Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Cai Jin was filled with fear. If the family head heard about this, many people would be in trouble. The first to be punished would be him as well.
Chi Siyuan put an angry expression onto his ancient face. The more he did so, the more nervous Cai Jin grew. He was afraid that he'd offended the Painter Saint and would attract unpredictable disaster to him.
Seeing how Cai Jin paled, Zhang Ruochen guessed that this man must have a high status in the Cai Family and had met Chu Siyuan before.
Thus, he immediately sent a message to Cai Jin. "The Painter Saint is here on a secret visit to the Cai Family. Everything must be kept low-key. If you make a big deal over it, there will be grave consequences."
Cai Jin glanced at Zhang Ruochen gratefully. Anyone who could stand beside the Painter Sect must be a talent of the Painting Sect and must be respected.
Cai Jin put his hands up in greeting to Zhang Ruochen. Then he bowed, making a respectful welcoming gesture. "Please, my two esteemed guests. Please enter."
"Hmph!" With a wave of his sleeves, Chu Siyuan strode into the Cai Saint clan.
The other banquet-goers were dumbfounded at this scene. How come the old and young guy hadn't been kicked out?
Who was Cai Jin? He was the Main Manager of an ancient family and equal to Saints. However, he'd welcomed these two in so respectfully.
Some thought that Cai Jin was doing this to resolve the Cai Family's awkwardness. When the pair entered the Cai mansion, he would use a subtle method to kill them. Others thought that the pair was powerful enough to make Cai Jin lower his head.
Cai Mingliang couldn't understand. "Main Manager, how can you let these two unknown thieves in—"
Crack!
Cai Jin slapped Cai Mingliang, sending the man sprawling to the ground with the power of his palm. Cai Mingliang's head was tilted to the side and blood flowed out of his mouth.
"Main…Main Manager…wh…why…"
Eyes cold, Cai Jin ordered to the golden armored warrior, "Drag him away."
If not for this blind guy, he wouldn't have offended the Painter Saint. Thinking of this, Cai Jin was still worried. He immediately returned to the Cai Saint Mansion and hurried in Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan's direction.
Now, even Chi Yutang had a serious expression. He felt that Cai Jin's behavior was very interesting.
With an alluring figure, Wan Huayu laughed and said, "I'm afraid that pair has an unusual ident.i.ty."
Chi Yutang quickly smiled again. "So what? Anyone must learn to bow before the royal family."
Chi Yutang climbed onto the carriage pulled by the golden-winged condors and rode into the Cai Saint Mansion with Wan Huayu.
They both had very high statuses and were from Heavenly King Mansions. They also had top talents and appearances, like a dragon and phoenix amongst common men. Everywhere they went, they attracted countless stares. Many people sighed and fawned.
The banquet was set on a spiritual lake. Looking over, one would see pavilions scattered throughout the fog. There was a formation on the surface of the river so the Monks wouldn't sink when they stepped on it. They would only cause small ripples.
Chi Yutang and Wan Huayu's arrival caused a stir. Then a group of handsome and beautiful n.o.ble youths welcomed them to a small island in the lake.
The river was less than 100 meters wide. It was located in the center of the lake. Graceful music floated above it while pretty servants danced. Only the people with the highest status could qualify to step onto this island.
Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan were at the fringe of the banquet. They found an emerald colored lotus podium and walked onto it. Then they sat down for now.
The lotus podium had nine pieces, forming nine seats. There was a round table at the center of the lotus. Thick Spiritual Qi seeped out of the lotus. The Monks present felt relaxed after taking a breath.
Cai Jin came behind Chu Siyuan and bowed. "Painter Saint," he apologized. "Please go sit in the area specifically for Saints. What just happened was entirely the fault of the Cai Family's servants. Please do not mind them."
Chu Siyuan sat in his seat, acting like he didn't care about anything. He ignored Cai Jin with a cold face.
"I will report to the Saint Leader right now."
Cai Jin knew his own place. He could talk to some other Saints, but he was far from enough before the Painter Saint. Only the Saint Leader was qualified to speak to him.
"Wait," Chu Siyuan finally said. "It's best to keep it a secret that I'm here today. Everything must be low-key."
He'd made a big commotion outside the door and found it very embarra.s.sing. He naturally didn't want others to know that he was the leader of the Painting Sect.
If he could keep it a secret, then he would.
Cai Jin looked at Zhang Ruochen for help. Zhang Ruochen waved his hand. "Main Manager, just go now! The Painter Saint came this time just to see the young talents of the Sacred City. He has no other motives. If you reveal his presence, the students of the Confucius Way will swarm over and go against the wishes of the Painter Saint."
Cai Jin bowed to Zhang Ruochen and then retreated wisely.
"Let's sit here."
Just then, a fat man in a red robe and a spiritual-looking old Monk also came to the lotus podium that Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan were at.
"I am Xue Sanyi of the Xue Saint Clan," the fat man introduced himself with a smile.
However, when he raised his head and saw Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan sitting before him, his expression soured. His smile froze and he rose immediately to leave.
He'd naturally seen Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan offend Chi Yutang of the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion earlier at the entrance.
Chi Yutang was known in the Sacred City for being aggressive. He would take revenge for every offense. Anyone who angered him would be in a bad state.
Thus, Xue Sanyi thought that Zhang Ruochen and Chu Siyuan were bad luck. He should stay away from them.
The old Monk grabbed the corner of Xue Sanyi's robe and tugged him back. "Where are you going? The other places are all full. There aren't any empty seats at all."
Xue Sanyi scanned the surface of the lake and found that there really weren't any other empty seats. Feeling tragic, he sat back down. He couldn't stop sighing when faced with these two unlucky stars.
However, the spiritual-looking old Monk started eating and drinking without caring about his image. He looked really embarra.s.sing.
This must be an old scammer here for free food. Xue Sanyi could only sigh as he sat with the two unlucky stars and old scammer. It was so tragic that he wanted to cry.
After a while, another group of young Monks walked over and sat on one of the petals. They were familiar with Xue Sanyi and started chatting. He finally felt a bit better.
"Do you know that the Saint Lady has compiled the newest Half-Saint Rank?" a young scholar in Confucius robes said mysteriously while holding a paper fan.
This scholar wasn't an ordinary man. His Spiritual Power had reached level 45. He was already a Spiritual Half-Saint.
"Zhao Heng, your Tianxuan Academy is indeed well-informed. You'll get the newest Half-Saint Rank as soon as it comes out, right?"
"The Saint Lady is fellow disciples with Senior Uncle Mu of Tianxuan Academy. With this connection, it won't be hard for me to find out the contents of the Half-Saint Rank."
Xue Sanyi's eyes shone. "How many humans made the list?" he immediately asked.
The scholar chuckled. Tapping his fan against the table, he said, "Because of the nine Heirs, the human race has a much higher advantage. We took up 32 spots in total. The savage beasts of the Savage Barren Territory and overseas took up 58 spots. The native creatures of the various Void Worlds took 12 spots."
Zhang Ruochen listened quietly on the side. He paid attention to the Half-Saint Rank.
All of the figures on the Half-Saint Rank were top figures of the world. They were practically the strongest figures below the Saint Realm. Some of them may even be able to defeat a Saint.
Zhang Ruochen currently had a big gap between him and them, but they were his goals.
Even with the Chi Yao's nine Heirs, Zhang Ruochen thought, the humans of Kunlun's Field still only took up 32 spots. That's not even one-third. This isn't looking good.
The ratio on the Half-Saint Rank could reflect the ratio of all Saintly beings in the entire Kunlun's Field. This was why the Saint Lady compiled the Half-Saint Rank.
Thankfully, the savage beasts had very serious divisions and conflicts within the different races. Their forces were scattered as well. If they could unify and establish a country, the humans wouldn't be their match at all.
Of course, the humans were already very strong. They were only one race but already took up 32 spots. It would be a feat for the other races to have at least one being from their race enter the Half-Saint Rank.
"Who is the strongest human below the Saint Realm?" Xue Sanyi asked. "Is it still Kong Hongbi?"
"It'll definitely be Kong Hongbi," someone said. "After all, he's improved a lot more these years, getting higher and higher."
"No matter how strong the nine Heirs are, they've only entered the ninth level. There's still a big difference between them and Kong Hongbi."
The scholar shook his head and laughed. "You're all wrong this time! In the newest Half-Saint Rank, Kong Hongbi has dropped to the 34th."
The Monks present were all shocked. They couldn't believe it.
"He dropped down way too much! From seventh to 34th…This…how is this possible?"
"So which human is the highest on the Half-Saint Rank now?" Xue Sanyi asked hurriedly. "Who is number one below the Saint Realm?"
