“I heard that it was a supreme from one of the ten great sects that executed a technique!”

“No, it was the Heaven Earth Rending formation comprehended by one of the few Array Formation Masters that caused it.”

“Well, there are rumours that the Corpse-life Archdemon’s seal was weakened and that as a result of its power leaking out, the continent suffered for it. A peerless master from one of the ten great sects was able to strengthen the seal before it became worse.”

Everyone was having a heated discussion about the phenomenon that took place a few days ago.

Within Blackstone City, six figures were having a meal on the topmost floor of a restaurant. They all wore dark cloaks that hid their faces and figures, keeping themselves as low profile as possible.

They took in the information of gossip and rumours that circulated around them. They were well aware that if you wanted to put your ears on the ground, then restaurants and teahouses were the best places to get information for free.

Though the information was unreliable at times because of its hearsay-like nature and required a lot of sifting through, it was still beneficial if one wished to keep up with current affairs.

The discussions being held at the moment were not something one would normally hear in a mortal place like Blackstone City. However, due to the influx of cultivators that arrived for the auction, certain information that only circulated amongst this group was all that anyone was talking about.

The six figures realised that the information was getting repetitive and was getting ready to settle their tab and leave as soon as the last one in their group finished eating, when a young lady, followed by a group of young men, ascended the stairs.

The minute she ascended the stairs, the discussion stopped almost immediately. She couldn’t have been more than sixteen, maybe seventeen, and yet she was breathtakingly beautiful. She was clearly of the demon race as her skin was violet and it gently shone with the same coloured hue.

Her inky black hair gracefully flowed unimpeded with each step reaching all the way to her lower back. A single horn that flashed with strange runes protruded from her forehead and curved upwards, as if it wished to pierce the heavens.

“Is there anywhere where fairy Zi Yu wishes to sit down specifically?”

“Zi Yu!? As in the young miss of the Zi family!?” Hushed discussions instantly broke out when her name was revealed.

This was one of the few powerful families within the Demon race. Not all great powers within the Demon race came under the classification of either clans or sects, some were families as well.

There were some families that were so powerful that their foundation and legacy didn’t lose to any sect or clan. The Zi family were one of the few that could boast of this capability.

Even more so, this lady before them was the beloved daughter of the Zi family patriarch and was thus the young miss of the Zi family.

“Then who is the young man beside her? How is he able to stand side by side with the young miss of the Zi family?”

“I heard that the young master of the Zhen family was pursuing lady Zi Yu. It must be him, young master Zhen Song. Looking at his bearing, he is truly a dragon among men.”

Zhen Song naturally felt good when he heard such words, however, he didn’t allow it to show on his face. He didn’t want anyone to think that the praises of the common rabble were enough to affect him in any way.

As Zi Yu scanned the restaurant, she noticed that the group of cloaked figures were making slight movements to settle their bill and leave. Seeing as how the table was right by the window and they were practically done, she made her way over.

When Zhen Song saw the table she had her eyes on, he wore an arrogant expression and strode over ahead of her before commanding in a loud voice, “Fairy Zi Yu wants to sit here.”

“We’re just finishing up,” the shortest figure at the table advised. One of their members was truly finishing the last of their meal, so it was by no means a long wait, a few seconds at most.

“You wish to make Fair Zi Yu wait!?”

“If you understand how logic works, then that makes everything easier.” A young voice belonging to a child drifted out. It was obviously a boy who spoke, the only peculiarity being that the owner was really young!

Everyone on the top floor quieted down instantly and watched the situation with great interest. Who was this young lad that dared to slight the young master of the Zhen family?

“Do you know who I am!?”

“No.”

“I am Zhen Song!”

“Thank you for that information.”

“You…!”

“Sssshhh… I’m not in the mood,” the young figure put a finger to his lips to quiet Zhen Song and his insufferable trope-like behaviour. The figure then pointed to the last member of his group, “Plus, my friend’s already done.”

As the cloaked figure said this, that very same member cleaned their plate and nodded at the apparent leader of the group, after which he did the same.

He put a silver coin on the table to pay for their meals and stood up to leave, causing the others to do the same.

He was making his way past Zhen Song, when suddenly…

“Hold it!”

“What do you want?” asked the same young lad, having a vague idea why Zhen Song stopped him.

Zi Yu frowned when she saw this. What was Zhen Song doing?

Truth be told, she didn’t have any interest in this young master. She only entertained his presence because her family’s ancestors hoped to form an alliance with the Zhen family and wished for the two of them to bond and get closer. However, his character didn’t suit her taste in the least.

“I told you that fairy Zi Yu wanted your table, yet you still dared to sit and eat before us without a care in the world!”

When the young cloaked figure heard this, he then turned his attention to Zi Yu, “I feel your pain.”

Zi Yu’s eyes widened in mild shock when she heard this. What an interesting boy. His manner of speech and his temperament was unique, and it slightly piqued her interest.

“How dare you speak to young master Zhen Song’s woman!?” One of Zhen Song’s lackeys shouted at the young lad.

“Because she’s a strong independent woman who don’t need no man,” the young figure retorted calmly.

“Pu!” Someone nearly choked on the water they were drinking when they heard this.

“Pffft! Hahahaha!” A peal of raucous laughter erupted in the restaurant.

Even Zi Yu, who was initially displeased by Zhen Song’s lackey, who called her his woman, couldn’t help herself as she attempted to control the quivering of her shoulders brought on by the bell-like laughter she tried to hide.

Zhen Song grew angry at the disrespect this minor character directed at his lackey. Disrespecting his lackey was disrespecting him, so how could he not get angry? It was even worse because he was right here!

The only reason he even personally made a move was because Zi Yu was here. Otherwise, why would he bother with such a minor character?

However, this very same person was successful in angering him.

“Who are you!?” He finally asked. He didn’t want to accidentally offend some bigshots from an overly powerful sect or group or it could spell trouble for him and his family. So he asked, wanting to know what backing this person before him had to be this arrogant before him.

“Mine.”

How overbearing! Who would respond and say that they are their own backing when asked this question? Normally one would announce their family name, a famous ancestor, a clan, something along those lines. But not this youth. He was too badass for that as he was his own backing. If you didn’t like it, then what!? Bite him!

“Hahahahaha!” Zhen Song laughed to the sky (though they were in a restaurant), upon hearing this response. “People have always said that I, Zhen Song, am arrogant, but I have met someone who is more arrogant than me!”

Suddenly, the smile that accompanied his laugh disappeared and his eyes narrowed, revealing a chilling gaze filling with murderous intent.

Shing!

He drew a sword and pointed it at the young figure before.

“Kneel down and apologise and I may just cut off one of your arms!”

Zi Yu was about to say something but refrained in the end. She wanted to see how this fellow would handle this situation. In any case, she wouldn’t let Zhen Song go too far, so she relaxed and took in the scene before becoming a spectator, like everyone else.

“E-Esteemed immortals, i-if you fight here, my humble establishment won’t be able to handle it,” the poor restaurant owner stood on shivering legs as he spoke. He didn’t have the strength to intervene, being a mere mortal and all, but this was his family business, passed down for generations. He couldn’t allow it to go under.

“Tch!” Zhen Song snorted as he threw a bag of gold coins in the man’s direction. When the restaurant owner saw the amount, joy instantly spread across his face. He could build a bigger and more luxurious restaurant with this amount!

He quickly bowed in Zhen Song’s direction and quickly retreated, no longer interfering.

Zhen Song then turned back to the cloaked figure and pressed him, “Well!?”

The cloaked figure lifted his head to look at Zhen Song, the hood still obscured his face, “Well what?”

“Kneel down you cur!” A lackey stepped out to berate the young cloaked figure for angering Zhen Song!

Pa!

A slap that no one expected landed on the lackey’s face, sending him flying out the window! A trail of blood was all that marked the trajectory of his flight!

Zi Yu was shocked, she never thought that this young fellow could be so decisive. The other figures behind him didn’t react at all, and thought that it was quite normal.

Zhen Song, on other hand, was seething in rage! He dared to touch his man right in front of him!? Was this not slapping him in the face!?

He immediately brandished his sword, “Brat, die for me!”

Pa!

A slap landed on the other lackey’s face, and he flew out the window, following the exact same path as his peer.

The only thought he had before he lost consciousness was, ‘Why did you hit me!? I didn’t even say anything!’

The young figure immediately returned to his position as he stared at Zhen Song once more.

The latter wanted to eat this person alive, as not just once, but twice he disregarded him and attacked his men. Who would follow him in the future if he couldn’t even defend his men!?

Zhen Song slashed with the sword once more!

The young figure made to punch the sword. When Zhen Song saw this he inwardly sneered! This was a low-grade yellow ranked sword. This was just delivering himself to die!

Pling!

The scene that Zhen Song expected never came. Instead, the fist broke the sword and without losing momentum, landed on Zhen Song’s face!

Bam!

Zhen Song broke through the wall of the restaurant before falling from view. As he was a young master, he could not take the same path as his lackeys. He needed to be afforded at least this amount of respect.

The young figure went on his way and was just about to descend the stairs, when suddenly…

“Wait!”

“SIgh…”

After releasing the world’s most audible sigh, the young cloaked figure turned around and faced Zi Yu who called out to him, “I’m not in a good mood right now. So forgive me for being blunt, but what do you want?”

When Zi Yu heard his words, she naturally became angry, but when she managed to peek at his face, her own expression turned to one of fright! “A-Are you Long Di?”

“What. Do. You. Want?” the figure repeated the question, enunciating each word.

Zi Yu shivered as the young man before her was frightening for some reason. However, she steeled herself before asking, “How would you like to be my fiancé?”