The Qin family’s promotion banquet had been the talk of the Southern Region for nearly a month.

During this time, speculation about the conflict between the Qin and Ren families ran rampant.

However, new news kept emerging, and the public’s attention soon shifted to the upcoming Hundred Clan Conference.

The previous bets on the gambling tables had been overturned and replaced with bets on the Hundred Clan Conference.

People from various regions were now focused on the Eastern Domain, where the conference would be held.

With the registration period over, there was less than half a month left before the event officially started.

This half month was the time for participating families to gather in the Eastern Domain.

The conference was scheduled to take place there.

Teams from the four regions would assemble according to their respective domains, and the Celestial Bureau from each domain would lead the participants.

For the Qin family, all participants needed to first go to the Zhongxing City in the Northern Region.

Zhongxing City was not only the main city of the Northern Region but also the main city of the entire Southern Region.

All Southern Region family teams needed to gather in Zhongxing City before heading to the Eastern Domain.

The Qin family was now bidding farewell to the children who would participate in the Hundred Clan Conference.

The conference required family participants to be under 25 years old, at least at the seventh level of Qi training, and no more than three participants per family.

This meant that those who went to the conference were usually the family’s elite.

Typically, the three participants were selected through internal family competition, but for the Qin family, the best three candidates were obvious.

Qin Ruyu and Qin Luxian did not compete with their younger sisters, so the chosen participants were Qin Ruqing, Qi Rong, and Lu Wei.

Among the three, Qin Ruqing was designated as the team leader, and all arrangements during the competition would follow her command.

This was natural, given her strength and status.

The Ancestor looked at the three children and said, “You are the best elite of our Qin family’s generation and the pillars of our family’s future. It is good to win honor for the family, but your safety must come first.”

The three bowed in response, and after standing up, Qin Ruqing cheerfully said, “Ancestor, don’t worry. With me around, nothing will happen to them!”

“As for rankings, let’s not discuss them now; it might seem boastful. But regarding safety… Qingqing will definitely bring them back safely.”

Qin Ruqing was as proud as a fledgling eagle with its feathers fully grown, but no one thought she was bragging.

Originally, an elder was supposed to lead the team to Zhongxing City, but since Qin Ruqing was both an elder and a participant, she voluntarily skipped this step.

Qin Ruqing said, “Why bother making other elders make an extra trip? If there are any problems, I can handle them myself. If I can’t, having another elder along won’t help.”

This was the truth.

Unless the ancestor accompanied them, Qin Ruqing was the highest cultivator in the Qin family, and if her strength and wisdom couldn’t resolve the issue, having an extra elder wouldn’t make a difference.

After bidding farewell to their family, Qin Ruqing and her team boarded the flying boat and set off again.

To travel from the Southern Region to the Northern Region, they had to cross the Falling Sunset Ridge.

The journey isn’t too far or too close, and traveling at full speed in this flying boat will take about half a day.

The three of them set off in the morning and only arrived at the city of Zhongxing just before sunset.

The flying boat hadn’t landed yet; it was hovering over Zhongxing City and had been circling for almost a quarter of an hour.

It wasn’t Qin Ruqing’s wish—it was simply because there was no place to land.

Qi Rong clicked his tongue, “I saw a lot of people on the way here, but it’s even more crowded in Zhongxing City. I don’t remember it being this busy last time I came!”

He had visited Zhongxing City once after Qin Ruqing and Qi Rong had just raised their spiritual levels, and that visit was to auction spiritual cultivation secrets.

Qin Ruqing was looking for a landing spot and said, “It’s different now—last time was off-season, and this time there’s a major event.”

“It’s a pity I didn’t come last time. Now that I see it, Zhongxing City is indeed magnificent and deserves its title as the main city,” Lu Wei said, looking at the flying boat circling above.

Even just the scene at the city gate was as lively as the refining competition in Xiling.

Qin Ruqing nodded and said, “Let’s land the flying boat and go in.”

After they landed and started to enter the city gates, there was still a line, but it was obviously faster than waiting in the sky.

Qi Rong said, “They’re flying such a big boat but can’t find a place to land. Why don’t they just walk in like us? Why stay up in the air?”

Qin Ruqing smiled and said, “You don’t understand. They’re showing off, putting on a grand display. Flying such a flashy boat is meant to be seen by others, so they have to circle around for a while. They wouldn’t come down quickly.”

Qi Rong realized, “So the Qin family is taking a low-key approach.”

“No!” Qin Ruqing quickly denied, “The Qin family is not aiming to be low-key anymore. Those days are long gone!”

“Then…”

“We just don’t waste time showing off in meaningless ways.”

Qi Rong was about to ask what “high-level and meaningful” meant, but they were already at the city gate and had to stop the conversation.

Those entering the city in elegant clothing and in groups of three were usually participating in the grand event.

After presenting their identity tokens to the guards, the head guard saw the Qin character on the token and showed respect.

He bowed slightly and said, “It’s Elder Qin, please forgive us for not welcoming you properly. Since the city is very crowded and all the inns are full during this grand event, the city’s head has arranged a special resting place for the Qin family.”

Qi Rong and Lu Wei exchanged surprised looks, and Qin Ruqing smiled.

“Head of the City? May I ask which head?” Qin Ruqing asked.

The Northern Ridge Celestial Bureau , akin to a provincial headquarters, is also known by the more familiar name, the Southern Region Celestial Bureau. It’s a level above the bureaus in the south-west.

Qin Ruqing wondered if she or the Qin family were known to this head of the bureau.

There was no way the Grand Chief of the Southern Region would personally give such instructions.

The head of the guards lowered his gaze and said quietly, “Of course, it’s the head of our Southern Region’s Celestial Bureau.”

“Our Southern Region?” Qin Ruqing raised an eyebrow. That was quite a subtle hint—was this person affiliated with Fifth Ziyan? It seemed that Fifth Ziyan was not so timid, even managing to place people in the Northern Region.

Qin Ruqing responded with a long “Oh” to indicate her understanding and then said, “In that case, please guide me. Which direction is the residence in Zhongxing City?”

The head of the guards shook his head, saying, “It wouldn’t be right for Elder Qin to go by yourself. I’ll have someone escort you.”

He selected a trusted member from his team.

Wow, they are really polite! Qin Ruqing didn’t refuse.

Although her relationship with Fifth Ziyan wasn’t particularly close, they were definitely mutual beneficiaries.

She felt it was appropriate to accept this small favor.

She followed the appointed guard into the city.

Other incoming teams couldn’t help but notice the commotion.

Normally, when entering the city, guards would question visitors, confirm their identity, and then let them in.

However, this head of the guards was giving the woman in red numerous instructions and showing extra respect.

This was quite unusual.

Perhaps it was due to the strength of her family, so the Celestial Bureau was being more courteous.

But the fact that the head of the guards even assigned someone to escort them was over the top!

Whispers spread among the waiting teams.

“Which family is this? Judging by the three people, they must be here for the Hundred Clan Conference. Why is the Celestial Bureau being so polite?”

“Zhongxing City only hosts teams from the Northern, Western, and Southern Regions. They don’t seem like they’re from the Northern Region or the Western Region, so they’re likely from the Southern Region.”

One speaker suddenly widened their eyes: “Oh! I remember now! It’s the Qin family! The largest silver-level family in the Southern Region!

They recently held a grand promotion banquet, and I heard that the Immortal Registries from the Western and Southern Regions came to congratulate them, making quite a show of it!”

“There are rumors that this family has significant connections with the two Immortal Registries. They are said to have immense influence!”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I do remember…”

As cultivators, they were all quite perceptive, and with the distance not being too great, they easily caught these comments.

Qi Rong muttered, “Their voices are so loud. Aren’t they afraid we can hear them?” He turned to look back.

Qin Ruqing transmitted a warning message: “Don’t turn around… They are deliberately making noise to test your reaction. If you turn around, it only confirms their words. Don’t be foolish!”

Oh! They are plotting.

Qi Rong was straightforward in his thinking and didn’t consider such cunning tactics.

“Ignore them. Let’s go.”

Indeed, the gossiping group was watching Qin Ruqing and her companions.

Seeing their lack of reaction, they felt a pang of disappointment.

The woman in red couldn’t be assessed for her cultivation level, but she gave off an inexplicable aura of danger.

They had hoped to probe her background, but since she didn’t engage, it was truly regrettable.

The guard escorted Qin Ruqing to a residence in the heart of Zhongxing City, bowing and saying, “Elder Qin, this is the place.”

Qin Ruqing glanced around.

The place was not large but was quite elegant.

Most importantly, it was located in the core area of Zhongxing City.

To put it in perspective, it was like being in the third ring of Beijing.

It was on par with the central city apartments of a provincial capital.

Fifth Ziyan must be quite wealthy.

Qin Ruqing thanked him politely, and Lu Wei, standing beside her, handed the guard a small purse with a gentle smile, saying softly, “Thank you, young man.”

The guard, blushing from the soft tone, took the purse and wanted to say more but stumbled over his words.

He just nodded and left.