Lin Feng's welcome banquet was neither grand nor majestic. There were few participants, but every single one of them was a core individual of the Great Qin Empire. That was sufficient to demonstrate the Qin Emperor Shi Yu's sincerity.
A simple banquet that pleased both the host and the guest.
After the banquet was over, Lin Feng and his disciple took their leave. Wu Qingrou and the other officials too left. All that was left was Shi Yu. He returned to his residence to sleep.
Shi Yu's accommodation was extremely simple. The extravagant robe he had one turned into casual wear as he ascended a tiny block. There, he appeared to have entered the void. He looked at the stars and said nothing.
"Your Majesty, how did your talk with the Master of the Celestial Sect go?"
A voice sounded from behind Shi Yu. It was soft and gentle and very pleasing.
The speaker was a young woman about 28 years old. She was clad in exquisite, imperial robes and she had a regal air about her.
Her footsteps were light and gentle as she walked through the void to Shi Yu's side. She moved extremely gracefully as if she was a goddess.
Her entire body appeared to be shrouded by light. One could not see her real external appearance. When she came beside Shi Yu, the light faded away and she revealed an extremely stunning visage. Her face was extremely pretty and she wore a smile on it. It was unbelievably pleasant.
Standing by Shi Yu's side, she was like a river winding around a mountain.
Shi Yu did not turn and his gaze remained fixated on the void. "You came, Nuannuan?"
The woman known as Nuannuan smiled slightly and said, "You have been both Shis, which one do you think is more impressive?"
Shi Yu said softly, "The Elder Shi who was defeated by Wang Lin could not compare against the Younger Shi. However, it's still too soon to tell."
"Oh?" Consort Nuan's eyebrows arched. "He could not live up to his claims to invincibility as a cultivator with polycoria. The awe-inspiring Elder Shi, who is on the rise, cannot compare against the Younger Shi. Now that he was just defeated by another disciple of the Master of the Celestial Sect, how is it 'too soon to tell'?"
Shi Yu said, "This depends on what the Great Void Sect will do in the upcoming days."
His gaze flickered as he said, "In the Divine Lands, they are the Holy Ground for cultivation. That name is well-deserved. If not for the pressure from the demons, the Great Void Sect can unite the entire world of humans if they go down the path advocated by the Radical Faction."
Consort Nuan smiled and said slowly, "I believe that nothing is permanent in the world. Your Majesty, perhaps your chance is coming."
Shi Yu did not say anything, but he finally turned around and walked down the block. Consort Nuan smiled as she followed behind him.
At the same time, Lin Feng stood outside the Imperial City and lifted his head to look at the starry night. Shi Tianhao was by his side. His face was solemn.
After a long while, Shi Tianhao said softly, "Master, I want to go to Shi Family residence in Xiling City."
Lin Feng retracted his gaze and said, "Go and do what you must."
With that, his form gradually disappeared.
Shi Tianhao looked at Lin Feng's original position and bowed. Then, he walked towards another direction. That was where the Shi Family was based in Xiling City.
The normally excitable Shi Tianhao was very calm today. His steps were neither rushed nor slow.
As he walked, he felt as if the Tao within him, every step of the way.
As he walked, Shi Tianhao broke into a smile. He looked towards the street and noticed a young man, clad in a purple robe with a white coat, smiling back at him.
That was his Second Senior, Zhu Yi.
As the two disciples exchanged gazes, they both smiled and said nothing. Zhu Yi's hand tapped out a rhythm that was like an ancient melody.
The ancient melody matched Shi Tianhao's footstep, making his aura even more astounding.
Shi Tianhao dipped his head slightly and retracted his gaze. He then continued walking towards the Shi Family Mansion.
In the residence of the Heaven Lake Sect, Cao Wei's gaze pierced through the void as he quietly observed Shi Tianhao. His gaze flickered and he quickly retrieved it. He then said quietly, "Qingyuan."
A young man swiftly appeared before him and bowed, "Master." This was Cao Wei's favorite disciple, Song Qingyuan.
Cao Wei said, "You can go now."
Song Qingyuan replied respectfully, "Yes, master." He then bowed to Cao Wei again before taking his leave. Song Qingyuan left the residence and began walking in Xiling City. Some of his fellow disciples helped to guide him and he quickly found his target.
His target was a seemingly serious and well-trained middle-aged man whose eyes appeared to be worn with age. He wore a purple robe and walked on the streets of Xiling City. He had an out-of-this-world feel about him.
Formerly, he had lived in this city. While he did not stay there for long as he spent the majority of the time going out, walking on this street still stirred some deeply human emotions within him.
The middle-aged man was Dao Zhiqiang. He lowered his head to chuckle and then, he stopped.
He saw the white-robed youth coming towards him with a warm smile on his face. Dao Zhiqiang forced a smile and said, "Priest Song, how do you do?"
Song Qingyuan, clad in a white robe and wearing a perfect expression, replied with a smile, "Manager Dao, it's been too long. The ancients were right in saying that one cannot predict the affairs of this world. I guess we both feel the same thing."
Dao Zhiqiang sighed. Song Qingyuan knew his bottom line and hence, he said directly, "Priest Song, if you have something to ask of me, say it straight. If I can help, I will do my best. If I can't, then I pray that you won't blame me. I am only a lowly assistant in the Celestial Sect of Wonders."
Song Qingyuan looked at Dao Zhiqiang and smiled. However, what he said struck Dao Zhiqiang like thunder.
"My master, the Icy Fire Holy Man, had used his own secret spell to heal Yuting's spiritual wounds. Her shattered memory is 70-80% recovered and with the passage of time, she may be able to regain all her memory."
Song Qingyuan smiled and said, "However, due to the workings of the spell, Yuting is not mentally stable right now. Hence, she still requires rest in the Heaven Lake. After she recovers, I believe she will find you at the soonest possible instance. Our sect will no stop her too."
Dao Zhiqiang felt loss, but soon he recovered his senses. He looked towards Song Qingyuan as he felt a pain his heart.
"I thank the Icy Fire Holy Man for his compassion," Dao Zhiqiang said with much difficulty.
Song Qingyuan continued to walk forward as he passed Dao Zhiqiang, he said with a smile, "No worry, however, I need a tiny favor from you. You don't need to do anything, just tell me what you know."
"Now is not yet the time. Our meeting today is just a simple catch-up. When the time comes, I will look for you."
Song Qingyuan walked past Dao Zhiqiang and soon, his shadow disappeared, leaving only Dao Zhiqiang standing there like a statue.
After a long while, Dao Zhiqiang bit his teeth and walked forward with his head lowered. He returned straight to the resting place the Great Qin Empire had arranged for the Celestial Sect of Wonders. After ensuring that there was no cultivator of the Heaven Lake Sect tailing him, he broke a Voice-Projecting Crystal.
"Master, I have something to report to you..."
After listening to Dao Zhiqiang's report, Lin Feng did not give him any instruction. Instead, he simply said, "The two of you will be reunited soon."
He did not say anything but Dao Zhiqiang suddenly felt a sense of ease. "Thank you, master. I will do my best to adapt to the situation and run circles around Song Qingyuan."
"Have fun with him," Lin Feng nonchalantly.
Dao Zhiqiang understood his intention and nodded his head, "I understand."
After Lin Feng ended his conversation with him, he turned his attention to his immediate surroundings. Looking at the scene before him, a smile crossed his face as he said, "Interesting."
Before him, two young girls stood by the lake in the city. Opposite them were a few adults.
One of the two young girls was clad in red while the other was clad in green. They were Luo Qingwu and Jun Zining respectively.
The two of them paired up to explore Xiling City. After a while, they came to this lake. Then, they saw people crowding around the lake.
In the center, there were two groups of people facing off.
One group comprised three disciples with an Aurous Core-stage mastery. They all wore black and their expressions were cold.
Jun Zining and Luo Qingwu observed quietly with a strange expression on their face.
They both grew up in the Ancient Yuantian World and seldom came to Divine Lands. Hence, they were unclear about the many powers and factions in the Divine Lands. However, they knew where the three black-clad disciples came from.
Their gaze fell upon a red pattern on the three young men's robes.
That was the symbol of the Path of Hell of the Samsara Sect. In the Ancient Yuantian World, the Yang Family had beef with the Luo Family and conflict between the two families often erupted. The Path of Hell of the Samsara Sect supported the Yang Family.
When the two families battled intensely, the Path of Hell may interfere. Hence, Luo Qingwu and Jun Zining were extremely familiar with their clothes.
Opposite the three Path of the Hell cultivators stood two cultivators clad in white. One of them was a girl and the other a boy.
The young man was extremely handsome and the girl was no less beautiful. They captured everyone's attention.
However, what was even more eye-catching was a white cloud embroidered on their robes.
That symbol was recognized by everyone, regardless whether one was from the Divine Lands or the Ancient Yuantian World. That was the emblem of the Great Void Sect.
"May our fellow Taoists show us," said the white-clothed female softly. She appeared fragile and weak, like an injured bunny.
This action made the crowd mutter, "Are they disciples of the Great Void Sect?"
The three Path of Hell disciples facing them too had solemn expressions. One of them said, "Please."
With that, he clapped his palms together and the lake next to him began to shine. A giant spell formation and covered the entire lake.
As the light flashed, the spell formation appeared to have opened a portal to another world. There, floods roared and lives perished. It was akin to Hell.
However, this was an illusion cast by the Path of Hell disciple. It was not the real Flood Hell. However, if the enemy fell into it, then he would be swallowed by the flood and be destroyed.