Currying Favour (Vol. 3 Start)

Yan Feng Kingdom, Chu Capital, outside the East City Gate.

At this moment, an elite army was respectfully waiting outside the East City Gate, along with numerous large ships and flying vessels anchored nearby. Everyone was eagerly anticipating.

"I heard that this newly promoted Chu Yu Marquis has been directly appointed as a First-Class Marquis," said a group of royal family and nobility members gathered on one of the flying vessels as they waited.

"Chu Yu Marquis has always been focused on comprehending the path of the laws and even mastered the Infinite Divine Body! With the potential and talent of the Infinite Divine Body, it's only natural that he was immediately made a First-Class Marquis upon his breakthrough," one of the royal family members boasted with pride.

"Uncle Chu Yu even guided me in the past! With the Infinite Divine Body, his status within the family was already special. Now that he has broken through to the Chaos Realm, he has directly become a core member of our Emperor Chu's lineage."

These royal family members from Chu's lineage all felt a sense of pride at this moment.

"Amazing."

"Chu Yu Marquis is truly extraordinary."

The noble descendants echoed in praise. In the core of Yan Feng Kingdom, the most powerful entities are the thirteen branches of the royal family, while the nobility lags far behind. As for Chaos Realm families, unless they produce a 'Transcendent Chaos Realm' being, they remain relatively ordinary and are unable to mingle in the circles of the royal family or nobility.

On another luxurious ship, two figures were drinking together, with maids attending to them.

"A First-Class Marquis is indeed different, receiving a First-Class Marquis residence, personal guards, and a fief that includes a 'First-Class Large City,'" remarked a chubby man with a sigh. "He even has the privilege of applying for two guest officials."

"And what about us? As Third-Class Marquises, our fief is a small town, our residences are modest, and we're granted a few personal guards. We don't even qualify to apply for guest officials," the chubby man grumbled.

The tall woman sitting beside him laughed heartily, "We follow the bloodline cultivation system and rely on our bloodline to become Chaos Realm beings. After that, we must switch to the path of laws. The path of laws is too difficult for us. In this lifetime, I only hope to advance to a Second-Class Marquis. As for becoming a First-Class Marquis, I don't even dare to dream of it."

"You still have hope; at least you're currently at the mid-level of the Chaos Realm. But me..." The chubby man pointed at himself, "In Emperor Chu's lineage, there are a total of 29 titled Marquises, and only two of them are at the ordinary Chaos Realm level. I'm one of them! I've been in the Chaos Realm for over three thousand eras, yet I'm still just an ordinary Chaos Realm being. I'm far from reaching the peak level of the Chaos Realm."

As the two Marquises were chatting, they suddenly noticed a tear in the distant space, forming a spatial passage.

"They've arrived," the two Marquises perked up.

At this moment, the Marquises, royal family members, nobility, and the personal guard were all looking toward the distant spatial passage.

Five figures emerged from the spatial passage.

Chu Yu led the way with the Vice Pavilion Master, by his side was Luo Feng with Morosa, and Mo Yu Qingyan following.

"Hmm? The man beside Chu Yu Marquis?"

"He's standing side by side with Chu Yu Marquis, clearly showing that Chu Yu Marquis holds this man in high regard," the onlookers noted.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the man in black—Luo Feng.

"That's the Grand Saint Luo He from the Yu Kingdom," some of the well-informed Marquises, royal family members, and others immediately recognized him. "This Grand Saint Luo He, in the battle at Huyang City, overpowered Liu Yin Marquis. His physical cultivation has reached an unimaginable level—his feet can stand on the ground while his head touches the stars!"

"This is a peak-level Chaos Realm existence."

"He's with Chu Yu Marquis? Could it be that Chu Yu Marquis has chosen him as his first guest official?"

Luo Feng and Chu Yu followed the spatial passage from the distant Huyang City in the Yu Kingdom directly to Chu Capital in the Yan Feng Kingdom. This made Luo Feng sigh with admiration, "Spatial transmission is indeed incredibly profound. I must rely on spatial treasures to perform a single spatial transmission."

In the Chaos Realm, almost no one can perform spatial transmission on their own; they all rely on treasures. Long-term use of spatial treasures is extremely costly. Luo Feng's spatial transmission token is a one-time-use item that destroys itself after a single use. A spatial transmission token must be activated by someone at the Chaos Realm level and sells for one billion cosmic sand. Even Chaos Realm beings use it only in critical situations.

Upon emerging from the spatial passage, Luo Feng immediately noticed the elite army outside the majestic city gates and the numerous large ships and flying vessels waiting to greet them.

"Greetings, Marquis!" The army shouted in unison, bowing respectfully.

Chu Yu smiled as he watched the scene and turned to Luo Feng. "This is the personal guard I was granted after becoming a Chaos Realm being. They are an elite force trained by my Emperor Chu lineage."

Luo Feng observed the personal guard, noting that it consisted of one thousand Eternal True Gods and a vast number of Void True Gods. Even outside the city, under the leadership of the army commander, they moved as one, their power far surpassing the armies of Jiu Jiang Marquis and the forces of the Heart Shadow Sect.

In the Yan Feng Kingdom, this personal guard was considered elite, enough to crush the Heart Shadow Sect army or the forces of Jiu Jiang Marquis.

"Father!"

"Father!"

Before the army, a graceful woman and three young men excitedly watched Chu Yu. Their father, who had been traveling and cultivating abroad, had become a Chaos Realm being and a First-Class Marquis! This was like a sudden windfall.

Whoosh!

Chu Yu, with Luo Feng and the others, descended before the army and looked at the three young men with a slightly troubled expression. "Chu Yu, upon hearing the news of your marquisate, I immediately rushed back from Feng Ye City with the three children," the graceful woman said.

"Father, the news of you becoming a First-Class Marquis has spread throughout the entire Chu Capital."

"In our Emperor Chu lineage, there are only seven First-Class Marquises, and you're one of them," the three sons said excitedly.

Chu Yu nodded and then introduced Luo Feng, who was beside him. "This is my close friend, Grand Saint Luo He. From now on, when you see him, treat him as you would treat me—show no disrespect."

"Greetings, Uncle," the three young men immediately bowed respectfully, realizing that this man was likely a powerful ally their father had invited.

"Greetings, Grand Saint Luo He," the graceful woman also said politely.

"You're too kind," Luo Feng replied with a smile. He could tell that Chu Yu's relationship with this woman was rather distant; there was no hint of closeness despite their long separation.

Chu Yu, on the other hand, approached the old servant standing beside the three children with a more affectionate demeanor.

"Marquis," the old servant said, visibly moved.

"Old Zheng, it's been a long time," Chu Yu said, looking at the servant, who was only at the Void True God level.

"I've finally lived to see the day when Your Highness becomes a Marquis, and not just any Marquis—a First-Class Marquis," Old Zheng said, his voice trembling with emotion.

This old servant had been left to Chu Yu by his mother and had cared for him since his weakest days, following and looking after him. Although called a servant, he was, in reality, a dear family member.

As they reunited—

"Chu Yu!"

"Brother Chu Yu!"

The Marquises of Chu's lineage finally revealed themselves.

Chu Yu looked up to see the high-ranking Marquises of the family, all of whom were now enthusiastically coming to greet him.

Luo Feng observed all of this from the sidelines. Before arriving in Yan Feng Kingdom, Chu Yu had provided him with detailed information on the top experts of Origin Continent, including all the Chaos Realm beings within the Yan Feng Kingdom.

Luo Feng compared them with what he saw.

"There are a total of 29 Marquises in the Emperor Chu lineage, and today, seven of them have come to greet Chu Yu. Among these seven, five are Third-Class Marquises, and two are Second-Class Marquises," Luo Feng quickly identified.

As for the First-Class Marquises, who held the same status as Chu Yu, not a single one of them had come.

"I've heard that the competition within the royal family is intense, and the First-Class Marquises are direct competitors with each other," Luo Feng understood.

The so-called Third-Class Marquises were essentially in a semi-abandoned state within the royal family, receiving only the most basic resources and nothing more.

Second-Class Marquises received much more in terms of resources.

First-Class Marquises had access to the true core resources of the entire Origin Continent. However, even they had to engage in fierce competition with each other.

"For guest officials, the threshold to obtain resources is much higher than for First-Class Marquises," Luo Feng knew this well. Yan Feng Kingdom prioritized nurturing its First-Class Marquises, who were considered the absolute elite.

As for guest officials? Their relationship with the kingdom was more transactional.

Guest officials served the kingdom and earned merit in exchange for some resources. Therefore, the resources they received were far less than those of First-Class Marquises.

After dealing with the many Marquises, Chu Yu finally led Luo Feng onto the large ship.

On the ship, the lady and her three children had gone to the rear, leaving Chu Yu and Luo Feng to sit in the front hall, looking out at the East City Gate.

"Those who came to greet me are all Second-Class and Third-Class Marquises," Chu Yu explained. "In our Emperor Chu lineage, there are three Divine Kings. The Divine Kings are far above all this and naturally don't bother with trivial matters. Many affairs are handled by us First-Class Marquises."

"So they're here to curry favor with you," Luo Feng understood.

For the royal family's First-Class Marquises, either possessing the Infinite Divine Body or reaching the peak of the Chaos Realm was sufficient to attain the title. Meeting either of these criteria would make one a First-Class Marquis.

Of course, this was the requirement for royal family members.

For independent cultivators like Luo Feng, becoming a guest official was a complicated matter.

"I've already submitted your application to become a guest official," Chu Yu said with a smile. "Under normal circumstances, it will be approved."

"In what situation would it be denied?" Luo Feng asked.

"First, if your strength is insufficient. Second, if there are issues with your identity," Chu Yu explained with a smile. "You possess peak Chaos Realm strength, so your strength is certainly sufficient. As for your identity? I'm sure there's no problem with that."

The large ship flew over the vast East City Gate, with the personal guard following inside.

"How can you be sure there's no problem with my identity?" Luo Feng asked, puzzled.

"Our Yan Feng Kingdom isn't overly concerned with the background of its guest officials. Whether you've committed heinous crimes or have great fortune, even if you're entangled in countless dangerous karmic connections... Yan Feng Kingdom doesn't care about any of that! There's only one criterion: you're not an outsider," Chu Yu explained.

"An outsider?" Luo Feng asked.

"Yes, meaning a life form from outside the Cage," Chu Yu explained. "Our Yan Feng Kingdom's resources can be passed on to any life form within the Cage but are never shared with outsiders."

Luo Feng was secretly amazed.

Outsiders?

"When we entered Chu Capital, it confirmed that you're a life form within the Cage," Chu Yu explained further. "This city was personally forged by the Yan Feng Kingdom's founder as a gift to the Emperor. Any outsider who enters this city will be detected!"

Luo Feng was impressed.

The most mysterious and terrifying being in Yan Feng Kingdom was the Yan Feng Founder, followed by the thirteen Emperors!

"Ah?" Chu Yu suddenly smiled. "The moment you entered the city, confirming your identity was legitimate, your application to become a guest official was approved. Congratulations, Brother Luo He! You're officially a guest official of my Chu lineage."

Luo Feng smiled. "Thank you, Brother Chu Yu."