Immortal Martial Emperor

The sea had long since returned to its tranquil state after the once-in-a-century disaster.

Therefore...

Tonight’s banquet was to be held on the deck.

The Celestial Dragon Warship was massive, its deck so spacious that it could easily accommodate a grand banquet for three or four thousand people.

Hong Yu and his group had yet to arrive.

As soon as Zhangg Kang and his two companions arrived, they immediately headed for the seat of honor.

One of the sailors, greatly displeased, called out, "Hey! Your seats are over here!"

"Hm?"

The trio froze, looking in the direction of the voice.

It turned out the sailor had assigned them to the seats just to the left of the head table.

Normally, these were the most prestigious seats aside from the seat of honor itself. As rescued shipwreck survivors, they should have been grateful for such an arrangement.

However, Zhangg Kang and his companions looked furious. Wang Lidin snorted coldly and said angrily, "We are nobles of the dignified Aolai Kingdom! How dare you make us sit here?"

Fu Shuo’s face turned livid, as if he had been deeply insulted.

He raged, "If you don’t let us have the seats of honor today, we won’t be eating at all!"

Zhangg Kang was even more direct. He found a seat right in the center of the head table, sat down, and refused to move.

The sailors instantly flared up with anger.

’We’re the masters of the Celestial Dragon Warship!’

Thousands of sailors were still on their feet, waiting for Hong Yu and his party to arrive, yet these three had not only sat down first, but had also stolen their seats?

’How could they tolerate this?’

For a moment, the three of them were locked in a standoff with several thousand sailors.

Inside the cabin, Hong Yu had just finished cultivating. He emerged to find Xu Wudi and Landy standing at the door, both with extremely odd expressions on their faces.

Hong Yu asked in confusion, "What’s wrong?"

"Let him explain it to you!" Xu Wudi said, huffing angrily. He then hugged Little Chenxi and fell silent.

Landy said glumly, "It’s those three we rescued today..."

After listening to Landy, the corner of Hong Yu’s eye twitched.

After a long moment of stunned silence, he finally managed to say, "Do people that bizarre really exist in this world?"

Landy spread his hands. "I’ve heard of the Aolai Kingdom. It’s a maritime nation. They’re rich in precious marine materials, Spirit Medicines, and Treasures that are hard to find on the mainland. Because of this, many kingdoms vie to work with them, which has fostered their arrogant and condescending nature."

"Forget it. It’s just a few seats. Let them sit there if they want. As long as they don’t take it too far, it’s fine."

Hong Yu shrugged nonchalantly.

The three of them left and headed out onto the deck.

Young Master Yeban was trying to placate the sailors with a look of resignation. Upon seeing Hong Yu, he looked as if he’d just spotted a lifeline and began signaling frantically with his eyes.

Hong Yu cleared his throat. Thousands of sailors turned to look at him and immediately fell silent.

Hong Yu smiled and gestured for them to calm down. "Alright, it’s just a seat. Does it matter where one sits? We’re all on the same ship, equals with no distinction between high and low birth. Everyone, please be seated."

’Look at that. That’s Hong Yu for you. Now that’s the bearing of a true genius!’

’Equals, with no distinction between high and low birth! Damn... that one sentence is enough to make a grown man cry.’

’From now on, I’m a die-hard Hong Yu fan!’

The group of sailors muttered amongst themselves as they returned to their seats.

Hong Yu’s words were enough to quell the crowd’s anger.

And yet, Zhangg Kang and his companions remained livid. Watching Hong Yu and his party take their seats, Wang Lidin snorted, "You certainly put on airs, making our Crown Prince wait for so long."

Hong Yu froze, then pointed to himself. "Are you talking to me?"

"Hmph. Not a shred of self-awareness. You arrive and don’t even apologize and pay respects to our Crown Prince. You sat down without His Highness’s permission. You have no manners whatsoever," Fu Shuo added arrogantly.

Hong Yu: "..."

Xu Wudi: "..."

Young Master Yeban: "..."

Even Crown Prince Landy, a man of profound shrewdness, could barely stand to watch any longer.

"Enough, enough. Wang Lidin, Fu Shuo, they are the masters of this ship, after all. Let’s give them some face. We’ll let the lack of an apology slide," Zhangg Kang said, waving his hand magnanimously to show his stance.

"Oh, our Crown Prince is so magnanimous!"

"That’s a man destined for great things!"

The two of them immediately began to shower him with flattery.

Hong Yu rubbed his nose, unable to watch this spectacle. Noticing Lin Fei sitting in a corner, he frowned and asked the nearby captain, "Why is Lin Fei sitting over there?"

Before the captain could speak, Zhangg Kang waved a dismissive hand. "What right does a lowly commoner have to sit with me, the Crown Prince? I told him to go sit over there!"

Hong Yu shot Zhangg Kang a look, then rose to his feet. Xu Wudi and the others stood up as well.

Hong Yu led his party over to where Lin Fei was sitting.

The table was tucked away in a corner, occupied by the ship’s haulers—the crew members with the lowest status.

Upon seeing Hong Yu, Landy, and the others approach, they all wore expressions of awe and trepidation.

Hong Yu chuckled. "There’s no need to be nervous, everyone. You all do the hardest, most grueling work on this ship. If anyone deserves the seats of honor, it’s you! Come, let’s trade places with you."

"Lord Hong, we... we couldn’t possibly!"

The haulers’ eyes welled up with emotional tears as they hastily refused.

Landy smiled. "Since Hong Yu has spoken, don’t be shy!"

Moved and grateful, the haulers made their way to the head table.

Hong Yu and his group then took the seats in the corner. He smiled at Lin Fei and asked, "How are your injuries healing?"

"M-Much better!"

Lin Fei said, a little timidly.

He still couldn’t understand it. Back in his own country, the Aolai Kingdom, he was ostracized wherever he went.

’But here, he had become the object of Hong Yu’s concern?’

Hong Yu seemed to read his mind and smiled. "I didn’t come from a wealthy family either."

A jolt went through Lin Fei, and a light of excitement and gratitude flickered deep in his eyes.

That one simple sentence was all it took for Lin Fei to truly accept Hong Yu.

While the conversation on Lin Fei’s side was lively, Zhangg Kang and his companions’ faces had turned livid.

The trio looked at the haulers now seated around them. They were all coarse, boorish men, their voices like rumbling thunder. In the eyes of so-called nobles, they were nothing but common rabble.

’We’re actually sitting with a group like this?’

Wang Lidin and Fu Shuo were on the verge of exploding.

Zhangg Kang shot them a look, signaling for them to stay calm.

The two immediately broke into sinister smiles. They understood that Zhangg Kang was also furious and was preparing to put Hong Yu’s group in their place with a triple display of Primordial Weapons, Treasures, and raw power.

With that in mind, they reined themselves in.

They believed it wouldn’t be long before they utterly crushed Hong Yu’s group, leaving them to prostrate themselves in worship!

Just thinking about that scene made the three of them shiver with a bit of excitement.

After that, the rest of the banquet proceeded rather smoothly.

After the banquet, the sailors organized some performances.

These sailors spent years at sea, with voyages lasting anywhere from a few months to several years, so naturally, they had developed plenty of entertainment.

It was Hong Yu’s first time seeing such things, and he watched with great interest.

Even Little Chenxi’s eyes were wide, and she would occasionally clap her small, pink hands in excitement.

A play based on a legendary tale was being performed on the deck.

It told the story of a great monster of the sea that devoured a ship. After the captain died, his son cultivated relentlessly to avenge his father, eventually assembling a massive fleet.

The story concluded with the young man slaying the great sea monster and finally achieving his revenge.

When the captain, playing the role of the young man, slew the sea monster, the play reached its climax and concluded.

"Bravo! Well done!"

The crowd was thrilled by the performance.

Even Hong Yu couldn’t help but feel a stir of emotion. ’Didn’t he see a reflection of himself in that young man?’

Even Wang Lidin was engrossed. "I didn’t expect these country bumpkins to have some skill!"

Fu Shuo nodded. "That was pretty satisfying to watch!"

Zhangg Kang nodded as well.

The captain and the cast of sailors bowed to the audience. "Thank you, thank you, everyone!"

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain and everyone!"

Hong Yu said with a smile.

Landy was even more direct, bestowing numerous rewards upon the performers, and a joyous atmosphere filled the air.

By now, the banquet was drawing to a close. Landy announced, "It’s getting late, and we still have a long voyage ahead. Everyone should get some rest!"

The crowd murmured in agreement, preparing to disperse and end the festivities.

But just at that moment...

A dissonant voice suddenly rang out, "What... that’s it? It’s over? I really don’t get what kind of taste you people from the mainland kingdoms have. You call a play like that a good show? How boring. So damn boring. It was mind-numbingly dull!"

"..."

The crowd turned toward the sound of the voice, and the sailors glared daggers.

Wang Lidin was speaking, his face a mask of contempt. "What are you looking at? Your performance was utter nonsense. I have no idea how any of you could watch it so rapturously!"

The haulers at his table stared at Wang Lidin in astonishment, their eyes filled with confusion. ’Wasn’t this the same guy who was just clapping and shouting, "So damn brilliant!" a moment ago? How could he flip his attitude in the blink of an eye?’

But Wang Lidin didn’t even blush, maintaining his high-and-mighty demeanor without missing a beat.

Fu Shuo chimed in with practiced ease, "It was indeed boring. Compared to our Aolai Kingdom, you people are nothing but backwater hicks!"

The sailors glared furiously.

’This was a show they had prepared with great care. How could they not be furious to hear it torn apart like this?’

Landy’s expression darkened as well.

These sailors were all from the Ice Kingdom. By insulting them so brazenly, weren’t Wang Lidin and his friends also insulting the Ice Kingdom?

With a cold face, Landy said dryly, "So, you’re saying your Aolai Kingdom is all that great?"

"But of course. Any random thing from our Aolai Kingdom would have the major mainland kingdoms fighting tooth and nail for it!" Fu Shuo said with confidence.

Wang Lidin nodded. "We have a kind of pearl there called a Dragon Eye Pearl, and they’re as big as a fist. A single one can sell for ten million Gold Coins. You have no idea how many nobles from the mainland kingdoms get on their knees, crying and begging us to sell them one."

Zhangg Kang, for his part, wore a profound, inscrutable smile.

Landy was even more irritated. "So according to you, we mainland kingdoms can’t compare to you in any way?"

"That’s right!"

Wang Lidin nodded arrogantly. He carefully took out a Treasure Box and presented it to the crowd. "In here is a priceless Treasure," he said, his face brimming with confidence. "You all better hold onto your jaws, lest they drop from shock!"

As he spoke, he slowly opened the Treasure Box.

Fu Shuo and Zhangg Kang wore mysterious, eerie smiles, quietly waiting to see the look of slack-jawed astonishment on the faces of Hong Yu and his group.

But...

would things really go as they hoped?

[I’d like to recommend a friend’s completed novel, *Nine Profound Divine Venerable*. Also, our story, *Martial Emperor*, is now over 1.5 million words long, and I guarantee it will be completed with regular updates. I’ve created a group and welcome everyone to join: 215631503. I, Qiye, will often pop in, and you can even ask me for a character role in the group!]