Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Emperor Ming City was similar in size to the eastern Sacred City. It was split into many portions divided by independent defensive formations.
The Cai Family was an ancient and respected clan. Their territory was in a region with very rich Spiritual Qi. Inside the area, there were dozens of huge spiritual mountains and cl.u.s.ters of pavilions shrouded by spiritual fog. There were also many saint families located there.
It was an honor to be neighbors with the Cai Family.
Their mansion was like a royal palace. It was very majestic and took up half of the region.
Tonight, the Cai residence was unusually lively. Fancy carriages streamed past one after another.
The savage beasts pulling the carriages were at least in the Fifth Level. They were comparable to humans in the Fish-Dragon Realm. This also showed the high statuses of the people inside the carriages.
Some of the carriages even had Sixth Level savage beasts. Every time such a carriage appeared, there would always be a commotion. Then an important figure of the Cai Family would come out to personally welcome the person.
Zhang Ruochen stood beside Chu Siyuan with the Gold Phantom Mask. "You really can get me a Fifth Grade Divine Origin Pill?"
"Don't worry. It's a simple task for me to get it with my status." Chu Siyuan glanced at Zhang Ruochen with disdain.
"But why do I feel like the Cai Family doesn't really care about you?" Zhang Ruochen asked. "Technically, shouldn't the head come out personally to welcome someone as important as you?"
Chu Siyuan chuckled while combing his whiskers. "I am always very low-key. They don't even know that I will visit tonight."
He thought that Zhang Ruochen was doubting his status, so he prepared to show off. "I will send a signal to my second disciple now and tell him to come welcome you. Prepare yourself though. Don't get scared by the scene."
"Wait." Zhang Ruochen immediately stopped Chu Siyuan. "Senior, haven't you always been low-key? Let's be low-key today too. After all, I'm here to witness the talents of the Sacred City. It's probably not good to act flas.h.i.+ly."
Chu Siyuan thought for a moment and nodded. "That's true," he said.
Looking at Chu Siyuan's back, Zhang Ruochen smiled. Then he followed over casually.
The two waited in line for a long time before finally reaching the Cai residence's entrance.
A three-meter-tall warrior in golden armor extended a thick golden arm to stop Chu Siyuan. "You must have an invitation to attend tonight's banquet," he intoned.
Since when did Chu Siyuan need an invitation to enter the Cai residence?
He wasn't a calm man, so he huffed coldly and said, "Why didn't you ask for an invitation from the carriage that just drove past?"
Cai Mingliang walked out from behind the golden armored warrior. He had a mustache and was slightly fat. Saintly light glowed around him. He was actually a powerful First Level Half-Saint.
Glancing at Chu Siyuan, he saw that the man was dressed plainly and wasn't a martial artist. Cai Mingliang's eyes grew less impressed. Scoffing, he said, "The carriage that just drove past belongs to the Yuan Saint Clan. The person inside is a First Level Half-Saint figure of the clan. How can you two compare to him?"
The other banquet-goers all came in fancy carriages that represented their high status. Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan had come in plain clothing. The cultivators of the Cai Family naturally looked down on them, blocking them outside.
"Since when have I ever needed an invitation to enter the Cai residence?"
Chu Siyuan had a bad temper. He wanted to force his way in.
Cai Mingliang's eyes turned cold and pushed Chu Siyuan out. "Check where this is before trying to get free food," he said in a low voice. "Today is the Sixth Young Master's happy day. I do not wish it to get b.l.o.o.d.y."
The wine at the Cai Family's banquet was at the very least the True Half-Saint Fluid or even Saint Fluid.
The dishes were all treasures that Half-Saints would drool over. They could help improve cultivation, aid with the comprehension of the Saintly Way, or even exercise the physical body.
Thus, there were always people who tried to get free food at the Cai Family's banquets. Eating at an ancient family's banquet once could save them ten hard years of cultivation.
In the past, some independent martial artists had really fooled their way in and got some substantial benefits. Afterward, news spread and more and more independent cultivators came to try their luck.
If they could get in, they would naturally hit a jackpot. Even if they couldn't, the Cai Family wouldn't kill them on such an auspicious day either. They would at most be kicked out.
Clearly, Cai Mingliang and the warrior both thought Chu Siyuan and Zhang Ruochen were independent cultivators who wanted to get free food. The other banquet-goers all looked at them with ridicule.
"People really try to scam their way in to ancient families? I didn't believe it before."
"These people are too lowly. Even if we toss them leftovers from the banquet, they'll probably go crazy fighting for them."
Zhang Ruochen was okay. He was still calm and didn't care about what the people were saying. On the other hand, Chu Siyuan was so angry that smoke was about to shoot out of him. He wanted to announce his name to intimidate the juniors who didn't respect him.
Zhang Ruochen immediately said telepathically, "Senior Chu, please bear it. Many people will laugh at you if news spreads that the Painter Saint was mistaken as a lowly thief."
Chu Siyuan's expression changed dramatically. He shut his mouth, thinking that Zhang Ruochen made sense. After all, those old guys at his level would definitely come laugh at him if they found out.
They wouldn't move on from this for at least a century.
This pertained to his reputation. He must be careful.
Behind Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan were two golden-winged condor kings pulling a pearl carriage. It had been waiting there for a long while.
An unhappy voice streamed out. "Manager Cai, when are you going to make us wait until? They're just two thieves. If it's inappropriate for you to act, I can do it for you."
With that, a handsome young man walked out of the carriage. He looked to be around 27 or 28 years old. He wore a golden python robe and cape. He was covered in heavy murderous intent.
This murderous Qi had been developed through countless bloodshed.
In addition to him, a beauty in purple clothing slowly walked out of the carriage too. She was slim and had long black hair. Purple saintly light flowed around her. She was ethereal.
"Oh, it's Crown Prince Chi and Princess Wan. Please, come on inside." Cai Mingliang immediately walked to the carriage and greeted the man and woman respectfully.
Just how esteemed were they to make a First Level Half-Saint bow to them?
Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but look over at Crown Prince Chi and Princess Wan. He had to admit that these two could live up to the name of prides of heaven.
The other banquet-goers were all discussing them too.
A spiritual elder clad in a Taoist robe asked curiously, "Who exactly are these two? How come even General Cai has to bow to them?"
A man from some saint clan poked his head out of his carriage. "You don't even know them? These two are important. That young man is from the royal Chi Family."
"Do you know Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion? He's one of their four sons, Chi Yutang."
The spiritual elder thought carefully and shook his head. "The four sons of the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion? Chi Yutang? I think… I've never heard of him."
The man from the saint family grew impatient. "You should know Chi Wansui, right?"
"Chi Wansui, one of the nine Heirs?" The elder was so shocked that his eyes were about to pop out.
The man from the saint family grinned. "Chi Wansui is the top of the four sons. At the same time, he's Chi Yutang's younger brother. Now do you know how intimidating Chi Yutang's status is?"
"Chi Wansui's elder brother is indeed a bit scary," the elder said.
The man from the saint family stared at the woman called Princess Wan, mesmerized. "That Princess Wan is even more impressive."
"Really?" The elder didn't think so.
"She's the second beauty of Saint City. Her name is Wan Huayu. Everywhere she goes, there are countless handsome talents following her. She is definitely a true pride."
The elder scoffed. "She's just pretty and can only attract you young people."
"She's the only daughter of Wan Zhaoyi, the Little Saint G.o.d," the man from the saint family added.
The smile on the elder's face disappeared immediately. "Scary," he muttered. "That really scared me…" He patted his body and then knocked on the other man's carriage, saying awkwardly, "I suddenly realized that I forgot my invitation in my residence. Can you take me into the Cai mansion?"
The man from the saint family looked cautious. "You aren't an independent cultivator who wants free food, are you?"
The elder's expression darkened. Puffing up his chest, he said confidently, "Junior, I am a senior with status. I won't be humiliated by you like that."
Seeing how saintly and confident the man looked, the man from the saint family suddenly felt a bit unconfident.
He was worried that he'd offended some super strong cultivator and would bring trouble to his own family. Thus, he welcomed the elder into his carriage.
It was a different scene at the entrance of the Cai mansion.
"I will enter the Cai mansion today, no matter what. It will be impossible to chase me away."
Chu Siyuan was stubborn and had a bad temper. He blocked the center of the gate, ready to confront the Cai Family to the end.
Cai Mingliang was so angry his fingers were shaking. He'd never met such a shameless old man. "Immediately…chase this old guy away," he ordered.
"Who dares?" Chu Siyuan roared. "Try me and I'll break my head open on this gate!"
It was Zhang Ruochen's idea to threaten the Cai Family with his death. After all, the Cai Family didn't want someone to die in front of their gate on such a celebratory day. That would be such bad luck.
Of course, only Zhang Ruochen knew that this was a bad idea.
"He's just a thief. It's nothing hard to kill you. I'll send you off."
Chi Yutang's expression turned cold. He flashed and flew off of the carriage. With a hand wearing a golden glove, he went to grab Chu Siyuan's neck. His hand tore through the air.
With Chi Yutang's strength, wouldn't crus.h.i.+ng Chu Siyuan's neck be as easy as crus.h.i.+ng tofu?
