Chapter 157: The Banquet
As night fell, Spirit City lit up in a blaze of lights.
Viewed from above, the entire city resembled a radiant pearl embedded within the darkness; the lights from thousands of households merged into a continuous expanse, mirroring the twinkling stars in the heavens above.
And tonight, the brightest light of all shone from the Spirit Hotel.
This—the most luxurious hotel in all of Spirit City—had been adorned this evening to appear even more magnificent and resplendent.
Its grand arched entrance stood wide open, flanked on either side by four greeters clad in ceremonial robes of white and gold.
With smiles upon their faces, they stood ready to welcome every distinguished guest. Above the doorway, a massive emblem of an angel glowed with a faint golden halo, illuminated by the radiance of luminous pearls.
Stepping into the main hall, the first sight to greet the eye was a constellation of seventy-two crystal chandeliers suspended from the vaulted ceiling, bathing the entire chamber in a light as bright as day.
Along both sides of the hall, long banquet tables stretching for several meters were laid out in rows.
These tables were draped in snow-white satin and laden with rare delicacies gathered from every corner of the continent:
Sweet Flower-Brewed Chicken, Roasted Mushroom Pizza, Tuna Sushi, Mint Jelly, Crispy Shrimp and Potato Cups, Creamy Crab Pots...
There were also imperial tribute wines—their rich aromas wafting through the air, intoxicating one’s senses with merely a whiff.
Each and every dish was worth a fortune.
In the center of the hall, a spacious open area had been left clear, carpeted with a wool rug featuring intricate patterns and vibrant colors.
This served as the designated zone where guests could freely mingle and converse.
By this time, the banquet had already been underway for just under an hour.
Amidst the melodious strains of music, guests gathered in small groups—some conversing in hushed tones, others raising their glasses in salutation—creating an atmosphere that appeared, on the surface, to be entirely harmonious.3
However, were a keen observer to look closely, they would perceive that beneath this harmonious facade, powerful undercurrents were surging.
...
The Eastern Side of the Hall.
Here stood a long banquet table positioned slightly higher than the others—draped in an exquisite tablecloth and set with the finest, most delicate tableware. Qian Renxue sat in the seat of honor.
Today, she did not wear her customary, imposing Papal ceremonial robes; instead, she had changed into a sweeping, floor-length gown of gold and crimson.
The dress was tailored to fit her figure closely, accentuating her graceful, curvaceous silhouette.
The hem was embroidered with subtle, dark-gold patterns of a six-winged angel—designs that seemed to shimmer into and out of view with every movement she made.
Her golden hair was swept up high and secured with a delicate, petite diadem; a few stray wisps fell softly against her ears, serving to highlight the exquisite beauty of her face.
Holding a wine glass, she wore a smile of impeccable propriety, acknowledging each guest who stepped forward to offer their congratulations with a gentle nod.
Her smile was perfectly measured—neither appearing aloof and distant, nor overly familiar and effusive—embodying precisely the dignified demeanor befitting a Pope.
Jiang Bai stood at her side.
Today, he was clad in a deep-blue formal robe, embroidered with simple cloud motifs in gold thread.
The collar and cuffs were trimmed with pure white satin, lending him an air of refined elegance that seemed almost ethereal.
His black hair remained tied back casually with a cloth ribbon of the same dark hue. Devoid of any superfluous ornamentation, his presence nonetheless possessed an undeniable intensity that commanded attention.
The sheer shock and awe evoked earlier that day by the sight of his nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings remained deeply etched in the minds of every person present.
At this moment, a steady stream of guests approached him, bowing in salutation.
"The Chief Adjudicator is so accomplished at such a young age—it is truly a blessing for the Spirit Hall!"
"Elder Jiang, your talent is unparalleled; I hold you in the highest esteem! Should the opportunity arise in the future, I hope you might see fit to offer me your guidance and patronage..."
"To hold such a high position at such a tender age—Elder Jiang, your future is truly limitless..."
Jiang Bai offered a slight nod, responding to their greetings with a cool, measured demeanor.
He neither put on airs nor feigned warmth—maintaining a precise, appropriate degree of detachment.
...
On the other side of the grand hall, near the windows...
Ning Fengzhi stood holding a wine glass, conversing calmly with a small group of people; yet, his eyes would periodically dart toward the other side of the room—toward that young man clad in white.
With every furtive glance he cast in that direction, the fingers gripping his wine glass would tighten just a fraction more. Jiang Bai... the Judgment Elder... nine hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings...
That name—that number—had already spun through his mind countless times this evening.
What exactly was his background? When had the Spirit Hall acquired such a figure?
Why had he never heard of him before?
Question after question tangled together like a chaotic knot, offering no thread to unravel the mystery.
"Sect Master Ning?"
A voice rang out beside his ear.
Ning Fengzhi snapped back to reality and turned to face the speaker.
It was a young man, roughly twenty years of age. His short golden hair was groomed to absolute perfection; his features were handsome, and his eyes held a sharp, spirited air of youthful vigor.
He wore a magnificent brocade robe, upon which was embroidered the swan emblem of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
The Third Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire: Xue Luochuan.
To this day, the Heaven Dou Empire had yet to formally appoint a Crown Prince.
Among the four imperial princes, the First and Second Princes were mediocre, while the Fourth Prince was still a mischievous child; only this Third Prince, Xue Luochuan—accomplished in both civil and martial arts, and known for treating worthy subordinates with respect—showed the distinct bearing of a future monarch.
For this very reason, Emperor Xue Ye had specifically dispatched him to lead the delegation attending the new Pontiff’s coronation ceremony.
At this moment, Xue Luochuan wore a broad smile as he raised his cup. "Sect Master Ning, I’d like to propose a toast to you!"
He paused for a moment, his tone turning earnest.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and our Heaven Dou Imperial Family have always enjoyed a close friendship; I hope we may continue to foster even closer ties in the days to come!"
Ning Fengzhi gazed at the young man before him, his heart filled with quiet understanding.
How could he possibly fail to see through Xue Luochuan’s true intentions?
It was nothing more than an attempt to leverage the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to bolster his own standing in the struggle for the Crown Prince’s throne.
He had witnessed such machinations countless times before.
He managed to force a smile as he clinked his cup against Xue Luochuan’s. "Your Highness is too kind."
Xue Luochuan drained his cup in a single gulp, then lowered his voice to a whisper.
"Sect Master Ning... that Judgment Elder... do you happen to know anything about his background?"
The hand Ning Fengzhi used to hold his wine cup paused ever so slightly. He shook his head, his voice calm: "I do not know."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Xue Luochuan’s eyes, but he quickly plastered a smile back onto his face: "True enough. For a prodigy of such caliber—one who has burst onto the scene so suddenly—I suppose even few within the Spirit Hall itself would be aware of him..."
He sought out a few more topics to chat about with Ning Fengzhi; however, seeing that Ning Fengzhi was not particularly inclined toward conversation, he tactfully took his leave and turned to go in search of his next target.
Ning Fengzhi watched his retreating figure, a glint of coldness flashing through his eyes.
He wants to take him as a disciple? He wants to leverage the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
That is permissible.
But what he sought was a dynamic of calculated distance—a delicate dance of feigned reluctance—one that would render the Heaven Dou Imperial Family utterly dependent upon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Only in this way could he guarantee the absolute status and interests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect within the Heaven Dou Empire.
He withdrew his gaze and looked once more toward the white-clad youth.
He took a deep breath.
Setting down his wine cup, he straightened his robes and strode purposefully toward Jiang Bai.
Upon seeing this, Chen Xin frowned slightly; he moved to follow, but Ning Fengzhi raised a hand to stop him.
"Uncle Sword, please remain here."
Ning Fengzhi’s voice was soft, yet firm: "I shall go alone."
Chen Xin looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
Ning Fengzhi walked alone through the crowd, making his way toward the eastern side of the hall.
With every step, his gait remained steady and composed.
Upon his face, that signature smile—gentle and refined—reappeared.
Stopping directly before Jiang Bai, he bowed slightly: "Your Excellency Jiang Bai!"
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft—pitched to perfection.
However, his choice of address was subtly nuanced; rather than using the title "Adjudication Elder," he had opted for "Your Excellency."
In the world of Spirit Masters, this was typically a respectful honorific reserved for Title Douluo.
Yet, Jiang Bai already held the official position of Adjudication Elder within the Spirit Hall; strictly speaking, one ought to address him by his official title.
By deliberately eschewing the official title, Ning Fengzhi was conducting a subtle probe.