Shocking Everyone

Shocking Everyone . . . 

Qin Wentian observed the esteemed individuals surrounding him. Those in attendance at this grand banquet were all of the immortal king status, holding prominent positions within the royal palace. Even the princes and Beiming Nongyue, while respected, couldn't command too much attention in this gathering.

Nevertheless, the attendees couldn't stop lavishing praise upon another princess of the dynasty, Beiming Youhuang. Various voices reached Qin Wentian's ears, creating a cacophony of admiration. Although he wasn't particularly focused on their conversations, the prevailing sentiment was one of admiration for Beiming Youhuang.

The title of Immortal Emperor... How many people could only dream of reaching such heights? Everyone at the banquet was an immortal king, yet only a select few could hope to break through the barrier and attain the immortal emperor realm.

But Beiming Youhuang had transcended this boundary, and her accomplishment defied conventional descriptions of genius. She was truly unmatched under the heavens, and her extraordinary talent left an indelible mark on the immortal realms.

At that moment, a group of experts emerged from the emperor's palace. The attendees turned to bow as these figures were none other than the immortal emperors of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty. Wherever they went, reverence followed, and having the youngest immortal emperor in history among them only added to their prestige.

Finally, a dignified middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties, stepped forward. Vitality emanated from his eyes, with a depth that was unfathomable yet serene. When he cast his gaze over the crowd, each individual felt as though the immortal emperor was looking at them alone.

"Today, I have gathered you here for a celebratory banquet," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor declared. His voice was mellifluous, exuding warmth. He continued, "Our young Youhuang has consistently displayed exceptional talent, and now she has broken records to become the youngest immortal emperor in the history of the Darknorth Immortal Dynasty. I hope you won't mind me making a grand celebration in her honor."

The audience responded with laughter and words of congratulations. "Princess Youhuang's talent is truly extraordinary. Her return as an immortal emperor is indeed a cause for celebration. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

The Darknorth Immortal Emperor waved away their formalities. "There's no need for such formality. Please, take your seats."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Please, take your seat first." The nobles followed the rules of etiquette. If the emperor didn't sit, no one would dare to do so. Even if the emperor didn't mind, they would respect the protocol.

"Very well," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor agreed, taking his place at the head of the gathering. The princes and princesses occupied seats below him, while the remaining attendees found their places.

"Please understand that we may need to delay our feast momentarily. After all, this banquet is in honor of Youhuang. I hope none of our esteemed guests minds," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor said, his smile radiating warmth. The attendees nodded, fully aware of the circumstances and accepting of the slight delay.

"Nongyue, why are you seated there?" The prince who had spoken to Beiming Nongyue earlier suddenly questioned. His comment drew an irritated glance from Beiming Nongyue.

As the prince's voice resounded, the Darknorth Immortal Emperor shifted his gaze towards Beiming Nongyue. When he saw the three individuals beside her, he smiled warmly. "Nongyue, why haven't I had the pleasure of meeting these three before?"

"Father, they are my friends," Beiming Nongyue replied, though she silently cursed her father's pretense. The entire dynasty was under his rule; how could he not be aware of matters in the royal palace? Surely he knew about the man she held affection for. Most likely, the Darknorth Immortal Emperor was already aware of everything.

"Why haven't you introduced them to me, then?" the Darknorth Immortal Emperor asked with a friendly smile. Inside, Qin Wentian had no doubt that the emperor was aware of Li Yufeng's existence.

"These are my friends, Qin Wentian and Zhiyin. They have come from afar, and I wanted to invite them to visit our royal palace. I hope Father doesn't hold it against me," Beiming Nongyue introduced, pointing at Qin Wentian and Zhiyin. She then gestured towards Li Yufeng without elaborating.

Li Yufeng stood up and respectfully bowed to the Darknorth Immortal Emperor. "Li Yufeng of the Hundred Refinements Sect pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Hmm, someone from the Hundred Refinements Sect?" The Darknorth Immortal Emperor feigned ignorance, continuing with a smile, "Your sect is quite distant from here. What brings you to my dynasty's royal palace?"

Qin Wentian silently admired the Darknorth Immortal Emperor's acting skills. The emperor was testing whether Li Yufeng would dare to boast in front of him.

"I am acquainted with Nongyue, and we share mutual affection for each other. I couldn't bear to be apart from her, so I made a special trip to the immortal dynasty," Li Yufeng stated, understanding the emperor's intentions. He might as well be direct about his feelings. This boldness impressed Qin Wentian; he truly dared to confess their mutual love in front of the Darknorth Emperor.

"Oh?" The Darknorth Immortal Emperor glanced at Beiming Nongyue. "Is this true?"

Beiming Nongyue stood and confirmed, "Father, it is true."

"Females often side with outsiders as they grow up. Such an important matter, and you didn't discuss it with your father? Have you both decided to marry without your parents' approval?" The Darknorth Immortal Emperor's tone changed from amiability to something more serious. Even Qin Wentian felt the pressure emanating from him, as the emperor's mood shifted subtly and weighed heavily upon them.

"Your daughter would never dare to do so. I brought Li Yufeng here this time so that Father could meet him," Beiming Nongyue replied, bowing.

"Are you merely acting before reporting to your father?" the prince who had spoken earlier sneered. Beiming Nongyue shot him a cold look. Relationships within the royal family were seldom harmonious, and this particular prince was Beiming Nongyue's half-brother. Political conflicts and power struggles were common in the royal palace, mirroring the complexities of cultivation.

"Moreover, casually bringing your friends to this banquet—do you not understand the qualifications required for those attending? Can ordinary friends just waltz in here?" another prince chimed in rudely. The nobles at the banquet remained silent; this was His Majesty's affair, and it was not their place to comment.

"I had originally planned to hold a banquet at my palace for them. However, when I heard the Darknorth Bell ringing, I knew my elder sister had broken through to the immortal emperor realm. The entire palace is celebrating, and this is hardly a state secret. As a princess of the dynasty, why can't I bring my friends here?" Beiming Nongyue retorted.

"How willful," the prince muttered with a snort.

"Enough, Youhuang is here," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor announced, putting an end to the squabbling. All eyes turned towards the horizon, and before long, several figures could be seen flying towards them. These were the immortal kings who had ventured into the sacred academy with Beiming Youhuang, and now they were returning.

The Darknorth Emperor rose from his seat, and in turn, everyone else followed suit. Their collective gaze was fixed upon Beiming Youhuang, who led the way. Her breathtaking beauty left everyone in awe; in her presence, even the most brilliant geniuses seemed to lose their radiance. None could outshine her.

"My daughter, Youhuang!" The Darknorth Emperor's voice was filled with parental affection and pride as he spoke. To him, this daughter of his was exceptional in every aspect. Whether it was her beauty or her talent, she stood above the rest. Naturally, he held her in the highest regard.

She was the youngest immortal emperor in history, and her future achievements might even surpass his own. He couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in his daughter.

"Father," Beiming Youhuang greeted, pausing in her approach.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty," the other immortal kings bowed.

"Congratulations to Princess Youhuang on reaching the emperor realm," the experts at the banquet exclaimed, rising from their seats to show their respect and admiration.

Beiming Youhuang acknowledged their greetings with a slight nod. Her expression remained composed, devoid of any visible joy or excitement. Her demeanor was as cool as ice and as serene as a tranquil lake, revealing no emotional fluctuations.

"A true ice princess," Qin Wentian thought to himself as he observed Beiming Youhuang. He had first encountered her a long time ago in the city of ancient emperors. However, he hadn't met the original Beiming Youhuang then; instead, he had encountered an apparition created by her to inherit the legacy of the Heavenly Brahma Demon Emperor.

"Youhuang, come sit beside me," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor invited warmly. Beiming Youhuang complied with a nod and gracefully took her place beside her father.

As the emperor shifted to make space for Beiming Youhuang, many hearts quivered, and several princes and princesses stiffened, their eyes revealing traces of displeasure that were quickly concealed.

The emperor's gesture of seating Beiming Youhuang beside him was a position of great honor. There were many implications to consider, and it wasn't clear whether the emperor intended to convey these messages subtly or whether some of them were mere illusions.

However, Beiming Youhuang remained unfazed. If her father wished her to sit beside him, she would do so willingly.

"Now, let the banquet commence," the Darknorth Immortal Emperor declared, raising his cup. "Let us toast to Youhuang's return and welcome back my beloved daughter."

"Congratulations to Princess Youhuang on her triumphant return!" The attendees raised their cups and toasted.

"Youhuang, this time when all the immortal kings returned from the sacred academy, what is the situation within?" the Darknorth Immortal Emperor inquired.

"Father, with the opening of the sacred academy, we are truly entering a new era. If the rumors are to be believed, the age of ancient emperors is upon us, and the immortal realms will soon be rocked by bloody storms," Beiming Youhuang replied, her words causing a profound hush to fall over the gathering. The emperor pressed for more information, asking, "What leads you to say this?"

"Among the immortal kings who entered the sacred academy this time, five emerged as immortal emperors," Beiming Youhuang revealed, her words landing like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone astounded. In just a few hundred years, five immortal emperors had emerged from the sacred academy. Such a development was astonishing.

Cultivation had always been an arduous journey, and although no immortal kings had been born in Qin Wentian's batch when they were expelled from the academy, many had come close to achieving that level.

However, for the group of immortal kings that succeeded them, five of them had reached the immortal emperor realm. It was an incredible and almost unbelievable feat. No wonder everyone was taken aback; this news was simply astonishing.

Even the Darknorth Immortal Emperor was surprised. He probed further, "It seems that a great storm is indeed brewing in the immortal realms. While five initial-stage emperors may not be enough to cause major upheaval, it does signal the dawn of a new era. Perhaps among you five, an ancient emperor will emerge."

As everyone contemplated this possibility, the notion of Beiming Youhuang becoming an ancient emperor seemed increasingly likely.