An Unexpected Invitation

Therefore, Lin Yi did not hesitate at all and immediately had Xuanji accept the invitation and connect her consciousness to the virtual universe network.

Then, he appeared in a courtyard full of Xia Country style.

Cang Ming was still wearing a loose-fitting, ancient Chinese-style robe, leisurely brewing tea while sitting on a stone bench, the fragrant aroma of tea filling the air.

Upon seeing Lin Yi's figure gather, he raised his head, a slightly teasing smile on his face.

"Junior brother, you've arrived?"

Cang Ming pointed to the empty seat opposite him, "Sit down. I heard you had a very fruitful trip to the Blood Sun Secret Realm this time? Encountering Source Essence on your first entry into the secret realm, even I, your senior brother, am a little envious of your luck."

Lin Yi sat down as instructed, accepted the teacup Cang Ming offered, smiled slightly, and said humbly, "Senior brother is too kind. It was just a chance encounter that allowed me to pick up some scraps. The real treasures are far beyond the reach of a small Mercenary Group like ours."

He knew perfectly well that given Cang Ming's status and relationship with the Star Realm Army, it was only natural that he would know this information.

Cang Ming chuckled, not pressing the matter further. He took a sip of tea and changed the subject. "A great harvest is a good thing, meaning a deeper foundation and the ability to do more. I've called you here today because there's something I need to discuss. I wonder if you'd be interested, Junior Brother."

"Please speak, senior brother." Lin Yi put down his teacup and adopted a listening posture.

He knew that the "matter" Cang Ming was talking about was definitely not a trivial matter.

That's right.

Cang Ming didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I have an old friend named Hong Yan, who, like me, is World Derivation level expert, hence the title 'Lord Hong Yan.' He has a beloved direct descendant who is about to celebrate his thousandth birthday. In addition to inviting me, Lord Hong Yan specifically hopes to invite you to the banquet through me."

"I?"

Lin Yi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

The guest list for a birthday banquet held by a powerful cultivator at the World Derivation level would undoubtedly be carefully selected. He had never met this Lord Hong Yan before and had no connection with him whatsoever. Why would the other party insist on inviting him?

However, Lin Yi thought about it again and realized that perhaps the other party was trying to get to know him, this "potential stock," out of respect for Senior Brother Cang Ming. This kind of thing was normal.

Since my senior brother has spoken, I must give him face. It's just a matter of showing up in the Virtual Network and saying a few words of congratulations.

With that in mind, Lin Yi readily agreed.

"I see. Since it's an invitation from your friend, I'll naturally oblige. No problem, just let me know the access coordinates for the virtual banquet, and I'll be there on time to offer my congratulations."

To his surprise, Cang Ming shook his head upon hearing his words, a smile on his face carrying a deeper meaning:

"If it were really that simple, just virtual participation, I wouldn't have bothered to schedule a face-to-face meeting with you. Lord Hong Yan hopes to invite you to attend in person this time."

"Hmm? You were there in person?"

Lin Yi was genuinely surprised this time.

The universe is vast and boundless; even if one can jump through a fixed stargate route, it still takes a considerable amount of time.

Therefore, unless the guest is an extremely close ally, relative, or someone considered so important that their True Body is required as a sign of respect, most guests will choose to participate virtually at this type of banquet.

This way, one can express their feelings without interfering with their spiritual practice and daily affairs.

A complete stranger, the Lord of the Derivation Realm, wants him, the "Number One Star Core level Person," to make a long journey just because it's the thousandth birthday of one of his juniors?

This is perhaps a bit too elaborate, even bordering on nonsensical.

After all, given his current status and connections, he could easily disregard ordinary realm lords, especially those he had no prior dealings with.

No wonder they needed to find a senior student to act as an intermediary.

To be honest, Lin Yi was somewhat unhappy about it.

Traveling back and forth is time-consuming and exhausting. It would be better to use that time to stay at the base to train or handle internal affairs.

However, Senior Brother Cang Ming had always taken good care of him, from giving him a treasure when they first met to protecting him in many ways later. This was the first time he had asked him for help, even though it was to relay someone else's request.

But this matter of saving face cannot be refused under any circumstances.

After a moment's hesitation, Lin Yi suppressed his slight displeasure, regained his composure, and said, "I understand. Since Lord Hong Yan has extended such a warm invitation, and with Senior Brother's involvement, there's naturally no problem. Senior Brother, please provide me with the specific time and space coordinates and the banquet time, and I will arrange the itinerary. At that time, Lord Hong Yan's people can contact me directly."

Cang Ming smiled again when he saw that Lin Yi had agreed without even asking any questions.

He waved his hand and said, "Junior brother, don't be in a hurry. How could your senior brother let you suffer a loss?"

"This trip won't be in vain. Lord Hong Yan knew this journey would interfere with your cultivation, so he prepared a gift of gratitude. Knowing you are diligently cultivating the Death Rule, I took it upon myself to request a portion of the Eternal Abyss Water as a token of my appreciation for your visit."

"The Eternal Abyss Water?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi's expression immediately turned serious.

He certainly knew what the "Eternal Abyss Water" was.

That was a rare treasure of Rule Comprehension of the same level as "Fleeting Splendor" that he had previously consumed, specifically targeting rules related to death, termination, and annihilation, with excellent effects.

However, unlike the explosive, almost violent indoctrination-like experience of "Fleeting Splendor," the effect of "Eternal Abyss Water" is more gentle and lasting, like sinking one's consciousness into a silent, bottomless abyss of death, where one slowly and profoundly experiences the true meaning of death, often lasting for several days.

Because of its long-lasting effects and wider applicability, it is generally considered to be slightly more valuable in the market than "Fleeting Splendor".

Most importantly, treasures of this caliber are mostly firmly controlled by major powers and rarely flow out of the country. Even when they are exchanged, it is mostly through barter, and rarely directly measured by Star Crystal or military merits.

So here's the question: why would the Lord of Hong Yan Realm be willing to offer "Eternal Abyss Water" as a token of gratitude simply for inviting him to a junior's birthday banquet?

Lin Yi immediately realized that things were not so simple.

He looked at Cang Ming, his gaze questioning, "Senior brother, the Lord of Hong Yan Realm went to such great lengths, surely it's not just for me to show my face and have a meal? Is there some other reason behind it?"

Cang Ming nodded approvingly, not surprised by Lin Yi's keen insight.

"That's natural. The reason he's inviting you so solemnly is because he values your status as the number one new generation of Human Race Star Core level beings. To put it bluntly, he not only wants to invite you to the banquet, but also wants you to take charge."

"Me? Giving a position to World Derivation level expert?"

Lin Yi found it somewhat absurd.

No matter how powerful he is, he is ultimately only at the Star Core level. Before the Derivation Realm, what difference is there between him and an ant? How can he possibly hold a position of authority?

Yes, it's you.

Cang Ming affirmed, then explained in detail, "This Lord of Hong Yan's bloodline can be traced back to His Hong Huan. And His Hong Huan and our master are extremely close friends."

Upon hearing that his master was involved, Lin Yi immediately became serious.

Cang Ming continued, "This time, Hong Yan is holding a grand birthday banquet for his direct descendants. According to the unspoken rules of the circle, forces that are not on good terms with His Hong Huan's faction will likely send people to join in the fun."

"The so-called 'joining in the fun' is simply engaging in 'friendly' exchanges and competition among peers. This is both a way to showcase the potential and connections of one's younger generation and a form of unspoken rivalry."

"If the host's side is at a disadvantage in the sparring, or even completely suppressed, then the banquet will inevitably lose face and become a laughing stock."

"The problem is that among His Hong Huan's lineage, no particularly outstanding figures have emerged among the current generation of Star Core level cultivators. On the other hand, the other side is said to have cultivated a Star Core level prodigy. With this disparity, Realm Lord Hong Yan was worried about the awkwardness of the banquet, which is why he sought my help."

As he spoke, Cang Ming smiled, "After all, if we could get you, the undisputed number one Star Core level expert, to be present, it would not only firmly suppress their arrogance but also greatly demonstrate their lineage's connections and influence among the new generation."

Lin Yi suddenly realized.

It turns out, this was an invitation for him to check out the venue and also do some "side gigs" to boost the atmosphere.

This "Eternal Abyss Water" is his "protection fee" plus "appearance fee".

Lin Yi had never encountered such unspoken rules within the elite circles in his previous life, and in this life, having only recently risen to power, he had not yet ventured into them. Hearing about them now, he found them quite novel.

However, upon further reflection, he became somewhat puzzled. "Senior brother, if there are such rules, why has no other force ever invited me to participate in similar occasions in the more than one hundred years since I rose to power?"

Upon hearing Cang Ming, Cangming scoffed, "Do you think everyone has such a big face, or is willing to spend such a huge sum? Your rise has been too fast; you haven't fully opened up the circle yet."

"Moreover, rashly making such a request, which is almost like hiring someone, to a prodigy would be futile if rejected or even seen as an insult. If the Lord of Hong Yan Realm didn't have a prior relationship with his sect and know their background well, and if he didn't ask me to mediate, he wouldn't have made this request."

Lin Yi nodded; that made sense.

A genius has his own pride; unless you have a strong relationship with him or pay a high price, it's truly difficult to persuade him to join you.

"Originally, I didn't want you to get involved in this kind of thing."

Cang Ming's tone softened slightly, "Although the banquet venue isn't too far from here, a round trip, including the banquet time, would take at least ten years. Time is the most precious thing for you, and it would be unwise to waste your cultivation. Besides, although you are the number one at the Star Core level, your cultivation level is still relatively low, and traveling alone would pose safety risks."

He then changed the subject. "However, since your clone has returned from the secret realm and is available, and given His Hong Huan's close relationship with our faction, it's only right and proper that we help him out. Sending your clone on this trip will save face, get you the reward, and leave your Main Body unaffected—a win-win situation."

"I'll go alone?"

Lin Yi caught the key phrase and asked in surprise, "Ninth Senior Brother, aren't you going?"

He had assumed that Cang Ming would go with him.

Cang Ming grinned, revealing a helpless smile, "I'd like to join in the fun, but unfortunately, I'm responsible for guarding the Tiered Battlefield, how can I leave so easily? Lord Hong Yan nominally invited me, but in reality, he just wanted me to be a messenger. His real target has been you from beginning to end."

Lin Yi couldn't help but chuckle; his senior brother had actually become an extra in his invitation.

His mind raced, and he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The clone can travel there, ensuring the Main Body's safety and well-being.

It takes about ten years, which is not unacceptable for cultivators with long lifespans.

The reward, "Eternal Abyss Water," is a top-tier treasure that he urgently needs to greatly accelerate his comprehension of the Death Rule; its value is immeasurable.

At the same time, since the Hong Huan lineage has a close relationship with his master, it would be perfectly acceptable to take this opportunity to visit them, get to know them, and establish a good relationship.

By any measure, this is an extremely worthwhile deal.

"Senior brother has considered everything very thoroughly."

Lin Yi smiled. "In that case, I'll go this time. Ten years in exchange for a drop of Eternal Abyss Water is worth it."

"Haha, good! I knew you were a straightforward person, junior brother."

Cang Ming clapped his hands and laughed, "Then I will reply to Hong Yan in this way. I will send you the specific time and space coordinates, the banquet time, and contact information later. Hong Yan will arrange the reception."

"Thank you for your trouble, senior brother." Lin Yi cupped his hands in thanks.

Afterwards, the two brothers chatted for a while over tea about their recent situations. Cang Ming mainly talked about the situation of the Kunmo Race on the Tiered Battlefield before ending the virtual meeting.

After regaining consciousness, Xuanji immediately received a message from Cang Ming.

It contained detailed records of the target star system's coordinates, the banquet venue named "Myriad Bloom Star," and the specific contact information for the Lord of Hong Yan Realm.

"Xuanji, notify your clone to prepare. We will depart for Myriad Bloom Star in three days."

"Yes, Master."

Three days later, a personal spaceship shimmering with a dark blue light quietly departed from the port of the Border Legion's fortress base.

Lin Yi's clone took charge, set the navigation route, and the spaceship's engine spewed out a dazzling tail flame, instantly accelerating and disappearing into the vast sea of stars, heading towards the distant "Myriad Bloom Star," beginning its jump voyage.

--

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

As the spaceship smoothly docked at the special interstellar port of Myriad Bloom Star, Lin Yi followed the guide and boarded a special Flying Shuttle to arrive directly at the foot of the mountain where "Firefly Manor" was located in the Core Zone of the planet, which was specially prepared for this banquet.

Meanwhile, at the magnificent and exquisite gates of the Firefly Manor, today's birthday celebrant, Hong Hanran, dressed in a gorgeous gown, was welcoming a steady stream of guests with several close girlfriends.

Her smile was appropriate, her demeanor elegant, displaying the poise of a noble lady.

According to the rules, she was mainly responsible for greeting her friends of the same age and some guests of relatively ordinary status, while more important guests were received by her father in a slightly more inner area.

As for the Lord of Hong Yan Realm, he will only personally appear at the entrance of the main hall of the manor when he senses the arrival of guests of the same rank or of extremely high status.

Taking advantage of a lull in the guests, a woman in a pale yellow dress next to Hong Hanran quietly tugged at her sleeve.

"Hanran, I just received news that the people from Ink Feather Star have arrived at the spaceport, and the leader is Ling Xuan. He is a true prodigy who has mastered the Flame Domain, and he has a fearsome reputation among the younger generation in our star field."

A worried look appeared on the woman in the pale yellow dress. "They're definitely here to embarrass you. When they get to the door, should we... should we make up an excuse and say the seats are full, and not let them in?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Hanran's slender fingers curled slightly.

How could she not be worried?

Although my father said that our ancestor had actually managed to invite that person, we haven't seen a single person yet.

She couldn't even imagine how embarrassing it would be if that prodigy was delayed on the way or simply didn't come. He would be publicly challenged by Ling Xuan at her family's birthday banquet, and no one on her side could stop him.

That would not only be a loss of face for her, but also for the entire Hong Yan lineage, and even for His Hong Huan's lineage.

Hong Hanran took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, maintaining a flawless smile on her face, gently patted her best friend Ruo Jin's hand, and whispered:

"Jin'er, don't panic. All guests are welcome. How could our Hong Family turn away our guests? That would be truly laughable. Don't worry, I have a friend who can handle this."

Upon hearing this, Ruo Jin almost rolled her eyes.

She leaned closer, her voice low and exasperated, "My dear young lady, do you have any friends I don't know who can deal with the domain prodigies? Stop being stubborn, let's think of a way quickly."

Hong Hanran pursed her lips and didn't reply.

Just then, a slight energy fluctuation came from the foot of the mountain, and a row of flamboyantly designed Flying Shuttle bearing the emblem of the Ink Feather Star came to a steady stop.

The hatch opened, and several figures appeared, then transformed into dazzling streaks of light, swiftly soaring to the mountaintop and landing on an open space not far from the manor gate, drawing the attention of some early-arriving guests.

The leader was a young man dressed in a dark red battle robe. He had a handsome face, and his eyes seemed to flicker with flames as he scanned the room. It was none other than Ling Xuan.

Behind him followed several equally distinguished young men and women, all of whom seemed to follow his lead without question.

Ling Xuan's gaze bypassed the welcoming attendants and landed on Hong Hanran. A smile then appeared on his lips. "Ling Xuan of Ink Feather Star has come to celebrate Miss Hong Hanran's birthday. I've heard that many distinguished guests are gathered here today. Surely they won't turn away us, these guests who have traveled from afar, at the door?"

His words seemed polite, but the phrase "came from afar" and the slightly emphasized tone carried an invisible pressure.

Ruo Jin's face paled, and she instinctively wanted to step forward to argue, but Hong Hanran gently pressed her down.

Hong Hanran stepped forward, suppressing the turmoil in her heart and maintaining the demeanor of a hostess, and nodded slightly. "Young Master Ling Xuan, you flatter me. Today is Hanran's birthday, and I am deeply grateful for your presence. All guests are welcome, please come in."

She turned to the side and made an inviting gesture, her posture impeccable, but her slightly tense voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.

A hint of smugness flashed in Ling Xuan's eyes, seemingly quite pleased with Hong Hanran's forced restraint.

He laughed heartily, said no more, and led his men through the manor gate and into the manor.

As he passed Hong Hanran, a woman in a dark green dress deliberately snorted and gave him a provocative look.

Some neutral guests, as well as those who had already entered and were now chatting in small groups on the courtyard corridors or terraces, also noticed the scene at the entrance. Their thoughts intertwined, and whispers quietly arose:

"It's Ling Xuan from Ink Feather Star, he really has arrived."

"Tsk tsk, His Hong Huan's faction has been at odds with them for quite some time now. They're clearly here to cause trouble."

"Judging from Miss Honghan's expression, she's probably not entirely sure herself. Her mention of a friend earlier was likely just a delaying tactic; she'll probably say at the end that her friend was late to save face."

"Didn't the Lord of Hong Yan Realm invite outside help? That shouldn't be the case."

"Invite them? Are geniuses so easy to invite? They're all proud and arrogant. Unless they're close friends or willing to pay a huge price, who would want to get involved in this kind of struggle for no reason?"

"It seems this birthday banquet is going to be quite a show. I just hope it doesn't turn out too badly, after all, it's a young girl's first birthday celebration."

"Let's wait and see. Since Lord Hong Yan dares to hold this banquet, he must have made some preparations."

These comments, though seemingly insignificant, were like an invisible spiderweb, entwining Hong Hanran's mind and making it difficult for her to breathe.

She forced a smile and continued to greet the arriving guests, but the anxiety in her eyes grew stronger.

Time passed slowly, and the long-awaited "savior" remained nowhere to be found. Even Ruo Jin began to sigh and consider suggesting that she feign illness and leave early.

At the foot of the mountain, another Flying Shuttle quietly glided into its berth.

The hatch opened, and a figure dressed in simple blue attire slowly stepped out.

Lin Yi did not choose to fly directly to the entrance of the manor on the mountaintop like the previous group of guests. Instead, he stepped onto the winding mountain path paved with shimmering white Star Shatter stones, just like an ordinary visitor. He walked leisurely, as if appreciating the carefully arranged scenery along the way.

They walked along, enjoying the scenery, and after more than half an hour, Lin Yi finally appeared at the bustling entrance of the Firefly Manor.

His appearance was unassuming, without any powerful aura emanating from him, so that he initially did not attract much attention.

It wasn't until he stopped and calmly surveyed Hong Hanran and her entourage who were welcoming them that his unusually composed demeanor gradually drew the attention of those around him.

To outsiders, he was a very young-looking man. His face was not particularly handsome, but his features were well-defined, and his eyes were as deep as ancient wells, as if they contained an endless starry sky.

He stood there, without making any movement, yet he naturally became the center of attention in the area, and even the light seemed to be slightly deflected towards his position.

Ruo Jin, who was looking around and thinking about how to help Hong Hanran escape, was the first to notice Lin Yi.

He was a young man dressed in a simple blue outfit, quietly standing in the line of guests waiting to enter the manor. He had neither servants around him nor fancy clothes, and he appeared too plain compared to the other guests.

However, Ruo Jin's gaze lingered on him.

Although the energy fluctuations he perceived were only at the Star Core level, no different from those of many young people present, this person was surrounded by an indescribable aura.

It wasn't an intentionally emanating pressure, but rather a restrained and serene presence, like a vast starry sea hidden beneath a calm surface.

His deep eyes swept across the room with a composure and insight beyond his years, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle were irrelevant to him, as if he were in his own world.

Ruo Jin quickly searched her memory, confirming that she had never seen this face in any social setting, nor did she remember Hong Hanran mentioning such a friend.

Such magnanimity is something that ordinary forces cannot cultivate.

A sense of curiosity arose in her heart. When did Hanran get to know such a person? And she kept it so well hidden, even from her?

Thinking of this, Ruo Jin couldn't help but gently tug at Hong Hanran, who was still looking worried beside her, and gestured with her eyes to the young man in blue in the group, asking in a low voice:

"Hanran, when did you make a friend like this? You didn't even introduce him to me? That's so unfair!"

Hong Hanran was feeling uneasy when Ruo Jin was looking, somewhat bewildered.

At first, she didn't immediately recognize Lin Yi, only feeling that the young man in blue was indeed different from others.

But when Hong Hanran saw that calm face, especially when she met those eyes that seemed to reflect the turmoil in people's hearts, her heart skipped a beat, and then a huge surge of joy and relief rushed into her heart.

She instinctively gripped Ruo Jin's arm tightly.

"It's him! Jin'er, he's here."