Chapter 101: Whose Sect Is This?
The capital city of the Black Tortoise Nation is lively. It becomes even livelier when the Black Tortoise Nation hosts the Central State Banquet, though this liveliness is somewhat peculiar.
The banquet is at night, and large red lanterns are hung high above the Black Tortoise main street, illuminating the dark night like daytime. The two Golden Core stage hosts closely followed behind Chu Xingchen and his group.
Wen Qing's gaze fixed on Qiu Ling, his eyes questioning—did you explain everything clearly? Qiu Ling nodded, lacking much confidence.
In the past few days, she had never seen Chu Xingchen truly take out and read the list of precautions she wrote. However, she had done all she could, and if any mishap were to occur, she would be helpless.
In recent days, apart from Li Yingling occasionally taking Chen Baiqing out to wander, Chu Xingchen and Li Xingtian have rarely gone out. Most of the time, they just sat in chairs, slightly silent as they drank a couple of cups of wine, neither of them speaking much.
This made Li Yingling even feel that her Master might have been learning in reverse from her Junior Brother. In the past, Li Yingling quite enjoyed some liveliness, but the liveliness that was forcefully piled up felt somewhat dull.
There was a considerable flow of people on the Vermilion Bird Grand Street, with many vendors selling exquisite objects. Yet, no common mortal dared to approach the center of the road; even the hawking sounds were merely to feign a bustling atmosphere, and very few people on the street dared to look at these Central State disciples.
It was very clear that they were all veteran actors. Every few steps, there were armored soldiers paying their respects and watching.
Chu Xingchen did not seem to mind, wearing the clothes given by his Eldest Disciple, and walking towards the Imperial Palace with a comfortable expression.
This matter was, after all, Xie Lingyu's good intention, and Chu Xingchen naturally would not try to be unconventional or cause any trouble. He would just honestly participate, see if he could gain some advantage, and that would be that.
The banquet hall was set in the Illustrious Martial Hall, the most splendid and magnificent hall located on the left side of the Imperial Palace. Formally stepping inside the palace, at this moment, only this single path was illuminated by palace maids and eunuchs holding lanterns.
Following this path deeper inside, one could faintly hear the pleasant sound of drums and music. The two host Elders now walked ahead, leading the way, and stopped their steps when they could see the richly decorated and luxurious grand hall.
Wen Qing stopped, cupped his hands, and said, "Honored guests, please proceed inside. Qiu Ling and I will both wait outside the door. If you need anything, you may send someone out to inform the two of us."
Chu Xingchen heard this and nodded slightly, then led his disciples towards the building.
Li Yingling followed behind her Master, her gaze fixed on the magnificent grand hall. She instantly felt life was marvelous, realizing she had gone from living in a dilapidated temple to being able to step into this grand hall.
Li Xingtian appeared particularly silent today, simply keeping his head down and following behind his Master.
"What's wrong? If Yingling doesn't speak, you two won't talk either?" Chu Xingchen walked forward and said playfully.
Li Yingling, holding her Junior Sister's hand, looked at her Master and said, "Shouldn't we be a little more serious in this kind of setting? We'll be the ones losing face later."
"Oh?" Chu Xingchen chuckled and patted Li Xingtian's shoulder, saying, "Listen to what your Senior Sister is saying; the word 'serious' actually came out of her mouth."
Li Yingling said with a serious expression, "Master, I have always been very serious."
Li Xingtian raised his eyes to look at his Senior Sister's deadpan serious expression, recalled her usual behavior, and then could not help but laugh out loud.
"Junior Brother?!"
"I apologize... I truly could not hold it in."
If those words had been spoken by his Master, Li Xingtian might have been able to restrain himself, but coming from his Senior Sister, he truly could not help it.
Chen Baiqing glanced at her Eldest Senior Sister and Senior Brother, a slight smile also appearing on her face. Her Senior Brother's mood had been somewhat strange recently, and Chen Baiqing suspected that the Senior Sister's matter had also made him unhappy.
But seeing her Senior Brother smile again was a good thing after all.
Chu Xingchen, playfully teasing his Eldest Disciple, stepped inside the hall. The design of this grand hall was quite interesting; it had no steps, did not distinguish between high and low positions, and was completely flat throughout.
Even the main seat, clearly meant for the Emperor, was not elevated by a single step, which could be seen as daring not to offend anyone. The seating arrangement was sparse, clearly divided into only five large sections.
Including his group, only three groups of people had arrived at this moment. Just as Chu Xingchen's gaze swept over the hall, he saw Zheng Xiaofeng stand up and cup his hands in greeting toward him.
Immediately following this, the disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect, where Zheng Xiaofeng belonged, looked over and began sizing up Chu Xingchen's group.
The two Nascent Soul stage cultivators also looked over curiously. One of the Nascent Soul cultivators lightly nodded, then cupped his hands towards Chu Xingchen, revealing a slight smile. Chu Xingchen also cupped his hands in return.
Palace maids from both the left and right sides walked to Chu Xingchen's side, bowed in respect, and then led him to a seat near the Tianyun Sect. Everyone took their seats.
Li Yingling glanced in the direction of the Tianyun Sect, then asked in a low voice, "Master, you even know Central State sects?"
Chu Xingchen had not yet revealed Xie Lingyu's identity; he smiled softly, his tone calm as he said, "Naturally. They are from the Tianyun Sect."
Li Yingling nodded with understanding. She did not know much about Central State sects, but she had heard they were all extremely powerful.
Chen Baiqing, meanwhile, silently watched the very tempting fragrant pastries on the table. Not wanting to disgrace her Master, Chen Baiqing quietly swallowed her saliva.
Sitting next to them, Li Xingtian looked at his Master with wide eyes. His Senior Sister did not understand the Central State, but having spent time there, Li Xingtian certainly did!
The Tianyun Sect could be considered a behemoth in the Central State. Their paths were numerous and complex, but they primarily focused on the Path of Tianyun Complete Derivation and the Sword Dao.
In any case, Li Xingtian from his previous life never had the chance to be associated with such a giant. Li Xingtian looked slightly; the clothing on their bodies indeed bore the sect mark of the Tianyun Sect.
He never expected that his Master was truly a sage who did not reveal his power. Could it be... that Master really came from the Central State?
Furthermore, even though his Master did not look at them much, why did this group of Tianyun Sect members keep looking at him? Were they not all notoriously arrogant people with excessively high standards?
Due to the attention from the Tianyun Sect, the Central State sect sitting opposite, whose identity was unknown, also collectively looked towards their side.
Moreover, the two team leaders of that other sect continuously whispered to each other, seemingly asking which sect this was.
Before Li Xingtian could think further, he saw Zheng Xiaofeng rise and walk towards Chu Xingchen.
Zheng Xiaofeng walked up to Chu Xingchen, subtly glanced at Li Yingling, and then cupped his hands and respectfully said, "Senior, long time no see."
Li Xingtian inhaled sharply and looked at his Master... Could it be that what Master said about being a mighty figure was true?! Not just fooling him?!
Could it be that Master, like himself, also had an unspeakable past?
Chu Xingchen gently nodded and smiled, "Yes, little Zheng, you are doing quite well."
Zheng Xiaofeng laughed, "Thanks to your fortune, the matter I reported to you last time is already nearing completion."
Chu Xingchen picked up his wine cup, drank it in one go, and smiled, "Well, thank you for your trouble this time."
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly picked up an adjacent wine cup to accompany him in a drink, then cupped his hands and left.
This scene made the Central State sect sitting opposite even more dumbfounded. No one had ever seen a member of the Tianyun Sect behave so humbly.
A disciple from the sect opposite even stood up and started walking toward the door. But coincidentally, another Central State sect entered the hall from outside.
Li Xingtian recognized the pattern on the clothing of this sect: the Central State Ten Thousand Sword Sect. He had fought with them before.
The Ten Thousand Sword Sect leader gave a strange look to the disciple walking out of the hall; the banquet was about to begin, so why leave now?
Although it was strange, the Ten Thousand Sword Sect members still took their seats first.
After the Ten Thousand Sword Sect leader sat down, his gaze instinctively turned towards the other sects. He saw that the other two sects were staring intently at Chu Xingchen.
His gaze subconsciously followed theirs.
Then he, too, became puzzled, wondering which Central State sect this was. They were not wearing sect robes but their own different clothes.
And why did they bring along a small girl in the Qi Refining stage for an experience trip? Were they just here to join the excitement?
The most incomprehensible thing was... why were the members of the Tianyun Sect, known for their sky-high standards, all looking over with such fervent curiosity?
The Ten Thousand Sword Sect leader sent a spiritual message to one of his disciples, "Go and check which Central State sect that is opposite us. We must avoid offending them later."
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