The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Some paths cannot be transmitted. Just like the Wangyou Sect's Yuqing Immortal Technique, they can't be recorded, copied, or even described in words. The highest Immortal Techniques are suppressed by the Celestial Dao.

The entire Dragon and Phoenix Valley was the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Manual itself. It was no wonder some had resorted to eating the earth and boiling the stones to seek enlightenment.

Over the past month, Chen Dong hadn't just been meditating on the Dragon and Phoenix Valley; he'd also occasionally studied the Yuqing Immortal Technique left behind by Mu Qingzhu. By cross-referencing his insights, Chen Dong had already made some minor gains.

「Two months later.」

A ranking scroll of red silk materialized within the rosy clouds, and the disciples of the Qixia Sect immediately scrambled to get a look.

At the very top of the list in the sky was the first name.

Chen Dong. Comprehended one of the six complete techniques: Phoenix True Fire. Minor Techniques: Omitted.

Following that were the next entries.

Second: Feng An. Six Techniques: None. Minor Techniques: Flowing Fire Phoenix Dance, Bing Fire Spirit Heart.

Third: Wang Wan'Er. Six Techniques: None. Minor Techniques: Phoenix Transformation Technique.

Fourth: Chen Tianmo. Six Techniques: None. Minor Techniques: Heaven-Burning Technique.

Fifth: Qian Hu. Six Techniques: None. Minor Techniques: Fiery Flame Technique.

The top fifty on the list had all comprehended minor techniques, while Xu Sirong was ranked in the two-hundreds, having failed to grasp a single one.

Wang Xian'Er was ranked at the very bottom of the list, the entry by her name simply reading: None, None, None.

"Who the hell is this Chen Dong?"

That question instantly sent the valley into an uproar.

The Qixia Sect had a great many disciples, and before entering the valley, most didn't know each other. But after three months, nearly everyone in the valley was on a first-name basis.

'But now a "Chen Dong" has suddenly appeared at the top of the list? And he'd managed to comprehend one of the six major techniques in just three short months.'

This left everyone in the valley, whether from the Outer Sect or the Inner Sect, completely baffled. No one had ever heard the name Chen Dong before.

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "Quick, look at Wang Xian'Er's rank—four hundred and fifty-first!"

"It's true, it really is four hundred and fifty-one."

"That means besides the four hundred and fifty of us who entered, there's someone else in the valley."

"I recognize every name on this list except for this Chen Dong!"

"Where the hell has this person been hiding? Did he sneak in here?!"

Chen Tianmo infused his voice with True Qi and shouted, "Everyone, there's no need to panic! His name is on the list, which means the Sect Leader is aware of him. His presence in the valley has been approved by the sect. He must be a person of astonishing talent, here by the Sect Leader's arrangement. We should not disturb him."

Chen Tianmo seemed to be helping Chen Dong, but in reality, he was afraid Chen Dong would emerge and challenge his authority. Changes were coming to the valley, and regardless of Chen Dong's identity, he didn't want him showing up and disrupting things.

The Qixia Sect disciples accepted this explanation. Only Wang Xian'Er and her servant were filled with utter disbelief.

'Could it be someone with the same first and last name?'

But Wang Wan'Er knew how incredible Chen Dong was. For someone who could even conquer the sixth floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower, appearing in the Qixia Sect now was perfectly understandable.

The moment Wang Wan'Er saw the name, she rushed over to Wang Xian'Er. "Miss, it's the Young Master-in-law!" she said excitedly. "The Young Master-in-law is ranked number one for his comprehension! He actually grasped one of the complete six techniques! He's amazing! Miss, you believe me now, right? I didn't lead him astray!"

Wang Xian'Er was so shaken she didn't even hear what Wang Wan'Er was saying. All she knew was that she was ranked last, and the man she'd set her sights on was ranked first.

She knew with absolute clarity. 'It looks like this romance is hopeless!'

As the mistress and her maid stood there in shock, someone shouted, "Leaves are sprouting! The withered trees are growing leaves!"

The gazes of over four hundred people instantly shifted from the list in the sky to the withered trees.

The towering, withered trees were sprouting leaves, but they weren't green buds or fresh shoots. The newly grown leaves were already yellow and desiccated.

They were the size of a palm and shaped like maple leaves, their surfaces shimmering with a spiritual aura.

When Chen Tianmo heard this, his heart leaped. 'The first phenomenon is the rebirth of the withered trees? The heavens are truly on my side!'

He immediately announced, "The first phenomenon of the Dragon and Phoenix Valley has arrived! The leaves can only be collected after they hit the ground. Once collected, they are to be handed over to me for distribution!"

The Inner Sect Disciples who had secured the pits were quick to voice their agreement.

However, a disciple who hadn't gotten a pit and knew the leaves' function stepped forward. "Senior Brother Chen, these leaves aren't like the pits. It's not a 'once they're assigned, they're gone' situation. How can you guarantee a fair distribution to everyone?"

Chen Tianmo sneered. "I can't guarantee fairness. Resources have always belonged to the strong. These leaves are no different."

Frowning, the disciple shouted back, "I know what these leaves do! After they fall, they can be refined to increase the time one can remain in the Dragon and Phoenix Valley!"

His words stunned the disciples who had been in the dark. Most of them could only stay in the Dragon and Phoenix Valley for a single year. These leaves could extend that time, which meant more opportunities for enlightenment.

"Senior Brother Chen, we want fairness!"

"Yes, we want fairness!"

The Outer Disciples and weaker Inner Sect Disciples began to shout indignantly.

But the shouts had barely begun before the Inner Sect Disciples who had claimed the pits released their auras in unison.

The combined pressure from the hundred strongest disciples bore down on the weaker ones, and the protesting Outer and Inner Sect Disciples immediately fell silent.

This was all within Chen Tianmo's calculations. Ever since entering the Dragon and Phoenix Valley, he had deliberately gathered the strongest disciples around him, consolidating his power. By doing so, he could reap the greatest benefits from the phenomena that occurred within the valley.