Chapter 361: Chapter 302 I’m reporting!_2

The banquet hall had already gathered over two hundred people, it seemed they were all preparing to attend the Hundred Dynasties Meeting, with many among them dressed in expensive attire, exuding an aura of nobility, likely to be descendants of high officials from the Divine Dynasty.

After a while, when all were present, Li Cheng saw the Kongqian Commerce Association’s President, whom he had met once before, walking over surrounded by a group of people.

He was not only the President of the Commerce Association but also the Sixth Prince of the Divine Dynasty, which seemed to indicate that he would be hosting the banquet.

Upon reaching the seat of honor, the Sixth Prince’s gaze swept across the attendees and he nodded slightly, “Thank you all for coming, please take your seats!”

“I’ll keep it brief. The Hundred Dynasties Meeting is extremely important for the future development of the Divine Dynasty for the next ten thousand years. The three hundred people representing our Divine Dynasty are all outstanding talents, and I expect you to give it your all. If you achieve good results, the Divine Dynasty will naturally reward you.”

The Sixth Prince waved his hand, and a deacon quickly stepped forward, bringing out a tray, “This is a token of the Divine Dynasty’s appreciation, there’s something for everyone!”

As the deacon lifted his hand, streams of Divine Qi flew from the tray, drifting towards each person.

“Original Divine Qi!”

Many showed shocked expressions, this was indeed a grand gesture!

Three hundred people, and everyone gets a share!

Li Cheng received the Original Divine Qi in front of him and sensed it for a moment, his heart also secretly astonished. Although the quality was far from what Ao Jiugai had given him, most likely extracted from a common Divine Vein, but three hundred strands of Original Divine Qi was still a generous offering.

Li Cheng secretly stored the Original Divine Qi he received into the Blunt Empty Residence, not planning to refine it, as he had grown accustomed to the Original Divine Qi from that premium Divine Vein and somewhat disdained the one extracted from the common vein.

“His Majesty has personally prepared some Divine Veins, and if you all achieve high rankings at the Hundred Dynasties Meeting, His Majesty will bestow Divine Veins upon you,” said the Sixth Prince with a smile.

The crowd’s eyes gleamed with hope as they expressed their commitment, “We will definitely give it our all!”

The Sixth Prince nodded, “The Hundred Dynasties Meeting involves a wide range of disciplines, but all participating materials must be prepared by yourselves. Now, please approach the deacons to receive the materials you need.”

This was undoubtedly aimed at those attending to compete in skill contests.

Eight deacons stepped forward, waiting for people to collect materials from them.

As Li Cheng was contemplating what to collect, Deacon Zhao took the initiative to approach and handed Li Cheng three storage rings, whispering, “Master Li, these are five thousand sets of Divine Monarch Pill ingredients, ten thousand sets of high-grade Divine Artifact materials, one third-level Array Diagram, and corresponding materials. If it’s not enough, we will provide more when you arrive at the Xuankong Divine Dynasty.”

Li Cheng smiled, “Just what I needed!”

Indeed, the Commerce Association had already prepared everything for him.

“I accuse!”

Suddenly, a youth nearby shouted loudly.

All eyes turned to him simultaneously.

The youth pointed at Deacon Zhao and Li Cheng, “I accuse them of taking advantage of the situation; while others are only receiving a dozen sets of materials, they colluded to take five thousand sets of Divine Monarch Pill ingredients, ten thousand sets of high-grade Divine Artifact materials. I heard it all!”

“What?”

“That’s outrageous! To daringly amass wealth so unabashedly during the Hundred Dynasties Meeting?”

“Exactly, such people must be severely punished, preferably killed!”

…

For a moment, the crowd was filled with righteous indignation!

“There’s no need for doubt, the materials were provided as per my orders. On the day of the meeting, you will all understand,” the Sixth Prince spoke out, instantly quelling various voices.

Being a prince of the Kongqian Divine Dynasty, he naturally wouldn’t help outsiders amass wealth chaotically. For a moment, everyone’s gaze turned to Li Cheng, could it be that this man had some extraordinary skill?

“Let’s continue!” said the Sixth Prince once again, and only then did the attendees press down their curiosity and skepticism and began to collect their materials.

Afterwards, came the banquet where the gathered elites mingled with each other.

But Li Cheng did not join in; instead, he left the banquet hall and went to the Kongqian Library.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here; there must have been quite a few new books added.”

As he stepped inside, although it was night, the library was always as bright as daylight.

“Eh? You’re not attending the dinner and came here to read instead?” The voice of Linfeng rang out.

Li Cheng smiled, “Boring. Better to read more books.”

“Boring? You think those people are all trash, don’t you?” Linfeng teased.

Li Cheng, dumbfounded, quickly shook his head, “I didn’t say that.”

Linfeng laughed, “But it’s a fact, those people think too highly of themselves. Come the Hundred Dynasties Meeting, they will realize they’re nothing more than sacks of wine and bags of rice.”

“I can assert that out of those two hundred and ninety-nine, at most nine will pass the first round.”

Li Cheng did not know where the deputy head got such certainty, nor was he interested in how many of those people would rank, and smiled, “The Hundred Dynasties Meeting will let them face reality, which is good.”

Linfeng nodded, “Exactly, that’s why we have them participate. Your Divine Soul is strong, have you practiced the Confucianism Path?”

“Not at all, I’ve just had a few moments of Enlightenment,” Li Cheng said casually.

Enlightenment allowed for rapid improvement in Divine Soul strength, which was one of the reasons Li Cheng never hit a bottleneck.

“Oh? I sensed the aura of the Confucianism Path on you, thought you practiced it,” Linfeng said, slightly shaking his head.

That must be the aura from the Picture of Thousands Homes Lanterns, but Li Cheng had no intention of revealing it.

“Li Cheng, if you make it into the top ten, what do you think the Divine Dynasty will reward you with? Or rather, what do you wish for?” Linfeng shifted the topic and asked with a smile.

Li Cheng shook his head, “It’s not important. I’m attending the Hundred Dynasties Meeting partly because I was entrusted by others and partly because I want to make a name for myself.”

In truth, it wasn’t so much about wanting fame; at least, not actively seeking it. It was just to make it easier for those from Heavenly Mechanism Sect who ascended to find him, especially those ten disciples.

Each one of those ten disciples was astonishingly talented, so much so that after many years, they were likely close to ascending.

“Then let me analyze for you. The Xuankong Divine Dynasty is not exactly wealthy. Compared to other divine dynasties, it’s mediocre. The rewards from the Hundred Dynasties Meeting will just be a few Divine Veins, which I assume you wouldn’t care for?” Linfeng looked at Li Cheng.

With top-grade Divine Veins already in hand and having grown from ten feet to a hundred feet in size, truly the best of the best, ordinary Divine Veins naturally did not interest him.

Seeing that Li Cheng did not respond, Linfeng continued, “Besides, the Divine Dynasty has several princesses who are national beauties with exceptional cultivating talents. They might choose one to be awarded to you.”

Li Cheng shook his head with a smile, “Deputy head, you dare to suggest such things. It is better not to speak carelessly about matters like this. Moreover, I have no interest in being a prince consort.”

“Then the Xuankong Divine Dynasty likely has nothing to award you,” Linfeng joked.

Linfeng’s words brought some doubt to Li Cheng’s mind about his identity.

Could he also be a noble prince?

If so, he was probably testing to see what Li Cheng wanted, and it seemed like he knew well about Li Cheng’s Pill Artifact Array skills, aware that with Li Cheng’s capabilities, securing a good ranking would indeed be easy.

Thinking this, Li Cheng said, “It’d be best if they awarded nothing, to avoid jealousy. I just want to cultivate in peace, without social obligations or unwanted trouble.”

“Besides, if I secure a good ranking, the Xuankong Divine Dynasty’s rewards would likely be quite generous.”

Linfeng’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly recovered and nodded, “With nearly ten thousand divine dynasties under the control of the Xuankong Divine Dynasty, such a wealthy higher-level divine dynasty will surely offer substantial rewards.”

“But such rewards won’t come without expectations; they’ll likely come with the intention of recruitment.”

No doubt, that was another probing statement.

Li Cheng couldn’t rightly respond, so he replied, “As Demon-suppressing Envoys, we’re the same wherever we go. I don’t wish to move unless there’s really no choice.”

Linfeng laughed and took down a Jade Slip from the shelf, browsing through it while asking, “You have the aura of Confucianism Path, can you write poetry?”

“I can’t write, only recite. Red leaves fall in the late hours, as I drink wine from a ladle by the pavilion. Drifting clouds return to Taihua, and a sparse rain passes through Zhongtao,” Li Cheng recited spontaneously.

Linfeng paused in his movements, looking surprised, “Xiao Changting? You’ve included the head in your poetry?”

Li Cheng was taken aback. It was just a spontaneous recitation, without much thought, but Xiao Changting’s name was indeed in there.

“Admirable, admirable. Another one, ‘Lianqing’!” Linfeng looked at Li Cheng expectantly.

Li Cheng was about to say he couldn’t, but suddenly he remembered a verse, “The gleaming Lianqing water is most beautiful when clear; the mountain hues veiled in rain are also a curious sight. If we compare West Lake to a beauty, light makeup or heavy application is always appropriate.”

After reflecting for a few seconds, Linfeng put down the Jade Slip and clapped, “Still claim you can’t write? If you pursued the Confucian Path, I fear all those Confucian Gods would have to find a crevice to hide in!”

As he spoke, Linfeng looked up towards the upper level of the library, “Right, Old Hua?”