Chapter 582 The Heavens Dropped a Pie, and It Hit Me Directly in the Face
Others had gained profound insights into their cultivation paths, allowing them to glimpse a brighter future.
Such blessings naturally filled them with gratitude and admiration toward Lin Feng.
Yet admiration often carried unexpected consequences.
Several young women of the clan found themselves unable to forget the mysterious senior.
Every time they closed their eyes, they remembered the scene of Lin Feng casually demonstrating the Grand Dao, his figure appearing almost divine beneath the countless gazes fixed upon him.
Some were captivated by his unparalleled talent.
Others were attracted by his handsome appearance and gentle demeanor.
A few simply admired the confidence and calmness he displayed while standing before an entire hall of cultivators.
Meanwhile, many of the young men of the Tang Clan quickly noticed these changes.
What had once been simple affection between couples suddenly became strained.
Several fiances discovered that their partners could not stop talking about Lin Feng.
Others found themselves being compared to the mysterious expert in ways that left them feeling frustrated and helpless.
After all, how could ordinary cultivators compete against someone who seemed capable of teaching the Dao itself?
Arguments began to appear here and there throughout the clan.
Some were small disagreements. Others developed into genuine quarrels.
One unfortunate disciple even spent an entire evening listening to his fiancee praise Lin Feng’s elegance, wisdom, and talent until his face turned green with jealousy.
The irony was that Lin Feng himself remained completely unaware of the chaos he had caused.
At that very moment, he was peacefully enjoying himself, never realizing that throughout the Tang Clan, countless people were discussing his name.
Some spoke of him with reverence. Some spoke of him with admiration.
And a few spoke of him with envy.
Regardless of their feelings, one fact was undeniable.
From that day onward, Lin Feng had become the most talked-about person in the entire Tang Clan.
But perhaps the person most affected by the events of the feast was the matriarch of the Tang Clan herself.
The night had long since ended, and the clan gradually returned to its usual tranquility.
After spending the day entertaining guests and witnessing countless shocking displays, Tang Bingyao finally retired to her residence with her husband, Tang Wei.
Seeing his wife beneath the soft moonlight, as graceful and beautiful as ever, Tang Wei could not help but feel a surge of affection.
The two of them rarely spent time together these days.
As cultivators pursuing higher realms, they spent most of their years secluded within their cultivation caves, seeking enlightenment and greater understanding of the Dao.
Opportunities to simply be husband and wife had become increasingly rare.
As he approached her, however, something unexpected happened.
"Not tonight, husband. I’m tired."
Tang Bingyao’s voice was gentle, but her words struck Tang Wei like a bolt of lightning.
He froze.
This was the first time in all the years of their marriage that she had rejected him.
Tang Wei stared at her in confusion, unable to understand what had changed.
Yet even Tang Bingyao herself found it difficult to explain.
Ever since witnessing Lin Feng’s incomprehensible Dao during the feast, her heart had been restless.
The supreme profundity contained within his painting and calligraphy had opened a door in her mind that she never knew existed.
The insights she gained were so vast that everything she once considered extraordinary now seemed ordinary in comparison.
For the first time, she realized how small her understanding of the Dao truly was.
Her thoughts were completely occupied by the revelations she had experienced that day.
She wished only to meditate upon them and grasp even a fraction of their mysteries before the fleeting inspiration disappeared.
Tang Wei could only sigh and quietly leave her alone.
What neither of them realized was that Lin Feng’s appearance had already planted subtle cracks within many relationships throughout the Tang Clan.
Some cracks were small and would eventually heal. Others, however, would continue to widen with time.
As for the relationship between Tang Bingyao and Tang Wei, if it were ever to fully return to how it once was, it would take a very long time indeed.
After all, how could Tang Wei ever compare to the peak of the Grand Dao that Lin Feng seemed to embody?
Ever since the feast, the patriarch of the Tang Clan found himself unconsciously being measured against the mysterious guest.
It was an impossible comparison.
Lin Feng carried himself with a confidence and presence that seemed to tower over everyone around him.
Whether it was his profound understanding of the Dao, his unrivaled talent, or the calm certainty in his every action, he left an impression that was difficult to forget.
To many who had witnessed his display, Lin Feng appeared almost larger than life.
His every movement seemed to contain hidden profundities, while his words carried the weight of countless years of enlightenment.
In comparison, even accomplished cultivators could not help but feel ordinary.
There was simply no comparison at all.
One day later, the Myriad Dao Brush Assembly was finally set to begin.
The city became livelier than ever as countless cultivators, scholars, painters, and calligraphers arrived from every corner of the region.
Many young geniuses had come to compete for glory, hoping to make a name for themselves before the gathered experts.
At the same time, numerous respected judges and distinguished guests arrived to grace the grand event with their presence.
The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation.
Yet before the assembly officially began, Tang Jingyan still needed an answer to a question that had been troubling her since the feast.
After searching for some time, she finally found the person she was looking for.
Standing before him, she took a deep breath and gathered her courage.
"Touch me," she said.
The words left her mouth before she could reconsider them.
The man standing before her froze in shock, while Tang Jingyan herself maintained a serious expression.
She knew how strange her request sounded, but she needed confirmation regarding a matter that had occupied her thoughts for an entire day and night.
Only by obtaining an answer would she finally be able to put her restless mind at ease.
"I don’t understand what you want me to do, Miss Tang," the man replied, his voice trembling with excitement.
His name was Shen Jue, and he had been pursuing Tang Jingyan for hundreds of years.
Unfortunately for him, all of his efforts had ended in failure.
Daoist Profound Jade had never entertained the idea of taking a Dao companion.
Throughout the years, countless talented young masters, clan heirs, and renowned geniuses had attempted to win her favor, but she remained indifferent to all of them.
Shen Jue had always taken comfort in that fact.
If Tang Jingyan rejected everyone equally, then at least he still had a chance.
As a result, he continued pursuing her with unwavering determination.
In his heart, his admiration for her had long since grown into an obsession.
Every smile, every glance, and every word she spoke was deeply engraved within his mind.
That was why he could hardly believe the situation he found himself in now.
The beautiful blonde Daoist stood before him, looking directly at him.
And she had just asked him to touch her.
For a moment, Shen Jue felt as if he were dreaming.
His heart pounded wildly against his chest.
Could this finally be the day his centuries of persistence paid off?
Could the heavens have finally taken pity on him?
Then his thoughts drifted back to the feast.
He had clearly noticed that Tang Jingyan seemed unusually close to the mysterious Feng Lin.
The sight had filled him with jealousy for the entire evening.
"I knew it," Shen Jue mused inwardly.
"That snake Feng Lin must have done something. Ever since he appeared, everyone has been acting strangely. Perhaps Miss Tang has finally seen through him."
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.
"She must have realized who truly cares about her. After all these years, I’ve been the one sincerely devoted to her."
A foolish grin threatened to spread across his face.
Meanwhile, Tang Jingyan merely frowned as she looked at him.
The expression in Shen Jue’s eyes told her that he was already imagining things far beyond what she intended.
Immediately, she regretted choosing her words so poorly.
"Calm down," she said. "I only need your help with a small test."
"A test?" Shen Jue repeated, blinking in confusion.
"Yes," Tang Jingyan replied. "Nothing more."
Tang Jingyan did not offer any further explanation.
The bewildered expression on Shen Jue’s face was amusing enough, but she had not come here to joke around.
Ever since the feast, a certain question had been lingering in her heart, refusing to leave no matter how much she tried to ignore it.
She needed an answer.
Without warning, she reached forward, took Shen Jue’s hands, and gently placed them upon her shoulders.
Shen Jue’s entire body froze.
"Thank the Grand Dao for this opportunity!" he screamed inwardly.