The Banquet Invitation

The scene shifted back to the medicine shop.

Ye Zichen had barely returned to the medicine shop when someone from the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty arrived.

Standing at the door, Chu Yunxi peered carefully inside and called softly, "Young master, are you here?"

"Sister Yunxi!"

Liao Yunxiao heard her first and shouted.

When Liao Yunxiao ran over to her, Chu Yunxi patted him and asked, "Where's your grandmaster?"

Liao Yunxiao was twelve now, and Chu Yunxiao felt awkward about patting him on the head again.

"What is it?"

Before Liao Yunxiao could answer, Ye Zichen spoke up just behind him.

Upon seeing Ye Zichen, Chu Yunxi bowed first, then said with a serious expression, "My imperial father would like to invite you to his birthday celebration in half a month. Would you honor him with your presence, young master?"

"Huh? The emperor's birthday? He invited Grandmaster?"

Puzzled, Liao Yunxiao turned to Ye Zichen. "Grandmaster, why did the emperor invite you?"

"He came to me for treatment once."

Ye Zichen gave him a perfunctory answer.

"What? Grandmaster, you actually treated the emperor?"

Liao Yunxiao's mouth fell open in an O.

Although he knew Chu Yunxi was an imperial princess, he didn't know Chu Muyang was Great Chu's emperor. The emperor had visited before, but he hadn't known.

"Grandmaster, let's go! I want to go too!"

Now that Liao Yunxiao knew about it, he wanted to go as well. He blinked at Ye Zichen and called out hopefully.

Before Ye Zichen could reprimand Liao Yunxiao for being rude in front of a guest, a voice suddenly rang out from outside.

"Brother Ye! I want to go too! I want to go too!"

It was none other than Mu Lingxi. She had spotted a splendidly dressed woman entering the medicine shop from a long way off and had followed right behind her.

Then she had heard the conversation at the door.

"Lingxi! You're here too!"

Liao Yunxiao beamed at the sight of Mu Lingxi.

"Look, Grandmaster, Lingxi wants to go too!"

Liao Yunxiao shook Ye Zichen's hand and wheedled.

"You two just want to go eat the delicious food in the imperial palace, don't you?"

Ye Zichen pressed a hand to his forehead and spoke helplessly.

The two children were eleven or twelve now, no longer as young and tender as when he had first met them. But they still hadn't grown up, and were lively by nature.

"Hehe, Brother Ye, let's go! There'll definitely be lots and lots of delicious food at the emperor's birthday celebration!"

Mu Lingxi held Ye Zichen's other hand with her left and gestured extravagantly with her right.

Mu Lingxi had now reached the Golden Core Stage. To possess such talent at eleven or twelve would leave countless people in awe.

Today, she had come to show off to Ye Zichen and tell him that once she saved a little more money, she and her grandmother could move here!

Chu Yunxi stood to one side, watching the two children and trying not to laugh.

Looking after children was such a headache for adults too.

However, she also noticed the Golden Core presence coming from Mu Lingxi. It was naturally quite terrifying.

"To have such strength at eleven or twelve, not only is this girl extraordinary, but my lord's methods can reach the heavens."

Chu Yunxi knew nothing about Mu Lingxi's Reincarnation Immortal Physique. She only knew that the girl must be extraordinary, and that, with help from my lord, she had achieved such terrifying cultivation results.

"All right, I understand. I'll be there when the time comes."

Ye Zichen could do nothing with the two children, so he agreed. He had wanted to go anyway, since he could see quite a few old acquaintances there.

"Thank you for honoring us with your presence, young master. I'll await your arrival."

Seeing that Ye Zichen had finally agreed, Chu Yunxi was delighted and hurried to thank him, afraid he might change his mind.

She then hurried out of the medicine shop and returned to the imperial palace.

"Yay!"

Liao Yunxiao and Mu Lingxi jumped for joy when they heard that.

"You were far too unruly in front of our guest just now, Yunxiao. As punishment, copy a book a hundred times. If you don't finish by then, you can stay home."

Ye Zichen put on a stern face as he spoke to Liao Yunxiao.

"Huh? Wait, Grandmaster, how can you do that?"

Liao Yunxiao cried out, unwilling to accept it.

"Any objections?"

Ye Zichen swept a glance at him, and Liao Yunxiao ran straight back to his room, not daring to act up again.

Seeing this, Mu Lingxi couldn't help snickering.

"Don't you laugh either. Go home and tell your grandmother to give you a proper scolding."

Ye Zichen flicked Mu Lingxi on the forehead and spoke irritably.

"Huh? Please don't, Brother Ye!"

Hearing that, Mu Lingxi immediately wilted.

"I've already concealed your cultivation. You're still too young, and cultivation at that level would attract unnecessary trouble."

Ye Zichen ignored Mu Lingxi's aggrieved expression and continued.

"Oh, okay."

Mu Lingxi spoke quietly.

"After you turn sixteen, the concealment will lift on its own."

Four or five years would be enough for Mu Lingxi to reach Spirit Transformation or higher, giving her the ability to protect herself.

"Mm-hmm, I'll work hard at cultivation!"

Mu Lingxi nodded and spoke firmly.

"Oh, and Brother Ye, Grandma and I will be able to move here before long, hehe."

Mu Lingxi was overjoyed to tell Ye Zichen the news.

"Good, keep it up!"

He patted Mu Lingxi on the head to encourage her, then continued, "Hurry home. Long Han, see her back."

"Yes, young master."

Ye Zichen gestured for Long Han to see Mu Lingxi home.

"Goodbye, Brother Ye!"

Mu Lingxi waved and said goodbye to Ye Zichen.

Ye Zichen returned to his seat and began taking stock of the medicinal herbs in the shop.

Half a month later.

The Great Chu imperial palace was especially festive today. Inside and outside the hall where guests were received, every palace maid and eunuch bustled about, attending to each arrival.

Today, Chu Muyang had also officially reached Peak Half-Immortal, becoming the only Peak Half-Immortal currently known to the public in the Central Continent!

Outside the hall, Chu Muyang was personally receiving guests from major powers and escorting them to their seats inside.

"Grand elder of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, welcome, welcome!"

"Congratulations, Emperor Chu! Not only is it your birthday celebration today, but you've also reached Peak Half-Immortal. A truly joyous occasion!"

"You're too kind. Please, take a seat."

For the time being, the grand elder was serving as pavilion master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, so he had naturally come to offer congratulations on its behalf.

Afterward, the grand elder of the Heavenly Sword Holy Land arrived together with its holy lord, Jian Changqing. Chu Muyang exchanged a few courtesies with them, then ushered them into the hall to take their seats.

"Xuanxiao of the Demon Race has come to congratulate Emperor Chu on his birthday!"

"Why, it's Brother Xuanxiao! Please, come in!"

The Demon Race and the Central Continent now had close dealings and could be said to have established the beginnings of a friendly, cooperative relationship.

As their current leader, Xuanxiao would naturally come to celebrate Chu Muyang's birthday.

Moreover, Xuanxiao had met Chu Muyang years ago as a representative of friendship between the Human Race and the Demon Race, so the two were already acquainted.

"Xie Lingyun, Zhang Lingyao, and Jian Ningshuang of the Eastern Continent's Sword Origin Holy Land have come to congratulate Emperor Chu on his birthday!"

"Come in, come in! We met just a few days ago, so I won't stand on ceremony with you again. Hahahaha."

Chu Muyang joked as he invited the three into the hall to take their seats.

P.S. At this point in the timeline, they've spent roughly six and a half to seven years in the Central Continent. Liao Yunxiao is twelve, and Mu Lingxi is about half a year younger.

The great war between the Human Race and the Devil Race is underway later on. I'll do my best to write the protagonist's shining moment well as a finale, then move into the Immortal Realm arc. (｡ò ∀ ó｡)