Chapter 1018: A Lesson
On the island at the center of the Spirit Lake, the Cai family's second young lady, Cai Yunji, walked out and welcomed Fairy Shangguan Xianyan and the older generation experts of the Blood God Sect inside.
The banquet continued. Three hundred young maidservants dressed in White Spider True Silk filed in, presenting a variety of exquisite delicacies. There were not only Half-Saint True Liquid but also Saint Liquid, Saint Monkey Qiong Wine, the meat of sixth-rank Barbarian Beasts, and thousand-year-ripening Zhenxiu Fruits... and so on.
Chu Siyuan, Zhang Ruochen, Xue Sanyi, Zhao Heng, and the others ate quite elegantly. However, the old Daoist, who looked like an immortal, wolfed down the food like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds, quickly devouring most of the delicacies on the lotus platform.
Everyone frowned deeply, strongly suspecting that the old Daoist was just a martial arts rogue freeloader.
Still, since he was already seated on the lotus platform and there was no solid proof he was scamming for food and drink, they held back and tolerated him.
"Eat up! Why aren't you eating?"
"Golden Silk Barbarian Bull meat—such a fine thing! One bite will surely greatly enhance your physique."
"Zhenxiu Fruits only ripen once every thousand years. You'd only find them in medieval aristocratic clans; elsewhere, where could you eat them? If you're not eating, this old Daoist won't stand on ceremony!"
...
The old Daoist was utterly shameless. There were only nine Zhenxiu Fruits on the lotus platform, and he had already eaten four by himself. Then, he grabbed a fifth.
From the island at the center of the Spirit Lake, a group of cultivators in splendid robes emerged. Their eyes swept across the lake's surface before settling on Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan.
The leader was a man wearing a Purple Gold Colored Glaze Armor. He had a tall, straight figure, a nose like a hanging gallbladder, and a shadow of gloom flickering in his eyes as he strode over.
This man was named Guo Lu, a commander of the Azure Dragon Army, holding the title of Lower-Rank Domain King.
Earlier, at the banquet in the central area, Chi Yutang had "casually" mentioned his encounter outside the main gate. Immediately, a group rushed out, ready to stand up for the Chi Heir.
After all, opportunities to curry favor with the Chi Heir were rare. Seizing one might lead to future glory and advancement.
"Was it you two who offended the Chi Heir outside the gate earlier?"
Guo Lu stood outside the lotus platform, his armor radiating dazzling light. His tiger-like eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen.
Because Chi Yutang had mentioned that the young man in the golden mask was a Spiritual Power Half-Saint with formidable strength.
Thus, Guo Lu and the others focused their attention on Zhang Ruochen.
"Indeed, two harbingers of misfortune."
Xue Sanyi immediately lowered his head and let out a long sigh.
Xue Sanyi naturally knew who Guo Lu was—one of the ten great commanders of the Azure Dragon Army, responsible for order in the seven city districts of Saint Ming City, commanding hundreds of thousands of elite troops.
Any cultivator daring to cause trouble in Saint Ming City, no matter their cultivation level or status, had to bow their head before the Azure Dragon Army.
Just this year alone, four Half-Saints and over a hundred Fish-Dragon Realm cultivators had died under Guo Lu's palm. Among them were remnants of the previous dynasty, as well as fearsome villains from the demonic and evil paths.
Those remnants of the previous dynasty hated Guo Lu to the bone. They had plotted multiple assassinations against him, all of which failed, costing them dearly instead.
From this, one could see just how powerful Guo Lu was.
He was undoubtedly a peak existence below the Saint Realm. As long as no Saint made a move, he could sweep away all enemies in the entire cultivation world.
Of course, if a Saint among the previous dynasty's remnants appeared in Saint Ming City, it would be like walking into a trap—they would die a miserable death.
With Lingxiao Heavenly King stationed in Saint Ming City, who would dare come to die?
Apart from Guo Lu, the others were heirs of Saintly clans attached to the Lingxiao Heavenly King's mansion. Their strength was considerable, and they would one day become rulers of their own clans.
Faced with such a formidable group, Xue Sanyi, Zhao Heng, and the others all changed expression and quickly stepped back, standing at a distance.
On the lotus platform, only Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan remained seated.
Besides them, the old Daoist was still eating and drinking wildly, even stuffing things into his bosom, completely oblivious to the looming crisis.
Zhang Ruochen held a Zhenxiu Fruit, his eyes sweeping across the lake's surface. He didn't spot Cai Jin and wondered where that head steward had gone.
Oh well, since the head steward wasn't around, he would have to deal with the trouble himself.
*Crunch!*
Zhang Ruochen bit into the Zhenxiu Fruit with utter disregard, saying, "If you people retreat now, it's not too late. Out of respect for today being the Cai family's banquet, I'll let you off."
The surrounding cultivators all whispered among themselves, finding the man in the golden mask too arrogant. Facing Guo Lu and a group of heirs from Saintly clans, he dared to speak such big talk.
To Guo Lu's right, a prodigy from the Yuansheng Clan laughed loudly, "The Chi Heir was right—you are indeed arrogant. But even if you have some skill, shouldn't you first assess the situation?"
"What situation?" Zhang Ruochen countered, then added, "Today is the Cai family's banquet. Do you dare to make a move?"
As he said this, Zhang Ruochen deliberately raised his voice, letting it carry to the central island so the Cai family's core members could hear.
Yet, those core members of the Cai family gave no response, tacitly approving Guo Lu and the others' actions.
Zhang Ruochen revealed a mocking smile and glanced at Chu Siyuan, saying, "Is this what you call the young elites, the hope of humanity? The ones I should learn from? If I'm not mistaken, your new Second Place disciple grandson should be on that central island. Yet he lets outsiders bully us without stepping in to stop them."
Chu Siyuan's face was cold and stern. With a *bang*, he slapped the table and transmitted his voice, "These juniors truly need a lesson—no manners at all. I wonder how their elders teach them? Zhang Ruochen, teach them a lesson for me. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
That prodigy from the Yuansheng Clan glared at Chu Siyuan and snorted, "Old man, why are you slapping the table? Not happy? Today, I, Yuan Zhi, will teach you how to keep a low profile and make you understand that some people are not to be trifled with."
Yuan Zhi strode forward, charging at Chu Siyuan. A golden-glowing hand reached for Chu Siyuan's left shoulder, intending to lift him up and throw him out of the Cai family's Saint Mansion.
Yuan Zhi's cultivation was not low. Even though he deliberately suppressed his power, he still emitted a strong fluctuation of Saint Qi.
*Sizzle!*
A massive golden beast claw manifested from the surface of his arm.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile. He didn't stand up but simply waved his finger, drawing it forward.
Crackling thunder sounds rang out continuously. A purple electric blade condensed out of thin air, flew out, pierced through the golden beast claw, and struck Yuan Zhi.
*Pfft!*
Yuan Zhi flew backward, blood spewing from his mouth as he crashed onto the lotus seed pod of a lotus platform, knocking over various precious foods.
A shocking black wound was left on his chest, and his belly was nearly split open.
Electric patterns still flowed over the wound, emitting a sizzling sound.
Zhang Ruochen said lightly, "Considering your youth and ignorance, I'll spare your life. Next time, you might not be so lucky."
Earlier, Yuan Zhi had only intended to capture Chu Siyuan, not kill him.
Though annoying, it wasn't a capital offense. A minor punishment as a warning was sufficient.
"This guy is really arrogant!"
"With just one strike, he severely wounded Yuan Zhi. This man's strength cannot be underestimated."
...
Clearly, Zhang Ruochen's earlier strike had caused quite a stir. At the very least, it proved he wasn't a weakling to be easily manipulated.
"A single electric blade can severely wound Yuan Zhi. Your Spiritual Power must have reached the forty-seventh rank, right?"
A blue-robed Confucian scholar stepped forward, holding an ancient book in his hand, giving off a refined and gentle aura.
However, he was no ordinary man. Ripples of Spiritual Power emanated from his brow, covering the entire Spirit Lake.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at him and said, "A student of the Confucian path dares to meddle?"
The blue-robed scholar smiled faintly, "I am Jun Wuyi of the Tianxuan Academy. I merely wish to test my skills against a Spiritual Power expert. I have no other intentions."
"Young man, I advise you not to bring trouble upon yourself, lest you ruin your future." Zhang Ruochen spoke earnestly.
Jun Wuyi's expression was somewhat disdainful. "With your level of Spiritual Power, you could have had a promising future. Unfortunately, offending the Chi Heir means there will likely be no place for you in the entire Kunlun Realm."
Having given his warning, Zhang Ruochen had no desire to waste more words with Jun Wuyi. He mobilized his Spiritual Power and struck out directly.
Jun Wuyi smiled without any fear. Opening his mouth, he spat out a stream of cyan righteous Qi, which turned into a river of energy surging toward Zhang Ruochen.
Jun Wuyi's Spiritual Power had reached the thirty-eighth rank, making him a renowned Spiritual Power expert in Saint Ming City. Naturally, he was confident he could suppress Zhang Ruochen.
*Boom!*
The ten-meter-long electric blade collided with the righteous Qi, producing a violent energy shockwave.
Then, the electric blade shattered, dissolving into strands of electric patterns that dissipated into the air.
"Is that all...? No, that's—"
Jun Wuyi's smile froze as he sensed something amiss.
Because in the space between him and Zhang Ruochen, a second electric blade, a third... formed one after another, each stronger than the last.
*Boom! Boom!*
Nine electric blades struck in succession, finally splitting Jun Wuyi's righteous Qi and landing on him.
*Rip!*
The immense power of the electric blade cut through Jun Wuyi's waist, cleaving him in two.
No.
That was just an illusion.
The electric blade had struck from the root of Jun Wuyi's thigh, a short distance from his waist. Zhang Ruochen hadn't taken his life, merely crippling his legs.
This was also a warning: if anyone else dared to provoke him, death would come closer.
Jun Wuyi collapsed to the ground, now a half-man, screaming in agony as a torrent of blood gushed from the base of his thigh. It was a gruesome sight.
The entire surface of the Spirit Lake fell silent. All the banquet guests froze, then erupted into an uproar.