99: Tianjiao Qinhui, first confrontation

The commotion at the Divine Sound Pavilion, sparked by a zither melody, finally concluded with a top-tier, gold-embossed invitation personally issued by the Third Prince of the Qin Family.

Lin Tian looked at the invitation in his hand, made from millennium-old 'Starwood' pulp, with a faint energy glow flowing through every word, and a playful smile curved on his lips.

He had initially disdained such 'Prodigy Gatherings,' but now, since the organizers were so 'enthusiastic,' and he also wanted to see for himself which 'interesting flies' dared to covet his possessions, then a trip there wouldn't be so bad...

Night fell, and the city lights began to twinkle.

Yanjing, The Peak of the Forbidden City.

An aerial pavilion, the 'Moon-Gazing Terrace,' constructed from pure energy crystals, floating above the central axis of the ancient imperial city, like the Guanghan Palace from myths, was the venue for tonight's Heavenly Pride Zither Gathering.

Luxury floating vehicles of various designs, representing major top forces from around the globe, descended in an orderly fashion onto the helipad outside the 'Moon-Gazing Terrace,' like hundreds of birds arriving for a pilgrimage.

Those who disembarked were, without exception, the most dazzling and top-tier existences among the young generation in today's world.

They were either martial Dao Prodigies with profound Auras and disdainful gazes, or refined Family heirs whose conversations seemed to resonate with the Laws, or enchanting Prodigies with graceful figures who exuded a deadly Aura of danger.

Here, the essence of the entire golden generation was gathered.

However, at a certain moment, all the noise and chatter abruptly ceased.

All the Prodigies present, regardless of gender or background, simultaneously and unanimously cast their gazes towards the eastern horizon.

A floating vehicle, not the largest in size but exquisitely luxurious, as if a small mythical palace had been directly moved into the sky, slowly approached, escorted by an honor guard composed of Dragon-patterned escort fighters.

That was the Dragon Family's exclusive vehicle, the 'Nine Dragons Agarwood Chariot.'

The chariot door opened.

A figure slowly stepped out.

The moment he appeared, it was as if even the stars in the sky dimmed by three points.

It was a face of such exquisite beauty, beyond the limits of human imagination, that no words could precisely describe it.

His god-like features were flawlessly perfect, and a pair of eyes, as deep as a Universe's black hole, indifferently swept across the entire venue, carrying an innate aloofness and nobility that regarded all things as dust.

He merely stood there casually, yet naturally became the center of the entire world.

Lin Tian.

Immediately after, three figures emerged from behind him, enough to drive any man to madness and any woman to jealousy.

To his left was Elizabeth, dressed in a luxurious evening gown, with dazzling blonde hair and a noble demeanor like a queen.

She intimately linked her arm with Lin Tian's, her sapphire-like eyes filled with undisguised admiration and possessiveness.

To his right was Qin Yubing, dressed in a black maid outfit, with a cold demeanor like a snow lotus on an icy mountain, yet with a hint of humiliation and numbness on her face.

She followed closely behind Lin Tian in the posture of a servant, that contradictory combination of nobility and subservience creating an even more deadly, evocative forbidden allure.

And finally, like the most loyal Valkyrie, Long Ling'er, in a sleek agent uniform, her gaze vigilantly sweeping the venue, ready at any moment to eliminate any potential threats for her master.

A god.

A queen.

A princess-maid.

A loyal guard.

The appearance of these four, like a living mythological scroll filled with extreme visual impact, instantly ignited the entire venue!

"Oh my God... Is that Number Zero of the Dragon Family, Lin Tian? Rumor has it he's as handsome as a god, but seeing him today, I realize the rumors... were so conservative!" A female Prodigy from Europe couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes sparkling.

"Damn him! What right does he have?! Elizabeth... the jewel of the Rothschild Family, actually linking arms so intimately with a man! And that... isn't that Qin Yubing of the Qin Family?! How... how is she wearing a maid outfit?!" A male Prodigy, watching this scene, was so jealous his eyes almost spat fire.

Exclamations, jealousy, envy, hostility... countless complex gazes, like searchlights, focused on Lin Tian.

With the most direct and unreasonable 'appearance dominance' and 'grandeur dominance,' he successfully established himself as a 'public enemy' the very first second he stepped onto this stage...

Under the gaze of countless eyes, a young man, wearing a black imperial prince's attire embroidered with a four-clawed golden Dragon, and whose face bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Qin Yubing, pushed through the crowd and actively approached.

It was none other than the Third Prince of the Qin Family, Qin Wushuang, who had met Lin Tian once before at the Divine Sound Pavilion.

"Brother Lin, I've long admired your name, and seeing you today, I understand what it means to possess a celestial demeanor," Qin Wushuang said with an enthusiastic smile, his words filled with an intention to win him over, "I've heard about my sister's situation. Brother Lin, rest assured, that was merely the opinion of some old stubborn members of the Family, it shouldn't be taken seriously.

In my opinion, only someone of Brother Lin's caliber is worthy of my haughty sister."

His words were impeccable, expressing closeness while cleverly distancing himself from the 'conservatives' of his Family.

At the same time, he subtly glanced at a tall figure in military uniform with a profound Aura on the other side, and lowered his voice, saying, "However, Brother Lin, you need to be careful of one person on this trip.

That Marquis Champion of the military is not an easy person to deal with, and he is incredibly overbearing, constantly wanting to surpass Brother Lin and become the true number one of this generation.

If you need anything, my Qin Family would be very happy to assist Brother Lin."

Lin Tian merely smiled faintly at the words, noncommittal.

He followed Qin Wushuang's gaze.

At the other end of the banquet hall, the Marquis Champion, Huo Qubing, hailed as the 'ceiling of combat power for the young generation,' stood alone in a corner, wiping his ancient-looking battle saber.

He spoke to no one, yet no one in the entire banquet hall dared to approach within three meters of him.

He was like a crouching tiger in the darkness, completely out of place with the surrounding splendor and clamor.

As if sensing Lin Tian's gaze, his motion of wiping the battle saber paused slightly.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes, sharp as an eagle's and filled with endless Battle Intent, crossed the entire banquet hall, fiercely colliding with Lin Tian's gaze in the Void Realm!

There was no energy explosion, no clash of Auras.

But in that instant, all A-class and above powerhouses present felt a shiver originating from the depths of their Souls!

It was as if two invisible divine weapons, capable of cleaving heaven and earth, had engaged in a most deadly confrontation in the Void Realm!

The smile on Qin Wushuang's face froze slightly.

And the Marquis Champion, Huo Qubing, slowly straightened his body.

He pushed through the crowd, stepping forward, one step at a time, firm and steady, until he stood before Lin Tian, directly confronting him.

The entire banquet hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone knew that the climax of the night had arrived early.

Huo Qubing ignored the Third Prince of the Qin Family beside him; his fiery, sun-like eyes reflected only Lin Tian's figure.

"Number Zero of the Dragon Family," his voice was deep and metallic, like the roar of a war drum, "I hope your strength can match your grandeur today."

He paused, then, word for word, he delivered the challenge, which had already spread globally, directly to Lin Tian's face once again.

"The Peak of the Forbidden City, I await you."

Faced with this extremely provocative challenge, Lin Tian's indifferent expression did not change in the slightest.

He didn't even glance at the other party, merely slowly picked up a glass of champagne offered by a waiter and took a light sip, as if this 'combat power ceiling' of the military before him was nothing more than roadside scenery.

Then, in a voice almost a whisper, audible only to the two of them, he calmly replied:

"You will see."