Chapter 65: A Shocking Battle in the City (Part 1)

As Yun Che and Xia Yuanba entered the main hall, they ran into Murong Ye. He glanced at them dismissively and said impolitely, "What are you two doing here? Do you even know what kind of banquet this is? Get out!"

"Elder Sikong allowed us to come," Xia Yuanba said, suppressing his anger.

"Elder Sikong? He allowed *you*?" Murong Ye scoffed with disdain. "To make a spectacle of yourselves? This isn't some ordinary banquet; there will be sparring matches with disciples from various sects later. What are two nobodies like you doing here? Hmph, never mind. Since Elder Sikong allowed it, go on in. Just behave yourselves later. If you embarrass our New Moon Profound Palace, don't blame me for being harsh on you."

Having followed Lan Xueruo around all afternoon, enduring her gentle voice and constant smile without her ever looking him directly in the eye, Murong Ye was brimming with frustration. Meeting Yun Che and Xia Yuanba now gave him a convenient outlet to vent his anger.

Even with Xia Yuanba's good nature, being verbally accosted for no reason infuriated him. However, Yun Che pulled his arm and calmly said, "Let's go in."

Upon entering the main hall, they saw Sikong Han waving them over, and he had them sit in their assigned seats. Their seats were in the back row, the least conspicuous spot… However, despite the inconspicuous location, Xia Yuanba's impressive height and build made it difficult for him to go unnoticed.

"Yun Che, Yuanba, if there are any sparring matches later, just watch carefully. It would be great if you could learn something. You two haven't been in the Profound Palace long, so no one should challenge you. Just sit back and observe," Sikong Han advised.

"Understood, Elder Sikong," Xia Yuanba nodded, then settled down obediently.

Yun Che also nodded slowly. He scanned his surroundings and saw about thirty Profound Palace disciples present. These were undoubtedly the most elite disciples from the Profound Palace, chosen from three thousand. Each one was undeniably one in a hundred. Soon, Yun Che spotted Lan Xueruo, prominently seated in the center of the first row of the disciple seats. This position came as no surprise to Yun Che. An eighteen-year-old girl at the eighth level of the Nascent Profound Realm would be considered top-tier talent, even in mid-to-upper-tier sects.

Yun Che also drew the attention of many Profound Palace disciples. Those attending this banquet were the top-tier disciples, highly competitive and familiar with each other. Xia Yuanba's presence surprised them because his profound strength was only at the sixth level of the Elementary Profound Realm, placing him in the lower ranks of the Profound Palace and making him unsuitable for this event. As for Yun Che, who arrived with him, he was a complete stranger.

"Oh? Are you a new junior brother? I don't think I've seen you before," a girl in a fiery red dress, seated in front of Yun Che, turned around and asked with curious, blinking eyes.

"Hello, senior sister. My name is Yun Che. I just entered the Profound Palace today," Yun Che nodded slightly, revealing a captivating smile.

The girl felt an immediate jolt, her cheeks flushing slightly. She then gasped, "Wow! You look so young, yet you're already in the Nascent Profound Realm! No wonder you were allowed to attend this banquet on your very first day in the Profound Palace."

"Of course! He's my brother-in-law, so he's naturally amazing!" Xia Yuanba boasted, his face beaming with pride as if hearing praise for Yun Che made him happier than being praised himself.

"Ah? Brother-in-law? You're already... married?" The girl's pink lips parted, and a clear hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes.

Suppressing the urge to strangle Xia Yuanba, Yun Che calmly replied, "Yes. Senior sister is so beautiful, you must be married too, right?"

"I'm not getting married that early! By the way, I'm Ye Hongling, from Class 1 of the Profound Palace, seventeen years old. If you ever have any trouble, I've got your back!" the girl declared, full of camaraderie.

"...Thank you, senior sister."

Realizing he might have made a mistake, Xia Yuanba hung his head low, not daring to speak to Yun Che for a long time.

At that moment, the guest of honor, Qin Wuyou, the newly appointed Palace Chief of the New Moon Profound Palace, finally arrived. Qin Wuyou appeared to be in his sixties, with a calm and serene expression, clear and wise eyes, and an aura of transcendence. Qin Wuyou was originally one of the elders of the Azure Wind Profound Palace in the Imperial City and had been specially appointed to New Moon City as the Palace Chief, his strength unfathomable.

Qin Wuyou had arrived at the New Moon Profound Palace a month prior, but today marked the formal banquet celebrating his appointment. In just a month, he had already deeply impressed and earned the widespread respect of the elders and disciples. After he took his seat at the head table, representatives from the major sects arrived in quick succession, as if on cue.

"Hahahaha, Tie Zhancang of the Iron Spear Sect, with my son Hengjun, specially came to congratulate Palace Chief Qin on his new appointment."

With a hearty laugh, a middle-aged man strode in, accompanied by seven disciples.

"This is the current sect master of the Iron Spear Sect," Xia Yuanba whispered to Yun Che. "The one following him is his youngest son, Tie Hengjun. Although very young, his talent is astonishing. Rumor has it that if nothing unexpected happens, he will be the top candidate for the next sect master of the Iron Spear Sect."

"Palace Chief Qin, it's been a while. I was deeply impressed by your demeanor when we met by chance half a month ago. Today, I specifically brought my humble son here… a small token of my respect, insignificant as it may be."

Qin Wuyou personally rose to greet him and accepted the gift. "Sect Master Tie, you are too kind. Your personal presence alone is a great honor for me. There was no need for a gift. Your son's talent is astounding, and his bearing is extraordinary. He is sure to become a dragon among men in the future, perhaps even surpassing his father, hahaha… Please, take your seats."

"Yuanba, this seems almost too harmonious. There's no sign of rivalry at all," Yun Che commented, stroking his chin.

"Uh… well, the Iron Spear Sect has always had a good reputation. Although their overall strength surpasses our Profound Palace, their relationship with us is quite good. But the others…"

As Xia Yuanba was speaking, the people from the Cloudy Sun Sect arrived.

"Yan Zizai, Chief Elder of the Cloudy Sun Sect, specially came to congratulate Palace Chief Qin on his new appointment."

After the Cloudy Sun Sect, representatives from the Mysterious Heart Sect, Seven Kill Sword Pavilion, and Wind Cloud Profound Palace also arrived, each bringing seven or eight disciples. Qin Wuyou personally descended to greet them all. It wasn't until the banquet was about to formally begin that the Burning Heaven Clan finally arrived.

"Fen Hanyan, Sixth Elder of the Burning Heaven Clan, congratulates Palace Chief Qin on his new appointment."

The Burning Heaven Clan… or more precisely, their outer branch in New Moon City. Leading them was an elder in a full red robe, embroidered with crimson flame patterns. As he stepped into the main hall, everyone distinctly felt a wave of warmth wash over their faces.

After the Burning Heaven Clan's outer branch, the Xiao Sect's branch was the last to arrive. The leader was a young man who looked only sixteen or seventeen! Behind him, he brought only one middle-aged man in his early forties and six young disciples under twenty.

"Junior Xiao Luocheng of the Xiao Sect greets Palace Chief Qin." Upon entering the main hall, the young man bowed to Qin Wuyou with the deference of a junior, his demeanor calm and refined, neither humble nor arrogant… However, for a junior to come and offer congratulations to the Chief of an Imperial Profound Palace, such an unyielding bearing already conveyed a sense of pride.

"It's Xiao Luocheng!!" Xia Yuanba suddenly whispered, then quickly spoke into Yun Che's ear, "I can't believe he actually came! I heard his name several times on my first day in New Moon City. He's the same age as you, brother-in-law, only sixteen, but he's already the Young Sect Master of the Xiao Sect's branch and is widely recognized as the number one among the younger generation in New Moon City!"

"Number one?" Yun Che immediately took a closer look at Xiao Luocheng. He indeed appeared very young, yet his demeanor was remarkably mature, his brows and eyes filled with undisguised nobility and arrogance. The gazes directed at him were also varied… some with awe, some with admiration, some with envy and jealousy, and some with a sense of inferiority.

"Yes, when it comes to talent, he's undeniably number one! He's only sixteen, but he's already at the tenth level of the Nascent Profound Realm! I heard he's not far from breaking through to the True Profound Realm. Brother-in-law, can you believe that?"

Sixteen… Nascent Profound Realm, tenth level!?

A flicker of emotion crossed Yun Che's face. He instinctively looked at Lan Xueruo and saw that her pretty face was indeed covered in a deep solemnity.

"Heh heh, Xiao Luocheng? Your name has truly preceded you, young man. I never expected to meet the number one among New Moon City's younger generation today. Did your esteemed father not come?" Qin Wuyou said with a chuckle.

"Palace Chief Qin, you flatter me. Although my father greatly wished to personally congratulate you on your new appointment, he is currently indisposed and unable to attend. Thus, I, a junior, have come in his stead. I hope Palace Chief Qin does not take offense," Xiao Luocheng replied with a polite smile.

Qin Wuyou was the head of the New Moon Profound Palace, and his inauguration banquet should ideally have been attended by the heads of the major sects themselves to show sufficient respect; at the very least, their chief elders should have been present. Among the seven major sects, the Iron Spear Sect, Seven Kill Sword Pavilion, and Wind Cloud Profound Palace had their sect masters personally attend, while the Mysterious Heart Sect and Cloudy Sun Sect sent their chief elders. Although the Burning Heaven Clan's outer branch was presumptuous, at least their Sixth Elder came.

Yet, the Xiao Sect's outer branch was led by a junior!

Although Xiao Luocheng was polite, anyone who wasn't a fool or blind could see that this was a blatant display of disrespect.

"Hahahaha," Qin Wuyou chuckled heartily, appearing completely unbothered. "Young Sect Master Xiao, what nonsense. I've heard much of your impressive bearing for days, and meeting you today fulfills a long-held wish; I'm delighted beyond words. Esteemed guests from the Xiao Sect, please take your seats."

At this point, all invited guests had arrived. The Xiao Sect's branch and the Burning Heaven Clan's outer branch naturally occupied the two most distinguished seats, followed by the five major sects. After them came the seat of New Moon City Lord Murong Hang, who showed no dissatisfaction with this seating arrangement. While the Murong family wielded great influence in New Moon City, that power was primarily directed at commoners and smaller sects. In the presence of the seven major sects, even as City Lord, he had to behave humbly and dare not cause any offense.

As for the invited mid-sized sects, they were all trembling with apprehension. They rarely had the chance to witness an gathering of all seven major sects, and they certainly couldn't afford to offend any of them.