C16 Golden Autumn Banquet

The Jademanes was founded at the inception of the Phethia Dynasty as a means to attract warriors from around the world. Within the Phethia Dynasty, there were numerous cultivation sects. To keep these warriors in check and prevent any insurgent inclinations, the dynasty's founder established a rule: every sect within the empire was required to station an elder at the Jademanes.

The most powerful among them would become the head, sworn to unwavering loyalty to the Phethia Dynasty, with no room for thoughts of betrayal. Should any hint of rebellion arise, the combined might of all sects worldwide would be brought to bear against the traitor.

Chen Dutian recalled that the current head of the Jademanes was an elder from the Outer Sect of the Graymanes...

Pang Yuan, puzzled by Chen Dutian's confidence, stood by his side, furrowing his brow in thought for a long while before speaking up cautiously, "Brother, if you're sure about this, I'll inform my father as soon as I get back!"

Pang Yuan's father held the prestigious position of Minister of Finance within the dynasty. Despite lacking a Power Node, the Pang family enjoyed considerable esteem in the Imperial Capital.

Chen Dutian responded with a dismissive smile, "No need, your dad's sharper than you. He'll know exactly what to do when it's time."

After conversing for over two hours at the Sunlit Palace, a young palace attendant approached them with a message from Yan Beichen, inviting Chen Dutian and Pang Yuan to the Cloudwatch Palace.

Located at the forefront of the Imperial Capital, the Cloudwatch Palace was a short walk away. Upon their arrival, they found that all the officials and their progeny had already gathered. The square in front of the palace was packed with three to four hundred individuals.

Desks lined both sides of the square, and at its center stood two massive arenas, each ten zhang in size, surrounded by the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards. Yan Chen, along with the civil and military officials, were seated atop a flight of over thirty steps, with tables before them laden with food.

As noon approached and a gentle autumn breeze stirred, a eunuch in resplendent attire stepped forward and announced in a high-pitched voice, "By the Emperor's decree, the Golden Autumn Banquet shall now commence!"

The gathered officials, numbering in the hundreds, bowed deeply and responded in chorus, "We thank His Majesty for his gracious favor!"

After everyone was seated, a throng of eunuchs and maids arrived, bearing dishes to serve. Chen Dutian nudged Pang Yuan, who was sitting next to him, and asked with a chuckle, "Brother, we have both literary and martial contests today. Since the martial competition isn't your strong suit, what are your odds in the literary one?"

Pang Yuan glanced around, flashed a wide grin, and fished a piece of paper from within his luxurious brocade clothing.

He whispered slyly, "My old man had me memorize this. He says the Emperor's chosen 'Golden Autumn' as today's theme. Brother, what do you think of this composition?"

Chen Dutian had anticipated that Pang Yuan's father would come prepared, even going so far as to procure the examination questions for his son.

"Hmm, who did your father get to write this?" Chen Dutian inquired, sipping his wine and examining the paper with interest.

In his past life, Chen Dutian wasn't just passionate about cultivation; he also had a penchant for poetry and literature. His fiancée, Qi Meiyue, was a literary genius, for whom crafting verses was a breeze.

"It's no secret, it was penned by a fifth-level scholar from the Scribes' Hall, the same youngster who confronted us on Vermillion Bird Street!" Pang Yuan said with a laugh.

Chen Dutian's brow furrowed slightly as he recalled the figure of a disheveled scholar...

Song Yuqing, of noble birth, was well-versed in literature from a young age. He came to the Imperial Capital to take the exams but ended up enamored with the pleasures of the Crimson Moon, even promising his life to one of its courtesans.

Once he made the list, he promptly dismissed her due to her status, a move that earned him a stern reprimand from both Chen Dutian and Pang Yuan when they learned of it.

"That fellow's still around?"

"Heh, I've brought him into the Pang family's service. He's so full of pride, and I just can't stand such faithless men!" Pang Yuan said, still grinning.

To Pang Yuan, a mere fifth-level scholar from the Scribes' Hall was easy prey; Song Yuqing stood no chance against his schemes.

As the Golden Autumn Banquet concluded after two hours, the eunuchs cleared the square. The Minister of Rituals stepped forward and proclaimed, "On this auspicious Golden Autumn, the Emperor has decreed a dual competition to find the nation's pillars! The victor of the martial contest will receive a thousand gold coins, a martial skill, and the rank of commander in the Tiger Army! The winner of the literary contest will also be awarded a thousand gold coins, a jade crown, and the title of third-level scholar in the Scribes' Hall!"

The Phethia Dynasty was established through martial prowess, making martial skills far more alluring than wealth to the offspring of its officials. These skills were categorized into five grades: low, medium, supreme, heaven, and divine. It was rumored that the Phethia Dynasty had inherited a medium-grade martial skill.

To enhance their strength, warriors had two options: consume pills or engage in relentless cultivation. Yet, when warriors of equal standing faced off, it was their skills that made the difference. In a world where power was paramount, the significance of martial skills greatly overshadowed that of pills. While alchemists were a rarity, certain rare treasures could be ingested directly.

Martial skills, on the other hand, were exceedingly scarce, passed down only within sects. There were even masters at the Ninth Heaven of the Spirit Convergence Realm who had never practiced martial skills, relying solely on their inner spiritual energy in combat.

The announcement that the victor of the martial competition would receive a martial skill sent a wave of excitement through the officials, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Silence, the martial competition begins now! The rules are straightforward: defeat ten palace guards to advance," proclaimed the Minister of Rituals. As his voice trailed off, ten imposing palace guards clad in purple armor took their positions on one of the platforms.

The palace guards were the elite of the Imperial Guards, with the least formidable among them at the Eighth Heaven of the Awakening Realm. This revelation dampened the enthusiasm of the officials, who felt as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed upon them.

Among these officials, those who had reached the Spirit Convergence Realm by their twenties or thirties were already considered prodigiously gifted. Yet, they paled in comparison to the formidable palace guards, and the prospect of contending with ten of them seemed daunting. Of the several hundred present, only a handful had attained the Spirit Convergence Realm. The prospect of acquiring a martial skill was enticing, but it required one to be alive to pursue its mastery.

"I'll give it a try!" A resolute voice cut through the crowd. Heads turned to see a striking young man, seven feet tall with a sword at his waist and a complexion as fair as jade, stepping forward. At twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, he wore a green robe, white boots with cloud motifs, and a silver crown secured his hair, presenting an image of elegance.

"Tsk tsk, Cao Hexuan still loves to be the center of attention. Taking on ten palace guards? He's really not using his head!" Pang Yuan said with a scornful sneer under his breath.

Cao Hexuan, the sole son of General Cao Yi, was twenty-seven years old and possessed the strength of the Third Heaven in the Spirit Convergence Stage, earning him considerable fame in the Imperial Capital.

"The guy's got talent, and General Cao Yi has been a loyal subordinate to my father. You should speak with a bit more grace, brother," Chen Dutian said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

"I just can't stomach these pretty boys!"