Chapter 438: The Banquet

The multi-legged beast pulled the carriage swiftly through the high skies.

Dongbo Xueying and Jing Qiu sat inside the carriage, gazing at the scenery below. The city of An Hai was vast beyond measure, with towering structures and undulating mountains in the distance.

“I can’t even see the entirety of An Hai City—only the distant, colossal walls that seem to stretch to the ends of the earth,” Yu Jingqiu marveled.

“Indeed,” Dongbo Xueying agreed, his eyes fixed on the massive walls veiled in mist. “An Hai City is extraordinary. Built by the City Lord and reinforced by successive rulers, every formation on those walls is unfathomably profound.”

Though awed, a surge of ambition rose within Dongbo Xueying.

If he remained diligent, becoming a Four Heavens Realm God would not be difficult. There was even a glimmer of hope that he might one day ascend to the ranks of the mighty!

“We’re almost there,” the green-robed driver suddenly announced.

The nine-headed multi-legged beast began its descent toward a sprawling palace complex—the residence of the An Hai City Lord and the Long Clan.

The carriage swooped down and came to a halt before the gates of a side palace.

“Lord Dongbo,” a purple-robed attendant greeted them at the entrance, awaiting their arrival.

Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu stepped out of the carriage.

“Impressive,” Dongbo Xueying murmured as he glanced at the row of golden-armored soldiers stationed outside the hall, each exuding the aura of a Realm God.

“Ten Realm Gods guarding the entrance?” He was inwardly stunned by the sheer prestige of the Long Clan, the foremost family of An Hai. With his wife by his side, he followed the purple-robed attendant into the grand hall.

Inside, several guests had already arrived.

Among them was the elegantly dressed, handsome youth known as the Seventh Plum Rain. He sat cross-legged beside a low table, flanked by two beautiful women.

“Lord Dongbo, this way, please,” the attendant guided him to a seat right beside the Seventh Plum Rain.

Dongbo Xueying took his place, with Yu Jingqiu settling beside him.

“Brother Dongbo, you only brought your wife?” the Seventh Plum Rain turned to ask.

“Just here to observe. Where is Lady Sang?” Dongbo Xueying inquired, surprised. Lady Sang was a Two Heavens Realm God—shouldn’t she be protecting the Seventh Plum Rain?

“There’s no need for her at such a banquet,” the Seventh Plum Rain replied casually. With the Snowpeak Monarch currently residing in the Long Clan and the City Lord himself in attendance, there was no danger within An Hai. His father’s power alone could suppress the entire city with a mere thought, making Lady Sang’s presence unnecessary.

As they spoke, servants arrived with delicacies and fine wine.

A servant knelt respectfully, placing a tray before Dongbo Xueying. “A gift from the Second Prince, for your enjoyment, Lord Dongbo,” he said before withdrawing.

“The Second Prince’s gift?” Dongbo Xueying examined the stone-like tray, which held a jug of wine and six plates—some filled with spirit fruits, others with delicacies.

He lifted the lid of the wine jug and inhaled deeply, smiling at his wife. “Jingqiu, the Second Prince is generous. This wine and these fruits must be worth at least a thousand divine crystals.”

“Look closer at the tray,” Yu Jingqiu suggested.

Dongbo Xueying paused, then scrutinized the tray more carefully.

At first glance, it appeared ordinary, but upon closer inspection, he sensed an undercurrent of incredibly pure energy.

“Faith Stones?” he exclaimed.

Faith power was precious—why else would Realm Gods vie for followers? Faith Stones were the crystallized essence of faith, usually cut into small, standardized pieces the size of a finger. This tray alone was equivalent to thousands of such stones, likely carved from a massive, raw block of condensed faith power.

The Seventh Plum Rain chuckled beside him. “Noble families love such extravagance. Some even carve entire statues from colossal Faith Stones accumulated over eons. This tray alone is worth a hundred thousand divine crystals. Every one of us in the top ten likely received one—this is the Second Prince’s true gift.”

“A hundred thousand divine crystals? For the top ten, that’s a million in total,” Dongbo Xueying mused, shaking his head. “What extravagance.”

A million divine crystals was equivalent to the entire fortune of an ordinary One Heaven Realm God—yet here it was, casually gifted by the Second Prince.

But it made sense. Those in the top ten were all prodigies with their own fortunes. A mere ten thousand divine crystals wouldn’t impress them—a hundred thousand was a gesture worth remembering, especially when presented as a Faith Stone tray.

—

Guests continued to arrive—some from the top ten of the Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet qualifiers, others scions of An Hai’s most powerful noble families.

The ‘Second Prince’ made his entrance last.

“Esteemed guests,” the resplendent black-robed youth declared from his seat of honor, “the Divine Court’s Myriad Flowers Banquet occurs but once in ten million years—the grandest event in all the Divine Realm. Today, I have invited the top ten from our An Hai qualifiers, who will journey to the Divine Court in nine years to compete before His Majesty and the mighty ones. Let us raise our cups to this occasion—and to you ten!”

All present lifted their goblets and drank.

“Allow me to make introductions,” the Second Prince continued. “To my left is Brother Zhenfeng, grandson of the Left Palace Master.” He dared not speak the mighty one’s name aloud.

A blue-robed, bearded man with a weary demeanor nodded absently before returning to his drink.

“This is Brother Luan Qi, the only surviving son of the Western Rampart Legion’s commander.”

“And this is…”

The Second Prince introduced each of the twelve noble scions—nine Realm Gods and three mere deities. Over the eons, most deities succumbed to the erosion of their divine hearts. The Luan family, for instance, had once boasted nine children—only one became a Realm God, while the other eight perished over time. Only this Luan Qi remained.

Those invited today represented the pinnacle of An Hai’s noble elite.

As the introductions concluded, the atmosphere grew lively.

Dancers performed in the hall while the noble scions mingled with the top ten qualifiers.

“At least these nobles are more courteous than that fool from Flying Cloud Lake,” Dongbo Xueying noted. Most were Realm Gods, including two Two Heavens Realm Gods, all treating him with respect. Only the three deity-ranked nobles were slightly less polished.

“Brother Luan Qi, care for a wager?” a tall, silver-robed youth called out.

“If Brother Ying wishes to gamble, I shall oblige,” Luan Qi replied, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes. “Shall it be dancers… or bloodshed?”

“Dancers. Bloodshed would stain this hall and displease the Second Prince,” the silver-robed youth said. “I’ll wager this Realm God weapon—a trifle my father gave me.” He produced a crimson double-bladed axe.

Luan Qi frowned, then smiled. “Very well. I’ll match your bet with a million divine crystals and this.” He drew a sheathed azure sword.

Dongbo Xueying observed silently.

This ‘General Ying,’ merely a deity, seemed to have some grudge against Luan Qi—why else such a high-stakes wager?