Chapter 430 The Arrival of the Marriage Contest
Phew…
After watching her mother leave, Feng Qiongyu instinctively let out a long breath and patted her chest.
She then turned to Ye Beixuan and said, "Senior Brother, you're amazing."
Ye Beixuan gently patted her head with affection. "As long as you're happy, that's enough."
"Mm."
After Feng Qiongyu answered, the two returned to the rear courtyard to rejoin Chu Feng and the others.
Ye Beixuan recounted what had happened earlier to Chu Feng.
After listening, Chu Feng laughed and said, "This Feng family is really interesting. Xiao Chen, Youqian, you two can also go up and have some fun when the time comes."
Xiao Chen smiled. "Of course. I also want to see what kind of opponents I can face now."
Cao Youqian shrugged. "I was planning to just watch, but if I get to stretch my muscles a bit, that's not bad either."
Ye Beixuan cupped his hands respectfully toward the two. "Many thanks, Senior Brothers."
Chen Qianqian timidly raised her hand. "Master, can Bai Qian and I go out to play?"
Chu Feng rubbed the little girl's head. "You can."
"Yay!"
Chen Qianqian and Bai Qian immediately hugged each other in delight.
No one was surprised; the two little girls were still children, and it was only natural they wanted to play.
…
As the day of the marriage contest drew near, factions from all sides flooded into Fire Phoenix Valley, making the valley increasingly lively.
Where there are people, there is conflict.
Since everyone had come for Feng Qiongyu, naturally there was animosity, and clashes frequently broke out in the valley.
But the Feng family never intervened to stop these fights, only stepping in as mediators once both sides were nearly finished.
At the same time, the Feng family spread word that this marriage contest would allow contestants to bring allies.
The news brought both joy and resentment.
Young men without backing from major powers cursed in private that Fire Phoenix Valley looked down on geniuses from smaller clans.
Some even shouted, "Thirty years east, thirty years west—do not bully the youth for being poor."
Disciples of great sects, however, praised the rule, saying only those well-matched in status could find true happiness together.
The disputes outside had little to do with the Feng family or Chu Feng's group.
Chu Feng would occasionally take Chen Qianqian and Bai Qian out to wander the streets, experiencing the customs of Fire Phoenix Valley.
Time passed quickly, and soon the day of the marriage contest arrived.
Early that morning, Chu Feng rose, stretched, and then boarded the carriage bound for the contest grounds.
Three days earlier, Feng Qiongyu had returned with her mother to the Feng family estate, so she was not traveling with them.
On the wide street, the crowds surged like waves.
Even so, Chu Feng and his companions' carriage passed through unhindered.
It was drawn by a black tiger of the Path Union Realm; anyone with eyes could see the extraordinary status of those riding within.
Half an hour later, the carriage reached the plaza where the contest would be held.
The plaza was packed with people, and at its center a towering arena had been constructed.
The stage was inscribed with countless runes and reinforced with formations.
At the far end of the plaza, stands had also been built.
As soon as Chu Feng's carriage arrived, a booming voice resounded across the square.
"The geniuses of Wendao Academy have arrived!"
At once, countless eyes turned toward the carriage.
Seeing the majestic black tiger, the crowd began to murmur.
"So it's Wendao Academy's prodigy himself. To have a Path Union Realm beast pulling the carriage, his backing must be at least that of a lord or higher."
"It seems the Feng family's daughter is truly well-regarded at Wendao Academy."
"No, it should be said the Feng family's status is not low. If it were an ordinary Half-Saint power, and their daughter was noticed by a Holy Land prodigy, she would have already been sent to his door. How could they still be holding a marriage contest?"
"…"
Very soon, a Feng family steward came before the carriage, leading it toward the viewing platform.
At first, the Feng family had not planned to leave a seat for Wendao Academy.
But Feng Mother forcefully opposed the others and insisted Wendao Academy be given a seat on the viewing platform.
Only then did the Feng family leave a place. Yet when they saw the black tiger of the Path Union Realm pulling the carriage, every member of the Feng family felt mixed emotions.
They feared that if the Wendao Academy elder truly dominated the competition, the Feng family would become a laughingstock.
To climb higher by allying with Wendao Academy, would they really marry their daughter to some decrepit old man?
The carriage stopped before the platform, and with a creak, its door opened.
All eyes of the Feng family fell upon it.
Feng Father turned to Feng Yanxiang and said, "Third Son, tell me, which old man struck you before?"
Feng Yanxiang froze, but soon he spotted a familiar figure stepping out of the carriage.
"Father, it was that boy who struck me!"
"Hm?"
Feng Father looked at the young man stepping down and faltered. "Didn't you say it was a Wendao Academy elder who injured you?"
At his side, Feng Mother snapped irritably, "What, do you think our little Feather has worse judgment than me, that she would find some hundred-year-old relic?"
Feng Father paused, muttering, "So young, yet an elder of Wendao Academy… by reason, he should already be famous throughout the world."
Feng Mother said, "Is it not because Wendao Academy has those two this generation?"
Hearing this, Feng Father slowly nodded. Naturally, he had heard the names of Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian. Even he felt only respect when speaking of those two young men.
Perhaps in all of Fire Phoenix Valley, only the oldest ancestors could still suppress them in power.
Among the crowd, many looked confused when they saw the ones stepping from the carriage.
They saw no overwhelming elder of Wendao Academy—only young figures.
On the high platform, however, Benlei the Great Sage of Thunder Roar Villa, upon seeing them, shuddered uncontrollably. Turning to his descendant, he said, "Grandson, you will not participate in this marriage contest. I will first take you to meet your grandmaster."
At the first half of this sentence, the young master of Thunder Roar Villa felt some dissatisfaction. But hearing the latter half, his heart surged with excitement.
The grandmaster his ancestor spoke of—was it not that invincible Great Sage who had struck down two Saints? If he could be accepted under such a master, what kind of beauties would he not have in the future?
"Yes."
The old and the young immediately rose and walked toward Chu Feng and the others.
This movement naturally drew the Feng family's attention. One elder of the Feng family fixed his eyes on Benlei the Great Sage, wanting to see what he would do.
When he saw Benlei heading toward the group from Wendao Academy, he cried out, "Not good! The people of Thunder Roar Villa—are they about to clash with Wendao Academy?"
At those words, all the Feng family members turned their eyes toward Benlei.
But in the next instant, they were all stunned—Benlei the Great Sage bent and offered a formal disciple's salute to one of the young men of Wendao Academy…
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