Chapter 94: The Banquet Invitation
"Who's there?" Nalan Yanran's body tensed as her sharp eyes scanned her surroundings.
The Yun Lan Sect's defenses were tight, yet someone had managed to infiltrate.
"Don't bother looking. I'm right beneath you," an aged voice croaked from beneath Nalan Yanran. She leapt like a startled cat, landing on the ground with her guard raised.
Moments later, an elderly face materialized on the surface of the large rock she had been sitting on.
It was the face of a crone, marked with strange runes and deep wrinkles, exuding an ominous air.
"Young lady, you look quite troubled," the crone said, smiling eerily.
"Perhaps you've encountered a peer whose talent is insurmountable? And judging by your expression, you seem to have a complicated relationship with him. Does this distress you?"
Her voice dripped with a mix of mockery and charm.
"What does this have to do with you?" Nalan Yanran retorted coldly, her gaze fixed warily on the crone.
"What does it have to do with me?" the crone chuckled. "If you can free me, I'll teach you everything I've learned in my lifetime. Then, you'll have a chance to surpass that so called genius you speak of."
Her tone carried a sinister allure.
"Quite the bold claim," Nalan Yanran scoffed, shaking her head. "How could you possibly help me? My opponent is a prodigy so formidable it borders on despair."
"Ah, little girl, no matter how talented he is, talent without proper resources and mentorship will only get him so far. Even a genius from the backwater regions like this will hit their ceiling at Dou Zong at best."
The crone's voice became more persuasive. "Free me, and I'll make Dou Zong your starting point, not your limit. How about it?"
Nalan Yanran remained skeptical. "And what rank are you to make such grand promises?"
The crone smirked. "I was Soul Clan elder Hun Chen in my prime, just one step away from the Half Saint rank. But never mind that let's just say I'm a Nine Star Dou Zun. Does that make things clear?"
"N Nine Star Dou Zun!" Nalan Yanran's face turned pale with shock. How had she, of all people, recently encountered so many powerhouses?
"Well then," Hun Chen continued, her smile widening. "If you release me, I'll take you as my disciple. I'll teach you Earth tier techniques and help you surpass that untouchable peer of yours."
Her voice was honeyed with temptation.
Nalan Yanran's expression shifted multiple times. Eventually, she replied softly, "I'll think about it," before cautiously retreating.
As she left, the crone's face twisted into a malicious grin.
"Such a cautious little girl... But can you truly resist my offer? One day, you'll be mine to possess body and soul. Heh heh!"
Since the day Xiao Wu's Dou Qi projection had shaken the imperial capital, all eyes had been on the Nalan family's mysterious guest. But after much probing, the city's factions discovered that the guest's true residence was with the Mittel family.
"So, according to your findings, this young man isn't just closely connected to the Nalan family but is also romantically involved with Ya Fei of the Mittel family. And the Dou Qi projection... it was merely one of his bodyguards?"
In the royal palace's depths, Jia Xing Tian listened intently to a stunning woman in light armor.
The woman's tall, curvaceous figure was accentuated by the ornate armor she wore. Her bright eyes sparkled with ambition.
This was Jia Tianyao, the empire's eldest princess. Not yet thirty, she was already a Dou Ling and a key figure in the empire's military. Beloved by Jia Xing Tian, she was considered a strong contender to become one of the empire's rare empresses.
"Yes, Ancestor," Tianyao affirmed with a nod. "My sources confirm that a boy named Xiao Yan arrived in the imperial capital with Ya Fei and took residence with the Mittel family.
"Not long after, there was significant upheaval in the Mittel family's Elder Council. Many elders who had opposed Ya Fei willingly ceded power and retired. Additionally, an eyewitness reported seeing Elder Lei Ou instantly reduced to ashes by an old man."
Her voice was calm yet carried a commanding undertone.
Jia Xing Tian nodded solemnly. A fighter who could kill a Dou Ling instantly was terrifying beyond his own capabilities. Combined with the boy's actions, it was almost certain that this was the person they had been searching for.
"In just a few days, this boy has reshaped the fates of two prominent families," Jia Xing Tian mused. He turned his gaze to Tianyao.
"Can we find a way to win him over? If the Mittel and Nalan families continue rising under his influence, they'll soon eclipse the royal family. At this rate, Jia Ma might have a new ruling power within a century."
Tianyao hesitated briefly before biting her lip. "It seems this young man has a weakness for beautiful women."
Jia Xing Tian blinked, then chuckled wryly. "Child, what are you suggesting?"
"Let us invite him to a banquet first," Tianyao said. "Gauge his character, then proceed accordingly."
"And if he truly is a philanderer?" Jia Xing Tian asked, watching his favorite descendant closely.
"Then if Ya Fei can ensnare him, so can I." Though Tianyao's face flushed slightly, her tone remained resolute.
"Child," Jia Xing Tian sighed, "never forget that power is fleeting. Strength is the foundation of everything."
Within the Mittel family's estate, countless invitations began pouring in for Xiao Yan. Each one sought to host him at private banquets or meetings, making their intentions clear.
In the family's tranquil courtyard, Xiao Yan sat by a small pavilion with a fishing rod in hand.
Beside him, Ya Fei had abandoned her usual alluring attire for a casual, loose fitting white robe. Her long hair was elegantly pinned up, with a strand falling over her forehead, lending her an air of quiet grace.
No matter how she dressed, however, her natural beauty remained undeniable.
"Look at these," she sighed, gesturing to the growing pile of ornate invitations on the table. "All of them are banquet invitations for you."
Her Dou Qi had grown increasingly robust in recent days. In just two nights, she had progressed from a Three Star Dou Zhe to a One Star Dou Shi. Though her cultivation had slowed at the Dou Shi level, she was already more than satisfied.
After all, she only had to lie down, sit, or rest to enjoy her rapid advancement.
"Then host a single banquet in the Mittel family's name," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile. "That way, I don't have to attend each one individually."
Ya Fei paused, looking at him with newfound warmth.
(Chapter End)
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