To the young members of the Dragon Spirit Clan, especially those unmarried men in their twenties and thirties, this fellow Nie Kong was utterly detestable. Despite knowing Nie Kong might help the Dragon Island resolve its crisis, it didn't stop them from silently cursing him under their breath.

The primary reason for this resentment was that Nie Kong, an outsider, had taken possession of two Dragon Spirit Clan women.

Long Meixian and Long Xuechan, two unmarried clan members, had always been the objects of their deepest admiration. Young men with formidable strength dreamed of pairing up with one of the twin sisters, yet before they could achieve their goal, Nie Kong had suddenly appeared and claimed them both.

How could such an act of snatching food from a dragon's mouth not incite fierce jealousy?

They had all gathered at the Dragon Pearl Hall, eager to witness how this audacious fellow, Nie Kong, would be utterly crushed under the hand of the Third Elder, Long Zhaojun.

The sun began to dip westward; it seemed most of the expected clansmen had already arrived.

Just then, two figures appeared at the hall's entrance. The identity of the burly man on the left was immediately recognized: Long Yi. The young man beside Long Yi was tall and slender, but his face was utterly unfamiliar; however, his identity was guessed in an instant.

It was that detestable Nie Kong!

"..."

"Is that Nie Kong? He really isn't old. I heard he’s only twenty-three, six or seven years younger than Sister Meixian and Sister Xuechan. How could they possibly fancy him?"

"Exactly! And he's so ugly too. Meixian and Xuechan following him is like two beautiful flowers planted in cow dung!"

"He isn't entirely without merit, though. I heard he has already reached the ninth grade of Pill Spirit cultivation, higher than the Meixian and Xuechan sisters, and he even successfully refined the eighth-grade spirit medicine, the 'Green Shadow Pill Orb'!"

"Ninth grade Pill Spirit might be possible, but refining an eighth-grade spirit medicine is utter nonsense. I wouldn't believe he’s a better alchemist than the Third Elder if you beat me to death. I suspect Xuechan secretly got a 'Green Shadow Pill Orb' and is deliberately telling Long Yi that he refined it!"

"That makes sense, otherwise why would His Majesty the Dragon King allow them to be together!"

"..."

Countless gazes scrutinized Nie Kong up and down. Whispers buzzed, turning the previously tranquil Dragon Pearl Hall somewhat noisy.

Nie Kong stroked his chin, absorbing the surrounding chatter, and couldn't help but chuckle lightly to Long Yi beside him, "It seems I'm not very popular."

Long Yi teased back, "Who told you to pluck our Dragon Spirit Clan's two most beautiful and tempting flowers all at once? If I hadn't grown up with those sisters, familiar with them to the point of having no romantic feeling left, perhaps I too would be green with jealousy right now, wishing I could beat you to a pulp."

"Luck! Just luck," Nie Kong laughed heartily, and walked toward the north end of the Dragon Pearl Hall with Long Yi. A few seconds later, a row of arched seats came into Nie Kong's sight.

Seated prominently in the front was the Dragon King, Long Tiangong. Beside him sat more than a dozen men and women—some powerfully built, some gaunt, some ancient, and some enchantingly beautiful. These were the Elders of the Dragon Spirit Clan, and among them sat the sisters Long Meixian and Long Xuechan.

At this moment, the sisters Long Meixian and Long Xuechan resembled proud, blooming twin lotuses, graceful and incomparably lovely. Sensing Nie Kong's gaze, Long Meixian’s delicate face seemed to flush slightly, and she glared back fiercely, her sharp eyes threatening to pierce two holes through him.

Knowing the truth of what happened, Nie Kong felt a pang of guilt about having "accidentally killed" Long Meixian yesterday morning, and quickly shifted his gaze to Long Xuechan. This mature and sensual woman gazed back with deep affection, her face breaking into a charming smile that radiated allure, looking entirely like a little woman freshly blessed by the morning dew.

The few young men nearby, noticing this exchange, couldn't help but feel their vision swim. Immediately, they followed the direction of the sisters' gaze toward Nie Kong and glared at him furiously, jealousy so intense it seemed fire could erupt from their eyes. It was simply unjust! They were all clansmen; why had they submitted themselves to this man!

Regardless of past feelings, at this moment, feeling the envious and jealous stares surrounding him, even Nie Kong couldn't remain entirely immune. A sliver of smug satisfaction involuntarily rose in his heart, making him wish he could publicly draw Long Xuechan into his embrace and cherish her tenderly.

Of course, such a thought was confined only to his mind.

Nie Kong gave Long Xuechan a playfully suggestive wink. As his eyes shifted, he unexpectedly spotted Sheya sitting alone slightly below Long Xuechan, accompanied by two lean old men. If Nie Kong’s perception was correct, the elder to Sheya’s right was the Celestial Spirit expert from the Snake Spirit Clan who had sensed him last night, and the other was a Cave Spirit master.

Sensing Nie Kong’s stare, the two Snake Spirit Clan elders remained still, but Sheya’s expression couldn't help but turn cold and grim. Although he knew he could never possess the sisters Long Meixian and Long Xuechan now, seeing Nie Kong exchanging flirtatious glances with them still sent his jealousy soaring.

Ignoring Sheya's venomous glare of hatred, Nie Kong looked directly at Long Tiangong and smiled, "Greetings, Uncle."

Uncle?

The moment these two words were spoken, the Elders maintained their composure, but the ordinary clansmen surrounding them burst into an uproar. This fellow truly had the audacity to get so close to His Majesty the Dragon King! However, Long Tiangong’s subsequent reaction caused the majestic image of the Dragon King in everyone’s mind to collapse instantly.

Long Tiangong nodded with gratification. "Nie Kong, let me introduce you... This is the Third Elder, Long Zhaojun, currently the only seventh-grade Alchemist in our Dragon Spirit Clan."

Following his gesture, Nie Kong's gaze landed on the second seat to his left. Sitting there was a woman in a striking red robe with a graceful figure. Her hair was snow-white, but her face appeared to be only around thirty years old. While her features were refined, they couldn't compare to the breathtaking allure of the sisters Long Meixian and Long Xuechan. However, between her brows lay a martial spirit that the sisters lacked, lending her entire presence a unique aura.

"Greetings, Third Elder."

Nie Kong recalled Long Xuechan saying that Long Zhaojun treated them like daughters, so he dared not be disrespectful.

Long Zhaojun examined Nie Kong with the look of a mother-in-law appraising a son-in-law, then glanced back at the beautiful twins seated near the end. She nodded with a smile, then stood up quite briskly and decisively, "Nie Kong, since you've arrived, let's begin quickly."

Nie Kong asked no further questions, merely smiling, "I shall follow the arrangements of Uncle and all the Elders."

"Clap! Clap!"

Long Tiangong nodded and clapped his hands heavily. The crisp sound reverberated throughout the Dragon Pearl Hall. Almost the instant his hands met, two middle-aged men in their forties emerged from the side crowd. Both looked haggard, their skin possessing a waxy yellow hue.

... ...RO