Volume One: Young Lord of the Demon Gods - Chapter 42: Welcome Banquet for the Chosen Prodigies

Just at this moment, a graceful figure appeared at the entrance. It was none other than Liu Rouyue, holding the Seeking Moon Sword that Qi Yu had given her.

Seeing Qi Yu, Liu Rouyue's eyes lit up. "Brother Qi Yu."

Qi Yu stepped forward and asked, "Shuer, are you alright?"

Liu Rouyue shook her head. "Yes. That assassin was heavily wounded by the Third Elder and didn't make it far before I executed him. I even found this on him."

With that, Liu Rouyue produced a silver badge from her robes.

Zhang Wandian glanced at it and muttered, "He is a Silver Order assassin from the Shadow Organization!"

Qi Yu asked in surprise, "The Shadow Organization?"

Zhang Wandian replied, "That's right. The Shadow Organization is the largest assassin syndicate in the Dayan Principality."

His brows furrowed slightly. "The Shadow Organization is extremely troublesome. If the assassins they send fail, they will simply dispatch new ones until the target is eliminated!"

"The assassins will keep coming?" Qi Yu asked in astonishment.

Zhang Wandian nodded. "Rest assured, however. With me here, you only need to focus on your cultivation. Leave the rest to me!"

Qi Yu and Liu Rouyue returned to their rooms to cultivate, while Zhang Wandian remained standing in the courtyard.

The next day.

The complete annihilation of the Zhen family spread like wildfire through the royal city. Almost everyone learned that the powerful figures of the Zhen family had vanished into thin air overnight.

Before long, someone spotted that shocking, terrifying sword scar at the desolate wasteland where the estate once stood.

For a time, all the noble families in the royal city engaged in private speculation. Knowing that the grand sect tournament was approaching and that many powerful experts from various sects had arrived in the royal city, they guessed that the Zhen family must have provoked some formidable entity.

Presently, with only the women of the Zhen family left alive, their clan was quickly swallowed up by other noble families. Within half a month, the once infinitely glorious Zhen family completely vanished from the royal city.

As the date of the grand sect tournament drew closer, Qi Yu finally broke through his bottleneck, advancing his cultivation to the first level of the Profound Martial Realm.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

While Qi Yu was cultivating that day, his door was knocked open. When he opened it, he saw Zhang Wandian standing there with a beaming smile.

"Third Elder," Qi Yu greeted respectfully.

With a smile, Zhang Wandian said, "The grand sect tournament is about to begin, and the people from the Cliff Academy have already arrived. True to tradition, they are hosting a Welcoming Banquet for Proud Talents, inviting the most monstrous talents and geniuses from various sects. Fewer than a hundred people are invited each time."

"And this time, they actually sent an invitation to our Azure Firmament Sword Sect!"

Qi Yu showed little interest; he did not care for such pointless socializing.

Besides, the Azure Firmament Sword Sect always finished dead last in the grand sect tournament. Why would the Cliff Academy invite them for no apparent reason?

Seeing Qi Yu's lack of enthusiasm, Zhang Wandian hurriedly added, "Qi Yu, this is a magnificent opportunity to forge connections with geniuses from different sects and elevate our sect's reputation. This is the first time in the history of the Azure Firmament Sword Sect that we've been invited. We cannot refuse."

Just then, Liu Rouyue emerged from her room.

Zhang Wandian immediately said, "Xiaoxue, you two have been cultivating continuously for many days. Consider attending the Welcoming Banquet as a chance to relax and unwind!"

With that, Zhang Wandian turned and walked away. "Don't forget tonight!"

Qi Yu and Liu Rouyue exchanged glances and smiled helplessly.

As night fell, Qi Yu wore a cyan robe, standing tall and straight. His fair and refined face was smooth as jade, framed by distinct and sharp contours. He walked up to Liu Rouyue's door and tapped lightly twice.

When Liu Rouyue opened the door, Qi Yu froze.

Liu Rouyue was dressed in an ice-blue long dress that accentuated her well-proportioned and slender figure. Possessing a naturally flawless face, she now radiated an even more unique and ethereal charm.

"Brother Qi Yu, let's go!" Liu Rouyue naturally took Qi Yu's hand.

"You look truly stunning today!" Qi Yu could not help praising.

Liu Rouyue smiled, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.

Led by Zhang Wandian, the three of them set off together toward the estate where the Cliff Academy was staying.

Qi Yu and Liu Rouyue walked side by side, her breathtaking beauty naturally drawing numerous gazes.

Upon arriving at the luxurious estate of the Cliff Academy, quite a few sects had already begun entering.

True to past years, the number of attendees remained under a hundred, hailing from a total of twenty-five sects.

Among these twenty-five sects, apart from the Azure Firmament Sword Sect, every single one was a top-tier sect under the Dayan Principality.

Zhang Wandian handed over the invitation and entered the spacious main hall of the estate. The hall could easily accommodate at least a hundred people and was furnished with numerous tables and chairs, each set representing a single sect.

The arrangement of these tables and chairs was meticulously organized; only the most prestigious top sects were assigned seats near the front, indicating that those sects possessed top-tier monstrous talents who had caught the attention of the Cliff Academy.

Zhang Wandian conscientiously walked toward the very last table in the back row. Glancing down, he saw that the name inscribed on it was not the Azure Firmament Sword Sect, but the Purple Mist Sect.

He then checked the table just a row ahead, but it still didn't bear their name.

After checking more than ten tables from back to front, Zhang Wandian's expression began to darken. Could the Cliff Academy be so devoid of basic courtesy that they hadn't even arranged a seat for them?

Qi Yu followed behind Zhang Wandian, scanning the room, but he too could not find any spot designated for the Azure Firmament Sword Sect.

"Third Elder, could the Cliff Academy have made a mistake? They wouldn't invite a minor sect like ours."

Zhang Wandian furrowed his brow deeply.

Suddenly, Liu Rouyue pointed toward the very front row of tables and chairs. "Third Elder, Brother Qi Yu, look over there."

Zhang Wandian looked in the direction she pointed, his gaze instantly freezing.

Right in that honorable and prominent front row, on the second table and desk, the four characters "Azure Firmament Sword Sect" were clearly and brilliantly engraved.

Zhang Wandian muttered in disbelief, "How could they possibly arrange our seats in the second position?"

Unaware of the underlying implications, Qi Yu had already walked over to the table with Liu Rouyue and seated himself.

With a rather unsightly expression, Zhang Wandian walked over as well, lowering his voice. "For a tiny sect like ours to be placed so prominently... I'm afraid we're going to be targeted shortly!"

Qi Yu smiled. "Third Elder, you just said we're a small sect. What is there to fear? Those with bare feet aren't afraid of those wearing shoes!"

Zhang Wandian managed a faint smile as well. "Ever since the grand sect tournament began, the champions every single year have been disciples of the Cliff Academy, followed closely by the Green Peak Sword Sect. Hence, those two sects always occupy the frontmost seats every year, while we never even qualified for an invitation."

"To be invited for the very first time this year and yet be assigned this position... it's no exaggeration to say it feels like sitting on pins and needles!"

As soon as the three of them sat down, several peculiar gazes landed upon them, all filled with strange expressions.

"The Azure Firmament Sword Sect? Why have I never heard of this sect?"

"I know them. It's a tiny sect from the eastern region, always finishing at the bottom of the tournament every year!"

"How on earth did such an insignificant sect sneak into the Welcoming Banquet, and with such a prime seat?"

The talented prodigies made no attempt to conceal their disdain; their words dripped with arrogance and contempt as they discussed them without restraint.

Zhang Wandian wore a solemn expression, the space between his brows knitted into a tight knot.

When Liu Rouyue raised her face, revealing her peerless visage to the crowd, gasps of astonishment immediately riounded.

There was never any shortage of beauties among cultivators, but women possessing both breathtaking looks and a uniquely cold, aloof temperament like Liu Rouyue were exceedingly rare.

Liu Rouyue had always maintained an icy and aloof posture toward others.

Just then, a young prodigy walked over holding a folding fan. Bowing slightly, he said, "Fair maiden, I am Qin Qianren of the Suspended City. Might I have the honor of making your acquaintance?"

Liu Rouyue's gaze was chillingly indifferent as she slowly replied, "No need."

Hearing her response, the smile on Qin Qianren's face froze.

He had been rejected!

From childhood to adulthood, no woman had ever dared to refuse him!

He was the most monstrously talented genius since the founding of the Suspended City, not to mention the heir of the royal city's Qin family!

He possessed both unmatched strength and boundless wealth!

Despite the rejection, Qin Qianren found himself even more intrigued by Liu Rouyue. After all, conquering an arrogant and aloof woman brought an even greater sense of accomplishment!

Flicking his folding fan, he continued, "Fair maiden, I truly harbor no malicious intent. I merely wish to make your acquaintance."

Suddenly, Liu Rouyue shifted her gaze to Qi Yu and smiled faintly, "If my fiancé agrees, I'll be friends with you!"

*Fiancé!*

Qin Qianren abruptly snapped his folding fan shut, his smile vanishing instantly.

Yet, a second thought crossed his mind: if she belonged to someone else... what harm was there in snatching her away for his own amusement?

Qin Qianren turned his gaze to Qi Yu. "This young master..."

Qi Yu merely glanced at Qin Qianren casually and spat out a single, unhurried word: "Scram."

Qin Qianren's smile stiffened once more, but he had always been a cautious man. If this seemingly ordinary youth possessed some formidable background or heritage, he could not afford to provoke him carelessly.

Otherwise, not only would he suffer, but he might also bring catastrophic disaster upon his own family.

The Zhen family served as a prime, cautionary example.