Zanxing

Chapter 100 - Celebration Banquet (2)

Seeing Yanxing and Tian Fangfang's sympathetic expressions, Rong Yu reassured them, "But it's okay. It's not just my senior brother; many of the cultivators who went with Chihua Sect to capture the Bixi spirit yesterday were seriously injured as well and won't be able to enter the secret realm." He thought for a moment and added, "The number of people entering the secret realm this time might be much lower than what the sect originally anticipated."

Hearing this, Tian Fangfang and Mendong exchanged glances. They hadn't had much luck communicating with the Chihua Sect people yesterday, and seeing them so cheerful, they had assumed their victory was complete. But now, it seemed that many had been wounded.

Mu Chengxiao turned his head and asked, "Were many people injured?"

"There were many minor injuries, but around ten people were seriously injured and couldn't enter the secret realm," Rong Yu explained. "Our Liuli Sect only came with two people, and since my senior brother got hurt, the fact that I can still go is already fortunate."

Mu Chengxiao said coldly, "Tan Tianxin sure knows how to play his cards right."

"What do you mean by that?" Mendong asked, his words muffled by the rose-flavored cake he was stuffing into his mouth. "Are you saying Tan Tianxin deliberately let those cultivators get hurt?"

Yanxing silently shook her head. Considering Chihua Sect's domineering nature, it wouldn't be surprising if they had done something like this. By holding back during the Bixi spirit's rampage and only acting after most of the competition was weakened, they achieved a double benefit—dealing with the spirit without much effort and simultaneously eliminating future rivals.

The other cultivators likely understood this logic too, but they chose not to speak out, not wanting to offend Chihua Sect.

"It's fine," Tian Fangfang said, pulling Rong Yu to sit down beside him. "If you go into the secret realm alone, Chihua Sect's bastards might give you trouble. Once inside, you can stick with us. Don't worry, we won't take your good stuff."

Rong Yu smiled. "Then thank you, Senior Brother Tian."

"No need for thanks," Tian Fangfang said, slinging an arm over Rong Yu's shoulder and handing him a cup of wine. "I just couldn't stand seeing you guys struggling, reminded me of my early days before I got into Taiyan Sect. Just like you. From now on, we're brothers. Let's hope we all strike it rich."

Mimi tried to jump onto Rong Yu again, but Yanxing swiftly pulled it back. She picked up a fish cake with her chopsticks, but it didn't taste right. It seemed like the matter with the Bixi spirit was coming to a close.

But would it really be that simple?

...

That night, throughout the celebratory banquet, Yanxing remained preoccupied.

Even when they returned to their quarters, Meng Ying, usually indifferent to external matters, noticed Yanxing's low spirits and asked her what had happened. Yanxing gave a vague response.

The night passed peacefully again, without any unexpected demonic intrusions. Yanxing slept soundly until morning. As the sun rose, palace maids delivered information about the preparations needed for entering the secret realm that night.

The secret realm of the Li'er Kingdom opened once every ten years, and the royal family and high-ranking ministers were required to be present during the entrance ceremony. The entrance was located at the royal mausoleum, and the ceremonial procedures were extremely complex. The list of instructions alone was a thick scroll, even longer than the king's edicts.

Gu Baiying didn't bother looking at it. Tian Fangfang was illiterate, and Meng Ying, as a prodigy, had no regard for such mortal formalities. Mendong and Mu Chengxiao skimmed a few pages and then set it aside. Only Yanxing, eager to understand more about Li'er Kingdom's customs, began to carefully read through it.

But it was far too long, and before she could finish, the time to enter the secret realm had arrived.

The time within the secret realm was entirely opposite to the time outside. Entering at Hai hour (around 9–11 p.m.), they would emerge around noon in the outside world.

The royal mausoleum was located north of the palace. From the lookout tower at Yunhai Garden, one could catch a glimpse of the mausoleum. Since the kingdom was surrounded by the sea, the mausoleum was designed with the intent of symbolizing the ascent to immortality at the end of the sea of clouds.

Following the palace maids, the cultivators arrived at the mausoleum. Built into the mountains, it featured a long jade staircase that led to a magnificent white jade palace at the summit.

Perhaps due to the humid climate of the Li'er Kingdom, the structures here were mostly made of jade and stone. They looked beautiful but also cold and imposing.

On the side of the stairs stood a tall jade stele, the Merit Stele, which listed the achievements of the kingdom's rulers. The current stele belonged to King Shengning, and Yanxing's eyes caught the praises of the "Merman Incident" engraved upon it. What once seemed exaggerated now felt nauseating.

As she was thinking this, the deep sound of a bell echoed from outside. The ruler of Li'er Kingdom had arrived.

Today, this delicate and refined king was dressed in a snow-white ceremonial robe and wore a twelve-tiered imperial crown, with the robe embroidered with twelve symbols. With the crown and robe, he appeared more regal.

Yanxing also spotted Princess Lizhu, dressed in a bright red ceremonial gown with phoenix patterns. While Li'er Kingdom revered the color white, it was unclear if her choice of red was a personal statement or simply the standard for female ceremonial attire. Either way, she stood out like a flame, radiant and intense in front of the white jade palace.

The time was drawing near.

Standing before the palace, the king approached the altar, where twenty-eight tall pillars were carved with the constellations of the twenty-eight lunar mansions. Taking a round seal from a box held by an attendant, the king carefully placed it into a groove on the altar. Instantly, the constellations on the pillars lit up one by one, illuminating the night sky above the mausoleum.

"Immortal cultivators, the secret realm has been opened," the king announced with a smile. "Please, proceed."

The sect disciples had been waiting for this moment. Upon hearing the king's words, they began ascending the steps toward the entrance lit by the constellations. Leading the way were the disciples of the Chihua Sect, followed by those of the Yin Feng Sect, and then the Xiangling Sect. Yanxing's group followed after.

As always, the more prestigious sects went first, while the lesser-known ones trailed behind.

Rong Yu was among those at the back.

Tian Fangfang enthusiastically waved him over. "Junior Brother Rong, hurry up! Come stand with us!"

Rong Yu smiled and began walking up the steps.

One step, two steps, three steps... just as he was about to reach the top, he suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Tian Fangfang asked. "Why did you stop? Did you twist your ankle?"

The other cultivators had already reached the platform, leaving him alone behind. Gradually, everyone took notice. The secret realm couldn't be activated until everyone was on the platform. Someone called out, "What's he dawdling for? Hurry up!"

Rong Yu remained motionless.

After a moment, he lifted his head, scanning the crowd, and finally, his gaze landed on Gu Baiying.

The young man stood with arms crossed, smiling at him. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up."

"What did you do?" Rong Yu asked slowly.

Gu Baiying looked at him with amusement. "Nothing much just set up a demon-revealing array."