Jiang Chen blinked and glanced at Jian Cangqiong and the others, feeling a warmth in his heart.

He understood that these people wanted to take him as a student because of his talent. However, their regard for him was also a form of affirmation and recognition!

"Student Jiang Chen, greets the six teachers!"

Jiang Chen clasped his fists and bowed deeply to everyone!

"Good! Good!"

"Haha!"

"Excellent!"

"Not in vain for waiting!"

Everyone was all smiles, their hearts at ease.

...

The turmoil at the academy had spiraled out of control, prompting Jian Cangqiong to reveal the truth about the Dao Fruit, which calmed the panicked students.

Over a year was just a retreat's time for them.

The students focused on cultivating, and Jiang Chen also entered his most hectic period of practice.

His spiritual power had reached a critical point of breakthrough, yet he did not want to advance yet. He wanted to improve his grasp of the Great Dao further, and the entry exam for the main court was another reason not to break through yet.

He harbored a plan in his heart; merely being first in the Divine Infant Realm Early Stage wasn't satisfying to him!

Since acknowledging the six teachers, Jiang Chen began wandering between the four mountains and Jing Si Pavilion. Sang Zhenye and Wu Xianxia simply took turns staying at Southern Maniac Mountain. Whenever Jiang Chen returned, they would guide him with all their heart, leaving his official master Hu Yiqiu with no chance to instruct Jiang Chen.

However, Hu Yiqiu wasn't upset about this.

In just over a year, they would leave Changlin Academy for Changling Main Court. By then, Jian Cangqiong and the others wouldn't be able to accompany them, so Hu Yiqiu hoped that, in this year, Jiang Chen could learn more from Jian Cangqiong and the others.

One year passed quickly, during which no major incidents occurred at Changlin Academy. Jiang Chen's intensive training had to stop.

At the South Maniac Mountain Peak.

"The Mingqian Banquet?"

Jiang Chen looked at Hu Yiqiu in surprise.

"The Mingqian Banquet has always been sent to the academy, and the academy assigns someone to go. But this time, the invitation specifically mentions me and even brings you up."

Hu Yiqiu nodded solemnly: "They say they want to see what a young talent with top Five Elements Great Path affinity is like. Perhaps the Domain Lord is suspicious due to what happened at your first teacher's tomb!"

The Mingqian Banquet is the grandest event in the Mingqian Realm, held every ten years.

In each large domain on the Canglan Continent, similar banquets are held, with even higher-tiered ones like the Canglan Banquet taking place every hundred years.

These banquets provide a way for the Domain Lords to gauge the strength of major forces in their domain and for those forces to showcase their power.

At this banquet, all first-rate forces from the Mingqian Realm will be present. It's not uncommon for hidden peak experts to send their disciples to experience the abilities of the major forces in the domain.

The Canglan Continent is vast, with each domain larger than the entire area of Yuan Star, and many hidden strongmen lie in wait. These banquets also serve as a way for the Domain Lord to assess them.

Each banquet invitation is handwritten by the Domain Lord's Mansion and sent to major forces. Being invited signifies strength; thus, all forces are eager to attend.

However, these invitations usually target a specific force, never an individual.

This time, the Mingqian Banquet invitation sent to Changlin Academy specifically mentioned Hu Yiqiu's name, along with Jiang Chen's, making it all the more intriguing!

"This is an open scheme!"

Jiang Chen spoke softly, his eyes turning deep: "This move by the Mingqian Domain Lord is likely not just to meet me."

"An invitation to the Mingqian Banquet never specifies names, so mentioning Master is understandable, given Master's Late Integration Realm strength and role as an Array Master. But mentioning me might stir discontent among the young talents from various major forces, likely causing many incidents at the Mingqian Banquet."

"Then… should we decline?"

Hu Yiqiu tentatively proposed, a determined look in his eyes.

Refusing the Mingqian Banquet would greatly offend the Domain Lord's Mansion, but Hu Yiqiu was confident. Even if they declined the Mingqian Domain Lord, the Domain Lord wouldn't dare do anything against him.

But if they went and the Mingqian Domain Lord really tried to harm Jiang Chen, there was little he could do to forcibly take Jiang Chen away, even at the risk of his life.

The forces behind him couldn't be summoned promptly for help, and even if they came, whether they would protect Jiang Chen because of him was uncertain, as his relationship with them was quite delicate.

As for the Changling Main Court, Jiang Chen currently hadn't enough weight for them to make a fuss unless Jiang Chen's trump card was exposed. Just coming to claim Jiang Chen afterward might be too late!

"We cannot refuse!"

Jiang Chen shook his head lightly: "If we refuse, not only will the academy offend the Mingqian Domain Lord, but it will also directly expose the fact that I obtained an inheritance at the teacher's tomb. The Mingqian Domain Lord is not one to give up easily. Even if there's just a slight possibility, he won't let it go!"

"Young Jiang, do you know why the Mingqian Domain Lord wants to frame the Shadowless Sword Emperor?"

Hu Yiqiu asked with a slightly strange expression.

"Why?"

Jiang Chen was taken aback, looking curiously at Hu Yiqiu, as if he knew something.

"Years ago, the Shadowless Sword Emperor was hailed as the number one in Mingqian Realm and received an audience with the Canglan Great Emperor."

Hu Yiqiu spoke softly.

"What!? Teacher received an audience with the Canglan Great Emperor!?"

Jiang Chen looked at Hu Yiqiu in shock, his eyes filled with incredulity.

"Yes!"

Hu Yiqiu nodded: "It was also because of this audience that everyone believed the Shadowless Sword Emperor would breakthrough to the Saint Realm within a century. And because of that meeting, people speculated that the Shadowless Sword Emperor might replace the current Domain Lord to oversee the Mingqian Realm because once news had spread from Canglan Mansion that the Shadowless Sword Emperor had declined the Canglan Great Emperor's invitation and didn't wish to stay at Canglan Mansion."

"Declined the Canglan Great Emperor's invitation!?"

Jiang Chen exclaimed again. He was now full of admiration for his teacher, whom he'd never met. Not everyone had the courage to refuse an invitation from a Saint, especially when that Saint was the ruler of the Canglan Continent!

"Yes! And perhaps because of this, the suspicion arose in the Mingqian Domain Lord's heart!"

Hu Yiqiu nodded, his expression complex.

Jiang Chen fell into silence, frowning deeply.

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