King Fenghe's Mansion: A Jar of Wine in Return

Zhuge Xiang had already mastered the Demon Luo Scripture Third Layer, but after looking at the requirements for the Fourth Layer Demon Luo Scripture, Zhuge Xiang was troubled again. The requirement for the Fourth Layer was not a limitation on cultivation level or attack power, but on HP. To cultivate the Fourth Layer, Zhuge Xiang's HP had to exceed 100,000.

Looking at my Character Interface, my HP is only a little over 40,000. It seems this is going to be another long preparation.

Body cultivators, or beings like Zombie, possess powerful physical bodies and naturally have enormous HP. However, Zhuge Xiang's cultivation path is entirely driven by the system, making him neither Cultivator of any type.

He was neither Sword Cultivator, nor a body cultivator, nor even a Righteous Path Cultivator or Demonic Path Cultivator. His physical body was not particularly strong, and he had never practiced Body Refinement Technique. Therefore, his HP was not considered substantial. Even at the Fifth Layer the True Essence Realm, it was only slightly over 50,000. An ordinary body cultivator in the Deity Transformation stage would probably have already surpassed 100,000 HP.

"Zhuge Xiang, it's getting late, shouldn't we set off?" Just then, Wu Zhao's voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

As fellow worshippers of the Great Tang Dynasty, and with even greater favor towards Li Zhi than Zhuge Xiang, Wu Zhao was naturally invited to the King Fenghe's thanksgiving banquet. It should be said that Wu Zhao was the true protagonist of this banquet.

"Indeed, it's never good to keep people waiting," Zhuge Xiang nodded to Wu Zhao as he pushed open the door.

Lu Yuling and Mo Lingna were both in seclusion, so Zhuge Xiang didn't invite them. Even the Little Fire Phoenix was happily perched on the Wutong Tree. Zhuge Xiang summoned the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, straddled its back, and flew towards the King Fenghe's Mansion's Mansion with Wu Zhao.

The King Fenghe is His Your Majesty's younger brother, residing in Chang'an City. His status can be described as second only to the Emperor, above all others.

On this day, the King Fenghe's Mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. A famous courtesan whose Stage Name resounded throughout the entire Great Tang Dynasty played music with strings and pipes. Many prominent figures from the Great Tang Dynasty came to visit.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, your wish has come true, haha..." One by one, the invited guests congratulated King Fenghe.

Although this Banquet was a thank-you feast for Zhuge Xiang and Wu Zhao, judging from King Fenghe's beaming face, it was clear that his wish had been fulfilled.

Li Zhi, the Young Prince of the King Fenghe's Mansion, disliked cultivation and preferred things like music, chess, calligraphy, and Altar of Sacrifice. This had always been a knot in the King Fenghe's heart. Unexpectedly, after sneaking out this time, he returned with the cultivation of the Meridian Opening Realm and was willing to cultivate. In fact, he even walked up forty steps of the sacrificial altar, which made the King Fenghe overjoyed.

"Haha, everyone, please take your seats..." King Fenghe's face was full of joy, and he let out a hearty laugh as he personally greeted each of the distinguished guests who had arrived.

Having climbed the forty steps of the Altar of Sacrifice, though he failed, his character underwent a tremendous transformation. King Fenghe believed that as long as he worked hard, his son, Li Zhi, would surely become a great hero.

"Congratulations, Your Highness..." A man and a woman, both dressed in Dharma Robe, arrived together, hovering in the air. They did not exude any powerful aura, but their mere presence was enough to make people feel a pressure from the depths of their hearts.

"So it's the two Imperial Preceptor who have come in person. Please come in quickly," King Fenghe greeted with a smile as the two people arrived from the sky. The newcomers were none other than the two Imperial Preceptor of the Great Tang Dynasty, Niu Dali and Hu Xian'er.

"Father, why hasn't Miss Wu arrived yet? Could it be that she wasn't notified?" At the banquet, which was about to begin, Li Zhi couldn't help but ask King Fenghe, as Wu Zhao and Zhuge Xiang were still nowhere to be seen.

"The notification has arrived, and I believe it should be here soon," Li Zhi King Fenghe said with a knowing smile.

"The Young Prince is truly gifted. In just a few days, he has completely opened up his Meridians. It will probably not be long before he enters the Innate Realm, or even prepares to Tribulation Transcendence..." Hu Xian'er smiled slightly and praised as she looked at Li Zhi who came out.

The Meridians in his body were completely opened. However, for Hu Xian'er, who was only at the Void Splitting Realm, this power was insignificant. But the value lay in Li Zhi's rapid growth.

"Haha, it's all thanks to the Altar of Sacrifice. Although my son failed to pass the Altar of Sacrifice, he reached the Fortieth Step and his mind was tempered, which is why he was able to achieve twice the result with half the effort," King Fenghe said with a broad smile. He would never be so happy even if others praised him.

"The Young Prince has never cultivated, yet he was able to climb to the Fortieth Step of the Altar of Sacrifice. He is truly gifted..." King Fenghe's words drew sincere praise from many at the banquet.

"Please don't praise me, everyone. I only reached the Fortieth Step and couldn't go any further. But Brother Zhuge walked all the way to the Altar of Sacrifice. Compared to him, I'm like a firefly compared to the sun and moon," Li Zhi said with a sigh, shaking his head as he listened to the praise from the guests at the banquet.

"His Your Majesty's vision is truly discerning, which is why Zhuge Consecrated was able to enter the Hall of Honored Guests. Although the Young Prince has not yet passed the Altar of Sacrifice, for someone who has never cultivated, to have such a mindset is already one in a million. It is rare that the Young Prince is not arrogant or complacent."

Although Niu Dali has a rough appearance, his cultivation has reached the Void Returning Stage. Who would really be just a reckless brute charging forward? These words made King Fenghe's smile even wider.

"Whoosh..." The sound of wings tearing through the air suddenly rang out, and then the figure of the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger slowly landed in the Courtyard of King Fenghe.

Zhuge Xiang, seated atop the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, clad in Thorn Armor, Phantom Cloak draped over his back, and War God Boots on his feet, with the Dragon's Judgment Sword at his waist, possessed Void Realm cultivator despite only being at the True Essence Realm.

Wu Zhao stood beside Zhuge Xiang, her heroic bearing resembling that of a valiant female general on the Battlefield. In the past few days, Wu Zhao's cultivation had successfully broken through the peak of the Spell Control Stage and entered the True Essence Realm. Although her aura was not strong, she possessed the National Destiny, and her every move gave people the feeling of ruling the world, inspiring awe in those who looked upon her.

Zhuge Xiang and Wu Zhao landed directly from the sky without even entering the door, which silenced many people present.

Although Cultivator can fly as easily as walking, landing directly inside without using the main gate is, to some extent, a sign of disrespect. Just like when the three Imperial Preceptor took Zhuge Xiang to see the emperor, they didn't dare land directly inside the Imperial Palace, but instead landed at the Imperial Palace gate and walked in.

The crowd fell silent, their gazes fixed on King Fenghe. A little face might not mean much, but for a member of the royal family, and for a prince like King Fenghe, face was more important than anything else. They wondered how he would respond. Even the two Imperial Preceptor had merely walked through the air to the doorway.

Indeed, as Zhuge Xiang Wu Zhao Wu Zhao descended from the sky, a slight glint flashed in the depths of King Fenghe's eyes. However, he did not react, but instead greeted them with a smile, saying, "You two have finally arrived. I have specially prepared this banquet today to express my gratitude for your care for my son within the Heaven-Piercing Tower."

"Brother Li and I hit it off immediately, so it's only right that I take care of him. I'm unworthy of Your Highness's banquet, so I can only offer you a jar of fine wine in return," Zhuge Xiang said with a smile, raising his hand to take out a jar of fine wine and handing it to King Fenghe.

Zhuge Xiang's words abruptly silenced the lively atmosphere within the King Fenghe's Mansion, and Zhuge Xiang looked at him with varying expressions.

Zhuge Xiang's words may seem insignificant at first glance, but upon closer examination, their meaning becomes clear.

He said that he and Li Zhi were destined to be together, and that he didn't need anyone to hold a thank-you banquet for him because he had taken care of him. But since the King Fenghe had held one, he couldn't refuse, so he came and presented this jar of wine to show that he was returning the favor to the King Fenghe. You invited me to a banquet, and I'll invite you to drink this jar of wine. We're even, and I don't need your thanks.

Zhuge Xiang, in return, presented King Fenghe with a jar of wine. Instead of acknowledging the favor, he placed himself on equal footing with King Fenghe, seemingly engaging in a tit-for-tat exchange.

King Fenghe glanced at the wine jar Zhuge Xiang handed him, paused slightly, and naturally understood Zhuge Xiang's meaning. He then laughed heartily, accepted the wine jar, and said, "Haha, good, since it's Brother Zhuge Xiang the favor, I naturally can't refuse."

He took the wine jar, broke the seal, took a big gulp, wiped the wine stains from the corner of his lips, and laughed loudly, "Good wine!"

"He really drank it? Doesn't that mean that King Fenghe is truly willing to place him on the same level as himself? To be friends with him as equals?" Seeing that King Fenghe had actually drunk the wine that Zhuge Xiang had given him in return, the guests in the King Fenghe's Mansion were secretly shocked.

Only Niu Dali and Hu Xian'er remained calm. Having witnessed Zhuge Xiang's abilities on the Ninth Layer of the Heaven-Piercing Tower, even the White National Teacher, the Chief of the Three Great Imperial Preceptors, addressed Zhuge Xiang as "little brother." It was not surprising to them that King Fenghe treated him as an equal.

Seeing King Fenghe drink his wine, Zhuge Xiang also smiled.

In truth, Zhuge Xiang didn't care about status. Whether you think you have an extraordinary status or you think you are humble, Zhuge Xiang only needed to know his own identity. However, if he could befriend the King Fenghe, it would be of great help in handling matters of National Fortune in the Great Tang Dynasty. Therefore, Zhuge Xiang had to first find out what kind of relationship he had with the King Fenghe.

Now that the test had been conducted and King Fenghe had responded, Zhuge Xiang smiled. Since they were now treating each other as equals, it meant he had earned the other's respect. His abilities had won the other's respect, which would make many future actions much easier. (To be continued...)