Yun Liu was also stunned for a moment.
He hadn’t expected Li Su to be the slightest bit exaggerated—West City Guildhall was indeed filled with distinguished guests, and although not all were here to curry favor with Mister Canghai, it was close.
In the Royal City of Feather Capital, every big name you could think of was probably present.
Just among Golden Core Cultivators, there were no less than ten, all staring at him in unison.
Good heavens…was the rebel leader hosting a grand assembly?
“We did not know Her Highness was gracing us in person, please forgive our lack of a proper welcome!”
The Prince of Four Domains’ expression changed slightly as he rose to greet her, not even having time to call for the East Extreme Pavilion Master before discovering yet another honored guest.
The rest of the guests, slow to realize, now understood that the pair of twins from Hidden in Mist Peak were the Royal Family’s Little Princesses blessed by the Vermilion Bird.
“Spare the formalities!”
“Spare the formalities!”
The two Jing Tan’er waved their hands, continuing to glare fiercely at each other, sparks flying in their eyes.
Neither the True Princess nor the Fake Princess showed the slightest hint of fear before the imperial court, let alone in public.
The crowd was amazed, looking left and right but unable to tell them apart.
They truly were two Vermilion Saint Princesses.
It couldn’t be said they were identical—only completely the same!
Yun Liu acted as if no one else existed, walking straight to Mister Canghai’s side and sitting down openly.
Seeing the dancers surrounding him, Yun Liu’s smile turned ambiguous.
“Seems I didn’t arrive after the fact. Did I disturb your refined pleasures, Mister?”
Canghai lowered his voice, shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Stumbled into a den of wolves, couldn’t help it. And you still mock me.”
The inner turmoil of the Zhusheng Dynasty was obvious to outsiders.
Only Jing Tan’er herself seemed oblivious.
If not for the chance to meet Yun Liu and thank him again, Canghai wouldn’t have come by invitation.
Accompanying the Island Lord of Canghai was another handsome man, weathered by experience.
He too was a ruler among the archipelago, a Water Spiritual Root Nascent Soul Guest Elder.
The man’s expression was icy, ignoring all attempts at small talk—supremely aloof.
But the moment he saw Yun Liu, he stood up in excitement and gave a deep bow.
“Great kindness needs no thanks. White Whale owes the Young Pavilion Master a life.”
“Oh?”
Yun Liu’s eyes lit up.
Seeing Canghai’s grateful gaze, he immediately understood.
The Island Lord of White Whale had recovered, and as Canghai’s close friend, he was a true Nascent Soul Dan Cultivator of the Boundless Sea, capable of overturning clouds and rain.
This was truly an unexpected boon.
With both Canghai and White Whale—two Nascent Soul powerhouses—present, the outcome of the Shengyu Festival was set.
That fake princess wouldn’t be able to stir up any waves.
After a brief exchange, Yun Liu learned that after Canghai returned to Penglai Island, he went into closed-door cultivation.
A few months later, the Three-Leaf Datura bore fruit, allowing him to refine a genuine Reversion Pill with great success.
Though decades had been lost and his Qi Sea couldn’t be perfectly restored, after taking the pill, White Whale’s cultivation at least returned to its peak.
He couldn’t ask for more—all thanks to Yun Liu’s generous sharing of the formula.
An Immortal Estate Maid added a seat by Penglai Island.
Shenhua Sect Cultivators sat down in confusion, not even sure what was happening before the meal began.
Good!
Ji Shiyu was naturally the happiest.
Seeing the jade dishes of delicacies placed before her, she swallowed her saliva.
She was just waiting for her teacher to pick up the chopsticks before she started eating as well.
This journey down the mountain had turned into a feast of delicacies every meal—she’d thought it would be a bitter, unrewarding errand, and had truly misjudged the Vice Sect Leader.
The two Royal Princesses in their purple Yunhai sword robes sat quietly on either side of Senior Sister Qin, not paying much attention to anything else.
Only Xiao Xinran seemed completely indifferent, hugging her sword as she stood behind Yun Liu, glaring fiercely at Jing Rui.
Yun Liu glanced at Xiao Xinran, signaling her to sit, but the little girl just stubbornly shook her head, so he let it be.
“What wind blows the Yunhai Sword Immortal here?”
Elder Redpine’s smile was insincere, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
A good show was about to begin?
Jing Rui curled her lips.
She hadn’t expected that, before Qin Xing could confront Min Hen, the old pervert would jump out first.
Everyone else felt similarly.
There had always been tension between Radiant Light Sect and Divine Radiance Sect.
On the surface, they were cordial, but behind the scenes, they constantly competed, refusing to yield to each other.
Master Qin replied calmly, immediately hitting back.
“Has Elder Pu’s kidney deficiency still not been cured? Why does your voice sound so weak? Since Mister Canghai is here, perhaps you should let him have a look?”
The Clear Mist Peak Senior Sister’s words drew muffled laughter.
She wasn’t gentle to everyone.
Elder Redpine’s lips twitched, as if she’d struck a sore spot.
“What a sharp-tongued little girl. Just like your master!”
“So-so. Thank you for the compliment, Elder Pu.”
Ji Shiyu grinned mischievously, finally understanding why the Vice Sect Leader sent her senior here.
Women of Clear Mist Peak never embarrassed the sect in public.
“Shenhua Sect disciples truly are impressive, strutting about the righteous sect’s territory, injuring Radiant Light Sect disciples, and swaggering away with such arrogance! But when facing Demon Sect scum, you’re beaten helpless, even sinking the Golden Crow and nearly dragging down Her Highness the Princess Royal. Endangering innocents?”
Elder Redpine questioned coldly.
On the surface, he seemed concerned for the princess, but in truth, he was seeking justice for his own sect members.
Bai Yu’s face froze.
He wondered which blabbermouth had let this slip to Master Uncle—weren’t they just causing trouble?
Zhuang Heng scratched his head and spoke weakly.
“Master Uncle, I’m fine. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“Silence! Is this your place to speak?”
Master Qin had never heard of this incident either.
She frowned, looking toward the two little princesses.
Jing Tan’er seemed unconcerned, her eyes fixed only on the imposter.
“It was clearly your people who attacked first without reason!”
Xiao Xinran, being present, immediately countered.
“Insolent junior! No manners!”
Elder Pu frowned, his divine sense sweeping like steel nails, intending to teach the rude child a lesson.
Ji Shiyu watched closely.
Having sparred with Li Su before, she was experienced.
Her starry eyes flashed as she unfolded a net to shield Xiao Xinran.
“Hmm?”
Elder Pu looked surprised.
He now saw the golden-haired girl in a new light—this child was so strong, even with just a Foundation Establishment spirit soul?
“Busybody.”
Xiao Xinran showed no gratitude.
The Burning Silence Art always burned in her mind, and she hated arrogant elders the most.
Ji Shiyu made a face at Xinran, then, lightning-fast, tore off a piece of goose leg and stuffed it in her mouth—so quickly that no one noticed.
“Elder Pu, there’s more to the Golden Crow’s destruction than meets the eye.”
Qin Xing looked at Jing Rui, her gaze unfriendly.
Jing Rui, however, was completely at ease, leaning lightly against Elder Pu without a care.
What did the Qingshan Sect Demon Sect traitor Min Hen’s crimes aboard the treasure ship have to do with her?
“Arguing with me is pointless. The real shame is betraying the trust of the Zhu Sacred Royalty. I heard that recently a Bloodthirsty Banner Demon even infiltrated the outer sect of Sighing Peak?”
“Thank you for your concern, Elder Pu. For someone with kidney deficiency, your hearing is quite sharp. Since you have time to meddle in other sects’ business, perhaps you should focus more on your own health.”
Qin Xing curled her lips.
Unintentionally, she noticed a girl winking at her from across the room.
She frowned slightly, not recalling who she was for a moment.
Elder Pu was so angry he blew his beard and glared.
“Hmph, let’s hope the Shenhua Sect can stand tall on the Fengchan Platform this year and not slink back home with tails between their legs again, making the Nine Provinces laugh at East Pole Province’s weakness.”
“Victory and defeat are the norm in the School of Military. We’ll win it back this year. Is your Radiant Light Sect ranked so high? Besides, I don’t have kidney deficiency, so of course I can stand tall and speak!”
Master Qin stomped on his weak spot again, lightly delivering another blow.