Chapter 853: The Banquet

It was Luo Qiqi.

“You’ve come just in time!”

Seeing her approach, Zhang Xuan’s eyes lit up, and he transmitted his voice: “I’ve found Senior Wu Yangzi’s treasures!”

Flipping his wrist, he took out the iron box and the three treasures.

Luo Qiqi had obtained the inheritance together with him, and moreover, she was the former’s direct disciple, entitled to know what the treasures were, even to share them.

“Found them?”

Luo Qiqi was startled, then looked toward his hand.

“Golden Crystal Mystic Stone?” Her eyes lit up, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“You recognize this?” Zhang Xuan looked over.

Although he had seen this item in books, he had never seen the real thing, so without Wu Yangzi’s explanation, he wouldn’t have known. This girl recognized it at a glance—could her eyesight be sharper than his?

After all, in artifact forging, he stood at the very pinnacle of the Hongyuan Empire. Even Zhao Bingxu, the dean of the Artifact Forging Academy, was far inferior.

“I’ve seen it once before, but… only the size of a walnut, and it cost… a fortune. This big, it’s too precious…”

Luo Qiqi couldn’t help saying.

“You’ve seen it?” Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Even if it was only the size of a walnut, it showed that Luo Qiqi’s family background was indeed extraordinary.

“Yes!” Luo Qiqi nodded, then examined the other two items, secretly relieved that she hadn’t practiced the wrong technique.

“Take this correct manual first. When I have time, I’ll revise it to better suit your physique!”

Tossing the correct Five Radiance Golden Body manual to her, Zhang Xuan continued, “As for this map, do you recognize the script?”

“I’ve never seen it before.” Luo Qiqi shook her head, looking confused.

“Alright, let me keep this for now. Once I figure out what it is and find the place described on the map, I’ll take you along!”

Zhang Xuan nodded. “As for the Golden Crystal Mystic Stone, I’ll find a way to melt it in the next few days and forge a weapon for you!”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Luo Qiqi nodded, her eyes full of gratitude.

These three items were each more precious than the last, yet her teacher had not concealed anything, showing his integrity.

“By the way, Teacher, I came to invite you to the banquet…”

No longer discussing the treasures, Luo Qiqi remembered her purpose and hurriedly said.

Yu Fei’er had invited them to the evening banquet, including her and Xing Yuan and the others. Afraid that the teacher wouldn’t go, and having heard about the collapse of his residence, she had come specially.

“Let’s go!” Remembering that he still needed to go to the imperial palace to see the so-called Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree, Zhang Xuan didn’t decline and nodded.

Leaving the ruins, the two boarded a carriage Luo Qiqi had prepared and sped off.

Before long, they arrived at the imperial palace.

As befitted a first-rank empire’s palace, it was towering and majestic, exuding an imposing aura. Before the tall palace gates stood two rows of soldiers, each at the Qiaotian realm of Mortal Transcendence Sixth Layer. Hundreds of them combined gave a strong sense of pressure.

Inside the palace, various formations flickered, at least at the early Six-Star level. Without knowing the layout, one would be trapped and find it hard to escape.

Every step was a trap, and even a Saint Domain First Layer expert would not dare to tread recklessly.

With an invitation, no one stopped them. Led by a guard, they proceeded forward and soon arrived before a grand hall.

“His Majesty is holding the banquet here…”

Luo Qiqi pointed ahead.

“By the way, what kind of banquet is this? Why are we invited?” Only then did Zhang Xuan remember to ask.

“You don’t know?”

Seeing that her teacher had come to the banquet without knowing anything, Luo Qiqi was speechless.

“When Yu Fei’er gave me the invitation, you were right there and didn’t say anything. How was I supposed to know?” Zhang Xuan wondered.

“Fine!”

Touching her forehead, Luo Qiqi was utterly speechless.

Her teacher was good at everything except being emotionally clueless.

When a princess invites you to a banquet, you should at least inquire beforehand, or at least prepare a bit and show some grace… But if she hadn’t called him, he would probably still be wandering among the ruins, knowing nothing.

“It’s Yu Fei’er’s… birthday banquet!”

Luo Qiqi said. “His Majesty has invited all the young talents in the capital and her friends.”

“Birthday banquet?” Zhang Xuan’s eyelids twitched.

“Yes, you didn’t prepare a gift, did you?” Looking at her teacher, Luo Qiqi was helpless.

“Prepare what?” Zhang Xuan shook his head.

You didn’t say it was a birthday banquet. I came knowing nothing—how could I have prepared a gift?

Besides, I have no idea what girls like. I’ve been busy as a rabbit all day and haven’t had time to look.

“This…” Luo Qiqi shook her head.

Even if you didn’t know it was a birthday banquet, when the emperor himself invites you, you should prepare something to gain favor. Coming empty-handed… only her teacher would do that.

“Here, I have some treasures. If you want, take them…”

Flipping her wrist, Luo Qiqi took out some treasures girls would like.

Zhang Xuan looked and saw seven or eight items in her hand.

There were large gems, hairpins made of rare materials, sachets with unique scents… each was precious and valuable.

“No need! I didn’t really want to attend anyway. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just leave. It’s no big deal.”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He hadn’t planned to attend any birthday banquet. Coming to the palace was only to study whether the Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree could save Wei Ruyan. If they slighted him for not having a gift, he would just leave. It was nothing.

“Leave?”

Seeing her teacher’s serious expression, not like he was joking, Luo Qiqi had to nod. “Fine!”

Yu Fei’er was her good friend, and they had known each other for a long time. She knew her temperament—she wouldn’t care about gifts. As long as Zhang Xuan came, that was enough.

They stepped into the grand hall.

The towering hall was lavishly decorated, exuding elegance and luxury wherever one looked. The thick carpet was half a foot deep, soft and springy to walk on.

His Insight Eye stirred as he looked around. The hall was filled with various formations—some defensive, some offensive, but most were reinforcing.

“A Level Six peak Stabilization Formation, a Level Six peak Bedrock Formation, a Level Six peak City Wall Fortification Formation… Why so many formations here?”

After a while, Zhang Xuan blinked, utterly puzzled.

Though the hall had some defensive and offensive formations, most were reinforcing ones.

Such a huge imperial palace was built by the finest craftsmen, its stability unquestionable. Even the strongest tremors would hardly collapse it. Yet now, so many reinforcing formations had been added for no apparent reason.

“Oh well, it’s none of my business…”

Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it.

He was just here for the banquet. No matter how many formations this hall had, it had nothing to do with him.

“Qiqi, Zhang Xuan, you’re here!”

Before they entered, Xing Yuan and Wu Zhen came to greet them.

Both were wearing new master teacher robes today, apparently dressed up specially. They looked spirited and distinguished.

“Has the banquet started?”

Luo Qiqi asked.

“Not yet, not everyone has arrived…” Xing Yuan smiled.

“Good!” Relieved that not everyone had come, Luo Qiqi relaxed.

Following the two, they entered the hall.

The hall was about seven or eight hundred square meters, supported only by four pillars. Countless night pearls on the ceiling shone brightly, making it as bright as day.

They found seats and sat down. Only then did Zhang Xuan notice that seven or eight people had already arrived, all in their twenties, richly dressed and imposing.

From their looks and demeanor, they clearly came from high-status families.

“These are the younger generation of the empire’s nobles…” Xing Yuan lowered his voice.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

In fact, once he knew it was a birthday banquet, he understood.

The emperor had invited young talents, probably to choose a suitable consort for Yu Fei’er.

Though for Mortal Transcendence cultivators, being in one’s twenties was still early, the royal family valued interests. Binding them to their chariot early would strengthen imperial power.

These young talents, though not students of the Master Teacher Academy, were all formidable. The strongest among them was at the same level as Hu Yaoyao and the others—the peak of the Silkworm Seal realm, only a step away from Half-Saint.

To have such strength in one’s twenties was a super genius even at the Master Teacher Academy!

“Xing Yuan, there should be quite a few rivals for you here, right?” Luo Qiqi laughed.

As a good friend, she knew that Xing Yuan had been pursuing Princess Yu Fei’er, but it was a case of unrequited love.

“Well…”

His face reddening, Xing Yuan glanced at Zhang Xuan nearby. Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, he gave an awkward smile. “I know I’m not worthy of Princess Yu Fei’er. I’ve long given up that thought…”

He liked Yu Fei’er, but she ignored him and instead seemed to have an indescribable feeling for Zhang Xuan. After much thought, he decided to let go.

Not to mention that Zhang Xuan was his savior, just the things he had done at the Master Teacher Academy were beyond ten of him.

Competing with this guy, he feared the Xuansuan Society people would beat him until he couldn’t even find the academy gates.

“I’ve long advised you to give up, but you wouldn’t listen. It’s good that you’ve come around now!”

Seeing him say this, Luo Qiqi laughed.

She knew her best friend’s preferences well and had privately advised Xing Yuan, but he hadn’t listened.

Now that he could let go, it was not a bad thing for him.

“Xing Yuan, these two beside you look unfamiliar. Who are they? Would you mind introducing me?”

As they were talking, a faint voice sounded. A young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six walked over with a wine glass, a slight smile on his face.

This young man, dressed in blue, had raised eyebrows and eyes like lightning. His appearance was no less than Xing Yuan’s, and he carried an air of a noble scion.

He was the strongest among the talents, having reached the peak of the Silkworm Seal realm.