Chapter 315: The Birthday Banquet Begins

Chapter 315: The Birthday Banquet Begins

Ye Nan Tian appeared extremely young, looking just over twenty years old, but his true age was already past thirty. Reaching the Earthly Venerable Realm at such an age was indeed remarkable, though still within the bounds of what could be accepted.

Shi Jinyu chuckled, "Brother Ning, you’d better be careful. If Ye Nan Tian finds out he’s been given a green hat, he might fly into a rage. The wrath of a Martial Venerable could leave millions dead!"

Ning Xiaochuan smiled faintly, unbothered by the matter. "Ye Nan Tian’s cultivation is fearsome, but the Demon Sect Saintess is no less formidable. I see no weakness in her compared to him. With the younger generation’s leading figures from both the Demon Sect and the sects arriving, it won’t be easy for the imperial court to defeat them and renew the contract with the dragon race."

Yu Qing, however, remained relaxed and laughed. "With Prince Jindu of the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor here, we can hold our own against them. And if I’m not mistaken, the imperial court will surely send another leading figure."

"Is there anyone in the court stronger than Prince Jindu?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

"The Cloud Marquis and the Spiritual Void Venerable—if either of them comes, they alone could suppress the entire gathering and make all the world’s talents bow their heads," Yu Qing replied with a grin.

The Dragon King had decreed: "Any Martial Artist under the age of forty may come to offer their congratulations."

Martial Artists lived twice as long as ordinary people, so a forty-year-old was still considered quite young, with a highly adaptable physique. They represented the rising force and future of the Martial Path.

Those who reached the Earthly Venerable Realm before forty were true top-tier geniuses, possessing immense potential and limitless futures.

The Cloud Marquis, Yue Wuyang, had entered the Earthly Venerable Realm at twenty-six, making him the youngest Martial Venerable in the history of the Yulan Empire. Now still under forty, he was more than qualified to represent the imperial court in offering congratulations.

No sooner had Yu Qing spoken than someone cried out the Cloud Marquis’s name.

"The Cloud Marquis has truly arrived!"

"The imperial court is clearly determined this time. I wonder if the legendary Spiritual Void Venerable will also grace us with his presence?"

"The Spiritual Void Venerable has just taken over the Emperor’s Martial Palace, so it’s unlikely he’ll come. But with the Cloud Marquis alone, victory is already assured. No one could possibly stand against him."

Clad in five-colored glazed armor, the Cloud Marquis had thick brows and sharp lips, resembling a war god. His power was immense, and even without displaying it, he instilled awe in those around him.

His gaze was piercing, his pupils bright and dazzling. Ordinary Martial Artists would kneel in fear just from meeting his eyes.

He approached Yu Qing and Ning Xiaochuan, asking, "Have you also come to offer congratulations to the Dragon King?"

Though Yu Qing and Ning Xiaochuan held high status as heirs of marquises, protocol dictated they should bow to the Cloud Marquis.

Yet neither of them did.

Yu Qing said, "The Dragon King has lived for a thousand years, a senior we all revere. Offering him congratulations is the duty of us princes."

The Cloud Marquis did not overly concern himself with their disrespect, saying, "The Emperor has sent me to renew the thousand-year contract with the Dragon King. Since you are both here, you will follow my orders when the time comes."

"Apologies, but we have not received any decree from the Emperor. Forgive us for being unable to obey the Marquis's command." Yu Qing, as the heir of a Hereditary Noble House, carried an innate arrogance and would never submit to the Cloud Marquis's orders.

As a prince of a Hereditary Noble House, he naturally looked down upon those of Non-Hereditary Noble status.

The Cloud Marquis's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze darkened further. No one could guess what thoughts churned in his mind at that moment.

"You two have quite the audacity! Though you are heirs of noble houses, you are not yet true nobles yourselves. How dare you defy the Cloud Marquis's orders and the Emperor's decree? Do you intend to commit treason?" Ji Hanxing stood behind the Cloud Marquis, pointing the Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear at Ning Xiaochuan's neck, her eyes icy.

Though her demeanor was cold, she subtly shook her head at Ning Xiaochuan, signaling him not to oppose the Cloud Marquis.

Yu Qing flew into a rage, a golden Profound Qi dragon coiling around his arm as his aura surged. He glared at Ji Hanxing and said, "Who do you think you are? How dare you raise a weapon against a noble heir? Do you believe I won’t cripple you?"

Ji Hanxing showed no fear of Yu Qing's status. With a sweep of her Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear, she unleashed a wave of Profound Qi, like an iron pillar swinging through the air, stirring thunderous winds.

Yu Qing struck out with both palms, releasing two Profound Qi dragons that roared like true beasts.

Boom!

The collision cracked the ground and sent the lake water exploding outward.

Both combatants were forced back, evenly matched.

Yu Qing felt his palms go numb as he stared at Ji Hanxing in shock, thinking to himself, "The Cloud Marquis is indeed formidable. Even a mere female attendant possesses such strength."

After the death of the Cloud Marquis's eldest disciple, he had focused on nurturing Ji Hanxing, allowing her cultivation to advance rapidly. She had now reached the Ninth Level of the Transcendent Realm, making her a worthy rival to Yu Qing. She currently ranked as the third most influential figure under the Cloud Marquis.

Yu Qing was about to continue the fight, but Ning Xiaochuan stopped him, whispering, "The Demon Sect and other major sects are watching. Hold back for now—don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing infighting within the imperial faction."

Yu Qing glared fiercely at Ji Hanxing before dispersing the Profound Qi from his arm. He communicated with Ning Xiaochuan through Mental Energy, asking, "Do you know that woman beside the Cloud Marquis?"

Yu Qing was actually quite perceptive, not as rash as he appeared. He had already noticed the silent exchange between Ji Hanxing and Ning Xiaochuan.

"The Cloud Marquis's second disciple, Ji Hanxing," Ning Xiaochuan replied without further explanation.

Truthfully, his relationship with Ji Hanxing wasn’t particularly deep. Moreover, she still owed him hundreds of millions in elixir fees, a debt she had yet to repay, which irked him. Demanding payment would make him seem petty, but letting it go pained him greatly.

"People from the Cloud Marquis House are truly not worth befriending. To owe such a massive sum and still refuse repayment—what terrible character," Ning Xiaochuan thought bitterly.

If Ji Hanxing knew what was going through his mind at that moment, she might very well have thrust her spear straight at him.

"You're not involved with her too, are you?" Yu Qing said.

"Do you think that's possible? I killed the Cloud Marquis's three other disciples. She probably wants to skin me alive." Ning Xiaochuan chuckled lightly.

Of course, this was merely Ning Xiaochuan's own speculation. As for Ji Hanxing's true attitude? That was hard to say.

The imperial faction had grown harmonious, led by the Cloud Marquis, with formidable figures like Prince Jindu, Yu Qing, Ning Xiaochuan, and Ji Hanxing—each capable of standing their ground. Their presence instantly overshadowed the Demon Sect and the other major sects.

After all, the imperial court was the ruler of the Yulan Empire, producing countless experts who governed the world. Their foundation naturally surpassed that of the Demon Sect and the other sects.

Soon, more Martial Artists arrived one after another.

Among them were princesses and princes from fourth-grade and third-grade civilizations, heirs of ancient families, young elites from unorthodox factions, and others.

Aside from human Martial Artists, there were also various mystic beasts who came to offer their congratulations.

These were the finest among mystic beasts, including even the offspring of seventh-grade and eighth-grade mystic beasts. None of them appeared in their beast forms but rather took on youthful human appearances.

Any mystic beast that reached the seventh-grade could assume human form.

One of the eighth-grade mystic beast offspring, after transforming, looked like a two- or three-year-old child, wearing a red bellyband and tiny braids, chasing a butterfly by the lakeside—utterly harmless at first glance.

But its Martial Path cultivation was terrifyingly abnormal. Anyone who mistook it for an ordinary child would be gravely mistaken.

There was also a mystic beast from the Seductive Illusion Fox Clan, taking the form of a peerless beauty draped in fox-fur gauze, her long hair flowing as she danced with enchanting grace. Her alluring curves were accentuated by her swaying movements, and beneath her skirt peeked a fluffy white tail, captivating the souls of many Martial Artists.

She was the heir of the Seductive Illusion Fox Clan, carrying the bloodline of the ancient Divine Sealing Era's overlord—the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox. Her cultivation was unfathomable.

Ning Xiaochuan counted carefully—there were as many as twenty-seven mystic beasts capable of human form.

It was worth noting that any mystic beast able to take human form had reached at least the seventh-grade, earning the title of mystic beast monarch.

Once a seventh-grade mystic beast reached adulthood, it possessed combat power comparable to a Martial Venerable, making countless Martial Artists look up in awe.

Yu Qing remarked, "Behind each of these mystic beast offspring stands at least one monstrously powerful mystic beast overlord. They hail from the Yulan Empire's various forbidden lands and wild forests—places like the Fire Demon Mountain Range, Immortal Chess Lake, Sacrificial Sky Plain, and the Mosha Grand Desert. They are all descendants of regional mystic beast monarchs. Befriending even one of them could bring endless benefits, providing us with a steady supply of mystic beast mounts."

However, the mystic beasts showed no intention of befriending the human Martial Artists. Instead, they were openly hostile, with no interaction between the two sides. Humans and mystic beasts had always been sworn enemies, locked in mutual animosity. If not for the fact they were in Dragon Valley, a battle might have already erupted.

Humans and beasts alike gathered by the lakeside, waiting for the birthday banquet to begin.

"Whoosh!"

The Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess of the Flood Dragon Clan descended from above the waterfall, hovering above the lake's surface. Instantly, silence fell over the crowd.

The birthday banquet had begun.

The Dragon Princess had an exquisite figure, her skin as flawless as carved jade, with translucent dragon horns on her forehead. Lightning weaved behind her, forming a cyan electric net. Her voice was melodious as she said, "We welcome the human heroes and the heirs of the various Mystic Beast territories to Dragon Valley. The Dragon King's birthday banquet is about to begin. Please enjoy the delicacies and fine wine first, and then the Dragon King himself will come out to greet everyone."

"Boom!"

The lake instantly erupted in excitement. The fact that the Dragon King would appear in person left everyone in awe, their hearts brimming with overwhelming excitement.