Chapter 65 of 100

Chapter 65

12 min read3,096 words

As Yun Che and Xia Yuanba walked into the main hall, they happened to meet Murong Ye. He glanced at them and said rudely, "What are you two doing here? Do you know what kind of banquet this is? Get out quickly!"

"It was Elder Sikong who allowed us to come," Xia Yuanba said, suppressing his anger.

"Elder Sikong? Allowed you?" Murong Ye laughed disdainfully. "Did he allow you to come and make a fool of yourselves? This isn't just any ordinary banquet. There will definitely be battles among the disciples of various sects later. What are you two good-for-nothings doing here? Hmph, well, since Elder Sikong allowed you to come, go ahead and enter. Behave yourselves, and if you make the New Moon Mystic Mansion lose face, don't blame me for being harsh on you."

Having followed Lan Xueruo all afternoon, she had always been smiling and speaking softly, but she never once looked at him directly. This made him feel extremely frustrated. Now, encountering Yun Che and Xia Yuanba, he found a good outlet for his frustration.

Even if Xia Yuanba had a good temper, he was still furious at being suddenly scolded. Yun Che, however, pulled his arm and said calmly, "Let's go in."

Once inside the main hall, they saw Sikong Han waving at them and then gesturing for them to sit in the designated seats. Their seats were in the last row, the least noticeable... However, although the seats were not noticeable, Xia Yuanba's tall and muscular build made it hard for anyone to ignore him.

"Yun Che, Yuanba, if there's a battle later, just watch carefully. If you can learn something, that would be great. You two have been in the Mystic Mansion for a short time, so no one will likely challenge you. Just sit back and watch," Sikong Han reminded them.

"Understood, Elder Sikong," Xia Yuanba nodded and sat down obediently.

Yun Che also nodded slowly. He glanced around and noticed that there were about thirty Mystic Mansion disciples present. These were likely the most elite disciples of the Mystic Mansion. Out of the three thousand disciples of the Mystic Mansion, these thirty were undoubtedly the best of the best. Soon, Yun Che saw Lan Xueruo, who was sitting in the center of the first row of the disciples' seats. This position did not surprise Yun Che at all. At eighteen years old, she was already at the Eighth Level of the Mystic Realm, and as a girl, she was considered to have superior talent even in the upper echelons of sects.

Yun Che also caught the attention of many Mystic Mansion disciples. Those who could attend this banquet were all from the top tier, and they were familiar with each other due to intense competition. Xia Yuanba's arrival surprised them... because Xia Yuanba was only at the Sixth Level of the Initial Mystic Realm, placing him in the lower ranks of the Mystic Mansion, and he did not belong here. As for Yun Che, he was a complete stranger.

"Hey? Are you a new junior brother? I don't seem to have seen you before," a girl in a fiery red dress sitting in the row in front of Yun Che turned around and asked with curious eyes.

"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Yun Che. I just entered the Mystic Mansion today," Yun Che nodded slightly and flashed a charming smile.

The girl was instantly struck by a sense of being electrified, her cheeks turning slightly red. Then she exclaimed, "Wow! You look so young, and you're already at the Mystic Realm! No wonder you were allowed to attend this banquet on your first day in the Mystic Mansion."

"Of course, he's my brother-in-law, how could he not be amazing!" Xia Yuanba said proudly, as if he was more pleased by others praising Yun Che than praising himself.

"Ah? Brother-in-law? You're already... married?" The girl's lips parted, and a clear hint of regret appeared in her eyes.

Yun Che barely resisted the urge to strangle Xia Yuanba and said calmly, "Yes. Senior Sister is so beautiful, you must be married too, right?"

"I'm not getting married that early. By the way, I'm Ye Hongling, Class One of the Mystic Mansion, seventeen years old. If you have any problems, I'll take care of you!" the girl said with a sense of righteousness.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Realizing he might have made a mistake, Xia Yuanba lowered his head deeply and didn't dare to speak to Yun Che for a long time.

At this moment, the main character of the banquet, the new head of the New Moon Mystic Mansion, Qin Wuyou, finally arrived. Qin Wuyou looked to be in his sixties, with a calm and composed demeanor, clear and wise eyes, and an aura of transcendence. He was originally one of the elders of the Imperial City's Cangfeng Mystic Mansion and was now specially appointed to be the head of the New Moon City Mystic Mansion, with unfathomable strength.

Qin Wuyou had arrived at the New Moon Mystic Mansion a month ago, but the official banquet was only being held today. In just one month, he had deeply impressed the major elders and disciples, earning their respect. After he took his seat, the representatives of the major sects arrived one after another, as if they had agreed beforehand.

"Ha ha ha ha, I am Tie Zhan Cang of the Iron Spear Sect, and I have brought my son Tie Hengjun to congratulate Head Qin on his new appointment."

With a hearty laugh, a middle-aged man entered with seven disciples.

"This is the current head of the Iron Spear Sect," Xia Yuanba whispered to Yun Che. "The person behind him is his youngest son, Tie Hengjun. Although he is very young, he has astonishing talent. It is rumored that if nothing goes wrong, he will be the first choice for the next head of the Iron Spear Sect."

"Head Qin, it's been a while. I was deeply impressed by your demeanor half a month ago, so I specially brought my son today... a small gift, a token of my respect."

Qin Wuyou personally greeted him and accepted the gift, "Head Tie, you are too kind. Your presence is already a great honor, and you didn't need to bring a gift. Your son has astonishing talent and an extraordinary demeanor. He will surely be a dragon among men, possibly even surpassing you, ha ha ha ha... please, take your seat."

"Yuanba, this atmosphere seems too harmonious, there's no sign of any confrontation," Yun Che said, tapping his chin.

"Um... the Iron Spear Sect has a good reputation. Although their overall strength surpasses our Mystic Mansion, they have a good relationship with us. But the others..."

As Xia Yuanba was speaking, the people from Yunyang Sect arrived.

"Chief Elder Yan Zizai of Yunyang Sect, specially here to congratulate Head Qin on his new appointment."

After Yunyang Sect, the disciples of Xuanxin Sect, Qisha Sword Pavilion, and Fengyun Mystic Mansion also arrived, each bringing seven or eight disciples. Qin Wuyou personally greeted each of them. Just as the banquet was about to start, the Fentian Sect arrived late.

"Sixth Elder Fenhanyan of the Fentian Sect, congratulating Head Qin on his new appointment."

The Fentian Sect... more accurately, the Fentian Sect's branch in New Moon City, was led by an old man in a red robe, embroidered with crimson flame patterns. When he stepped into the main hall, everyone could feel a warm wave of air brush against their faces.

After the Fentian Sect's branch, the Xiao Sect's branch arrived last. The leader was a young man who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old! Behind him, there was only a middle-aged man in his early forties and six young disciples under twenty.

"Junior Xiao Luocheng of the Xiao Sect, greeting Head Qin."

Upon entering the main hall, the young man bowed respectfully to Qin Wuyou, his demeanor calm and elegant, neither humble nor arrogant... but, as a junior coming to pay respects to the head of the Imperial City's Mystic Mansion, his lack of humility was already a form of arrogance.

"It's Xiao Luocheng!!" Xia Yuanba suddenly exclaimed softly. He immediately whispered to Yun Che, "I didn't expect him to come! On my first day in New Moon City, I heard his name several times. He is the same age as Brother-in-law, only sixteen, but he is already the young head of the Xiao Sect's branch and is recognized as the first among the young generation in New Moon City!"

"The first among the young generation?" Yun Che immediately took a closer look at Xiao Luocheng. He indeed looked very young, but his demeanor was mature, and his eyes exuded an unhidden sense of nobility and arrogance. The gazes of those looking at him were filled with various emotions... astonishment, admiration, envy, or self-pity.

"Yes, in terms of talent, he is undoubtedly the first! At sixteen, he is already at the Tenth Level of the Mystic Realm! It is said that he is not far from breaking through to the True Mystic Realm. Brother-in-law, do you believe it?"

Sixteen... Tenth Level of the Mystic Realm!?

Yun Che's expression also changed. He subconsciously looked at Lan Xueruo and saw that her beautiful face was indeed covered with a deep sense of seriousness.

"Ha ha, Xiao Luocheng? I have heard of your name like thunder. I didn't expect to meet the first among the young generation in New Moon City today. Your father didn't come?"

"Head Qin, you flatter me. Although my father wanted to personally congratulate you, he is unwell and could not come. I am here in his place, and I hope you will not be offended," Xiao Luocheng said with a smile, speaking politely.

Qin Wuyou, as the head of the New Moon Mystic Mansion, should have been greeted by the heads of the major sects to show respect. At the very least, a chief elder should have come. Among the seven major sects, the heads of the Iron Spear Sect, Qisha Sword Pavilion, and Fengyun Mystic Mansion came personally, while the chief elders of Xuanxin Sect and Yunyang Sect attended. The Fentian Sect's branch, although arrogant, at least sent a sixth elder.

But the Xiao Sect's branch was led by a junior!

Although Xiao Luocheng was polite, anyone who wasn't a fool or blind could see that this was a blatant show of disrespect.

"Ha ha ha ha," Qin Wuyou laughed heartily, seemingly not at all bothered. "What are you talking about, Young Head Xiao? I have heard of your reputation for a long time, and meeting you today fulfills a wish. I am delighted. Please, take your seat, guests of the Xiao Sect."

With this, all the invited guests had arrived. The Xiao Sect's branch and the Fentian Sect's branch naturally occupied the two most prestigious seats, followed by the five major sects, and then the seat of the New Moon City Lord, Murong Hang. He had no complaints about this seating arrangement. Although the Murong family wielded great power in New Moon City, that was when dealing with commoners and small sects. In front of the seven major sects, even as the City Lord, he had to behave himself and not offend anyone.

As for the invited medium-sized sects, they were all on edge. It was rare for them to see all seven major sects gathered, and they dared not offend any of them.

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