# Chapter 469: Moonlit Beauty
Within the Imperial Palace, at Wuyashan Mountain, the waterfall continued to flow as always. However, on this usually tranquil Wuyashan Mountain, occasional sounds could now be heard.
The sky had already darkened. The Imperial Palace was brightly lit with lanterns, but Wuyashan Mountain had no lights—only the pure moonlight cascading down, reflecting off the waterfall's surface and refracting strands of white luster. Combined with the silver-smooth, polished surface of Wuyashan's cliff face, the entire mountain appeared exceptionally bright, carrying a uniquely ethereal beauty.
Lin Feng and Duan Xinye arrived together at the foot of Wuyashan Mountain. Rows of silver-armored soldiers stood on either side, guarding the area. This was very rare at Wuyashan Mountain, clearly indicating that Duan Wuya had arranged for guards here to ensure the banquet would not be casually disturbed.
Seeing Duan Xinye approach, these guards naturally did not dare to block her and directly let her pass. Occasionally, the gazes they cast toward Lin Feng carried a hint of sharpness.
Although there was no one in the Imperial City who did not recognize Lin Feng's name, only those who had been by the Xiangjiang Lake that day had actually seen Lin Feng with their own eyes. These soldiers guarded the Imperial City and naturally could not have gone to Xiangjiang Lake that day, so they did not recognize Lin Feng in person. Seeing him so intimate with the princess, how could these people not feel surprise and jealousy?
The princess was a precious daughter of the empire, born so beautiful. Countless noble sons of the Imperial Palace had pursued her but were all rejected. This young man they had never seen before was clearly not from a noble family of the Imperial Palace, yet he had won the princess's favor. Who knew what kind of luck that was.
Walking on the sloping path, Lin Feng seemed to feel the sharp gazes of those behind him. He smiled bitterly and said, "Xinye, do you think that after tonight, I will have offended all the noble sons of the Imperial City?"
"You've already offended quite a few people anyway; a few more won't make a difference." Duan Xinye said with a charming laugh. Every person Lin Feng had offended was someone of high status in Snow Moon—the Yu Family, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and others—each one the most powerful force in all of Snow Moon. If they could not do anything to Lin Feng, then others naturally could not either. Therefore, offending a few more people made no difference to Lin Feng at all.
Lin Feng also understood Duan Xinye's implication and could not help but smile bitterly repeatedly. The people he had offended were indeed too many, but all were forced upon him. If a person wants to climb the path of the strong, there will inevitably be thorns blocking the way forward. These are all unavoidable. If you let the thorns entangle you, you will die. To climb, you must cut through the thorns.
"For you, it's all worth it."
Lin Feng smiled, causing Duan Xinye's gaze to freeze. Moonlight poured down upon her, making her even more beautiful, like a fairy maiden in the moon.
Before the temporary palace on Wuyashan Mountain, there was a huge martial arts training ground. Standing there under the moonlight, looking up, one would feel as if they could pluck the stars. Standing at the edge and looking down, one would involuntarily feel the heroic spirit of looking down upon all others.
Between the training ground and the temporary palace, there was a Star-Gazing Pavilion. At this moment, many figures were already seated on the ground of the Star-Gazing Pavilion. Before each person, fine wine and delicacies had been arranged.
However, there were still some empty seats, as if some people had not yet arrived. The crowd had not yet begun to taste the wine, occasionally chatting about irrelevant topics.
Duan Wuya was not seated in the main seat but below it. Below him sat the people from the Snow Moon side.
Across from Duan Wuya and the others from Snow Moon sat many figures. The seven figures at the very front each had their essence restrained, with not a trace of aura leaking out. But Duan Wuya would not underestimate these people in the slightest.
Seated directly opposite him was the prince of Tian Feng Kingdom, Feng Chen. The other six were six of the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind.
The Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind symbolized the seven strongest young disciples of Tian Feng Kingdom, just like the Eight Young Masters of Snow Moon, except the other side was missing one person.
On the three main seats to Duan Wuya's left sat three people with calm temperaments, carrying a hint of nobility. These three were people from Dragon Mountain Empire. Two were envoys of Dragon Mountain Empire, and the other was an elder of Star Dream Pavilion, invited by the Dragon Mountain Empire envoys to come together to Snow Moon.
Further down from Duan Wuya and the several young masters, as well as the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind, sat people of equally extraordinary status. On the Snow Moon side were nobles and high officials, while opposite were guards of the Dragon Mountain Empire envoys and experts of Star Dream Pavilion.
In short, among the people in this Star-Gazing Pavilion, not one had a simple background.
However, what surprised the crowd somewhat was that beside Duan Wuya, there was an empty seat that had remained unoccupied, seemingly specially prepared for someone.
"Your Highness Wuya, I am very curious. Is the person who made you postpone the banquet several times going to be the one sitting in that seat?"
At this moment, Feng Chen pointed to the seat below Duan Wuya and asked. His voice was calm, but whether there was any deliberate intention to point out that Duan Wuya had postponed the banquet several times was unknown.
"My apologies. This person is quite important to our Snow Moon and may be a candidate for the Snow Domain Grand Competition. Therefore, I had no choice but to act this way. I believe the envoys of the suzerain state can understand Duan Wuya's rude behavior."
Duan Wuya slightly bowed to the Dragon Mountain Empire envoys in the main seats, very politely. He deliberately pointed out that this person might be a candidate for the Snow Domain Grand Competition, clearly to eliminate the envoys' ill feelings toward him. After all, the Snow Domain Grand Competition was also for the sake of Dragon Mountain Empire.
"Then I am even more curious. This young outstanding talent who made the envoys and the senior of Star Dream Pavilion wait for several days—what kind of person is he? And now he is still late."
Feng Chen added in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
"I am also curious. Could it be the head of the Eight Young Masters, your Snow Moon Crown Prince Duan Wudao? But if he were coming, you should not be sitting in that position."
The person below Feng Chen spoke. This person was the Second Envoy of the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind, powerful in strength, eager to see the talents of Snow Moon. He had long heard of Crown Prince Duan Wudao, the head of Snow Moon's Eight Young Masters. Since the First Envoy had not come, he, as the strongest among the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind, naturally wanted to see the strongest talent of Snow Moon.
Duan Wuya heard the sarcasm in the other's voice and said indifferently, "The First Envoy of the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind did not come, so naturally, my imperial brother would not come here either."
Duan Wuya's words caused the Second Envoy's gaze to stiffen. This Duan Wuya spoke sharply. With one simple sentence, he was implying that the Second Envoy was not qualified to warrant Duan Wudao's appearance.
"I also heard that Princess Duan Xinye of Snow Moon Kingdom is as beautiful as a celestial maiden, and she has reached the age for marriage but still has no husband. Your Highness Wuya, which of us seven do you think is most suitable? Do we have the honor of winning the beauty?"
The Seventh Envoy also spoke, causing many noble disciples of Snow Moon opposite to show hostile expressions. These people from Tian Feng Kingdom actually wanted to take their princess away.
"My younger sister already has someone in her heart. If there is an opportunity, I will let my sister meet with all the talented gentlemen." Duan Wuya's voice remained casual, very calm.
At this moment, footsteps sounded in the night. With Duan Wuya's level of cultivation, although the footsteps were subtle, he could hear them clearly. Many eyes involuntarily turned toward the sloping path.
"Brother, who wanted to see me?"
A gentle voice came, and then a graceful figure appeared on the sloping path. Her noble and ethereal temperament, her perfect face without any artificial adornment, caused many among the Seven Envoys of Heavenly Wind to be momentarily stunned. Clearly, they had not expected the princess of Snow Moon Kingdom to be so beautiful.
However, they felt somewhat disappointed to see that beside Duan Xinye, there was a young man, and the two seemed very intimate, leaning close together.
"Lin Feng!"
The people of Snow Moon Kingdom saw Lin Feng and their gazes fixed. Lin Feng had come together with Duan Xinye, and judging by their relationship, it was extraordinary.
Then, the crowd saw Duan Xinye extend her hand, actually linking arms with Lin Feng, her body completely leaning against Lin Feng's, intimate and close, as they walked toward the Star-Gazing Pavilion. Everyone's gazes froze there.
Duan Xinye actually had a relationship with Lin Feng, and clearly, they were lovers.
When had Lin Feng gotten together with Duan Xinye? Wasn't there already a woman as holy as a fairy maiden by Lin Feng's side?
Many people looked at Lin Feng with unfriendly expressions. This fellow seemed to have too much romantic fortune. The women by his side were all so outstanding—Meng Qing was holy like an immortal, and Duan Xinye was a moonlit beauty.