Chapter 280: Putting on a Show

Xia Yu and his companions appeared again, filling everyone's cup with Immortal Intoxication. They even filled the cups of the Qi Refining Realm cultivators.

The excitement in the air was palpable, especially among the Qi Refining Realm cultivators. Since Immortal Intoxication was about the same as three months' worth of cultivation, it was essentially a Spirit Essence Pill!

"Elder Jin Nan, where's Daoist Yu?" Someone raised their cup. "This drink must be shared with him!"

Others nodded in agreement.

As soon as the words fell, Yu Yuefan arrived with more than ten Heavenly Southern Sect disciples in tow, landing in the center of the plaza. His handsome face shone brightly in the sunlight, exuding confidence and an otherworldly demeanor, which silently impressed many.

Many female disciples were left tongue-tied, transfixed.

Beside Fire Cloud Fairy, the sixth princess gazed at Yu Yuefan with admiration in her eyes. She had heard from her master that Senior Brother Yu was not much older than herself but had already reached the Foundation Building Realm. His future prospects were boundless. If she could become his Dao companion, it would be a great stroke of luck.

"He has really reached the Foundation Building Realm," muttered Yan Ruyue, who sat next to Elder Su, her eyes flickering with emotion. There was a time when the two of them were both considered the pride of the Flame Empire—they had been equals back then. But now that Yu Yuefan had advanced to the Foundation Building Realm, while she was still stuck at the bottleneck of Qi Refining, that wasn’t the case anymore.

"I think Daoist Yu should be the youngest Foundation Building cultivator in the empire,” exclaimed someone in admiration.

Daoist Ya couldn't help but raise his cup and say, "I think even among the major fifth-tier empires, there may not be a Foundation Building Realm cultivator as young as Daoist Yu!"

As the saying goes, “When the sedan chair is decorated with flowers, everyone wants to carry it.” Since the Heavenly Souther Sect was hosting everyone today, there was nothing wrong with buttering them up a bit, especially when they had brought out Immortal Intoxication to entertain their guests. That was a drink brewed drop by drop with spiritual spring water, and it needed at least thirty years to mature.

"You are all too kind, seniors." Yu Yuefan smiled, taking the wine glass handed to him and addressing the people seated. "Thank you all for coming to support us today. Here's a toast to everyone!" He raised his hand to his mouth and downed his drink in one gulp.

The people chugged down their drinks eagerly. Since they were mostly Foundation Building cultivators, digesting the wine was very easy. However, it was a completely different story for those in the Qi Refining Realm; as soon as they downed their drinks, their faces turned pink, and their spiritual energy started to rise.

Standing behind Yu Yuefan, Senior Brother Feng scanned the plaza with his eyes. When he saw Fang Chen, mockery flashed in his eyes. In his view, Fang Chen's visit today was nothing but seizing an opportunity.

After drinking from his cup, the sixth king suddenly chuckled and beckoned to one of his men, who immediately approached Yu Yuefan with a jade box in hand. "Hehe, Daoist Yu, this is a gift from His Highness. I hope you'll be pleased."

Opening the jade box, a ginseng root that was entirely blood-red in color came into view. Judging by the length of its roots, it had to be at least a hundred years old!

Whispers spread among the crowd.

"The imperial family's generosity is truly remarkable. This is a hundred-year blood ginseng."

"This blood ginseng alone is worth hundreds of low-grade spirit stones!"

Yu Yuefan immediately bowed to the sixth king. "Many thanks to you. Please convey my thanks to His Majesty as well."

The sixth king nodded and smiled. "You’re welcome."

Now that the sixth king had given Yu Yuefan his gift, one by one, the cultivators presented their gifts, too, ranging in value from several dozen to one hundred low-grade spirit stones. On their own, this might not seem like much, but add up all the hundred Foundation Building Realm cultivators together and the total value will definitely be substantial!

Xia Yu and his clique couldn't help but feel envious.

Suddenly, someone noticed that Fang Chen was sitting in his seat, motionless. Curious, he mumbled, "Huh, why is he just sitting there?"

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The sixth king followed his eyes and saw Fang Chen. A smile rose on his lips. "Friends from Qingzhou Sword Sect,” he called. “Didn’t you bring any gifts?"

The plaza fell quiet suddenly.

"The Qingzhou Sword Sect?"

"Didn't notice them earlier... But, who is this person? I think that should be Sect Master Long, right?"

"How strange. Is there anyone in the Qingzhou Sword Sect who wears a mask? Could it be Yao Dan?"

Whispers filled the air.

Elder Su and the rest’s expression shifted. What the sixth king had just said might cause some trouble.

At that moment, Yu Yuefan also noticed Fang Chen. Surprise flickered in his eyes, and he couldn't help but smile. "So, Daoist Fang is a disciple of the Qingzhou Sword Sect?"

Senior Brother Feng also wore a strange smile. "After all that, that’s his background?"

"Yue Yufan knows this person?" Daoist Ya was surprised. Could it be that they were wrong, and this person was not the rumored sword cultivator?

Zhong Yue and the other two gradually felt that something was amiss. They couldn't shake the feeling that the atmosphere was off. Shouldn’t the Heavenly Southern Sect be treating them courteously? But Yu Yuefan’s tone... was rife with disdain. But why was that? How could a newly promoted Foundation Building Realm cultivator look down on a sword cultivator who could kill a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator?

Zhong Yue leaned a bit closer to Fang Chen and whispered, "Do you have any gifts prepared, Sect Master? I'll present them for you."

"I didn't prepare any gifts," replied Fang Chen casually.

Zhong Yue and the other elders were shocked. Embarrassment crept up their faces.

The Foundation Building Realm cultivators sat with raised brows.

He didn’t prepare any gifts? Was he just here for a free cup of Immortal Intoxication?

The sixth king exclaimed in surprise, "How could that be? Haven’t you taken over the Qingzhou Sword Sect? You can’t even take out a single gift?"

Daoist Ya and the others were shocked to hear that.

"So it’s really him!"

He must be the rumored sword cultivator if the sixth king said that!

Daoist Ya was beside himself with excitement. "We're in for a show today," he mumbled.

Yu Yuefan was startled. "Took over the Qingzhou Sword Sect?"

Senior Brother Feng, who was beside him, also looked bewildered. The previous sect master of Qingzhou Sword Sect, Long Tianxing, was in the middle stage of the Foundation Building Realm. How could he hand over the position of sect master to a... Qi Refining Realm cultivator?

Yu Yuefan didn’t harp on that thought and smiled and said, "No worries, no worries. There is no need for any gifts, Daoist Fang, your presence is already appreciated!"

Jin Nan chimed in. "Exactly, exactly!"

The sixth king seemed to have a bone to pick with Fang Chen because of how he had talked to him a while ago, so he didn’t let him off the hook and continued to poke at him. "I suggest you perform a show for us as a celebration for Daoist Yu. This way, we can get a glimpse of how you have been able to take over the Qingzhou Sword Sect.”

Fang Chen nodded. "Alright, then I'll show you a sword technique." Then, with a casual wave of his sleeve, a flash of sword light pierced directly through Senior Brother Feng's forehead.

Senior Brother Fang slumped to the floor, his face frozen. He had died not knowing how.

The smile on the sixth king's face froze.

Everyone was stunned silly, and the disciples of the Heavenly Southern Sect couldn't believe their eyes. Did someone just kill one of their sect’s disciples during their senior brother’s celebration ceremony...?

“What’s going on here?!”

Zhong Yue and the other two looked at each other in horror, feeling their scalps go numb as if they had fallen into an ice cellar!