C16 The Gold Autumn Banquet

Jademanes was established at the inception of the Phethia Dynasty to attract warriors from across the land. Within the dynasty, numerous sects exist, and to keep these warriors in check and prevent any rebellious intentions, the dynasty's founder set a rule: every sect must send an elder to reside in Jademanes. The strongest among them becomes the head and must remain loyal to the Phethia Dynasty. Should any thoughts of rebellion arise, all sects would unite against them.

In Chen Dutian's memory, the current head of Jademanes is an elder from the Outer Sect of the Graymanes.

Pang Yuan, standing beside Chen Dutian, pondered for a while before saying, "Brother, if you're confident, I'll tell my father about this as soon as I get back!"

Pang Yuan's father is a high-ranking official, the Secretary of the Treasury, nicknamed "the Moneybag." Although Pang Yuan lacks a Power Node, the Pang family holds significant status in the Imperial Capital.

Chen Dutian waved his hand with a smile, "No need, your father is smarter than you. He'll know what to do when the time comes!"

The two chatted in the Sunlit Palace for over two hours before a young man in palace attire approached, saying that Yan Beichen had instructed them to proceed to the Cloudwatch Palace.

Located at the front of the royal city, the Cloudwatch Palace was about a quarter-hour's walk away. By the time they arrived, all the officials and nobility of the Imperial Capital had gathered, with three to four hundred people standing in the square of the palace's front hall.

On both sides of the plaza, tables were set up, and in the center stood two large platforms, each about 100 feet across. Surrounding them were several sharp-eyed Imperial Guards. Yan Chen and the civil and military officials sat above on a platform with over thirty steps, with a table of food already laid out before them.

As noon approached, a gentle autumn breeze floated by. A finely dressed attendant stepped forward and announced in a high-pitched voice, "By the Emperor's decree, the Autumn Feast begins now!"

The three to four hundred officials standing in the plaza bowed and responded in unison, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your graciousness!"

Once everyone was seated, a large group of attendants and maids in palace attire began serving the dishes. Chen Dutian nudged his friend Pang Yuan with a smile and said, "Brother, there are two contests today, one of martial arts and one of literature. You might not fare well in the martial arts, but how do you think you'll do in the literary one?"

Pang Yuan glanced around, grinned, and fished out a piece of paper from his ornate robe with his chubby right hand. In a conspiratorial whisper, he said, "This is what my old man had me memorize. He said the Emperor wants us to write on 'Autumn Splendor' today. What do you think of this piece?"

Chen Dutian had already guessed that Pang Yuan's father would have something up his sleeve. For his son's sake, he even managed to sneak out the exam topic.

"Hmm, who did your father get to write this?" Chen Dutian asked curiously, sipping his wine as he examined the piece.

In his past life, Chen Dutian was not only devoted to his cultivation but also had a keen interest in poetry and literature. His fiancée, Qi Meiyue, was a renowned talent, and writing a poem or two was a breeze for her.

"To be honest, this was written by a fifth-level scholar from the Scribes' Hall, the same guy who challenged us on Main Street!" Pang Yuan chuckled.

Chen Dutian frowned slightly, recalling the image of a down-and-out scholar...

Song Yuanqing, from a prestigious family, was well-read since childhood. He came to the Imperial Capital to take the exams but got caught up in the nightlife, even making a lifelong promise to a courtesan from the Crimson Moon.

Later, when he made the list, he abandoned her due to her status. When Chen Dutian and Pang Yuan found out, they gave him a piece of their mind.

"That guy's still around?"

"Yeah, I brought him into the Pang family. He's so full of himself, and I can't stand guys who ditch their promises!" Pang Yuan grinned.

For a mere fifth-level scholar from the Scribes' Hall, Pang Yuan could easily make life difficult for Song Yuanqing, who wouldn't even have a chance to resist.

After two hours, the Golden Autumn Banquet concluded. The palace attendants cleared the square, and the Minister of Rituals stepped forward, announcing loudly, "In celebration of the golden autumn, the Emperor has arranged a dual competition to select the nation's pillars! The winner of the martial competition will receive a thousand gold pieces, martial skills, and be appointed as the commander of the Tiger Army! The winner of the literary competition will receive a thousand gold pieces, a jade crown, and be appointed as a third-level scholar of the Scribes' Hall!"

The Phethia Dynasty was founded on martial prowess, and for these young aristocrats, wealth was secondary to the allure of martial skills. These skills are categorized into five levels: basic, intermediate, supreme, celestial, and divine. It's said that the Phethia Dynasty passed down a manual of intermediate skills.

For a warrior to enhance their strength, they can either consume special pills or engage in relentless training. However, when warriors of the same level face off, it’s their martial skills that make the difference. In this world where power is paramount, martial skills are far more valuable than pills. Although alchemists are rare, some natural treasures can be consumed directly. Yet, martial skills are exceedingly scarce, typically passed down within sects. Some powerful warriors at the Ninth Heaven of the Spirit Convergence stage have never trained in martial skills, relying solely on their internal energy in battles.

When it was announced that the winner of the martial competition would receive a martial skill manual, the young aristocrats’ eyes lit up with excitement.

"Quiet, the martial competition is about to begin! The rules are simple: defeat ten palace guards to advance!" the Minister of Rituals announced loudly. As his words echoed, ten palace guards, clad in imposing purple armor and armed with swords, stepped onto one of the platforms.

The palace guards are the most formidable force within the Imperial Guards, with even the weakest among them at the Eighth Heaven of the Awakening stage. Hearing this, the previously eager young aristocrats were suddenly as if doused with cold water, stunned into silence.

Among these people, reaching the Spirit Convergence stage in their twenties or thirties is already considered a remarkable talent. However, compared to the formidable palace guards, there's still a significant gap, let alone taking on ten of them at once. Out of the three to four hundred individuals present, only a dozen have reached the Spirit Convergence stage. The allure of martial skills is strong, but the prerequisite is having the life to train them.

“I’ll give it a shot!”

A commanding voice rang out from the crowd. Everyone turned to see a handsome young man stepping forward, a sword at his waist. He stood about six feet tall, with a complexion as fair as jade. He looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing a long blue robe, white cloud-patterned boots, and his hair tied with a silver crown, exuding an air of elegance.

“Look at that, Cao Hexuan is still such a show-off. Those are ten palace guards he’s up against—what an idiot!” Pang Yuan muttered with a smirk of disdain.

Cao Hexuan, the only son of General Cao Yi, was twenty-seven and possessed the power of the Third Heaven in the Spirit Convergence stage, well-known in the Imperial Capital.

“This guy’s got some skills, and General Cao Yi was one of my dad’s old comrades. Watch your mouth, will you?” Chen Dutian said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

“I just can’t stand pretty boys like him!”