Banquet at the Royal Palace

Qin Wentian emerged from the Dreamsky Forest, his thoughts dwelling on what would have transpired if his duel with Yanaro had been real.

"Wentian," greeted Luo Huan, flashing a warm smile at the contemplative young man.

"Senior Sister, is there something I can help you with?" Qin Wentian asked.

"Well," Luo Huan began, "you mentioned wanting to meet Qin Yao earlier. I've looked into it, and I might be able to arrange that for you." Qin Wentian's eyes widened with surprise and anticipation. He longed to see Qin Yao again, to catch up with her and inquire about her well-being.

"What's the plan?" Qin Wentian inquired eagerly.

"In seven days, there will be a grand banquet at the Royal Palace, personally hosted by the 3rd prince himself. The purpose is to welcome Qin Yao, and invitations have been extended to many aristocratic clans. I've already arranged for you to attend, but you might cross paths with people you'd rather avoid. Are you still interested?" Luo Huan explained, wearing a knowing smile.

Qin Wentian's eyes sparkled with determination. "I want to go, no matter what."

Luo Huan continued, "Snowcloud Country takes Qin Yao's safety very seriously. Meeting her won't be easy."

Qin Wentian nodded, understanding the difficulties he faced, given his fallen Qin Clan background. It would be a challenge to infiltrate the Chu Country aristocrats.

"Senior Sister, thank you for all the effort you've put into helping me," Qin Wentian expressed his gratitude. Nevertheless, he couldn't pass up this opportunity to see Qin Yao.

Luo Huan playfully rolled her eyes. "Don't lump all aristocrats together. Many of them are decent people. Apart from exceptions like Ye WuQue and Orchon, most of them are alright. What I dislike is their attempt to control the Emperor Star Academy through the Knight's Association's power.

"Wentian, once you're inside the Royal Palace, be cautious at all times. Don't underestimate anyone. For example, there are the four princes and five princesses, all elite among their generation. The banquet is hosted by the 3rd prince, one of the strongest contenders for the throne. So, when you enter the palace, be extremely careful, especially around him."

"I understand," Qin Wentian replied, noting the significance of Luo Huan's advice. Apart from the royalty, he also had to watch out for the Knight's Association members, considering their influence within the Emperor Star Academy.

"Senior Sister, we still have seven days. Would you spar with me? I want to improve my movement techniques," Qin Wentian suggested with a grin.

"You want Senior Sister to keep you company for a whole seven days?" Luo Huan teased, winking playfully.

"Senior Sister, my movement techniques have hit a wall, and I could really use your help," Qin Wentian said, a hint of cheekiness in his tone. Only with those he was close to would he adopt such a shameless demeanor, and he now considered Luo Huan as a part of his extended family.

"Alright, alright, I'll help you out," Luo Huan laughed. It had been eight months since she met Qin Wentian, and she couldn't help but admire the changes he had undergone. His once boyish face had matured, etched with determination from the experiences he had endured.

"I want to work on my movement techniques too, Senior Sister," Fatty chimed in, his gaze pleading as he looked at Luo Huan.

"You? With your... girth?" Luo Huan quipped, shooting a disdainful glance at Fan Le. He slumped into a corner, utterly dejected. Her words had struck a nerve, and he couldn't help but feel self-conscious about his weight.

While Fan Le brooded, Little Rascal, his trusty companion, lounged in the sun nearby, observing the scene with curiosity.

Luo Huan's training ground sprawled across a spacious area. Fatty remained sulking, while Little Rascal enjoyed the sun's warmth. Luo Huan cracked her whip, sending it whistling through the air. Qin Wentian's footwork had reached the pinnacle of Skillful Mastery, leaving onlookers awestruck by its finesse. His body seemed to blur, leaving behind a trail of countless afterimages.

"This guy has already reached the 5th level of Arterial Circulation, and his movement techniques are incredible," Fatty grumbled, feeling the sting of jealousy. He remembered the days when he used to boast and look down on Qin Wentian when their cultivation levels were much lower. Now, he found himself lagging behind at the peak of the 4th level.

With a resounding "bang," Luo Huan's whip finally caught Qin Wentian, coiling around him and tearing his shirt to shreds. His progress was halted, and he couldn't help but grin wryly. "Senior Sister, that's a bit too harsh, don't you think?"

"It wouldn't be effective training if there wasn't pressure," Luo Huan retorted with a laugh as she unwound her whip. Without warning, she struck again. "Watch closely!" This time, Qin Wentian was prepared, skillfully sidestepping the whip by a hair's breadth. He stared at Luo Huan, incredulous. If that whip had landed, he would have been seriously injured.

After half a day of intense training, Qin Wentian's body was drenched in sweat. His skin bore the marks of the whip, and fresh blood trickled from his wounds. Fan Le, who had wisely refrained from joining the training, shuddered at the sight of Qin Wentian's condition. He knew he had made the right choice.

"Alright, time for a break. How are you feeling?" Luo Huan inquired, a smile gracing her lips as she observed Qin Wentian.

Approaching Luo Huan, Qin Wentian saw that even she was perspiring, her well-proportioned body glistening with sweat. Her damp clothing clung to her, accentuating her figure, and Qin Wentian couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth. He had to swallow hard to avoid a nosebleed at the sight of Luo Huan's alluring appearance.

"Senior Sister, you're truly beautiful," Qin Wentian grinned, causing Luo Huan to momentarily freeze before breaking into a smile. "You cheeky little thing, teasing your Senior Sister?"

"I'm just stating a fact," Qin Wentian replied nonchalantly.

"Alright, enough rest, let's get back to it," Luo Huan said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Her laughter brought back memories of the whip lashes Qin Wentian had endured, making him involuntarily shiver. After their brief break, their training session resumed.

Under Luo Huan's relentless pressure, Qin Wentian's movement techniques improved daily. On the fifth day, his Garuda Movement Technique reached the Perfect Mastery level. However, to achieve the Godly level, he'd need to hunt higher-level flying-type demonic beasts and consume their essence.

Now that he had reached Perfect Mastery, even Luo Huan had to take their sparring seriously to land a hit on Qin Wentian. His movements were so fluid and swift that they left her in awe, making her reassess the power of the Garuda Movement Technique.

In the City of Illusions, after a battle, Mu Rou found herself drawn to a familiar location. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment upon arriving at the circular platform.

"He's not here anymore," Mu Rou muttered to herself. Ever since she removed her mask, the masked figure had not appeared before her again. She hadn't even had a chance to thank him.

As if by habit, Mu Rou still visited the circular platform after her battles, hoping to see the masked figure again.

"Is our Miss Mu lost in a river of longing?" a charming voice chimed in. Mu Rou turned to see a girl wearing a phoenix mask. "I only want to thank him in person, it's not what you're thinking!" Mu Rou retorted.

"Oh, is that so? Then why do you come here every day?" Chu Ling teased.

"I'm testing my luck. My movement techniques have improved, and I want to spar with him again," Mu Rou explained in her gentle tone.

"Alright then. Let's leave the Dreamsky Forest for now. There are only two more days until the 3rd prince hosts a banquet in honor of Qin Yao. We can go together," Chu Ling suggested as she pulled Mu Rou along. Both of them prepared to exit the Dreamsky Forest.

"The 3rd prince is hosting a banquet for Qin Yao? But I heard that he was involved in the destruction of the Qin Residence. He's known for being ruthless and decisive, so why would he suddenly invite her?" Mu Rou asked with curiosity. She was aware of the personalities and characters of the princes from the Royal Clan. The 3rd prince was young, talented, ambitious, and highly intelligent. He had probably already guessed Qin Yao's motives for coming.

Chu Ling responded with a cold snort. "My third brother's thoughts are not for us to decipher. However, if Qin Yao truly believes she can rescue Qin Wu and Qin Chuan, she's delusional. I suspect my third brother invited her to humiliate her at the banquet. This time, he's invited many people of high status, including Mo Qingcheng…"

Chu Ling, being a princess and the king's daughter, referred to the 3rd prince as her third brother.

"Will Yanaro be attending as well?" Mu Rou asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"He should be there, but he wouldn't dare to cause any trouble," Chu Ling replied.

Chu Ling continued, "But there's one annoying thing: someone approached me for help, asking me to bring a person to the banquet."

"Who's the person you're supposed to bring?" Mu Rou inquired.

"It's someone from the Emperor Star Academy, Qin Wentian – a member of the Qin Clan," Chu Ling said with disdain. "They say he has above-average talent, but he's incredibly arrogant. He even killed Orchon's brother, Orfon! Now, he's willing to do anything to meet Qin Yao and use her current status for his own benefit."

"Qin Wentian..." Mu Rou repeated the name a few times. "Isn't he Qin Yao's brother? Try to calm down. Just think of it as helping a friend. Don't make things difficult for him."

"Hmph," Chu Ling snorted. She had heard that the friend who asked for help had been asked to do so by another friend.