The Emperor's Invitation
Chapter 18: The Emperor's Invitation
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"The throne may sit still, but its shadows move constantly."
—Sage Wu
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Golden Sky Sect - One Day Later
Qin Feng lay on a stone bed inside the Inner Sanctum Infirmary, bandaged and unconscious. Crystalline qi tubes pumped restorative energy through his limbs. His breathing was shallow but steady.
Five girls stood around him.
Yun'er sat closest, gently cleaning the blood off his cheek with a wet cloth. Her eyes were red from crying, but her expression was calm now. Focused. Every so often, her gaze drifted to his face, checking for the smallest twitch.
Zihan paced in the back, muttering, "He's alive. He won. He really did it..." Her pacing quickened as if saying it would keep him grounded in the world of the living.
Ziyue stood with crossed arms, guarding the door like a sentinel. Every now and then, her eyes drifted to him and softened, though her posture never did.
Su Mei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying hard to look unaffected — but she hadn't blinked in minutes.
And Mei Xue? Mei Xue just watched. Sword across her back. Still as ice, her presence quiet but heavy.
A knock broke the silence.
Elder Mo, robed in formal red, entered with a scroll in hand. His face was serious.
"An imperial envoy has arrived. The Emperor has summoned Qin Feng."
"He's unconscious," Yun'er said firmly, placing herself between the bed and the elder.
"The envoy said they'll wait until he wakes. But not long. The decree is sealed by the golden dragon itself."
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1. The Golden Invitation
By evening, Qin Feng stirred.
His body felt like it had been through a mountain grinder, then dragged through fire.
He groaned and squinted against the lanternlight.
[System Notification: Vital Signs Stable. Lightning Vein at 27% Recovery. Emotional Sync Bonds Strengthened.]
He groaned again. "Did I die again?"
Zihan rushed forward and hugged him, nearly choking him. "Don't you dare say that again!"
Yun'er sighed in relief, her smile breaking through the exhaustion. "You scared us."
Su Mei muttered, "Idiot... but you won."
Ziyue: "Took you long enough."
Mei Xue: "You're late for your imperial banquet."
Qin Feng blinked. "...What?"
Hours later, he stood at the sect gates, his body still aching beneath the golden formal robes draped over him. The inner lining was embroidered with lightning motifs, stitched by Yun'er's hand.
A luxurious spirit chariot shaped like a jade phoenix floated nearby, shimmering with runes.
Inside sat the envoy: a masked woman in imperial purple. Her voice echoed with gravity.
"Qin Feng. By decree of the Emperor, you are summoned to the capital. As Champion of the Celestial Crown Tournament, your presence is now required."
She handed him a sealed scroll embossed with the imperial dragon.
[New Title Unlocked: Champion of the Realm]
[New Passive Buff: Prestige Aura (Active around NPCs and females with favorability over 60%)]
The chariot lifted off with a thunderous hum.
From below:
Yun'er waved softly.
Ziyue raised a thumb without a word.
Su Mei shouted, "Don't you dare flirt with any princesses!"
Zihan was sobbing again.
Mei Xue just whispered, "Don't die."
Qin Feng smiled. "I'll try. No promises."
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2. Arrival at the Capital
The Imperial Capital stretched across the horizon like a painting come to life. Cities stacked on clouds. Floating palaces orbiting spirit cores. Great rivers of qi flowed upward into the sky, feeding the heavens.
Dragons roared in the distance, circling a spire of gold and obsidian. Crystal birds zipped past, trailing flame and mist. The sky shimmered like a mirror with the reflections of barrier formations.
As the chariot descended, Qin Feng braced himself.
Ten spirit-armored guards stood at attention before a diamond gate etched with runes older than time. Their halberds buzzed with latent qi.
"Champion Qin Feng. Welcome to the Heart of the Realm."
He was guided through long corridors of pure crystal, the walls enchanted with floating records of past champions.
Noble ladies giggled behind veils. Sect envoys whispered.
A group of masked cultivators from the Heaven-Seers bowed lightly as he passed. He sensed their eyes on him long after.
Then he reached the throne hall.
It was massive.
The dragon throne loomed high, carved from immortal wood and wrapped in cosmic vines. A divine fire hovered overhead, never dimming.
The Emperor lounged casually, dressed in a robe dark as midnight, speckled with constellations.
Next to him stood a girl like winter carved into form. She wore silver armor, a frost lotus emblem over her chestplate.
She scowled.
Qin Feng sighed. "Let me guess. Princess."
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3. The Royal Test
"So you're the infamous cultivator everyone keeps praising," the Emperor said, voice deep and filled with hidden mirth.
Qin Feng bowed. "Infamous is a generous term, Your Majesty."
"Tell me, boy. What do you seek from the heavens?"
Qin Feng paused. "Freedom."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed.
Then he laughed. Loud, booming. "A rare answer. A dangerous one. I like it."
He gestured to the girl beside him.
"My daughter, Xiuying. Known as Princess Frostfire."
She gave Qin Feng a glare so sharp it could chip soul stones.
"I don't like you."
Qin Feng smirked. "Don't worry. I'm not here to win your heart."
Gasps echoed through the court.
The Emperor clapped. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Guards entered, bearing trays of spirit stones, golden tokens, and a blade encased in starlight.
"Your reward. And an invitation. In five days, the Divine Banquet begins. All sects, divine clans, and minor gods will attend. Bring your mask, and your courage."
[Quest Updated: Survive the Banquet of Beasts]
The Princess scoffed. "Try not to get poisoned."
Qin Feng gave her a half-bow. "Try not to freeze the wine."
The court descended into laughter, curses, and whispers.
The Emperor just smiled wider.
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4. Secret Whispers
Across the continent, far beyond mortal reach…
In a shrine buried beneath black ice, an ancient man stirred.
"The lightning has returned. The cycle breaks again."
In a mountain stronghold, an old woman traced symbols into ash.
"He will walk into the lion's mouth. And think himself clever."
A masked youth rode through the desert.
"His harem grows. His enemies multiply. How long can he pretend to be both villain and hero?"
And in the frozen shadows of the Imperial Palace...
The Princess spoke to a mirror.
"Why him? Why now?"
The mirror whispered back, "Because even fire can melt frost."
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"The capital is not a crown. It is a battlefield in disguise."
—Princess Frostfire
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To be continued...
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Chapter 19 Preview: Banquet of Beasts
Qin Feng prepares for the Divine Banquet, where divine cultivators, scheming nobles, and masked assassins gather beneath glittering lights. But under the wine and elegance, murder brews.
And not everyone plans for him to leave the banquet alive.