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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
At those words, Empress Yao Xi came back to herself, her gaze landing on the man in blue. Her brows furrowed slightly before relaxing and she said, “This man’s name is Jun Fan and he is the third son of the Quelling Chaos King. He is considered a brilliant prodigy of the Demon World. He has been hidden away by the Quelling Chaos King until he began showing his skills and Talents recently.”
As the Empress of the Demon World, she had eyes everywhere and so knew of many young prodigies. She had already been aware of prodigies like Song Youwei and Jun Fan since a long time ago; her purpose in founding the Black and White Academy had been to gather young prodigies from all over the Demon World, whom she would eventually use. If nothing went wrong, Jun Fan would land in the Top Three in the Banquet of Prodigies later today. At that thought, her mood became better as it was rare to see such an outstanding prodigy like him. He would be famous in the Demon World in the future.
Gu Changge replied with interest, “The third son of the Quelling Chaos King. That name is unique. Jun Fan… What’s his connection with Jun Bufan?”
Qing Zhu, standing behind Empress Yao Xi, paled slightly after hearing his reply. However, no one could see it as her head was lowered.
Empress Yao Xi nodded. “I was surprised after knowing that as well. However, I was the one who had elevated the Quelling Chaos King to his current status and I know about his children’s backgrounds. That’s why I wasn’t really concerned about that.”
She knew the Quelling Chaos King from head to toe and so did not suspect anything about the similar names of his progeny. Jun Fan’s Talents in cultivation were truly brilliant, so she felt appreciative of his gifts. She had thought Gu Changge was suspecting something and so added another word of explanation.
Gu Changge smiled and continued, “Well, I see now that this Jun Fan is somewhat extraordinary. I think his abilities are superior to that of his peers.”
“Jun Fan and Youwei surprised me too.” Empress Yao Xi smiled, looking at the similarly brilliant prodigy, Song Youwei.
The speed at which Song Youwei ascended the mountain wasn’t much slower than Jun Fan and besides, she didn’t look like she had used her full power in doing so. She looked natural and relaxed, her skirts flowing around her which made her look dignified and scholarly. She had an uncompetitive nature as well and was just slightly behind Jun Fan. Many young prodigies who had tried to fight her had lost, which shocked them. This showed that her abilities should never be underestimated.
“I don’t think it’s just a surprise.” Gu Changge still looked interested, his voice meaningful.
Everyone near Sacred Mountain watched this in amazement. The Quelling Chaos King, Jun Fan’s father, couldn’t hide his joy in particular. He hadn’t expected Jun Fan to exceed his peers and leave them in the dust.
Already, Jun Fan had advanced 108 steps, and the many prodigies in the Demon World lost to him as they couldn’t compete against him at all. This made the Quelling Chaos King extremely proud and he smiled continuously, as he heard his companions’ praise and expressions of envy.
[Jun Fan didn’t disappoint me.] He sighed internally while Jun Fan’s elder brother and second-oldest sister smiled as they shared their father’s pride.
“Lian’er, the man you mentioned just now is the person we are looking for.” Bai Hua and Bai Lian’er, hidden in the crowd, watched the scene on the Sacred Mountain closely. Bai Hua had been the one who had spoken, his voice sounding astounded.
Bai Lian’er’s expression was cold. “There’s no mistaking it. That has to be him. No one else among the Demon World’s younger generation has such powerful abilities.”
Bai Hua’s expression shifted several times after hearing her confident tone.
“So why did he want to climb to the peak of the Sacred Mountain? Logically, Empress Yao Xi is the person he despises the most, so why did he do that? Isn’t he afraid Empress Yao Xi will discover his real identity?” He sounded sceptical, unable to understand Jun Fan’s actions.
Bai Lian’er replied mildly, “It’s definitely to prove himself. He’s still outstanding despite coming back from the dead. Hate is often born from love, so he’s definitely filled with anger and hatred. He will take revenge on Yao Xi.”
The scorn in her tone was obvious, as she had grown up with Jun Bufan and knew his personality well.
Bai Hua looked thoughtful. “Lian’er, do we still give the item to him as asked by Master?”
Bai Lainer became hesitant. She had already seen Gu Changge, who was standing at the peak of the Sacred Mountain and chatting with Empress Yao Xi. That was a man who she couldn’t see through.
As for why he was here in the Demon World, he might be here for her or more precisely, the brocade bag in her possession. He had already captured her father, and Gu Changge could easily find ways to make her father open his mouth through interrogation. How else would Gu Changge follow her tracks here to the Demon World?
She had two choices here: follow her father’s instructions and hand the bag over to Jun Bufan, or find Gu Changge and make a deal to let her father go in exchange for the brocade bag. She was conflicted about which choice to make. [Is this man worth trusting? If I can trust him, I would hand the bag over to him in exchange for father’s life.]
Jun Bufan was a mere stranger to her, even though they had grown up together most of the time and had been as close as siblings despite not sharing any blood relations. That had changed after he met Empress Yao Xi.
Bai Lian’er had had high hopes for him to be a powerful Demon Overlord the likes of the Solar Demon Overlord, yet his actions had hurt her deeply. She had warned him many times that Yao Xi had ulterior motives and wasn’t as innocent as she looked. However, he hadn’t listened to her. He loved Yao Xi ardently and ended up dying as expected. Jun Bufan had deliberately hurt Bai Lian’er many times because of Yao Xi. All of that was too much to take since she ended up being hated the most by the person she was most concerned about.
At that thought, Bai Lian’er’s smile became one of mockery. She had been far too stupid back then. Now, she wished she could go back in time and strangle her past self. If this hadn’t been her father’s last instructions, she never would have agreed to this.
While everyone was immersed in their own thoughts, Jun Fan shone brightly from the peak of the Sacred Mountain. Runes swirled about and fell instantly, making the 108 steps vibrate and hum. They then glowed brightly in orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and purple, the blinding coloured light flowing and interweaving to show his top rank.
A commotion came from around the mountain, which sounded like a tsunami. The citizens of the Demon World looked at the blue-clothed man with shocked reverence and envy.
“It’s him. The third son of the Quelling Chaos King. His speed must have broken the record that stood for thousands of years.”
“He’s so formidable and his powerful abilities make him superior to everyone else. Even Song Youwei, the only daughter of the Grand Tutor, fell behind him. This is unbelievable!”
Everyone watched on in amazement, not expecting someone to break the 6000 years old record at the Banquet of Prodigies. This would cause a shock in the Demon World. Empress Yao Xi smiled as well, a sight rarely seen in public, as she looked at the approaching Jun Fan. Such talent was truly hardly seen and delighted her.
Meanwhile, Gu Changge’s expression didn’t change although he was interested in the proceedings. [Well, the higher you go Jun Fan, the worse your fall will be.]
Jun Fan maintained a neutral expression as he walked onto the peak of the Sacred Mountain with quick steps. He felt somewhat unhappy after seeing Empress Yao Xi and Gu Changge together. Their actions weren’t intimate and didn’t cross boundaries, yet they made him uncomfortable. That was why he had shown more of his abilities and thus broke the record of the Banquet of Prodigies. His reputation was at an all-time high but he still assumed a somewhat humble expression as he approached.
“Jun Bufan, right?” Gu Changge’s smiling voice shocked him immensely and his mind turned into blank static, as if he had been hit by a large bell. His expression turned stricken and pale, and his first reaction was to put up his guard. He prepared to crush the jade amulet within his sleeve and alert his hidden subordinates to act. He couldn’t believe this. [How did he know of my real identity? Did Qing Zhu betray me and spill everything?]
“Oh, I’m mistaken. You are Jun Fan. I’ve gotten confused between these names.” Just as Jun Fan frantically prepared to fight, Gu Changge spoke once again. He sounded slightly surprised and apologetic.
Jun Fan froze at first before exhaling in relief, though he was still doubtful. He hadn’t expected to be so panicked and cautious that he overreacted to Gu Changge’s words. He didn’t know whether his behaviour caused any suspicion as he never acted like this usually. The main issue here was that Gu Changge’s question had been so sudden that he couldn’t catch himself in time, especially when Gu Changge had asked it in front of Empress Yao Xi.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge and Your Majesty the Empress.” Jun Fan quickly recollected himself and bowed in greeting. His behaviour now looked natural.
Gu Changge looked at him with an unreadable expression before smiling. “No need to be so polite. Seeing such a great prodigy like you have truly opened up my mind. This trip isn’t a waste of time at all.”
Jun Fan’s face remained neutral without showing any humbleness or pride. “I don’t deserve your praise. How can I call myself a young prodigy when compared to you?”
Empress Yao Xi glanced at Gu Changge, puzzled as to why Gu Changge had called Jun Fan, Jun Bufan.
[Was it just a playful joke?] She had already noticed Jun Fan’s stricken and panicked expression though and felt amused by it. His reaction was not out of the ordinary, since everyone who knew Jun Bufan knew what that name symbolised. Thus, though hearing Gu Changge suddenly call him by that name had to make him react immediately with anxiety and fear, that didn’t mean anything to her.
“Young Master Changge, stop scaring him.” Empress Yao Xi smiled, shooting a narrow-eyed glare at Gu Changge. She showed a smile rarely seen by the public and waved a hand to signal a female courtier to give him a seat.
Jun Fan’s eyelid jumped slightly as he thanked her respectfully. He sat down and centred himself, eventually regaining his calm. He had watched her glare at Gu Changge and couldn’t believe it. How could Yao Xi, as the Empress of the Demon World, direct such an intimate expression towards another man? This made him uneasy.
However, he was still pondering about Gu Changge’s motive.
[Was it just a joke or did it serve some other purpose?] He peeked at Qing Zhu, who shook her head slightly in return without any other meaning. He became relieved as it seemed that Empress Yao Xi hadn’t noticed anything strange yet.
Soon, his expression darkened a little as he listened to the conversation between Empress Yao Xi and Gu Changge. He controlled himself as forcefully as he could so he didn’t do anything suspicious. Their words sounded like something two well-acquainted people would say to one another. The feeling intensified as he watched the usually elegantly solemn and frigid Empress Yao Xi chatting so happily with Gu Changge. Taking a deep breath, he reined himself in quickly as acting rashly would ruin his plans.
Figures began to appear on the white jade steps as well, consisting of highly talented and powerful young prodigies such as Song Youwei.
Jun Fan’s feat in breaking the 6000 years old record had rendered them shocked and envious but also frustrated. However, they did not dare say anything before Empress Yao Xi and greeted her in turn before settling in their seats.
They were waiting for when the Empress would personally reward them with the royal wine and unique dishes only available in the imperial palace. These things contained unimaginable power and Dao Creation Energy. Besides, the royal dishes served at the banquet would normally be inaccessible to them. These dishes were priceless and might help them breakthough.
There were only 108 seats available at the Banquet, so only the top 108 out of thousands of young prodigies were qualified to attend. It was clear how competitive it was.
“The abilities you displayed today truly impressed me.” After sitting down, Song Youwei looked towards Jun Fan who was seated not so far away. She had a surprised smile on her face.
Jun Fan smiled and replied, “It was a rare opportunity to show my abilities to Her Majesty the Empress after all. I have to use it really well.”
Many young prodigies concurred, looking towards Empress Yao Xi at the head of the table. Many young men looked besotted; while her face was hidden by a layer of Chaos fog which rendered her features indistinct. Nonetheless, her voice and appearance were already enough to bewitch everyone.
Song Youwei did not inquire further, but she had the feeling that Jun Fan was a little different today compared to the man she usually saw. He wouldn’t behave so openly and would also strategize every step before making his move. However, she did not think about it much as the Banquet of Prodigies was a chance to make themselves famous. In her mind, any youth would want to fully make use of this opportunity.
The 108 seats on the peak of the Sacred Mountain were soon occupied, and the guests all looked towards Empress Yao Xi with reverence.
“The seats are filled. The banquet shall commence.” Empress Yao Xi rose, her gaze sweeping across the space before landing on Jun Fan, Song Youwei, and the others. Her voice was mild.
The other young prodigies who hadn’t managed to arrive in time retreated with disappointment and regret as soon as they heard the female courtier’s announcement that the event was over.
The people of the Demon World as well as important figures looked on in anticipation and envy. While they could only act as the audience, they could already sense the Energy of Creation contained within.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The ringing of the gong which signalled the Banquet’s official commencement spread everywhere. Beams of light flickered as the spiritual dishes surrounded by swirling light were served by the maids. They smelled fragrant and contained unimaginable spiritual energy which seemed to open up everyone’s pores.
The spiritual dishes had been prepared using meat from powerful beasts, and the potent effects were complemented by many spiritual herbs. Many young prodigies expelled marrow from their pores after just taking their first bite, which transformed into a small cloud of red mist. Their vitality and Qi surged as powerfully as the river, and they started to meditate on the spot to cultivate. They dared not waste any of it.
Meanwhile, Jun Fan was secretly taking note of Empress Yao Xi’s behaviour. She would ask a female courtier to test it in case of poison before eating it. Such caution did not surprise him at all, but these were just paltry issues. [The main event is about to start.]
“The Banquet of Prodigies consists of three main courses. The meat course, the fruit course, and finally the wine course.” Empress Yao Xi was smiling slightly as she explained the event to Gu Changge, who was at the head of the table.
He nodded and exclaimed, “These meat dishes are simply complex as they contain unimaginable power and the Energy of Creation. These would be extremely hard to digest normally but they seem milder after undergoing the process of cooking.”
He took several bites, not worried whether the dishes contained any poison. He could easily consume and digest the Eternal Overcast Sources, much less any poison in the world.
The first course had only just begun, yet many young prodigies couldn’t stand it any longer and began sitting cross-legged to digest the energy consumed. That meant they would miss the fruit course and wine course. This couldn’t be blamed on anyone else since they couldn’t absorb that much Energy of Creation.
The second course soon started. Everything served consisted of shiny spiritual fruits containing Dao Energy. They varied in shape and expelled light; some even had strange patterns and were surrounded by a divine glow. These fruits had the effect of making one enlightened in the Great Dao.
At the sight of the fruit, the eyes of many young prodigies widened. They were all shaken to the core, while the important figures watching from a distance felt jealous and wished they could take the places of these young prodigies.
[Her Majesty the Empress must have spent a princely sum of money for the Banquet of Prodigies. To think that Bodhi Dao Fruits are being served. The imperial palace must have considered this for a long time before serving so many of these at once.] These important figures exclaimed internally with envy. Even at their cultivation level, they still craved the Bodhi Dao Fruit. It could make them achieve immediate enlightenment and even allow them to break through any obstacles in their cultivation, thus allowing them to enter the next realm. The fact that Empress Yao Xi had these fruits served up astonished them.
Many young prodigies did not hesitate before grabbing the fruit. They started consuming and digesting it. Even Song Youwei received it with careful hands and a rare expression of wariness. However, Jun Fan’s expression did not waver as he quickly consumed the fruit so no one noticed anything strange. Soon, a thick cloud of fresh fragrance spread through the air while interweaving beams of heavenly light lit up the sky. The chimes of the Great Dao resonated through the air and could be heard far away.
“After the meat and fruit course, is the main event occurring during the wine course?” Gu Changge couldn’t help but ask, intrigued by the sight of numerous prodigies meditating in their seats.
Empress Yao Xi nodded, her smile becoming mysterious. “I have made lengthy preparations for the wine course.”
Gu Changge looked at her with an unreadable expression. “I’m looking forward to it then.”
I feel like it’s going to be fun