# Chapter 1938: The Human Imperial Palace
"They are nothing but rising stars of later generations. What could be so formidable about them?" At that moment, a voice broke the calm of the tavern, startling the crowd. Their gazes turned toward the speaker, who was surprisingly young—only about seventeen or eighteen years old. Yet he possessed an elegant, refined bearing, with an extraordinary temperament, slowly savoring fine wine.
"Young man, your cultivation hasn't even reached Martial Emperor—only the Venerable Lord realm—yet you dare speak of the figures on the Emperor's List in such a manner. That is rather presumptuous." At this moment, a middle-aged man spoke with disdain, offering a lesson. Chu Chunqiu, Lin Feng, and the others were all at their peak, their strength incomparably formidable. For this mere youth to speak thus seemed like reaching for the clouds.
"You only know the present, but you've forgotten the heroes of the Emperor's List who once ruled the Holy City Province. Think back to those days—Feng Shentian, the Wind God, whose single sword startled heaven and earth, slaying geniuses of the ancient clans before drifting away with grace and elegance. And Pei Donglai, the Purple Qi Coming from the East, whose dharma power was vast as the heavens. Which of them doesn't possess more glorious battle records than the ones you speak of?" The youth said contemptuously, causing the crowd's expressions to tighten.
Feng Shentian, Pei Donglai, and others had indeed once dominated the Emperor's List, shaking the Holy City Province with their might. However, they had now all stepped into the Great Emperor realm. Moreover, both of the figures the youth mentioned had entered the same place—the Human Imperial Palace. The Human Imperial Palace was undoubtedly a super-terrifying power. The rankings of the Emperor's List were decided by the Human Imperial Palace, and the debates of the Emperor's List were also initiated by them.
"Each generation produces its own talents. Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai naturally once commanded the winds and clouds, but they have now reached another level and cannot be judged by the same standards. Besides, with the strength of Chu Chunqiu and Lin Feng, who can say they are inferior to the Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai of old? Two generations of figures cannot be compared across time." Someone spoke slowly, sighing with melancholy. If there were truly a collision across time, it would be a grand era. For such a collision to happen now, these rising stars would have to catch up to their predecessors.
"Hmph, in my view, anyone from the Human Imperial Palace is superior to the ones you speak of. People are forgetful, always seeing what's before their eyes and forgetting the glorious figures of the past." The youth said coldly.
As they were speaking, a young woman walked over with light, graceful steps. This maiden wore a silver-white long dress, full of vitality and charm. The silver dress seemed to refract dazzling light, perfectly accentuating her figure. Her face was also very beautiful.
"Silver Moon, young miss." Lin Wushang saw this young woman appear and couldn't help but reveal a smile. The Silver Moon young miss also looked in their direction, nodding lightly at Lin Wushang, which made him bloom like a flower.
Lin Feng, sitting beside him, glanced at his younger brother. Matters of the heart—Wushang was at the age of twenty, in the prime of youth, full of vigor and spirit. Meeting a good girl, it was natural for his heart to be moved.
"This guy runs out every day—it's all because of this girl, isn't it?" Lin Feng transmitted his voice to Xiao Ya, who responded with a playful smile at Lin Feng.
"Every generation has its own outstanding figures. Because they belong to different eras, comparison is difficult. Saying that Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai are more formidable than the heroes of the past clearly shows your bias. You're from the Human Imperial Palace, aren't you?" The young woman looked at the eloquent youth and said with a light smile.
"The little princess of the Silver Clan has keen insight. I am Pei Dongqing of the Human Imperial Palace." The youth said with a smile, standing up and gesturing toward the approaching young woman, indicating, "Little princess, please take a seat."
"So you're the nephew of Pei Donglai of the Pei family. Pei Donglai is your uncle—no wonder you speak for him."
"Princess, you are mistaken. I am merely speaking the truth. It has nothing to do with Pei Donglai being my uncle." Pei Dongqing said with a laugh.
"Still, you can't avoid the suspicion of self-praise." The Silver Clan young woman smiled, but instead of going to sit with Pei Dongqing, she came to Lin Feng's table. She blinked at Lin Wushang and said with a smile, "Silly boy, you actually came."
"Hehe." Lin Wushang scratched his head, suddenly looking quite simple and foolish. Even Lin Feng, sitting beside him, was dumbfounded and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Heroes have a hard time with the beauty's pass. Facing the one he loved, this little guy Wushang had clearly lost his composure, lacking his usual calmness.
"Aren't you going to ask her to sit down?" Xiao Ya glared at Wushang. This guy was too dense—the little princess was still standing there.
"Silver Moon, please sit." Lin Wushang pointed to an empty seat and said to Silver Moon with a smile. Silver Moon playfully glared at Lin Wushang, then slowly sat down, smiling, "Your injuries are fine now, right?"
"Of course they're fine. I have thick skin." Lin Wushang said with a silly grin, not daring to meet Silver Moon's eyes.
"Your face is pretty thick too," Xiao Ya muttered under her breath. This guy was too hopeless. He was supposed to be the little demon king who followed her around, but the moment he saw Silver Moon, he immediately cowered.
"You were injured?" Lin Feng looked at Lin Wushang.
"Just a minor injury, nothing serious." Lin Wushang replied. Lin Feng then turned his gaze to Xiao Ya, who transmitted to him: "Last time at this tavern, Wushang pulled off a scene of a hero saving a beauty."
Hearing Xiao Ya's words, Lin Feng understood. No wonder Silver Moon's attitude toward Lin Wushang was different—there was this connection. But this little guy was reckless. Silver Moon was the little princess of the Silver Clan—she hardly needed him to play the hero. Lin Feng had naturally heard of the reputations of the Human Imperial Palace and the Silver Clan; they were both formidable powers in the Holy City Province.
This little guy had taken a liking to the little princess of the Silver Clan—the pressure was considerable. Of course, Lin Feng wouldn't stop Lin Wushang from doing anything he wanted. Lin Wushang's life was his own to control. Lin Feng was at most a guide, helping Wushang avoid some detours.
"Lin Wushang, aren't you going to introduce me?" Silver Moon said to Lin Wushang with a smile.
"You already know Sister Xiao Ya. This is my big brother and my sister-in-law." Lin Wushang pointed to Lin Feng and Meng Qing, who were sitting together.
"Your sister-in-law is as beautiful as a fairy. Your big brother must be no ordinary person either." Silver Moon glanced at Lin Feng. Her beautiful eyes seemed to carry a trace of silver light, exceptionally bright and dazzling.
"Of course—he's definitely no worse than that Feng Shentian or Pei Donglai." Lin Wushang said proudly. Earlier, when Pei Dongqing was boasting that Lin Feng's generation was inferior to Pei Donglai, he had been very unhappy. He had grown up hearing the legendary stories of Lin Feng. In his heart, Lin Feng's image was always towering and lofty, not to be slandered by others.
Pei Dongqing, sitting nearby, frowned slightly. He had invited Silver Moon to sit with him, but she had not given him face, instead going to sit at Lin Wushang's table. This undoubtedly made him feel displeased. He was a member of the Human Imperial Palace. What was Lin Wushang? Even more ridiculous was that he dared to say his big brother could compare to Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai.
"A brat with a yellow mouth, knowing neither heaven nor earth's height." Pei Dongqing said coldly, taking a sip of wine before continuing: "Perhaps you've never even come into contact with figures at the level of Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai. You're just a pitiful frog at the bottom of a well."
Although Pei Dongqing's words were arrogant, most people in the tavern agreed with him inwardly. After all, Lin Feng's cultivation realm was only that of a mid-rank Emperor, while Feng Shentian and Pei Donglai had dominated the Emperor's List years ago and had now all stepped into the Great Emperor realm, entering the Human Imperial Palace. Their strength and talent were unparalleled—how could they be compared to a mere Emperor?
"You're not much better yourself. Your realm is the same as mine, yet you dare to discuss the figures of the Emperor's List. You're just borrowing the reputation of your elders." Lin Wushang retorted without courtesy. He was someone who feared nothing, only feeling nervous in front of Silver Moon. Who did this Pei Dongqing think he was? Not only did he mock Lin Feng, but now he was also belittling him.
Hearing Lin Wushang's words, Pei Dongqing laughed, his gaze carrying a hint of coldness. He stood up and looked toward Lin Wushang, sneering, "I'd like to ask, which ancient clan are you from, to dare boast so boldly?"
"Do I need to tell you?" Lin Wushang said disdainfully. Pei Dongqing looked down on him, and he felt the same way, regarding the other as worthless. Who was he to demand an answer?
"Or perhaps you're too ashamed to say it." Pei Dongqing taunted.
"Judging people by their status—Pei Donglai may be impressive, but his nephew doesn't seem to amount to much." At this moment, from the edge of the tavern, someone spoke while drinking, causing Pei Dongqing's expression to turn cold as he looked in that direction. There sat a very clean-looking middle-aged man, giving off an ethereal, intangible feeling, like floating light or drifting clouds. Behind his clean figure was strapped an ancient sword.
"Who are you?" Pei Dongqing's eyes sharpened as he asked coldly.
The middle-aged man slowly set down his wine cup, turned his gaze, and looked at Pei Dongqing. In an instant, Pei Dongqing felt a sharp pain in his eyes and couldn't help but lower his head, his heart quite unsettled. Then the middle-aged man slowly stood up and walked over, his entire being exuding an ethereal aura.
"Flowing Cloud Great Emperor, the former Flowing Cloud Sword Emperor." The crowd's pupils contracted as they recognized him, their hearts startled.
"Flowing Cloud Great Emperor." Pei Dongqing's gaze froze, and he raised his head again to look at the other, his expression cold. However, the man didn't even glance at him. Instead, he walked to Lin Feng's table and said to Lin Feng with a smile, "May I sit here?"
Pei Dongqing turned his head and saw this scene. His expression grew even colder. He snorted, then stepped forward and said, "The mountains don't turn, but the waters do. Farewell."
With that, Pei Dongqing strode away, startling the crowd in the tavern. Their gazes, however, all turned to Lin Feng. Flowing Cloud Great Emperor had taken the initiative to approach him—this man was certainly no ordinary person!