"Aren't you curious how the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will handle this?"
Jiang Manman walked over, her eyes burning with intense interest.
Ning Ting paused, meeting her gaze. His male voice held a hint of confusion. "Peilan's cultivation has long reached the Golden Core stage, and she's just waiting for an opportunity to break through. Feng Ninghe is merely a cultivation waste. If she's not stopped, she'll end up bleeding on the spot."
To this, Jiang Manman smiled charmingly. "Immortal Xu only took such a disciple. I'm curious how a mere cultivation waste managed to catch Immortal Xu's eye. We might as well watch how things unfold."
The atmosphere around them subtly shifted.
Under the expectant gazes of everyone, Feng Ninghe shook her head and refused.
"It's a spirit beast I signed a contract with, it's mine. Why should I compete with you?"
A cold, clear female voice slowly emerged from her lips.
A white robe accentuated her graceful figure, and the aloof aura around her eyes made her face appear exceptionally serene.
Ning Peilan sneered, raising her long sword and pointing it at Feng Ninghe. "The victor is king, the vanquished is a bandit. Even if it's a spirit beast you contracted with, so what? I don't feel the slightest spiritual fluctuation from you. Your cultivation is likely inferior to mine. If you surrender and hand over the spirit beast, I won't make things difficult for you."
Feng Ninghe had understood the principle of "the victor is king, the vanquished is a bandit" for a long time.
She remained unmoved, standing still and looking directly at the woman before her.
Just as everyone was pondering how she would respond, Feng Ninghe threw her head back and let out a howl, then took off running. "Master! Save me!"
This action stunned everyone present, their mouths agape.
Ning Peilan, the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo and a disciple of Immortal Xu, backed by the Medicine Valley, had such a weak backbone that she immediately ran to call for backup?
Ning Peilan's expression instantly darkened, a hint of coldness lingering on her delicate face.
Her figure flashed, and the hand holding the long sword fiercely thrust towards Feng Ninghe.
Feng Ninghe, seemingly unaware, continued to run, though her eyes subtly deepened.
*Swish!*
A gust of wind seemed to sweep past.
Ning Peilan's long sword struck the ground with a crisp sound.
As she became enraged about who had intervened, she looked up and saw a man with an elegant posture standing in front of Feng Ninghe.
"Today is the First Prince's birthday, after all. Even if it's a spar, there's no need to rush this moment," a deep male voice slowly said.
Feng Ninghe turned her head and immediately saw the man's well-defined hands fanning himself with a bone fan.
She also recognized the man's identity.
The Pavilion Master of the Willow Face Pavilion – Sixth Master.
"And who might you be?" Ning Peilan's eyes flared with apprehension.
The man, dressed in a green robe, wore a faint smile on his face, yet he exuded an enigmatic aura. More importantly, Ning Peilan felt a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure. This man's cultivation was above hers!
"The Pavilion Master of the Willow Face Pavilion! He's here too!"
"It's actually Sixth Master! The First Prince has quite the influence to have even invited Sixth Master!"
The cultivators, recognizing Sixth Master's identity, were excited. The young ladies around them, their hearts fluttering, gazed at Sixth Master's handsome face and whispered amongst themselves.
Ning Ting, observing from the shadows, could no longer stand still. He flashed forward and quickly arrived in front of Ning Peilan. "This is the Pavilion Master of the Willow Face Pavilion. Do not be presumptuous. Have you had enough of your antics today?" Even the Ning family patriarch had to show Sixth Master some respect. Offending the Willow Face Pavilion would bring no benefit to the Ning family.
After weighing the pros and cons, Ning Peilan instinctively bit her lip and clutched her sleeves. "Brother Ning Ting, even Sixth Master shouldn't prevent the younger generation from sparring. Feng Ninghe is older than me, yet she dares not spar with me..."
Before she could finish, Ning Ting interrupted her with a low reprimand. "Enough. Today is the First Prince's birthday, and it's not appropriate to cause a scene. Even if it's a spar, it can be postponed to another day."
Scolded, Ning Peilan's eyes reddened, looking like a wronged little rabbit, pitiful and endearing. Then, as if remembering something, she glared fiercely at Feng Ninghe. It was clear that she attributed all the blame to Feng Ninghe.
Afterward, Ning Ting cupped his fists towards Sixth Master. "My apologies, Sixth Master. I've made a fool of myself today."
Sixth Master waved his bone fan dismissively.
Feng Ninghe was somewhat surprised that Sixth Master would intervene. She politely thanked him. "Thank you, Sixth Master."
Sixth Master smiled, his handsome face coming alive with the expression. "You are my friend. This small favor is nothing."
The cultivators around them erupted like a pot of boiling water, casting envious glances at Feng Ninghe. "This is the Pavilion Master of the Willow Face Pavilion! So many people dream of meeting Sixth Master, yet someone is openly acknowledged as his friend!" "Isn't this eldest lady of the Feng family a cultivation waste? Backed by the Medicine Valley, and now a friend of Sixth Master!"
However, in a moment, they retracted their envious gazes. No matter how strong Feng Ninghe's background was, she was ultimately useless. In a one-on-one fight, no one could defeat her.
Sixth Master's arrival also attracted Baili Ye's attention. "Sixth Master, you've arrived! Please, take a seat!" Baili Ye quickly walked over, a smile on his face, and said politely. Feng Tongtong was also beside him. Feng Tongtong, like a proud mother hen, followed Baili Ye with her head held high, her gaze towards Feng Ninghe filled with intense disdain, as if to flaunt that she was the one standing beside Baili Ye in the end.
Sixth Master did not refuse Baili Ye's warm invitation, nodding his head slowly. Before leaving, Sixth Master specifically glanced at Feng Ninghe, his deep eyes inscrutable.
As soon as Sixth Master left, Ning Peilan approached her, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. "Today is the First Prince's birthday, so I'll let you off the hook. If there's an opportunity in the future, I will definitely have a good spar with you. Considering your low spiritual power, I can even let you have three moves."
The sharp female voice was grating. Feng Ninghe subconsciously reached up to rub her ears and slowly looked up at her. "Then you'd best pray that opportunity never comes." With that, she strode away.
Ning Peilan stamped her feet in anger, but dared not act out with Ning Ting beside her. Ning Ting stared at Feng Ninghe's departing back for a long time, his eyes filled with lingering confusion. This woman... wasn't she just a cultivation waste? How did she catch the eye of the Medicine Valley's master, and even be openly acknowledged as a friend by Sixth Master?
The younger generation gathered to play, while the patriarchs of the four great families busied themselves with fawning over Sixth Master and other influential figures. Old Man Xu was also surrounded by a crowd, who hovered around him. Inside the mansion, many young ladies stood by a pond.
"Tongtong, you look so beautiful today. Only you are worthy of the First Prince." "When you become the Crown Princess, you must take good care of us."
Feng Tongtong was showered with praise by the young ladies, who treated her like a star. While Baili Ye was entertaining Sixth Master, she chatted with the young ladies of the same generation from the major families. Her cheeks were full of smiles as she basked in their adulation. "Don't worry, I won't forget you."
Jiang Manman glanced disdainfully at the girls busy flattering others, then changed the subject. "If Feng Ninghe hadn't had an accident back then, who would have been the future Crown Princess is still uncertain."