The Feast

The night was filled with shining stars, the rain had just stopped, and the air became refreshing.

Anyone sitting and enjoying this atmosphere had good taste.

Farkan was squatting, having comprehended and memorized all the abilities, storing them in his purple-colored pouch.

"Hmm, so tomorrow is the elders' competition. Good, since it's not in the morning," he muttered internally.

"I won't reveal my abilities from the Rabid Blood path. Instead, I'll use the abilities I have and upgrade them to the fifth rank."

All of Farkan's previous abilities were at the fourth rank, but after reaching the fifth rank, he needed to purchase abilities matching his rank to align with his performance.

"My path will be full of thorns from now on."

He recalled recent events from his past life, feeling betrayal and treachery. At that time, he was refining a very high-level ability. He had a follower who was bribed with many rare gems to reveal Farkan's location. Queen Chan Yii, with her unmatched power, informed all the kings of his whereabouts, and they surrounded him that day because Farkan had killed about ten million people from various places in the Eastern Continent to refine that ability…

"Hmm, that time will come later."

He stood up from his spot and shouted, "Servant!"

A servant quickly entered the room, saying, "What does the elder want?"

"Prepare the bathing room for me. The feast is in an hour."

"With pleasure, elder."

After saying this, he left the room, ordering the other servants to prepare a hot bath and various items… since he was the head servant.

The head servant returned to Farkan, informing him that everything was ready and that the head of the royal treatment headquarters wanted to meet him.

"Hmm, tell her to wait in the main hall."

"Yes, fourth elder."

Farkan went to the bathing room and found a woman there.

"Welcome, fourth elder. I'm here to wash your hair and scrub your back."

Farkan looked at her. She had a fair body and was relatively tall.

"What's this fool doing here?" he muttered internally.

"No thanks, you can leave."

She heard him, left the room, and closed the door behind her.

"Hmm, I have no interest in women. In the end, they're just a mass of bones covered in flesh."

The room was warm, and the tub was filled with hot water.

Farkan dipped his feet in, then submerged his entire body, leaving his head out.

He felt sudden relief, "Ahhh, what a feeling."

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After fifteen minutes of cleaning and bathing,

Farkan emerged from the room, wrapped in a large towel around his lower body.

He headed to the main hall and sat on a chair across from Yu Xin, the head of the royal treatment headquarters.

"Aren't you going to put on your robe?" she said, looking into his eyes.

"I won't stay long. What do you want from me?"

"When I was treating you, I noticed your energy has worsened. Are you okay?"

"Is this because of the Rabid Blood path or when I advanced to the fifth rank through a forbidden method?" he thought internally.

His thoughts churned like a stormy sea.

"Of course, I'm fine, Miss Yu Xin. Thanks for your concern," he said with a gentle smile on his face.

"You've reached the fifth rank?"

He looked into her eyes and said, "That's right."

Recalling events between Yu Xin and the previous body's owner, he knew she had been loyal.

"Which path did you take?" she asked Farkan.

"I won't tell you," Farkan said, then stood from his seat.

"As you wish, but the path you've chosen might have side effects on your energy and body."

Farkan scoffed, "Doesn't matter."

"I'll wait for you at the feast table, Miss Yu Xin."

The head servant entered the hall and helped Farkan put on a new white robe.

"Don't tell anyone."

"As always, our secrets stay hidden," she winked at Farkan and left his palace.

"Hmm, my energy worsened?"

"I think it's related to exhaustion and lack of rest…"

"Goodbye, fourth elder," the servant said, closing the door after speaking.

Farkan walked toward the royal palace until he encountered the fifth elder again.

But Farkan ignored him. The fifth elder, arrogant, bumped into Farkan mockingly.

"Too bad we're now in front of the king's palace. If we weren't so close, your face would be covered in blood," he smiled like a sick clown.

The fifth elder kept flaunting his strength until they reached the massive door of the king's palace.

A guard opened the door, letting them in. The table was extremely long, seating about 13 heads of the system's headquarters and all nine elders.

"Fourth elder, come sit here," the king gestured to a seat beside him.

Both the fourth and fifth elders took their seats, leaving an empty chair for the third elder.

"Won't the third elder come?" Farkan asked the king.

"He's on his way," the king said with a smile.

Farkan looked at him and scoffed internally, "What a disgrace, your smile is filthy."

Minutes later, the third elder entered the palace, and the only thing that caught his eye was Farkan.

"Fourth elder!" He ran to hug him.

"Why do you look like this, third elder? You seem like you just got out of prison."

"Haha, I was in closed-door cultivation, so I haven't rested in days."

"Sit, third elder," the king said, and upon hearing the order, he sat immediately.

"Today was a joyful day because of the return of the fourth elder, who was missing for two weeks and fought against one of the Demonic Alliance commander's followers. All thanks to the head of the royal treatment headquarters, the flight master, and the territory's guards."

"It's our duty, Your Majesty," Yu Xin and Grandmaster Lan Tian spoke on behalf of his disciple and the land front commander.

"Let the feast begin."

Happiness was evident on all the faces present, with smiles gracing their expressions.

The table was laden with luxurious and delicious food. The third elder was eating voraciously, then noticed the silence and looked up.

Everyone laughed at him, even the king, who smiled at him. The eating scene was comical.

Another hour passed, and then everyone stood.

"I hope you enjoyed the feast. As for the nine elders, tomorrow evening marks the start of the competition."

"By the way, it's not related to positions—just to assess strengths and weaknesses."

"A peaceful night to all," the king said, rising from his seat with Yan Yue beside him.

Everyone clasped their hands and greeted the king, then left the palace.

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After everyone left the king's palace, a fight broke out between the fourth and fifth elders.

The first and third elders came to stop the brawl.

"Stop, first and third," Yan Yue suddenly appeared and spoke.

"I can set up a challenge between you two. The loser is the one who gives up first."

"Where?" Farkan asked Yan Yue.

"No problem, at the training headquarters."

They all arrived at the training headquarters, entered, and the lights were turned on.

"Face each other one-on-one without using anything that breaks the rules," Yan Yue said, looking at them.

All the headquarters heads and the remaining elders were in the spectator seats, while Yan Yue acted as the referee between them.

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The End