Chapter 2026 - The Gathering

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

After Ye Futian and the others arrived, Li Changsheng put his hands together and greeted the many cultivators who were on the stairs, “Cultivators from Wangshen Watchtower have come to take part in the banquet and observe the ceremony.”

“Wangshen Watchtower.”

Many people looked at them, and their eyes quickly fell on Zong Chan and Ye Futian, who were standing beside Li Changsheng.

“That’s Zong Chan,” someone whispered.

“The white-haired young man on the left is probably the Sword Emperor Liunian. Just look at him… He looks so dapper and charming,” someone exclaimed, and some female cultivators couldn’t help but give another look at Ye Futian. The rumors were true. Not only was he unparalleled in strength and talent, but his appearance and temperament were also undeniably outstanding. They couldn’t help but wonder if he had chosen a path companion already…

Such was the world of cultivation. If one’s cultivation was less than desirable along with low talent, then one’s appearance meant absolutely nothing. However, if one was a peerless figure with extraordinary looks, there was no way that this person would not be noticed and admired. Take Taihua Goddess, for example. Although she had rarely been seen, her reputation preceded her. This was because, in addition to her extraordinary talent and strength, they were also enhanced by her beauty.

“It is rumored that everything that happened in Donghua Academy was true. They said that Sword Emperor Liunian might be even greater than Jiang Yueli and the others? And that the rank of his Divine Wheel of the Great Path has a real chance to be the same as Ning Hua’s?” someone whispered. Although this information was reported from Donghua Academy and had been proven as absolutely true with no falsehood, some people were still surprised by what they heard.

After all, those people’s reputation was great in Donghua Domain, and Ning Hua himself was even known as its number one genius talent. In the eyes of many people in the Donghua Heavens, he would be the number one cultivator in the Donghua Domain and its future chief. None would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him, not even these four most influential figures. He was the first among equals, and the other three would have to line up behind him.

Now, there were rumors that Ye Futian’s Divine Wheel of the Great Path was comparable to Ning Hua’s. Naturally, many were skeptical regarding this claim.

“Everyone, please.” Someone from above came to receive them.

Li Changsheng and the others followed the person as they moved upwards. Clan Lord Leng took one look at the cultivators in the Nine Heavens and immediately grasped the situation. He said, “Go up according to your own realm. Those below the Renhuang realm, please observe the ceremony from below. ”

“Ah…” Leng Yan and Leng Xi both looked disappointed. Were they only allowed to watch from below? Even their Aunt Leng Qinghan had gone up to be with the cultivators of Donghua Academy.

However, their cultivation was still weak, so this was the best they could do.

“Elder, may we bring a few companions with us?” Ye Futian asked the cultivator who came to meet them.

The other gave him a serious look, made some estimation as to Ye Futian’s identity, and nodded, “Of course.”

It was not unusual for cultivators from various might forces to bring some people up with them.

“Thank you.” Ye Futian thanked him, then said to Leng Yan and Leng Xi, “You two come along too.”

“Mmm,” the two smiled and nodded, revealing a look of excitement. They were now right under Donghua Palace, which was higher than the place where even the clan lord would be.

Clan Lord Leng gave them a small smile. These two were pretty lucky.

The group continued upward, along with the two youngsters. Many wished they had also known some powerful figures themselves.

Thus, it was useless for them to stand underneath. Although they could still see the Donghua Palace from the highest point in the sky, it was still not enough. The distance was so far that it would be considered just an observation of the ceremony, without a real sense of participation. If they could stand above, it would feel more like they were part of the Donghua banquet.

Ye Futian and his party came to an area below the Donghua Palace. This area was very spacious and could easily accommodate a thousand people. People from all principalities had seated in different locations, and most of the principalities in the Donghua Domain had already arrived. This demonstrated the strong appeal that the chief had over the domain, and all the top figures had to respect the Donghua banquet.

Seeing Ye Futian’s arrival, Ling He looked at him with great interest and said, “Brother Ye is here.”

Ye Futian was a little surprised at the audacity of Ling He. He glanced at him and saw Ling He squinting at him with a smile, shaking the wine glass in his hand. The look in his eyes made Ye Futian felt extremely uncomfortable; it was as if he was being stalked.

He understood very well that Ling He had no good intentions.

“Emperor Ye.” On the other side, Qin Qing and other goddesses of Fluttering Snow Palace nodded to Ye Futian very amicably.

“We meet the goddesses again,” Ye Futian smiled and acknowledged them in return. Their exchange surprised many around them. Judging from several of the goddesses’ attitudes toward Ye Futian, they seemed to be even friendlier to him than to Zong Chan or Li Changsheng.

“Brother Ye.” Someone on the other side called out, and Ye Futian looked at the man and smiled, “Brother Jiang.”

The person calling out to him was Jiang Jiuming from the ancient royal family of Jiang in Luotian Continent.

“I heard that Brother Ye had gained fame during a battle in Donghua Academy, but unfortunately, I missed it and was not fortunate to watch Brother Ye fight,” Jiang Jiuming said with a smile. They didn’t go to Donghua Academy last time.

“I was lucky, that’s all,” Ye Futian replied modestly.

“Victory by strength, there was no luck to speak of.” At Donghua Academy, Kong Xiao, who was defeated by Ye Futian once, had also arrived. He said bluntly, “There was no luck in that battle.”

Jiang Jiuming smiled when he heard Kong Xiao’s comment and couldn’t continue to say anything otherwise. After all, he had to take the cultivators from Donghua Academy into consideration, and he didn’t really know what their attitudes were from that battle.

“Emperor Kong’s combat power is extraordinary. If he was an expert at some method, perhaps the person who lost would have been me,” Ye Futian smiled.

“You are an expert at many kinds of Great Path, and your Divine Wheels were extraordinary; I had no hope of winning. If you were to have them examined in front of the Divine Mirror of Heavenly Wheels, your Divine Wheels would probably surpass the fifth rank.” Kong Xiao continued, elicited curiosity from all who attended the banquet as they directed their attention toward Ye Futian.

Having surpassed the Fifth Order, wouldn’t that mean the Sixth Order?

That was the rank of the Divine Wheel of the Great Path possessed by Ning Hua, the first genius talent in the Donghua Domain.

Kong Xiao believed that Ye Futian’s Divine Wheel of the Great Path would not rank below Ning Hua’s.

Further, Kong Xiao and Ning Hua both cultivated at Donghua Academy, so they should have been in close contact. Kong Xiao’s assessment was very convincing.

Ling He lowered his head slightly when he heard what Kong Xiao said, but a coldness flashed across his eyes.

At this moment, everyone felt a supreme pressure covering the boundless space. From within the Domain Chief’s Manor, an extraordinary aura descended and radiated out, covering endless regions. A voice said, ” Honored guests have arrived. Please enter.”

As the voice trailed off, the crowd saw a brilliant golden light sprinkled down upon Donghua Palace as a group appeared there. It was the Domain Chief of Donghua, and his wife was in the main seats of Donghua Palace. Next to them, there was a young man with an extraordinary temperament whose eyes contained divine light. This was the number one genius talent of Donghua Domain—Ning Hua—the proud son of Donghua Heavens.

Below, countless people were extremely excited to see the appearance of the Chief and his wife, as well as Ning Hua. In the Donghua Heavens, they would normally have no chance to see the chief. Even Ning Hua was hardly seen by anyone.

When the chief appeared, there was divine light shining in different directions above the sky. In one direction, the dark light enveloped a corner of the sky, then landed in Donghua Palace, revealing a domineering figure who stood there; it was Desolation God from the Desolate God Palace.

In another direction, there seemed to be drifting snow flying, accompanied by a chill. A most beautiful woman appeared before them, and all the goddesses of the Fluttering Snow Palace stood up when they saw her. Immediately, everyone knew who she was—the Sword Goddess of Fluttering Snow Palace had arrived, the premier swordswoman in the Donghua Domain.

At the same time, rays of divine lights descended, and in different positions within Donghua Palace, voices were heard one after another. It was as if they were all coming out of thin air. These were people whose cultivation was of considerable might. They were already inside the Donghua Heavens. Though they were still far away, they could traverse great distance within a turning of their minds.

With each top figure’s arrival, the crowd beneath the Domain Chief’s Manor was becoming more boisterous.

“The person wearing the golden dragon robe is Emperor Yan from the ancient royal family of Yan, and the man in blue is the clan leader of Nanhua Clan. Look, the College Chief of Donghua Academy has also arrived…” As they looked at those distinguished figures going into the banquet hall, they identified who was whom. For most people, this was the first time that they had seen these top figures.

At this time, an old man in white had arrived. Although he was quite advanced in age, he still appeared elegant and dapper, quite pleasing to the eyes. It was a temperament few could match.

Next to him, there was an extremely beautiful woman, like the Jiutian Goddess, whose beauty eclipsed all other earthly beauties. For a moment, she attracted everyone’s attention. Even the Renhuang of the Nine Heavens were distracted because of her.

Taihua Skylord had arrived.

Such a prestigious reputation was well-deserved. The visage of the Taihua Goddess was truly unparalleled.

Even the goddesses from Fluttering Snow Palace, who were already extremely beautiful themselves, still couldn’t help but secretly praise her peerless beauty when they saw Taihua Goddess.

“Skylord is here too.” Someone in Donghua Palace observed. Taihua Skylord was a cultivator who had been in semi-retreat and rarely showed himself; he didn’t even visit Turtle Deity Island last time.

“We are just waiting on Emperor Xi and the others,” the chief smiled and said. When his voice trailed off, a divine light descended, and two figures appeared at the same time. It was Emperor Xi and Thunder Punishing Skylord.

Their arrival brought a smile upon the chief’s face, and he said, “Emperor Xi and the Thunder Punishing Skylord have arrived, and the attendees of this Donghua banquet are now all here.”

The people below thought of the same thing. There were countless people on the continent that was the Donghua Domain, but there were only a few who were truly mighty. Every one of these figures was high above the clouds, difficult to be seen by ordinary cultivators. But now they were gathered together in one place to attend Donghua banquet, appeared in the Domain Chief’s Manor.

Apart from the chief, who could command such a grand gathering?

Therefore, their attendance at the Donghua banquet was considered a most satisfying outcome.

Ye Futian also raised his head to look at Donghua Palace above. The figures that appeared there were those who stood at the peak of the Donghua Domain. They alone could represent the strength of the entire Donghua Domain.

In the eighteen regions of Divine Prefecture, just Donghua Domain alone was comparable to the entire Original Realm.

Moreover, these were only the known cultivators in the academy. On their last visit, they had seen a lot of hermits inside Donghua Academy. In the entire land of Divine Prefecture, there must be some hermits who had been cultivating for many years!