Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 208: The Banquet

Chapter 208: The Banquet

Everyone in the Ji family looked solemn and grim. Fang Chen and his group were the only ones with relatively emotionless faces.

Glancing at Fang Chen and Ji Congyun, Ji Junhua muttered, "Father, this is clearly a Hongmen Banquet."

The younger generation of the Ji family including Ji Lengxing remained quiet. They simply had no authority to speak.

Those with the same level of seniority as Ji Junhua exchanged worried glances.

Ji Congyun looked at Fang Chen. "What do you think, Lord Fang?"

"We'll naturally know when the banquet starts," replied Fang Chen with a smile.

We’ll know when the banquet starts...?

While everyone was bewildered and worried, Fang Chen’s oddly calm composure influenced them slightly, lifting the heaviness in their hearts.

Just then, a Ji family servant hurriedly entered.

He politely reported, "News from the imperial palace! Han Qin, the fourth princess, has returned along with Lin Li, the son of the Grand General of the White Tiger Empire, and two Immortal Masters from the sixth-tier empire!"

Everyone was taken aback, and chills ran down their spines. To think that the emperor had the means to invite such formidable people over!

Ji Congyun suddenly felt emotional. This was why the Ji family couldn't truly control the Frost Water Empire. If Fang Chen wasn’t here, they would’ve had no chance to secure their position as the second power in the nation.

After the servant retreated, Ji Congyun turned his attention back to Fang Chen again and worriedly said, "Lord Fang, now that the White Tiger Empire has invited Immortal masters from a sixth-tier empire, I am afraid that the matter we’ve discussed would be.... “

"Just do your part, and I'll take care of the rest," said Fang Chen with a faint smile. "Immortal Masters also vary in strength. How many of those Immortal Masters have died till now?"

Everyone shuddered, and their expressions turned strange. Only Fang Chen could speak so lightly about the life and death of an Immortal Master.

Soon after, Fang Chen and Ji Congyun left together toward the imperial palace. On their way there, they ran into Song Yi. Judging from his pale and exhausted appearance, he must have knelt at the Frost Empire Port for at least a month.

Upon seeing them, Song Yi immediately lowered his head.

Once the two men brushed past Song Yi, a shocked expression appeared on his face.

Then he suddenly felt a pat on his shoulder. Ji Lengxing had appeared beside him.

Ji Lengxing said, "Brother Song, now that the Ji family has formed an alliance with Lord Fang, let’s not dwell on the past."

"I understood," Song Yi replied as he nodded repeatedly, seeming a little absent-minded.

However, in the next moment, he snapped out of it.

Confused, he asked, “Alliance? What do you mean?”

Ji Lengxing merely smiled. There was a hint of anticipation in his eyes, "Don't ask. Perhaps, not long from now, you will find out."

***

When Fang Chen and Ji Congyun arrived at the imperial palace, they saw many luxurious carriages parked outside. Clearly, many court officials and various distinguished figures from the Frost Water Empire had been invited to the banquet.

Fang Chen and Ji Congyun’s arrival attracted the attention of the distinguished guests nearby, but those guests seemed to have realized something, as they did not come forward to welcome the two men. Only the officials from the Ji family dared to pay their respects. However, their faces were solemn and hesitant, as if there were many things they wished to say.

Ji Congyun merely smiled and continued chatting with Fang Chen as they walked. Under the escort of the crowd, they entered the imperial palace.

Inside the vast palace hall, the guests successively took their seats. There were two hundred seats on each side. The four hundred filled seats instantly livened up the atmosphere in the palace.

Fang Chen took his seat, beside Ji Congyun. Across from him, sat a group of young people who were staring at him with unfriendly gazes.

Seeing them, Fang Chen casually remarked, "Are these the children of the imperial family?"

Ji Congyun briefly glanced over and nodded.

Besides the group of young people, there were ministers seated in the palace hall. They were also secretly assessing and observing Fang Chen, with their gazes occasionally showing that they were in deep thought. Their eyes only left Fang Chen when the emperor of the Frost Water Empire appeared.

As the emperor took his seat, his lips spread into a wide smile.

He said warmly, "Esteemed ministers, there is no need for excessive formalities today. Consider today a simple feast. I want you all to feel at home here."

Ji Congyun glanced at the four empty seats beside the emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, where are the distinguished guests Eunuch Lin mentioned?"

The hall fell silent.

The emperor looked at the vacant seats and chuckled. "Old Ji, there's no need to worry. My daughter will be here shortly with the guests."

"So it’s true that the fourth princess has returned, Your Majesty?" asked a curious minister.

The crowd exchanged glances. They had heard some rumors about that, but they were uncertain if it was true. If Han Qin had really returned, then this feast might have a hidden agenda.

From a young age, Han Qin had been sent to the Ten Direction Sect in White Tiger Empire to practice martial arts. She was a supreme genius; the Ten Direction Sect would not have chosen her otherwise. In addition, there were rumors that she had already surpassed the previous imperial ancestors by advancing into the Heaven Profound Realm!

The emperor nodded slightly. "Yes, my daughter had learned about the recent unrest in the Frost Water Empire, so she decided to return home for a while before leaving for the sixth-tier empire,"

Both the officials of the Ji family and those of the imperial lineage could not contain their astonishment at the news that Fourth Princess Han Qin was planning to go to the sixth-tier empire.

"My daughter is exceptionally talented and has been chosen by the Immortal Masters of the sixth-tier empire to serve by their side. She will cultivate within the Immortal Masters’ sect in the future,” announced the emperor. “As you all know, Immortal Masters may go into seclusion for many years, it may go for as long as twenty years. So, I’m afraid she may not be able to frequently come back home from now on.”

The silent atmosphere gradually became lively. The more loyal ministers turned extremely excited, thrilled even, and they glanced toward Fang Chen and Ji Congyun from time to time.

Though Ji Congyun remained composed, he could not hide the shock in his eyes. An immortal master chose the fourth princess to serve them...?

"By the way, Lin Li, the son of the Grand General of the White Tiger Empire, and two immortal masters from the sixth-tier empire have also arrived. These two immortal masters are of esteemed bloodlines, so take care not to offend them," added the emperor.

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Fang Chen and Ji Congyun.

The emperor grinned. "Don’t you think that our two guests are truly distinguished?"

Ji Congyun nodded. “Of course they are."

Fang Chen smiled but remained silent. However, in the eyes of the onlookers, Fang Chen seemed cautious. The princes and princesses watched on with eager expressions as they awaited what was coming next.

While the crowd was busy discussing, four figures had already appeared outside the door.

At the forefront stood Brother Zhou and Sister Wang, with Han Qin and Lin Li following closely behind. The discussions immediately ceased, and everyone shifted their gazes toward them. Subconsciously, everyone stood up.

Ji Congyun initially intended to rise as well. However, upon seeing that Fang Chen remained calmly seated, Ji Congyun forcefully repressed the uneasiness within him and remained seated too.

Everyone rose to greet the newcomers while Fang Chen and Ji Congyun remained seated. This created a stark contrast.

Brother Zhou and Sister Wang glanced at Fang Chen with amusement. On the other hand, Han Qin glared at Fang Chen hatefully, eyes filled with killing intent.

Lin Li squinted. He had wanted to see which insect from a ninth-tier empire had been able to gain a bit of immortal fate and become a cultivator!