110: Hidden Dragon Banquet 4

As the first light of dawn broke through, a faint golden glow enveloped the sky over Jiuqu Prefecture City.

Chen Linsheng wore a set of dark green martial attire. The ice silk woven into the fabric shimmered with an extremely faint, soft light under the morning sun.

The ice heart spirit-calming pendant around his neck rested against his skin, conveying a warm yet cool sensation.

Su Wan personally adjusted his collar, her movements meticulous and focused, before finally tying a leather waist pouch to his belt.

“Be careful with everything,” she said softly, her eyes filled with trust.

Chen Linsheng nodded, gently squeezed her hand, and turned to walk out of the small courtyard.

Outside Yuqian Lane, Lei Hao had already been waiting for a long time. Today, he had changed into a set of dark gold martial attire, with lightning patterns embroidered in silver thread at the collar, shining brightly in the morning light. Seeing Chen Linsheng come out, he grinned and stepped forward to clap Chen Linsheng heavily on the shoulder.

“Brother Chen, are you ready? Today we’re going to make a big splash!”

Chen Linsheng smiled and nodded. “Thank you for waiting, Brother Lei.”

“Don't be so formal!” Lei Hao waved a large hand. “Let’s go! To Lanyue Tower!”

The two walked side by side through the morning streets of the prefecture city. Today, the city was even more bustling than usual, with crowds flowing like a river toward the towering pavilion in the center of the city. Along the way, many brightly dressed Martial Artists, scholars, and ornately decorated carriages could be seen. The air was thick with a festive mix of excitement and tension.

The closer they got to Lanyue Tower, the more obvious that invisible pressure became.

Lanyue Tower was located in the center of the prefecture city, occupying a vast area. Standing seven stories high with flying eaves and painted rafters, it was the tallest building in Jiuqu Prefecture. The plaza in front of the building was paved with white marble and could accommodate thousands of people. Today, the building was decorated with lanterns and banners, and hundreds of prefecture city guards in uniform armor stood solemnly on both sides, holding halberds with a murderous aura.

Hundreds of people had already gathered on the plaza, mostly young Martial Artists, accompanied by many Elders of extraordinary bearing. The sounds of discussion, greetings, and the light clinking of weapons intertwined into a noisy wave of sound.

“Look, the Lei Family Young Lord, Lei Hao, is here!”

“Is that Chen Linsheng next to him? The one who defeated Fierce with a single palm?”

“That’s him! He doesn’t look like anything special...”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover. Fierce is at Flesh Refining Realm Perfection!”

Countless gazes converged on them—some curious, some scrutinizing, and some with undisguised hostility. Chen Linsheng’s expression remained calm and his pace steady as he walked toward the main entrance of Lanyue Tower with Lei Hao.

At the main entrance, two Martial Artists dressed in the black attire of the Army Breaker Manor were checking invitations. Lei Hao handed over his gold-stamped invitation. The Martial Artist took it, his gaze sweeping over Chen Linsheng. “And this is?”

“Yangwei Martial Arts Hall, Chen Linsheng.” Chen Linsheng took out his identity token and the Hidden Dragon Banquet entry permit Hall Master Zhao Xiong had given him yesterday.

The Martial Artist verified them, nodded slightly, and stepped aside. “Please, both of you.”

Stepping into Lanyue Tower, the scene changed once again.

The first-floor main hall was extremely spacious, about five zhang high, with a vaulted ceiling painted with a magnificent scene of the Jiuqu River rushing into the sea. Dozens of rosewood round tables were arranged in an orderly fashion, already laid out with seasonal fruits and exquisite tea snacks. Waitresses in uniform attire moved among them, pouring tea and wine for the guests.

Many people had already arrived in the hall, gathered in small groups and talking in low voices. The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and wine, yet it could not mask the various auras, some strong and some weak, that were testing each other.

Chen Linsheng’s gaze slowly swept across the room.

Almost the moment he stepped into the hall, several gazes as sharp as physical objects locked onto him.

The first gaze came from the window on the east side of the hall.

There, a fiery red figure stood alone, back to the crowd, facing the window. But as Chen Linsheng looked over, the person happened to turn around.

Yan Chen.

He wore fiery red martial attire, like a ball of burning flame, looking out of place in the elegant environment. His face was resolute, his short hair stood on end, and his eyes flashed with light as they opened and closed, as if flames were dancing deep within his pupils. His gaze was like a torch, falling on Chen Linsheng without concealment, carrying scrutiny, hostility, and a hint of... excitement.

That gaze was like a physical heat wave; even across a distance of more than ten zhang, Chen Linsheng could feel a blast of scorching air hitting his face. The ice heart spirit-calming pendant on his neck turned slightly cool, quietly neutralizing that sense of dry heat.

The corner of Yan Chen’s mouth curled into a cold arc. He didn't speak, but simply raised the wine cup in his hand from afar, giving Chen Linsheng a mock toast before draining it in one gulp. The movement was slow and full of provocative intent.

Chen Linsheng’s expression remained unchanged. He nodded slightly as a greeting and then looked away.

The second gaze came from a tea table by the window on the west side.

A woman in a water-blue long dress sat there, about eighteen or nineteen years old. Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, pinned up only by a simple jade hairpin. Her face was purely beautiful and refined, her skin as white as snow, and her temperament as cold as a secluded spring under the moon, completely detached from the surrounding noise. She sipped her tea alone, oblivious to the admiring and curious gazes from around her.

Mu Qingxue.

The most outstanding Genius of this generation of the Qiushui Sword Sect. She seemed to sense Chen Linsheng’s gaze, lifted her eyelids, and gave him a faint glance.

Those eyes were as clear as autumn water, yet so cold they carried no emotion, as if nothing in the world could enter her sight. With just one glance, Chen Linsheng felt a faint Sword Intent—sharp, cold, and pure. That look was not hostile, but a high-and-mighty scrutiny, like a deity looking down upon the mortal world.

Chen Linsheng’s heart chilled slightly. The purity of this woman’s Sword Intent was indeed as legendary as they said.

The third gaze came from the honored guest seats on the north side of the hall.

Several middle-aged men or Elders of extraordinary bearing sat there, likely representatives of the Prefectural Governors Mansion, the Army Breaker Manor, and various major Sects and clans. And in a side seat of the honored guests sat a young man in white.

Young Master Yu.

Today, he had changed into a moon-white brocade robe with a green silk sash at his waist. He toyed with a folding fan in his hand, a habitual gentle smile on his lips, as he spoke in low tones with a purple-robed Elder beside him. As if sensing Chen Linsheng’s gaze, he turned his head and gave Chen Linsheng a slight smile—warm, yet with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes.

And behind Young Master Yu, an Elder holding a sword stood quietly.

The Elder’s hair and beard were completely white, his face withered, and his grey cloth gown was washed thin. He sat with his eyes closed to rest, appearing to blend into the surrounding environment. However, Chen Linsheng’s Tracking Perfection perception told him that this Elder was definitely not simple—he stood there, yet seemed not to exist; he had his eyes closed, yet seemed able to perceive every minute change in the hall. That unfathomable feeling was even more heart-pounding than Yan Chen’s heat or Mu Qingxue’s coldness.

Sensing Chen Linsheng’s probe, the sword-holding elder’s eyelids twitched imperceptibly, but he did not open them.

Chen Linsheng quickly withdrew his gaze, having already categorized this person as an extremely dangerous individual.

Besides these few, there were many other young faces in the hall with powerful auras.

Among a group of young men in green robes dressed as scholars on the south side, a quiet young man with an ordinary appearance was looking down at a book in his hand, indifferent to everything around him—Xu Wangshu of Tingtao Academy?

On the east side, several richly dressed Young Masters and ladies with family crests were chatting and laughing. Among them was a handsome, lazy-looking young man in blue, toying with a jade cup in his hand. His gaze occasionally swept over the hall with a hint of amusement—the Prefectural Governor’s son, Yu Linfeng?

There were also several swordsmen with long swords on their backs and sharp auras on the west side; a few burly Body Cultivators with blood energy like a furnace on the north side; and even a few men and women in exotic attire with strange auras... “Good grief, most of the elite of the prefecture city’s younger generation are probably here today.” Lei Hao whispered with a sigh, Battle Intent rising in his eyes. “Now this is interesting!”

Chen Linsheng nodded silently.

He could feel that among these young Martial Artists in the hall, the weakest were at the Flesh Refining Realm Middle Stage, with many at the Flesh Refining Realm Perfection. There were even a few with obscure and deep auras who had likely already set half a foot into the Jiaojin Realm. And figures like Yan Chen, Mu Qingxue, and Yu Linfeng were genuine Jiaojin Realm experts!

“Brother Chen, let’s go sit over there first.” Lei Hao pointed to a round table in the southeast corner of the hall that still had empty seats.

Not long after the two sat down, a commotion was heard outside the building, followed by the loud voice of the master of ceremonies:

“The Lord Prefectural Governor has arrived—Envoy Ling Feng of the Army Breaker Manor has arrived—the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall Master has arrived—the Qiushui Sword Sect Elder has arrived—”

Amidst a series of announcements, over a dozen dignified middle-aged men or Elders entered the hall, surrounded by a crowd. Leading them was the Jiuqu Prefecture Governor, a middle-aged scholar in a purple official robe with a lean face and bright, piercing eyes. Walking side-by-side with him was Ling Feng.

Ling Feng had changed into the formal black official uniform of the Army Breaker Manor today, with a long sword at his waist. His expression was solemn, a world away from his usual easygoing manner.

His gaze swept across the hall, paused slightly on Chen Linsheng, and he gave an imperceptible nod.

The Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall Master was a red-faced Elder with a crimson beard and hair. Faint sparks seemed to flash when he opened and closed his eyes, and his aura was as scorching as a furnace.

As soon as he entered, his gaze sharply swept toward Chen Linsheng’s direction, and he gave a cold snort, his pressure surging like a tide.

Chen Linsheng felt his whole body grow heavy, as if he were placed in a smelting furnace.

But his Hunyuan True Body Foundation was solid, and his internal blood energy flowed naturally, quietly neutralizing the pressure. His expression remained normal.

In contrast, several young Martial Artists with weaker cultivation beside him turned pale, and sweat appeared on their foreheads.

A flash of surprise crossed the red-faced Elder’s eyes, and then he withdrew his gaze, ignoring them further.

The Qiushui Sword Sect Elder was a white-haired old woman. Her face was kind, but her Sword Intent was cold and stern when her eyes opened, making people afraid to look directly at her.

As the group of important figures took their seats in the honored guest section, the hall gradually grew quiet.

The Governor stood up, cleared his throat, and his voice spread warmly yet clearly to every corner of the hall:

“Young talents, to gather here at Lanyue Tower today is truly a fortunate event for my Jiuqu Prefecture. The Hidden Dragon Banquet aims to provide a platform for the younger generation of the prefecture to exchange ideas, compete, and show their strength. I hope you will all make friends through martial arts, sharpen each other, and progress together.”

He paused and continued: “Today’s banquet is divided into two parts. The first is free exchange and performance. You may move around at will, sip tea and discuss martial arts. If you have any unique skills, you may also demonstrate them in public to entertain the guests. The second part, one hour from now, will be the start of the formal competition.”

“The competition will take the form of arena battles. Participation is voluntary. A defender who wins three consecutive matches, or if no one challenges them further, will advance to the next round. Ultimately, the best performer will earn the qualification to Cultivate for one day in the ‘Jiǔqū Refining Pool’!”

As soon as the words ‘Jiǔqū Refining Pool’ were spoken, a wave of suppressed gasps rang out in the hall. Countless young Martial Artists’ eyes burst with fiery light, their Battle Intent soaring.

The Governor smiled slightly, raised his cup, and said: “Then, let the banquet begin. Everyone, please enjoy yourselves!”

As his voice fell, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments rose, and waitresses brought out fine wine and delicacies like butterflies flitting through flowers. The atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively. Young Martial Artists began to move around and talk, sizing each other up, and the secret clashes of auras became more frequent.

Chen Linsheng picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and calmly scanned the room.

He could feel that at least seven or eight gazes were constantly locked onto him, whether obviously or not.

Yan Chen’s fiery hostility, Mu Qingxue’s cold scrutiny, Young Master Yu’s deep amusement, and several probing looks from unfamiliar faces... Lei Hao leaned over and whispered: “Brother Chen, see that? That guy Yan Chen has been staring at you. I bet he can’t wait for the competition and wants to pick a fight now.”

Chen Linsheng put down his teacup and said calmly: “It’s fine.”

Just then, a commotion suddenly came from the east side.

Yan Chen stood up and strode to the center of the hall.

He held a wine cup in his hand, his gaze like lightning, shooting straight toward Chen Linsheng’s direction. His voice was as loud as a bell, instantly drowning out all other noise in the hall:

“I have long heard that Junior Brother Chen Linsheng of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall has a solid Foundation and exquisite palm techniques, defeating my Junior Brother Fierce of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall with a single palm. Since today is a free exchange, I, Yan, am untalented but would like to take this opportunity to ask Junior Brother Chen for some pointers on the essentials of palm techniques. I wonder if Junior Brother Chen... dares to grant me this advice?”