Chapter 123: You're Not Here Just for the Drink, Right? (5k)

Chapter 123: You're Not Here Just for the Drink, Right? (5k)



A single invitation letter bearing the name of the Mu family stirred up a storm among the Four Guardians Star within a day.

On this night, the sky was majestic and grand, with clouds intertwining like dragons and tigers in battle.

Numerous young men with imposing auras held their invitations and strode into the top floor of the Heaven-Human Tower.

Their gazes locked onto each other from a distance, their auras subtly engaging in a silent contest, none willing to concede.

This tower, the tallest building in Purple Micro Capital aside from White Jade Capital, offered a panoramic view of the city from its top floor, as if a painting unfurled beneath their feet.

"Tsk, no weapons allowed, and not even a fighting stage set up. Are we really here just for the drink?"

Diao Xingyun and his companions met at the entrance, walking side by side with their confident strides, each a remarkable individual, drawing attention as they entered together.

Bian Rong, hailing from the Federation's top dojo, the Heavenly Deity Arena, was one of the current contenders for the title of Daozi. His formidable strength was beyond question.

As the others looked up, a low chuckle spread through the crowd.

For warriors bearing the weight of heritage, the most devastating defeat was not losing to peers but being outdone in both martial intent and technique by those on the same path! "...Over there is Yue Yourong, Zhang Shanming, from the Academy. There aren't many from the Academy tonight, but four Daozi-level genius warriors are here."

Her smile brightened the hall, attracting many admiring glances, especially from the servants in the hall, who were ordinary people. They couldn't help but stare, as if an invisible hand tightly gripped their hearts.

Hearing this, several people felt a surge of excitement.

"Are we really here just for the drink tonight?"

And... the Skyblade Body?...

Devoted to martial arts, loyal to martial arts, obsessed with martial arts.

The girl with her charming smile was not as sweet and innocent as she seemed. She had secretly practiced the Lionheart Dao! Above the martial arts schools, there was the Dao Lineage.

After an unknown period, the crowd began to whisper and laugh.

69 Book Bar

Everyone's attention turned to the second protagonist of the evening.

She stood side by side with Ji Jingqiu by the window, gazing into the distance with a slightly cold expression.

Diao Xingyun's eyes flickered as he said, "I took a look around, and most of them are like us, with their body of power progress below the stage of great achievement. Is this an early rehearsal for the selection contest two months later?"

The Superlative Body primarily focuses on the principles and divine abilities, with physique enhancement as a secondary concern. However, even as a secondary concern, the improvement is incredibly terrifying.

Everyone's gaze naturally shifted to the cup, and the air was filled with an indescribable silence.

Mu Juncheng smiled, then suddenly looked towards a corner of the hall and said loudly, "Brother Ji, don't you find it boring to stand alone?"

Zhuang Yanxing hesitated for a moment, but under the expectant gaze of the girl, he gathered his courage and said:

Ji Jingqiu stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the distant night.

Zhuang Yanxing's scalp went numb, regretting his words, but it was too late to take them back. He could only force himself to continue:

Yin Wushuang's eyes were like swords, responding to the gazes with a faint smile. "Virtual? That's void creation. The Federation's virtual technology has long been discarded."

Pei Jing quietly moved away without a sound.

As Mu Juncheng entered, everyone's attention shifted to one of the evening's protagonists.

The silver bottle shattered, and the liquid inside splashed out.

From this angle, half the city was beneath their feet.

Yin Wushuang narrowed her eyes and said, "That one is... Shi Xinvan, a Grandmaster's disciple?"

"That white-haired man is Pei Jing. He dyes his hair, and don't be fooled by his cold expression. He's actually quite mischievous inside, and his strength is formidable! He's also a Daozi-level..."

...

No one expected that as soon as she spoke, she would openly display her fighting spirit.

The undercurrent grew more intense, and the air seemed to be filled with aura entanglement vortices, heavy and viscous, eventually forming a massive aura vortex that drew everything in the hall into its grasp.

Zhuang Yanxing's face froze in shock, and he heard his senior's soft voice from behind:

Her red robe fluttered, yet she stood like a blooming flower. Her lips were a pale red, and her eyes held a hint of languid seduction.

"Do you also find it boring?"

"His strength lies in his physique, but his martial arts are relatively weak. However, after the Superlative Body is forged, martial arts have a greater advantage over the physique!"

After a long wait, several auras suddenly rose.

During this period, a large amount of precious resources were invested, not only to make up for the damage and deficiencies caused by engraving the principles but also to continuously strengthen the physical body.

"Also, if there were a battle tonight, his chances of winning wouldn't be great. Many people here have progressed further in their bodies of power than him, like my senior brother, who is already at 41%. If we're just talking about physique, he's definitely stronger than him right now!"

In front of them, the large floor-to-ceiling window reflected the scene behind them—people chatting and toasting each other.

He stood straight, his demeanor calm and composed. The light from above cast a shadow on the ground, resembling a long sword pointing at Mu Juncheng.

But no one in the hall thought so. They had all felt the pure speed and force from the videos and even experienced it firsthand on the eighth floor!

...

"Hold on, just a little longer..."

The old man smiled and said, "The higher-ups want everyone to wait a bit longer. If they get impatient, it'll be easier to bring out their true fire later."

"I'm not talking about martial arts but character. You may not know that, in recent days, countless people have wanted to invite him to banquets, but he's ignored them all. People thought he was obsessed with martial arts, but it turns out a single invitation from the Mu family brought him here. So, many people are secretly saying he's a fair-weather friend..."

Each of them had their own masters and had access to the Federation's inner workings. Their words revealed the mystery of this night.

The crowd's gaze intensified, all having heard the related legends.

At that moment, countless Aura swirled, carrying Heart Electro, soaring upwards. A contest of might rapidly expanded in the unseen, an indescribable tension swelling within the banquet hall, as Heart Electro clashed amidst the crowd!

"A draw."

"I live for myself."

"Yue Qingtian, the young master of the Qingtian Mega Enterprise, but this person lacks the air of a spoiled rich second generation. Instead, he exudes a strong martial aura, worth befriending!"

The person's Principle Aura was extremely rich, the strongest he had seen among those present. His Body of Power was Great Achievement, or perhaps even Perfect?

Soon, she locked her gaze on someone in the crowd and quickly walked towards the two from the Lionheart Dao Dojo.

"You asked about Yue Yourong? My master said this woman has the style of a master. As for Zhang Shanming, he seems graceful but actually has a narrow mind..."

The Lionheart Dao, renowned for its dominance, has been passed down for 800 years. While not many disciples have ventured out for training, those who did rarely suffered defeat. However, over a hundred years ago, they experienced a thorough and complete defeat!

Currently, Ji Jingqiu's daily resource consumption is nearly 5 million Federation dollars!

The air in the banquet hall gradually grew tense, like underwater undercurrents fiercely colliding, causing ripples that spread outward in visible waves. "Bang, bang, bang—"

No nonsense, just four words.

"Actually, I've been wanting to ask for a while now..."

A few people slowly walked deeper into the hall, casually taking drinks from the waiters.

"Not bad!" Bian Rong added, "By the way, this crazy woman's strongest skill is her fist technique!"

The maiden nodded, her small face expressionless beneath her black hair, like a frosty winter day: "I'm Qin Qingjue, 17 years old, one year older than you. My birthday is May 4th, I'm 1.78 meters tall, and I like eating ice cream... I've forged the Skyblade Body and practice sword techniques. I look forward to a fair battle with you in two months."

Watching the excited Zhu Yanxing enthusiastically introducing the strong warriors to his senior sister, Shi Xinvan, Duan Xuanji felt the pressure.

"Wood Brother, please give me guidance."

Preparing to teach his senior brother a lesson tonight, so he wouldn't be so loose-lipped around beauties! Everyone here has forged a Superlative Body of Power, with sharp senses. Why speak without using Qi to conceal and intercept, fearing others won't hear you exposing their secrets? Shi Xinvan blinked, suddenly asking, "Where's Ji Jingqiu, the one who passed the eighth layer? I don't see him. What do you think of him?"

The hall fell silent.

Under the same circumstances, with higher progress, the physique would naturally be stronger.

In their gaze.

But what was this self-introduction nonsense?

...

"Tonight, the strong gather like clouds," Bian Rong's smile widened, his coarse face, mismatched with his age, took on a slightly sinister look, and his breathing grew heavy.

The young man standing in the corner of the hall, one of the centers of attention today, his gaze pierced through the crowd, landing on the host, and he smiled, showing his teeth:

Having gained the maiden's approval, Zhu Yanxing was about to continue his "shallow self-analysis" when he noticed his senior brother's cold gaze, and his heart instantly froze.

Mu Juncheng stood at a high point, scanning the entire hall, but he didn't see a certain familiar female figure. He shook his head slightly and said to the person next to him, "Sister Qingjue probably left. Forget about her. She's already achieved Great Achievement in her Body of Power, so she can't participate in tonight's Projection Battle."

The fragile glass cups around suddenly shattered one after another.

The crisp sound echoed through the room.

...

A crimson-robed maiden gracefully entered the hall, her eyes as black as lacquer, full of spirit.

Ji Jingqiu watched the maiden's departing figure through the glass window, his gaze slightly hazy but heavy.

The Lionheart Dao is renowned for its unparalleled reputation. Each generation's inheritor walks a path of dominance, their fist intent surpassing their peers.

The warriors in the hall restrained and balanced each other, collectively pushing the atmosphere to tonight's peak!

Many of those present were core disciples in their respective forces, and their consumption wouldn't be less than Ji Jingqiu's; they were all of the highest standards.

Beneath those clothes was a physique comparable to a monster's!

"With Great Achievement in the Body of Power, one can initially harness incomplete Principles..." Yin Wushuang smiled, "It seems our battlefield tonight can't bear the weight of Principles."

Zhuang Yanxing spoke eloquently, not noticing that several cold and sinister gazes had already locked onto him.

The others exchanged glances and advised:

Shi Xinvan's smile was radiant. "What do you think of his strength? Among those present tonight."

This person's purpose for coming here was the same as theirs.

Someone by his side spoke with a chill.

Diao Xingyun curiously asked, "I heard you fought this woman last time. What was the outcome?"

As for why this person appeared...

"Understood." The old man beside him nodded, "Is Wood Young Master going to enter the battle?" Mu Juncheng smiled helplessly, "I've been wanting to enter for a while. If I don't go in soon, everyone will be impatient."

"It's impossible not to fight. I heard from my elders that the Federation has made the latest breakthroughs in virtual technology."

"Yue Yourong, Zhang Bufan, Yue Qingtian... Hehe, many geniuses have arrived."

The Lionheart Dao has never been good at fighting, but this generation produced a capable fighter, causing quite a stir.

The crisp and hurried sound of shattering broke the moment's tranquility.

The enhancement of one's physique had its limits, but after inscribing the principles of the law, the body seemed to break free from restrictions and shackles, entering a realm beyond human capabilities.

Hearing the girl in front of him mention the man's name, Zhuang Yanxing blurted out, "What's wrong with this guy?"

The voices of discussion in the room had faded without anyone noticing.

"Virtual technology?" Diao Xingyun shook his head, "That's not fun."

Mu Juncheng remained silent for a moment, then took a step forward, his face slowly breaking into a proud smile, and said with emphasis, "I..."

Yin Wushuang spoke nonchalantly, "This gathering is probably not just Mu Juncheng's idea, but also the higher-ups wanting to see the young generation's talents. So, we might get to use some of the latest technology. Let's look forward to it."

With that, she strode away, paying no attention to anyone else.

"So, where's Ji Jingqiu?" Diao Xingyun looked around, "I'm going to teach that guy a lesson tonight!"

Although the people in the room stood with smiles, their auras had already intertwined and entangled, like hidden currents beneath the deep sea. The surface appeared calm and peaceful, but underneath, dark tides were stirring.

Shi Xinvan's gaze flickered with surprise. She hadn't expected Zhuang Yanxing to say those words, and she asked with a hint of a smile, "You think Ji Jingqiu isn't up to the task?"

Facing the gazes of everyone, Ji Jingqiu paused, then raised the cup in his hand as if to toast everyone, but he suddenly let go.

Only a Grandmaster had the qualification to establish a Dao lineage.

Ji Jingqiu tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the distant sky, and said, "It's a bit boring."

Bian Rong spoke in a deep voice, "But after forming the Body of Power, it's hard to say. I won't win purely by physique suppression. This crazy woman's martial arts cultivation is far above mine, but her innate talent is lacking, and her physique is weak."

"This crazy woman is here too." Bian Rong narrowed his eyes, his gaze serious, clearly regarding her as a formidable opponent.

Amidst the surging undercurrents, Zhuang Yanxing felt like a small boat in the midst of a raging river, tossed and turned, constantly at risk of sinking to the bottom.

Zhuang Yanxing's face turned pale, and he struggled to hide behind his senior brother.

Shi Xinvan spoke thoughtfully, "After hearing what you said, this guy seems to lack endurance."

In an instant, many in the room turned their gazes towards him.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Yun Jinghe's eyes scanned the room and landed on two young men in the corner, "The guys from the Heavenly Mechanism Dao Field are here too."

"I heard that her fist technique is very pure. Once she forms the Cangjue Body, reversing her innate nature and supplementing her innate roots, her combat strength will take a qualitative leap."

He appeared smart, but in reality, he was foolish.

His figure was tall and slender, not the bulky and sturdy type. Compared to some of the more robust martial artists in the room, he might even appear slightly thin.

Not far away, Duan Xuanji shook his head, thinking that his disciple deserved a lesson.

This seemed to be a signal.

All the attendees were martial geniuses, so they didn't flatter Mu Juncheng's arrival. Instead, many felt a surge of battle intent.

Is he... too arrogant? Diao Xingyun wondered, feeling that the Federation's desire to observe the young martial artists was putting Mu Juncheng in an awkward position.

Sure enough.

Along with the young man's voice, filled with doubt,

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

"These past few days, many have been saying that you refused everyone's invitations but accepted the Mu Family's, implying that you are a fair-weather friend. Aren't you angry?"

Yun Jinghe's eyes burned with passion, ignoring the man beside him whose eyes were gradually filled with madness.

"Fist technique?!" Diao Xingyun was surprised, and he couldn't help but glance at the crimson-robed maiden again, feeling that the style didn't match, yet he couldn't quite place it.

"How about I demonstrate for everyone?"

Through the light and shadows reflected from the window, a young woman with short hair and a martial arts outfit stood. Her legs were slender yet strong, her face calm, and with each breath, there was a peculiar rhythm.

As the cup hit the ground and shattered, countless tiny fragments reflected the dazzling lights of the banquet hall, seemingly reflecting everyone's emotions.

Bian Rong smiled, his body muscular with well-defined muscles, his eyes deep and calm, yet with a hint of madness within.

"After this, go meditate."

"I've been waiting!"

There stood a young man by the floor-to-ceiling window, his face not particularly handsome but with a mix of firmness and calmness, and an indescribable brilliance, especially in his eyes, clear and serene. At first glance, he didn't stand out, but the more one looked, the more captivating he became.

"That's Qin Fen, a civilian martial artist recruited by the Tianxiang Group. He started martial arts training late, he's already eighteen this year, but with high talent, he's been making rapid progress. He seems calm, but he's actually frivolous and loves foot massages..."

There was no sound by his ear, but a booming noise echoed in his mind, like an underwater volcanic eruption.

In his perception, the entangled auras had triggered hidden currents that engulfed the room.

Among them, the strongest auras shone like spiritual lights, piercing through the sky, dominating the room, and suppressing everyone! And one of them was none other than Ji Jingqiu, standing by the window!

He was the one with the shortest time as one of the Four Guardians Star, yet his heartcurrent was like an abyss, and his mind cultivation was unfathomable.

He even had the strength to manipulate the vast aura vortex, suppressing Mu Juncheng!

True to his reputation, he was no ordinary man.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end