Chapter 401: An Unexpected Guest

Meng Qi bared his teeth slightly. He Ji appeared bold and confident, but he had never been known as “reckless,” so it was unlikely he would commit such an overestimation of his own abilities.

Even without considering Wang Siyuan and Jiang Zhiwei, there would be at least four or five experts present at the Xingyun Banquet who were ranked on the Human List. After all, Meng Qi and Yan Chong would definitely attend. If He Jiu were to challenge them all simultaneously, like Lady Bai Qi, he would face deadly external techniques from all directions and would be defeated within moments.

Of course, if he intended to break through his limits, that would be another matter entirely. In that case, winning or losing wouldn’t really matter.

Meng Qi and Yan Chong were not surprised that Lady Bai Qi and He Jiu had chosen top ten figures from the Human List as their sparring partners. After all, they were of the same caliber. Under normal circumstances, ordinary half-step External experts could no longer pose much of a threat to them. Even a perfected half-step expert or a novice External expert still paled in comparison to someone who had achieved unity with heaven and earth, rendering any challenge meaningless and futile.

Even if they could find a few half-step experts within their clans or sects to spar with, fighting family members always lacked that authentic sense of real combat. It was better to host a banquet and invite young talents of similar or slightly lesser strength. For the sake of pure victory and reputation, Meng Qi and others would usually give their all, only slightly less than in life-or-death battles.

In literature, there is no absolute first; in martial arts, there is only one second.

“It seems the Mi family organized the martial gathering in Ying City with hidden motives, aiming to create an opportunity for Lady Bai Qi’s breakthrough. This elder brother failed to detect their intentions,” Wang Zai whispered secretly to Meng Qi.

Meng Qi had been invited by him, only to be used as a whetstone for Lady Bai Qi. Wang Zai, who cultivated the “Righteous and Noble Qi,” naturally felt guilty about this.

“It’s fine, Brother Wang. Don’t take it to heart. Being able to witness firsthand the opening of the spiritual third eye of someone who has achieved unity with heaven and earth is a rare opportunity for me to gain insights,” Meng Qi replied casually.

This was the truth. The surge of momentum, the assault on the limits of the primordial spirit, the unlocking of the life-and-death profound gate, and the intertwining and transformation of spiritual consciousness extending outward—merging the internal and external principles of heaven and earth—all brought Meng Qi profound realizations, especially the latter. This phenomenon was unique to those ascending from unity with heaven and earth, nearly achieving a fusion of internal and external realms, rarely witnessed under ordinary circumstances.

Direct ascension through resonance with heaven and earth could also produce extraordinary phenomena, but at most, it would result in swirling winds and clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Depending on one’s internal cultivation of heaven and earth and martial characteristics, there might be minor physical changes. However, nothing compares to Lady Bai Qi’s manifestation of internal landscapes, which stirred the heavens and earth, invoked the power of the land, and caused platforms within a hundred-zhang radius to sink by an inch.

Moreover, when Lady Bai Qi was promoted, the fine wrinkles around her eyes vanished, and she looked rejuvenated, as if she had turned ten years younger!

Wang Zai sighed, “Advancing after achieving unity with heaven and earth is indeed no ordinary feat. I would rather delay for a few years, not reaching unity with heaven and earth, than rashly advance.”

Who among the top twenty of the Human List wasn’t proud and ambitious? Who would want to settle for an unstable foundation, remaining at the half-step or early External stages?

Of course, life is unpredictable. Sometimes danger and hardship force people to break through without patience for achieving unity with heaven and earth. There were also those obsessed with achieving unity with heaven and earth, only to develop heart demons, unable to reach it for over a decade before finally giving up in disappointment.

The path of martial cultivation is filled with brambles and never smooth sailing. Even a genius like Su Wuming endured three years of torment in a death crisis, leading many to suspect he had perished within.

Wang Zai’s sigh was not whispered; everyone present could hear it. Yan Chong gave a faint smile: “Even among those who have achieved unity with heaven and earth, there are differences in strength. Wu Xiangjian and Suan Jin Cangsheng reached this stage years ago but have made no further progress. They choose to delay, preferring to first clarify their own path. Hmph, no regrets at the threshold of enlightenment…”

At the stage of unity with heaven and earth, initially clarifying one’s path doesn’t significantly enhance one’s power, but it is crucial for future development. Most who become masters have experienced this phase.

Yan Chong spoke softly, ensuring those nearby couldn’t hear.

The phrase “initially clarifying one’s path at the stage of unity with heaven and earth” might seem simple and easy for anyone to say, but without true teachings or family and sect experiences from those who have gone through similar stages, most people rush through without reflection. Yan Chong himself had endured hardships before acquiring this knowledge—how could he let it become common knowledge?

The Law must not be passed on lightly!

Come to think of it, it’s strange. From a true cultivation perspective, after the Nine Orifices comes the half-step. Without firsthand experience or exposure, who could imagine there would be further subdivisions? Hmph, both sensing with heaven and earth and merging with heaven and earth occur at the Nine Orifices stage. Yet the difference in power between the two is as vast as heaven and earth. The Six Gates battle reports never delve into such details,” Chu Yunyu chuckled, then continued, “Do you think Wu Xiang Jian will follow Lady Bai Qi’s example and take on multiple opponents alone?”

Meng Qi said, “Probably not. I suspect He Jiu will start by challenging the lowest-ranked opponents, gradually building momentum. After battling through a gauntlet, he will then face off against Young Master Wang, using that to breakthrough.”

Wang Zai pondered for a moment and thoughtfully replied, “Excluding Suan Jin Cangsheng and Jue Jian Xianzi, it’s not impossible. The ‘Formless and Imageless Sword Qi’ of the Eastern Sea Sword School is reputed to be among the top five techniques for group battles. He Jiu once defeated three Nine Orifice experts working together, although they were all around the tenth to twentieth ranks on the Human List.”

This… Meng Qi inhaled sharply. There was such a thing?

He didn’t know much about the techniques of the Eastern Sea Sword School, and the Human List battle records were limited, only highlighting the most important and sensational feats. There was no mention of He Jiu being surrounded and attacked. Most records were about him challenging the top ten on the Human List.

Looks like I need to ask the Six Gates for a detailed dossier on He Jiu…

The martial gathering in Ying City continued for a while longer, but after Lady Bai Qi’s impressive performance, no one dared to challenge Meng Qi and others. Toward the end, Mi Zijing approached with a smile, “My aunt is in a hurry to return and stabilize her cultivation. She has been rather impolite, and I apologize on her behalf.”

After Meng Qi and Yan Chong said it was nothing, he smiled again, “The Mi and Bai families have been intermarrying for generations, sharing the same fate. My aunt’s breakthrough is a significant event for the Mi family. I would like to invite a few of you to my humble home for a few drinks. A friend of mine also wishes to meet you.”

“What friend?” Meng Qi asked directly.

Mi Zijing smiled and said, “You’ll find out when you see. Telling you now would ruin the mystery.”

He did have a bit of humor.

After all, meeting someone wouldn’t kill them. Meng Qi knew the Mi family had External experts, so he wasn’t worried about his safety. After briefly discussing with Wang Zai and others, he boarded the Mi family’s carriage, which drove into the Mi family’s ancestral mansion by the Huisui River.

The Huisui River wasn’t wide, just a small stream, only navigable by black-painted boats. The Mi family’s ancestral mansion had white walls and black tiles, with rockeries and ponds, embodying the quintessential Jiangdong garden style.

Passing through courtyards and pavilions, Mi Zijing led the four of them into a side courtyard. Even in the bitter cold of winter, strange flowers bloomed here, in full splendor, exuding a fragrant aroma.

“I’ve been staying at the Mi family’s residence but have never been to this place before,” Wang Zai’s voice reached Meng Qi’s ears, filled with slight confusion.

Thinking about it, it made sense. The Mi family’s estate was vast, with countless buildings. As an outsider, Wang Zai couldn’t just wander around freely, so there were naturally many places he had never visited.

Upon entering the flower pavilion of the side courtyard, Meng Qi saw three men and one woman. One man sat at the upper seat, dignified and composed, exuding a subtle air of arrogance. His brocade robe, jade ring, and jade pendant radiated a quiet nobility.

This man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His features looked familiar to Meng Qi, but he couldn’t recall who he was.

Beside him stood another person dressed in black, wearing a gauze hat. His face was pale and beardless, his expression a mix of humility and arrogance, slightly effeminate. However, Meng Qi and Yan Chong noticed him first because they couldn’t gauge his depth!

To the left of the upper seat sat a man and a woman. The man had rough but not unattractive features, young in age but tall and muscular, his loose clothes fully stretched by his physique. The woman had delicate eyebrows and eyes, a heart-shaped face, and a cherry mouth, exuding a gentle, water-like charm.

“This is my younger sister Mi Ting,” Mi Zijing introduced the woman first, then pointed to the rugged man, “This is Bai Wenyuan from the Bai family, the legitimate son of the family head and Lady Bai Qi’s nephew.”

Bai Wen Yuan… Meng Qi looked at the fellow’s face and almost burst into laughter, barely managing to stop himself.

“You don’t need introductions for these folks, right? You should have seen them earlier?” Mi Zijing smiled slightly.

Bai Wen Yuan and Mi Ting had obviously been watching the martial gathering from other platforms and stood up to thank Meng Qi and Yan Chong, expressing their admiration for the Human List experts.

“Who is this?” Wang Zai knew Mi Zijing needed an opening to introduce, so he took over the question.

Mi Zijing’s expression turned serious: “This is the third prince of the current dynasty, Prince Jin, Zhao Yi.”

So this is Zhao Lao Wu’s older brother. No wonder he looked familiar; he sure has a commanding presence… Meng Qi suddenly realized, but why did this man come to Ying City?

Unlike everyone else present, Meng Qi had no innate reverence for royal authority, only viewing it as a powerful force to be wary of.

Zhao Yi stroked his jade ring and suddenly stood up, his smile warm: “Hearing of the Xingyun Banquet, I couldn’t help but long to attend, so I took leave from the capital and came to Ying City. Meeting you all today, I find your reputations well-deserved indeed.”

Calling himself “solitary” in front of me… Zhao Lao Wu is much better at being personable! Meng Qi inwardly scoffed.

Actually, Zhao Yi was quite warm and sincere. If it were another time, Meng Qi wouldn’t have said anything, but in life, the worst thing is comparison. Compared to Zhao Heng, Zhao Yi’s arrogance seemed a bit more pronounced.

Faced with Zhao Yi’s gesture of humility and respect toward the martial experts, Yan Chong was quite satisfied, maintaining a composed demeanor: “I never expected the Xingyun Banquet to attract a true dragon.”

Compared to Yan Chong’s aloofness as a martial expert, Chu Yunyu felt even more flattered, repeatedly saying, “Being praised by Prince Jin is truly a blessing from three lifetimes. My martial skills are nothing special.”

This guy is even more exaggerated than me… Meng Qi looked at Chu Yunyu with disdain, clearly sensing a performative edge in his words.

Wang Zai remained expressionless, politely bowing according to Confucian etiquette, maintaining a neutral attitude.

“Did the Prince come to observe the Xingyun Banquet?” After greeting, Meng Qi casually asked.

Zhao Yi smiled and nodded: “This generation of the Human List is stronger than in previous years. The top ten will become future External experts. Such a gathering naturally draws attention.”