Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 664: Chapter 440: The Battle Begins! (Double-Length)

”Your Majesty, it is the hour of Xu.”

A courtier softly said beside Emperor Yun.

Emperor Yun nodded slightly.

The courtier understood, straightened up, and addressed the courtiers and titled kings, ”Everyone, the Cloud Fighting is about to begin, those who wish to participate, please proceed outside the hall.”

With these words, many great kings put down their wine cups, their expressions relaxing.

The earlier serious phase of merit comparison had passed, and the atmosphere in the hall began to shift towards entertainment.

The melodious and soothing sound of the zither began again, as the palace dancers floated in like butterflies.

”Hong Zhen, go ahead, do not disgrace us.” Prince Xia, not interested in the dancers gracefully whirling in the hall, instructed his attendant.

”Yes.” Hong Zhen stood up abruptly, his large stature exuding a fierce battle intent, as if he were heading to the battlefield.

After answering, he glanced at Song Changming beside him.

At this time, Song Changming was still calmly savoring the golden crab paste, occasionally chatting with the palace maid peeling the crab shell for him, commenting on the taste and texture of the Spirit Crab, even discussing some cooking methods.

Whether it was Song Changming’s handsome appearance or his witty remarks, the usually well-mannered maid couldn’t help but laugh brightly.

Even though the Emperor’s courtier had announced the commencement of the Cloud Fighting, Song Changming remained seemingly indifferent.

”I never expected the person brought by Prince Cui to be so lackadaisical, truly wasting my expectations.”

Hong Zhen sneered, no longer paying attention to Song Changming, and walked towards the hall’s exit by himself.

At the Cloud Palace, outside of Emperor Yun’s guards, no one was permitted to use Gang Qi.

Thus, even this auxiliary competition for enjoyment had to take place outside the hall.

As Hong Zhen got up and left, attendants behind other titled kings also began to rise and follow.

The participants were not only the attendants brought by the titled kings but also included one attendant brought by each of the admitted ministers to the banquet.

They could also partake in this Cloud Fighting.

To some extent, these attendants carefully selected by the ministers represented the talent and capability of the young elites of the Imperial City.

In the past, there were many occasions where those chosen by the ministers won first place, surpassing the participants brought by all the titled kings!

After all, they were born in the Land of Spiritual Energy, enjoying the Imperial City’s robust educational resources and various rare Spiritual Treasure Materials, making their impressive potential and strength quite reasonable.

”Changming.” Prince Cui couldn’t help but twitch his mouth as he saw Song Changming still engrossed in the spiritual food on the table.

He hadn’t realized this young man had such an insatiable appetite before.

If he hadn’t seen Song Changming actually consuming everything, he might have suspected him of secretly hiding the spiritual food in his Heaven and Earth Ring.

”Yes.” Song Changming swallowed the last bite, took the maid’s offered towel to wipe his mouth, and then stood up.

He looked at the table full of replenished spiritual food, secretly hoping it wouldn’t go cold.

The maid seemed to notice the regretful look in Song Changming’s eyes and stifled a laugh before saying respectfully, ”When you return, sir, the dishes on this table will be replaced with a new serving for you.”

”Excellent.” Song Changming chuckled, acknowledging that indeed, the palace maids serving at Cloud Palace for the Emperor were carefully selected, particularly those skilled in observing and interpreting situations.

Song Changming bowed to Prince Cui before heading out of the hall.

Truth be told, he had little enthusiasm or fighting spirit for the so-called Cloud Fighting; he viewed it as just another duty on this business trip.

However, given that his ”boss” Prince Cui had treated him well, he wouldn’t risk his life in the competition but would certainly do his best to fulfill his duty.

As for the fervent passion to compete with the world’s talents, that was absent in him.

Outside the hall, the sky had darkened; perhaps from being at such a high level, gazing at the sky felt like the vast sea of stars was just within reach, one could almost touch them.

The Jade Pillars around, silent during the day, now glowed with a soft light in the night, illuminating the entire square brightly.

When Song Changming leisurely came out, a group of participants was already standing outside the hall, numbering around fifty or sixty.

These people came from everywhere, all with diverse identities, displaying various expressions and postures.

There were those who stood solemnly with hands hanging by their sides, some with smiles, relaxed expressions, and those leaning against the glowing Jade Pillars with arms crossed, resting with closed eyes.

Some looked around, some appeared calm, some seemed rebellious, and some looked indifferent.

However, they all shared one trait: exceptional cultivation potential and having already achieved significant cultivation strength at a young age.

Each possessed a bright future, at the very least becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster!

Many of them had already become invincible among their peers in their respective regions!

Only in an imperial banquet could such contemporary talents be gathered together to compete and display their abilities!

As Song Changming arrived outside, his Qi Refining Cultivation at the Innate Perfection Realm was not particularly eye-catching here.

The young geniuses qualified to stand here regarded the Innate Perfection Realm as merely the baseline, the least remarkable accomplishment among their cultivation achievements.

In fact, over half of the people here had already reached the Grandmaster Realm!

Of course, those who had achieved the Martial Arts Grandmaster level were naturally not considered in the same competition track as the martial artists at the Innate Perfection Realm.