Chapter 1375: Sparring and Imperial Marriage

Chapter 1375: Chapter 1372: Sparring and Imperial Marriage

When the melody ended and the nine girls finally left the square, the lingering notes of the music were still echoing in everyone’s ears, making it hard for them to pull themselves out of it.

After that, there were several more wonderful performances, all of them extremely.

Everyone watched while nibbling on the pastries on the tables, their eyes busy everywhere, and when they reached an moment, they clapped and cheered in unison.

The performances were, but many people’s thoughts weren’t really on them; they were waiting for the announcement Chixiao was about to make.

Chixiao was now a Holy Land disciple and rarely returned to the Dali Dynasty. This sudden return, and hosting this banquet inviting all the young talents of Melt Fire City who had made a bit of a name for themselves in Martial Arts—the news he brought back was bound to be unusual.

Of course, not everyone was thinking that way—for example, Jia Kun.

Gazing at Luo Feng sitting on the stone platform between Chi Wei and Chi Yourong, Jia Kun’s face was as dark as water. He kept ordering the beautiful maids beside him to bring more wine, gulping it down mouthful after mouthful.

Compared to whatever news Chixiao had brought back from the Holy Land, what he cared about more now was how to teach Luo Feng a lesson, to make him utterly lose face before everyone and see his reputation trampled to dust!

One performance ended and another began.

Two middle-aged Martial Artists with mid-stage Spiritual Rotation Realm cultivation stepped onto the stage; what they were going to perform was Swordsmanship.

Just then, the doors of the great hall at the deepest part of the square suddenly opened. A group of people came out from within, led by a young figure.

“Crown Prince!”

“His Highness is here!”

Seeing the young figure at the front of the group, a chorus of shouts rose from the square. Many people stood up, and all eyes gathered on him.

Luo Feng looked back and saw that the person was indeed Chixiao.

Swish!

Chixiao appeared to stroll leisurely, yet with just two or three steps he crossed several thousand meters and appeared on the stone platform.

“Eh, why did the Crown Prince suddenly get here? Did my eyes trick me?”

“It’s not your eyes; it’s that His Highness is too fast.”

“Such powerful Qinggong—I’m not even one ten-thousandth of that!”

“No wonder they say the Three Sects and Six Gates are Holy Lands for Martial Artists. Entering the Holy Land to cultivate is like leaping over the Dragon Gate and ascending in a single day. If you can cultivate Qinggong to this godlike level, wouldn’t you be unstoppable?”

Seeing Chixiao suddenly appear on the stone platform, the young talents below all changed expression, stunned to the point of gaping.

“What speed—at least twice as fast as my Sky Cloud Step. And it looks like he hasn’t even gone all out.”

Luo Feng looked at Chixiao, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

Ever since he cultivated Sky Cloud Step to completion, this was the first time he’d met someone who surpassed him so overwhelmingly in Qinggong. The impression of the Holy Land in his heart grew even more mysterious.

“We pay our respects, Crown Prince!”

Coming back to themselves, the young elites present all saluted Chixiao one after another.

These young elites were each famous figures within the Dali Dynasty, proud by nature and not yielding to anyone. Even toward Luo Feng, the number one of the Canglang Dynasty, they normally couldn’t be bothered to care. Yet at this moment, toward Chixiao, they were nothing but respectful.

The identity of Holy Land disciple alone was enough to make them bow their heads, even worship.

Chixiao nodded slightly, then withdrew his gaze and looked toward Luo Feng, smiling as he said, “Luo Feng, have you been satisfied with your stay these past few days?”

Luo Feng nodded and cupped his hands. “My thanks for your hospitality.”

“As long as we haven’t neglected you.”

Chixiao smiled and turned his eyes toward Chi Yourong. “Imperial Sister, what do you think?”

Chi Yourong’s beautiful eyes glanced at Luo Feng, and she smiled, nodding. “Very good.”

Luo Feng, being stared at like that, felt completely at a loss, not knowing what the two siblings were playing at.

Having gotten her reply, Chixiao laughed heartily and said to the two Swordsmen in the middle of the square, “You may continue your performance.”

“Yes!”

The two Swordsmen answered and began demonstrating their Swordsmanship.

Their cultivations were equal, and they practiced the same Swordsmanship. Their attainments in Sword Dao were extremely refined; they countered moves with moves, every exchange carrying subtlety and skill, and the display was quite.

Chixiao cleared his throat and said, “Thank you all for coming to this banquet. From this moment, the banquet officially begins.”

At his words, the hearts of the young talents present trembled faintly, their gazes fixing on Chixiao, brimming with intense expectation.

At a corner of the square, Jia Kun withdrew his gaze from Luo Feng and shot a look at the small-eyed Martial Artist beside him.

The small-eyed Martial Artist’s face stiffened slightly, but not daring to offend Jia Kun, the Princely Heir, he steeled himself, stood up, and cupped his fists. “Crown Prince, I have a suggestion. I do not know whether it is proper to say it.”

“Oh? Speak.” Chixiao nodded.

The small-eyed Martial Artist swept his eyes around once and began:

“Martial Arts is conquest. All present are young talents of our Dali Dynasty, and it’s rare for us to come together like this. If it’s just harmless performances, it feels somewhat lacking in excitement. If both sides are willing, I feel we could have some sparring matches. First, to temper each other’s skills, and second, to let Your Highness point out our shortcomings.”

At these words, the eyes of the young elites in the square lit up, all showing an eager look, fists itching to move.

They were the top geniuses of the younger generation in the Dali Dynasty, proud and hot-blooded, each harboring the desire to contest for superiority.

All the more so now, with the Second Princess and Third Princess, as well as Chixiao, present. If they could perform outstandingly, they would naturally bask in glory; and if they could win the side glance of a beauty, so much the better.

Chixiao glanced over everyone and nodded. “That’s a good idea. I was just thinking I’d like to see your strength.”

At that, the crowd was overjoyed. One by one, their gazes grew sharp as blades. Though the sparring had yet to begin, countless clashes of aura were already raging across the square.

Jia Kun shot another look at Luo Feng, his eyes wicked and gloomy. His fists clenched tight, his heart surging and boiling.

Everything is ready; only the east wind is lacking!

His plan was simple: once sparring started, he would challenge Luo Feng.

He wanted to utterly crush Luo Feng before everyone—especially before Chi Wei.

Hum!

Chixiao pressed down with one hand, and an invisible pressure spread over the square. All sound instantly vanished.

When it was quiet, Chixiao said loudly, “Before we begin the sparring, I still have two matters to announce.”

As his words fell, everyone drew a deep breath, each guessing just what kind of news could make Chixiao travel thousands of miles back from the Holy Land and even specially host this banquet.

“The first matter: in about half a year, the Nine Holy Lands will hold a disciple selection. You are all the most outstanding talents of our Dali Dynasty and have a chance to enter the Holy Land. In this period, I hope you cultivate diligently and strive to enter the Holy Land when the time comes.”

Boom!

Like a stone stirring up thousands of waves, as soon as Chixiao finished speaking, the whole square erupted.

“Holy Land selection! It hasn’t even been thirty years since the last selection—how can it be starting again?”

“Since His Highness himself said it, it can’t be false. There have been precedents of the Holy Land holding selections ahead of time.”

“Heavens, I never expected it to be a Holy Land selection. They say entering the Holy Land is the true first step into real Martial Arts. I’ve been waiting for this day even in my dreams. This time, I’m definitely going to fight to pass the selection!”

“Me too.”

The faces of the young elites present were flushed red, their gazes excited. Each of them was silently vowing in their heart to pass the Holy Land selection, leap like a fish over the Dragon Gate, and soar to the skies.

After a moment, their emotions calmed, and they raised their heads to look at Chixiao.

Chixiao had said there were two matters to announce. The first was this earthshaking Holy Land selection, so naturally they were curious—what could the second matter be?

Luo Feng also looked toward Chixiao. He already knew about the Holy Land selection, so that wasn’t strange to him. As for the second matter, he had no idea.

Chixiao smiled. The atmosphere on site made him very satisfied. The corner of his eye swept over Luo Feng once, then he spoke:

“The second matter concerns my younger sister, Chi Wei. I have decided to bestow Chi Wei in marriage to Luo Feng, a Disciple of Linglong Hall of the Canglang Dynasty!”