It was only upon reaching the capital that Chen Feng recalled that since the contestants for tomorrow’s Rookie Selection Tournament were departing, His Majesty was hosting a farewell banquet for these young heroes within the palace. Back then, he had been strongly invited too, but having no desire for such dull feasts, he had declined. Seeing the current scene of glittering lights and revelry, it was likely the banquet was far from over.
Since a banquet was being held, His Majesty would certainly be present. It seemed the only place to find him would be here!
Thinking this, a cold sneer touched the corner of Chen Feng’s lips.
“Who goes there…”
Several sharp shouts rang out, and suddenly seven or eight Magisters ascended into the air.
To have so many Magisters appear before even reaching the palace demonstrated the formidable defensive strength of the Imperial City.
Chen Feng took a deep breath and declared, “I am Iori Yagami.”
“Oh, Iori Yagami? Why are you so late? The banquet is nearly over,” one of the Magisters exclaimed upon hearing Chen Feng announce himself.
Chen Feng had won the championship of the Rookie Contest, making his name renowned. Coupled with His Majesty Suomen’s deliberate promotion, perhaps no one in the Imperial Capital was unaware of his current standing in the Emperor’s favor. Thus, the guard’s tone became respectful upon hearing his name.
Chen Feng knew the guard had mistaken him for a guest arriving for the banquet. He acknowledged this and inquired, “Where is His Majesty?”
“Oh, His Majesty just came out; he is currently in the main hall chatting with everyone who participated in the Rookie Selection Tournament,” the Magister quickly replied.
Chen Feng nodded. “Good, thank you.” Saying this, he flew directly downward……………………………………………………………………………………
“Rainou, you’re quick on the draw as always!” one of the Magisters in the air commented.
The Magister who had spoken with Chen Feng, named Rainou, chuckled. “A youth who, before even reaching adulthood, could defeat the Seventh Prince, who wields a Rune Sword and wears Dragon Armor—such potential is boundless. Of course, one must make an acquaintance first. What’s wrong, Fidi? Are you jealous just because I spoke first?”
Fidi laughed. “Jealous? Ha! I heard this young man is as cold as ice and barely pays attention to anyone. I didn’t expect him to even offer you a ‘thank you.’ That’s interesting!”
Rainou declared smugly, “Naturally, it’s because I carry more weight, don’t you understand?”
“Hmph…” The other Magisters exchanged looks of disdain.
Rainou gave an awkward smile. “Alright, alright, let’s head down now!” With that, he tapped his right eyelid and muttered, “Don’t tell me, today feels genuinely bizarre. My right eyelid has been twitching incessantly, and I’ve felt uneasy, as if something is about to happen. Truly strange!”
Fidi scoffed, “I think you’re just asking for trouble. What could possibly happen? Maybe that seductive woman of yours at home is seeing someone else…” The others burst into laughter.
“Get out of here…” Rainou also laughed, retorting, “I think if anything goes wrong, it will be with the one in your house. With that snaky waist and willow brows, it’s clear her demands are excessive, and you probably can’t keep up…”
“Hahahaha…” Everyone roared with laughter.
These Magisters were mostly those whose progress had stalled due to innate talent limitations. They were kept by the Imperial Palace as court mages for the sake of enjoyment. Having endured years of rigorous cultivation, once they relaxed, they were no different from ordinary men—indulging in every vice: eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling.
The two had just been discussing the women they had recently acquired.
“BOOM!”
Just then, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from below, and a powerful explosion tore through the banquet hall, causing one entire wall to collapse amidst the clamor.
“Protect His Majesty!” Rainou’s face contorted, and he shouted, charging downward first…………………………………………………………………………………………
Chen Feng landed on the ground and strode into the palace. The guards he encountered along the way parted for him upon seeing who he was.
To ensure discretion, His Majesty Suomen had granted Chen Feng the privilege of entering the palace without prior announcement.
He soon reached the banquet hall. It was a scene of decadent luxury, where the young elites of the Empire were raising toasts and discussing prospects for better rankings in the Four Nations Rookie Selection Tournament.
Of course, the banquet wasn't limited to just these youths; several imperial ministers were also present. Since these young men were destined to serve the nation after the competition, mingling appropriately with the ministers now was considered fitting.
As Chen Feng stepped into the hall, the distinctive, authoritative voice of His Majesty Suomen resonated through the air.
“…All of you are the hope of the Empire. Representing the dignity of the Loqi Empire when you go out to the Rookie Selection Tournament, I hope you all depart joyfully and return victorious… The only great regret today is that the champion, Iori Yagami, could not attend due to matters elsewhere, and here…” He stopped mid-sentence as a solitary, proud figure appeared at the hall’s entrance.
A stark black Western suit paired with an excessively long white shirt, complemented by crimson trousers—the cold demeanor utterly discordant with the surrounding atmosphere—Chen Feng slowly manifested before the crowd.
“Haha, it seems His Majesty’s word is golden; as soon as he mentioned Iori Yagami, he arrived!” A minister, seeing His Majesty Suomen pause, quickly spoke up in a fawning manner.
The rest of the ministers
These words were filled with regret, wondering why they hadn't thought of this excuse first, which would have allowed them to gain recognition before T7…
The Seventh Prince’s face was etched with hatred. The glory that should have been his had been snatched away by this red-haired youth, driving him nearly mad!
His Majesty Suomen was clearly startled by Chen Feng’s appearance, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. However, this flash was fleeting, and he soon smiled, “I didn’t expect Iori Yagami to come in the end. Now all the talents of the Empire are gathered here. When you return victorious another day, you shall further glorify the might of the Loqi Empire!”
In the last two sentences, the Emperor’s imposing aura radiated outward, giving the feeling that all the heroes under heaven belonged to him. The assembled crowd below erupted in excitement, shouting in unison: “We shall not return defeated! We shall not return defeated…”
A single remark from His Majesty Suomen could incite such excitement among the crowd, showcasing the inherent dominance of an Emperor.
When the cheers subsided, His Majesty Suomen sat upon the high dais, looking satisfied as he observed the people below.
Amidst the clamor, Chen Feng slowly walked toward the center of the hall, secretly gathering his Qi Cyclone power.
To kill an Emperor, one must achieve a single, decisive blow. Otherwise, his surrounding bodyguards would immediately swarm forward, leaving no further opportunity to strike. Since Chen Feng had chosen vengeance, he would not be overtly reckless; he had to wait for the absolute best moment to act.
He took a deep breath to calm his slightly heightened nerves.
As His Majesty Suomen’s gaze fixed upon Chen Feng in the crowd, he suddenly tensed. With his acuity, he could naturally sense the anomaly in the youth.
“If Iori Yagami was coming to the palace, Stanley should have at least returned to notify me. Is something wrong, or is it… Furthermore, every step this Iori Yagami takes is at precisely the same distance, and his breathing follows a specific rhythm. Has he already discovered my intentions?” Thinking this, his eyes filled with cold sharpness.
Hatred filled Chen Feng’s chest, the Qi Cyclone power churning relentlessly, preparing for immediate action. An invisible aura of killing intent naturally leaked out. As the Emperor of the Empire, His Majesty Suomen, seasoned by life and possessing a keen eye, how could he fail to notice this abnormality?
“Iori Yagami, what is wrong with you?” His Majesty Suomen’s voice carried authority, and a killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Hearing this, Chen Feng knew his objective had been exposed. He remained silent, flipping his wrist. The Hou Gong bow materialized in his palm, purple flames swirling to form a slender arrow. Drawing the bow back until it resembled a full moon, the bowstring snapped with a crisp sound—“Peng!” The Purple Flame Arrow shot forth like a meteor, emitting a sharp whistle through the air, aimed directly at His Majesty Suomen.
His Majesty Suomen was positioned high on the platform; achieving a guaranteed hit was impossible with the An Gou technique here. Thus, Chen Feng held nothing back from the start. This single Purple Flame Arrow contained the maximum power he could control. Even a Fifth-Tier Battle Master would hesitate to meet its edge head-on.
“Protect His Majesty!” The guards surrounding His Majesty Suomen finally reacted, screaming wildly as they rushed toward the Emperor.
Chen Feng did not hesitate. Without moving his upper body, he rapidly loosed four more arrows.
These four arrows followed one after another with increasing speed, instantly sealing off every possible escape route for His Majesty Suomen.
“Boom…” Dust flew, and walls collapsed. Chen Feng’s five arrows triggered intense explosions, and purple flames immediately formed a sea of fire around His Majesty Suomen.
After firing the five arrows, Chen Feng felt a numbness in both arms, and the Qi Cyclone power within his Dantian was nearing exhaustion. He quickly retrieved a vial of restorative liquid and downed it.
Without infused Qi Cyclone power, even a child could draw the Hou Gong. However, once infused, it became incredibly sturdy, and the more Qi Cyclone power used, the greater its force and the more devastating the resulting projectile.
Chen Feng’s five arrows had nearly depleted his entire store of Qi Cyclone power. Even if his arms possessed the strength to lift mountains, they were bound to feel weary and sore.
Chen Feng’s current liquid Qi Cyclone power was immense—enough to launch an Hachijyō-Otome followed by a Zai-Ka and even a Orochi-Chi without complete depletion. Using almost all of it on just five arrows testified to the arrows’ terrifying power.
The surrounding ministers and the competing Rookie talents were left slack-jawed, frozen in place by the sight of Iori Yagami unleashing five immediate volleys without a word upon arrival.
The Seventh Prince was the first to react, shouting, “Father!” However, instead of rushing toward His Majesty Suomen, he turned his furious gaze on Chen Feng. “How dare you injure my Father! I’ll fight you to the death…” As he spoke, his Dou Qi erupted, and he charged forward.
Chen Feng stowed the Hou Gong back into his water pouch and instantly summoned the Ming Yu Sword. The situation had become desperate; he had no choice but to employ his ultimate move.
The Ming Yu Sword was his greatest secret weapon. Now that his Qi Cyclone power was nearly gone, using it was the only way to ensure a safe retreat. Since he was committed to revenge, he would not hold back any longer; he would utilize everything at his disposal!
Seeing the Seventh Prince charging, Chen Feng swung the Ming Yu Sword and brought it down toward the Prince’s head.
ps: Old Cliff’s neck is really hurting; I originally planned for a five-thousand-word chapter, but it’s only three thousand. Still, I updated ten thousand words today! Please support me with your monthly tickets!! (To be continued. For future developments, please visit www**com for more chapters, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)