Chapter 186: The Genius Convention! Su Changqing's Fury!

Chapter 186: The Genius Convention! Su Changqing's Fury!

The respectful voice of the Third Prince, Zhou Yu, echoed throughout the floor.

Su Changqing was momentarily stunned, and before he could recover, gasps of shock and awe filled the room.

"The Prince is personally bowing to apologize?"

"Good heavens, who is this person? Even the Third Prince is so courteous in Heavenly Fortune City?"

"It's not just courtesy, did you see the cold sweat on the Third Prince's forehead? He looks more like he's afraid?"

With these words, everyone's gaze towards Su Changqing shifted, filled with curiosity.

No one expected that this unassuming youth possessed such terrifying strength.

Even the Prince was cautious, fearing to offend him.

Whispers of speculation about the youth's identity spread among the crowd.

At this moment, Zhou Tong, who was still kneeling and repeatedly slapping himself, was dumbfounded by the scene.

The fear in his eyes was even stronger than when he faced Zhou Yu earlier.

He wasn't foolish; if even the Third Prince was so terrified that he had to pay his respects, what was he, a mere servant, compared to that?

Only then did he realize that Zhou Yu's harsh punishment was not to chastise him but to save him!

Slap, slap!

Understanding this, Zhou Tong knew he had stirred up big trouble. Shivering, he used all his strength to slap himself repeatedly.

In no time, his face was swollen beyond recognition.

The powerful men from the Prince's mansion, who had been standing by, no longer dared to interfere. Instead, they looked at Su Changqing with sincere fear, their arrogance completely gone.

...

"Brother Zhou, there's no need for this."

Su Changqing, having regained his senses, helped Zhou Yu up.

The two had some minor disagreements, but they were insignificant.

Now, with the Prince bowing before everyone, even the greatest anger should have subsided.

"I'm ashamed."

Zhou Yu stood up and smiled bitterly, "That person is my older brother, the Prince. He's been arrogant for a long time, and the royal family has been negligent in disciplining him."

"If Brother Su still needs to vent his anger, whether it's beating or killing, feel free to do so."

"I assure you, the royal family of Purple Heaven Kingdom will not cause Brother Su any trouble."

Hearing this, Su Changqing looked up and saw Zhou Tong, whose face was almost swollen beyond recognition. His anger subsided significantly.

"Forget it."

He waved his hand and smiled casually, "After all, nothing too serious happened."

With the Third Prince taking such a low stance to mediate, Su Changqing wasn't one to hold a grudge. He lightly smiled and brushed off the matter.

Zhou Yu's heart lightened upon hearing this, and he cautiously asked, "Brother Changqing, I wonder if Elder Wu has arrived?"

"Being in Heavenly Fortune City, I still have some connections. It's only right that I fulfill the duties of a host."

Facing a Near-Emperor Peak expert, not to mention Zhou Yu, even the country's ruler would not dare to be careless.

"My teacher has some matters to attend to, and I just happened to be passing through Heavenly Fortune City."

Su Changqing smiled lightly and bid farewell, "Thank you, Brother Zhou, for helping me out. Farewell, Little Immortal Sect."

As he spoke, Su Changqing prepared to leave.

The Liu Family was hosting a birthday banquet the day after tomorrow, and he wasn't familiar with the route. Missing the timing would be troublesome.

However, just as Su Changqing turned to leave, Zhou Yu hurriedly spoke up, "Brother, don't rush. Now that we're in Heavenly Fortune City and this incident has occurred, I should at least host a banquet to apologize."

Previously, Zhou Yu and Su Changqing had some disagreements, but now that they met again, it was natural to mend their relationship.

But upon seeing that Su Changqing wasn't particularly interested, Zhou Yu stepped forward and whispered, "Brother Changqing, are you also going to the Liu Family's banquet?"

"Coincidentally, many geniuses from the Five Domains and the Ten Kingdoms have gathered in Heavenly Fortune City to attend the birthday banquet."

"Brother Changqing, why not take this opportunity to make some friends? We can go to the Liu Family together, and it'll be nice to have company on the way."

Su Changqing had heard about the conflicts between the Liu Family and the Little Immortal Sect, but Zhou Yu didn't seem to mind.

The Purple Heaven Kingdom was located in the Southern Domain, and their allegiance was clear.

Zhou Yu would be representing the kingdom at the banquet, and he wasn't worried about offending the Liu Family because of Su Changqing.

"Geniuses from all over?"

Su Changqing's eyes lit up at this news.

Since beginning his cultivation, he had mostly interacted with his fellow disciples from the Little Immortal Sect. He rarely had the chance to meet disciples from other sects.

Hearing that many peers had gathered here, he became very interested.

After all, traveling was about making friends, broadening one's horizons, and this was a perfect opportunity.

Most importantly, all these people would be going to the Liu Family, so he wouldn't have to worry about missing the timing.

"In that case, I won't decline your kindness."

After a moment of thought, Su Changqing smiled politely.

"Your Highness, the Third Prince, the item you requested has arrived."

At this moment, the pavilion master trembled as he stepped forward, his eyes filled with reverence as he glanced at Su Changqing and handed a storage ring to Zhou Yu.

"Haha, excellent! With this, it'll be much easier to approach others at the Genius Convention."

Zhou Yu put away the storage ring, a hint of joy on his face.

"Brother Zhou, do we need to prepare anything for the Genius Convention?"

Su Changqing was surprised and asked curiously.

"That's not necessary."

Zhou Yu smiled mysteriously, "At the Genius Convention, a fairy-like woman has appeared."

"She has a powerful background and is stunningly beautiful. I've seen countless women in the palace, but her beauty..."

Zhou Yu's eyes lit up with admiration and fascination, as if recalling something, "She's a rare beauty, a heavenly creation!"

He turned to Su Changqing and said with a soft laugh, "That fairy adores the Four Arts of Confucianism. I've prepared an ancient guqin, hoping to win her favor and spend a romantic night together."

"Brother Changqing, do you have any ideas? Should I help you prepare a gift?"

Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows suggestively towards Su Changqing.

"A beauty..."

Su Changqing's ears were filled with the sound of silver bells and the image of a charming smile.

A hint of longing appeared in his eyes, and he waved his hand, smiling as he declined, "No need, thank you for your kind offer."

If it were another matter, Su Changqing might have been interested.

But when it came to beauties...

After the appearance of that shallow Li flower, his heart had little room for anyone else.

"Haha, that's right. Senior Brother Changqing has his sights set on the Great Dao. How could he be entangled in romantic affairs?"

Zhou Yu finished speaking with a laugh, then apologized, "Please wait a moment, Senior Brother. I need to handle some family matters."

After speaking, he turned to Zhou Tong, his smile fading as he spoke in a cold tone, "Send him to the Ministry of Justice and inform Prince Consort Gong. Without my permission, Zhou Tong is not allowed to take a single step outside the Ministry of Justice."

"The rest of you, go to the Ministry of Punishments Prison and await your punishment."

Zhou Tong's face was now expressionless, and he slumped to the side, drenched in blood.

The powerful men from the Prince's Mansion were filled with fear, not knowing what to do.

But the one who was even more terrified was the Pavilion Master of the Spirit Artifacts Pavilion standing nearby.

When Zhou Yu's gaze fell upon him, the Pavilion Master immediately knelt before Su Changqing.

"Please spare my life, Young Master. It was the Pavilion's fault for handling this matter poorly."

"Please accept this storage ring as a token of the Pavilion's apology."

The Pavilion Master trembled as he held the storage ring high with both hands. Su Changqing hesitated,

"This..."

Seeing this, Zhou Yu glanced at the Pavilion Master with satisfaction and said, "Senior Brother, please accept it. Otherwise, he might not sleep well from now on."

Su Changqing was not a narrow-minded person. Hearing these words, he laughed and accepted the storage ring.

"Haha, I'll lead the way."

Zhou Yu burst into laughter and then led Su Changqing straight to the Genius Convention.

But just as they were about to leave, a weak and aggrieved voice transmitted from Zhou Tong.

"I admit that the Third Prince did something wrong and deserves punishment. May I ask, what is his background?"

Zhou Yu's expression remained unchanged as he glanced at Zhou Tong and replied indifferently, "You only need to know that if his elders come, even if they overturn the Purple Heaven Kingdom, my father will still watch over him."

After speaking, Zhou Yu turned and strode away from the Spirit Artifacts Pavilion.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong's eyes no longer held any hint of grievance, only fear that made his body tremble like a sieve.

...

In Heavenly Fortune City, at the Qilin Mansion.

This mansion was built by the Purple Heaven Kingdom specifically for talented geniuses within the country, and it was only opened during grand events in the past.

But due to the Liu family's birthday banquet, geniuses from all over gathered, and the Purple Heaven Kingdom specially opened it for these few days.

The mansion occupied a vast area, with numerous buildings, courtyards, pavilions, and ponds within its grounds, creating a picturesque and harmonious scenery.

At this moment, in a large courtyard deep within the mansion, many extraordinary young geniuses had gathered.

"Haha, Brother Zhao's cultivation is indeed impressive, but when it comes to music, it's better not to embarrass yourself."

"Hmph, where can you possibly be better? Compared to Dream Fairy, you are far inferior."

"That's natural. Dream Fairy's musical skills are so elegant that only Brother Chu can match her."

The gathered geniuses chatted and laughed, but beneath the surface, they were subtly competing with each other.

During their conversations, they would often glance intentionally or unintentionally at a woman standing in front.

The woman wore a purple gown, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom with morning dew, and her lips were like unpainted cherries.

Her black hair flowed freely, and her eyes were like spring water. With a single glance or smile, she could captivate the souls of all the men in the world.

The woman wasn't doing anything, but her every move captivated the hearts of everyone present.

"Miss, have you found anyone to your liking?"

Jin'er looked at her mistress and smiled, whispering, "I think Chu Ze is quite good."

"He comes from the hidden Chu family, has a noble status, impressive strength, and is extremely skilled in the music that Miss likes."

As she spoke, she glanced at another person, "Prince Feng is also not bad. Although he's not good at music, he's unparalleled in painting and calligraphy, which matches Miss's hobbies."

As the personal maid of Immortal Half Dream, Jin'er understood her mistress's purpose for this trip.

To choose a suitable husband.

Her mistress was already twenty-four years old this year, and if she didn't make a decision soon, she wouldn't be able to suppress the enchanting charm within her.

Before they left, the Sect Master had specifically instructed Jin'er to help in the selection and try to finalize a choice this time.

"What's the difference between these two?"

Immortal Half Dream scanned the crowd and saw those pairs of passionate eyes. She sighed softly,

"These people are no different. They like me only for my appearance."

Hearing this, Jin'er smiled and said, "Who wouldn't like Miss's appearance?"

"Forget about these men. Even I, as a woman, am moved."

Immortal Half Dream shook her head and laughed, but didn't say more.

Today, these men were attracted to her because of her beauty, but tomorrow they might transfer their affections to someone even more beautiful.

The choice of a partner in the Dao was crucial, as it was someone who would accompany her for life.

It wasn't a high requirement, but because of her stunning beauty, people often overlooked her personality.

Those men would never reject her and would always flatter and please her.

This feeling was quite uninteresting to her.

"Miss, you have to choose someone."

Jin'er sighed helplessly, "Is there no other option but to randomly pick a man if you can't suppress the charm?"

"Why not?"

Immortal Half Dream looked into the distance and murmured,

"If I can't find someone I truly love, then I'll find a man who is utterly despicable."

"Afterwards, I'll kill him, and I'll still be myself, but I'll just remain unmarried for life."

Hearing this, Jin'er was shocked and pale, "Miss, you..."

"It's just a joke."

Immortal Half Dream smiled, causing the young geniuses around her to stare in surprise.

Meanwhile, Jin'er looked at her mistress with concern.

She understood that although Immortal Half Dream seemed gentle, she could be very stubborn in certain matters.

"Miss, don't be discouraged. There are plenty of men in the world, and there will definitely be..."

Jin'er wanted to say something more, but suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard.

"The Third Prince of the Purple Heaven Kingdom, Zhou Yu, has come to visit Dream Fairy."

Upon hearing the visitor's identity, the expressions of those in the courtyard varied.

Some showed disdain, while others stood up to greet him.

The Third Prince's status might be highly respected outside, but here, he wasn't considered among the top-tier geniuses.

However, everyone subconsciously became more alert, as this meant they had one more competitor.

Outside the courtyard, Zhou Yu straightened his sleeves, his tension evident. With a few strides, he entered.

Behind him, Su Changqing curiously observed, following Zhou Yu.

...

"I've heard much about Fairy Meng's name, and meeting her today surpasses her reputation."

Approaching Immortal Half Dream, Zhou Yu gazed at her stunning beauty, his usual composure giving way to nervousness.

He struggled to suppress the desire in his heart, but his eyes still burned with intensity.

Fairy Half Dream was no stranger to such gazes.

She smiled politely, maintaining a respectful distance, and nodded lightly. "Greetings, Third Prince."

"I apologize for my sudden visit to Heavenly Fortune City. I hope I haven't disturbed you too much."

Zhou Yu waved his hand, displaying the regal demeanor befitting a prince, and calmly smiled, "If there's anything you need in Heavenly Fortune City, please don't hesitate to ask. I have some influence here."

Immortal Half Dream smiled and nodded, then turned her gaze to Su Changqing.

Zhou Yu, realizing he had forgotten someone, quickly introduced, "This is my fellow disciple, Su Changqing."

Su Changqing, who had been observing the surroundings, looked up upon hearing his name.

When he saw the woman's exceptional beauty before him, despite his mental preparation, his eyes still widened in surprise.

However, it was only momentary; his eyes quickly regained their calm, and he smiled politely, "Su Changqing from the Little Immortal Sect, greetings to Fairy Meng. I've heard much about you."

Immortal Half Dream hadn't paid much attention, but when she saw the calmness in Su Changqing's eyes and his clean, gentle smile, her expression froze.

It had been a long time since she had seen such a pure smile on a man's face.

There was no annoying heat in his gaze, nor any pretentious coquetry.

His gentle tone and clean eyes made him seem like an ordinary person.

In that instant, Su Changqing piqued Immortal Half Dream's interest.

"You've heard of me? Su Gongzi, have you heard about me before?"

Immortal Half Dream smiled and asked, her spring-like eyes filled with curiosity.

"On the way here, Zhou Xiong told me a lot about you."

Su Changqing smiled lightly upon hearing this, "Now that I see you, it's no wonder Zhou Xiong admires you so much."

"Zhou Xiong admires me?"

"Does that mean you look down on me?"

Hearing Su Changqing's polite and perfunctory words, Immortal Half Dream blinked, her voice soft and playful.

This statement startled Zhou Yu and the young geniuses present.

Immortal Half Dream usually dismissed people with a few words, maintaining a distant and polite smile.

But facing Su Changqing, she joked with him like a friend?

This caused everyone's expressions to change slightly, and they scrutinized Su Changqing with evaluative gazes.

"Miss Meng."

Su Changqing looked around at the slightly hostile stares and sighed, "That one sentence of yours has caused me quite some trouble."

Immortal Half Dream froze at his almost complaining tone, then suddenly broke into a smile.

The happiness that bubbled up from within made her smile radiantly, like a hundred flowers blooming.

She felt like she had finally met a man who treated her like an ordinary person.

The friendly banter in his tone delighted her.

Zhou Yu and the young geniuses nearby couldn't help but stare, their burning gazes becoming harder to suppress.

"Hehe, it's my fault, Su Gongzi. Please accept my apology."

Immortal Half Dream lifted a cup of wine and drank it in one go. Then, she looked at Su Changqing with a hint of playful reproach, "Are you going to let me drink alone? Can you join me for a cup?"

Su Changqing hesitated. He had never drunk alcohol before.

But seeing the girl drinking, and recalling the descriptions in books about how people in the jianghu drank and ate heartily, he took a sip.

But soon—

"Cough, cough, cough! Why is it so spicy!"

The wine wasn't ordinary; its spiciness overwhelmed Su Changqing, who had never tasted alcohol before. His face turned red, and he coughed uncontrollably.

This scene caused Zhou Yu and the young geniuses to twitch their mouths.

Such an adult, and he had never drunk before?

"Pfft, you've never drunk before?"

Immortal Half Dream asked, suppressing her laughter at Su Changqing's flushed face.

"Does it look like this after drinking?"

Su Changqing replied irritably and hurriedly drank a cup of water.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing Su Changqing's adorable reaction, Immortal Half Dream laughed, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

As she looked at Su Changqing, even she didn't realize that her eyes were filled with light.

In contrast, the young geniuses present glared at Immortal Half Dream, who was chatting and laughing happily. Jealousy burned in their eyes.

They had been there for a long time, but it was the first time they had seen the fairy laugh so joyfully.

"Oh no!"

Zhou Yu, sensing the situation turning awkward, waved his wide sleeve, and an ancient zither appeared in the courtyard.

Changing the topic, he spoke, "I heard that Fairy Meng is skilled in music. I specially found this ancient zither, hoping it pleases you."

After speaking, Zhou Yu glanced at Su Changqing with a hint of reproach.

He had intended the zither to please the beauty, but he hadn't expected her happiness to come from someone else.

"Thank you, Third Prince, for your thoughtfulness."

Seeing the zither, Immortal Half Dream's smile faded, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. She smiled and thanked him.

Due to her Enchanting Immortal Body, she couldn't cultivate too quickly and had to suppress her cultivation.

As a result, she had plenty of free time from a young age and learned the four arts of the scholar: qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Initially, it was to pass the time, but gradually, it became an indispensable hobby.

This zither indeed touched her heart.

"The quality of the zither can be judged by its sound. Let me, Chu Ze, try this zither."

Seeing the zither in the courtyard, Chu Ze strode forward and stood beside it. He looked at Immortal Half Dream, his eyes burning with passion, and said, "Fairy Meng, please listen to this melody."

At this moment, everyone in the venue sensed the crisis, and they wouldn't let Zhou Yu and Su Changqing take all the glory.

Many had the intention to take the stage, but upon seeing Chu Ze stand up, they could only sit down reluctantly.

Chu Ze, the heir of the hidden Chu family, was even more proficient in music. If they went up now, it would only bring humiliation upon themselves.

Not long after, a melodious qin sound resonated, like a fairy spring flowing through a secluded forest valley.

Everyone present couldn't help but silently praise in their hearts as they listened attentively.

At this moment, Immortal Half Dream quietly approached Su Changqing's side.

"Does Su Gongzi know music?"

She looked at the man beside her and asked with a light smile.

"A little, I suppose."

Su Changqing, whose mouth was still tingling from the spicy food, nodded casually.

"Oh?"

Immortal Half Dream's eyes lit up, and she asked with interest, "Then, what do you think of this piece played by Chu Gongzi?"

"Hmm."

Su Changqing hummed thoughtfully before giving an objective evaluation, "The technique is passable, but the artistic conception is lacking. It's..."

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's okay, I guess."

The Confucian Four Arts are divided into form, skill, intention, and Dao.

Chu Ze's music proficiency has just reached the 'skill' level.

To others, it might sound pleasant, but to Su Changqing, it was barely tolerable. His 'okay' was the most polite way he could describe it without offending anyone.

However, Su Changqing didn't notice that Chu Ze's forehead was already showing signs of strain as he played the qin.

Fortunately, the piece wasn't over yet, so he managed to hold back.

"It's okay?"

Immortal Half Dream's lips slightly parted in surprise, and she asked curiously, "Chu Gongzi's music, with its perfected technique, is only 'okay'?"

"Is a perfected technique really that strong?"

Su Changqing looked at Immortal Half Dream in astonishment.

Perfecting the technique was just the foundation, wasn't it? When he first learned from the Confucian teacher, the first month was at this level, and he received a good scolding from the teacher.

"Is it really that strong?"

Immortal Half Dream shook her head, unable to help but laugh.

Chu Ze's music proficiency, at his age, was already considered strong even among Confucianists.

Moreover, Chu Ze was also a dual cultivator, making his talent even more remarkable.

However, from Su Changqing's words, it seemed that his music proficiency might surpass Chu Ze's.

Thinking of this, Immortal Half Dream looked at the man beside her with even more curiosity.

Before she could ask more questions, Chu Ze finished his piece, and the venue erupted in applause.

However, Chu Ze's face remained stern, and he glared at Su Changqing.

"This Su Gongzi doesn't seem to appreciate my music."

"May I ask for your guidance?"

Chu Ze had already disliked Su Changqing, and his anger intensified after hearing the 'okay' evaluation.

Now that the piece was over, he directly challenged Su Changqing.

Su Changqing was taken aback by the question but then smiled and said, "Never mind, the pieces I know aren't suitable for this occasion."

The qin piece was too heavy with killing intent, and it might disrupt the atmosphere.

"Hmph!"

Chu Ze heard this and spoke coldly, leaving no room for face-saving, "Is it unsuitable, or do you not know how to play?"

"Who gave you the nerve to evaluate my music as just 'okay'?"

"If you don't know how to play, then listen quietly. No one will think you're mute!"

Su Changqing's brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this, and he said with some displeasure, "If you play a piece in public, it's for others to appreciate. People will have their opinions, whether good or bad."

"Why can you only say it's good but not judge it?"

Before Chu Ze could respond, the crowd, already envious of Immortal Half Dream, chimed in to support her.

"Who do you think you are? Are you qualified to judge Chu Xiong's piece?"

"Hilarious, he really thinks he's a great Confucian now, giving his evaluation here."

"Hmph, if he's really capable, then fine, but he doesn't even dare to play, what a joke."

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Su Changqing, as he posed the greatest threat to them.

The ridicule and mocking words continued to echo in their ears.

The more Su Changqing listened, the more his expression darkened, and the more disappointed he became with these so-called geniuses.

He had come here to make friends and broaden his horizons.

But as he looked around, he couldn't find a single person worth befriending; they were all petty individuals.

"Everyone!"

Immortal Half Dream stood up at this moment, her brows tightly furrowed. "It's just a casual piece, why are you all so aggressive?"

It was better when Immortal Half Dream didn't speak, as her support for Su Changqing only intensified the jealousy in the crowd.

The chilling words didn't stop; instead, they became more frequent.

"Senior Brother Changqing, let's go."

At this moment, Zhou Yu also felt embarrassed and quietly approached, pulling Su Changqing's sleeve.

"Apologies, Su Gongzi."

Looking at the silent Su Changqing, Immortal Half Dream's eyes showed apology.

"It's my fault, I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

"Let's forget about it today, how about I visit you another day to apologize?"

Regarding Su Changqing, Immortal Half Dream didn't have a good impression yet, but she hoped to become friends with him.

Su Changqing was the first man who could disregard her appearance and pay attention to her true self.

She didn't want to lose this potential friend because of irrelevant people.

"It's not your fault, I shouldn't have come."

Su Changqing stood up with a calm expression.

As he listened to the cold and harsh words around him, anger also rose in his heart.

However, he didn't turn and leave; instead, he slowly walked into the venue and sat cross-legged in front of the ancient qin.

"Hmph, you said your piece wasn't suitable, but now you can play?"

Chu Ze's face carried a cold smile, and the people present showed anticipation, all waiting for Su Changqing to embarrass himself.

"The previous piece was indeed unsuitable."

Su Changqing said calmly, and his hands slowly rested on the ancient qin.

"But now, it's just right!"

Clang! As the qin sound began, a bone-chilling, overwhelming killing intent instantly enveloped the entire venue!

Wow, thanks to all the readers who voted.

A 7,000-word chapter is presented.

These past few days have been busy, so the updates might be a bit late. It'll be better in a couple of days, sorry for the inconvenience.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end