Seeing Luo Yao arrive, Qi Family Head Qi Fusong hurriedly stepped forward with a face full of smiles and said:
"Pavilion Master Luo Yao, I didn't expect you to come to the Hunting Festival as well. What a surprise."
The Qi Family also dealt in medicinal herbs, so Qi Fusong had caught wind of some rumors.
This Luo Yao came from the Lingyun Pavilion's main family, a figure of unusual status, punished to Qishan City for her mistakes.
The immense scale of the Lingyun Pavilion, whose industries spanned the entire Eastern Domain, was said to be backed by a super sect as well.
If one could build ties with Luo Yao, when she returned to her main family in the future, even crumbs of favor from her fingers would be enough for the Qi Family to rise to prominence!
"And this is...?"
Luo Yao cast a sidelong glance at Qi Fusong.
The steward, Xu, whispered, "Pavilion Master, this is Qi Family Head Qi Fusong."
"The Qi Family?"
Luo Yao's delicate brows slightly arched as she looked toward Qi Fusong's daughter, Qi Ting, and her lips curled into a seductive, yet graceful, smile:
"Then this must be Miss Qi Ting of the Qi Family."
"The Pavilion Master knows my daughter?" Qi Fusong asked in surprise.
In truth, Luo Yao didn't know Qi Ting at all.
She was only going to stay temporarily in Qishan City. In her eyes, not even the three great family heads stood out. The reason she knew of Qi Ting was entirely due to Luo Cheng.
"I heard about the incident at the Green Jade Gambling Den..."
At these words, Qi Ting pressed her lips tightly, her eyes filled with humiliation and anger, silently vowing that in the upcoming Hunting Festival, she would teach Luo Cheng a lesson and regain her honor!
Qi Fusong forced a wry smile and gestured to the side, where the Qi Family's seating was located. "There's an empty seat here. Pavilion Master Luo, please take a seat."
But Luo Yao acted as though she hadn't heard him, striding directly toward the Luo Family's area. She gracefully saluted Luo Mingshan, "Family Head Luo, how are you feeling these days?"
Luo Mingshan quickly stood and returned the salute, "Thanks to the Pavilion Master's concern, I'm much better. Pavilion Master, please have a seat."
"Then, I won't stand on ceremony."
With a smile, Luo Yao sat down beside the Luo Family's section, sparing Luo Cheng a brief glance in the process.
Her actions left Qi Fusong, who had followed her all the way, thoroughly embarrassed.
The person he had gone out of his way to curry favor with had actively approached Luo Mingshan instead, leaving him feeling as though he had swallowed a fly.
At the same time, Qi Fusong was deeply puzzled. Since when had the Lingyun Pavilion had such a good relationship with the Luo Family?
Luo Mingshan regarded Qi Fusong with icy disdain and said, "Qi Family Head, there's no seat here for you."
Even someone as smooth and tactful as Qi Fusong couldn't keep a neutral expression; his face darkened immediately. He snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Luo Cheng let slip a faint smile. He alone knew the reason Luo Yao had come over to greet them.
It was all for the person behind him!
At that moment, Luo Cheng felt someone watching him. He looked up, and his gaze met the hollow eyes of a gaunt elder beside Luo Yao.
"This man... I've never seen him before..."
Suspicion filled Luo Cheng's heart. From the elder's arrival, it seemed he had been covertly observing him all along.
Time passed, and soon the high platform's atmosphere reached its peak by noon.
The Hunting Festival was about to begin!
In the past, the rules of the Hunting Festival were announced by the previous year's top family. However, this time, they were to be overseen by City Lord Yun Daojiang.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today is a grand occasion for our Qishan City. As for the Hunting Festival rules, I'm sure you're all well aware, so I won't go into detail. I hope everyone will strive valiantly and achieve outstanding results."
Yun Daojiang's powerful, resonant voice echoed across the high platform.
Luo Mingshan noticed Lin Canglang and Qi Fusong together, flanked by six contestants from the Lin and Qi Families.
The two families seemed to be conspiring about something.
Frowning slightly, Luo Mingshan summoned Luo Cheng and the other two participants, cautioning them:
"The Lin and Qi Families appear to be hatching some kind of plot. Once you enter the Moon Ring Valley, you must be extremely careful. Remember, above all else, prioritize your own safety! Don't act recklessly—you three are the Luo Family's greatest treasure."
The three nodded.
"Alright then, go ahead."
With that, Luo Mingshan led Luo Cheng and the two others to the departure platform.
The Lin and Qi Families also made their way over at the same time.
Seeing Luo Cheng and his group, the contestants from the two families wore expressions tinged with coldness.
Especially Lin Yun and Qi Ting.
Lin Yun fixed a menacing smile at Luo Cheng, running his thumb slowly across his neck in a wordless show of threat.
Luo Cheng responded with an indifferent smirk, unfazed.
The contestants from the three major families ascended to separate departure platforms.
Each departure platform was connected to different pathways, leading into distinct entry points of Moon Ring Valley.
This design was intended to minimize initial confrontations.
"Alright then, let's begin."
Yun Daojiang announced the start of the festival.
"Let's go!"
Luo Cheng cast a glance at the dense forest below and took the lead, dashing along the path toward Moon Ring Valley. Luo Zhixing and Luo Qingwan followed closely behind him.
"Huh?"
Luo Qingwan's puzzled voice broke the silence. "What's going on with them?"
Luo Cheng and Luo Zhixing turned to peer behind them.
The teams from the Lin and Qi Families had also left their starting points.
However, they moved unusually slowly, glancing in their direction from time to time.
"What are these guys plotting?"
Luo Zhixing furrowed his brows.
The Hunting Festival determined results based on the number of Demon Beasts hunted, with a strict time limit of two hours! Anyone not back at the high platform by the end of the time limit would be deemed to have forfeited.
Under this system, those who entered the valley first naturally had the advantage!
In previous festivals, contestants had rushed to be the first to enter the valley.
But today's situation was bizarrely different!
Luo Qingwan remarked curiously, "Could it be that they're deliberately trying to let us win the competition?"
Luo Cheng's eyes gleamed coldly as he said bluntly, "Ignore them for now. Let's focus on entering the valley!"
The three wasted no time, speeding toward the forest's edge.
Back on the high platform, Qi Fusong and Lin Canglang sat together, leisurely feasting and drinking wine, exuding an air of smug confidence.
Seeing this, Luo Mingshan's brows knit slightly. "These two damn bastards, who knows what they're scheming now."
Luo Heng said, "I have a bad feeling about this. This year's Hunting Festival likely won't be so straightforward."
Nearby, Luo Hong added, "Now, all we can do is put our faith in Luo Cheng and the others."
Elsewhere.
Jin Min tilted his head and said to Yun Mengli, "Mengli, that Luo Cheng is far too arrogant, even daring to bet against Lin Yun. Lin Yun's strength has already reached the peak of the Body Tempering Ninth Layer, just half a step short of the Transcendence Realm."
"I wonder how that Luo Cheng will back down after losing."
Yun Mengli sat quietly, her aura like that of a Banished Immortal. She calmly replied, "Not necessarily."
Jin Min frowned slightly. Yun Mengli's persistent defense of what he deemed a waste infuriated him greatly.
However, his expression quickly softened again.
Over the past while, he'd come to understand Lin Yun's strength well.
Not only had Lin Yun pushed his cultivation to the peak of the Body Tempering Ninth Layer, but he had also mastered a Three-star Martial Arts technique to the Great Success level and achieved Minor Success in a Four-star Martial Arts technique. Such prowess allowed him to dominate all other martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm; there was no way someone with a wasted Martial Soul could compare.
He was curious to see how things would unfold when Luo Cheng inevitably lost and had to publicly acknowledge himself as a waste. What would Yun Mengli say then?
Inside Moon Ring Valley.
"Wait a moment."
Upon entering the forest, Luo Cheng came to an abrupt halt.
"What's wrong?"
Luo Qingwan was perplexed. Now was the time to venture deeper into the valley and start hunting Demon Beasts.
"From here, we split up. The two of you will hunt Demon Beasts," Luo Cheng stated.
"Split up?"
Luo Qingwan and Luo Zhixing were both taken aback.
"What about you?" Luo Qingwan asked.
A glint of chilling determination flickered in Luo Cheng's eyes. "The Hunting Festival isn't limited to hunting Demon Beasts."