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Chapter 82: The Celebration Feast
Chapter 82: The Celebration Feast
Chapter 82: The Celebration Feast
After the announcement of the top 20 prodigies on the Golden List, chaos and fear spread across the Tianyuan world. Many factions were in a state of panic, sensing the impending threat from the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect. They began forming alliances, gathering their forces in anticipation of what might come.
The news of the Golden List announcement didn't end there. It was declared that the rankings could change and that the list would be updated monthly. This gave hope to those who didn't make the cut this time, as they still had a chance to secure a spot in the future.
Following this, another major announcement came: the top 10 most powerful factions would soon be revealed. This sent shockwaves through the Tianyuan world, as everyone started speculating which factions would make the list. Bets were placed, and anticipation grew.
At the entrance of the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect, a tense atmosphere lingered like a dark cloud. A man dressed in black cautiously approached, fear hidden beneath his robes. As he entered the sect, more figures clad in black appeared, all bearing the same air of anxiety and suspicion.
Among them were people from other factions and families, including members from the Imperial Dragon Clan and the Sacred Immortal Emperor Domain. Some came to negotiate, some to search for individuals, while others sought to cause disturbances. Their reasons were varied and often kept secret.
Adding to the intrigue was the unexpected arrival of people from the Jiang Clan. Their presence raised eyebrows and left many wondering about the implications of their visit.
No one dared speak or ask questions about each other's intentions, knowing that any wrong move could lead to death.
Suddenly, a powerful and commanding aura swept over the crowd. Everyone turned their attention toward its source. From the darkness emerged a man, an External Elder of the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect, one of Jiang Yun's many clones. His cultivation was at the mid-tier Immortal Emperor level.
The elder stood calmly as his aura enveloped the area. He gazed at the gathered crowd coldly before speaking in a commanding tone.
"I am the External Elder of the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect. What business do you have here?"
The most frightened of the black-clad men stepped forward quickly and spoke with respect.
"I've come to meet Lady Chui Meng. I must inform her that she has the right to decide her own engagement."
His words were blunt, without concealment or hesitation. The External Elder nodded slightly and took out a jade slip, murmuring a few words into it. A portal of emptiness opened before him.
"Enter," the elder said flatly.
The black-clad man, visibly relieved, bowed deeply and quickly entered the portal without hesitation. Once inside, silence returned, and the tension among the crowd heightened.
Suddenly, the elder unsheathed his sword with a calm and swift motion. In an instant, he struck. Before anyone could react, the black-clad men and all others who had gathered were slaughtered. Blood sprayed, and their lifeless bodies fell to the ground.
The elder absorbed their souls, sheathed his sword, and turned away, leaving the corpses behind as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, inside the Fallen Heavenly Blood Sect, a grand celebration for the Golden List announcement was in full swing. Every disciple was celebrating the sect's monumental success. Laughter and lively conversations filled the air. Gongsun Lei, drinking heavily, laughed loudly.
"If I were their age, I'd be ranked number two for sure! Hahaha!"
Next to him, Bajie interrupted with a teasing tone.
"That's impossible! Are you dreaming or what?"
The two exchanged playful glances before challenging each other.
"You want to make a bet, don't you?"
Bajie burst into laughter, his voice booming. "Alright, let's bet—one whole roast pig!"
Gongsun Lei paused, scanning the room before addressing everyone at the table.
"And what about the rest of you? Care to join the wager?"
Mu Shuyuan chimed in with a laugh, "It seems the two of you have already decided the winner, haven't you? Trying to steal all the roast pigs from us!"
The other disciples at the table hesitated, realizing they were being tricked. Even Ming Hai and Long Teng, who had been considering joining the bet, stopped and smiled knowingly. The atmosphere was cheerful, but beneath the joy was a sense of planning and rivalry.
Mo Jun, the Blood Peak Lord, said with mock seriousness, "I almost fell for your scheme."
At a nearby table, Wang He and Wang Bai, both listed on the Golden List, sat silently. They were clearly dissatisfied with their low rankings. Their faces showed disappointment, but Chang Ming approached them with words of encouragement.
"Why are you both sulking? No matter how upset you are, you can't change your ninth and tenth rankings this month."
Wang He and Wang Bai, who had been sipping tea, nearly spat it out in surprise. Laughter erupted throughout the hall. Despite the festivities, there was a clear undertone of competition and determination.
The two tried to respond, but Chang Ming didn't give them a chance. He added with a relaxed tone, "There's no need to be sad. Look at the eleventh rank—she's dancing, eating, and drinking without a care in the world!"
Wang He and Wang Bai looked over at Chang Xian, who was now drunk and playfully teasing other disciples, even some peak lords, with carefree enthusiasm. The two glanced at each other, feeling oddly conflicted but choosing not to speak further.
At the neighboring table, other disciples watched the scene unfold with interest. Chen Wei sat quietly, calmly eating his meal, indifferent to the conversations around him. While everyone else was caught up in the excitement, Gao Yuan approached with a soft smile.
"May I join you?"
Chen Wei looked up at him with cold eyes and responded bluntly.
"No."
The sharp, curt reply left Gao Yuan frozen in shock. His face paled, and he stumbled backward, barely able to catch himself. Feng Zhan quickly stepped in to help Gao Yuan up, carrying him away from the scene, leaving behind a trail of laughter and amusement.
Whispers began to circulate among the other disciples, and Si Hun sighed, "Failed again, as always."
Xing Chen added with a chuckle, "How many times has this happened now?"
Yao Xian muttered softly, "Elder Chen is really cold."
As the scene played out, Mu Shuyuan, Meng Xi (one of Jiang Yun's clones), Chui Meng, Jing Ya, Tu Teng, and Qing Yan joined Chen Wei at his table to drink together. The atmosphere grew even more lively, with laughter and joyful conversation filling the room.
The celebration continued, blending camaraderie with a sense of competitive spirit, as everyone savored the success of the sect while quietly contemplating their next moves in the ever-evolving world of cultivation.
Chuimeng was suddenly contacted by the Guardian Elder. She turned to her companions and said calmly, "I have some matters to attend to. I'll return shortly."
Everyone urged her to come back quickly. Chuimeng smiled and then disappeared into the void immediately.
Chuimeng stepped into a quiet room. Her eyes fell upon a man dressed in black, kneeling respectfully. She waved her hand dismissively and asked in a cold voice, "What business do you have?"
The man in black raised his head slightly and replied with deference, "The head of your family has sent a message. He says that you are free to live your life as you see fit. Regarding your engagement, the decision is yours to make."
Without hesitation, Chuimeng responded, "Cancel the engagement." She spoke flatly and then quickly wrote something on a sheet of paper, tossing it to the man in black. "No one is allowed to open or read this letter, and it must be delivered directly to my father. Understood?"
The man nodded, bowing deeply once again, then hurried out of the room without delay, leaving her alone in the quiet chamber.
Meanwhile, at the Jiang Family, tension filled the atmosphere. Several ancestors had gathered, their expressions stern as they received news that those they had sent to confront Jiang Yun were dead.
The fifth ancestor was the first to speak, his voice heavy. "It seems our initial plan has failed. I believe it's time to move forward with the backup plan."
The other ancestors nodded in agreement. They understood that the situation needed to be handled with great care.
Seven days later, the Golden List was announced once more. This time, it stirred up excitement and anticipation across the Tianyuan world, with people eagerly awaiting the new rankings.
In the Phoenix Immortal Dynasty, Feng Yi turned to her father with curiosity in her eyes. "Father, where do you think we'll rank this time?"
Feng Yang smiled faintly before answering, "We should be around third place, I suppose."
Feng Yi smiled slightly, saying nothing more, but inside, she was filled with anticipation as she eagerly awaited the announcement of the new rankings.
Soon, the announcement began. The Golden List of the strongest factions was revealed, along with the following classification of power levels:
Supreme Tier: (Immortal Emperor)
High Tier: (Supreme to Semi-Immortal Emperor)
Mid Tier: (Immortal King to Great Immortal)
Low Tier: (Anything below Secret Immortal)
The voice announcing the 10th place echoed, capturing the attention of all.
[Rank 10]
[Name: Immortal Emperor Golden Commerce Guild, Black Sea Immortal Continent]
[Forces including their own and those under their command]
[Supreme Tier: 1,964 people]
[High Tier: 11,954,861 people]
[Mid Tier: 187,186,655 people]
[Low Tier: 1,581,942,114 people]
[Reward: (Visible only to the current leader of the ranked faction)]
The announcement left the entire Tianyuan world stunned. The Immortal Emperor Golden Commerce Guild, though not primarily a combat-focused faction, had immense resources and power. Their influence allowed them to recruit many individuals, leading them to secure a spot in the Golden List rankings.
At the Lin Immortal Emperor Clan, when the 10th rank of the Immortal Emperor Golden Commerce Guild was announced, Lin Jia stood up in shock. He gazed at the list with a mixture of surprise and doubt.
"I never imagined... they could hide so many Immortal Emperors," Lin Jia said, his voice heavy with seriousness.
Lin Qingyi, his granddaughter, standing beside him, was equally shocked. She looked at her uncle with concern and asked, "Uncle... what about our clan?"
Lin Jia turned to his granddaughter and responded firmly, "Of course, we have them too. But most of ours are elderly and close to death. When some of them come out to fight, it will be their final act."
These words only deepened Lin Qingyi's shock. She had never imagined that her clan had hidden Immortal Emperors in the shadows as well. She began to realize that the competition between major factions would no longer be limited to what was visible. Everything was quietly shifting, but the changes were intense.
At the main branch of the Golden Commerce Guild, the atmosphere was filled with panic after the announcement that they had ranked 10th in the Golden List. The voice of Chang Tong, the guild leader, rose with shock and confusion.
"Rank 10? Those bastards..." he muttered, unable to believe what he had just heard.
"They always claimed to be weak, with fewer than ten Immortal Emperors on the frontlines in some factions, yet they've hidden such enormous power."
Chang Tong shook his head slightly as he looked at the list in the sky and spoke again, "I thought we had hidden many Immortal Emperors ourselves, but I never expected these cunning foxes to have even deeper roots than we do."
The leaders of the Golden Commerce Guild remained silent, afraid to say anything. They understood that this list was not just about showing the status of each faction but also revealing some of the hidden secrets behind their power. The Golden Commerce Guild, which had tried to keep their strength concealed for so long, now had to face the reality that they were not the only ones hiding their true capabilities.
The movements of various factions began to unfold following the announcement of the Golden List, and this was just the beginning of an unpredictable shift in power.