Chapter 308 Exotic fragrances vie for attention, ordinary scents dazzle the eye; the lady enters the palace, only inches away!

Upon hearing this, everyone looked over and saw that Gu Nianjun was beautiful and elegant, with a flowing purple dress and a refined demeanor. They were all captivated and thought, "This temple fair is truly bustling with activity, with such a beautiful woman participating! If I show off my talents, I'm sure I can win her favor!"

Li Xian looked in the direction of the sound and saw Gu Nianjun, Zhou Shijie, and Li Xiaofan. He was slightly pleased, not expecting to see his younger brother here. He looked him over carefully and saw that his younger brother's appearance had changed. He was gradually shedding his childishness and becoming quite handsome. He felt even more that time had passed and things had changed.

Wang Dezhong of the Jiushan Sword Sect blushed deeply, unable to hide his smugness and joy, and struck up a casual conversation with Gu Nianjun. Gu Nianjun smiled gently and politely, exchanging names and introducing herself to Zhou Shijie and Li Xiaofan.

They were all around the same age, came from prestigious sects, and possessed remarkable talent. They secretly admired each other and naturally began to chat.

Gu Nianjun asked, "I wonder what the relationship is between this hero and Senior Wang Shulong?"

Wang Dezhong said, "Does Miss Gu know my father?" Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "No wonder this hero can wield the 'Iron Heart Sword Technique' so skillfully. He truly has the style of his father. Like father, like son."

Wang Dezhong laughed and said, "You flatter me, you flatter me. My tricks are just for show."

Zhou Shijie said, "Brother Wang, you are too modest. This eight- or nine-foot incense stick... is filled with an iron core. Just picking it up requires considerable strength! Not to mention lighting the iron core."

Gu Nianjun said, "I remember years ago, the 'Unyielding Swordsman' Senior Wang Shulong visited my Gu family and even gave me guidance on swordsmanship. It is truly fate that I am honored to hear of your family's brilliance again today."

"Ah!" Wang Dezhong exclaimed happily, "My father has also come to Feilong City. Since we are old acquaintances, why don't I introduce him to me so that we can meet again?"

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "Very good."

...

The group chatted heartily, the atmosphere quite harmonious. Ordinary people watched as if observing divine beings conversing, their conversation filled with refined topics like romance, martial arts aspirations, family backgrounds, and kinship ties… They couldn't help but look on with envy, observing from afar. Those with family connections and martial arts backgrounds glanced around, eager to display their skills and join in the conversation, making friends as well.

The exotic fragrances were all stored in special wooden boxes. The young heroes who could afford the fragrances had already been secretly observing each other. In the cliffside shrine beside the narrow path behind the mountain, young figures were already displaying their heroic figures.

They didn't know each other's origins or names, but they were all aware of each other's existence. Zhou Shijie was elegant and refined; his martial arts skills might not be the best, but he possessed a certain aura of good fortune. Although he was a bit older, his demeanor was quite convincing. He smiled at a man and said, "Brother, what kind of incense have you prepared?"

He saw that although everyone was eager to try, they all had reservations. They wanted to be the grand finale, but they were also afraid of being outmatched, and even more afraid of showing off and incurring the displeasure of their peers. Therefore, they all hesitated. Zhou Shijie's suggestion could easily resolve the deadlock, allowing his peers to steal the spotlight.

The man laughed heartily and said, "Since that's the case, it's my turn to make a fool of myself. I hope you won't laugh at me."

All the heroes holding the exotic incense said, "Brother, please show us your skills. We have come here to pray for the well-being of all people. We value sincerity over form." "Indeed, we are not setting up a martial arts contest." "You have gathered here from all directions. The sky is high and the clouds are light. It is an auspicious day. You only need to show your skills to the fullest."

Each of the eight heroes spoke with remarkable composure. Gu Nianjun nodded secretly and said to Li Xiaofan, "Little brother Xiaofan, these outstanding talents come from prestigious and righteous families. Their martial arts and character are both excellent. When you travel and study, you should make friends with them if you have the opportunity."

Li Xiaofan said, "Okay." But then he thought, "This temple fair embodies the aspirations of the people and is a place where ordinary people place their hopes. Although it may seem ethereal, it gives people hope, which is a good thing. My brother was assigned to a menial job in Yihe Village, and I had no choice but to go to the temple to pray to the gods for protection. I suppose the people who come here feel the same way. These young heroes, who come from prestigious families and are of good character and morality, are here with the mentality of showing off and trying to usurp the throne. In my opinion, that's not a good thing."

He looked around. The people watched in silence, witnessing only the young hero's display of power. Li Xiaofan kept his feelings to himself and said nothing more.

The man opened the wooden box and took out the "Jade Incense." Gu Nianjun, Li Xiaofan, and Zhou Shijie had all seen this incense before; its body was like white jade, and it emitted a delicate fragrance when burned. Its exquisite appearance made it too beautiful to bear the thought of burning. The man smiled and said, "Brother, could you lend me a light?"

A young hero said, "I've come to borrow a light!" He stepped forward a few paces, stepped out from the crowd, and pointed two fingers together at the Jade Incense Burner. The Jade Incense Burner hummed and burst into flame.

Gu Nianjun nodded in approval, saying, "This person who borrowed the fire is a highly skilled disciple of the Lishan Sword Sect. The martial art he used is the 'Lihuo Ganxin Finger,' and his mastery of it is quite remarkable."

He thought to himself, "The temple fair is bustling with activity, gathering heroes from all directions, whose character and morality are all exceptional. This opportunity to meet so many people would be a great joy. I've been studying poetry and books in the government office, and I have few friends or confidants. It's not that I don't want to make friends, but this poor capital is a place of exile, and even the city is desolate with a lack of talent, and there's always a sense of recklessness. These young heroes come from prestigious families and all possess remarkable martial arts skills... they are well worth getting to know."

I was in a great mood, having not participated in such a grand event for a long time.

The man held the "Jade Incense," inhaled sharply, and then exhaled. A white mist tiger emerged from his mouth, roaring to the sky. He then exhaled again, and a white mist leopard appeared lifelike.

The man laughed and said, "Go!" He tossed the Jade Incense into the burner. The tiger and leopard held the incense in their mouths and placed it in the bronze incense burner. The tiger and leopard mist gradually faded and disappeared, while the Jade Incense smoke became clear and bright, its delicate fragrance spreading and enhancing the atmosphere.

Seeing that Li Xiaofan was unaware of the intricacies of the situation, Gu Nianjun wanted him to make more acquaintances with such outstanding peers, so she said, "Xiaofan, this hero... if I'm not mistaken, should be from the 'Thunder Gate'. Just now, he first swallowed white mist and then spat out tigers and leopards, which is the 'Holding Tigers and Leopards in the Heart' move from the 'Tiger and Leopard True Scripture'."

Zhou Shijie stepped forward and said, "Brother, your skills are truly remarkable! I've really broadened my horizons! May I ask your name?"

The man said cheerfully, "My name is Yang Xiangtian." Zhou Shijie said, "Brother Yang, please come this way. I feel like we've known each other for a long time and would like to have a chat with you."

Wang Dezhong laughed and said, "Yes, Brother Yang is a member of the Lei Sect, which is quite similar to my Jiushan Sword Sect."

Yang Xiangtian laughed heartily and said loudly, "I couldn't be happier!" He saw that Wang Dezhong's "Iron Heart Sword Technique" could ignite iron and send incense flames soaring into the sky, and he felt that his own ability to "light a fire" was far inferior. If he tried to light a fire to attract attention, he would inevitably fall short and be compared to others. Therefore, he first "borrowed fire" from the side, and then took a different approach, using martial arts to create the extraordinary phenomenon of "tiger and leopard carrying incense."

This can be described as playing to one's strengths and avoiding one's weaknesses. Gu Nianjun, with her keen insight, saw through this thought. She admired it even more, believing that playing to one's strengths and avoiding one's weaknesses is by no means shameful. Knowing one's strengths and weaknesses is even more commendable.

Suddenly, a series of exclamations were heard from the crowd, followed by a sweet shout: "Great! It's so lively here, how can I not come and join in!" A beautiful woman, using her light-footed skills, flew over the heads of ordinary people and landed gracefully in the middle of the field.

The common people felt a slight itch on their heads, and suddenly some mud appeared on their scalps. A fragrant breeze followed. They were completely unaware of what had happened.

This woman had long, braided hair, a pretty face, eyes like peach blossoms, slightly flushed cheeks, a delicate, upturned nose, and thin lips. She wore a red dress and black boots, exuding a heroic and spirited air, both beautiful and lively. The moment she appeared, many young heroes turned to look at her, secretly captivated.

Zhou Shijie smiled and said, "Please, this heroine."

The woman raised an eyebrow and said, "Of course." She placed the box containing the exotic fragrance on the ground. Then, with a light touch of her toes, she leaped high into the air, her graceful movements drawing gasps from the crowd. This young woman was quite fond of showing off. This scene suited her perfectly, and the lightness skill she displayed was remarkable, surpassing that of the others.

She was seen leaping more than ten feet off the ground... Such an ability to "leap" was truly rare and formidable. She shot out several strands of silver thread, which stuck into a specially made box. With a tug, the box opened wide, revealing the "Eternal Peace Incense" inside.

Gu Nianjun, Zhou Shijie, and Li Xiaofan all smiled knowingly. The "Eternal Peace Incense," carried away by the force of the movement, was precisely inserted into the incense burner. The woman in red gracefully landed, her toes touching the tip of the incense, lighting it through her boots—it was unclear what technique she used. Then, she gracefully leaped backward, white smoke accompanying her toes, tracing an arc in the air before landing safely back on the ground.

Everyone chuckled, feeling that the woman's intention to show off was rather obvious, but her lightness skill was indeed remarkable. Moreover, given her pretty appearance, no one found her annoying.

The woman in red said, "I'll make a fool of myself," bowing to the crowd with a smug and triumphant expression. Gu Nianjun laughed, "What a fine move, Dragon Soaring and Phoenix Leaping Steps!"

The woman in red was delighted and said, "Sister, you know this move?" Gu Nianjun replied, "Sister, you must be from the Lake Mountain Sword Sect!"

The woman in red smiled and said, "Indeed. My name is Mu Hongchou."

Wang Dezhong smiled and said, "Miss Mu, my name is Wang Dezhong, and I come from the Jiushan Sword Sect. In that case, we have quite a history!" Mu Hongchou was delighted. Seeing that Wang Dezhong, Zhou Shijie, Gu Nianjun, Yang Wentian, Li Xiaofan and others were all remarkable, she quickly approached them to make friends and chat.

This place is now occupied by adults from the center.

Suddenly, a dragon's cry and a phoenix's cry rang out in unison. The "Eternal Peace Incense" was made of unique materials, and when burned, it produced extraordinary phenomena, with thick white smoke billowing out and transforming into dragons and phoenixes swirling and ascending.

The setting sun cast its rays, making the dragon appear as if it were adorned with golden scales and crimson feathers. The scene was so lifelike that the extraordinary sight lingered, circling the Flying Dragon Temple. The onlookers gasped in astonishment, as if witnessing a divine miracle; some were stunned into silence, while others knelt in worship…

Seeing this scene, Mu Hongchou clapped with even greater joy. Three exotic incense sticks were already inserted into the bronze cauldron: Eight-Nine Mysterious Feet Incense, Jade River Incense, and Eternal Peace Incense... The Eternal Peace Incense was the most extraordinary.

Seeing that Gu Nianjun and Mu Hongchou were beautiful and kind, and chatting happily with the other prodigies, the group of geniuses were eager to demonstrate their abilities, join them, and make friends, so that their trip would not be in vain.

People arrived one after another to light and place incense... There were beautiful young women and handsome young men. They all exhausted their ingenuity, trying to win applause and attract attention. Whenever someone displayed remarkable skills, Gu Nianjun, Zhou Shijie, Wang Dezhong, and others would greet them humbly and engage in friendly conversation.

If someone particularly admired them, they would eagerly invite them to talk. In this way, the group attracted many talented individuals, who made friends and acquaintances with each other, conversing with learned scholars and associating with no commoners.

Li Xian concealed himself among the crowd, never revealing himself. He observed the lively scene and noticed that Gu Nianjun was very polite and spoke with great grace. He thought to himself, "So this woman isn't inherently arrogant; she just looks down on me. If she met someone of the same generation from a prominent family, she could also have a graceful conversation and make friends with them."

These many young prodigies, dressed in magnificent attire, burning exotic incense, and displaying extraordinary abilities, truly resembled a gathering of gods and immortals, as if they had mistakenly stumbled into a celestial palace. Li Xiaofan remained silent. Gu Nianjun took good care of him, and whenever any outstanding talents arrived, she would introduce them to him.

However, Li Xiaofan was not very interested in the conversation and only maintained proper etiquette. The visiting geniuses were all there for Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie. Seeing that Li Xiaofan was fair and clean but dressed plainly, they paid little attention to him and gradually ignored him.

As more and more talented individuals gathered, their power and influence were truly overwhelming. Even if Gu Nianjun took care of Li Xiaofan, she could not fully protect him. Moreover, Li Xiaofan was determined to travel and study, and should be resilient and capable of standing on his own; he was no longer a frightened fledgling.

Li Xiaofan noticed Gu Nianjun's concerns and smiled, "Sister Gu, it's rare for you to make friends, you don't need to look after me all the time." Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "Little brother Xiaofan, you're not very familiar with this kind of scene. I really can't take care of you completely, but by following me, you'll be able to make some friends." She wanted to spend more time chatting with the young talents.

Holding a folding fan, Zhou Shijie exuded elegance and seemed perfectly at ease in this setting. He was adept at subtly revealing his talents; martial arts were not his forte, but his "luck" was elusive and unique.

Those who were destined for greatness, upon hearing of his extraordinary talent, would surely look at him with newfound respect and curiosity. Furthermore, his eloquent speech and display of erudition were quite captivating, winning people's hearts. It was truly a lively and exciting occasion.

The incense burner and cauldron were filled with exotic fragrances. Extraordinary scenes appeared one after another: colorful clouds surrounded the area, the fragrance lingered, dragons and phoenixes danced, and golden light shone brightly.

Yang Wentian said, "That's right, Miss Gu, Brother Zhou, Brother Li... it seems you haven't offered incense yet?"

Zhou Shijie laughed and said, "Ah, I almost forgot. My apologies, Nianjun, why don't you go first?"

Gu Nianjun smiled and said, "Okay." He opened the special box, which contained "Five-Five Flat Incense". This incense was five feet and five inches long, and the patterns on it were square and flat, like a ruler or a scale, symbolizing constant self-reflection. It also contained regular and angular patterns.

Gu Nianjun surmised that the "Eternal Peace Incense," "Jade River Incense," and many other magnificent and unique incense items must have already been purchased. Using this setting and this exotic fragrance, she used it to illuminate her own heart. She constantly measured and weighed herself. First, she examined herself, then dared to question heaven and earth.

She smiled and said, "I know your skills are limited, and everyone else has such sophisticated methods for offering incense. I know I am not as good as you, so I won't embarrass myself. Just stick the incense stick in." After saying that, she walked slowly over, stuck the incense stick in, lit the tip of the incense, and bowed three times.

The group of talented individuals were slightly disappointed, but they had high hopes for Gu Nianjun's abilities. However, they anticipated that people would have different personalities and some would not like to show off. Furthermore, Gu Nianjun's knowledge and demeanor were evident to all, and her family background was quite astonishing upon closer examination, so they decided not to say more.

Gu Nianjun smiled at Li Xiaofan. She had originally wanted to show off her skills, but considering that Li Xiaofan had not practiced martial arts and would need to go to offer incense later, it would be inappropriate for her to display her abilities while leaving Xiaofan to perform mediocrely. Therefore, she sacrificed the opportunity to show off and accompanied Xiaofan.

Li Xiaofan understood Gu Nianjun's feelings and was very grateful, but felt it was unnecessary. Zhou Shijie seized this opportunity to fully display himself. He purchased "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Incense," which attracted thousands of birds and beasts when burned.

Before offering incense, Zhou Shijie began with a passionate and impassioned speech, reciting a few lines of poetry. His words, imbued with a powerful aura and charismatic presence, resonated far and wide, easily winning people over.

His witty remarks flowed like a river, and in a moment of realization, the person offering incense and worship at this moment was the pillar of the Great Martial Arts, the rising star of martial arts, the outstanding talent of the world, and the future hero... He praised himself and also lauded everyone else, so naturally everyone felt the same way.

He connected the act of offering incense with heaven and earth, demonstrating his commitment to establishing his heart, his will, and his character. His words resonated with all the proud disciples, who felt the act was truly sacred.

After he finished speaking, he lit the incense and played a tune called "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix." The smoke attracted birds and beasts, and he played another tune to control the flock. The birds then carried incense sticks and placed them into the bronze cauldron.

This act bears some resemblance to Yang Wentian's tiger and leopard carrying incense, though it is not as profound. Zhou Shijie's "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" is highly accomplished, but insufficient to attract all the birds to the phoenix. It requires the scent of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Incense" to first lure the birds.

He then played the tune with great control. Combined with his earlier impassioned speech, this performance was quite different, and he instantly became the center of attention, causing everyone to overlook this particular moment. They all felt that Zhou Shijie possessed extraordinary insight and remarkable demeanor, making him a rare and exceptional person, and their desire to befriend him grew even stronger.

Praise poured in.

Zhou Shijie said, "You flatter me. In terms of knowledge, I am only a dabbler. I know a few basic martial arts techniques, have read a few lines of poetry, and have only managed to obtain a little bit of luck." Then he said to Li Xiaofan, "That's right, little brother Xiaofan, you're the only one left."

Everyone turned to look at him. Li Xiaofan remained calm, bowed to the crowd, opened the wooden box, and took out the "Heart-Protecting and Mind-Awakening Incense." Among all the exotic incenses, this was the cheapest and shortest, producing no unusual phenomena when burned.

However, it has the effect of protecting the heart and refreshing the mind. Li Xiaofan thought to himself, "This incense costs Sister Gu's money, so it shouldn't be too expensive. I'll find a way to return it later. Besides, other incense may look nice when burned, but they're not very practical. This incense can help refresh the mind and protect the heart, so it's not like it was burned for nothing."

He then chose this incense. Gu Nianjun repeatedly urged Li Xiaofan to purchase incense items that signified his aspirations, such as "The Sage Seeks Truth Incense," etc. Li Xiaofan smiled and insisted on using this incense.

Although this incense was an exotic fragrance, its quality was rather low, and its stem was only a foot long, short and unremarkable. If this incense had been placed first, no one would have said a word. But later, as many other exotic fragrances displayed their unique charm, it gradually became difficult to present it.

To make such a grand entrance at this moment... would be too underwhelming. The expressions of the assembled prodigies changed slightly. They had assumed that Li Xiaofan, traveling with Gu Nianjun and Zhou Shijie, would have prepared a fine incense. But it turned out to be quite ordinary.

Moreover, Zhou Shijie had just spoken at length, elevating the act of offering incense to an extremely high level. He also hoped for a perfect ending, making the day's events worthwhile. Looking back in the future, it was truly a meeting of kindred spirits.

The assembled prodigies exchanged bewildered glances, stammering, "This…" "This…that…" "Isn't this somewhat inappropriate?" "This incense is too ordinary; it's not quite suitable to be placed in a bronze cauldron, is it?" "Inappropriate, inappropriate, young brother…why don't you offer the incense at all?"

Many voices rang out. Zhou Shijie sneered inwardly, having expected this, and stood aside coldly, completely indifferent to the situation. Gu Nianjun frowned and said, "Everyone, my little brother Xiao Fan is still young and unaware of the rules, please don't take it to heart."

A prodigy from the Lishan Sword Sect said, "Miss Gu, this little brother Xiao Fan must be over ten years old by now. We have been learning etiquette since childhood, and being over ten years old is not young. He should understand the dangers involved."

At that time, there were many prominent families, and their descendants placed great importance on etiquette. Originally, they only regarded offering incense as a form of worship and did not require much formality. However, things gradually changed, and it became more like a way to make friends and form cliques. It was like a "banquet," where gifts and congratulations were exchanged, but the highlight was silver.

Everyone was naturally displeased, feeling that if this incense were placed there, it would lower the class of the household. Someone then asked, "Who exactly is this young man, Xiao Fan? And Miss Gu…who is he to you?"

Zhou Shijie smiled and said, "Little Fan comes from an ordinary background. He was a hunter when he was young and was admitted to the academy for further studies. He and Nianjun are junior brothers and sisters."

Everyone understood, and several of their gazes already held a hint of disdain. Wang Dezhong said, "In that case, it's understandable that you don't know about etiquette and manners in making friends."

Li Xiaofan silently tidied the wooden box, his expression calm. He blew on a tinderbox to light the incense for protecting the heart and calming the mind. But every time it was about to light, a cold wind would blow it out. Some people didn't want him to put the incense on.

Gu Nianjun, unwilling to spoil the atmosphere but also needing to protect Xiao Fan, said, "Everyone, although Xiao Fan is not my biological brother, he is worse than a biological brother. In terms of specifications, this Heart-Protecting and Mind-Awakening Incense is indeed inferior to other exotic incenses. However, it has its merits, and I hope you will not be fixated on this point."

With her guarantee, everyone remained silent. After Li Xiaofan lit the incense, he walked over holding it in both hands. Suddenly, he felt a hidden force hit his back, his whole body went numb, and he fell forward, the exotic incense flying high into the air.

Gu Nianjun frowned, quickly walked over, and immediately helped Li Xiaofan up. Seeing that he was unharmed, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, the "Heart-Protecting and Mind-Awakening Incense" had already flown elsewhere and been trampled on a few times.

Gu Nianjun was quite displeased. Although there were many reputable sects present, there were bound to be some with narrow minds. Gu Nianjun said, "Little Fan, are you alright? Don't be sad. It's alright if this incense isn't offered." She noticed that the heart-protecting and mind-awakening incense had become tainted.

Li Xiaofan said calmly, "Sister Gu, I'm fine." He thought to himself, "I'm not going to force myself into your circle. You look down on me, but I don't care. I'm only offering incense here to please Sister Gu."

Just then... a scream was heard: "Ouch!" A figure flew backward with great force, tumbling several times after landing, looking extremely disheveled.

Everyone stared intently. This person was Yue Kai, the prodigy of the Yue Shan Sword Sect. His strength was considerable, so why was he in such a sorry state? Yue Kai, utterly disgusted, roared angrily, "Who! Who attacked me?!"

A voice came from the crowd: "If someone is unaware, then he should not have done it. What goes around comes around; cause and effect are a cycle that never fails."

Yue Kai angrily retorted, "What nonsense! What cause and effect, what retribution? If you have the guts, come out and fight!"

Gu Nianjun already knew the reason; it must have been Yue Kai who secretly used tricks to make Li Xiaofan fall. This was discovered by the other prodigies, who were displeased and took action to punish him.

Gu Nianjun was furious and said coldly, "Brother Yue, it is not honorable for you to use such underhanded tactics. You need to apologize to Xiao Fan." Yue Kai, seeing that his deeds had been exposed, said awkwardly, "I originally wanted to test whether he had learned martial arts, but I did not expect him to be so weak."

"I apologize to Brother Xiao Fan, but the incense is already tainted, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Gu Nianjun felt a pang of guilt. Suddenly, a thick cloud of white mist swept in like a whirlwind. Everyone gasped and scattered in panic, the prodigies looking around warily. The voice rang out again:

"You all call yourselves geniuses, but you're nothing but fame-seekers. You won't allow Fanxiang to get involved, but I'll do just that."

The crowd shouted and cursed, completely unaware of the origin of the mist. After a moment of chaos, the white mist dissipated. Suddenly, a three-inch stick of ordinary incense was seen inserted into the bronze cauldron; though short and plain, it was quite conspicuous.

Everyone looked grim.

Gu Nianjun's face lit up with surprise, thinking, "Among these prodigies, there is one who is quite temperamental and unconventional." Suddenly, he noticed that the "Heart-Protecting and Mind-Awakening Incense" on the ground was as bright as new.

He was even more impressed by this person's extraordinary abilities; his methods were unpredictable, his momentum like a whirlwind, yet his actions were meticulous. Gu Nianjun said, "Little Fan, go and offer incense!"

Li Xiaofan lit the incense. No one dared to stop him anymore, secretly wondering who had done it. Among the many exotic fragrances, the ordinary scent stood out even more.

Gu Nianjun thought to herself, "This prodigy is quite remarkable. It's rare to meet such a wonderful person, and I really want to befriend him. But asking for his name like this would offend so many prodigies, and even they might not agree. I suppose... he must be one of the prodigies, and he's acting so secretly because he doesn't want to reveal his identity. I'll find him later."

Her beautiful eyes swept around, secretly observing several prodigies.

At this moment, the abbot of Feilong Temple came over and said with a smile, "Hahaha, today's temple fair is truly lively. If you are interested, please come into the hall. Madam Wang will also offer incense to the Buddha."

The group of prodigies exclaimed, "Madam Wang? Who is that Madam Wang? Could she be the wife of Lord He of Flying Dragon City?" "Brother, you must not speak such nonsense. I arrived a little earlier and have heard of Madam Wang's name. This woman is indeed a remarkable person! I've heard that she is as beautiful as a fairy and has extraordinary abilities! However, she has no connection with Lord He."

"Was it a mistake? How was it a mistake? Please explain in detail." "Anyway... I came to this temple fair hoping to see Lady Wang in person. Now that I can finally see her, I'd better go into the main hall first!"

The proud young men led the way into the hall, followed closely by the common people. The gate of the Three Saints Hall was 68 feet wide and 97 feet high. Inside, the beams and pillars were truly carved and painted, the bricks were made of jade, and the hall shone with gold.

Li Xian followed the crowd into the hall. He peered towards the center, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lady Wang's true face.

Suddenly, with a loud "thud," the heavy palace doors slammed shut. The palace was plunged into darkness, and a commotion broke out among the crowd. Li Xian had a strange feeling, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

The candlesticks lit up one after another. A woman walked in from the side hall.

(End of this chapter)