King of Ten Thousand Years

Lingyun County, Chen Mansion.

Today was the eightieth birthday of the Old Master of the Chen Family.

At the entrance of the Chen Mansion, a continuous stream of guests arrived to offer their birthday wishes, creating a lively and festive scene.

Among the Noble Families of the County City, the Chen Family could be ranked in the top ten, considered a major and influential household.

All the various family factions of the County City, and even the official authorities of Lingyun County, had sent representatives to pay their respects.

”I’m here.”

Luo Tian, dressed in a green robe, walked toward the Chen Mansion carrying a gift box.

Luo Tian had put some thought into the gift, preparing a Health Pill and a Cultivation Technique Secret Manual.

The Health Pill was obtained from the Du Family. It could nourish one’s qi and blood, slow aging, and even slightly extend one’s life, making it very practical for the elderly.

As for the Cultivation Technique Secret Manual, Luo Tian had casually used the Celestial Book’s Inference ability to create it for Chen Haofei.

While perfecting and upgrading his Guiyuan Technique, Luo Tian had collected a large number of Spirit Level Technique fragments. He had also recently plundered dozens of Secret Manuals from the Du Family, including one complete Spirit Level Technique.

These were all effectively useless to him.

Without consuming much of the Celestial Book’s power, Luo Tian had inferred a rather decent Spirit Level Technique.

”Haha! Landlord Liu, a pleasure to see you!”

Patriarch Chen Xing was at the front of the mansion, personally receiving some of the more prominent figures.

The main invited guests all presented several baskets of gifts, including jewelry, jade artifacts, fine wine, ginseng, famous blades, and fine steeds.

”And you are?”

A young family servant glanced at Luo Tian, his eyes sweeping over the shabby little gift box as he inwardly sneered with contempt.

On big occasions like this, there were always some nobodies who would shamelessly try to curry favor with the Chen Mansion, and it was always awkward to turn them away.

”I’m a friend of your Young Master.”

Luo Tian said with a faint smile. He didn’t want to attract attention, so he hadn’t worn his Sun Chasing Holy Mansion uniform for this trip to the County City.

’The Young Master’s friend?’

The servant’s expression tightened. The Young Master was a student of the Holy Mansion, so the friends he made were all of an extremely high caliber.

’It’s him?’

Patriarch Chen Xing spotted Luo Tian and frowned slightly.

Before the Holy Mansion’s test, he had been vehemently opposed to Chen Haofei associating with Luo Tian.

The reason was that he didn’t want to offend Liu Ziyan, who possessed an Earth Tier Martial Vein and was a peerless talent.

Later, when he heard from Chen Haofei that Luo Tian had been accepted into the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion, he had been rather surprised.

”Xiaochuanzi, arrange for this young gentleman to be seated at ’Table C-11’.”

Patriarch Chen Xing instructed.

The seats at this birthday banquet were divided into several sections: A, B, C, D, and so on.

Table A-1 was naturally the most honored table, reserved for the Chen Family’s Old Master and a few other distinguished guests of great status and background.

By extension, Tables A-2, A-3, and so on were also for honored guests.

The ’Table C-11’ that Chen Xing had arranged for Luo Tian was a lower-mid-tier seat.

”This way, young gentleman.”

The servant led the way, feeling disdainful.

’If Luo Tian were a truly important guest, or one of the Young Master’s fellow students, he would have been seated in the A-section at the very least.’

”Uncle Chen...”

Luo Tian began to greet him and present his gift.

”I have other distinguished guests to attend to. You go on inside. And you can keep the gift.”

Chen Xing’s attitude was cold.

From the bottom of his heart, he still didn’t want Chen Haofei to get too close to Luo Tian.

Chen Xing had been busy with business and the birthday banquet recently, so he hadn’t paid any attention to Luo Tian or the Human List.

Unlike the Qi Family, which held a grudge against Luo Tian and would therefore deliberately keep tabs on him.

In Chen Xing’s mind, Luo Tian was a commoner Martial Artist with no background, who had gotten into the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion through a bit of minor talent and a stroke of luck.

If Luo Tian hadn’t offended Liu Ziyan, he would be a talent well worth recruiting.

Instead, Chen Xing was now deliberately distancing himself from Luo Tian; otherwise, he wouldn’t have seated him in the C-section.

’So be it.’

Luo Tian couldn’t be bothered to argue. He hadn’t planned on staying long at the Chen Family’s home anyway; he was just going to greet Chen Haofei and then leave.

Led by the servant, Luo Tian was seated at Table C-11.

A moment later.

Chen Haofei walked out from inside the mansion, looking around with a hint of anticipation.

”I wonder if Brother Luo will come.”

Chen Haofei muttered to himself.

The day they had parted ways, Luo Tian had said he would come to his grandfather’s birthday banquet.

However, he had waited for nearly an hour and still hadn’t seen Luo Tian.

Just as Chen Haofei was about to ask a servant...

”Patriarch Qi! You... why have you come in person?”

Father Chen greeted a tall and burly middle-aged man, his face flushed with excitement and his expression one of someone overwhelmed by an unexpected favor.

”Qi Xiangyun! The Patriarch of the Qi Family!”

The members of the Chen Family present, and even the nearby guests who had come to offer gifts, were all stunned.

The Qi Family was one of the four great Noble Families of the County City, a top-tier powerhouse ranked among the top three in all of Lingyun County.

Compared to the Qi Family, the Chen Family could only be considered a second-rate Noble Family, a full tier or more below them.

”Patriarch Qi, please, come inside.”

Patriarch Chen Xing’s face was glowing. For a major figure like Qi Xiangyun to come gave the Chen Family enormous face and added much prestige to the banquet.

He was puzzled.

’I remember the Qi Family already sent a representative.’

He was just about to lead Patriarch Qi to Table A-1.

”Patriarch Chen, I heard Luo Tian is also attending the banquet?”

A glint flashed in Qi Xiangyun’s eyes.

He hadn’t come to offer birthday wishes. He had come up empty at the inn and had sent people to ask around, finally confirming Luo Tian’s whereabouts.

”Luo... Tian? Yes, there is such a person.”

Chen Xing looked confused.

”Take me to him.”

Qi Xiangyun was overjoyed and said urgently.

Chen Xing froze. ’Why would a major figure like Patriarch Qi be looking for Luo Tian?’

”Patriarch, Luo Tian is at Table C-11,”

a nearby servant whispered.

”Brother Luo is already here?”

A look of delight crossed Chen Haofei’s face.

Without hesitation, he took the lead and guided them to Table C-11.

Hmm?

Chen Haofei frowned. Table C-11 was in a very remote corner.

”Brother Chen, this humble gift is a small token of my esteem.”

Luo Tian stood up and handed over the gift box.

”Thank you for your trouble, Brother Luo. The servants must have been careless with the arrangements...”

Chen Haofei accepted the gift box, looking a little embarrassed.

Setting aside the fact that he and Luo Tian were fellow students and good friends...

With Luo Tian’s reputation as a big shot from the Golden Area and a top-thirty on the Human List, to be seated in a corner at a minor family’s birthday banquet...

If word of this got out, it would be a complete laughingstock.

”Haofei! Watch your mouth!”

Chen Xing’s face darkened.

’What do you mean the servants were careless with the arrangements?’

’Your old man was the one who arranged Luo Tian’s seat!’

”You must be the renowned Luo Tian from the Human List? I am Qi Xiangyun. I’ve long admired your name.”

Qi Xiangyun said politely, bowing to Luo Tian.

This scene left Chen Xing stunned and at a complete loss.

’The dignified Patriarch of the Qi Family is actually bowing humbly to a mere brat?’

’Renowned on the Human List? Could it be this kid...’

”Mm.”

Luo Tian nodded at Qi Xiangyun, not recognizing the man.

”Ahem! I am Qi Hong’s father, the Patriarch of the Qi Family.”

Qi Xiangyun said awkwardly.

”Qi Hong? The Qi Family?”

A sharp glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes, and his expression immediately turned hostile.

He had only punished the Du Family upon his return this time.

He had been planning to leave the Qi Family to be dealt with next time.

”Brother Luo, don’t misunderstand!”

Cold sweat beaded on Qi Xiangyun’s forehead as he hurriedly explained, ”I have come this time on behalf of my family to offer our apologies to Brother Luo.”

’Offer apologies?’

Patriarch Chen Xing shuddered, staring at Luo Tian in utter shock.

’The patriarch of one of Lingyun County’s top Noble Families is personally apologizing to him?’

’Even a member of the Royal Family would only receive such treatment at best.’

Involuntarily, cold sweat began to soak Chen Xing’s palms.

”This is a token of my Qi Family’s sincerity. I hope you will accept it.”

Qi Xiangyun said with a flattering and polite expression, taking out an exquisite Jade Box and placing it before Luo Tian.

Luo Tian remained seated at the table, motionless.

”This is the deed to a hundred-acre mansion in Qingchang City.”

Qi Xiangyun first took out a Land Title Deed.

Then,

he took out a bottle of Spirit Pills and a crystalline Purple Jade.

”Upper Grade Qi Storage Pills and a Spirit Jade.”

Qi Xiangyun introduced them in a low voice.

Seeing these items of apology, Luo Tian’s expression softened slightly.

Chen Xing was horrified, frozen in place.

’Qi Xiangyun is apologizing and offering compensation, humbling himself to such an extreme degree.’

The three items he offered were all extraordinary.

A hundred-acre mansion in Qingchang City was an incredible luxury, several times larger than the Chen Mansion, and something that couldn’t be bought with money alone.

Upper Grade Qi Storage Pills could nourish and strengthen one’s True Qi, proving beneficial even to those at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening.

There was a whole bottle here, nearly ten pills, enough to cultivate several experts at the Seventh Layer of Meridian Opening or higher.

The most precious item was the Spirit Jade.

When worn, this jade could accelerate the Martial Vein’s ability to attract and connect with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, increasing it by roughly twenty to thirty percent.

”Mm.”

Luo Tian expressionlessly accepted the Jade Box.

Seeing this, Qi Xiangyun heaved a long sigh of relief and sat down beside Luo Tian.

”Distinguished guests, why don’t you move to the main table?”

Chen Xing wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, terrified.

Facing Luo Tian at this moment, he was panicking, a mix of shock and fear in his heart.

’To make the Patriarch of the Qi Family apologize with such heavy gifts, Luo Tian’s status must be on par with a member of the Royal Family.’

Forget about such a figure.

Even the Qi Family alone had the strength to easily annihilate the Chen Family.

”This is fine. It’s quieter.”

Luo Tian didn’t want to move. He would be leaving after he ate anyway.

Chen Xing’s face turned pale, and his heart sank. ’Could it be that Luo Tian now holds a grudge because of my earlier coldness?’

”Patriarch! The Prefect has arrived!”

A steward rushed over in a panic.

”The Prefect?”

Chen Xing was greatly shaken, somewhat dazed.

The Prefect was the highest authority in Lingyun County.

’Why would such a major figure personally attend the Chen Family’s birthday banquet?’

Soon,

An official-robed man in his fifties stepped into the banquet hall.

”Greetings, Lord Prefect.”

Throughout the banquet, the distinguished guests from various factions all came forward to bow and pay their respects.

This man was the uncrowned king of Lingyun County.

On this turf of Lingyun County, who didn’t hold the Prefect in awe and reverence?

”Lord Prefect, you honor this old man too much! Why have you come in person?”

Even the Chen Family’s Old Master was disturbed and came out to greet him.

The Chen Family’s Old Master was the family’s Spirit Sea Realm expert, considered a significant figure in the County City.

”Haha! When a legendary figure from the top thirty of the Human List is present, this old man must naturally come and join the excitement.”

The Lingyun Prefect said with a laugh.

With that,

he strode toward Table C-11, where Luo Tian was seated.

The Chen Family’s Old Master wore a strange expression as he followed the Lingyun Prefect to the table with Luo Tian and Qi Xiangyun.

”You must be Luo Tian? Truly, each generation produces its own talents.”

The Lingyun Prefect cast an appreciative gaze upon Luo Tian.

With a flick of his robes, the Prefect sat down next to Luo Tian.

”This...”

Patriarch Chen Xing’s heart trembled, and he was instantly drenched in sweat.

’The highest authority in Lingyun County personally came over to sit with Luo Tian?’

This made Chen Xing’s scalp tingle and his heart fill with terror.

”Let’s all sit together.”

The Chen Family’s Old Master suppressed the shock in his heart and took a deep look at Luo Tian, who was now seated between the Prefect and Patriarch Qi.

’This Lord Prefect has a profound background. He’s said to be a man from the Third Prince, Li Yi’s, faction.’

PHEW!

Chen Xing’s face flushed red. He took a deep breath and sat down with them, feeling as though he were sitting on pins and needles, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

At this moment,

a bizarre scene unfolded at the Chen Family’s birthday banquet.

The guest of honor, as well as several of the most distinguished guests, were not seated at the main table, A-1.

Instead, all these major figures were crowded around Table C-11, tucked away in a corner.