“She’s waiting for me?” Staring at Wu Sha’s figure, Lin Xiao’s emotions were deeply complex.
At that moment, Wu Sha’s gaze suddenly turned toward Lin Xiao, lingering for a while.
“An illusion?” Wu Sha mocked herself inwardly, then shook her head.
Perhaps it was the mask he wore that made her think of the masked figure who entered the Feng family three years ago.
Shaking her head again, Wu Sha finally looked away.
“A woman’s intuition is terrifying!” Lin Xiao thought to himself. First Feng Youyu, now Wu Sha, both gave him the feeling he was about to be recognised.
“Pang Po, Fan Renlou, Wen Renliang, their spiritual power has also advanced, all reaching early fourth-grade Spirit Controller,” Lin Xiao’s gaze shifted to others who had once helped him.
These individuals, older and less prodigiously talented than Wu Sha and her peers, had still managed to progress further in three years, a remarkable feat.
Looking at these familiar faces, a warmth welled up involuntarily in Lin Xiao’s heart.
Yet, he could also see a trace of solemnity on their faces.
“Congratulations, Elder Feng!” Ye Fenghua approached Feng Yuntian, clasping his hands with refined courtesy.
“Master Ye, you’re too kind, please take a seat!” Feng Yuntian smiled warmly. Even the Feng family dared not completely fall out with the Spirit Controller Alliance.
The alliance was crucial to the Feng family, supplying a vast amount of their elixirs.
Without the Spirit Controller Alliance, the Feng family’s progress would slow significantly.
“Master Feng, how have you been?” Ye Fenghua then greeted Feng Youyu, standing beside Feng Yuntian.
“Thank you for your concern, Master Ye. I’m doing well!” Feng Youyu’s tone carried a hint of coldness.
Feng Yuntian, aware of their dynamic, smoothly intervened to avoid awkwardness, courteously escorting Ye Fenghua to the left of the two central seats at the long table.
The others were seated at the prestigious table on the right.
Wu Sha, Ye Yu, Xuanxuan, and Wu Gong joined Meng Ying and the others at the same table.
They were the Lanlan Empire’s most exceptional talents.
“The Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect has arrived!”
“The head of the Chen family has arrived!”
At that moment, two voices rang out in succession.
Two groups slowly approached.
One was the Chen family, led by their head, Chen Wendao. The other was the Tianxuan Sect.
Neither man’s appearance had changed much.
Lin Xiao sensed that Yan Yitian’s aura had shifted significantly, having broken through from the peak of Martial King to the first stage of Martial Venerable.
Chen Wendao’s cultivation was now at the sixth stage of Martial Venerable.
Seeing them, a strong killing intent surged in Lin Xiao’s heart.
“Congratulations, Elder Feng!”
“Best wishes, Elder Feng!”
Both men approached, smiling politely and clasping their hands toward Feng Yuntian.
“You’re too kind, please take your seats!”
Feng Yuntian responded with a smile, ushering them to their seats. In truth, both were his subordinates.
Shortly after they were seated, two more resonant voices echoed:
“Honoured guests from the Dongyang Empire have arrived!”
“Honoured guests from the Moyu Empire have arrived!”
At these announcements, the crowd’s expressions grew serious, all eyes turning toward the entrance of the arena.
Two large groups strode forward on the red carpet, one from the left, one from the right, each with nearly fifty members. Aside from a few youths, all had cultivations at or above the Martial King level.
Those who could sense their power were astonished. Nearly a hundred Martial King-level experts or higher—this was unprecedented.
Even counting all the Martial Kings and Venerables from the Lanlan Empire’s major factions present, they barely reached fifty.
Of course, including Martial Kings from other factions and Spirit Controllers, they could muster around fifty.
For the Dongyang and Moyu Empires to each bring nearly fifty Martial King-level or higher experts was reasonable.
It was also clear that such a grand display, arriving simultaneously, carried a deeper meaning.
They weren’t here merely for the banquet, it seemed more like a negotiation.
Lin Xiao’s attention focused on detecting Martial Venerables. Each group had five Martial Venerables and one early fifth-grade Spirit Controller, equivalent to twelve Martial Venerable-level experts in total.
This was nearly double the Lanlan Empire’s count.
Fortunately, each group had only one ninth-stage Martial Venerable.
“That Martial Monarch hasn’t appeared!” Lin Xiao thought, noting the Moyu Empire’s third-stage Martial Monarch was likely hidden.
Among the Moyu Empire’s group, Lin Xiao spotted three familiar figures: Zhuifeng, Yunfeng, and Ge Mu.
Beside Ge Mu was a youth wearing an iron mask, his aura restrained, carrying something that obscured his cultivation.
Lin Xiao’s gaze fixed on this youth, sensing a familiar presence.
Given his proximity to Ge Mu, Lin Xiao was certain—this was his cousin, Lin Qinglun!
Seeing Lin Qinglun, Lin Xiao’s emotions surged, an urge to rush forward and ask about his father overwhelming him.
But he restrained himself. With so many powerful figures present, even a transmitted message might be detected.
Beside him, Hu Yue was equally emotional, clearly having recognised the masked youth as Lin Qinglun.
“No rush, we’ll find a chance to ask later!” Lin Xiao transmitted to Hu Yue, calming her.
“Three years, my cousin’s cultivation must have advanced significantly, hasn’t it?” Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.
“My apologies for not greeting you sooner, esteemed guests who’ve travelled so far!” Feng Yuntian smiled, stepping forward to clasp his hands in greeting to both groups.
“Congratulations, Elder Feng! A small token of our esteem!”
From the Dongyang Empire’s group, an elder in a dragon robe touched his storage ring, and with a wave, a golden gift chest appeared. It was ornate but not opened, nor did he specify its contents.
It seemed an ordinary gift, sincere but not overly so.
Though the golden chest appeared lavish, to a powerful cultivator, it held little allure.
Of course, having travelled far, they couldn’t present gifts upon entry as others did.
