The hubbub settled as the main guest made his grand entrance. All eyes of the Outer Court's Five Tigers were fixed on the honored guest of the feast: a youthful figure clad in a jester mask and a robe woven from gleaming golden silk.
The five rose from their seats, each offering a respectful salute according to the traditions of their respective states. Some clasped their hands together, others tapped lightly on their chests, and a few offered a solemn bow.
Seated calmly on a mat crafted from the fur of a formidable beast, the Youth in the jester mask surveyed each of them with a keen gaze, assessing their martial prowess and demeanor. When his eyes fell upon the twin brothers, he spoke in a composed tone, "Ah, so you are the renowned Five Tigers of this generation. Impressive, indeed. I must say, you outshine even the most recent cohorts." He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing, "Your competitive spirit, though at times contentious, is commendable. In fact, I find it preferable to maintain such an atmosphere. It keeps things interesting." He nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the perceptiveness of some of them regarding his presence. "I anticipate that this year's Martial Meet Competition of the Outer Court will be quite spirited. But before we delve into matters further, let us first compose ourselves and discuss things civilly."
Raising his right arm, he gracefully slid his hand through the long, loose sleeve of his robe, revealing a pale white palm. With a fluid motion, he flipped his forefinger, conjuring a crystal-clear water droplet just above its tip. As if in response, all the water contained in various vessels—pitchers, porcelain bowls—resonated, emitting a soft, melodious ringing tone. In the next instant, they were lifted into the air and drawn toward the single droplet, converging and concentrating the vast volume of water into its essence.
The spectacle stirred envy and anticipation within the Five Tigers. They were well aware that only cultivators in the Houtian Qi Cultivation Realm could manifest elemental magics. However, what truly impressed them was not just the display of high-level water elemental magic, but the effortless manner in which the Senior Brother conjured it—without a single hand seal or incantation, unlike the typical Houtian Realm experts. This led them to one conclusion: the Senior Brother had already reached the pinnacle of the Houtian Realm, with one foot poised to step into the next realm known as the Pseudo Xiantian Realm, or perhaps he was already in the Xiantian Realm. It was a thought that echoed in each of their minds.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
This was precisely the reaction the youth with the jester mask had anticipated. With a flick of his wrist, he divided the single droplet into two halves, each soaring toward one of the twin brothers.
As the water droplets made contact with their robes, they swiftly washed away the stains from their earlier scuffle with Song Ke. The process unfolded before their eyes, leaving Song Ke to click his tongue in frustration as his efforts to shame the perpetually arrogant Wei brothers were swiftly undone.
Once their garments were cleansed, the two droplets surged outward from their purple robes, seamlessly merging back into the single water droplet from whence they came.
“Even though I hail from the Inner Court, within the Tianfu Sword Palace, there is no need for formality among us. Please, take your seats and let us indulge in this feast before delving into weightier matters,” the masked youth declared. With a flick of his fingertips, the water droplet burst with a soft pop, dissolving into the thinnest wisp of vapor that dispersed into the surrounding air.
"Thank you, senior brother! I'm positively famished from wrangling with those foolish twins," Song Ke exclaimed as he promptly took his seat, diving into the array of sweets, delicacies, and meats with the fervor of a hungry wolf.
The audacity of Song Ke impressed both Qin Gao, the First Tiger, and Yan Bingyan, the Second Tigress. With a wry smile, Qin Gao reached for a chicken breast, indulging in the feast before him. Meanwhile, Yan Bingyan opted to continue savoring her tea, abstaining from partaking in the feast as it would compromise her reputation as a princess of the esteemed Yan State, especially in the presence of a mysterious guest whose identity remained concealed. Being the sole female present, she held herself to a higher standard, refraining from indulging in the meat and wine served.
The Wei twins, on the other hand, partook in the feast with elegance and poise, their manners contrasting starkly with Song Ke's voracious appetite.
As Song Ke voraciously devoured the food before him, a sneer crept onto Wei Su Mu's face, his words dripping with disdain as he whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "I had hoped for a civil gathering with the Senior Brother as our esteemed guest. Yet, it seems we also have a guest who eats like a dog. It's no surprise, considering his origins in a poverty-stricken, insignificant state."
With a chicken leg hanging from his mouth, Song Ke cocked his head and retorted, "And what if I did come from a small, poor state? How does that concern you, fools? I'm here to show respect to our seniors by attending this feast. And whether I eat with manners or not, it won't bankrupt your Wei State, will it? If it does, I'd be glad to crash any party you throw."
Wei Su Mu attempted to argue back but was silenced by Wei Su Ming, who telepathically advised him to refrain from stooping to Song Ke's level. "Keep calm! Don't descend to his level. Besides, we're in the presence of this enigmatic senior. Let the dog eat as he pleases."
After polishing off the last dish, Song Ke glanced around the room and spoke his mind, “Senior Brother, why aren't you indulging in any of these delicacies? We arranged this feast, especially for you. If you don't partake, I might feel too embarrassed to attend such lavish gatherings in the future.”