Gathering at the Chu Emperor District

Gathering at the Chu Emperor District

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"What in the cosmos just unfolded here?" Hushed whispers echoed through the halls of Emperor Star Academy, their voices carrying the weight of awe and disbelief.

In the heart of the night, a radiant spectacle had illuminated the academy grounds, creating a celestial display that rivaled a second starry sky. The phenomenon that had unfolded was nothing short of mesmerizing and wondrous.

The elderly custodian of the Astral River Hall quivered uncontrollably as he bore witness to a striking young man leisurely emerging from the hall's entrance. Despite his frail appearance, the old man's eyes blazed with an intense fire.

Astonishingly, in the blink of an eye, the youth had ascended to the sixth level. How was such a feat even possible?

"Unbelievable," muttered Qin Wentian, his spirits plummeting. Upon reaching the fifth level, he had realized that the intricate runic lines of the boundless constellations coalesced into a singular force. The fist-like radiance they produced held unparalleled might, causing excruciating strain on his consciousness. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he had shattered the constraints of the fifth level, only to set foot on the sixth level of the Astral River Hall.

Yet his time on the sixth level had been but a fleeting instant. Amidst that fleeting moment, it had seemed as though constellations had transformed into meteoric fist lights, converging and erupting like shooting stars. Miraculously, the astral pressure had not proven fatal, merely hurling him back to the fifth level.

With his consciousness and willpower damaged, even the pressure of the fifth level had become unbearably formidable. Hence, Qin Wentian had opted to exit the Astral River Hall.

"I must enter seclusion," he murmured as he stepped out, his mind consumed with thoughts of cultivation.

"Eh..." Fan Le blinked, perplexed. This eccentric comrade of his, did he not comprehend the gravity of what he had just achieved?

"Tomorrow is the Jun Lin Banquet," Fan Le reminded Qin Wentian, his tone filled with hesitation.

"I need to cultivate," Qin Wentian replied, his gaze locked onto Fan Le, before striding away from the vicinity of the Astral River Hall.

Fatty stood there, flabbergasted. Had the moment of reckoning arrived?

After all, Qin Wentian had spent many days within the Astral River Hall and should have gleaned some profound insights. Fatty refused to believe that this rascal had idled away his time there.

In fact, Fatty had just witnessed, with his very own eyes, a dazzling burst of radiant light after days of stillness.

The only lamentable aspect was the absence of an audience. Fatty was crestfallen.

As he contemplated this, Fatty pulled a comical face and set off in pursuit of Qin Wentian, his corpulent form jiggling with each determined step.

Once upon a time in the quaint town of Willowbrook, there lived a rather unusual librarian named Albert. Willowbrook was known for its picturesque landscapes, but it was Albert who drew the most attention. He wasn't just a librarian; he was a librarian with a flair for the dramatic.

Every morning, Albert would don his flamboyant purple bowtie and a bright green waistcoat that could blind a person at fifty paces. His favorite accessory was a monocle that he wore with great pride, even though it was completely non-prescription. With each step, his colorful cape swirled behind him, making him look like a dashing superhero, albeit one who saved books rather than people.

Now, in Willowbrook, people had a great passion for reading. They cherished their library as if it were a sacred temple of knowledge. But Albert, well, he had a way of making reading seem like an epic adventure.

One sunny afternoon, as Albert stood at the library's entrance, he gestured dramatically to a group of children. "Welcome, young explorers, to the realm of endless wonders and infinite possibilities!" he declared, his voice echoing through the library's hallowed halls.

The children exchanged bewildered glances. Tommy, a curious boy with glasses, couldn't help but ask, "Um, Mr. Albert, are we in the right place? We just wanted to find some books."

Albert's monocle nearly popped out as he chuckled heartily. "My dear child, finding books is not a simple task. It's an odyssey! A journey into the unknown! Each book is a treasure waiting to be discovered."

Sophie, a girl with pigtails, raised an eyebrow. "So, like, do we need a map or something?"

Albert's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Ah, you have the spirit of an adventurer, my dear Sophie! But fear not, for I shall be your guide in this literary labyrinth."

As the children roamed through the shelves, Albert narrated their adventure. "And here we have the History section, where the ghosts of the past whisper their secrets. Beware the biographies; they might just inspire you to change the world!"

Tommy pulled a thick tome from the shelf. "What's this one, Mr. Albert?"

Albert leaned in, scrutinizing the title with mock seriousness. "Ah, 'The Encyclopedia of Extraordinary Escapades'! That, my young friend, is a ticket to a thousand worlds."

Sophie, meanwhile, had discovered a dusty old book on mythology. "Look at this, Mr. Albert! It's all about gods and monsters."

Albert clapped his hands in delight. "Excellent choice, Sophie! Myths are like constellations in the sky of our imagination. They guide us through the cosmos of creativity!"

As the day unfolded, the children became enchanted by the magic of the library. They explored the realms of fantasy, delved into the mysteries of science, and even journeyed through the wilds of poetry. Albert was their ever-enthusiastic guide, infusing every book with wonder.

At the end of their adventure, the children gathered around Albert, their hearts brimming with newfound knowledge and excitement.

"Mr. Albert," Tommy said with a grin, "you make reading the greatest adventure of all."

Albert beamed at the children. "Ah, my young explorers, remember this: in the world of books, every page turned is a step into a grand adventure, and you are the heroes of your own stories."

And so, in the small town of Willowbrook, Albert the librarian continued to turn reading into a dramatic escapade, where every book was a treasure map, and every story, a thrilling quest.

Every time a new arterial pathway formed, it marked a significant leap in one's cultivation level. The quality of one's body naturally improved in tandem.

"I've actually burnt through all the Yuan Meteor Stones," Qin Wentian exclaimed in shock, his heart racing at the realization of how quickly cultivation devoured resources. Thankfully, he didn't have to fret over a shortage of Yuan Meteor Stones for the time being.

As he stretched and flexed his body, satisfying cracks resonated through the air. It was an exquisite sensation, as if every pore in his body had just been pampered with a luxurious spa treatment.

"You've finally decided to grace us with your presence." A voice drifted over, and there, beneath the shelter of a pavilion, lay Fan Le, sprawled lazily as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, appearing as though he'd just risen from an afternoon nap.

"Why on earth are you napping here?" Qin Wentian couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of Fan Le.

"I was waiting for you, my dear host, to accompany me to the Jun Lin Banquet," Fan Le retorted with a mockingly exaggerated yawn. It seemed that even in his dreams, Qin Wentian was making quite a ruckus. Couldn't he allow poor Fatty a peaceful night's sleep?

"You're going too?" Qin Wentian's eyes sparkled with curiosity. He knew that Mustang had been personally mentoring Fatty in cultivation for the past few days, so there must have been substantial progress. Moreover, Qin Wentian had generously provided Fan Le with several Yuan Meteor Stones to aid in his training.

Qin Wentian was confident that Fan Le possessed considerable talent; he simply lacked the motivation. As Mustang had aptly put it, Fatty was afflicted with an acute case of laziness.

"I'm going to place bets, actually," Fatty replied with an air of seriousness. Once Qin Wentian's registration was confirmed, Heaven's Wonder would release the betting odds for him. Fatty intended to stake his entire fortune on Qin Wentian. For cultivators who were underestimated like Qin Wentian, as long as they could secure a spot within the top nine rankings, the potential payout would be astronomical.

A glint of fervor shone in Fan Le's eyes as he stared at Qin Wentian, causing Qin Wentian to quirk an eyebrow. What was Fatty scheming now?

Despite the early hour, the Emperor Chu District was teeming with people. The Royal Capital had dispatched a contingent of 10,000 troops to provide security and maintain order, sealing off the entire perimeter of the Chu Emperor District. Spectators were required to keep a respectful distance to ensure the smooth commencement of the Jun Lin Banquet.

The rules in this area mirrored those of the rest of the Chu Capital: individuals below the Yuanfu level were prohibited from riding flying beasts. Nevertheless, today saw numerous cultivators mounted on flying-type demonic beasts soaring through the skies.

But that wasn't all; rows of flying-type demonic beasts also delivered fine wines and delicacies to the guests' seats. As the multitude of demonic beasts blotted out the sky, the crowd couldn't contain their excitement. This was undeniably the grandest event to grace Chu Country this year.

The highly anticipated Jun Lin Banquet was set to kick off today, and the Royal Clan had extended invitations to dukes, feudal lords, and an array of important guests from far and wide.

"Would you look at that! The Mu Clan, always so low-key, has graced us with their presence quite early," whispered a spectator, their eyes fixed on a group of figures ascending the grand staircase. The Mu Clan, as one of the prominent noble houses, naturally had a reserved spot in the spectator stands. Among those arriving from the Mu Clan, Mu Rou was a notable presence.

"And there's the Ou Clan too. Orchon seems to have big plans this time," remarked another observer as members of the Ou Clan made their entrance. According to Heaven's Wonder's betting odds, Orchon was highly likely to secure a place in the top nine rankings of the Jun Lin Banquet. The Ou Clan had every reason to be proud.

"Look, the Ye Clan and representatives from the Violet Palace have arrived together."

"And who's that young lady with the Ye Clan? She's quite striking. Is she even from the Ye Clan?"

"Oh, that's Autumn Snow from the Bai Clan. Her name used to echo throughout Chu, causing quite a stir. However, it appears that she encountered some difficulties when trying to condense her second Astral Soul. It's as if she's regressed," someone explained, shedding light on the matter. So, they were from the Bai Clan hailing from Sky Harmony City. Last year, the Bai Clan indeed made quite an impact. After all, as someone who managed to condense her first Astral Soul at the 3rd Heavenly Layer, she had a high chance of becoming a formidable figure destined to make history. However, since her arrival in the Royal Capital, Autumn Snow seemed to have faded into obscurity, while the once-dismissed Qin Wentian had risen to prominence, earning the favor of various factions.

"Look, students from various martial academies are arriving!" The spectators couldn't contain their excitement as more and more figures ascended the staircase, creating a buzz of anticipation.

"The Star River Association members are here!"

"Even the Divine Weapon Pavilion has made an appearance. That's a rare sight at the Jun Lin Banquet."

"The Mo Clan has arrived as well!"

The crowd gazed eagerly at the spectator stands, their hearts pounding with excitement. The Jun Lin Banquet was about to begin, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation.