Chapter 17: Not Like Before

  However, after being plundered three times, he also keenly discovered a problem. He has been experiencing changes from fullness to emptiness, and after three times, the primordial seed in his dantian actually increased slightly, and his meridians also became wider and more tenacious in the quiet.

  At the same time, he could also subtly perceive that the medicinal power hidden deep within his meridians and bones seemed to be activated as well, constantly tempering his meridians and bone membranes.

  After discovering these subtle changes, Du Fei Yun's depressed mood suddenly improved, and he once again embarked on arduous cultivation without hesitation. He believed that even if the Nine Dragon Cauldron required a vast amount of yuan force to recover, as long as he diligently cultivated without fatigue, he would eventually be able to gradually fill it up. Moreover, through the continuous process of being full and then emptying again, his strength would also gradually increase, gaining immense benefits!

  A month's time has passed in the blink of an eye.

  During this period, the quiet Bai Shi Town has once again become lively in these few days. Because, the decade-long triennial Family Comparison Conference jointly held by the three major families of Bai Shi Town is about to begin, and countless civilians are eagerly awaiting the upcoming dragon-tiger battle.

  During this period, Du Feiyun had been staying at home in seclusion, not even stepping out of the gate. A month passed and he changed a lot. When he walked out of his room into the courtyard, even Du Xiangfeng and Du Shi were momentarily stunned.

  Today, he wore a white long gown, his hair was neatly tied back. He had a tall and sturdy figure, red lips and white teeth, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, full of spirit and energy. If he were to wear a brocade long gown and hold a folding fan, he would be a handsome young master with an elegant demeanor.

  Today's Du Feiyun is not as thin and lean as before, but the slender body hides infinite explosive power, and the robe under reveals a flowing muscle that is full of strength. Moreover, both Du Xiangqing and Du Shi feel that Du Feiyun's temperament has also changed.

  The former Du Fei Yun gave people the feeling that he was always a bit dull and silent, easily overlooked. But now, as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, an aura of sharpness like a sword emanated from him.

  Just after breakfast, Du Fei Yun began practicing martial arts in the courtyard, still using that flowing cloud-like technique. In the courtyard, under the golden morning sun, a white figure was constantly shifting and moving, palm shadows rising and falling, feet treading mysterious steps, looking very ethereal and otherworldly.

  Du Feiyun's strength had already made a breakthrough in this month, and the medicinal power of Tuotai Huandan and Shaoyang Dan had finally been absorbed by him. At this time, using the Xingyun Liu Shui martial skill, it was naturally not uncommon for its power to be impressive. In the small courtyard, it seemed as if a gust of wild wind had blown up, and every palm he slapped out could stir up the fallen leaves on the ground to flutter and fly about.

  Upon reaching the late stage of Body Tempering, a cultivator's body is filled with abundant Qi and blood, granting them boundless strength. Their skeletal structure and meridians can be both rigid and flexible, retracting and extending at will. As Du Fei Yun executed this palm technique and footwork, his skeleton would occasionally emit cracking sounds, and the space within three feet of him was filled with a terrifying aura.

  Noticing the great change in Du Fei Yun, seeing him display his martial skills with such sharpness and elegance, both Madam Du and Du Xiang Qing couldn't help but reveal a relieved smile. They knew that the silent and cold Du Fei Yun was now a thing of the past, and the current him was a outstanding and handsome young man.

  At this time, a knock at the door sounded outside the courtyard gate. Du Juanqing hurried to open the door, and Du Feiyun also stopped his movements, looking towards the outside of the door.

  Outside the courtyard stood several figures, led by Liu Zhong, the steward of the Liu family. Behind him were four housekeepers. Seeing Du Feiyun standing in the courtyard, a hint of surprise also flashed across Liu Zhong's eyes. In his heart, he secretly sighed at how much the young man had changed, while not forgetting to show a smile towards Du Feiyun. Then, he opened his mouth and said: "Young Master Feiyun, the old lady has sent me to deliver a message. The clan comparison meeting is about to begin today, please follow me."

  A month ago, Mrs. Liu had already informed him of the date of the clan comparison meeting, so Du Feiyun was well-prepared. At this moment, when he heard Liu Zhong's words, he nodded slightly and then bid farewell to his sister and mother, following Liu Zhong out the door.

  Du Shi and Du Wanqing had also wanted to go watch Du Feiyun participate in the clan comparison meeting, but unfortunately Du Shi's body was not convenient, and also because of the cold eyes of the people of Baishi Town, so they could only stay at home waiting for news. Naturally, before departing, Du Shi earnestly instructed Du Feiyun to remember not to be reckless, and to prioritize his own safety above all else.

  The arena for the tribal meeting was set up at the foot of the mountain behind Baishi Town, where there was a flat area with open terrain that could accommodate nearly two thousand people watching. Du Feiyun followed Liu Zhong out of the house and headed towards the back mountain.

  In the streets and alleys, the residents of Baishi Town, regardless of age or sex, all walked out of their homes, in groups of three to five, heading towards the back mountain, preparing to watch the grand event that occurs once every ten years in Baishi Town. These people were hurrying along with anticipation, while enthusiastically discussing which powerful young master had appeared from among the three major families, when they saw Du Feiyun and Liu Zhong, their faces were filled with shock and they stood there stupidly.

  They looked at Du Fei Yun with incredulity, and a storm of anger suddenly surged up in their hearts. They couldn't connect the refined and majestic young man in front of them with that dull and silent little scoundrel.

  It's just a little over a month, how can he have such an earth-shattering change?

  And wasn't he and his mother driven out by the Liu family? How can they be together with the Liu family today? Are they also going to attend the clan comparison conference? Does this mean that the Liu family is re-accepting Du's mother and son?

  All the residents of Baishi Town who witnessed this scene were shocked and puzzled at the same time, and countless questions arose in their minds.

  As he walked towards the back mountain, Du Fei Yun took in everyone's reactions with an unchanged expression on his face and a faint smile still playing on his lips. Looking far into the distance at the crowd of people, his heart also began to feel a sense of anticipation for the upcoming Clan Comparison Assembly.

  Because he wanted to get the Nine-Leafed Purple Lotus, he agreed with Old Lady Liu and represented the Liu family in the Clan Competition. Since participating in the Clan Competition, from then on, he would enter people's eyes and subvert his previous image.

  So, from the moment he decided to participate in the Zongbi Conference, he had made up his mind that he would definitely make the people of Baishi Town look at him with new eyes. He wanted all those who had looked down on him, despised him, and poked fun at him to see that Du Feiyun was not a mediocre person, and that he too could become a powerful cultivator, one of the few strong ones in Baishi Town!

  If one can be revered and worshiped or feared by others, who would want to be despised?

  Gradually, Du Feiyun arrived at the foot of the rear mountain with Liu Zhong's accompaniment. Looking far away, he saw that the empty space at the foot of the mountain was already crowded with people. In the middle of the open space, there was a ten-zhang-square arena, and in the three newly built sheds not far away, the people from the three major families had already arrived.

  The arena was empty, and it was clear that the competition had not yet begun. The arena was surrounded by crowds of people, all craning their necks in anticipation, with a cacophony of noise filling the air.

  However, when Liu Zhong brought Du Feiyun, who was wearing a white long gown, to the empty ground, the noisy crowd gradually quieted down. It was unclear who led the way, but almost everyone turned their heads to look at Du Feiyun, who walked slowly into the arena, with expressions of incredulity and doubt on every face.

  It was obvious that the onlookers waiting around the arena to watch the commotion had never expected that Du Fei Yun, this little bastard, would also come here to join in the fun. What's even more surprising is that this guy, who usually looks stupid and dull-witted, seems to have changed a lot at this moment.

  What concerns all the onlookers most is how Du Feiyun got together with Liu's family manager. Everyone knows that Liu Yao was expelled by Old Master Liu back then, and now Du Feiyun is traveling with Liu's family manager, does it mean that the Liu family has accepted Liu Yao and his mother again?

  Hundreds or even thousands of complex and unclear gazes gathered on Du Fei Yun's body, but he remained calm and composed, treating everything as if it were nothing, walking slowly towards the cool pavilion where the Liu family was.

  Just then, a sarcastic and boisterous voice came from behind, the contemptuous tone making everyone involuntarily gather their gaze.

  "Hey, you little bastard, how dare you come here? The tri-family clan comparison conference, what are you doing here to join in the excitement?"

  Du Feiyun's footsteps came to an abrupt halt as he slowly turned around, calmly gazing at the person speaking behind him.

  He was a slender youth, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a small beard on his chin, wearing a purple brocade robe, with a pair of small eyes narrowed, and an expression of disdain on his face.

  Du Feiyun instantly recognized the identity of the speaker, his expression unchanged, but his eyes gradually turned cold. Because this young man was called Bai Long, the eldest son of the White family's master, Bai Yu Sheng. More importantly, in the past few years, Bai Long had often bullied Du Feiyun, many times leading the younger generation of the White family to beat Du Feiyun until his nose was blue and his face was swollen with blood flowing from his head, not to mention the verbal insults that were a daily occurrence.