Chapter 858: Zhang Xuan Rejected

"Finally out!"

After cultivating his soul to the Void Step realm, Zhang Xuan left the courtyard and walked straight ahead. Before long, he exited the imperial palace.

Once outside the towering royal city, free from the similar buildings, he recognized his location.

He suppressed his aura as much as possible, found the palace gate he had entered earlier, located the banquet hall, and walked in.

With a thought, his soul returned to his physical body, and he couldn't help but exhale a mouthful of turbid air.

Although this soul departure hadn't found the Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree, he had successfully gathered the cultivation method for the Void Step realm and advanced, so the trip wasn't in vain.

He also learned that the imperial palace housed experts skilled in souls; in the future, even if his soul wanted to go there, he would need to be more cautious.

"Teacher, you've finished cultivating..."

Seeing him open his eyes, Luo Qiqi beside him said.

Her teacher's cultivation was truly alarming—not only was he not breathing, but his heartbeat had also stopped. If he hadn't told her beforehand that he was cultivating, she would have suspected he was dead.

"Mm!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Has the banquet started?"

"Everyone has arrived..." Nodding, Luo Qiqi was about to speak when they heard a eunuch's voice from outside: "Her Highness the Princess arrives!"

Everyone looked outward in unison and saw a graceful figure slowly approaching.

Today, Yu Fei'er wore a purple gown adorned with countless gems, dazzling under the light of the night pearls.

Her light makeup, combined with her naturally bright features, made one's heart skip a beat at the sight.

Too beautiful!

She seemed like a different person from the one seen in the underground palace.

"Your Highness!"

Shen Jun's eyes lit up, a fervent look appearing as he hurriedly greeted her.

Ignoring the respectful Young Master Shen, Yu Fei'er's dark eyes searched the hall as soon as she entered, quickly settling on Zhang Xuan.

"Teacher Zhang, Qiqi, you... came!"

She approached them in a few steps, her face full of joy.

This Teacher Zhang was always unpredictable; although she had sent an invitation, she wasn't sure if he would come.

Seeing him in person, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fei'er, you look really beautiful today!" Luo Qiqi replied.

In terms of beauty, the two were evenly matched, each with their own charm. But today, Yu Fei'er had clearly prepared carefully, making her even more captivating.

"Brother Shen, is this the greedy nobody you mentioned?"

The young master of the Liu family looked at Shen Jun with confusion.

Didn't you just interact with him?

Why do I feel that Princess Yu Fei'er cares more about him than about you?

"Hmph!"

Shen Jun's face darkened.

He had seen it too, without needing to be told.

He had long considered Yu Fei'er his destined woman. Even Xing Yuan, who had competed with him, had been dealt with harshly. Where did this guy come from?

He had thought this was just a greedy small fry, but now it seemed not to be the case!

"Sixth Princess, it's been a long time. Knowing it's your birthday today, I prepared this specially for you..."

Hiding his displeasure, he smiled lightly and approached, opening a jade box.

Hum!

A dense spiritual energy surged out, making breathing involuntarily smoother.

"A Sacred Domain first-level Water Dragon inner core?"

Someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"A sacred beast's inner core?"

"What a grand gesture!"

At this sound, the entire room erupted in commotion, everyone filled with shock.

"Indeed, it's a Sacred Domain first-level Water Dragon inner core. I heard this item can nourish a cultivator's body, and wearing it often can stabilize the mind and speed up cultivation. So I went to the deep sea specially to find one and present it to the princess!"

Seeing the crowd's astonished expressions, Shen Jun smiled lightly, his tone full of pride.

The Water Dragon is not a true dragon but a special sacred beast that lives in the deep sea. Its inner core has the effects of repelling water, nourishing the body, and stabilizing the mind—extremely valuable!

A cultivator wearing it year-round can advance in cultivation and strengthen their body.

In fact, the value of this single inner core cannot be bought with hundreds of high-grade spirit stones!

As expected of Shen Jun—his gift immediately drew everyone's attention, overshadowing all others.

"Thank you..."

Yu Fei'er hadn't expected such a precious gift. She paused for a moment, then reached out and took it, storing it in her spatial ring.

As a princess, she had seen many treasures. Although this Water Dragon inner core was valuable, it wasn't enough to make her lose composure.

"I'm glad you like it!"

Seeing her accept it, Shen Jun's lips curled up. He turned to Zhang Xuan. "Today is the princess's birthday. I wonder what gift Brother Zhang has prepared? Let me broaden my horizons too."

At his words, everyone's gaze focused on Zhang Xuan.

Everyone had seen that the princess had asked about this Teacher Zhang as soon as she entered. Even a fool could tell that Shen Jun was directly challenging him.

"Me? I didn't prepare a gift."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had only learned about the birthday banquet just before entering the hall. How could he have a gift?

If he didn't have one, he didn't have one. He had always been poor and couldn't produce a treasure like a Sacred Domain Water Dragon inner core. Besides, even if he had one, he wouldn't be willing to part with it, since his relationship with Yu Fei'er wasn't as deep as with Luo Qiqi.

Since he couldn't produce anything, he might as well admit it outright.

"Didn't prepare? Ahem!"

Shen Jun was taken aback, the words he had prepared stuck in his throat, nearly choking him.

He had wanted to see the other's gift, and if it was inferior, he could suppress him and prove his sincerity. But the result... the guy had nothing at all?

Everyone else was also stunned.

Coming to a princess's birthday banquet after receiving an invitation, yet bringing nothing—was this really a joke?

"Brother Zhang, this joke isn't funny at all. The princess invited you sincerely, and we all prepared gifts... Coming empty-handed is a bit disrespectful, don't you think?"

Recovering, Shen Jun sneered.

"Teacher Zhang is my honored guest. Shen Jun, what do you mean by that?"

Yu Fei'er's pretty face darkened.

Seeing the princess speak up for the other, Shen Jun grew angrier. "Princess, today is your birthday. Everyone has prepared gifts, but Teacher Zhang came empty-handed, clearly not taking it to heart..."

"He..."

Yu Fei'er was about to say that she hadn't told him about her birthday, but Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and she stopped.

"Having a gift means respect? Whoever's gift is more valuable shows more respect? Do you mean... Princess Fei'er invited everyone to the banquet for the sake of gifts?"

Zhang Xuan looked over. "Is the princess... a petty person who chases after profit?"

"I... how could I mean that..."

Unexpectedly, the other's reasoning was so twisted, and he was led into a trap. Shen Jun was stunned, his face turning ugly. "I only meant that coming empty-handed is disrespectful to the princess..."

"Exactly, I came empty-handed and am disrespectful to the princess. You brought a precious gift and are respectful. Doesn't that mean the princess only cares about gifts, not people? Whoever has a gift gets respect?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head. "What is your intention in insulting the princess like this?"

"Nonsense! When did I insult the princess?"

Seeing him digress further, Shen Jun hurriedly looked at Yu Fei'er, panicked. "Princess, don't listen to his nonsense. I didn't mean that..."

Luo Qiqi blinked beside him, barely holding back a laugh.

Her teacher's tongue was truly sharp.

Not only did he not bring a gift to someone's birthday, but he also spoke with such confidence and reason, making those who brought gifts seem like they were in the wrong...

The others exchanged glances.

They had all prepared gifts. Presenting them would seem like insulting the princess, but not presenting them would be rude... Their faces were as awkward as if they were constipated.

"Alright, I invited everyone today just for a gathering. Anyone who gives a gift from now on can leave immediately and never come back. I, Yu Fei'er, will no longer welcome you!"

Interrupting his apology, Yu Fei'er flicked her sleeve.

"I..."

His face ashen, Shen Jun clenched his fist.

He had brought such a precious gift, hoping to win the princess's favor, but instead, it backfired, not only failing to please her but also earning her disgust!

What a mess!

He had truly lost both his wife and his soldiers.

"It's all this guy's fault..."

He shot a cold glare at Zhang Xuan, flicked his sleeve, and turned back to his seat.

The more he said now, the more mistakes he made. It was better to stay silent for now and find another opportunity to teach this fellow a lesson.

As the heir of the Shen family, one of the four great clans, he had reached such strength at a young age and had never suffered a loss among his peers. He never expected to be nearly choked to death by a young man of only about twenty.

Just thinking about it was infuriating.

...

Shaking his head, ignoring the guy who was nearly furious to death, Zhang Xuan looked at the princess before him.

"Are you cultivating your soul?"

Earlier, his soul had circled the imperial palace. Although he hadn't found the Sacred Domain Bodhi Tree, he had discovered that the royal family valued souls. Since Yu Fei'er was a member of the royal family, she must have learned it too.

"I have cultivated a bit." Yu Fei'er nodded, looking at him with slight confusion.

"Earlier, I asked Xing Yuan and learned that your royal family excels in souls. I closed my eyes and pondered, creating a soul cultivation technique suitable for you. I'll give it to you as a birthday gift."

Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

He had run into the royal palace, learned the Thousand Hammer Soul Condensation Technique from the stone tablet, and absorbed all the spiritual energy from the buildings... Having gained so much, he naturally couldn't treat them poorly.

Otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease.

"A soul cultivation technique?" Yu Fei'er was startled.

"Mm, I comprehended it while studying the two professions of Sound Magic and Startling Swan. It suits your physique."

Zhang Xuan said.

Soul cultivation was a secret that couldn't be told to others. He also couldn't mention stealing their technique. He had to modify it, using the Sound Magic and Startling Swan professions as a cover.

After all, he had reached the pinnacle in both professions at the Master Teacher Academy, so no one could question him.

"This..."

Hesitating, Yu Fei'er bit her lip. "I... don't want it."

"Don't want it?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Since he had offered it, it must be a formidable technique, even far surpassing their Thousand Hammer Soul Condensation Technique...

And she didn't want it!

As the dean of the Master Teacher Academy, offering someone a technique... and being rejected!

What... was going on?