Commencement of the Jun Lin Banquet
Commencement of the Jun Lin Banquet
...
In the grand assembly of powers, there were entities whose authority far outshone even that of the Royal Authority itself.
The Star River Association, an enigmatic force with influence reaching to the very stars, was one such entity.
Then, there was the Divine Weapon Pavilion, a repository of riches that could rival entire empires.
And let's not forget the Mo Clan, boasting the most formidable cultivators beneath the Heavenly Dipper Realm in the entire Chu Country.
These three formidable powers held unique positions within Chu, and today, they had all convened for an extraordinary gathering.
"The Divine Weapon Pavilion has never made an official appearance at a Jun Lin Banquet before," the crowd murmured, speculation rife among them. Yet here they were today, standing proudly.
What could have compelled the Divine Weapon Pavilion to make such a rare appearance?
Rumors swirled, suggesting that the Divine Weapon Pavilion held Qin Wentian in exceptionally high regard. On that fateful day amidst the snowstorm, the Divine Weapon Pavilion had stood firmly by Qin Wentian's side in opposition to Chu Tianjiao, the 3rd Prince of Chu.
"The Mo Clan has remained conspicuously absent from the last few Jun Lin Banquets. Is it possible that Mo Qingcheng wishes to participate in the upcoming competition?" Some curious onlookers turned their attention toward the Mo Clan, where a striking figure caught their eye.
"Qingcheng, you're here too," called out Ye WuQue from the Ye Clan's contingent.
Mo Qingcheng calmly turned her gaze in his direction but chose not to respond.
Ye WuQue, undeterred, remained standing as before. His extraordinary handsomeness naturally made him the subject of attention from many young ladies. With such looks, he had no shortage of admirers, and there were even several young women at the Royal Academy who had taken the initiative to court him.
Yet, to Ye WuQue, who sought nothing but perfection, only Mo Qingcheng was deserving of his attention. Alas, Mo Qingcheng had never shown a hint of interest or encouragement, even when Ye WuQue had attempted to win her heart. His failed attempts had led him to gradually accept the reality that he was not the only one to have fallen short in pursuing Mo Qingcheng.
Now, however, the fact that Mo Qingcheng regarded Qin Wentian differently had left Ye WuQue feeling discontent and dissatisfied. Moreover, in the past, the Ye Clan had conspired to bring Qin Wentian's betrothed to their family.
In Ye WuQue's eyes, Autumn Snow simply could not hold a candle to Mo Qingcheng, let alone now that Autumn Snow's star had fallen. As for whether she could still become his, Ye WuQue contemplated it carefully.
"The Royal Palace has made its entrance!"
All eyes shifted to the rear as a line of mounted demonic beasts touched down behind the Emperor's Seat, where the highest dignitaries were stationed. Following this grand entrance, a procession of figures strolled up the grand staircase, ascending to the most prestigious seats in the spectator stands.
At the center of the Royal Clan's entourage was none other than Chu Tianjiao himself.
This year's Jun Lin Banquet was under the auspices of a Jun, either an Emperor or a Prince, depending on the interpretation.
Chu Tianjiao occupied the Emperor's Seat in the Chu Emperor District, signaling to the world that he was the chosen successor of the Chu Empire. It was an unspoken proclamation, suggesting that Chu Tianjiao's ascension to the throne was only a matter of time.
"It appears that the current Emperor's health is on the decline," murmured many in the crowd. Otherwise, why would the Emperor not be presiding over the start of the Jun Lin Banquet and grant Chu Tianjiao the privilege of occupying the Emperor's Seat?
On either side of Chu Tianjiao stood several other prominent figures.
To his left, Luo Qianqiu stood shoulder to shoulder with a few other youths, and before him, there was another figure who appeared to be Luo Qianqiu's elder.
Sharp-eyed observers who knew Luo Qianqiu's background speculated about the origins of these figures. Those in the know deduced that they hailed from the Nine Mystical Palace, the shadowy organization behind Luo Qianqiu.
The gazes of these observers grew more intense; the Nine Mystical Palace was no trifling power, and the presence of its members spoke volumes.
On Chu Tianjiao's right, another remarkable figure emanated an aura of extraordinary authority. He stood there with a casual smile, his bearing no less impressive than Chu Tianjiao's. It was as though this man, too, was a dragon among men.
This individual was Xiao Lü, the Crown Prince of Snowcloud Country, one of the Duo Prides of Snowcloud. His influence in Snowcloud rivaled that of Chu Tianjiao in Chu.
Surrounding Xiao Lü were a group of young elites from Snowcloud: Sikong Mingyue, one of the Duo Prides, as well as the Three Swords and Seven Nights of Snowcloud.
As Chu Tianjiao took his seat on the Emperor's Seat, everyone in the spectator stands rose to their feet, a traditional sign of respect that marked the beginning of the Jun Lin Banquet. However, today, their respect was directed solely at Chu Tianjiao.
"Please, everyone, take your seats," Chu Tianjiao waved, smiling as he spoke.
"Thank you, Your Highness," the crowd replied in unison, bowing before resuming their seats.
"Let the festivities begin," Chu Tianjiao declared with a gracious gesture, raising his cup in a toast to the assembly.
Simultaneously, a group of individuals made their way toward the nine towering platforms situated in the middle of the stands, arranging tables and chairs and distributing paper and pens.
"I am deeply honored today to witness the collaboration between Snowcloud Country and our esteemed Chu in hosting this Jun Lin Banquet. I believe this year's event, hosted on Chu soil, will be unprecedented in grandeur. Now, all elites at the 5th level of Arterial Circulation and above may proceed to the nine towering platforms to register for the competition," Chu Tianjiao announced.
Chu Tianjiao grinned as he addressed the eager audience. The minimum requirement to enter the Jun Lin Banquet was having a cultivation base at the 5th layer of Arterial Circulation. Anyone below that level needn't bother stepping onto the stage.
"Behold the nine towering platforms! You're free to choose the platform where you'd like to register. Subsequently, each platform will host a series of elimination duels. Judges will randomly select your opponents, and the battles will persist until only two contenders stand. That way, across the nine platforms, a total of 18 participants will proceed to the next stage," chimed an elderly figure standing beside Chu Tianjiao. "These victorious 18 will then advance to the following round, and that's where the coveted top nine rankings of the Jun Lin Banquet will be determined."
The rules were straightforward: each of the nine towering platforms would simultaneously initiate its battles, ultimately yielding two victors per platform.
Due to the existence of these platforms, those with their sights set on the coveted top nine rankings could strategically select different platforms to compete on, thereby avoiding early elimination. This ensured that those vying for the top spots wouldn't be ousted from the competition too soon.
"Qianqiu, it's time for you to shine on the next stage," the individual in charge, standing alongside Chu Tianjiao, intoned, addressing Luo Qianqiu who stood at attention by his side. Luo Qianqiu nodded slightly in response.
This time, the highest ranking in the Jun Lin Banquet was destined to be his.
Stepping forward, Luo Qianqiu soared into the skies like a majestic roc descending from the heavens, landing on the foremost towering platform.
The first platform was Luo Qianqiu's chosen battleground.
In an instant, a figure materialized beside Luo Qianqiu. It was none other than Sikong Mingyue. Their eyes locked, and within the depths of their gazes, an intense radiance shimmered.
"The highest probability for the top Jun Lin Banquet ranking this year belongs to both Luo Qianqiu and Sikong Mingyue. Heaven's Wonder's odds make that evident. Yet, they've both selected the same platform," the crowd mused, eyes glued to the unfolding scene. Surely, the judges wouldn't pit these two against each other this early. Doing so would only lead to one of the frontrunners being eliminated prematurely, and that wasn't quite the show they were hoping for.
It was almost as if the victors of the first towering platform were already predetermined. Besides Luo Qianqiu and Sikong Mingyue, it was unlikely that any other elite would register for this platform.
Participants continued to head toward the nine towering platforms, enrolling their names with determined purpose.
"The information from Heaven's Wonder is right on the mark. This time, the ten prodigies of the Royal Capital, including Immortal Drunken Wine and Ye WuQue, aren't gunning for the Jun Lin Banquet. They should have already broken through to Yuanfu. The bottom five among these prodigies have registered on different platforms, deliberately spreading themselves out," a murmured conversation spread among the onlookers.
"Sikong Mingyue has signed up, along with two of the Three Swords and five of the Seven Nights. Their martial prowess must be at the peak of Arterial Circulation. They've also opted for separate platforms, a tactical move to avoid clashing."
"Emperor Star Academy is in the mix too. Orchon, Luo Huan, and Luo Cheng are giving Jiang Xiu a run for his money."
"Look, it's Hou Tie and Leng Ya from the Godly General Martial Palace. The odds favor both of them, indicating they've caught Heaven's Wonder's attention and could snag a spot in the top nine."
Heaven's Wonder's intelligence was indeed impressive, even extending to the reclusive geniuses of the Godly General Martial Palace. Moreover, there was a Heaven's Wonder branch conveniently located near the Chu Emperor District. Spectators could swing by to check the betting rates during the matches, greatly amplifying the stakes involved.
As nearly all the participants reached their designated platforms, the audience noticed a peculiar pattern emerging. Those with genuine hopes of securing a top nine position seemed to steer clear of crowded platforms. They observed each other warily, as if they shared some unspoken understanding.
Heaven's Wonder's betting rates had singled out a few standouts:
From Snowcloud Country: Sikong Mingyue of the Duo Prides, the 2nd and 3rd Swords of the Three Swords, and five among the Seven Nights. Five contenders in total.
From Emperor Star Academy: Luo Qianqiu, Orchon, Jiang Xiu, Luo Huan, and Luo Cheng. The inclusion of Luo Huan and Luo Cheng was a surprise, but their higher payout odds suggested they were considered underdogs compared to the others.
Representing the Royal Academy: Shi Jun, ranked 8th among the ten prodigies, and Chu Chen, Chu's little prince.
From the Godly General Martial Palace: Hou Tie and Leng Ya.
Divine Wind Academy chimed in with Jiang Feng, the 6th-ranked among the ten prodigies.
Completing the list were Ye Zhi, the adopted daughter of the Ye Clan, and Kuang Sheng, the 9th-ranked among the ten prodigies and a student from the formidable Frenzied Sabre Sect, a potent faction within the Royal Capital.
The 18 participants, excluding Luo Huan and Luo Cheng, neatly filled each of the nine towering platforms. Keen-eyed spectators noticed the pairings, with each platform hosting two contenders.
However, the platform closest to the spectators' stand, farthest from the Emperor Seat, suddenly erupted in excitement as a figure materialized.
"Qin Wentian has also joined the Jun Lin Banquet, and he's registered for the 9th towering platform!"
Chu Tianjiao's interest piqued as he shifted his gaze toward the commotion.
"Qin Wentian," Ye WuQue muttered, his eyes flickering involuntarily as he glanced at the father and daughter from the Qin Clan standing behind the Ye Clan.
Meanwhile, over at the Mo Clan, a smile played on Mo Qingcheng's lips as she whispered, "Do your best."
"Qingcheng, I heard you've been quite close with that young man from the Qin Clan lately," a middle-aged figure beside Mo Qingcheng remarked in a hushed tone, causing her expression to momentarily freeze. She chuckled, "Well, didn't everyone say that the Mo Clan and the Qin Clan had a long-standing bond? Qin Wentian and I just happened to hit it off, so we became friends naturally."
"Oh, is that so?" Her father replied with a smile, his eyes resting on his daughter. A faint blush colored Mo Qingcheng's cheeks, making her appear even more enchanting, a beauty capable of toppling empires.