Chapter 41: Born with Insight, Recognizing the True Immortal Amidst the Crowds

"The Yang family of Yunhai has repeatedly sabotaged our plans throughout the Nanyang region, and their ties to the Donghua authorities are extremely close."

Among the group of five, a tall, sturdy man with bronze-toned skin spoke.

The Yang family of Yunhai is known for their ancestral "Peacock Wisdom King Fist." Every member of the family practices martial arts, and thanks to the legacy of their ancestors' meritorious service, they wield immense influence in Yunhai Province. Their business interests radiate across Nanyang, and the family head, Yang Tianhe, is a leading figure in the Yunhai martial arts world, said to be only one step away from achieving a sacred physical form.

The five men belonged to the Asian branch of the Pioneer Group, stationed in the Nanyang territory. Each of them commanded significant power, and they had crossed paths with the Yang family's interests on more than one occasion.

Since the Pioneer Group itself was on the Donghua blacklist, and the Yang family maintained close contact with the Donghua upper echelons, a friendly relationship between them was impossible.

"Very well. We might as well take this opportunity to get to know some of the key figures in Yunhai Province."

Shen Song pondered for a moment and nodded.

Since their target had not yet returned to Spring City, they had no choice but to wait here. The hotel's logistics were entirely in the hands of their own people, so even if the target were to return unexpectedly, they would be notified in time.

Furthermore, their identities were ironclad; even if they were to face police scrutiny, they had nothing to fear, provided they did not cause too much trouble.

Shen Song understood the nature of his companions well. Though he was the nominal leader, these men would not necessarily obey him completely. As the saying goes, it is better to guide than to block.

"Let me state this clearly: maintain your disguises and do not overstep your bounds. If you cannot control yourselves and end up jeopardizing the plan, you know the consequences."

Shen Song’s eyes turned dangerous as he spoke.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of failing the mission and then—'pop'!" The young man smiled, pointing to his own head and making an explosion gesture.

Soon, Shen Song summoned a waiter, securing five well-fitted formal suits and five invitations to the gala.

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, guests in formal attire mingled, clinking glasses and chatting. One young woman stood out as the focal point of the entire room.

She was tall and statuesque, with skin as delicate and translucent as mutton-fat jade. Her neck was slender, her nose bridge high, and her phoenix-like eyes were framed by willow-leaf brows, hinting at ethnic minority heritage. Her complexion was naturally rosy—not the result of makeup, but a sign of robust vitality.

Dressed in a turquoise evening gown, she carried herself like a proud peacock among the crowd.

This was the star of the evening: the Yang family’s young princess, Yang Mutong.

Surrounded by a group of young men in impeccable suits, their hair groomed to perfection and their physiques well-maintained, they were the very definition of "promising young elites." They were showering Yang Mutong with enthusiastic congratulations.

Yang Mutong responded politely to each one, yet there was not a flicker of emotion in her eyes; deep down, she was actually quite bored.

She harbored a secret few knew: she possessed a natural "wisdom eye."

Changes in human emotions or physiological states cause shifts in the body's magnetic field. If one uses special methods of observation, one can capture the unique spectrum emitted by the human body—the "human aura."

Since childhood, Yang Mutong had been able to "see" these natural auras directly. In her eyes, everyone shimmered with different colors.

Many of those surrounding her now radiated a yellow light—the symbol of desire: the desire for romance, for power, for wealth. Some even had a faint grayish-white tinge to their aura, a sign of a frail constitution and depleted vital energy. Beneath those dashing, well-dressed exteriors lay bodies weakened by excess.

The feeling of these auras made her deeply uncomfortable.

She did not enjoy being around these people; she preferred solitude. But there was no help for it—these were the Yang family's friends. Their family's rise to their current standing relied on support from all sides, and she had to play her part.

As she navigated the social scene, her gaze swept across the crowd. Observing others had become a habit for someone with her "wisdom eye."

She spotted five figures who had just entered the banquet hall. Their auras were white, and significantly brighter than those of the average person.

This was not particularly surprising. The Yang family had ties to many martial arts sects in Yunhai, and martial practitioners, with their strong bodies and vigorous blood, often radiated a brilliant white light when at rest. She paid them little mind and quickly turned her gaze away.

Meanwhile, outside the Cloud Top Hotel, a young man appeared at the entrance, wearing loose sportswear as if he had just come out for a night jog.

"It seems the source is within this hotel. What exactly is it that triggered my intuition, yet remains so unclear to me?"

Yi Beidou muttered to himself before following that vague intuition into the hotel.

The Cloud Top Hotel naturally did not bar guests from entering, but the second-floor banquet hall was hosting a private event with tight security; without an invitation, entry was impossible.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but do you have an invitation?"

Just as expected, upon reaching the banquet hall entrance, Yi Beidou was politely blocked by two waiters in suits.

"Relax. No one has been here, have they?"

Yi Beidou smiled slightly. Suddenly, the two waiters felt the hair on their bodies stand on end and their minds go blank. When they snapped out of their daze a moment later, there was no one in front of them.

"Wait, did something just happen? Why can't I remember?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just too tired today and hallucinated."

The two waiters were left perplexed.

Yi Beidou had used a burst of fierce aura to stimulate their minds, causing a momentary mental confusion that even affected their short-term memory. This was a technique he had mastered after integrating the path and methods of the nameless Sword Master, allowing him to manipulate his own lethal intent with greater precision.

Yi Beidou entered the hall, his gaze sweeping over the well-dressed elite, searching for the source of his intuition.

On the other side, Yang Mutong, who had been surrounded by admirers, noticed Yi Beidou the moment he entered.

There was no helping it; the light radiating from the man was simply too bright and dazzling.

It was a seven-colored, rainbow-like glow, vast and radiant. In that moment, the luxurious lights of the banquet hall seemed to lose their color.

The light emanated from behind the man’s head, forming a halo of seven colors that made him appear otherworldly. Within that glow lay a sense of focus, wisdom, and enlightenment, as if he possessed the power to subdue all demons, bringing a profound sense of peace and comfort to those who looked upon him.

Yang Mutong had never seen such a powerful aura. Even her father, the giant of the Yunhai martial arts world, could not compare to even a fraction of this man's radiance.

In that instant, she felt like a humble believer who, in a fleeting glimpse amidst a sea of people, had laid eyes upon a true celestial being.