Turmoil at the Birthday Banquet: A Zombie Frenzy (Part One)
The Princes and Princesses offered their birthday greetings, but among the Ten Princes and Princesses was Zhuge Xiang, standing next to Ying Wushuang. Naturally, the emperor noticed him and asked.
"Reporting to Father, this is my friend, Zhuge Xiang," Ying Wushuang said calmly upon hearing her father's question.
"Father, my sister is just shy. Zhuge Xiang and my sister are Lovers. A few days ago, she even told me to my face that they had reached the point of Discussing Marriage," Ying Yan interjected as soon as Ying Wushuang finished speaking.
How can the Wedding of the Imperial Clan children be decided by free will? Ying Yan said this with the intention of getting her father to speak up and break them up.
As expected, upon hearing Ying Yan's words, the emperor's brows furrowed slightly. However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the emperor did not say much, but simply nodded and said, "Seeing that you are so young yet already possess the cultivation of the Second Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage, you are truly a rare Chosen One. Since you are Shuang'er's friend, you shall sit at the same table as her."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Zhuge Xiang nodded, expressed his gratitude, and then sat down at the same table as Ying Wushuang.
As for whether the emperor was satisfied with his son-in-law, Zhuge Xiang didn't care. He had no intention of marrying Ying Wushuang. Besides, his ultimate goal was to deal with the Imperial Clan of the Great Qin Empire, and they would inevitably become adversaries in the end.
"The Kunlun Mountain Sect Master, True Person Changfeng, along with all the elders of his sect, has come to offer birthday greetings."
"The Heavenly Dragon Temple Abbot, along with many eminent monks from the temple, have come to offer their birthday greetings."
"The Asura Sect Master, along with all the elders of his sect, has come to offer birthday greetings."
After the Ten Princes and Princesses finished offering their birthday greetings, the leaders of the Nine Great Sects arrived with their disciples. However, only seven of the Nine Great Sects came today; the Yin Yang Demonic Sect and the Myriad Monster Kingdom from the Far North did not send anyone to offer their congratulations.
The Myriad Monster Kingdom is a place where Demon Cultivator reside. Although it is nominally controlled by the Great Qin Empire, it is essentially obedient to orders but not to summons. For the emperor's Birthday Banquet, it only sent a gift and did not attend in person, which can be considered as saving face.
However, the Yin Yang Demonic Sect didn't even offer a single gift, causing many to whisper amongst themselves.
The emperor's expression was also somewhat unpleasant, but naturally he wouldn't lash out on the spot. Otherwise, wouldn't he be losing face? Therefore, after receiving birthday greetings from the Sect, he then received envoys from various countries, as well as Civil and Military Officials of the Great Qin Empire, and respected elders or Cultivator.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to pay my respects to my Master," Zhuge Xiang said, standing up after the birthday greetings from all sides had been given.
The emperor glanced at Zhuge Xiang briefly, then nodded slightly without speaking.
"Greetings, Master!" After leaving his seat next to the Emperor, Zhuge Xiang went directly to the camp of the Asura Sect and bowed respectfully to Luo Ba.
"Oh? You, when did you reach the Void Returning Stage?" Looking at Zhuge Xiang, Luo Ba could see through his cultivation at a glance. He was slightly surprised and asked, somewhat astonished. How long has it been? He actually entered the Void Returning Stage without a word?
"Hasn't Senior Sister Lu also entered the Void Returning Stage? How can I fall too far behind?" Hearing Luo Ba's words, Zhuge Xiang looked at Lu Yuling and said with a smile. At this Emperor's Birthday Banquet, Lu Yuling has also entered the Void Returning Stage. As the Sect Master's personal disciple, she is naturally qualified to come.
"Among my disciples, you two are the latest to start cultivating, but your speed of cultivation is the fastest," Luo Ba Lu Yuling said with a gratified look as he listened to Zhuge Xiang 'Zhuge Xiang words.
"Congratulations, Elder Zhuge..." As Luo Ba finished speaking, several elders of the Asura Sect also offered their congratulations to Zhuge Xiang.
Those qualified to come with Luo Ba to offer birthday greetings were all among the more powerful elders. Although Zhuge Xiang 'Zhuge Xiang had already demonstrated great strength when he was in the Golden Core Stage. Now that he had entered the Void Returning Stage, he was naturally even stronger.
Given his cultivation speed, it wouldn't be long before he caught up with these older generation powerhouses. Naturally, these elders were also willing to cultivate a good relationship with Zhuge Xiang.
"Thank you, elders." Although Zhuge Xiang was upright by nature and even arrogant, he still had deep feelings for the Asura Sect. When the elders offered their congratulations, Zhuge Xiang naturally did not dare to put on airs and hurriedly returned the greeting.
"Oh? He's actually Asura Sect Luo Ba's personal disciple from the Asura Sect?" As he watched Zhuge Xiang perform the master-disciple ceremony with Luo Ba, a glint flashed quickly in the depths of the Great Qin Emperor's eyes.
In the emperor's eyes, Zhuge Xiang was just a young Cultivator with considerable talent, but with such a background, he was not qualified to marry one of his top ten princesses. However, now that the emperor saw that Zhuge Xiang was Luo Ba's personal disciple, he began to treat him with more respect.
"Your Majesty, that Zhuge Xiang has been quite remarkable these past few years. Not long ago, with his Golden Core Stage cultivation, he acquired his own Floating Mountain and even killed a powerful expert at the Fifth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage. Moreover, he successfully comprehended the Demon Luo Scripture of the Asura Sect. If nothing unexpected happens, he may very well become the next Sect Master of the Asura Sect."
Seeing that the emperor was paying attention to Zhuge Xiang, one of the emperor's personal Eunuch whispered in the emperor's ear.
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, the emperor's gaze fell on Zhuge Xiang, a fiery glint in it.
With his Golden Core cultivation, he could already kill Cultivator at the Fifth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage. Now that he has entered the Nascent Soul realm, how strong must he be? Moreover, he can even comprehend the Asura Sect, a secret technique passed down only by the Demon Luo Scripture?
While his talent in cultivation was noteworthy, it wasn't enough to earn the emperor's full attention. However, his ability to kill Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator at the Golden Core stage, his mastery of the Demon Luo Scripture, and his status as a strong contender for the next Sect Master of the Asura Sect forced the Great Qin Emperor to take him seriously.
"In that case, Shuang'er and he seem to be a very good match..." The emperor stared at Zhuge Xiang for a moment, scrutinizing him closely. This serious look allowed the emperor to see Zhuge Xiang's extraordinary qualities. He smiled slightly and murmured to himself.
Why did the Great Qin Empire suppress the Asura Sect? Because when the Great Qin Six Nations six kingdoms, it relied on the power of the Nine Great Sects, and the Asura Sect was the strongest among them. Even now, many generals of the Great Qin army have intricate connections with the Asura Sect. Therefore, the Great Qin is deeply wary of the Asura Sect.
However, if Zhuge Xiang could become the next Sect Master of the Asura Sect, and if a princess could be used to bind Zhuge Xiang to the war machine of the Great Qin Empire, then this would definitely be a very profitable deal for the Imperial Clan family.
From then on, the Great Qin Empire no longer needed to worry about the loyalty of its army. Without this concern, the Great Qin Empire would surely become even stronger... (To be continued...)