Convene

Convene . . .

Qin Wentian couldn't hide his icy countenance as he inclined his head. The situation had become crystal clear to him. The host of the banquet, Ye Zixuan, had intentionally excluded Jun Mengchen from the list of invitees. Adding to the intrigue, Blackpeak's presence beside Ye Zixuan confirmed that it was Ye Zixuan who had orchestrated the inn switch, leading to the confrontation earlier.

Although Qin Wentian and Ye Zixuan had never met before, a festering grudge was already brewing between them. While it was one thing that Jun Mengchen hadn't been invited, Ye Zixuan had chosen to publicly humiliate him, turning the situation into a personal vendetta.

As Ye Zixuan's words reverberated through the crowd, a ripple of fervor spread among the onlookers. Murmurs and whispers filled the air, casting doubt on Jun Mengchen's abilities.

"The Sage Child invited all the top rankers except for Jun Mengchen? Perhaps he's not as talented as we thought."

"Clearly, Jun Mengchen's second rank in the Cloud Prefecture might have been a fluke. Otherwise, why would the third-ranked Heaven Chosen be invited and seated next to Gu Zhantian?"

The crowd speculated, unaware of the true dynamics within the Cloud Prefecture. They assumed that Ye Zixuan's decision was based on Jun Mengchen's lack of talent, given that the Cloud Prefecture was considered one of the weakest among the thirteen.

Ye Zixuan's single statement had placed Jun Mengchen in an uncomfortable position, leaving him with no room for explanation. Proclaiming his strength would only come off as self-aggrandizement, which wouldn't be well-received.

Qin Wentian observed Jun Mengchen's response. His junior brother remained composed, his gaze filled with unwavering determination. Despite the provocation, Jun Mengchen appeared to have achieved a state of emotional balance and resilience, earning Qin Wentian's admiration.

However, Qin Wentian couldn't allow Ye Zixuan's provocation to go unanswered. He decided to step in, his voice ringing out calmly, "I've heard that Gusu Tianqi, the top Heaven Chosen from the Eastern Prefecture, is an unparalleled genius. We came here with the hope of meeting him, but it seems he's conspicuously absent. Could it be that Gusu Tianqi wasn't invited by the Sage Child to this banquet?"

Qin Wentian's voice, though not particularly loud, cut through the murmurs of the crowd, silencing the entire space.

Laughter erupted among the onlookers. They found Qin Wentian's question absurd, doubting its credibility.

"Is he joking? Gusu Tianqi not invited? That's preposterous!"

"This fellow..." Many in the crowd chuckled, assuming that Qin Wentian was attempting to make light of the situation.

Unfazed by the laughter, Qin Wentian stood resolute, ready to confront the unfolding drama head-on.

"Do you think Gusu Tianqi is you?" mocked one of Ye Zixuan's subordinates from atop the Eastern Immortal Inn, glaring down at Qin Wentian.

"In that case, does it mean that Gusu Tianqi wasn't invited but chose not to turn up?" Qin Wentian's tone turned colder, and his words sent a hush over the crowd. Everyone's attention shifted to him, sensing there was a hidden meaning behind his words.

As expected, Qin Wentian continued, his calm gaze seemingly radiating an inner fire, "Indeed, why should we assume that Gusu Tianqi would attend just because someone wanted to invite him? After all, a Sage Child is still just a Sage Child."

With a flick of his sleeves, Qin Wentian addressed Jun Mengchen and the others, "Junior brother Jun, you've had a glimpse of your future competitors. It's time for us to go."

"Oh, how unfortunate. I won't get to witness Gusu Tianqi's magnificence," Jun Mengchen sighed theatrically. The group turned to leave, paying no heed to the top-ranked Heaven Chosens assembled for the banquet.

However, their departure was met with cold and piercing gazes from atop the inn. One of the top-ranked Heaven Chosens shouted, "Hold it right there! Stop!"

The commanding voice echoed through the air, but Qin Wentian and his companions continued walking, seemingly oblivious. A Celestial Phenomenon expert, a subordinate of Ye Zixuan, descended to confront them, blocking their path. It was clear he had intentionally taken this action.

This subordinate possessed formidable cultivation at the eighth level of Celestial Phenomenon, exuding an overwhelming aura. He declared, "I told you to stop."

Qin Wentian's gaze turned icy as he locked onto his opponent. His eyes seemed to emit a chilling light, lowering the surrounding temperature. The man's expression wavered for a moment before he coldly reaffirmed, "Yes, it's my intention."

Qin Wentian stepped forward boldly, challenging, "And who do you think you are? Ordering us to stop? If you're from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, you should know the rules of the Emperor City. Get out of our way!"

"HOW DARE YOU!" The man erupted in anger, his aura surging. Disrespecting a Sage Child was a grave offense. Although Sage Children couldn't act personally due to their status as immortals, their subordinates were compelled to defend their honor.

A thunderous shockwave emanated from him, the confrontation escalating.

Qin Wentian, radiating a potent aura, stepped forward, his confidence unwavering. He proclaimed with cold arrogance, "According to the city rules, if someone provokes or intercepts another without reason, the aggrieved party can challenge the interceptor in front of patrolling guards as witnesses. I hereby seek the presence of the patrolling guards to be my witnesses."

Not far away, a group of guards had been monitoring the situation, alerted by the brewing conflict. Upon hearing Qin Wentian's request, they moved closer. However, when they assessed the cultivation level of the man Qin Wentian intended to challenge, bewilderment flashed in their eyes. After a brief pause, the leader of the guards nodded and said, "We can do that. But you must understand that once you issue a challenge, the other party can respond with deadly force. We won't interfere in personal disputes."

Qin Wentian remained resolute, stating, "That's acceptable. With these guards as witnesses, I challenge you to a duel." He locked eyes with his opponent, prompting the eighth-level ascendant to burst into laughter. "You're simply inviting death."

As the laughter faded, an oppressive aura surged forth. Qin Wentian's figure flickered, and a formidable long spear materialized in his hands.

A fearsome, malevolent energy radiated from the spear as it extended, glowing with an immortal light. The eighth-level ascendant, who had been laughing, was taken aback and attempted to retreat hastily. However, the long spear continued to expand, reaching a hundred meters in length and impaling him before he could escape. A deafening explosion followed, shattering the ascendant's body into pieces.

The onlookers were shaken by the brutality of this swift and merciless act. Qin Wentian had directly challenged and killed his opponent without hesitation, displaying unparalleled dominance.

Qin Wentian swiftly retrieved his immortal-ranked weapon, and the ascendant's lifeless body crashed to the ground as though nothing extraordinary had occurred. Qin Wentian and his companions continued on their way, leaving the patrolling guards, who had been witnesses to the event, stunned.

"Courting his own humiliation," Qin Wentian remarked cryptically, his words leaving room for interpretation.

On top of the Eastern Immortal Inn, Ye Zixuan's countenance turned razor-sharp. His gaze pierced the air, fixing on Qin Wentian. Nevertheless, his subordinate had made it clear that he had intentionally intercepted Qin Wentian and that it was unrelated to Ye Zixuan. Legally, Qin Wentian's actions were justifiable since he had acted in self-defense, with patrolling guards as witnesses.

As an immortal-foundation expert and a Sage Child of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, it was beneath Ye Zixuan's dignity to personally engage with Qin Wentian. Moreover, as a selected participant from the Cloud Prefecture, any harm done to Qin Wentian would tarnish the sect's reputation and provoke the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's displeasure. If Ye Zixuan harbored any intentions against Qin Wentian, he had to adhere to proper procedures and fairness.

Gu Zhantian watched as Qin Wentian and his companions walked away. Having sparred with Qin Wentian before, he was well aware of the formidable power hidden within him. While Qin Wentian might appear unassuming in silence, his anger could unleash an overwhelming strength capable of startling the heavens.

The other top rankers also briefly regarded Qin Wentian before refocusing their attention on Ye Zixuan. They silently contemplated Qin Wentian's audacity.

However, they couldn't comprehend why Ye Zixuan had singled out Jun Mengchen, subjecting him to humiliation. That sentence had been a direct insult. Little did they anticipate that the Cloud Prefecture's 27th-ranked participant would turn the tables, making the Sage Child the one on the defensive.

Ye Zixuan swiftly composed himself and resumed hosting his banquet, urging his guests to continue enjoying themselves. The incident was quickly forgotten, and the atmosphere was once again filled with laughter and chatter. To those present, the confrontation had been a mere interlude. Their primary objectives were to show respect to Ye Zixuan and assess their future competitors. The geniuses he had invited were undoubtedly the most formidable adversaries they would encounter.

Meanwhile, the crowd below the inn gradually shifted their attention away from Qin Wentian and his companions, deeming the top rankers as the true stars of the gathering.

However, for Qin Wentian and his companions, the incident was indeed just a brief interruption.

For them—Qin Wentian, Jun Mengchen, and Zi Qingxuan—the true goal was to become the top three contenders, secure the rewards, and defy the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's wishes as they completed their mission for the Heavenly Talisman Realm.

This was their ultimate objective. They would need to surpass all the other geniuses from the thirteen prefectures to reach their desired positions.

Back at their inn, in their serene courtyards, they retreated to their residences and silently cultivated, strengthening their foundations.

In this region, 13,000 selected participants from various prefectures, numerous immortal-foundation experts, and even the Emperor City's residents populated the streets, creating a bustling scene.

Then, a thunderous voice broke through the horizon, its resonance extending over a thousand miles like a sudden thunderbolt.

"Participants from the Eastern Prefecture, assemble!"

"Participants from the Qian Prefecture, assemble!"

"Participants from the Li Prefecture, assemble!"

...

"Participants from the Cloud Prefecture, assemble!"

Thirteen resounding voices, reminiscent of mighty dragon roars, thundered through the skies, their reverberations causing the heavens and the earth to tremble. It wasn't just this particular region quaking; it felt as if the entire Eastern Prefecture itself was trembling under the overwhelming power of these voices.

The summoning call echoed simultaneously across all thirteen prefectures, a powerful declaration that needed no further explanation.

This was the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect's call to action. It was the moment when these 13,000 participants would converge and commence their battle against one another.

In the vast expanse above, the chosen talents of each prefecture soared into the sky, streaking toward a common destination with incredible speed. On the ground, a palpable sense of solemnity washed over the assembled crowd. Was this the long-awaited commencement of their journey, the moment when the competition truly began? The anticipation hung thick in the air, and they could sense that something extraordinary was about to unfold.