The Banquet

After leading Fang Family and the others upstairs, the Prefect settled Fang Yuan in the private room, while the other disciples ate and drank in the adjoining room.

The adjoining room wasn't an inferior room.

The private rooms at the Imperial Fragrance Tower came in different grades, and the ones on the top floor were the finest, with sweeping views.

But restaurants did business, and sometimes they had to accommodate a lot of people.

So the private rooms at the Imperial Fragrance Tower were spacious. The main room and adjoining rooms were all connected, yet separated from one another.

To put it simply, they were like the main table and the side tables, only arranged with more care.

"Fang Yuan, it's been a long time."

When Fang Yuan approached the table, most of the people stood to greet him. Only a handful remained seated.

One of that handful was Chang Qing, the Prefecture Governor's fifth legitimate son. He was the one who had spoken.

Fang Yuan nodded slightly, his manner cool.

Most of those attending the banquet were the most outstanding disciples from the great powers of Prefecture City, including Wang Cheng of the Wang Clan and Zhu Jing of the Zhu Family.

"The leaders of Green Ridge Stronghold are numerous, and all of them are strong. I wonder how many you killed, Brother Fang?" Wang Cheng asked.

His question immediately struck a chord with everyone at the table.

So many young prodigies had gathered here. They obviously hadn't come just to eat and drink.

Still, most of them were curious about Fang Yuan's true strength.

"More than ten, I suppose," Fang Yuan replied coolly.

"Green Ridge Stronghold has no shortage of Ninth Layer Houtian Realm experts, does it?" Wang Cheng asked deliberately.

Fang Yuan's expression remained calm. He didn't take the bait.

That only left the others even less certain.

People were often like that.

Even when they knew the truth was right in front of them, their subconscious refused to believe it. They would even try to hypnotize themselves into thinking otherwise.

It was like a child prodigy who steadily outpaced his peers, progressing from high school to university.

That was the natural course of things. But then, after barely a few days, he suddenly went on to earn a doctorate.

They were all geniuses. How could he be such a freak?

Chang Qing broke the awkward silence, speaking as if casually:

"I've received word that Yinshe Grass may be found in a Cold Pool on Falling Mist Mountain. You might want to take a look."

Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes and glanced at Chang Qing, his gaze meaningful.

Yinshe Grass had the effect of concentrating the mind and gathering the soul. It was exceedingly rare, a top-grade spirit herb—and exactly what Fang Yuan needed right now.

Why had Chang Qing deliberately let this news slip?

"You're not being very fair. Falling Mist Mountain covers a huge area, and there are plenty of Cold Pools," Liu Yun said with displeasure.

"It's in the mountains behind Qixi County, within a ten-li radius."

"As expected of Young Master Chang Qing. You're willing to share the appearance of a great treasure with all of us." A woman from an Aristocratic Clan spoke up.

Chang Qing smiled and glanced at Fang Yuan. "I'm not that generous."

"I mainly wanted to tell Fang Yuan about this. But since everyone's here, it wouldn't be right to keep it to myself."

Chang Qing was very direct.

For a moment, it was difficult to guess what he really had in mind.

"Fang Yuan, my younger brother offended you. I hope the two of you can put your differences aside."

"Consider this news a gift."

"As long as he doesn't come looking for trouble, there won't be any conflict between us," Fang Yuan said coolly.

"We live in the same city, after all. We're bound to cross paths. There's no need to take it so seriously."

The fact that Fang Yuan had come was already a great show of respect. Expecting him to bow and scrape was pure fantasy.

"Everyone's heard that the Ninth Prince at Azure Cloud Academy broke through to Foundation Establishment a while ago, right?" someone suddenly asked.

Wang Cheng's eyes flickered with interest.

"It's said that the moment he entered Foundation Establishment, he awakened the Royal Family's Heavenly Dragon Bloodline. Dragon qi seemed to shield him, and the dragon's roar rang out without end."

Chang Qing's expression turned solemn. He nodded. "Foundation Establishment is a major hurdle, and it's also the starting point for measuring talent."

In the eyes of outsiders in Prefecture City, the people at this table might already seem untouchable, their talent beyond the reach of their peers.

But it was precisely because they came from powerful families that they knew how many geniuses there were in the world.

Just the step into Foundation Establishment was enough to eliminate more than ninety percent of the "false geniuses."

"The Ninth Prince truly leapt through the dragon's gate. He'll surely become one of Azure Cloud Academy's key pupils," a disciple from an Aristocratic Clan said.

"Not only that!"

Chang Qing shook his head. "I've heard that an elder from the Azure Cloud Sect is about to arrive in the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"He'll personally escort the Ninth Prince to the Azure Cloud Sect and admit him outside the usual rules!"

The announcement set the whole room buzzing.

Envy appeared on many faces.

Becoming a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect already made one's status priceless, on par with a princess or prince.

But for an elder of the Azure Cloud Sect to personally escort someone—that was an honor beyond measure.

The emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty himself had to show the Azure Cloud Sect's elders the utmost respect.

"Isn't the Ninth Prince still under forty?" someone asked uncertainly.

"He's thirty-two, and he's already broken the Foundation Establishment record that had stood for years in the dynasty."

Chang Qing sighed. He was twenty-five himself, and even in another ten years, he might not reach Foundation Establishment.

In the face of a peerless genius like the Ninth Prince, he could hardly muster any envy.

The gap between them was simply too great. They weren't even on the same plane.

"Fang Yuan, didn't you also take part in the Azure Cloud Sect's trials?" the Li Family's prodigy suddenly asked.

It was hard to tell whether he lacked social awareness or had done it on purpose.

The room's atmosphere instantly froze.

"It wasn't very easy," Fang Yuan said mildly, his expression giving little away.

Not very easy?

Many at the table sneered inwardly.

If it were easy, wouldn't everyone be on a par with princesses and princes?

"Brother Fang has certainly seen the grandest of occasions. No wonder he speaks so casually," Wang Cheng said with a laugh.

"Still better than some people, who don't even qualify to witness the grandest of occasions."

Fang Yuan had never been one to tolerate taunts. He struck back without mercy.

"You..."

Wang Cheng choked on his words. His fingers trembled inside his wide sleeves, and for a long while he couldn't say anything.

The Azure Cloud Sect's trials had age requirements and were divided into different stages.

In the same stage as Fang Yuan, every participant had been a prodigy who had broken through to the Houtian Realm before turning eighteen.

"Let's not spoil the mood. Eat and drink your fill, and don't stand on ceremony with me," Chang Qing said, stepping in to smooth things over.

Before long, the banquet ended on an unpleasant note.

The great families of the city only kept up a show of peace on the surface. They could make small talk, but there was no chance they would speak from the heart.

As they were leaving,

a little incident occurred.

The Zhu Family's pride and joy slipped Fang Yuan a note.

"Young Master, please get in the carriage!"

Seeing that Fang Yuan hadn't arrived by carriage, the younger generation of the Fang Family offered him their finest one.

Fang Yuan nodded slightly. Once inside, he opened the note. It contained just two words:

Wang Clan!

"The Zhu Family has always stayed out of disputes. Is she trying to muddy the waters, or does she have something else in mind?"

Fang Yuan and Zhu Jing weren't close. At most, they were acquaintances who exchanged nods.

"Either the Wang Clan or the Prefecture Governor could have colluded with Green Ridge Stronghold. And there are plenty of people who want me dead."

Fang Yuan shook his head and stopped dwelling on the city's tangled affairs.

His most urgent task now was breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

With overwhelming power, all schemes and plots would crumble!