Chapter 386

Chapter 386: The Most Beautiful Woman of the Western Desert

Inside the Sword Pavilion, a profound silence took hold.

The grand princess had arrived, undoubtedly the star of the evening.

Representatives from the Four Major Holy Lands and the Two Great Dynasties had already gathered. As for the most mysterious and reclusive power, the Fallen Immortal Forbidden Land of the Western Desert, it hadn’t appeared in years. Even when it did, it was impossible to identify anyone from there.

Furthermore, the Wei family of the Five Elements Commerce Association had, for various reasons, refrained from participating in competitive events for nearly five centuries.

Thus, the guests of the Treasure Gathering Night Banquet were now nearly all present.

As the sound of footsteps approached from outside, everyone lifted their heads, eager to catch a glimpse of the most beautiful woman in the Western Desert.

Zhang Yang took a sip of wine and looked up.

He was genuinely curious to see whether she could rival the beauty seated beside him.

Soon, a dazzling figure captured the crowd’s attention.

In that moment, both men and women alike felt as though their light had been dimmed in her presence.

Even the seductive Jin Liuli, stunning in her own right, with her long legs and her domineering air could not compare to the captivating grace of the grand princess.

If Bing Yuyan was a pure white snow lotus blooming in an icy landscape, then Yan Mengqing was a water lily blooming in a crystal-clear pond amid green mountains, radiating a fresh, gentle charm. She lacked the cold detachment of a goddess, instead possessing a warmth like a spring breeze.

Though both women were lotuses, the others in the hall seemed like small wildflowers by comparison.

Yan Mengqing did not try to draw attention. It was simply her natural state. A soft glow seemed to surround her, especially beneath the luminous pearls and moonlight, enhancing her ethereal allure, she looked as if she might ascend into the heavens at any moment.

Her hair flowed like a waterfall down her back. When stirred by the breeze, it shimmered with iridescent light.

Her flawless face resembled a painting, each feature delicately rendered as if by the hand of a master artist.

Her elegant brows framed a pair of eyes with perfectly defined black and white gems that reflected the world around her.

A subtle smile played at her lips, one that made each observer feel it was meant just for them, an expression of such beauty that it stole the breath from their lungs.

Her tall figure was flawlessly proportioned.

With every step, she seemed to gather the surrounding light into herself.

And with a single glance, a soft smile, her beauty became indescribable, not the haughty beauty of a royal, but something gentler, more intimate. She touched the hearts of all who saw her. It was easy to feel that she was not merely beautiful, she was a masterpiece shaped by heaven itself, yet approachable and sincere.

“Is she beautiful?”

A soft voice spoke beside Zhang Yang’s ear.

He turned curiously to look at Bing Yuyan, surprised to see the goddess-like woman showing such softness, her usual aloofness giving way to something far gentler.

He looked back toward Yan Mengqing, then reached out and lifted Bing Yuyan’s veil. With a pout, he said, “Is there even a need to compare?”

“Be clear,” Bing Yuyan replied, her voice still gentle, but Zhang Yang noticed her hand had subtly clenched into a fist.

“Of course it’s her…” Zhang Yang began, clearly teasing, then quickly changed tone as he felt the tension grow stronger. “She can’t compare to you! You’re the most beautiful woman in the Southern Region, unmatched for five hundred years. What could she be, compared to our perfectly ripened ice beauty? She’s just a cucumber!”

In that moment, the odd tension vanished.

Bing Yuyan’s veil, stirred by that gust of emotion, fluttered softly back into place. She remarked coldly, “Hmph. I have no interest in comparing beauty. It’s meaningless.”

Zhang Yang nodded. “It really is meaningless. Let’s enjoy the food and forget about her.”

Bing Yuyan shot him a glance, and to her satisfaction, saw that he truly had returned his attention to the table, not sparing Yan Mengqing another look.

She possessed a secret technique that allowed her to read subtle changes in physical and emotional responses. Zhang Yang appeared completely calm, without the slightest hint of wanting to sneak a glance.

“Do you really have no feelings for her?” Bing Yuyan asked.

Zhang Yang responded irritably, “What feelings could I possibly have for her? At most, I admire her beauty.”

He was still preoccupied with a deeper matter.

If the moon-returning dragon successfully gathered various fire seeds and completed its transformation during the Treasure Gathering Night Banquet, then the time for him to act would come.

What he intended to do was even more thrilling and exhilarating, and more blood-pumping than anything before.

“What are you thinking about?” Bing Yuyan asked softly.

Zhang Yang shared his thoughts without hesitation.

Bing Yuyan was momentarily stunned, then exclaimed, “You’re insane! You actually dare to do that? Aren’t you afraid of getting caught up in it, and digging your own grave?”

“Well, do you want to join me on this adventure?” Zhang Yang smiled.

Bing Yuyan scoffed. “Who would want to die with you? If you weren’t the Lord of the Sacred Forest, I wouldn’t even bother with you.”

Zhang Yang chuckled, she was only being stubborn with her words.

“What are you laughing at?” Bing Yuyan demanded.

“I just remembered something,” Zhang Yang said. “Back when I was at the Chaos Demon’s Graveyard, that stone tablet turned into a guardian, and a woman said she was willing to fall for me…”

Bing Yuyan grabbed a leg of the white jade goat and stuffed it into his mouth. Though her stunning face was hidden behind the veil, the swan-like curve of her neck flushed red.

Zhang Yang chewed on the goat leg and burst out laughing.

Just then, Bing Yuyan’s hand instinctively reached toward him.

At that very moment, a captivating figure entered, glowing and enchanting. All eyes turned as the graceful woman approached, revealing Zhang Yang mid-bite, gnawing on a goat leg with oil glistening on his face, completely lacking any semblance of dignity.

In that instant, Bing Yuyan’s goddess persona shone all the more. Though her face remained veiled, her tall figure, waterfall-like hair, and flawless skin radiated a confidence that rivaled even Yan Mengqing.

The two women represented entirely different styles.

One was a snowy lotus, burning with fire within.

The other, a gently flowing spring, icy and serene at heart.

When they stood together, their beauty rivaled the finest spring blossoms and autumn moons, captivating every gaze and outshining all others. Even Jin Liuli lost her allure in their presence. The sheer brilliance of these two overwhelmed the hall.

Being hailed as the most beautiful women of the Southern Region and the Western Desert was, in itself, enough to earn the admiration, even the reverence of other women.

Their beauty made other women bow their heads willingly, not from envy, but from heartfelt admiration.

“I have seen Sister’s beauty in paintings. It surpasses my own,” Yan Mengqing said. “What a pity I cannot see your true face today.”

“I don’t like looking at people,” Bing Yuyan replied coolly.

Yan Mengqing paused. “It seems I’ve overstepped.”

Bing Yuyan, maintaining her aloof, goddess-like demeanor, didn’t respond. She merely toyed with her wine glass, as if she hadn’t heard.

Her attitude drew subtle frowns from the two handmaidens behind Yan Mengqing.

These maids were themselves beautiful, yet beside Yan Mengqing, they were overlooked, completely dimmed by her brilliance.

Yan Mengqing shifted her gaze to Zhang Yang.

Her handmaidens, along with many others in the crowd, followed her gaze some openly, others more discreetly.

Zhang Yang tore off another piece of goat meat and declared, “Delicious! Princess, would you like to try some?”

Yan Mengqing smiled. “Certainly.”

Then, to the astonishment of everyone watching, she took the curved knife from the roasted white jade goat and sliced a small piece of meat directly from the leg in his hand, tasting it delicately.

The action sent a visible ripple through the room. Men’s breaths hitched, and cold glares turned toward Zhang Yang.

In that moment, the air beside him grew noticeably cold.