On the east side of Ascension Platform Square, next to the player waiting area, there is a temporary viewing platform.
It is said to be an observation platform, but it is actually a three-story wooden building with cornices and carved window lattice. Although it is not as grand as the Imperial City palace, it already stands out among the crowd in the square.
The top floor of the wooden building has open windows on all sides, offering a panoramic view of the entire square.
It was noon at this time, the sun was high in the sky, Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and the early elimination rounds had already begun in the square, and the fight was in full swing in the arena.
From time to time, cheers and exclamations came from the twenty-seat arena, mixed with the crisp sounds of weapons clashing and the muffled sound of Spiritual Power exploding, making it extremely noisy.
But on the top floor of the wooden building, it was very quiet.
Emperor Xianwu is sitting on the main seat, dressed in black uniforms, with a long table in front of him, exquisite dishes on the table, and a wine bottle warm.
He was not wearing court clothes and was obviously traveling incognito.
Sitting on the left and right sides were two gray-robed monks, envoys sent by the Primordial Immortal Sect.
The elders Lu Xuan and Golden Core Fourth Layer have thin faces and half-closed eyes.
The young Meng Bufan and Golden Core Third Layer, with round faces and smiles on their lips, were slowly sipping a glass of wine.
"Is Chen Fu back?" Emperor Xianwu asked.
A young eunuch behind him quickly bowed. "Back to Your Majesty, Eunuch Chen has gone to invite Mr. Zhou. He should be arriving soon."
Emperor Xianwu nodded.
Lu Xuan opened his eyes, glanced at Emperor Xianwu, and said calmly, "His Majesty said that this person has entered Golden Core Realm and is a genius that Great Yong has rarely seen in hundreds of years. I want to see what kind of person he is."
Emperor Xianwu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Deacon Lu, I won't exaggerate. This boy is indeed extraordinary."
Meng Bufan put down his wine glass and asked with great interest, "What state did your Majesty say he was in?"
Emperor Xianwu hesitated for a moment and said, "It should be Golden Core First Layer."
He was not sure, Zhou Qi never told him about his strength, and the only time the two of them met was that tense night.
But it's not too high, after all, it only took two years for Qin Guan to hand over Golden Core Cultivation Manual to Zhou Qi.
Even if there is some improvement, it should not be too much.
Lu Xuan said "hmm" and said nothing.
Meng Bufan smiled contemptuously, "Twenty-four-year-old Golden Core First Layer is indeed rare to see in Great Yong for hundreds of years, but among us Dagan Dynasty, he is a top-notch person, far from the level of a genius."
Emperor Xianwu looked slightly embarrassed and said yes repeatedly, picked up the wine glass and toasted the other party with a glass of wine from afar.
Dagan Dynasty is the top dynasty among the Primordial Immortal Sect's 108 forces, ranking among the top ten in terms of strength.
And Meng Bufan is the third prince of the Dagan Dynasty who joined Immortal Sect five years ago. He was also Golden Core First Layer's strength when he joined. It is said that his strength in the Dagan Dynasty is indeed average, and he was selected through the back door by relying on the royal backstage.
But now five years have passed, Meng Bufan has been promoted to Golden Core Third Layer.
This kind of strength is a rare asset in the Great Yong Dynasty for thousands of years, but in those powerful dynasties it is only superior.
After a moment of silence, footsteps were heard outside the door.
Chen Fu walked quickly to the door, opened the door, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Zhou is here."
Emperor Xianwu stood up and took two steps to greet him personally.
Zhou Qi stepped into the threshold, wearing a gray robe with Dark Moon Saber hanging around his waist, with a calm face.
He glanced at the room, Emperor Xianwu, two gray-robed monks.
Looking at the two gray-robed monks, I immediately learned their information.
Zhou Qi took a few steps forward and clasped his fists. "See your Majesty."
"No need to be polite." Emperor Xianwu smiled and waved his hand, "Come, take a seat, I will introduce to you, Lu Xuan Deacon Lu and Meng Bufan Deacon Meng. They are the envoys sent by the Primordial Immortal Sect to preside over the selection. They are inner disciple of the Immortal Sect."
Zhou Qi turned to the two of them and clasped his fists. "I have met Deacon Lu and Deacon Meng."
Lu Xuan raised his eyelids and nodded slightly as a return gift.
Meng Bufan held the wine glass and looked Zhou Qi up and down, with a faint smile on his lips, but did not get up, and just nodded.
Emperor Xianwu quickly smoothed things over and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhou, please sit down. Today is a casual banquet, so there is no need to be formal."
Zhou Qi sat down in the guest seat.
Chen Fu poured the wine himself and retreated behind Emperor Xianwu.
Emperor Xianwu raised their glasses and everyone drank.
After three drinks, Emperor Xianwu talked about the selection in a casual tone.
Lu Xuan occasionally answered one or two sentences with a flat voice, as if he was completely uninterested in the selection of the Great Yong Dynasty.
Meng Bufan talks more.
"Great Yong has applied for more than 1,600 people this year?" Meng Bufan took a mouthful of food and said casually, "Every time we make selections, the number of applicants is more than 5,000. Foundation Establishment Late Stage has hundreds of people, and Golden Core Realm is not unusual either."
Emperor Xianwu's smile froze slightly, but he still echoed, "Daqian has a profound foundation, Great Yong cannot compare to it."
Meng Bufan nodded and turned to Zhou Qi: "I heard that you are Great Yong's only Golden Core Realm? Twenty-four years old, Golden Core First Layer, is indeed a genius among Great Yong."
Zhou Qi's face remained unchanged and he said calmly, "Deacon Meng, thank you very much."
Meng Bufan put down his chopsticks and leaned back on the chair, with a somewhat condescending tone in his tone:
"When I was working in Daqian, I had just joined Golden Core Realm at the age of 24. However, the competition there was fierce and it was not as comfortable as Great Yong."
He paused and looked at Zhou Qi with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, with your qualifications, if you were born in Daqian, you may not be able to be selected successfully."
This statement is straightforward and even a bit harsh.
Emperor Xianwu's face changed slightly and he was about to speak to smooth things over.
Lu Xuan suddenly spoke, not loudly, with a hint of scolding.
"Bufan, please say less."
Meng Bufan shrugged, picked up the wine glass, and said no more words.
But the contempt in his eyes was not concealed at all.
Emperor Xianwu raised his glass and changed the topic with a smile, "Come on, let's drink. Today we will only talk about romance, no matter how high or low."
Zhou Qi picked up the wine glass and took a slow sip without saying anything.
After drinking a few more glasses, Meng Bufan seemed to feel that what he just said was not enough, so he put down his glass and suddenly said, "It's a rare opportunity, why don't we use martial arts to make friends and help drink together?"
Lu Xuan frowned slightly and looked at Meng Bufan, but ultimately said nothing.
Meng Bufan stood up, walked to the open space in the center of the hall, and looked at Zhou Qi with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I want to learn the methods of monk Great Yong Golden Core Realm. How about we stop here?"
Emperor Xianwu's face changed slightly.
Zhou Qi is Golden Core First Layer. Against Meng Bufan which is Golden Core Third Layer, the chance of winning is slim.
But the envoy took the initiative to discuss the matter. If he refused, it would be a loss of the Immortal Sect's face.
He looked at Zhou Qi with a bit of worry in his eyes.
Zhou Qi showed a meaningful smile on his face, put down his glass and stood up.
"Okay!"