The gloomy sky drizzled rain, washing over the streets of Cangyun City. Pedestrians darted through the downpour, scrambling to avoid getting soaked.

At that moment, a young man, cloaked in a black raincoat, rode his horse up to the "Listening Wind Tavern."

"Take care of my horse," the young man said to the stablehand, dismounting and walking into the tavern.

Perhaps due to the rain, the tavern was unusually packed today. The spacious first-floor hall was crowded with people, and the noise of lively chatter filled the air.

"Did you hear? Just yesterday, the head of the Li family, Li Kai, and that good-for-nothing Li Xiaoyao, were kicked out of the family. They got thrown out with nothing!"

"Heh, I'm pretty sure the whole city's heard by now. No surprise there. Li Batian isn't just stronger than Li Kai himself—his kids have already reached the Spirit Martial stage. They're practically prodigies! It makes perfect sense that Li Kai and his son were tossed out. That loser could never compare."

Amid the noise, Li Xiaoyao overheard countless conversations about himself. He had intended to head upstairs, but instead, he paused and quietly took a seat in a secluded corner of the first-floor hall.

"The Li family's really painting me and my father as worthless, while calling Li Batian and his family the true talents, huh?" Li Xiaoyao sneered to himself. He was long used to their mockery, and it hardly fazed him anymore.

"What can I get for you, sir?" a waiter approached, interrupting his thoughts.

"Just a bottle of your strongest liquor and a few side dishes," Li Xiaoyao replied. Within moments, the wine and food were served with swift efficiency.

"They say the Listening Wind Tavern has its ear to the ground. I wonder if I can get some news on the City Lord's upcoming martial arts tournament..." Li Xiaoyao mused as he poured himself a drink. The fiery liquor burned as it coursed down his throat, far stronger than anything he had tasted in his previous life.

Just then, three figures entered the tavern—a young man and two women. The moment they stepped inside, all eyes were drawn to them.

The young man was striking, holding a feather fan and exuding a refined, graceful air. One of the women, dressed in a green battle outfit, was both commanding and beautiful, with a sharp, captivating presence.

However, the crowd's attention didn't linger on them but instead fixed on the woman between them.

Even though it was raining, not a single drop had touched the woman's blue gown. Her dress carried the calmness of the sea, while her jade-like skin radiated an almost ethereal beauty. Every inch of her figure was captivating, but her eyes—clear and deep—drew you in, impossible to look away from. Standing beside her, the other beautiful girl seemed to fade in comparison.

"Nalan Xiong, you go on ahead. I'll stay down here for a while," the girl in the blue dress said, her voice as graceful as she was.

"Alright." Nalan Xiong, the man holding a folding fan, nodded and headed straight for the second floor, while the girl in the green battle outfit scanned the room, looking for a place to sit.

"Miss, it looks like all the seats are taken," the girl in green remarked after glancing around the packed tavern.

"Wait here a moment," she said. Then, noticing Li Xiaoyao sitting alone in a corner, she made her way over.

Li Xiaoyao looked up at the girl in green as she approached and asked, "What do you need?"

Without a word, she tossed a silver coin onto his table. "Here's some money. Find another seat. This one's mine now."

Li Xiaoyao paused for a moment, then let a faint smile curl at his lips. He pulled out his own silver coin and tossed it back onto the table.

"What's that supposed to mean?" the girl in green frowned.

Li Xiaoyao met her gaze and said calmly, "I find you annoying. Keep the silver, but find yourself another seat."

"You..." The girl's expression froze, and she snapped back coldly, "Do you know who I am?"

Li Xiaoyao silently shook his head and poured himself another drink, sipping it as if she weren't even there.

"Who you are? I couldn't care less," he said sharply, looking up.

Her face flushed with anger, and a surge of energy radiated from her, causing Li Xiaoyao's eyes to narrow. She was younger than him but already at the eighth stage of Qi Martial Arts. No wonder she was so arrogant.

"What, are you scared now?" the girl in green mocked as she saw his reaction.

Li Xiaoyao blinked, a little confused.

"Green, stop causing trouble." A gentle voice rang out, and the girl in the blue dress appeared, shooting the girl in green a disapproving look.

"She's always like this. I hope you won't hold it against her," the girl in blue said with a soft smile that felt like a warm spring breeze. She sat down at Li Xiaoyao's table without waiting for his permission, completely at ease.

Li Xiaoyao's brow furrowed slightly. There wasn't the slightest hint of apology in her voice, and she hadn't exactly asked before sitting down.

"Well, Like master, like servant," Li Xiaoyao mocked with a sharp smile.

The girl in the blue dress froze for a second, then let out a cold snort. No matter where she went, people treated her with respect, bending over backward to give her face. Sitting with her was an honor—something most men would be dying to do. Yet today, here was Li Xiaoyao, not only rejecting her but mocking her too.

"Miss, people like him need to be taught a lesson," the green-clad girl said, anger radiating off her.

"Let it go, Green," the girl in blue said, shaking her head. She stood up gracefully. "If we're not welcome here, we'll just find another spot."

Then she turned and glanced back at Li Xiaoyao. "Though, some people really should learn their place and be more mindful in the future."

With that, the blue-dressed girl turned to leave.

"Nalan Miss, don't worry about that guy. You're too generous to care about someone like him. We're all impressed by your grace! If you don't mind, please, join us here," someone nearby called out, practically tripping over themselves to invite her to their table.

This time, the girl in blue nodded and didn't refuse, leaving the man who invited her beaming with joy.

"That guy's so lucky. Why didn't I think of inviting her first?" someone else muttered in regret, watching the scene unfold.

"Who is that idiot anyway? Doesn't he realize sitting with Nalan Miss is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Turning her down like that—what an absolute fool."

Li Xiaoyao's ears caught bits and pieces of the chatter around him. He sighed internally. Servility—it's everywhere, in every world. Clinging to power, sucking up to the strong—it never changes.

He had his own beliefs, though. Respect is earned. If people respect him, he respects them in return. But from the very start, neither the girl in green nor the girl in blue had shown him an ounce of respect. What, was he supposed to beg for their favor?

From the whispers around him, Li Xiaoyao had pieced together the blue-dressed girl's identity: Nalan Yanran, the only daughter of the city lord. Famous for her beauty and talent.

"She's a lot like Li Xin," Li Xiaoyao thought, shaking his head in disappointment. "All looks, no heart. Thinks the world revolves around her. What a letdown. Nowhere near as perfect as the rumors make her out to be."

"Miss, Nalan , since you're here, why not come up and join us? Or do we need to formally invite you?" A cold, aloof voice echoed down from the second floor, causing the whole room to go silent. Who had the audacity to speak to Nalan Yanran like that?

Nalan Yanran chuckled softly, not showing the slightest offense. "Oh, Li Miss, I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I'm on my way." She turned and gracefully headed upstairs.

"Miss Li? That must be Li Xin from the Li family. No wonder she's bold enough to talk like that to Nalan Yanran. I've heard she's become quite powerful and is favored by the Yuehui Sect," someone whispered.

"Exactly. It has to be Li Xin. Who would've thought that the brightest stars among the younger generation of Cangyun City would be two women? Talk about a rivalry."

The voice that had called out earlier definitely belonged to Li Xin. Li Xiaoyao recognized that cold, haughty tone immediately.

As he listened closely to the murmurs around him, Li Xiaoyao picked up some valuable information. Apparently, today's gathering was hosted by Nalan Yanran, and she had invited the most talented youth of Cangyun City. Not just Li Xin, but also the prodigies from the Yan and Chen families, along with the famous genius rogue cultivator, Qiu Lan, were all upstairs.