Kunlun Peak, Jade Pool Holy Land base.
In just a day or two, the original bandit lair at Kunlun Peak has completely transformed.
Rows of exquisite wooden lofts rise from the ground, neatly arranged. At their center sits a circular plaza paved with precious woods, surrounded by bright red lanterns that light up the entire square as if it were daylight.
Dozens of tables made from golden-nanmu wood are set out on the plaza. Pretty maids in pale moon-white dresses move back and forth, placing plates of exotic fruits, delicacies, and bottles of fine wine on the tables.
Tonight, the sky is exceptionally clear, with a full moon hanging overhead.
There’s still half an hour until the banquet begins at the appointed hour, but guests are already arriving one after another.
The banquet is hosted by the Saintess of Jade Pool Holy Land, so everyone who comes brings a gift.
Every guest is personally guided in by a maid and led to the plaza, where they are assigned seats.
The first to arrive are Jinyang Sect’s deputy sect master, accompanied by his elder Harold Ye and Charlie Chen—the one who first discovered the change in the Blackwind Mountains and rushed back to report it. The invitations specify that each guest may bring two attendants.
Not long after Jinyang Sect’s group arrives, Golden Blade Gate—another Yuet Province sect—follows closely behind.
To be honest, Golden Blade Gate only managed to seize a Spiritual Mountain thanks to Jinyang Sect’s early warning. Otherwise, as a mere quasi–second-rate sect, they’d never have had the qualifications.
So when Golden Blade Gate’s sect master Tyson Wan meets Harris Xie, he’s extremely polite.
Soon after, three other Yuet Province sects of similar strength arrive. Like Golden Blade Gate, they owe their Spiritual Mountains to Jinyang Sect’s warning. After claiming their peaks, the five sects form an offensive-defensive alliance.
As time passes, more and more martial sects arrive—most far stronger than the original five from Jinyang Sect.
Naturally, these newcomers look down on the five Jinyang Sect allies, seeing them as lucky opportunists who only grabbed their Spiritual Mountains thanks to geography.
“Cloudrise Sect’s young master Sean Yuan has arrived.”
Hearing that the visitor is Cloudrise Sect’s young master—one of the Nine Great Sects—everyone present stands up to greet him.
Sean Yuan is notoriously arrogant and domineering. There are few people in the world he respects, so when the sect representatives greet him, he just nods and heads straight to his seat with his two old servants.
“Battle-War Holy Land’s Holy Son Howard Jiang has arrived!”
Soon, Howard Jiang appears in white robes, flanked by two elders.
Unlike Sean Yuan, Howard Jiang wears a gentle smile, giving off a warm impression.
Sure enough, when greeted by the sect representatives, he responds politely to each one—forming a stark contrast to Sean Yuan’s arrogance.
“Hmph! Hypocrite!”
Sean Yuan is the only one who doesn’t stand up to greet Howard Jiang. He snorts coldly.
Though his voice is low, Howard Jiang hears him easily. He just smiles and walks over, greeting, “Junior Brother Yuan, long time no see. How have you been?”
Sean Yuan lazily glances at Howard Jiang and sneers, “Howard, doesn’t wearing that fake smile get tiring? Are these people really worth your courtesy?”
The sect representatives are visibly annoyed. Sean Yuan is going too far—even as Cloudrise Sect’s young master, he shouldn’t insult everyone like this. But since he’s a Heaven-and-Man realm expert, they dare not speak up.
Howard Jiang just shakes his head and says no more, taking his seat. He knows Sean Yuan’s temperament and sees no point in arguing.
Seeing Howard Jiang apparently at a loss for words, a hint of pride flashes in Sean Yuan’s eyes. But his two old servants look worried—if their young master doesn’t change his ways, disaster is only a matter of time.
“Clearheart Holy Land’s Saintess Faye Xi has arrived!”
Everyone looks up to see an ethereal beauty in a violet gown gracefully approaching.
Faye Xi is stunningly beautiful, with an aura of otherworldly grace. She inspires admiration but not disrespect. She smiles softly and greets the assembly: “Faye Xi of Clearheart Holy Land greets her fellow cultivators.”
“Greetings, fairy!”
“Greetings, Fairy Xi!”
“Good evening, Saintess!”
...
Everyone rises to return the greeting, their tone as polite as could be.
With Howard Jiang and Faye Xi now present, all the Holy Sons and Saintesses of the Three Great Holy Lands have arrived—except for the host, Jade Pool Holy Land, whose Saintess is yet to appear. Only the Grand Zhou imperial delegation and the representative from Sunrise Peak are still missing.
“Prince Leonard Ji has arrived!”
On hearing this, everyone except Howard Jiang, Faye Xi, and Sean Yuan looks visibly tense.
Prince Leonard Ji is the younger brother of Grand Zhou’s Emperor Ji Qian.
It’s said there’s no true affection in royal families, but Ji Qian and Leonard Ji are unusually close.
Leonard Ji is a handsome man in his forties, dressed in gold robes and radiating a kingly air. He is accompanied by the commanders of the Thousand-Mechanism Guard and the Black Dragon Guard, including Xiao Xuangan.
There’s only one table left unoccupied near the host’s seat, and it’s the closest to the main table. Sean Yuan’s face turns ugly—how could a mere bandit chief deserve such a place above him?
Annoyed, Sean Yuan’s eyes flash coldly. He’s already decided: when that bandit chief arrives, he’ll make sure to put him in his place.
There’s less than half a quarter-hour left before Hai hour.
Finally...
“Shawn Steele, chief of Clearwind Stronghold, has arrived!”
A tall, slender young man strides onto the square, flanked by two girls.
As Shawn Steele steps onto the square’s fine wooden floor, a mocking voice rings out: “So the bandit chief finally arrives—late as usual. Looks like you don’t care about the Three Great Holy Lands or the Nine Great Sects at all!”