Free Web NovelChapter 424: Chapter 407: Provocation
Wang Meng could see the excitement in their eyes. "Any other problems?"
"This way, please."
"I’m sorry, you two can’t enter." Two Cultivators blocked Ma Tian’Er and Linglong.
Linglong’s eyes instantly filled with frost. Whatever anger Wang Meng had was extinguished by her murderous glare. ’This ancestor is not to be provoked,’ he thought. ’If she really throws a tantrum, she’ll definitely tear this place down. This isn’t Starlight Academy; Old Demon Lv isn’t here to cover for me.’
"These two are my friends. The invitation said I could bring friends."
At his core, Master Wang was a very good-tempered person.
"Even so, you can only bring one person inside," the Star Cultivator said, his face still expressionless.
"Wang Meng, why don’t I just go back? You and Linglong can go in," Ma Tian’Er said. She hated conflict, especially since this banquet was of great importance.
Ling Fei had already gone inside and hadn’t come with them; otherwise, Wang Meng could have had her bring one person in.
"My friend, it doesn’t explicitly say only one person. Can’t you be a little flexible?"
Wang Meng patiently held his temper. After all, he was new here.
"This is an unwritten rule. No one can break it."
The two of them had an all-business attitude. The Cultivator on the right, seeing how meek Wang Meng was being, added, "Everyone must follow the rules."
Wang Meng smiled. "Who made this unwritten rule?"
"No one in particular. In any case, everyone has to follow it. At least, it’s not something just anyone can change."
"Is that so? Well, today, I refuse to believe it. I’m going to have to break this rule. Tian’Er, Linglong, let’s go!"
"Stop!"
The two Cultivators exchanged a glance and moved to block them again.
’Kindness is mistaken for weakness,’ Wang Meng thought. ’It seems you have to be ruthless when you arrive in a new place. Otherwise, every Tom, Dick, and Harry will dare to act up!’
Just as he was about to make a move, the two Cultivators froze.
In an instant, they were frozen into two lifelike ice sculptures, exuding a bone-chilling cold under the sunlight.
"So much nonsense," Linglong said flatly as she walked inside.
Wang Meng shrugged helplessly. ’It seems the Dragon Princess’s patience is really something else,’ he thought. ’Amitabha Buddha, please don’t let anyone provoke her.’
The three of them entered. Inside the main hall, the banquet had already begun. Young people were chatting in groups of three and five, and Ling Fei was already surrounded by several people.
He didn’t know anyone, but Wang Meng recognized good food. If no one was going to talk to him, he could at least eat, right?
Ma Tian’Er discreetly found a place to sit down, and Linglong sat with her. It was clear Linglong didn’t dislike Ma Tian’Er; with Tian’Er’s personality, she could get along well with anyone.
However, Linglong had never really tried exquisite human food before.
Wang Meng didn’t hold back. He knew full well that the food here was very expensive—calling it "luxurious" would be no exaggeration. There was one dessert made from Drunken Immortal Fruit that he had seen at the Drunken Immortal Tower. The price was so astonishing he’d never ordered it, but here, it was all-you-can-eat.
’Damn, acting tough makes a man hungry. When there’s food, you eat.’
Linglong gingerly took a sip of some red juice and a surprised look appeared on her face. "So sweet! And so delicious."
Ma Tian’Er also took a sip. "It really is."
The two girls, as if they had discovered a new world, drank happily. Ma Tian’Er was also surprised. Wang Meng had told her that Linglong was from the legendary Dragon Race, that she was proud and difficult to get along with, and asked her to be patient. But Ma Tian’Er hadn’t felt that at all.
"Fair ladies, I wonder if I might have the honor of sitting here?"
A handsome Cultivator was staring at Linglong with a burning gaze. He’d never even heard of such a beauty and didn’t know which Sect she was from. He figured he should make his move before the other wolves arrived.
Linglong turned a deaf ear, simply continuing to investigate the various foods with Ma Tian’Er.
The handsome guy was ignored. He cleared his throat. "Could I just sit here..."
Linglong waved her hand impatiently. "Go hang out somewhere else."
The handsome Cultivator froze, then shook his head helplessly. He hadn’t expected Linglong to be so blunt.
The crowd gradually grew, but since a certain someone had served as cannon fodder, no one else dared to try their luck so easily. Judging by Linglong and Ma Tian’Er’s beauty, and the fact that they were here—whether brought by someone or on their own—they were likely no small figures. Besides, her tone had been so imperious.
Wang Meng was darting around, eating everything. He was starting to suspect he was a real foodie. ’Damn it,’ he thought, ’the food here is just too good!’ He had originally started eating out of boredom, but he’d gotten hooked and was already starting to feel a little full.
The fine food and wine were just embellishments. Aside from Wang Meng and his two companions, probably no one was actually here to eat. Anyone qualified to attend this gathering was an elite from their respective Sect and a future leader. Building connections was extremely important.
Ji Rushan and Hua Jianyu also arrived. Hua Jianyu acted as if Wang Meng didn’t exist; the grudge between them was set. Ji Rushan, on the other hand, wasn’t so distant.
"Wang Meng, I’ll introduce you to some friends in a bit."
Wang Meng’s mouth was so stuffed with food at that moment that he couldn’t even speak clearly.
Ji Rushan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This guy was really something else. Who actually comes to these things to eat? He was a member of the Star Alliance, after all.
Just then, another person appeared at the entrance. His gaze swept across the room like a blade, his arrogance carrying the air of someone who believed himself to be the sole sovereign under heaven.
"Crown Prince Wanli, Ji Wanli. The man is incredibly arrogant and looks down on everyone except the Saintess. However, his Golden-Winged Roc Holy Statue can control the Law of Speed, which makes him extremely formidable."
Ji Rushan said, raising his wine glass.
Ji Wanli scanned the crowd as if no one else was there and walked directly to the center. In this circle, people chose their positions based on status. The strongest were in the center, the next tier formed an outer ring, and as for the Quasi-Star Alliance members, they all consciously kept to the corners.
Wang Meng was a true member, but who could blame him when all the food was arranged along the sides?
"This dude walks with his toes pointed out," Wang Meng mumbled indistinctly.
Ji Rushan couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat... "Ahem, brother, words can bring disaster. Be careful, be careful."
After Ji Wanli’s arrival, with the exception of the Saintess and Mingren, the other six "Emperors" had all made their grand entrances.
Spirit Princess Longyue acted very approachable, smiling at everyone and basking in the flattery of a group of men as if in a spring breeze. Master Wang’s evaluation: drama queen.
Tiger Crown Prince Zou Chuang was full of killing intent, which he couldn’t hide even at an occasion like this. It was said that the Silent Extinction White Tiger Body was inherently focused on slaughter.
Ghost Crown Prince Wu Wang was sinister and gloomy. He looked at people as if they were objects, seeming even less alive than Zou Chuang. It was rumored that one who cultivated the Night Parade of Hundred Demons Holy Statue to its peak could become one of the Living Dead, achieving eternal life.
Ji Rushan didn’t stay to chat with Wang Meng, but went to find his own circle. In truth, he also sensed that Wang Meng was bound to run into trouble this time.
After all, so many others had failed to become official members, yet he had succeeded without even having a Holy Statue.
"You’re Wang Meng?"
Master Wang was happily eating when a Cultivator with a small mustache came up to him.
The man with the mustache smiled slightly. "My name is Li Mu, from the Treasure Artifact Sect."
The Treasure Artifact Sect was ranked tenth in the Star Alliance.
"Hello. I’m Wang Meng, a Holy Hall Disciple."
Wang Meng quickly freed up a hand. Making friends was always a good thing.
"Brother, you’re quite famous now, but you should be careful. I heard your promotion offended some people. Ji Wanli’s junior brother was supposed to become a Star Alliance member this time around."
Li Mu winked, acting as if he knew Wang Meng, or at least appearing very friendly.
Wang Meng shrugged. When someone benefits, someone else is bound to lose out. It all came down to skill, so he didn’t take it to heart.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and lively conversation, a pair of eyes was staring daggers at Wang Meng, as if wanting to swallow him whole.
Master Wang had already gathered a pile of food and was feasting happily with Ma Tian’Er and Linglong.
Basically everyone here had an air of arrogance. Wang Meng couldn’t be bothered to offer a warm face only to be met with a cold shoulder. In any case, the three of them were having a great time eating.
"Everyone, everyone, please be quiet for a moment. I have something to say."
Ji Wanli pressed his hands down in the air, and his voice was extremely resonant. The hall quickly fell silent.
"Today is our customary gathering, but we also have a special matter to discuss. Our Star Alliance has two new members. I believe you all know about one of them—the Holy Light Demon Collapse Body, one of the Ten Great Sacred Bodies, has appeared. He is not here today. But the other, Wang Meng, who is just as famous as the owner of the Holy Light Demon Collapse Body, is here. And they both come from the same Sect!"
Ji Wanli’s voice was loud, and he was praising Wang Meng to an excessive degree.
Ling Fei frowned unconsciously. ’Ji Wanli is up to no good.’
Following his gaze, everyone turned to look at the three people in the corner who were busy stuffing their faces.
Wang Meng and Ma Tian’Er had no choice but to stop and nod in acknowledgment. Linglong, however, acted as if nothing was happening, completely unbothered by the stares. "Wang Meng, this meat isn’t good!"
"You’re supposed to eat the skin on that one."
Wang Meng said, surrounded by astonished gazes that seemed to ask, ’What kind of people are these?’
"Congratulations on your promotion, Brother Wang. However, I believe everyone here, myself included, has a question. What exactly has Brother Wang cultivated that would make the Star Alliance promote you so exceptionally? I wonder if Brother Wang would enlighten us?"
Ji Wanli said with a smile.
"I have a Five Elements Body. As for why the Star Alliance chose me... I guess it’s because I’m a good person."
Wang Meng told a joke. It fell flat, but a lot of people laughed—mostly in mockery.
"My junior brother greatly admires you, Brother Wang. During our gatherings, we occasionally have a friendly ’literary’ competition to liven things up. I wonder if Brother Wang would grant us the honor?"
Ji Wanli said.
A young man stepped out from beside Ji Wanli, glaring at Wang Meng as if he wanted to eat him alive. His entry into the Star Alliance this time was supposed to have been a sure thing, but then this ’Cheng Yaojin’ had appeared out of nowhere and taken his spot. And the rumor was, it was on the strong recommendation of a core member of the Star Alliance.
"Wang Meng, if you’ve got the guts, come out and compete!"
All eyes were on Wang Meng. He put down his food and stood up. "No problem. I quite enjoy a good spar myself. I wonder, what are the rules of this competition?"
’When you arrive at a new place, you always have to make a statement. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to settle in.’
"My junior brother cultivates a Life Artifact—the Heart Bewitching Lock. You just have to let him lock you with it once."
Ji Wanli said without a change in expression.
Wang Meng cursed inwardly. ’What a clever scheme. Just stand still and let a Life Artifact attack me? I have to hand it to him for coming up with that.’
"Fine by me. I was just thinking I’d like to test it out."
"Junior Brother, make sure you learn from this experience!" Ji Wanli said, patting his junior brother Zhao Yong’s shoulder.
A cold sneer appeared on Zhao Yong’s face. "Please, enlighten me!"
He pulled his hands apart, and with a flash of light, a fist-sized red lock appeared. The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
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