Chapter 825: Engagement Banquet

Today was arguably the most bustling day Phoenix City had ever seen.

The sprawling Divine Phoenix City had been packed to the brim days ago, filled with renowned figures from various fields. Monarchs from all six nations, except the Azure Cloud Nation, personally attended. Leaders of major powers, sects, and overlords were also present. The sheer scale of the event left even long-time residents of Divine Phoenix City, accustomed to grand occasions, utterly astonished.

Furthermore, rumors circulated that even the Four Sacred Masters, figures of mythical renown who presided over the four greatest Sacred Grounds in the world, would personally lead their experts here today.

This was unprecedented in the history of Divine Phoenix.

Without knowing the true circumstances, no one observing Divine Phoenix City today would have guessed that all of this was merely for an engagement ceremony.

Nineteen days prior, Jasmine's appearance and departure from the Seagod Platform in the Supreme Ocean Palace, lasting less than fifteen minutes in total, sent tremors throughout the entire Profound Sky Continent. It caused a drastic change in the Profound Sky Continent's isolation. The Four Sacred Grounds, once revered, instantly became entities that could be effortlessly trampled. Recalling the Heavenly Might Northern Region, which was annihilated from seventy thousand miles away on that day, the Profound Practitioners present still felt as though they hadn't awakened from a dream.

This was the result of absolute power—and a result that only absolute power could achieve.

Even before 9 AM, the already vast Phoenix City was more than half-full, with distinguished guests continuing to arrive. The main hall could accommodate thirty thousand people, and every person granted entry walked with a straight back and confident stride, some even showing signs of being overwhelmed with honor, under the gaze of other guests. Numerous sect masters, highly reputable in their own regions and even ranking among the top in their nations, were relegated to the side halls, yet none felt slighted in the least.

Deputy sect masters and over eighty percent of the other factions could only be seated at banquet tables outside the halls.

“The Supreme Ocean Palace… the Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi, accompanied by the Black Moon Guild Master Zi Ji, the Seven Venerables of the Ocean Palace, Grand Elder Mochun Feng, Second Elder… and the Jade-Faced Demon Lord Ji Qianrou, along with twenty other distinguished guests, have arrived!”

The Phoenix disciple announcing the guests had been shouting for an entire hour, yet his voice remained clear and robust, filled with energy. Combined with his impressive cultivation, his announcements could be heard clearly throughout most of Phoenix City. However, when he proclaimed the Sea Emperor's name, his voice noticeably trembled.

The usually boisterous Phoenix City instantly fell silent, and all eyes converged on the entrance.

The Supreme Ocean Palace had arrived, and indeed, the Sea Emperor himself was present! Accompanying him was Zi Ji, the Black Moon Guild Master, whose status was almost on par with the Sea Emperor's, and who was usually mysterious and rarely seen. Even the Seven Venerables were among the delegation, and the elders they brought were the top ten ranked elders of the Ocean Palace!

This was undoubtedly the Supreme Ocean Palace's most formidable lineup ever!

Ji Qianrou, however, seemed somewhat out of place among them. But those privy to the inner workings understood that Ji Qianrou had apparently saved Yun Che and Feng Xue'er on the Primordial Profound Ark. Thus, whether it was deploying such an extravagant entourage or including Ji Qianrou, all was done to curry favor with Yun Che.

Feng Hengkong strode forward to greet the Supreme Ocean Palace delegation, with Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi and Zi Ji prominently leading the group. He immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying, “I respectfully welcome all distinguished guests from the Ocean Palace! Your personal attendance, Sea Emperor, and Master Zi, fills Hengkong with immense gratitude and trepidation.”

Feng Hengkong's face was flushed with excitement; this was not feigned, but genuine elation. In the past, for major events, if the Ocean Palace sent someone like Ji Qianrou, who wasn't even considered a low-ranking elder, it was already a great honor; he wouldn't have dared to dream of the Sea Emperor attending in person. Yet this time, for a mere engagement ceremony, the Sea Emperor had arrived with over a dozen of the Ocean Palace's most prominent figures.

Though he had been the Divine Phoenix Emperor for a century, Feng Hengkong had never felt his back so straight.

At this moment, he even had a faint feeling that his status was now almost on par with that of a Sacred Master!

And all of this was brought about by Yun Che (and his master)!

“Phoenix Sect Master, you are too kind. For such a joyous occasion, it would be a shame if I did not attend,” Sea Emperor Qu Fengyi said with a faint smile. Although his demeanor was full of imperial bearing, in Phoenix City, he was noticeably more restrained than usual.

“It is truly a joyous and enviable occasion for the Phoenix Sect Master to gain such an excellent son-in-law,” Zi Ji said, chuckling. He then personally presented a jade box. “A small token of our regard, please accept it.”

The jade box itself, made of top-grade Black Bodhi Jade, was priceless and rarely seen in the world, implying that its contents must be extraordinary. Feng Hengkong grew even more excited internally, saying with a smile, “Your personal attendance, esteemed guests of the Ocean Palace, is already the greatest gift… Hengkong thanks you on behalf of my daughter first, Ximing.”

Feng Ximing stepped forward and respectfully received the jade box from Zi Ji, but his gaze was unfocused, as if his mind was elsewhere.

“May I ask if Palace Master Yun is already inside?” Zi Ji asked, seemingly casually.

“Che’er has not arrived yet, but he is already in Divine Phoenix City and will be here naturally when the time is near.”

Referring to Yun Che as “Che’er,” Feng Hengkong instantly felt his backbone stiffen by at least another eighty percent.

“Oh.” Zi Ji nodded slightly, then produced a shimmering purple spatial ring. “Phoenix Sect Master, this is a small gift from our Ocean Palace for Palace Master Yun’s master, to thank her for her forgiveness that day. We believe it will be difficult to meet that senior in person, so we trouble the Phoenix Sect Master to pass it to Palace Master Yun, who will then deliver it to his master.”

Feng Hengkong instinctively took it. “In that case, Hengkong will certainly not fail your trust. Once Che’er arrives, I will immediately have him deliver it to his master. It’s just that…”

“Phoenix Sect Master, please speak freely,” Zi Ji said with a smile.

Feng Hengkong said, “Che’er’s benevolent master possesses power that reaches the heavens and penetrates the earth; I fear there is hardly anything in this world that could catch her eye. Hengkong is truly curious what grand gift your esteemed Ocean Palace has prepared… Could it be that Master Zi already knows what that senior prefers?”

“Hehehe,” Zi Ji chuckled, lowering his voice. “There’s no harm in telling the Phoenix Sect Master about this. This old man recently learned by chance that that senior might have a fondness for crimson Immortal-Retaining Gowns. Therefore, I have spent this period utilizing the power of our merchant guild to search the world for the finest Immortal-Retaining Gowns, hoping to earn a smile from that senior.”

As someone whose status in the Supreme Ocean Palace was almost equal to the Sea Emperor's, he made no attempt to conceal his flattery towards Jasmine in his words—nor was there any need to. And since none of them knew Jasmine's name, they could only refer to her as "that senior."

“I see, thank you, Master Zi, for sharing that,” Feng Hengkong said, taking careful note.

“Please quickly enter and take your seats in the hall; your places are already prepared.” Feng Hengkong personally led Qu Fengyi and the others into the main hall. Everywhere they passed, silence fell over the crowd. Profound practitioners who had never dared to dream of seeing the Sea Emperor in their lifetime stared with wide eyes, not daring to utter a sound or even breathe deeply.

“The Sun Moon Divine Hall Master, Ye Meixie, accompanied by Young Master Ye Xinghan, the Heaven-Equal Divine Envoy, the Blazing Sun Divine Envoy, the Moon-Slaying Divine Envoy, the Star-Chasing Divine Envoy, the Earth-Covering Divine Envoy… a total of twenty distinguished guests, have arrived!”

Shortly after the Supreme Ocean Palace's arrival, another loud announcement drew everyone's attention. The Sun Moon Divine Hall had also arrived, and just like the Supreme Ocean Palace, Heaven Monarch Ye Meixie himself was present, accompanied by five Sun Moon Divine Envoys and the most influential elders.

Initially, Jasmine had left four nightmarish scars on Ye Meixie, tormenting him for a full seventy-two hours, leaving him wishing for death but unable to die. Although he had been free from the nightmare for over ten days, he had noticeably thinned down and his complexion was somewhat sallow, clearly indicating he hadn't fully emerged from the trauma.

To be able to torment a Sacred Master to such an extent in just a few days, one could imagine how terrifying the ordeal must have been.

As a Sacred Master, to preserve his reputation, he should not have appeared in such a state without being fully recovered. However, today, he dared not not come in person and had to greet everyone with a smile, not daring to show even a hint of slight or displeasure.

After Yun Che and Jasmine parted ways, he flew directly towards Phoenix City. As he neared, he suddenly sensed an unusual aura and stopped mid-air, his gaze fixed on a slowly moving dark figure below.

The moment Yun Che looked at him, the dark figure abruptly lifted his head, his gaze instantly reflecting back onto Yun Che's face. He stopped walking, and an ominous aura, like a beast awakening, suddenly surged from his body.

“Fen Juechen? What are you doing here?” Yun Che descended and stood before Fen Juechen, his heart filled with surprise. This was because Fen Juechen's aura was completely different from when he had seen him a dozen days ago; it could be described as an earth-shattering transformation. Standing before him, Yun Che felt an eerie, bone-chilling sensation. While he had felt a similar coldness before, it was now more than ten times stronger!

His eyes had also completely turned black, with no hint of white visible.

“To kill,” Fen Juechen replied coldly, his eyes and voice devoid of life or emotion. On his back, he carried a pitch-black greatsword—it was none other than the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword that Jasmine had given him.

“Who are you going to kill?”

“Xuan Yuan Wentian, first!” Fen Juechen’s voice echoed as if from an abyss, each word distinct.

“Has your devil blood awakened?” Yun Che suddenly asked. Because other than this reason, there was no explanation for Fen Juechen’s abnormal surge in aura. Jasmine had once said that the devil blood within the Everlasting Night Royal Family could be awakened by the devil soul inside the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword, as was the case with Damu Feng. This was also why Fen Juechen had wanted to reclaim the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword!

Jasmine had indeed mentioned that the devil soul within the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword had not been completely annihilated; an extremely faint wisp of it remained. She had been too lazy to erase it and simply tossed the sword to Fen Juechen, even publicly declaring at the time: “With this sword, you might one day gain the ability to kill Xuan Yuan Wentian…”

It appeared that Fen Juechen had, through the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword, achieved his desire!

“Get out of my way!” Fen Juechen said coldly.

“Today is my engagement day with Feng Xue’er, and Xuan Yuan Wentian will indeed be here.” Yun Che said calmly. “If you want to kill him, wait until after the grand banquet; don't spoil Xue’er’s and my mood. Furthermore, while your strength has greatly increased, I don’t believe you can kill Xuan Yuan Wentian. You are too impatient.”

“Before I change my mind and kill you first, get out of my sight!” Fen Juechen roared angrily.

“Hmph, do as you please then.” Yun Che stopped wasting words, launched himself into the air, and then turned back. “I want to kill Xuan Yuan Wentian even more than you do, but if you don’t want all your efforts so far to be in vain, then you will rein yourself in! Hold on until you have absolute certainty!”

“I don’t need you to lecture me, get lost!!” Fen Juechen punched towards the sky, and an icy black aura instantly dimmed the light.

Yun Che used a profound movement technique to instantly vanish, no longer bothering with Fen Juechen, and flew towards Phoenix City. The time for the engagement banquet was already very near.