At that moment, Nie Qinglan shot to her feet. She looked at Liu Ying and Ling Qi and declared sternly, "If this is how the Spring Garden banquet is going to be, then Qig Mountain Academy will take its leave."

After she spoke, everyone from Qig Mountain Academy rose as well.

Wen Qingye was a student of Qig Mountain Academy, and Nie Qinglan was its Vice Director. She could not bear to see Wen Qingye humiliated. So what if it meant offending the current Crown Prince and National Master?

Crown Prince Ling Qi sneered. "Hmph, a measly little Qig Mountain Academy. Good riddance. We weren’t counting on you for the Thousand Rivers Secret Land anyway."

At this, Shu Jiuyi no longer hesitated. He stood up, faced Crown Prince Ling Qi, and cupped his fists. "Since there is no place for us here, I believe it’s best we bid our farewells."

Shu Jiuyi hadn’t been entirely determined to stand with Qig Mountain Academy, but Crown Prince Ling Qi’s words had sent a chill through his heart. Although Qig Mountain Academy was ranked third among the three great academies, it had undeniably nurtured a great deal of talent over the years. Yet, with a single sentence, Crown Prince Ling Qi had completely and utterly dismissed all of it.

Crown Prince Ling Qi’s expression changed. The Spring Garden banquet was meant for the chosen geniuses of the three great academies who were heading to the Thousand Rivers Secret Land. But now that two of the three academies were leaving, wouldn’t its entire purpose be undermined?

Zhou Long rose silently. "Since Young Master Wen has departed, it would be improper for us to remain. Farewell."

Ling Qi looked into Zhou Long’s eyes and found his gaze was unexpectedly cold. Ling Qi took a small step back, his face turning deathly pale.

Wan Yu shot Ling Qi a scornful look and shook his head. "Farewell."

The surrounding Pill Masters stood up one after another. They cupped their fists at Ling Qi and Liu Ying, then turned to leave.

In an instant, all color drained from Ling Qi’s face, leaving it ashen.

Watching the Pill Masters slowly depart, Ling Xiao wondered to himself, ’What on earth is going on? Not only are the people from Qig Mountain Academy and Celestial Academy leaving, but even all these Pill Masters are walking out?’

Liu Ying’s expression darkened. He suppressed his anger and demanded, "What do you think you’re all doing?"

Wan Yu looked at Liu Ying calmly and smiled. "Young Master Wen has done me a favor. Since this Spring Garden banquet has no place for him, I see no reason for me to stay either."

"That’s right. There’s no point in staying at this banquet."

"Do the Crown Prince and the National Master truly believe they can blot out the sky with one hand?"

The Pill Masters’ words were merciless. Crown Prince Ling Qi’s heart clenched painfully. He had originally planned to use this Spring Garden banquet to recruit some Pill Masters, but now it seemed he had thoroughly offended every single one of them.

’Why did this happen?’

The Third Prince looked at Ling Qi’s pale face, feeling immense satisfaction. At the same time, his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to win over Wen Qingye.

The onlookers watched the scene unfold, dumbfounded. In the blink of an eye, nearly half the guests at the Spring Garden banquet had left, most notably the Pill Masters. These were all renowned Pill Masters in the Celestial Martial Country. Who among those present could say they would never need to ask a favor from them in the future?

’Could it all be for Wen Qingye?’

The crowd glanced at Crown Prince Ling Qi and finally understood. By trying to curry favor with Wen Tongyu while humiliating Wen Qingye, the Crown Prince had kicked an iron plate. This Wen Qingye was not only extraordinarily talented, but his relationship with the Pill Masters was also exceptional.

Not only had Crown Prince Ling Qi offended Wen Qingye this time, but he had likely created a rift between himself and these Pill Masters that wouldn’t heal anytime soon. Compounded by the fact that the Emperor was already considering deposing him, Crown Prince Ling Qi’s position was now in even greater peril.

The Crown Prince had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it. Seeing this, the onlookers couldn’t help but shake their heads in secret.

Liu Ying had also lost his usual composure. His brow was tightly furrowed, and his eyes, dark and ominous, were fixed on the departing crowd.

Wen Tongyu felt even more furious and bewildered than Liu Ying.

The Third Prince saw this, and the corner of his mouth hooked into a subtle, hidden smile.

And so, the affair at the Spring Garden ended on a sour note.

...

Xiaxia said angrily, "Master, that Crown Prince is too much! If you ask me, we should help the Third Prince. He’s been trying to recruit me lately, wanting my help in his fight for the throne."

Hearing this, Wen Qingye paused his steps. "The Third Prince has been trying to recruit you?"

"Mhm," Xiaxia nodded repeatedly. "He was the one who brought me to the Imperial City."

"So, what are your plans?" Wen Qingye asked.

Xiaxia’s eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she grinned. "Of course, I’ll listen to you, Master!"

Wen Qingye shook his head. "This is the kind of thing you must decide for yourself."

Xiaxia thought for a moment, then smiled. "Then forget it. I think I’ll just go back to Feiyun City and focus on my Alchemy Dao."

Wen Qingye nodded and said no more. No matter what Xiaxia chose to do, he wouldn’t stand in her way. Everyone has their own path to choose, and he would never force his will upon others.

Just then, Wen Qingye and Xiaxia both saw a figure approaching in the distance. It was Ling Wei.

Ling Wei walked up to Wen Qingye, her brow furrowed. "What are you going to do?"

"They slander me, bully me, humiliate me, laugh at me, belittle me, demean me, loathe me, and deceive me. How should I respond?" Wen Qingye smiled faintly and looked ahead. "Just endure them, yield to them, let them be, avoid them, be patient with them, respect them, ignore them. Then, wait a few years and see what becomes of them."

Wen Qingye’s words made Ling Wei’s brow furrow even more deeply.

Wen Qingye was, of course, saying this for Ling Wei’s benefit. If the National Master, Liu Ying, hadn’t been present at the time, Wen Qingye might have already drawn his sword.

Through smiles and conversation, he had seen through the ups and downs of fortune and disgrace. Wen Qingye had long understood it all; he just never showed it.

"You can be that magnanimous, but I can’t," Ling Wei said coldly. "That National Master, Liu Ying, and that Crown Prince, Ling Qi... I think they’ve grown tired of their positions. It’s time for them to step down."

A sharp glint in her eyes, Ling Wei continued slowly, "My marriage was originally proposed by Ling Qi’s mother, the current Empress. It was nothing more than a scheme to use me to win over Wen Tongyu. Back then, I was helpless and had no one to speak for me. But things are different now."

"Now my wings have grown full. What’s mine, I will take back. And what isn’t mine, I will seize even if I have to fight for it." Ling Wei spoke without any regard for Xiaxia, who was standing beside them.

Wen Qingye remained silent. He knew Ling Wei must have a certain degree of confidence to speak this way. From the looks of it, Ling Xiao was her greatest backer.

Ling Wei looked at Wen Qingye, her delicate brows knitting together. "Be careful in the Thousand Rivers Secret Land. In any case, it’s been many years since anyone from our Celestial Martial Country has successfully passed through it. Don’t lose your life just for a chance to enter the Celestial Profound Sect."

Wen Qingye nodded. "I’m well aware of that."

His tone was calm, but his expression and his words carried an extreme, almost innate, confidence.

Ling Wei raised an eyebrow, nodded, and then turned to walk away.

"Good luck!"

Watching Ling Wei’s figure recede into the distance, Xiaxia gave Wen Qingye a curious look. "Master, that princess has some serious ambition."

Wen Qingye watched Ling Wei’s back and said softly, "Everyone has their own ambitions, I suppose. You have yours, I have mine, and so does she."