Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 208:

Chapter 208: Banquet

Everyone in the Ji Clan had grim looks. Only those from Fang Chen’s group looked unfazed.

Ji Junhua first looked at Fang Chen, followed by Ji Congyun, before saying with a suppressed voice, “Father, that banquet is a trap.”

This matter was so severe that there was no room for Ji Lengxing and the others from the younger generation to butt in. They could only obediently stand by the side and listen to the discussion.

Those who were from the same generation as Ji Junhua traded worried looks.

“Young master Fang, what do you think?” Ji Congyun asked.

“We’ll naturally know once we’re at the banquet,” Fang Chen replied.

Once we’re at the banquet?

The crowd frowned, but at the same time, they found themselves calmed by Fang Chen’s nonchalant attitude. He made it seem as if this matter wasn’t as big of a deal as they thought.

Just then, a Ji Clan’s servant rushed in and reported, “There’s news from the imperial palace! Fourth Princess Han Qin has returned, and she’s accompanied by Lin Li, the son of the White Tiger Empire’s great general, and two grade-6 state’s immortals.”

Two grade-6 state’s immortals!

The crowd felt goosebumps all over their bodies. They hadn’t thought that Chillwater’s emperor would be capable of bringing in such help.

Ji Congyun sighed.

This was the reason the Ji Clan had never been able to truly gain the upper hand over the imperial family. In fact, if not for Fang Chen’s appearance, they would have never stood a chance at all. They would have to live their lives content with being an eternal number two.

The servant took his leave.

Ji Congyun turned to Fang Chen with worried eyes. “Young master Fang, the White Tiger Empire has brought a grade-6 state’s immortals into this matter. I fear that it might no longer be possible to accomplish what we have previously discussed.”

“Just do your part. Leave the rest to me,” Fang Chen replied. “Not all immortals are equal. There is no lack of dead immortals in the world.”

The crowd felt chilled. Only Fang Chen would dare to make light of an immortal’s life.

Shortly after, Fang Chen followed Ji Congyun to the imperial palace.

They met Song Yi along the way; the latter looked pale and incomparably exhausted. He must have really spent the entire month kneeling at Chillwater’s capital harbor.

Song Yi immediately lowered his head upon seeing the two of them. He waited for them to leave before finally daring to raise his head.

“Brother Song, our Ji Clan has joined hands with young master Fang. Don’t take what happened before to heart,” Ji Lengxing walked up to Song Yi and patted his shoulder.

“I understand.” Song Yi hurriedly nodded, only to frown shortly after. Joined hands? What does that mean?

He tried asking about it, but Ji Lengxing gave an obscure reply with an expectant smile, “Don’t ask too much. You should learn about it very soon.”

Practically all of Chillwater’s officials and nobles were invited for tonight’s banquets.

By the time Fang Chen and Ji Congyun arrived at the imperial palace, there were already many extravagant carriages outside. Their arrival caught most people’s attention, but no one walked over to greet them, sensing an anomaly in the atmosphere.

Only those who belonged to the Ji Faction greeted them, but all of them had grim looks. They had many questions at the tip of their tongue, but they hesitated to raise them. It also didn’t help that Ji Congyun was mostly busy chatting with Fang Chen.

The group of them entered the imperial palace together, with Fang Chen and Ji Congyun walking at the forefront.

Many others were walking into the imperial palace and settling down in their respective seats. There were two hundred seats on the left and two hundred on the right. It was a bustle.

Fang Chen sat down beside Ji Congyun. A bunch of youths opposite of him were staring at him with hostile eyes, so he asked Ji Congyun with a chuckle, “Are they from the imperial family?”

Ji Congyun glanced at those youths and nodded.

Other than the youths, the powerful officials and nobles were also secretly assessing the situation. From time to time, their eyes would glow with a contemplative gleam.

It was only when Chillwater’s emperor appeared did everyone’s eyes finally stop wandering.

“Spare the ceremonies, my beloved subjects. This is just a casual meal, so treat it like you’re at home,” Chillwater’s emperor said with a magnanimous smile after settling in his seat.

Ji Congyun eyed the four empty seats next to Chillwater’s emperor and asked, “Your Majesty, may I know where are the esteemed guests Eunuch Lin spoke about?”

The atmosphere plunged into silence.

Chillwater’s emperor looked at the four empty seats and smiled. “Old Master Ji, my daughter and the others will be arriving very soon.”

“Your Majesty, is the Fourth Princess really back?” an official asked out of curiosity.

The crowd traded looks. They had heard news, but they weren’t certain about it. If Han Qin was truly back, then this would most definitely not be a simple meal.

Han Qin was a top prodigy who had caught the eye of the White Tiger Empire’s Ten Directions Sect and had been training there from a young age. It was rumored that she had surpassed the Old Ancestor’s bottleneck to reach Heaven Profound realm.

“Indeed. My daughter learned about the recent unrest in Chillwater, so she decided to make a trip back before heading to a grade-6 state,” Chillwater’s emperor replied with a nod.

All of the officials, regardless of whether they were in the Ji Faction or the imperial faction, gasped in shock. Fourth Princess Han Qin is heading to a grade-6 state?

“My talented daughter has been chosen by a grade-6 state’s immortal, so she’ll be training in an immortal sect in the near future. Time passes swiftly in the mountains. Immortals often go into seclusion for a decade or two, so I fear she won’t be able to return often,” Chillwater’s emperor lamented.

The atmosphere slowly heated up. Those belonging to the imperial faction trembled in excitement. Their eyes darted toward Fang Chen and Ji Congyun, curious to know how the opponents of the imperial faction, would react.

Ji Congyun feigned nonchalance, but his heart was shaken up. Fourth Princess Han Qin has caught the eye of an immortal?

“My daughter has brought young master Lin Li, the son of the White Tiger Empire’s great general, and two grade-6 state’s immortals with her. These immortals are from proper sects, so make sure to uphold your manners later on,” Chillwater’s emperor said.

He glanced at Fang Chen and Ji Congyun and asked, “What do the two of you think?”

“Of course.” Ji Congyun solemnly nodded.

Fang Chen smiled without saying a word.

However, the crowd thought that Fang Chen was intimidated. The imperial offspring revealed gloating faces, as they looked forward to what would happen next.

While the crowd was chatting amid themselves, four figures appeared at the entrance.

Leading the group were Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Sister Wang, whereas Han Qin and Lin Li trailed behind them.

All discussions screeched to a halt. Everyone turned toward the group of four and instinctively stood up.

Ji Congyun had wanted to stand up as well, but when he saw how composed Fang Chen was resting in his seat, he suppressed his unease and held his position too. The two of them were the only ones who remained seated in the room, which made them stand out.

Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Sister Wang looked at Fang Chen with mocking eyes.

Han Qin glared at Fang Chen with killing intent.

Lin Li narrowed his eyes. He wanted to know what rights a mere worm from a grade-9 state had to acquire an opportunity to become an immortal.