose: If I’m capable of stealing from the Four Great Demon Emperors, why bother with the little energy in those stones?

So, that idea was discarded.

According to the usual Blue Sky Conference schedule, after the talent tests concluded, the cultivation contests would follow—something Yang Yifang was eagerly anticipating.

However, because Yang Qingyuan had caused such a commotion, Steward Fei needed time to seal off information about the scene. Thus, Yang Yifang temporarily took over as host to announce the next phase.

Watching Yang Yifang beam proudly onstage, having produced two prodigies at once, Xiao Wancheng in the audience clenched his teeth in silent frustration.

At that moment, Xiao Tiansheng approached with an angry expression.

"Father, when will we make our move?"

"The plan is canceled. Everyone hold your positions," Xiao Wancheng declared.

"What? Why, Father?!" Xiao Tiansheng looked at him bewildered.

"Why?!" Xiao Wancheng glared with a mix of disappointment and anger.

After months of investigation, the Xiao family had finally uncovered some clues about Yang Qingyuan’s background.

It seemed this Yang Qingyuan was indeed connected to demons!

Unfortunately, the Yang family maintained an extremely strict information blockade, leaving the Xiao family with no concrete evidence for the moment.

Originally, the Xiao father and son intended to use the Blue Sky Conference to recreate the scene from the Yang family’s wedding banquet in front of all the major Dao Alliance clans.

But who would have expected Yang Qingyuan to cause such a huge disturbance today, even attracting the attention of the Wang Alliance Leader!

Under these circumstances, forcibly seizing Yang Qingyuan—already under Wang Quanshouzhuo’s watchful eye—without solid proof was virtually impossible.

The major Dao Alliance families were excited to see a rising star emerge. If the Xiao family took him away before the conference ended, it would be unacceptable to all.

Therefore, Xiao Wancheng was forced to abandon today’s plan temporarily.

"From now on, try to avoid provoking Yang Qingyuan."

"But Father..."

Xiao Tiansheng’s face flushed with frustration, words caught in his throat.

"I know what you want to say, but this kid is no longer the same as the Yang family’s son-in-law. To take him, you must have indisputable evidence—evidence so solid that the Yang family cannot utter a single word!"

Xiao Tiansheng glanced back at Yang Qingyuan in the crowd and gritted his teeth.

"Understood, Father. Evidence or not, I will find it sooner or later. When that day comes, I will see to it that Yang Qingyuan is utterly nailed down!"

"Good. Tiansheng, remember, even if your talent is inferior, never give up on yourself.

Our Xiao family has reached this point not by talent, but by means—ruthless means!

In this world where demons devour humans and humans devour each other, if you want to rise, you must climb on the shoulders of others!"