The Prince of Yan's Mansion, the Flower-Adorning Banquet! After defeating the elite

Cangdu, a place of great power and prestige.

Ji Xiu bathed in a large tub, his pores opening and closing, his blood and qi rising and falling, and white steam billowing from his nose, lingering for more than a foot.

It seemed as if he carried the phantom images of dragons and elephants on his shoulders. His physical body underwent tempering and transformation, making his true blood more surging and his muscles and bones stronger!
At this moment, if one were to use divine sense to introspect on the physical body...

Every inch of tendon, bone, and skin is flawless, with even the bones beneath the skin shining brightly. It is completely flawless, like the most perfect piece of raw jade.

"A martial artist without flaws, after undergoing six transformations, can be called the 'Fifth Great Limit'."

In other words

"I have now broken through the five limitations."

"Every step you take upwards is a breakthrough, a step further on the path to greater heights!"

"If one can obtain the Nine Transformations, according to the records of the 'Nine Dragons and Nine Elephants Suppressing Prison Mysterious Technique,' the Dragon and Tiger Treasure Image that one can obtain will be of the highest grade, comparable to breaking through the Six Limits and becoming a pseudo-Martial Saint!"

"My senior brother Qi from Zhenwu Mountain was truly a timely help, bringing those powerful clans to their knees and making them extremely domineering."

"Even with such ruthless exploitation, we can't extract much resources, so we have to stop here."

"If we want to go any higher, we would need the flesh and muscles of a titled demon or the true blood of an auspicious spirit. I guess the only way to get there is through a trip to the Eastern Sea and the Water Lord's Palace."

Ji Xiu muttered to himself, then looked inward at the still dormant and sealed 'Nine Aperture Golden Core', licked his lips, and felt an irrepressible urgency to comprehend the 'Great Dao of the Golden Core'.

But as he looked at the cold jade box on his left, he suppressed his thoughts and muttered to himself:

"Now that the elixir has been successfully made and the orthodox lineage of the Dragon and Elephant School has been established, although there have been many ups and downs and unexpected events, it can be considered a complete success."

"It's a good opportunity to go back to Jiangyin Prefecture and deliver the Heavenly Medicine to the young lady. That will put my mind at ease."

Thinking of this, Ji Xiu tucked the jade box into his sleeve and stood up.

But they had only just taken a step
Then came a gold-embossed invitation card, inscribed with "To the Prince of Longxiang Daozi," and stamped with the character "Yan" from the Prince's Palace.

"Ok?"

"This is."

Ji Xiu frowned, recognizing it as a symbol of the Prince of Yan's residence. He opened it, read it carefully, and then suddenly understood.

This was an invitation to attend the flower-adorning banquet held at the Prince of Yan's residence for Princess Jiang Changle.

The letter also confirmed that Ji Xiuwei was the "top Xuanguan" this time, and would be qualified to enter Baiyujing to participate in the Grand Imperial Examination held once every ten years!

If one can come out on top among them.
Then one will be qualified to compete with all the heavens and realms, and enter the Peach Banquet held by the ancient Dao Court to entertain all the immortals when all the heavens were once unified, and obtain a seat!

Of course, those things are too far away for Ji Xiu at the moment.

However, the goodwill and reciprocation in this letter are crystal clear.

A banquet for wearing flowers in one's hair.

This banquet was typically held at the homes of high-ranking officials, nobles, and dignitaries, intended to entertain their young and talented daughters.

If one can stand out among them, win the top spot, and gain the favor of a young noblewoman, she will present him with a hairpin and arrange a marriage between them.

Even without this step, it is still an exchange meeting for major powers and clans, which helps to expand one's network.

But Ji Xiu was not interested in this.

If it weren't for the fact that the meeting place mentioned in this letter is the Prince Yan's villa in Cangdu.

In addition, given the repeated offers from the Prince of Yan's residence and its special status in the Northeast, he wanted to decline them.

Since it was delivered right to my doorstep, it would be impolite not to make the trip.

"It seems we have no choice but to make the trip."

"After I arrived, I immediately summoned Lord Cangming and asked him to take me back to Jiangyin."

"I wonder how the young lady is doing now that so much time has passed."

Cangdu, the Prince of Yan's villa.

Exotic flowers and vibrant colors vie for attention, their beauty mingling with the glow of mist and haze, creating a tapestry of color amidst painted beams and carved pillars.

A young girl leaned against the railing, her hand supporting her cheek, gazing at the bustling crowds inside and outside the palace below, lost in thought.

Behind the screen behind her, Prince Jiang Changchi, dressed in brocade robes, walked over with a smile upon seeing this:

"What, you looked at them all but didn't find one you liked?"

Jiang Changle, who was lost in thought, was startled by the noise. She glanced at Jiang Changchi and complained:
"Brother, why do you walk so quietly?"

"It's not a matter of liking or disliking."

The girl's expression was uncertain, and her tone was somewhat lost.

She lowered her head for a moment, as if none of the young talents, who were at least from powerful and orthodox families, could arouse her interest.

"Both marriages are political alliances arranged by my father to consolidate the territory in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region."

"It's no different from the White Dragon Lord of the Eastern Canghai Sea Palace casting a wide net and sending out dragon maidens."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Changchi fell silent for a moment:

"That may be true, but given our backgrounds, we are destined to be powerless to control our own lives, and besides..."

"Your father has already done his best to let you choose and decide for yourself."

"He is only offering you some suggestions. If you are not willing, you can choose other talented young people. Unlike other families, he does not force you to be assigned."

Jiang Changle was somewhat sullen.

As if remembering something, Jiang Changchi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise:
"By the way, what Father wants most is to match you with Ji Xiu, the legitimate heir of the Dragon and Elephant lineage."

“This child originally had a clean record in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region. He has also been blessed with auspicious omens and is a descendant of dragons and snakes. He is a promising talent and the person Father prefers.”

"And not long ago, it even got involved with Zhenwu Mountain, and even that Zhenwu Daozi, the chief of the Young Dragon Stele, personally stood up for it."

"Do you..."

As her brother recounted the story, Jiang Changle bit her lip, clearly impressed by the man. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard a commotion below.

So the two of them looked up and gazed into the distance—

Just then, I saw the two young figures with the highest status at this flower-adorning banquet.

They are Wei Fengchun, a true disciple of 'Divine Weapon Altar', one of the Ten Pillars, and Wang Quanqi, the contemporary leader of the Wang Quan family.

Both of them came from top-tier forces. The Divine Weapon Altar was a substitute for the Blade Court to advance to the Ten Pillars, while the Wangquan family lacked sufficient foundation, with only their ancestor supporting the family.

But placed in this white mountains and black waters
They came from a first-rate, distinguished family, and possessed exceptional personal abilities. But at this moment...

The two took their seats at the banquet. Hearing the flattery from those around them, and as the people of the highest status and family at this flower-adorning banquet, they couldn't help but feel a little arrogant.

But then a long sword, scabbard and all, was slammed onto their desk with a clang.
The two people, who had been smiling and chatting with each other with ease, suddenly stopped laughing.

Wei Fengchun and Wang Quanqi both looked up.

Then they saw Ji Xiu, whom they had met before on their respective sects and clans' orders, traveling by large ship to Jiangyin, and whom they had not taken seriously, standing right in front of them.

"Gentlemen, do you still remember this knife?"

Ji Xiu never expected that the ten pillar disciples and the elite of the royal power who had used their power to intimidate others and traveled a long way to enter Jiangyin Prefecture and Jin'ao Island that day would be encountered today.

If it weren't for Grandmaster Wang Xuanyang's unbridled actions that day, the two would probably have resorted to "courtesy first, then force," and if the deal fell through, they would have tried to rob him by force.

Even if it doesn't work out in the end, and he is driven away in a sorry state by his master.

The tone of these two men before they left was also laced with sarcasm, clearly indicating that they were still determined to commit crimes.

Ji Xiuke had a clear memory of all the forces that owed him debts along the way.

With Zhenwu Mountain as his backing, Ji Xiu is riding high, causing fear throughout the vast Beicang region, and the news is even spreading throughout the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River area.

Having once served as the 'Chief of the Sword Court,' knowing the principle that 'power unused is power wasted,' he saw his nemesis had crossed paths and showed no mercy:
"Didn't you insist on taking this knife last time?"

"The knife is right in front of you. If you two are capable, please raise your hands."

"If you lack ability"

"After you return, please tell the senior who covets this sword that it is a treasure left behind by the Sword Court and should naturally belong to my Sword Court lineage."

"It's best not to covet anything from others who are unrelated!"

Upon hearing this, the noisy atmosphere that had been surrounding and thronging around Wei Fengchun and Wang Quanqi suddenly fell silent.

Just as they were about to turn their heads to see which audacious individual dared to challenge both the Nine Clans and Ten Pillars, as well as the Wangquan Clan, which had the most powerful figures in power, they were about to turn their heads to see which of them was the most audacious.
Then I saw Ji Xiu.

So he immediately smiled awkwardly and quietly withdrew from both sides, sitting back and watching the two sides fight, not daring to get involved in the vortex of their conflict.

After the two major events involving the Xie family of Yuhuan and the state magistrate, everyone in Cangdu knew that Ji Xiu, the Daoist disciple of the Longxiang Sect, was the junior brother appointed by the Daoist disciple Zhenwu.

If we were to collide with it at this critical juncture
That's like an old man hanging himself – he's tired of living!

However, when did Ji Daozi, who left Jiangyin Prefecture, develop a grudge with the Divine Weapon Altar and the Wang Quan family in Xiqi?

Some people shook their heads repeatedly, completely bewildered, but dared not get involved, and simply watched silently from the sidelines.

Wei Fengchun and Wang Quanqi, who had originally come to see if they could become the sons-in-law of the prince after receiving the invitation, and who had also received orders from their families, suddenly changed their expressions.

The two stood up at the same time, a flash of anger crossing their faces, but remembering the recent troubles surrounding Ji Xiu, they could only suppress it forcibly.

Wei Fengchun's tone was icy:

"This sword has been enshrined in the Divine Weapon Altar for a hundred years, requiring a great deal of manpower and resources for its maintenance."

"Although Daozi held a high position..."

"But to think you can erase all the involvement with just a few words is a bit too easy, isn't it?"

Wang Quanqi frowned helplessly:

"The name of our ancestor, Wang Quan, is still engraved on it; please do not accept it."

Bang!
Before the two could even exchange a single word, Ji Xiu unleashed a powerful attack, his arm embracing a dragon and his other a covering elephant. His two large, five-fingered palms slammed down, his qi flowing and his blood surging. Before they could even finish a sentence, they were already at each other's throats!
As the internal organs rise and fall, the power of the Six Transformations and Five Limits erupts!
Ji Xiu's torso was like a majestic elephant standing tall and proud, its head raised to the sky, and its two arms were like dragons reaching out from the clouds!

At the same time, what fell into their eyes was a completely different kind of youthful demeanor from the one they had seen on Jin'ao Island!

"His true blood was boiling, his energy was like a dragon, and the 'dragon-elephant' form that emerged was at least at the sixth stage of transformation!!"

"This child has reached the fifth major limit, and has already achieved flawless success!?"

"impossible!"

"Back on Jin'ao Island, he was only at the initial stage of the Perfected Realm. Even the most gifted martial artist would take three to five years to undergo several transformations. How could he have done it?"

Wei Fengchun was originally at the end of the Young Dragon Stele, and Wang Quanqi was not even included. The two of them were only skilled in Dragon and Tiger techniques, and could not even be considered the leaders among the masters of their respective schools.

Seeing that Ji Xiu had reached the fifth major limit in such a short time, it was as if an earthquake had struck his heart!
Seeing Ji Xiu's spine crackle and pop like a dragon, the two gritted their teeth:

"No matter what, this scoundrel is only at the fifth stage of the cultivation realm, not yet a dragon or tiger. Moreover, his attempt to fight two opponents at once is far too arrogant. Even with the support of the True Martial Dao Child, such a presumptuous act deserves to be taught a lesson!"

The two men simultaneously gathered their powerful expressions, their muscles and bones throbbed, their hair stood on end in fury, and they raised their fists to strike!
They all come from top-tier forces. Even if they are not as powerful as Zhenwu Mountain, they are not too afraid of the power of Zhenwu Daozi. If they remain indifferent when others come to their doorstep, it is unacceptable.
If the patriarch heard this, he would surely be furious and scold him for being so useless!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A thunderous tremor resounded as fists and palms clashed, creating a tremendous commotion!
Wei Fengchun and Wang Quanqi's teeth chattered as they felt their killing punches being firmly blocked, as if they were stuck in mud, or trapped in a mountain of fingers. Large beads of sweat broke out on their foreheads.

"What kind of flawless true skill is this?"

Wang Quanqi's words were extremely difficult to utter, and he had only just begun to speak.

Immediately following, there was a loud 'bang'!
They were each pinned down by Ji Xiu's arm, causing them to fall over!

Splash!
The sound of tables and chairs collapsing, leaving things scattered everywhere.

A chill ran through the entire 'Hairpin Flower Banquet,' as everyone watched this scene, truly realizing the significance of this Dragon Elephant Daoist.
Aside from having powerful backers, his own strength is enough to qualify him for one of the thirty-six seats on the Young Dragon Stele!

And this scene.

Jiang Changchi and Jiang Changle could see it clearly from the railing.

Unconsciously, Jiang Changle glanced at the laurel wreath beside her, twirled it lightly with her fingertips, and was somewhat tempted.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Changchi, who was standing to the side, immediately laughed:

"You're starting to have your own opinions now?"

Jiang Changle held the laurel wreath in her hair, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating:

"Brother Wang, do you think he would accept if I presented the crown?"

Jiang Changchi disagreed with this statement:

"You are Princess Chang Le. Even in the capital, how many nobles and princes would flock to you? How much more so in this remote corner of the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River?"

"How could he possibly refuse?"

Having said that, he tried to pull Wang Mei down from the pavilion by her fair wrist, but...
The flower-adorning banquet held in the prince's mansion had just begun and had not yet reached its climax when suddenly, a black-armored warrior, clad in iron armor and clearly an elite soldier from the state, rushed in!

"There is an urgent military situation in Jiangyin Prefecture. Please report it to the feudal lords and the king!"

"On the East Cang Sea, rebels in Hun Tian Marsh have raised their flags, attacked and captured counties and prefectures, and have already spread to Jiangyin Prefecture. Under their command are 80,000 divine armored soldiers and Taoist soldiers who claim to be able to completely plant red flags all over the White Mountains and Black Waters and change the flag!"

Jiangyin Prefecture has fallen!?
In an instant, Ji Xiu's gaze sharpened, his eyes turning serious as he looked up sharply! (End of Chapter)