Looking at Xiao Zhao before her, Feng Ninghe's gaze deepened slightly, a hint of contemplation gracing her exquisitely featured face.
The road ahead was long, and the known enemies were countless, let alone the unknown ones.
She had to improve her cultivation as quickly as possible…
The Feng family proceeded in grand fashion, their carriages arriving at the imperial palace.
The palace gates were lined with carriages, noble families having been invited, and guests disembarked one after another, stepping into the palace.
The palace banquet was lavish, exuding opulence everywhere.
In the garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, filled with vibrant Zilai blossoms, the rich spiritual energy here bringing comfort.
Xiao Zhao had returned to its fluffy form, perching excitedly on Feng Ninghe's shoulder, looking around.
Feng Guangyao's gaze lingered greedily on the small ball of snow, his pupils darting nimbly in their sockets.
He was determined to obtain this divine beast.
No matter what, he had to find a way to get Xiao Zhao.
With a divine beast in hand, he would surely lead the Feng family to glory and dominate the Li Kingdom!
Guests took their seats one by one.
Feng Ninghe distinctly sensed two gazes fixed upon her.
Di Wenbin and Wang Junzhao sat side by side, their resentful eyes falling upon Feng Ninghe.
Su Hongxiu's oppressive aura had injured them to varying degrees.
Unable to defeat Su Hongxiu, they directed their anger towards Feng Ninghe.
Su Hongxiu, famous from a young age and renowned in Jinling, possessed profound cultivation. They could accept being publicly humiliated by him, but who was Feng Ninghe to dare bully them?
"Sister Qingcheng said she would avenge us. When the time comes, I will surely make this little slut Feng Ninghe kowtow and beg for forgiveness before me!" Di Wenbin gritted his teeth.
He was the only son of the Sect Master of the Immortal Sect; he was usually respected, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?
"Quick, look! Sixth Master has arrived!"
Wang Junzhao exclaimed, noticing something, and quickly whispered a reminder.
Di Wenbin's eyes immediately narrowed, a flicker of unspoken fear in them, as he stealthily glanced towards the solitary figure not far away.
The sunlight freely illuminated Su Hongxiu's handsome face, his tall stature exuding an extraordinary aura, his long fingers idly fanning himself with a bone fan.
If Di Wenbin hadn't witnessed Sixth Master's power firsthand, he might have been deceived by his gentle appearance.
Su Hongxiu took a seat at a table adjacent to Feng Ninghe's, offering her a smile.
Feng Ninghe returned the smile, but as her gaze fell upon the two from the Immortal Sect, she narrowed her eyes, a hint of coldness in their depths.
The two young ladies of the Feng family also became the subject of much discussion.
"Sixth Master is actually sitting at the table next to Feng Ninghe. Speaking of which, this Sixth Master is quite handsome. And this eldest young lady of the Feng family is truly beautiful."
"What use is beauty? Cultivation is far more important than appearance. Feng Qingcheng is still more formidable; her cultivation is at the Nascent Soul stage, and there's absolutely no other woman this powerful in the entire Li Kingdom."
"Feng Ninghe shone brightly in the Hundred Arena Competition, but so what if she's no longer a cultivation waste? She's still far from being comparable to Feng Qingcheng…"
Feng Ninghe remained unfazed by the whispers, casually picking up her teacup and taking a sip.
Feng Qingcheng's delicate face displayed a hint of arrogance, her lips curling imperceptibly upwards, her beautiful eyes holding a touch of nonchalance.
What these cultivators said was true.
She was a heavenly prodigy, not someone Feng Ninghe, the waste, could be compared to.
Seeing Su Hongxiu sitting so close to Feng Ninghe, her heart filled with rage.
Was Sixth Master blind to be so close to this little slut Feng Ninghe?
Even she had been insulted by Sixth Master; why was this woman allowed to be so close to him?
Feng Qingcheng's gaze narrowed, a hint of coldness flashing in her beautiful eyes: "I didn't expect Feng Ninghe to have such a good relationship with Sixth Master."
In the entire Li Kingdom, few people could catch Su Hongxiu's eye.
Beside Feng Qingcheng sat Baili Yang.
Baili Yang glanced at Feng Ninghe with disdain: "How could Sixth Master fancy such a vulgar person? It must be that demoness used some trick to make Sixth Master look at her differently."
This explanation somewhat eased Feng Qingcheng's expression, and her mood visibly brightened.
She moved her lips, speaking unhurriedly: "Years ago, Feng Ninghe was already defiled. Who knows what other tricks she used to bewitch Sixth Master."
Feng Qingcheng's gaze occasionally flickered towards Feng Ninghe's location, and with each glance, her jealousy intensified.
Feng Ninghe sat quietly, her demeanor serene, her face as fair as snow, stunningly beautiful.
Her beauty was impossible for anyone to ignore.
"Miss Feng!"
Bai Niannian approached with a bright smile, her steps light and cheerful: "Your dress today is truly beautiful!"
Beside Bai Niannian stood Bai Hongyu. Upon seeing Feng Ninghe's attire, a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes, but he quickly concealed his emotions, his face filled with admiration.
Although Feng Ninghe wasn't wearing clothes he had made, her current outfit was clearly more stunning.
Feng Ninghe smiled in response to the compliment, her eyes curving slightly: "Your dress is equally lovely."
Bai Niannian's smile widened, her eyes full of anticipation as she looked at Feng Ninghe: "Miss Feng, it's been a while, I've missed you terribly. Have you decided whether you'll take me as your disciple?"
Bai Hongyu stood silently beside her, his eyes darting about.
If his fourth sister could persuade Miss Feng to become her master, it wouldn't be bad.
The relationship between the Bai and Feng families would become even closer, and he would have more reasons to approach Feng Ninghe in the future.
Before Feng Ninghe could reply, a sharp, somewhat cutting male voice cut through the crowd.
"Did I hear correctly? Someone actually wants to take Feng Ninghe as their master!"
Di Wenbin's eyes widened, and he rubbed them, his astonished expression as if witnessing something utterly unbelievable.
Wang Junzhao haughtily tilted his head, scoffing dismissively: "My eyes have been opened today. As expected of a small sect, their vision is so narrow."
As disciples of the Immortal Sect, they simply looked down on the insignificant Li Kingdom, especially Feng Ninghe.
The two men's words successfully angered Bai Niannian. She raised her delicate eyebrows, looking at them with slight annoyance: "What nonsense are you spouting? I thought disciples of the Immortal Sect would be different from ordinary mortals, but I didn't expect your mouths to be so foul."
She believed in her own judgment.
Feng Ninghe had severely punished Bai Qianqian at the city gates and then healed the Bai family patriarch, proving Feng Ninghe's great capabilities.
She dreamt of becoming her disciple; how could she allow others to slander Feng Ninghe like this?
Elder Xu stroked his goatee with satisfaction, openly appraising Bai Niannian.
He then leaned closer to Feng Ninghe and whispered: "This little girl is good, straightforward. But even if she wants to be a disciple, she'll have to queue up first."
Everything required order; if Feng Ninghe were to accept disciples, she had to accept him first. He didn't mind having a straightforward fellow disciple.
Elder Xu's words made Feng Ninghe shake her head with a hint of helplessness, her gaze also falling upon Bai Niannian.
This little girl was truly remarkable.