The contest of ocular arts between the two of them was nothing more than a minor ripple.
Jiang Chen tested the waters as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the surface, then casually averted his gaze with an easy smile, treating Xiahou Zong as though the man simply did not exist.
At the same time, his eyes drifted toward the Yan family's section nearby. There sat Patriarch Yan Wanjun, along with Yan Zhenhuai, Yan Qinghuang—and to his surprise, Ling Bi'er—plus one more elder from the Yan family's alchemy division, making six seats in all.
Qinghuang wore a pale blue gown again today, giving her an air of quiet elegance and ethereal grace. When Jiang Chen's gaze lingered on her, a faint tenderness softened his eyes.
Most people would never have noticed that look.
But one person had been watching Jiang Chen ever since he appeared. That person was Xiahou Ying. The moment his gaze shifted to Qinghuang and that trace of tenderness flickered across his eyes, a woman's powerful intuition surged to life.
Xiahou Ying's heart stirred. Her gut told her something was off about Shao Yuan's expression. Could it be that this Shao Yuan had taken a fancy to that little girl from the Yan family?
The thought struck her like discovering a new continent.
She dug her elbow into Xiahou Zong beside her. "Brother, you've got trouble."
Xiahou Zong's faint smile carried a hint of lazy amusement. "Trouble? Ying'er, don't be dramatic."
"I'm really not making this up. I've noticed something—something you'd care very much about." Xiahou Ying's tone was deliberately theatrical.
"What?" Xiahou Zong smiled coolly. "Stop carrying on. I've seen that trick of yours since we were children."
"This time I'm really not making a fuss. Haven't you noticed?" Xiahou Ying's grin was positively sly. "Someone's trying to snatch food right out of the tiger's mouth—your tiger's mouth, no less."
"Oh?" Xiahou Zong raised an eyebrow slightly. "Do tell."
"That Shao Yuan—he was just sneaking glances at that Yan Qinghuang girl. And the look in his eyes was all wrong. That look? I know exactly what it means." Xiahou Ying clucked her tongue. "No wonder that conceited brat acted so indifferent toward me—turns out his heart is set on that little girl. Hmph, what's so great about her? How could she possibly compare to me, the eldest young miss of the Xiahou family?"
Xiahou Ying's voice carried a note of indignation.
Xiahou Zong's brow creased slightly. "Ying'er, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"Brother, I might joke about other things, but do you really think I'd joke about this?" Xiahou Ying swore solemnly. "I swear, I just saw him stealing glances at Yan Qinghuang, his eyes practically dripping with tender affection. That kind of look—absolutely impossible to fake."
Xiahou Ying was still stewing inside. She felt that Shao Yuan had spectacularly poor taste. She, the eldest young miss of the Xiahou clan, had the figure, the looks, the status—how was she not superior to that Yan family girl in every way?
What did Yan Qinghuang even have besides putting on that fragile, ice-cold act?
In Xiahou Ying's eyes, Yan Qinghuang was a hypocrite who only pretended to be unapproachable for fear of offending the Xiahou clan—and more specifically, for fear of displeasing her brother, Xiahou Zong.
So seeing Jiang Chen look at Qinghuang with such tenderness made Xiahou Ying's blood boil. She proceeded to embellish the story for all it was worth.
Xiahou Zong felt nothing for Qinghuang personally. But he had long since claimed Yan Qinghuang as his exclusive prize—off-limits to everyone else. Not just off-limits; even harboring thoughts about her was forbidden.
In the Eternal Divine Kingdom, if Xiahou Zong ever learned that someone was secretly harboring fantasies about Yan Qinghuang, he would make that person pay a devastating price.
Because in Xiahou Zong's mind, desiring Yan Qinghuang was an act of profound disrespect toward him.
So when he heard Xiahou Ying's words, the calm he had just settled into was ignited all over again.
Earlier, he had been provoked by Jiang Chen's direct challenge through his gaze. This time, it was another look—but this one was not directed at him. It was aimed at what he considered his exclusive possession.
"Beast!" Xiahou Zong gritted his teeth, a frigid killing intent rippling through his eyes. "One day, I will make him regret ever having been born into this world."
Xiahou Ying, however, giggled. "Brother, don't you feel even a little threatened? If you ask me, that Yan girl's been left to her own devices for far too long. After the festivities, just summon her to the Xiahou family estate. Otherwise, someone with proximity might just win the moon from the water's edge, and then you'll—"
"Shut your mouth." Xiahou Zong knew exactly what Xiahou Ying was about to say. Even his own sister—he would not allow her to finish such a sentence.
For him, Xiahou Zong, it was an unspeakable blasphemy.
Xiahou Ying stuck out her tongue and fell silent. She knew she had stoked her brother's anger. Whether it was Yan Qinghuang or that brat Shao Yuan—they were both in for a world of pain.
These little interludes did nothing to disrupt the rhythm of the grand assembly.
When the three Grand Holy Sovereigns appeared, every guest in attendance rose to their feet.
The Grand Holy Sovereign smiled. "With such distinguished friends gracing us today, the Eternal Sacred Land is truly honored. For this grand gathering, nearly every major alchemy power from the Myriad Abyss Islands is present. Beyond our warmest hospitality, I shall do everything in my power to ensure that no one leaves empty-handed."
"Now then, please, be seated. If the arrangements prove lacking in any way, I humbly ask for your understanding. As for the content of this assembly—it falls within the domain of alchemy, and I do not intend to interfere. I shall hand the proceedings over to Elder Ziche Min."
The Grand Holy Sovereign kept his remarks brief and, after a few words, yielded the floor to Ziche Min.