Chapter 53: Fang Che's Grandmaster Banquet

Fang Che was naturally unaware that his reports had helped Yin Shengong avoid a major crisis.

Of course, he wouldn't care even if he did know, and it was in his best interests to provide these warnings as Yin Shengong's occupancy of the position of pope was the most beneficial arrangement for Fang Che.

That night, there was no assassination attempt from the Huo Clan, the Three Saints Church, or the Divine Heavenly Church.

Fang Che didn't even bother to light any Soul Devouring Incense.

Given that this was a period of relative peace, he decided to treat some people to a meal the next day at the academy cafeteria.

He had tarnished his own gentlemanly image through his repeated abuse of Huo Churan recently, so he had some image-mending to do.

After all, not only was he going to be a member of the One Heart Church, he had to ideally secure an official position in the Guardians as well.

What if I become the pope of the One Heart Church someday?

Just the mere thought was getting Fang Che excited.

Of course, he wasn't just going to be providing a free meal. There were some questions that he had to ask some people, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.

As for the official reason for why he was treating everyone to a meal, that would be to celebrate his recent breakthrough to the Grandmaster tier.

***

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That night, Fang Che reserved several large tables at the academy cafeteria.

The four instructors were seated at the head of the central table, and they were joined by the four instructors of the eleventh class.

Fang Che had invited them as a gesture of apology for causing them so much trouble.

The four of them didn't want to come. In the wake of the ugly incidents between Fang Che and Huo Churan, they had no interest in attending the former's Grandmaster banquet.

However, they were forcibly dragged along by Li Changkong and his three colleagues.

Li Changkong knew that Fang Che was most likely going to continue picking on Huo Churan in the future, so it was very important for him to become well acquainted with the instructors of the eleventh class.

There were also two tables occupied by Fang Qingyun and his friends, sixteen female and four male.

The final table was occupied by Fang Che, Mo Ganyun, Ding Jieran, Qiu Yunshang, Jing Shuanggao, Xie Gongping, and some other prodigies, along with class captain and vice-captain.

The captain and vice-captain positions should've gone to Fang Che and Mo Ganyun, but both of them vehemently refused, so the instructors were forced to appoint others.

With everyone assembled, Fang Che stood up and delivered an address.

"Instructors, teachers, senior brothers and sisters... Ever since I first came to White Cloud Warrior Academy..."

After taking a brief trip down memory lane, he concluded his address with: "It's only thanks to your support that I was able to take the step forward to become a Grandmaster."

He couldn't help but clear his throat in embarrassment here.

He was most likely the first person in history to have thrown a banquet over a breakthrough to the Lesser Grandmaster tier.

Everyone erupted into laughter at his embarrassed display.

"Indeed. Grandmaster Fang's breakthrough is a monumental event in our warrior world, and that's why all of us have gathered here to suck up to him," Li Changkong jibed.

The chorus of laughter instantly became even more raucous, and even Ding Jieran was allowing himself a smile.

Fang Che's face was flushed bright red as he cleared his throat again, then continued, "In light of my recent breakthrough, I have decided to treat everyone to a meal in celebration."

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their cups in unison, only to collectively burst into laughter again.

An exasperated look appeared on Fang Che's face as he complained, "Isn't everyone a bit too rowdy for your liking, Instructor Li?"

"This is a celebration! We have to be loud!" Li Changkong chuckled.

Fang Che could only heave a resigned sigh.

I've even kowtowed to the pope of the One Heart Church, this amount of embarrassment is nothing to me!

However, as everyone's laughter grew louder and louder, Fang Che found himself struggling to maintain his composure.

To further compound his woes, one of the instructors stood up with a serious expression and declared, "Grandmaster Fang's breakthrough is a cause for worldwide celebration! As a lowly King, I am truly honored to be here today! Please allow me to raise a toast!"

At this point, Fang Che's face had already turned beetroot red, and to hide his embarrassment, he downed the wine in his cup in one go, then loudly exclaimed, "This is some exceptional wine!"

He had even gone as far as to enhance his voice with his cultivation base, and everyone was momentarily stunned into silence.

"Save the laughter for later, I have something to say now," Fang Che said as he put on a solemn expression. "While I've taken this step ahead of everyone, I certainly know better than to rest on my laurels. There are countless prodigies in White Cloud Warrior Academy, many of which come from clans far more powerful and affluent than my own.

“When it comes to my background, I cannot compare with those peers of mine. Once they reach the Grandmaster tier, they'll essentially be set for life, and their rate of progress will far outstrip my own. In a sense, this is fair because their ancestors had to give so much to provide them with the foundation that they enjoy today, but at the same time, it's also terribly unfair for those of our present generation.

“No matter how hard we work, there's no way we can enjoy the same starting point as them. We have to rely on ourselves for everything."

At this point, everyone's amusement had already completely died down.

In particular, the eight instructors were suddenly looking a little dejected.

They could still clearly remember the rapid progress made by their peers from major clans, particularly after reaching the Great Grandmaster tier.

At some point, they had held a significant lead in cultivation base, only to be quickly surpassed and left far behind, and that was a sore spot that would remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Bao Feiyu heaved a faint sigh as he threw his head back and downed the contents of his cup, as if to drown his sorrows.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that the four instructors of the eleventh class were looking even more dejected and bitter than him, and he couldn't help but heave another forlorn sigh.

For warriors from eighth-tier clans and below, reaching the Great Grandmaster tier alone was already a monumental task, one that required them to overcome countless hurdles.

Even the patriarchs of their clans were often only Great Grandmasters, so they didn't even know how to progress beyond that point.

No one in their clans could help them, so they could only try and forge their own paths with the help of the academy instructors.

In contrast, for prodigies from major clans, the Great Grandmaster tier was really only the beginning of their warrior journey.

It was often the case that by the time prodigies from less privileged backgrounds reached the Great Grandmaster tier, their more affluent peers would've only been third or fourth-rank Lesser Grandmasters.

That was a very significant gap, but as soon those more privileged prodigies reached the Great Grandmaster tier, it was as if some type of cap had been lifted on their rate of progress, and before everyone knew it, they were already Generals!

It was like two mountaineers climbing Everest. One was about to reach the summit, while the other was still standing at the foot of the mountain, but as soon as the latter made a move, they would stride over the entire mountain range in a single step!

It was truly an inexpressible type of despair.

Fang Che was very relieved to see that his words resonated with everyone, and he continued, "Hence, I have invited all of you here today for a celebration, but only to celebrate the fact that I have reached what is only the starting point for others. From this day forth, I will begin preemptively catching up to those who will surely outstrip me. I am very honored to have reached this starting point at only seventeen years of age."

With that, he raised his cup before downing its contents again, and the atmosphere instantly began to liven up.

In particular, most of the students at Fang Qingyun's table had only recently progressed to the Lesser Grandmaster tier, and Fang Che's words had lit a fire in their hearts.

"Bravo!" Fang Qingyun praised as his cheeks glowed red from the wine he had consumed. "Let's all work hard together!"

Even Ding Jieran's eyes were shimmering with determination and ambition.

"I am so fortunate to have come to White Cloud Warrior Academy and become acquainted with all of you, so fortunate to have such fine instructors, senior brothers and sisters, friends, and rivals."

Fang Che raised his cup to Ding Jieran, Qiu Yunshang, Mo Ganyun, Xie Gongping, Yu Zhongge, and Jing Shuanggao as he declared, "All of you are my rivals, but also my companions and my friends. I hope that all of us, including our senior brothers and sisters, can entrust our lives to one another on the battlefield someday against the demonic churches."

Fang Che clearly noticed a flash of dejection in Ding Jieran's eyes upon hearing this.

The latter lowered his head in silence, almost as if he were ashamed.

There was also a clear shift in the demeanor of Wan Zhimei on Fang Qingyun's table, who was clearly not smiling as earnestly as before.

He had intentionally brought up the "demonic churches" to gauge their reactions, and he already had plans for what he was going to do with them.

With that, the banquet officially commenced.

Li Changkong and the other instructors were looking at Fang Che with contemplative expressions.

They knew that there was no way Fang Che had invited everyone here just for a celebration. Instead, he had to have had some type of ulterior motive, but they couldn't figure out what it was.