Chapter 681 - 341: Stirring Up the Bees and Butterflies
Chapter 681: Chapter 341: Stirring Up the Bees and Butterflies
The Purple Gold Hall fell silent once more.
Countless shocked gazes turned toward Fang Xue, who remained serene.
"Who is this female disciple?"
"Never seen her before!"
"Could the Third Senior Sister she mentioned be...?"
"Shh, this is the West Imperial City, you can’t casually mention that surname!"
Many had figured out that the "Third Senior Sister" Fang Xue mentioned was Si Minglan of Xiyue Peak, but ever since the Six Peaks Tribunal, the cultivation realm had learned that Si Minglan was the daughter of Si Yuanwu, the National Guardian General of the West Imperial Dynasty.
Back then, Si Yuanwu’s entire family was accused of treason and annihilated across nine clans.
Only the young Si Minglan survived.
Afterward, Si Minglan was adopted by Sang Yue, the Peak Master of Xiyue Peak, but she always harbored resentment towards the Western Emperor Palace in her heart.
Thus, she assassinated the Eldest Prince Wu Kun, which led to her being hunted by the West Imperial Dynasty.
On the day of the Six Peaks Tribunal, Si Minglan was personally executed by Ye Xiyue on Tang Mountain, preventing a war between the Zhenyang Sect and the West Imperial Dynasty.
These dramatic events are no longer a secret in the cultivation realm.
Everyone knew the Si family was taboo in the West Imperial City; no one dared to speak of them casually.
To think that this unknown female disciple dared to speak of seeking revenge for Si Minglan in front of the Western Empress.
Such daring!
In the midst of this oppressive silence, Lin Yuan gazed deeply at Fang Xue, who remained composed, looking back at Lin Yuan:
"Taoist Friend Lin, where is Si Mingcheng?"
Lin Yuan suddenly laughed, "I like you. You’re different from others, but if you want to find Si Mingcheng, you have to rely on your own skills."
Saying this, she raised her wine glass toward her, Fang Xue quietly lifted hers, and downed it in one gulp.
Lin Yuan also drank, smiled at Fang Xue, and turned to return to her seat on the high platform.
Beside her, Wu Zheng’s face looked displeased, and he whispered, "Empress, does this woman have any connection with... the Si family?"
Lin Yuan shook her head, "This girl has a pure mind; she’s merely standing up for what she believes is right for her senior sister."
Wu Zheng whispered even lower, "But how much does she know about the Si family?"
Lin Yuan glanced at him, Wu Zheng’s expression changed, and he quickly fell silent, not daring to speak further.
The banquet continued, as disciples from various sects toasted each other, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up, with someone bringing up the Beauty Ranking:
"Speaking of this Immortal Ascension Ceremony, many fairies from the Beauty Ranking have arrived."
"Ranked third, Fairy Xiyue; fourth, Fairy Wenwan; fifth, Thunder Sword Fairy; ninth, Fairy Qinyin; tenth, the Empress, and eleventh, Sect Leader Tantai."
"With so many peerless fairies, it’s worth it even if we’re eliminated in the first round, just to witness their elegance!"
"Too bad the number one Yun Wu and second-ranked Qiu Zhihe didn’t come."
"Cloud Robe’s dance captivates the world, Autumn Yiren as beautiful as a lotus... I wonder what kind of unmatched beauty the top two must be to surpass Fairy Xiyue and Thunder Sword Fairy?"
"Thunder Sword Fairy, at half-step Divinity Transformation, is a peerless beauty, but unfortunately... she’s too flat."
"Shh, lower your voice, do you want to die?"
"Yun Wu has always been mysterious; no one knows who she is. As for Qiu Zhihe, it’s said she’s already married, a stunning beauty, which only adds to her allure!"
"If only I could catch a glimpse of Qiu Zhihe’s grace, I would have no regrets!"
As the drinks flowed, many grew intoxicated and spoke more freely; Qin Gengyun frowned as he got up, taking a wine pot to each person speaking of Qiu Zhihe, he made them all drunk.
Meanwhile, he used Spiritual Power to expel all the wine’s effects from his body.
"Wow, you’re cheating!" Liu Su pointed at Qin Gengyun.
Fang Xue was a bit surprised, "Senior Brother He, are you being jealous?"
Qin Gengyun’s face flushed; he glanced at the serenely seated Qiu Zhihe, sat down beside her, and whispered:
"My wife, you shouldn’t use your real appearance anymore; it attracts too much trouble."
Just then, a Feiyun Sect female disciple approached, her cheeks flushed as she spoke to Qin Gengyun:
"Senior Brother He, my name is Meng Xiaodie. I’ve heard of your deeds; you, you’re amazing!"
Then she drank her wine in one gulp, looking at Qin Gengyun with affectionate eyes.
Beside them, Qiu Zhihe also looked at Qin Gengyun with a calm expression.
Qin Gengyun had no choice but to raise his glass and drink; Meng Xiaodie cast him a shy glance before finally leaving.
"My wife, perhaps it’s just appreciation among fellow Daoists; don’t overthink it."
No sooner had Qin Gengyun finished speaking, several female disciples from other sects approached him for drinks.
Qin Gengyun, feeling helpless, dealt with each one, drinking halfway when Qiu Zhihe abruptly rose, grabbing two wine pots, said to those women eyeing her husband:
"I’ll drink with you!"
Seeing her so fierce, the female cultivators finally left reluctantly.
Qiu Zhihe sat down, glanced at Qin Gengyun, "Attracting trouble!"
Qin Gengyun: "..."
Outside the Purple Gold Hall, in a demonic beast pen.
Here, many Spirit Beast Masters’ beast pets were settled.
In the beast pen, the Celestial Phoenix Maiden in the form of a Phoenix Bird Beast was lying idly on a haystack, opening the raw meat in front of her with one claw.
These fools really took her for a wild beast!
Nearby, a Six-Winged Pig nervously sidled up with a lovestruck expression.
The Celestial Phoenix Maiden was furious; how dare a mere Third Grade Spirit Beast lust after the Phoenix Maiden!
She flew up and unleashed an onslaught on the Six-Winged Pig, beating it into a panicked retreat.
The Celestial Phoenix Maiden lay back down, licking her bird claws.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Why haven’t Master and the first lady come out yet?
The bird is so bored!
At 9 p.m., the sky had darkened.
The banquet at the Purple Gold Hall ended, with Lin Yuan overseeing the first round of draws.
An array was used to randomly pair the more than a thousand cultivators participating in the Immortal Ascension Ceremony for battles.
Then the cultivators were led by palace attendants to reside at Chang’an Palace outside the Western Emperor Palace.
Midnight.
The night was deep, quiet.
East gate of the Cyan Simurgh Hall.
Si Mingcheng stood behind the door, looking impatient.
A moment later, a petite, delicate figure slowly appeared, her pure, charming face carrying a seductive smile.
Si Mingcheng was overjoyed, striding forward, "Taoist Friend Ming, I thought you wouldn’t come."
Curiously, Si Mingcheng had seen many beauties, all surpassing Ming Chou in looks, but somehow this woman always had an irresistible allure about her, making him restless with desire.
Ming Chou swayed her waist as she walked to the eager-looking Si Mingcheng, her smile suddenly turned eerie:
"Si Mingcheng, look again, who am I?"
...
Southernmost side of the Western Emperor Palace.
A dilapidated palace.
Tantai Mingyue stood before the web-filled palace gates, looking up at the plaque, its inscription long obscured by dust.
With a wave of her delicate hand, she wiped away the dust, revealing three characters—Yong’an Hall.
The Crown Prince back then was named Wu’an, and Yong’an Hall was his palace at that time.
Though the hall remains, the person is gone.
"Sister Tantai, outsiders are not allowed to wander freely in the Western Emperor Palace."
A dignified voice came from behind; Tantai Mingyue turned, coldly eyeing Lin Yuan:
"Is that so? Whose idea was it to sneak into Yong’an Hall to seduce Wu’an to become Crown Prince Consort back then?"
"Who, after becoming Empress, plotted against the National Guardian General Si Yuanwu to eliminate opposition, leading to the slaughter of the entire Si family?"