The Wanlai Festival Begins
The long-awaited day of the Wanlai Festival had finally arrived.
Over the next few days, young talents from various factions would gather in the Yin Clan's territory. As the host of numerous Wanlai Festivals, the Yin Clan had once again proven its capability.
The residences and streets of the Small Beyin Tribe, as well as the grand temple of the Large Beyin Tribe, had been completely renovated. Everywhere one looked, flags bearing the word "Lai" in red and gold patterns adorned the buildings, symbolizing the festive spirit.
Additionally, the leader of the Sound Clan had activated the spirit-gathering power of the clan's Holy Tree. Under the tree's influence, all chain repairers within its energy field would experience a 50% increase in their cultivation speed. However, this effect was limited to the Sound Clan's territory.
A Morning Encounter
Early in the morning, within the residential area designated for the contestants, a young woman in a light pink dress and a pale pink headband walked side by side with a man dressed in royal purple, his hair adorned with a purple-gold crown. They appeared engaged in a quiet conversation as they made their way back to their quarters.
At that moment, a man in bright yellow robes with a golden crown happened to pass by with his subordinate.
If Tao Xi had been present, she would have immediately recognized these individuals: the young master of the Qi Clan, Si Dian; the novel's female protagonist, Mao Song; and the male protagonist, Qi Yi.
From the moment Qi Yi laid eyes on Mao Song, he was captivated.
She seemed so innocent and pure, a stark contrast to himself—someone who had been entangled in the ruthless struggles of royal power.
As Qi Yi observed Mao Song, she and Si Dian were also taking note of him.
Si Dian, upon spotting Qi Yi's pure gold hair crown, quickly deduced that he was a prince of the royal family. However, he couldn't be certain which prince he was.
The Power Structure of the Xiulian World
The world of Xiulian was divided into five major factions:
The Yin Clan: The most powerful of the four hidden families. Their chain repair techniques relied on musical instrument spirits, allowing them to use music in their cultivation.
The Medicine Clan: Second only to the Yin Clan. Their cultivation was deeply tied to medicinal herbs gathered from all over the world.
The Instrument Clan: Known for their mastery of hidden weapons and mechanical craftsmanship. They ranked just below the Medicine Clan.
The Zen Clan: The last of the four hidden families. They cultivated through transcendent thought and spiritual enlightenment.
The Royal Family: The ruling power in the secular world, separate from the hidden families.
Love at First Sight
As Mao Song gazed at Qi Yi, her heart skipped a beat.
The man before her was exactly her type—especially his intense, dark eyes. Just looking into them felt like being pulled into a whirlpool.
This must be love at first sight, she thought shyly.
When two members of major factions meet, it is only natural for them to acknowledge each other.
"I am from the Qi Clan. May I ask which prince of the royal family you are?" Si Dian inquired politely.
"I am Qi Yi, the second prince of the royal family," Qi Yi replied. "And who might this be, accompanying you?"
Truthfully, when Qi Yi first saw Mao Song, his entire attention had been on her.
If Tao Xi had been present, she would have sighed—as expected, the law of attraction between male and female leads is eternal.
Si Dian, noticing Qi Yi's unusual interest, calmly positioned himself in front of Mao Song, shielding her slightly before answering.
"This is my adopted sister, Mao Song. She accompanied me to the Wanlai Festival merely to broaden her horizons and experience the event."
Qi Yi chuckled at Si Dian's protective stance.
"I was just heading to the famous Yin Restaurant for breakfast. Would Young Master Si be interested in joining me?"
Si Dian was about to refuse, but Mao Song tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Knowing her weakness for food, Si Dian had no choice but to accept Qi Yi's invitation.
A Mysterious Arrival
His bond with Mao Song had started in an unusual way.
That day, while refining weapons in his clan's sacred pool, a woman in strange attire had suddenly fallen from the sky—giving him quite a scare.
As the young master of the Instrument Clan, he was constantly wary of assassination attempts. Naturally, he assumed she was an assassin and ordered his guards to capture her immediately.
However, the woman remained unconscious even after being detained.
Interrogation was useless unless she woke up.
After much effort, she finally regained consciousness.
He demanded to know who had sent her and why she had intruded into his refining pool.
But the woman claimed she knew nothing. She insisted she was from the 21st century and had no idea how she had ended up here.
Of course, he dismissed her words as nonsense and ordered a thorough investigation into her identity—only to come up empty-handed.
In the end, he had no choice but to keep her confined within his territory.
Over time, he gradually got to know her.
Her name was Mao Song. She was carefree, lacking the usual deference others showed him, and would call him by his full name without hesitation.
At first, he had found it irritating.
But perhaps he had grown tired of hearing the formal title "Young Master Si" all the time. Strangely, when she addressed him by name, he found it... refreshing.
Eventually, he accepted it, and later, officially recognized her as his adopted sister.
The Famous Yin Restaurant
The Yin Restaurant was renowned throughout the Yin Clan's territory. It was said to be a gathering place for the best chefs and the largest restaurant in the clan.
Most cultivators had long since achieved the ability to fast and no longer needed food.
But then, someone had invented something called spiritual food—meals infused with spiritual energy that not only satisfied one's appetite but also enhanced cultivation.
Naturally, such miraculous food came at an exorbitant price, making it affordable only to the aristocracy.
Qi Yi had already reserved a private room in advance.
Aside from its exquisite cuisine, the restaurant was also famous for its instant teleportation array, a rare feature that allowed instant travel within the establishment.
Normally, teleportation was a skill accessible only to high-level cultivators at the peak of the Blue Level.
Yet here, it was used simply for convenience—a luxury only the Yin Clan could afford.
After a brief teleportation experience, the trio finally arrived at their private room and began enjoying their meal.
A Fateful Meeting
At the same time, Tao Xi and Qiang Yu also arrived at the restaurant.
As the Saint of the Sound Clan, Tao Xi naturally had access to a much grander private room than the one Qi Yi had reserved.
After placing their order, Tao Xi marveled at the food.
"This is as good as the dishes from that five-star restaurant I visited once in my past life," she thought, satisfied.
Once their meal was finished, they prepared to head to the Wanlai Field to submit their competition tokens.
But just as they reached the exit of the restaurant, Tao Xi spotted them—the main characters of the novel.
At first glance, she immediately recognized the male and female leads.
Their headbands and crowns clearly marked their identities:
Golden crown → Royal heir
Pink headband → Female protagonist
White jade crown → Holy Saint of the Yin Clan
Purple-gold crown → Qi Clan Young Master
Seeing Mao Song and Qi Yi standing together, even before their romance had begun, gave off the unmistakable feeling that they were destined for each other.
Meanwhile, Qiang Yu—who had suffered at their hands in the original timeline—kept his emotions in check.
As Qi Yi turned to look at Tao Xi and Qiang Yu, a question flickered in his mind.
Why are the Saint of the Yin Clan and the Heir of the Medicine Clan together? And why do they seem… so close?