Chapter 148: Fish Dragon Feast

Chapter 148: The Fish-Dragon Banquet

Within the Bright Light Palace, the atmosphere was somber.

Last time, there were merely a dozen or so Purple Mansions here.

Now, there were over thirty Purple Mansions.

Their number had already exceeded half of the Bright Light Palace.

These Purple Mansions gathered together, their expressions far from pleasant.

Third Palace Lord Zi Ru spoke, her voice stripped of its former calm: “All Purple Mansions outside are to return to headquarters immediately.”

Previously, the Blood-Robed Sword God had displayed the strength of a late-stage Purple Mansion.

Zi Ru had not taken it seriously.

Cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm had already comprehended the essence of spiritual energy and awakened their innate divine abilities.

Killing them would be extremely difficult.

Last time, the Blood-Robed Sword God had slain five Purple Mansions; in their view, he had clearly exhausted his combat power and was recuperating somewhere.

Yet, the Bright Light Palace had since seen six more Purple Mansions fall.

The course of events had far exceeded their expectations.

“Until the confrontation with the Blood-Robed Sword God is over, all Purple Mansions are to remain at headquarters,” Third Palace Lord Zi Ru commanded.

On the scene, the remaining Purple Mansions exchanged uneasy glances.

“This Blood-Robed Sword God… how should we deal with him?” one Purple Mansion asked cautiously.

“The Great Palace Lord is currently negotiating with the Eastern Land President of the Divine Flower Society.

Until the results of those negotiations are known, we need only hole up at headquarters,” Third Palace Lord Zi Ru said, a note of helplessness creeping into her voice.

As the righteous leaders of Emerald Cloud Continent, the Bright Light Palace had never suffered such humiliation.

But that Blood-Robed Sword God was no ordinary late-stage Purple Mansion.

He slaughtered Purple Mansions with ease.

“If… we make peace, it would be a monumental disgrace for our Bright Light Palace!” one Purple Mansion cultivator declared, already foreseeing the outcome.

After all, the Blood-Robed Sword God’s innate divine abilities were formidable, and he kept to the shadows; the Bright Light Palace could hardly capture him.

“Hmph, if he dares come to our headquarters, we’ll make sure he dies without a burial place,” an elder said.

They were accustomed to arrogance; this first concession was hard to swallow.

“The Blood-Robed Sword God is no fool—why would he come to our headquarters to die?” another Purple Mansion elder remarked. “Those who cultivate to such a realm are all shrewd. Alas, it seems our Bright Light Palace must swallow this grievance.”

“He got off easy!” the woman in yellow said.

Within the Bright Light Palace, a meeting quietly concluded.

From this day forward, no one in the Bright Light Palace would again mention besieging the Blood-Robed Sword God, nor dare to speak of him.

All the elders and stewards awaited the Great Palace Lord’s return.

As for the Blood-Robed Sword God, who kept stirring trouble on the Divine Flower Society forum, they could only ignore him.

…

Outside the cave dwelling.

Jiang Ya’s brow still bore a trace of melancholy.

The Heaven-grade technique taught to her by Old Man Wutian had shown no progress during this time.

She glanced at Qi Yuan and Kang Fulu, then waved her delicate hand: “The Fish-Dragon Banquet—are you two interested?”

In Jiang Ya’s hand was an invitation to the Fish-Dragon Banquet.

Anyone who had ever made the Eastern Land Prodigy List would receive such an invitation to attend the banquet.

Kang Fulu’s eyes lit up: “Interested!”

At the Fish-Dragon Banquet, there would be a live performance of the Fish-Dragon Golden Pill Dance.

That was far better than a recording.

Qi Yuan, however, shook his head: “A friend of mine is about to arrive in Cloud City. I need to go pick him up; he’ll take me to the Fish-Dragon Banquet, so I won’t go with you.”

Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan, somewhat surprised.

Kang Fulu was also astonished: “Junior Brother, you actually have friends here too?”

“Mm-hmm, I met him online.”

Kang Fulu didn’t quite understand the term “online”—did he mean on the spider web?

“Be careful, don’t get tricked,” Kang Fulu advised.

As the senior disciple of the Divine Light Sect, he had to keep an eye on Qi Yuan.

“Yeah, don’t worry.” Qi Yuan glanced at the Divine Flower Society jade slip.

His heart was uneasy—wasn’t it just a meet-up? Why was there so much trouble?

That Rogue Immortal Venerable hadn’t replied to his messages in two days.

Had something happened again?

…

On the spirit boat.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable looked at the man with slanted eyes, forcing concern into his gaze: “Senior Brother, feeling any better?”

“Cough, much better.” The man with slanted eyes was pale, looking quite weak.

Seeing this, the Rogue Immortal Venerable was inwardly exasperated.

His senior brother was a social butterfly.

As a figure on the Eastern Land Prodigy List, he was considered a big shot on this small boat.

But a few days ago, this senior brother had struck up a friendship with a woman on the Eastern Land Minor Prodigy List.

That friendship had ended up in bed.

If the Rogue Immortal Venerable hadn’t found him, his senior brother would have long since died from exhaustion of his essence.

That female cultivator on the Minor Prodigy List practiced a technique of Swallowing Yang to Moisturize Yin, and the man with slanted eyes had fallen right into her trap.

During this time, the Rogue Immortal Venerable had to expend his own vital energy to make up for his senior brother’s depleted body.

After all, his senior brother was the hope of their sect.

He was also the only cultivator from their sect to make it onto the main Eastern Land Prodigy List.

“Senior Brother, stay away from those seductresses in the future,” the Rogue Immortal Venerable advised earnestly.

The man with slanted eyes showed a trace of lingering fear on his face, yet a hint of reminiscence remained: “But those seductresses… are so smooth.

Junior Brother, I’ve learned my lesson this time. I won’t make the same mistake again!”

The Rogue Immortal Venerable simply did not believe it; such things had happened to his senior brother more than once.

And each time, the master never issued a warning, which left the Rogue Immortal Venerable deeply puzzled.

At this moment, he set aside these vexing thoughts.

"We'll reach Cloud City soon. My friend promised to meet me down below," the Rogue Immortal Venerable said, his anticipation for Origin Heavenly Venerable growing.

"Mm, bring him along. We'll go to the Fish-Dragon Banquet together.

Ah, good things come to those who wait—luckily we made it in time for the Fish-Dragon Banquet," the man with drooping eyes couldn't help sighing.

The journey had been fraught with endless turmoil.

Just then, a voice, seemingly casual yet deliberate, drifted over.

"A figure on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking, yet bewitched by a seductress.

Gao Jien, once you reach Cloud City, don't claim to hail from Thunderwalk Continent."

A handsome man with hair cascading to his waist appeared, his eyes sharp and piercing.

Gao Jien looked at the handsome man, his expression sour: "Hmph, Luo Cha, wait until your rank on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking surpasses mine before you speak!"

The handsome man, named Luo Cha, belonged to a sect that had long-standing grievances with Gao Jien's sect.

The two had always been at odds.

Gao Jien's rank on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking happened to be ten places above Luo Cha's.

"When the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking is finalized this time, I will surely surpass you," Luo Cha declared, his handsome face etched with defiance.

At that moment, the spirit boat finally came to a halt.

Excitement lit up Luo Cha's face as he looked at Gao Jien and boasted, "See that man in gold robes ahead? He's Lei Chong, ranked eighty-ninth on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking. He's my sworn brother. With his help, I will definitely outrank you this time!"

Hearing this, Gao Jien's face showed wariness as he glanced at Lei Chong.

True, he was among the top three hundred on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking.

But the top hundred—those were the true prodigies.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable, uninterested in Lei Chong, stood beside Gao Jien, searching for something but finding nothing.

Just then, a voice tinged with surprise rang out: "Are you the Rogue Immortal Venerable?"

The Rogue Immortal Venerable quickly turned to see a man in a blood-red robe standing before him.

The man was strikingly handsome, exuding a cold, sharp aura.

He stood in the midst of the crowd, yet one might unconsciously overlook his presence if not paying close attention.

"Origin Heavenly Venerable?!" The Rogue Immortal Venerable looked at Qi Yuan, his face lighting up with delight. "You actually came, and you look so handsome!"

Gao Jien then glanced at Qi Yuan and said, "So you're my junior brother's friend—truly a man of striking appearance."

In front of outsiders, Gao Jien always gave face to his junior brother.

"I never rely on my looks; I rely on strength," Qi Yuan said modestly, accepting the compliment.

Today, knowing he was to attend the Fish-Dragon Banquet,

Qi Yuan did not attend under his original identity.

After all, he hailed from a small nation—what if he was looked down upon?

Moreover, a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator would be present at the banquet.

He needed to adopt a more formidable persona, such as the Blood-Robed Sword God, to attend the Fish-Dragon Banquet.

That way, he wouldn't be underestimated.

Hearing Qi Yuan's shameless words, the Rogue Immortal Venerable confirmed that this was indeed Origin Heavenly Venerable.

"Alright, let's hurry to the Fish-Dragon Banquet. Any later and we'll miss it," Gao Jien said.

The Fish-Dragon Banquet was crucial for prodigies like them.

It was a golden opportunity to expand their networks.

Just then, a voice whispered into Qi Yuan's ear.

"Fellow Daoist, traveling with such a man is truly embarrassing.

On the spirit boat, that Gao Jien was drained of his essence by a seductress—ha ha ha... absolutely hilarious." Luo Cha, having stealthily spoken to Qi Yuan, laughed heartily as he walked away, watching Gao Jien's humiliated expression.

Qi Yuan glanced at Gao Jien and couldn't help remarking, "I never expected that you, with such an unremarkable appearance, would catch the eye of a seductress. It seems your talent... is truly exceptional."

Gao Jien was speechless.

Was that a compliment on his talent?

Or an insult about his looks?

"Senior Brother, Origin Heavenly Venerable is quite straightforward. Don't take it to heart," the Rogue Immortal Venerable quickly interjected.

"No, no. Let's go," Gao Jien said, his mouth twitching.

The three of them set off toward the Fish-Dragon Banquet. Along the way, Gao Jien's chatter never ceased.

But all he spoke of was Luo Cha's faults.

This made Qi Yuan sigh inwardly—Gao Jien truly held a grudge.

Such a man must never be offended.

If offended, he must be killed immediately.

Otherwise, he'd bring calamity upon eighteen generations of ancestors.

Beside him, the Rogue Immortal Venerable kept sizing up Qi Yuan.

During this time, he had been restoring his senior brother's vitality and had not been online.

He was unaware of what had happened on the forum.

Looking at Qi Yuan, he couldn't help asking, "Origin Heavenly Venerable, are you really going to participate in the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking?"

Hadn't Ice Mountain Overlord said Origin Heavenly Venerable was a big shot?

But why would a big shot join the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking?

"Mm, of course I will. My senior brother is also participating. This time, I'm joining the Fish-Dragon Banquet with others," Qi Yuan replied.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable wanted to ask, "Aren't you at the Purple Mansion realm?"

But then he thought—with Origin Heavenly Venerable's twisted logic, he'd never get a straight answer.

He'd probably say something like, "I'm a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, an Immortal Grade Golden Core," or the like.

So the Rogue Immortal Venerable simply stopped asking, treating Qi Yuan as just a friend of the Four Divine Flower Kings.

"A pity that Great Sun Flame Emperor and Ice Mountain Overlord didn't come. Otherwise, with Ice Mountain Overlord sister's Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment backing us, we Four Divine Flower Kings would surely make a name at the Fish-Dragon Banquet," Qi Yuan lamented.

Beneath his blood-red robe, he concealed his murderous and eerie aura well.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable glanced at Qi Yuan and quietly asked, "What about the Blood-Robed Sword God?"

The Rogue Immortal Venerable only knew that the Blood-Robed Sword God had slaughtered a Nascent Soul cultivator; he was unaware of what had happened after the Blood-Robed Sword God arrived in Jade Cloud Continent.

“Am I not that one?” Qi Yuan pointed at himself.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable, hearing this, was rather speechless.

He decided to stop dwelling on it.

About half an hour later, the trio of Qi Yuan, the Rogue Immortal Venerable, and Gao Ji’en finally arrived at the entrance of the Fish-Dragon Banquet.

The Fish-Dragon Banquet was held within the Cloud Center Court.

The Cloud Center Court was located on the Three-Hundred-Li Cloud Lake.

Qi Yuan and his companions, riding an immortal boat, crossed the three-hundred-li lake and saw a resplendent island.

Upon the island stood a majestic palace.

On the lake, various painted boats were moored, and from time to time, songs drifted out.

This made Qi Yuan on the boat exclaim in awe: “As befits a great city—vast and bustling indeed!”

Though he had become the overlord of the Flowing Wind Realm, he had almost always holed up in No Return City and never gone elsewhere.

Gao Ji’en, however, lifted his head: “Compared to our Purple Thunder City in Thunder Travel Continent, it’s far inferior.

Still, the surroundings are quite elegant, suitable for seclusion.”

Cloud Center City, in Emerald Cloud Continent, was not even considered a prosperous place.

Naturally, it could not compare to the most flourishing Purple Thunder City in Thunder Travel Continent.

Qi Yuan looked at Gao Ji’en with an expression of admiration: “Truly, one from a great place has such insight.”

Hearing this flattery, Gao Ji’en felt somewhat pleased.

This Origin Heavenly Venerable was far more agreeable than Luo Cha.

This made Gao Ji’en think that, aside from building connections, he should henceforth often appear before “low-status people” to receive such praise.

Unlike Luo Cha, who would verbally attack him at every turn.

The immortal boat docked, and the three disembarked, heading toward the Cloud Center Court’s great hall.

Qi Yuan, meanwhile, looked left and right, quite curious about everything before him.

Alas, here were only young people—no old codgers, and no white moonlight of his.

Led by a maidservant, the three entered the palace.

Within the vast hall, there were fully several thousand people.

“Origin Heavenly Venerable, let’s find a quiet place to sit for a while,” said the Rogue Immortal Venerable.

In the Divine Flower Society group chat, the Rogue Immortal Venerable was quite eloquent, but in reality, he had a bit of social anxiety and did not like dealing with too many people.

Gao Ji’en glanced at his junior brother and gave a helpless smile: “Don’t cause any trouble. Your senior brother is going to get to know some friends.”

He did not insist on taking his junior brother to meet people.

He just let him and his friend catch up there.

Qi Yuan sat in a corner, looked at the fruits on the table, casually picked one up, and ate it.

By now, the Rogue Immortal Venerable had let himself go.

For him at present, this Origin Heavenly Venerable was no different from himself—both were little newbies.

“Ah, I wonder when I’ll ever make it onto the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking,” the Rogue Immortal Venerable sighed, gazing at the prodigies in the hall.

“Isn’t that easy?” Qi Yuan swept his eyes and said casually.

“Oh?” The Rogue Immortal Venerable grew interested.

“As long as I kill all the prodigies in this room, the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking will certainly have vacancies, and you’ll get in.

Of course, that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator I might not be able to kill, but the others? Not enough for me to kill.” Qi Yuan said arrogantly, as if relieving the Rogue Immortal Venerable of his worries.

Hearing this, the Rogue Immortal Venerable’s expression changed slightly: “Origin Heavenly Venerable, don’t say such things out loud—just transmit them telepathically, or if others hear, it’s easy to misunderstand!”

This Origin Heavenly Venerable was still the same as in the group, always speaking recklessly.

“Too bad they have no enmity with me; otherwise, I really would kill them all. That way, I’d probably enter the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking without even having to participate in the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle,” Qi Yuan lamented.

The Eastern Land Prodigy Battle—once joined, it would take ten days to half a month, or even years—Qi Yuan simply couldn’t be bothered.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable very much wanted to cover Qi Yuan’s mouth, or else stay far away from him.

He truly feared that some prodigy might take a dislike to Origin Heavenly Venerable and teach him a lesson.

Half an hour passed.

Qi Yuan and the Rogue Immortal Venerable had already eaten quite a few spirit fruits.

And at their table, a few more people had joined.

These people, presumably like them, were too lazy to socialize and had simply found a place to sit.

“Origin Heavenly Venerable, where’s your senior brother?” the Rogue Immortal Venerable asked idly.

“He should be inside,” Qi Yuan guessed. Kang Fulu had been taken by Jiang Ya to meet some prodigies.

For such matters, Qi Yuan had no interest.

What were prodigies compared to a white moonlight?

“Inside?” The Rogue Immortal Venerable was somewhat surprised. “This hall is divided into an inner hall and an outer hall. Only the top hundred on the Prodigy Ranking can enter the inner hall.”

The others at the table now looked at Qi Yuan with surprised expressions as well.

After all, the top hundred on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking were almost certain to step into the Purple Mansion realm.

Wherever they were, they counted as true geniuses.

“Yes, the one who took my senior brother in is in the top hundred.”

He had heard from his junior sister Jiang Lingsu that her sister Jiang Ya ranked seventeenth on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking.

Just then, a woman at the same table said, “Why don’t you find that friend of yours and take us into the inner hall to have a look?”

The others also looked at Qi Yuan with varied expressions.

Qi Yuan swept his eyes over them but did not reply.

He had no relation to these people.

If the Rogue Immortal Venerable had suggested it, he might have taken him.

Seeing that Qi Yuan did not speak, the woman was a bit embarrassed, and the others’ gazes toward Qi Yuan gained a hint of mockery.

They exchanged telepathic messages, communicating about something unknown.

Qi Yuan, however, ignored them and continued eating spirit fruits with the Rogue Immortal Venerable, thoroughly enjoying himself.

And then, suddenly, a phoenix cry rang out.

From the inner hall, dozens of prodigies emerged.

At their head was Huang Tu. His ranking was not the highest, but he hailed from Emerald Cloud Continent and was the host here.

The prodigies behind him all showed him respect.

At this moment, Huang Tu's face was wreathed in smiles, looking as if he were riding the spring breeze—where was the sorrow of his master's recent fall?

He strode forward, his face bearing a respectful expression: "Heavenly Soul Fairy, your esteemed presence graces us—please, come inside!"

The sound of a phoenix's cry heralded the arrival of a figure from the top ten of the Prodigy List.

Heavenly Soul Fairy was clad in a black form-fitting outfit, with curves that drew the eye.

In the outer hall, nearly all the prodigies' gazes fell upon Heavenly Soul Fairy.

She was the eighth-ranked existence on the Eastern Land Prodigy List.

An existence they could only look up to!

The Rogue Immortal Venerable gazed at Heavenly Soul Fairy, his face also full of admiration: "Heavenly Soul Fairy has an immortal-grade foundation. If not for the lack of a Yin Spirit in her clan, she might have achieved a Heavenly Dao foundation."

Qi Yuan, hearing this, turned his gaze toward Heavenly Soul Fairy with a grave expression: "It seems talent alone is useless; one also needs family background."

The others at this table, looking at Heavenly Soul Fairy, also had burning eyes. The woman who had spoken earlier sighed: "This is a true prodigy, one who can decide the fate of the Eastern Land in the future.

If given ten thousand years, she might become a figure like the Blood-Robed Sword God."

"Shh, this is Cuiyun Prefecture—don't mention the Blood-Robed Sword God," someone quickly warned.

The Rogue Immortal Venerable was taken aback.

How did even these prodigies know of the Blood-Robed Sword God?

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(Chapter End)