After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

The phoenix carriage stopped in the sky above the sea.

This pause caused quite a commotion.

Two immortal Vermilion Birds folded their wings and stopped in the clouds, while the Phoenix sang softly and long.

Not to mention that there were two groups of people following behind them.

None of the young masters and ladies among them were of low status.

The cultivators gathered here all looked up.

Some of them had been to Tianlan City.

The man glanced at the phoenix carriage once, and his expression changed.

"The Lin family's imperial carriage!"

"The cart is pulled by a phoenix..."

A gasp rang out, like a stone thrown into still water.

"The third young master of the Lin family?"

"You'd better not go there; that's not a place for you!"

"Get back as far away as possible!"

Lin Chu stood on the phoenix carriage, taking in the reactions of everyone below.

He remained expressionless, only finding it somewhat boring.

This is the kind of reaction I've seen all along the way.

As the surrounding chatter grew louder and the atmosphere became more turbulent, it finally alerted the people hosting the grand event.

A moment later, a dragon elder stepped out from the crowd and descended into the air.

He was an old man with white hair and a white beard.

He had two azure dragon horns on his forehead, wore a gray-gold robe, and exuded a powerful aura like the sea.

He stopped outside the imperial carriage and bowed respectfully from afar.

"My name is Ying Qian of the Ying clan. I was unaware that Young Master Lin would be visiting Longyuan. I have failed to greet you properly."

Lin Chu glanced at him.

If this Ying Qian were placed in the outside world, he would be a leading figure capable of expanding territory.

He nodded.

"What are they doing here?"

Ying Qian quickly replied.

"Young Master Lin, these days are the once-in-a-century Dragon Ascension Ceremony in Longyuan, and all branches and tribes will gather in this sea area."

He paused, then spoke cautiously.

"If Young Master Lin does not mind, I am willing to show you the way inside. It would surely be an honor to have you here."

Lin Chu looked at the fine sweat on his forehead and waved her hand.

"We'll go and see for ourselves, you don't need to worry about us."

"Yes."

Ying Qian took a half step back in response, took out a lustrous communication talisman from his sleeve, presented it with both hands, and said respectfully, "If Young Master Lin has any instructions, just infuse it with a wisp of his aura, and this old man will come immediately."

After speaking, he bowed and then slowly withdrew.

Ji Ning stood beside Lin Chu, gazing in the direction Ying Qian had left, and muttered to herself.

"Grandpa Whitebeard seems to be very afraid of my brother."

Lin Chu smiled and looked down at her.

He gently ruffled her hair.

"It's not that I'm afraid of my brother."

"It's because I'm afraid of people with the surname Lin."

……

The phoenix palanquin did not sail directly into the center of the grand event, but instead found an open space on the outskirts of the sea to stop.

Lin Chu led Ji Ning down from the phoenix carriage.

The group of young masters and ladies behind them couldn't contain themselves any longer, craning their necks to look in the direction of the grand event.

"Let's go down and take a look."

As soon as Lin Chu finished speaking, everyone cheered.

"I was so suffocated!"

"My dad won't let me come to this Rising Dragon Ceremony!"

A large group of people descended towards the enormous warships suspended on the sea.

The flying boat made way, and the spiritual light retreated.

It wasn't until they set foot on the island that these direct descendants of Tianlan City realized how incredibly large the area truly was.

"It's even bigger down here than it looks from the sky."

Qi Jun stomped his foot on the ground, his eyes shining.

"This isn't an island, it's as big as a small state."

"You're making a fuss over nothing." A boy in a blue shirt next to him curled his lip, but he couldn't help looking around.

Ji Ning tilted her little face up, her eyes almost unable to take it all in.

She held onto Lin Chu's sleeve with one hand and hugged Gun Gun tightly in her arms with the other, turning her little head back and forth with her mouth slightly open.

"Brother, there are so many people here."

"Okay, stay close to me."

The island is covered with rolling hills and dense forests of sacred trees, with palaces and pavilions stretching from the foot of the mountains all the way into the clouds.

It stretches as far as the eye can see.

"Is this the true strength of Longyuan?"

"It's nothing special."

"It's far inferior to Tianlan City."

Someone behind me was whispering.

And so, this elegantly dressed and distinguished group swaggered into the venue.

Wherever it passed, the crowds seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, automatically making way for it.

Those cultivators who were originally talking, trading, or competing all subconsciously moved aside when they saw this group of people.

"Which company is that?"

"I don't know, the clothes have the Lin family crest on them."

"The Lin family? The Lin family from Tianlan City?"

"Nonsense, otherwise why do you think I made way?"

"Get out of the way, hurry up."

Lin Chu held Ji Ning's hand, her expression somewhat helpless.

"Why do you make me sound like some kind of criminal gang?"

He muttered something to himself.

Ji Ning, completely oblivious, looked left and right, her face flushed with excitement.

"Brother, why are they all avoiding us?"

"Maybe they're afraid of crowding because there are so many of us."

"Oh." Ji Ning nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Behind him, Qi Jun muttered softly, "Hard to say. If I were a passerby, I would also avoid this situation."

"Shut up."

……

Lin Chu ignored them and let them chatter on.

Ji Ning stopped in front of a stall selling spirit fruits.

The stall owner was a middle-aged cultivator who was dozing off with his head down when he suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes. He looked up and saw...

"This...this...this..."

"Uncle, don't be afraid, I'll just take one to try," Ji Ning whispered.

Lin Chu took a string of purple-gold fruits, tossed a piece of immortal crystal to the stall owner, and continued walking forward.

The middle-aged cultivator stared blankly at the immortal crystal, then looked down and his eyes nearly popped out.

"Top-grade immortal crystals..."

The young men and women behind him didn't even glance at him; they were already numb to this kind of deal.

……

Deep within Dragon Abyss lies the territory of the Ao clan.

Inside a secluded water palace, Ao Tianxin sat cross-legged.

In front of her was a cup of untouched tea, which had gone completely cold.

Two women sat on either side of each other not far away, performing a charade.

The one on the left, with a kinder face, was talking until his throat was dry, still earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Tianxin, Cang Li is the young master of the Cang Clan and the undisputed number one prodigy of Longyuan this generation."

"A seed of immortal lords, even if it becomes an immortal king in the future, it is not impossible to compete for it."

"Moreover, he is of upright character, never arrogant, and has an excellent reputation in the clan."

"You won't find another choice like this even if you search the entire Dragon Abyss."

Ao Tianxin kept her eyes closed and didn't say anything.

The woman on the right pursed her lips and couldn't help but chime in.

"Exactly, some people don't know what's good for them."

"Last time you interrupted Ying Shang's horn, wasn't it Young Master Cangli who stepped in to smooth things over for you?"

"Otherwise, would the Ying clan have given up so easily?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Tianxin slowly opened her eyes.

His gaze fell on the woman, as if doused with ice water.

The woman was startled by her gaze and awkwardly stopped talking.

Ao Tianxin spoke in a cold voice.

"I already have someone I love."

"Therefore, the two elders need not persuade us any further."

The woman on the left sighed.

"You mean you have someone you love? Surely it's not that person from the lower realms."

Ao Tianxin seemed to have been touched by the words "people from the lower realm".

She didn't speak, but her gaze softened involuntarily.

The two women exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

"The upper and lower realms are now separated by the heavens and the earth."

"You and him are from completely different worlds."

The woman paused, then continued.

"Moreover, our Ao clan has become increasingly weak over the past few thousand years."

"If this continues, the Ao clan will likely be replaced by newcomers when the four clans are re-established next time."

"This marriage alliance with the Cang tribe is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"As long as you and Young Master Cangli unite, my Ao Clan will be able to regain its footing in this Dragon Abyss."

"You can't forget the kindness that Chief Ao Jue has shown you."

"She is currently in seclusion, and she certainly doesn't want to emerge to find that the Ao clan has fallen out of the top four clans."

Ao Tianxin took a light breath.

She glanced at the woman whose face was full of expectation.

"Two elders."

"Whether you ask me to kill the enemy or risk my life, I, Ao Tianxin, will not shirk my duty."

"But this kind of thing."

She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Absolutely impossible."

The two women opened their mouths, but ultimately said nothing.

They exchanged a glance, then shook their heads.