Chapter 765: Gathering

After leaving Shen Haoran’s courtyard, Shui Ruolan and the others stared at each other in dismay. That miser, Shen Haoran, hadn’t given them a single Elemental Stone. There was truly no way to host the banquet now.

After a long while, Shui Ruolan and the others decided they couldn’t let the Five Elements Sect lose face. After all, it had once been the number one Major Sect in the Southern Domain, and this time, they had invited all the influences of the region. They couldn’t embarrass themselves in front of everyone.

With this in mind, Shui Ruolan and the others got busy, searching the Five Elements Sect for anything they could use to set up the banquet. However, after turning the entire Sect upside down, all they found in the kitchen was some coarse tea and simple food. There was nothing else.

Staring at the simple fare in their hands, Shui Ruolan and the others let out a long sigh. In the great war a few years ago, if Shen Haoran hadn’t fought with his life on the line, the Five Elements Sect would have been annihilated. The Sect’s vitality had been gravely wounded ever since. Its original five peaks had been merged into one, and for the sake of development, all of its Elemental Stones had been exchanged for cultivation resources. The disciples had to scrimp on food and clothing; there was truly nothing presentable left.

Shui Ruolan and the others racked their brains, but it seemed there was nothing they could do besides go to the back mountain, haul some rocks, and fashion them into stools. In the end, they could only shake their heads helplessly and go their separate ways. ‘Since we can’t do anything, let’s just not do it. The Five Elements Sect is already in this state, and we can barely feed ourselves. There’s no point in worrying about a banquet.’

Without Shui Ruolan and the others bustling about, the Five Elements Sect fell quiet once more. The disciples seemed to have forgotten all about inviting every influence in the Southern Domain, until seven days later, when an influence from the Southern Domain entered the Red Flame Mountain Range.

“Who goes there?” The Five Elements Sect disciple guarding the gate immediately blocked their path.

“I am Jiannan Chun, Palace Master of the Sword Control Palace. I have come at your esteemed Sect’s invitation to attend a banquet!” Jiannan Chun said, handing his invitation to the gate-keeping disciple.

“A banquet? Did our Sect say we were holding a banquet? Why didn’t we know?” the gate-keeping disciple asked, puzzled, as he took the invitation. He noted, however, that the handwriting was indeed that of Elder Shui Ruolan.

“Please wait a moment while I verify this!” the Five Elements Sect disciple said with a cupped-fist salute before running off toward the Sect’s interior.

Watching the disciple’s retreating back, the corner of Jiannan Chun’s mouth twitched. ‘Their own Sect is holding a banquet, but their disciples don’t even know about it? He even has to go verify it? What on earth is the Five Elements Sect playing at?’

A moment later, the disciple returned from within the Five Elements Sect. A look of confusion still lingered on his face, but he spoke respectfully to Jiannan Chun, “Sword Palace Master, the Sect Elder invites you in.”

Seeing the disciple’s thoroughly confused expression, Jiannan Chun shook his head helplessly and headed into the Five Elements Sect.

The further he walked, the deeper the disappointment on Jiannan Chun’s face grew. He had visited the Five Elements Sect before. Back then, it was overflowing with Spiritual Qi, home to tens of thousands of disciples, and incomparably lively. But the Sect now was a far cry from its former glory. The Spiritual Qi in the air was nearly depleted, and the entire grounds were terrifyingly quiet, devoid of any vitality. It seemed the former number one Sect of the Southern Domain was truly gone for good.

Jiannan Chun was led by the Five Elements Sect disciple to the Central Square. Hundreds of stone stools were scattered casually across the square. Beyond that, there was nothing.

“Weren’t we promised a feast? Why have we been brought here?” an Elder beside Jiannan Chun asked with a frown. “The Five Elements Sect didn’t just fail to roll out a red carpet; they don’t even have a banquet prepared! No wonder their own disciples knew nothing about inviting the influences of the Southern Domain.”

“Esteemed Elder, we don’t know either,” the disciple leading the way said flatly. “Elder Shui just told me to bring you here. Please wait patiently. The feast will begin once everyone has arrived.” With that, he turned and headed back toward the entrance. There were other guests to guide, and the Five Elements Sect was so short on manpower that one person had to play many roles.

Watching the disciple hurry away, the Sword Control Palace’s Elders looked quite displeased. The Sword Control Palace was, after all, a first-class Sect in the Southern Domain. Yet upon arriving at the Five Elements Sect, not only were they not served tea or shown to a private room to rest, but they were also left to stand and wait under the scorching sun. The Five Elements Sect’s hospitality was far too casual.

“Since we’re here, we may as well make ourselves comfortable. The guest should follow the host’s lead. Let’s just sit,” Jiannan Chun said placatingly. At the same time, a trace of pity for the Five Elements Sect bloomed in his heart. ‘I can’t believe the former hegemon of the Southern Domain has fallen into such a sorry state.’

After Jiannan Chun and his people sat down indignantly, the same disciple led several more leaders from other influences to the Central Square. Soon, the once-empty square was filled with Martial Artists. It seemed that the leaders of almost every sect in the Southern Domain had arrived.

“What is this nonsense? Is this how the Five Elements Sect receives us? Not even a cup of tea!”

“Aren’t they supposed to be seeking our help? Is this their idea of a proper attitude?”

“Tsk, tsk. So much for being the ‘number one Major Sect of the Southern Domain.’ To think they’ve fallen this far. I regret even coming!”

The leaders gathered in the square grumbled with dissatisfaction. The Five Elements Sect had claimed to be hosting a banquet, but there was nothing in the square besides some stone stools—not even a sip of water. Worse, the stools were arranged randomly, with no regard for status. Were they, the leaders of first-class Sects, really expected to sit with those from third-rate sects and the Clan Leaders of minor families? This was a blatant insult to their standing!

The murmurs of dissatisfaction in the Central Square grew louder. If not for the ulterior motives that brought them here, they would have already stormed off.

Elsewhere in the Five Elements Sect, Shui Ruolan wore a pained expression as she spoke to Shen Haoran. “Haoran, all the influences are starting to complain. If someone doesn’t go explain the situation, they’re going to cause a scene!”

“Pay them no mind,” Shen Haoran said casually, waving a hand. “Have our disciples withdraw so they don’t get hurt. As for those influences, just let them stew for a bit. The truly major players haven’t arrived yet, and neither has our guest of honor.”

“Is that really a good idea?” Shui Ruolan asked worriedly. “What if they all get angry and leave?”

“Don’t worry, they won’t leave,” Shen Haoran chuckled. “Just sit tight and relax. I have something to take care of.” With a flash, his figure shot toward the back mountain of the Five Elements Sect, leaving a helpless and utterly bewildered Shui Ruolan behind.