That embarrassing little secret was something both of them remembered clearly, yet neither had ever brought it up.

Now that Tang Yan had suddenly mentioned it, Lin Dongxue's pretty face flushed red in an instant, like peach blossoms at the beginning of spring, tender and lovely.

"You're hateful!" Lin Dongxue spat, both shy and annoyed.

Seeing the two of them flirting and bickering, Liu Zhi, who had just been coldly ignored, grew even more jealous and furious.

Shameless pair! Liu Zhi cursed inwardly.

While the three of them were waiting for Lin Xiao to return, another group sauntered over from nearby.

They were all fairly young, yet the Spiritual Qi fluctuations around them were extremely strong. They were likely contestants for the Eastern Region Grand Competition as well.

Lin Dongxue was already fresh and charming, and she had drawn no small amount of attention the moment she arrived. Now, with her cheeks flushed in bashfulness, she looked even more radiant, leaving many of the surrounding people secretly amazed.

This group also noticed Lin Dongxue's rosy cheeks.

A fair-faced young man in white had his eyes brighten. A licentious gleam crossed his gaze as he stopped and cupped his hands toward Lin Dongxue with a grin.

"This young master felt a bond with the young lady at first sight. Would you be willing to honor me with your company, go boating on the lake, and warm wine by the brazier?"

Seeing their companion approach a beauty, the others stopped as well, each wearing a vulgar smile.

"Get lost!" Lin Dongxue frowned when she saw the ill intent in his eyes.

"Senior Brother Yao, she told you to get lost!" a tall, thin young man in a blue robe laughed.

"I am Yao Yuan, from Yu City. I ask that the young lady not refuse me. Otherwise, in front of my Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, where am I supposed to put my face?"

Though the young man in white still wore a smile, the force in his words was not concealed at all.

Standing to the side, Liu Zhi's eyes flashed with satisfaction.

Little slut, you refused to give me any face. Now you've stirred up trouble, haven't you?

"Face is something you earn yourself, not something others give you. I have neither the right nor the duty to preserve yours," Lin Dongxue said coldly.

The more Lin Dongxue acted this way, the more it stirred Yao Yuan's desire to conquer her.

"You won't even give me this little bit of face? Then what if I insist on having it?" Yao Yuan's tone turned cold.

"We are from Yun City's City Lord's Manor. Does this young master intend to make an enemy of Yun City?" Tang Yan cut in.

"Yun City?"

The five of them froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

Yao Yuan's face filled with even thicker mockery.

"When you mentioned Yun City, I didn't react right away. Kid, next time you introduce Yun City, just call it the bottom-ranked city. That title of being last for ten thousand years is far more famous than Yun City itself."

Tang Yan had not wanted to start a conflict here. He had only meant to speak up and frighten these people off, yet he had not expected this result.

A trace of anger flashed through his heart. Then, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Liu Zhi gloating nearby, and an idea stirred in his mind.

He said in a deep voice, "This one beside me-you should have heard of him. Yun City's number one man, Liu Zhi. Young Master Liu is more handsome than you, his family background is stronger than yours, and his martial arts are above yours as well. You want this young lady to drink with you? I wonder what right you have?"

"Liu Zhi?"

Yao Yuan frowned and carefully searched his memory for news of Yun City.

That city had ranked last in every competition. To be honest, he had never paid much attention to it. However, he vaguely remembered hearing that someone from the Liu Family was Yun City's number one.

At once, his gaze landed on Liu Zhi.

Hearing Tang Yan's praise, Liu Zhi instinctively lifted his head with pride.

Tang Yan was only at the ninth grade. Although Tang Yan had defeated him last time, Liu Zhi had never admitted in his heart that he was inferior to Tang Yan.

"Oh?" Yao Yuan asked. "Then tell me, how would this young master be qualified?"

"As long as you can defeat Young Master Liu, we will give you this face! If you cannot defeat him, then sorry, you do not have the right."

Tang Yan spoke with lofty confidence, as if he trusted Liu Zhi's strength deeply.

Absolute Kill Tower was famous throughout the entire Eastern Region and was always crowded with visitors. Now that the Eastern Region Grand Competition was near, even more people had gathered here.

The moment conflict broke out between the two sides, many people were drawn over.

When they learned that Tang Yan's group was actually from Yun City, the city that had ranked last every time, even more of them became interested.

At this moment, everyone looked Liu Zhi up and down with curiosity, as if wanting to see what sort of strength the strongest expert of the last-ranked city possessed.

Yao Yuan sized Liu Zhi up with an unfriendly gaze.

Tang Yan's flattery, along with Liu Zhi's proud bearing, made him believe Liu Zhi was indeed Yun City's strongest contestant.

"I wonder what the young lady thinks?" Yao Yuan asked.

He was somewhat tempted.

Although he was very confident in his own strength and could simply force Lin Dongxue to submit, if he could make the beauty willingly accompany him, would that not give him even more face?

"Win first, then talk," Lin Dongxue said.

She had originally wanted to refuse outright. But when she thought of how her own strength was not weak, and how her father was not far away, she had nothing to worry about even if Liu Zhi lost.

Thus, she gave an ambiguous answer.

"Young Master Liu, is it? For the sake of an appointment with a beauty, forgive my offense."

Yao Yuan cupped his hands.

Liu Zhi was no fool. By now, he finally understood that Tang Yan had tricked him.

He wanted to argue, but the situation no longer allowed him to explain.

Opposite him, Yao Yuan's aura surged outward, and he rushed over at once.

"Peak Black Rank Second Grade!"

Sensing Yao Yuan's aura, the surrounding crowd immediately cried out in alarm.

Liu Zhi had only just stepped into the Black Rank not long ago. Even though his family had poured a great many cultivation resources into nurturing him, at most, he had only stabilized his Black Rank cultivation.

Compared to the strength of peak Black Rank Second Grade, the gap was still far too great.

Pa!

A crisp sound rang out.

Before Liu Zhi could even make a move, his vision blurred, and a burning pain spread across his left cheek.

The surrounding people froze for a moment, then erupted into laughter.

"Hahaha! Yun City truly deserves to be last for ten thousand years. He couldn't even withstand one move!"

"Exactly. I heard Yao Yuan isn't even the strongest in Yu City. Yun City is far too weak..."

The surrounding crowd chattered all at once, every word filled with disdain for Yun City.

Liu Zhi was stunned senseless.

He was the dignified eldest young master of the Liu Family, yet he had been slapped in the face before so many people?

Of course, Liu Zhi was not the only one stunned. Even the group from Yu City could not quite react.

Yun City's number one man was this weak?

Pa, pa, pa, pa, pa!

Yao Yuan seemed to find it unreal as well, so he slapped Liu Zhi across the face several more times.

When he saw that Liu Zhi truly had no strength to resist under his pressure, his heart finally settled.

Damn it. He had thought this fellow was deliberately taking the blows. Now it seemed his strength was simply trash!

Bang!

Yao Yuan lifted his foot and kicked Liu Zhi.

Liu Zhi staggered back several steps, then fell heavily onto his backside. Under the surge of shame and fury in his heart, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Young Master Liu! Young Master Liu!"

Tang Yan hurried over with an anxious expression, as if wanting to help Liu Zhi up.

Tang Yan's flustered appearance drew another round of jeers.

It seemed this Liu Zhi truly was the strongest person Yun City had sent.

The bottom-ranked city really lived up to its reputation!

After dealing with Liu Zhi, Yao Yuan revealed a faint smile.

"I hear Slender Moon Lake has peerless scenery. In a while, young lady, come with me aboard a painted pleasure boat. We shall warm wine together and admire the lake beneath the light of the heavens. I guarantee today will be unforgettable for you!"