85: Chapter 85 Are they still waiting for Li Yuan to be driven away?

She watched as Li Yuan headed deep into the City Lord's Estate.

Ruan Xingqiao rubbed her head and followed him inside.

But before she had gone more than a few steps, she was directly stopped.

It was the same guard from before.

The guard reminded her that the area beyond was not a place she was allowed to go.

Not only was she barred from the back, but she, Ruan Xingqiao, had also been removed from the Earth-Rank Young Talents Gathering.

The people around them didn't want any trouble, so they all kept their distance from Ruan Xingqiao.

As a member of the younger generation being focused on by Qianqiu Mountain, Ruan Xingqiao's background wasn't actually bad.

But compared to someone who had received a Tian-grade invitation, the gap was simply far too wide.

For those who could obtain a Tian-grade invitation, there was almost no suspense about them reaching the eighth-rank Realm in the future.

As long as they didn't perish during the growth process, it was an inevitability.

As for the ninth-rank Realm, that was indeed hard to say.

Reaching the Supreme Realm required not only talent and potential but also countless strokes of luck and Opportunity.

Even the factions that currently possessed ninth-rank experts didn't dare to say they could certainly produce another.

"Young Miss Ruan, I don't want to repeat these unpleasant words."

"Your eligibility for the Talent Gathering has been revoked. Please leave the City Lord's Estate."

Beside her, the guard urged her once again.

Hearing this, Ruan Xingqiao's gaze remained fixed on the distance.

She looked dazed, and her words still reflected her disbelief.

"Who gave you benefits to deal with me, is that it?"

"He's just a lowly Corpse Collector from Yingyang Pass. On what grounds does he get a Tian-grade invitation?"

"He'll be kicked out in a moment, for sure!"

As Ruan Xingqiao spoke, her tone became increasingly firm.

Not far away, two Disciples from Meifengshan Martial Arts Academy couldn't bear to watch any longer.

"Junior Brother Li Yuan reached the eleventh floor during the competition at Zhai Tian Terrace."

"Even Yan Chenyao of the Yan Family was outperformed by him. You ask on what grounds he gets a Tian-grade invitation?"

"If the invitation isn't given to him, should it be given to you?"

Hearing this, the discussions around them grew louder.

Rumors about these events had been spreading everywhere lately.

Originally, everyone was unclear about who the protagonist of the story was.

They only knew that Yan Chenyao had competed against someone, ended up at a disadvantage, and delayed the Yan Family's important affairs.

They hadn't expected that this person was the very Li Yuan who had just been here.

"He... he could beat Yan Chenyao in a competition?"

"How is that possible? How could he..."

Ruan Xingqiao knew very well who Yan Chenyao was.

Often, those around her would call her a favored daughter of heaven, a young Fairy with peerless talent.

But if Yan Chenyao were present, such titles would never fall upon her.

The Yan Family's Prodigy, Yan Chenyao, though not as good as her elder brother Yan Chenzhou, still possessed extremely excellent talent.

It was strange enough that such a person would participate in the same competition as Li Yuan.

Let alone losing to Li Yuan.

"Impossible. He's just a Corpse Collector from Yingyang Pass. What ability could he have?"

"They're lying to me. They must have conspired to lie to me."

"The moment he reaches the entrance of the Tian-grade venue, he'll be kicked out, for sure..."

Ruan Xingqiao's tone was filled with panic.

She was completely at a loss, her mind a chaotic mess.

Though her mind was a mess, one thing was clear to her.

She knew there was a deep grudge between her and Li Yuan.

She had tried to take Li Yuan's life multiple times.

This kind of life-and-death enmity was already categorized as a profound hatred.

If Li Yuan truly had ability, then she would likely face great trouble in the future.

She was still deceiving herself, lying to herself.

This way, she could feel a bit better, a bit more at ease.

The guard of the City Lord's Estate heard this and a look of helplessness appeared on his face.

"If Fairy Ruan doesn't believe it, then wait outside."

"See if Young Master Li Yuan is kicked out in a moment."

"Besides, what happens inside the Tian-grade Talent Conference is no great secret."

"If there's anything you don't believe, you can just ask when the time comes."

At this point, the guard's attitude became increasingly firm.

"Everything that needs to be said has been said."

"Please leave the City Lord's Estate, Fairy Ruan, so as not to make things difficult for Qianqiu Mountain and the City Lord's Estate."

The guard firmly saw the guest out.

If Ruan Xingqiao continued to make a scene here, the guard was even prepared to take action.

After a moment of hesitation, Ruan Xingqiao finally got up and left.

After taking a few steps, she turned back to look.

Before her eyes, she seemed to see Li Yuan being kicked out.

But after blinking, she realized it was just a hallucination.

After leaving the City Lord's Estate, Ruan Xingqiao's heart was in a panic.

She didn't leave; she actually waited outside the estate.

She hoped things would develop as she imagined, waiting for Li Yuan to be kicked out.

But at this moment, Li Yuan had already walked into a garden.

In the middle of the garden was a wide area, convenient for martial arts sparring.

Around the garden, rows of tables had been prepared.

Exquisite pastries were already set out on the tables.

"Young Master, please sit here. This humble one will introduce Yongle City's specialty pastry, yongle pastry..."

Li Yuan followed the receptionist to his seat and sat down.

The serving girl then began to introduce the pastries on the table.

She spoke of what precious dew was used and which mountain's flower petals they were paired with.

It sounded as if this yongle pastry was even more precious than many Medicinal Pills.

Li Yuan had no interest in these things, but he didn't interrupt the maid's introduction.

After she finished, Li Yuan picked up a piece and tasted it.

Then he had his two Senior Brothers, including Liang Duqiu, taste it as well.

Seeing Li Yuan share the yongle pastry with his attendants just like that, the maids in the garden all showed quite a bit of surprise on their faces.

Before long, others began to walk into the garden one after another.

Seeing the early-arriving Li Yuan, these people didn't greet him; they just gave him a few glances.

Some, after looking, would exchange a few words with the attendants behind them.

One could clearly feel a sense of arrogance from the young Martial Artists entering this garden.

This arrogance was quite different from that of Ruan Xingqiao and her lot.

It was a suppressed arrogance—fully restrained, yet constantly bubbling up.

After these people entered, their gazes would sweep around the room.

Then, they would linger on Li Yuan for a good while.

Those who could come to this Tian-grade Talent Conference all knew each other.

These top Prodigies would encounter one another during many cultivation and training activities.

Only Li Yuan was the stranger.

After a brief chat with those around them, they roughly knew who Li Yuan was and why he was able to get an invitation to this Tian-grade Talent Conference.

At the end of the hour of the dragon, Yan Chenyao arrived.

Their Yan Family had received a total of two invitation slots.

Both Yan Chenyao and Yan Chenzhou had one.

Entering the garden, Yan Chenyao's gaze also fell directly on Li Yuan.

But Li Yuan didn't see much hatred on her face.

On the contrary, there seemed to be a bit more expectation.

After a moment, she withdrew her gaze and sat in her seat.

Quite a few people looked at her, their hearts likely filled with curiosity.

Regarding the previous competition at Zhai Tian Terrace.

Everyone had heard of Zhai Tian Terrace to some extent.

But the fact that Yan Chenyao had lost to an unknown like Li Yuan still left everyone curious.

They wanted to know exactly how she had lost—whether it was a matter of strength, or if Yan Chenyao had intentionally caused trouble for Yan Chenzhou.