As Chen Yi and the others walked to the main guest seats, several people were already seated. One wore a luxurious purple robe embroidered with dark tiger stripes, heroic and elegant, whispering to an elder beside him. On hearing movement, he looked up at Chen Yi. Surprise flashed in his eyes, then transformed into a familiar smile.
This was Dai Weisi, the great prince of the Star Luo Empire.
Dai Weisi stood up, took a few steps forward, and laughed loudly. "Brother Chen! I never imagined I'd meet you here. What an unexpected delight!"
His broad smile and courteous manners fully displayed his royal upbringing.
Chen Yi returned the smile and bowed slightly. "Your Highness, it's been a while. I happened to arrive just in time for this grand occasion and, by chance, met you."
Dai Weisi was about to exchange a few more pleasantries, but his gaze fell on Xu An and Xu Qiong at Chen Yi's side. His smile stiffened slightly, a sharp glint passing through his eyes.
Xu An's expression was gentle as he met Dai Weisi's gaze, the corners of his lips curling with a hint of indifference. "Your Highness, it's been a while." His voice was soft, with little emotion.
Xu Qiong merely gave a slight nod—a salute without words, standing quietly beside her brother like a tranquil orchid.
Dai Weisi's smile returned, but the meaning behind it had grown more complex. "So, it's the Xu siblings. I never imagined I'd meet you both here. What a surprise…"
Xu An seemed not to notice the oddity and replied calmly, "The Second Head of Wind Sword advancing to Soul Douluo is a joyous event for the soul master world. My brother and sister traveled with the elders, so it's only fitting for them to offer congratulations when they meet." He added, as if remembering something, "After all, my Star Crown Sect is a branch of the Star Luo lineage."
"A branch?" A flash of irony crossed Dai Weisi's eyes but was quickly suppressed. His tone, however, retained a sharp edge. "How rare… Your sect actually remembers its Star lineage?"
The exchange was brief, but several nearby who understood the context frowned secretly.
On the Douluo Continent, the seven great sects—three upper sects and the Elephant Armored Sect—are based in the Heaven Dou region, while the remaining three are in Star Luo. To counter Spirit Hall's growing power and consolidate its own rule, the Star Luo royal family had long tried to unite the internal sects, with the enigmatic and powerful Star Crown Sect being the most important. Yet the Star Crown Sect's stance remained ambiguous, coldly rebuffing royal overtures, at times using their sect as a pretext to seclude themselves from the world.
A hundred years ago, the Star Luo royal family's awe-inspiring "White Tiger Douluo" and another powerful royal soul master, using a martial soul fusion technique, once overwhelmed the Star Crown Sect. Just as the royals planned to force the sect into submission, the Star Crown's master flipped the table, ran directly to Spirit Hall, and served as an elder, leaving the sect half-isolated from the world. This not only foiled the Star Luo royal family's plans but also dealt them a heavy blow, rendering relations extremely complex and delicate.
Chen Yi's expression didn't change, as if he hadn't noticed the sharpness in their words. He said indifferently, "Your Highness, Brother Xu, the banquet is about to start. Please take your seats."
Dai Weisi glanced deeply at Xu An, then smiled at Chen Yi. "Brother Chen is right. Please!"
With that, Dai Weisi gestured politely and his posture remained impeccable. One after another, people took their seats.
The Wind Sword Sect's master, Feng Bailong, was already seated in the center. On seeing Chen Yi approach, he smiled in greeting. By Feng Bailong's arrangement, Chen Yi's seat was at his left, signifying his "Douluo" title and status. No one in the hall found it strange; it seemed only natural.
Only the younger generation realized that, apart from those with Titled Douluo status, the only other young person who could sit at such a place was Qian Renxue, deep within Spirit Hall. Such standing was the result of both strength and background.
Dugu Yan naturally sat beside Chen Yi, and the Xu siblings' seats were at the very front of the VIP section, not far from Dai Weisi.
The banquet officially began. Feng Bailong raised his glass in gratitude, and the guests responded. The atmosphere gradually warmed, with fine wine and rare delicacies flowing like water. Laughter and conversation intertwined, harmony softening the mood.
After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Ning Rongrong, seated in the VIP section, scanned the hall with sharp eyes, appearing a bit bored. Such social etiquette was nothing new for the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Suddenly, her gaze fell across the table, landing on Yu Tianheng, who was carefully peeling shrimp for himself, his eyes burning with jealousy as he glanced at Chen Yi and Dugu Yan. A narrow thought sprouted in her mind.
Ning Rongrong set down her silver chopsticks, picked up a silk handkerchief and elegantly dabbed her lips, then suddenly asked, "By the way, when at home, I often hear my father, Sword Grandpa, and Grandpa Bone say that after the second awakening, the Body Martial Soul is said to be unrivaled in the world, worthy of the title 'World's Number One Beast Martial Soul.' Is that true… Young Sect Master Chen, what do you think?"
Ning Rongrong blinked her big, innocent eyes at Chen Yi, curiosity written all over her face—her tone seemingly pure, like a girl hungry for knowledge.
As her words fell, the once lively banquet instantly quieted down for several moments. Countless eyes shot toward Chen Yi, then at Yu Tianheng, whose face suddenly turned dark.
In recent years, the rise of the Body Sect and the emergence of second awakening gold-level soul masters had shaken the continent. The title "World's Number One Beast Martial Soul" had been secretly attached to the Body Martial Soul by many, though no one dared speak it openly.
Yu Tianheng's grip on his wineglass tightened, his knuckles whitening. One major reason the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had kept a low profile was the Body Sect's rise. They wanted to avoid being targeted as the "Number One Beast Martial Soul" and thus avoided direct conflict.
Yet, deep inside, Yu Tianheng could never accept it. A dragon should have a dragon's pride and dignity! How could he retreat in fear?
Chen Yi accepted a small plate of fish meat from Dugu Yan and, unhurried, didn't even pause at Ning Rongrong's question. He slowly ate, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, then looked up at Ning Rongrong calmly.
"World's Number One Beast Martial Soul?" Chen Yi's voice was not loud, but clear in the quiet hall. "Body Sect has no interest in such a false title." He paused, glanced at the tense Yu Tianheng, and continued indifferently, "Besides, all Body Martial Souls are human body parts, so where does the word 'beast' come from?"
He tilted his head slightly, looking at Ning Rongrong with a touch of suspicion. "Miss Ning, do you really think that way…? Do you see birds and beasts as livestock, then?"
"…!" Ning Rongrong's beautiful face froze, her breath caught. She could never admit to such nonsense; it was self-deprecation.
On the other side, Yu Tianheng felt like he was on a roller coaster. When Chen Yi said he "wasn't interested," he felt a bit pleased, thinking he could count him as a friend. But in the next breath, when Chen Yi called his soul "not a beast," and used the word "livestock," it felt like a slap across the face—a naked contempt and insult to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's pride.
"Chen Yi! What do you mean by that?!" Yu Tianheng couldn't hold back, abruptly standing up, his voice trembling with anger as he glared at Chen Yi. Blue electric arcs flickered over his body, causing nearby guests to unconsciously lean back.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan placed her jade flask on the table, turned, and replied nonchalantly, "What? Yu Tianheng, which part of Chen Yi's words was wrong? Or are you just angry because it hit a sore spot?" Her lips curled in a mocking arc. "Do you really think you're…?"
"Dugu Yan!" Yu Tianheng shouted, forcibly cutting off her unfinished, even more insulting words. In front of so many representatives, to be so ridiculed and mocked by a woman he once admired made his face burn with shame and anger. He could only suppress the urge to act, glaring at Chen Yi, gritting his teeth, "What he said just now—does he see my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as nothing? That's naked humiliation!"
Dugu Yan sneered and tried to speak again, but Chen Yi gently raised his hand and held her arm.
Chen Yi slowly rose from his seat, looked at the pale, fiery-eyed Yu Tianheng, and said coldly, "Yes, so what?"
Bang! Just thoose words, but in the silent hall, they were like thunder.
Everyone stared in shock at the white-robed youth standing proudly beside the main seat. He admitted it! He openly, bluntly acknowledged his utter contempt for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
After a brief silence, uncontrollable commotion and gasps rose.
Chen Yi gazed coldly at Yu Tianheng, who was trembling all over, his soul power raging. His eyes were deep as a cold well.
Yu Tianheng's eyes reddened, his whole body enveloped in blue-violet lightning, faint dragon roars echoing as his terrifying soul power spread uncontrollably, shaking cups and saucers on nearby tables.
He stared at Chen Yi, chest heaving violently, as if he would transform into a thunderstorm and kill him at any moment. Yet, the moment his gaze met Chen Yi's calm black eyes—so devoid of emotion—a chill ran down his spine and up to the crown of his head, freezing his boiling blood.
….
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