Chapter 1508: Revised: Chapter 166 Guests Arrive
Byinlog quickly leaned close to Quan Yi’s ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, you must remain composed. This is the Church’s Divine Mountain." He was reminding Quan Yi that this was not Sunset City, where he could act as he pleased. As the monarch of Sunset Empire, which has the closest ties with the Church, Quan Yi absolutely could not lose his composure at this moment.
After all, Quan Yi was a monarch. Upon hearing Byinlog’s words, he gradually calmed down, cast a hateful glance toward the seats of the Empire of Washington, then turned his head and whispered to Byinlog, "State Preceptor, those people are far too arrogant. We arrived here today, and not even a single greeting was extended. I am furious. Had I known, I would have listened to your advice and not come." Initially, Byinlog disapproved of Quan Yi attending Red Priestess Xuan Yue’s wedding ceremony, but recent dissatisfaction from the Church over the various dark forces within Sunset Empire had led to increasingly oppressive policies. The Sunset Empire has the highest number of Sky God followers, making the Church’s influence undeniable. These Church-issued decrees significantly impacted the current state of Sunset Empire. To ease relations with the Church and prove his nation’s unwavering devotion, Quan Yi had insisted on coming personally. Yet, little did he expect such a cold reception upon his arrival.
Byinlog whispered, "Your Majesty, we are here to show goodwill toward the Church. You absolutely must not act impulsively; if any incident occurs, it may greatly damage the Church’s impression of us."
Quan Yi nodded, took a deep breath, barely suppressing the anger within, closed his eyes partially, and stayed silent.
Below the seats of the three empires’ representatives sat the delegates of the various races within the Federation of Soyi. These delegates occupied six large tables, with the most eye-catching presence being Princess Star of the Elf Clan. She attended alongside her father Audi and another high-ranking Elf Envoy. Accompanying them was the Forbidden Guard composed of Elf Envoys, sent to ensure the princess’s safety. The Elf Queen spared no effort, deploying nearly half of the clan’s elite forces for this purpose. The unparalleled beauty of the elves drew attention from all factions when they entered, becoming a dazzling scene. The people of the Empire of Washington admired this beauty, while Larthas and his subordinates from the Empire of Tian Jing were astonished. Quan Yi of Sunset Empire, on the other hand, gazed with greed—how could he not recognize Star? She was the stunning woman who had captivated his soul!
Star noticed Quan Yi, silently informing her father and the accompanying Elf Envoys that this was the man who had once imprisoned her. The Elf Clan’s members instantly directed intense hostility toward the people of Sunset Empire. Were weapons permitted at the banquet, it was likely that the more hot-tempered Elf Envoys would have long since unleashed their arrows—the elves’ specialty—upon Quan Yi and his group.
At that moment, Ballon entered with two Red Robe Priests, Mang Siu and Yu Jian. All three bore radiant smiles, particularly Ballon, who was brimming with pride—his son was about to marry. Once these key figures from the Church appeared, everyone in the hall promptly stood up. Ballon and the two priests ascended the short dais at the front. Ballon declared in a loud voice, "Welcome honored guests to the Church’s Divine Mountain. On behalf of His Holiness the Pope, I extend sincere gratitude for your esteemed presence." He then bowed slightly, offering his respect to the banquet attendees.
Sitting at the head table and closest to Ballon, Quan Yi smiled faintly and said, "Deputy Judge, there’s no need for such formality. Attending the wedding ceremony of a Red Priestess and a Judge of Light is an honor for our Sunset Empire. Allow me to congratulate you in advance—what a fortune it is to have a daughter-in-law who holds an acting Red Bishop’s position!"
Ballon harbored no particular regard for Quan Yi. Both he and Xuan Ye opposed the Church’s dealings with Sunset Empire. With a reserved smile, he replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty Quan Yi. Truly, it is my son’s privilege."
Quan Yi noticed Ballon’s indifferent attitude toward him and secretly sneered. Though he had heard that the acting Red Priestess was a young woman, he assumed that someone elevated to the rank of Red Bishop must be quite unattractive in appearance. In his mind, Ballon must be marrying off his son purely to curry favor with her influential position.
Ballon announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, I will not waste your time with excessive pleasantries. It is a great honor for the Church to host so many distinguished representatives today. The banquet dishes may be humble; I ask that you indulge us as we extend our hospitality. Everyone, please." Following Ballon’s signal, the banquet guests returned to their seats. A procession of maids swiftly delivered an array of delicacies to the tables, filling the hall with the enticing aroma of fine food and drink within moments. Representing the Church, Ballon and the two Red Robe Priests proceeded to each table to offer toasts.
At the start of the banquet, the various factions remained relatively reserved, but after a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere began to loosen. Those familiar or friendly with each other started exchanging toasts and engaging in conversation. Gradually, the room buzzed with increasingly lively chatter.
Xi Wen was quietly conversing with Chairman Kary of the Mainland Mage Guild when he suddenly sensed someone approaching him. He instinctively looked up to see Larthas, the Fire Magus and State Preceptor of the Empire of Tian Jing, holding a wine glass and smiling as he approached.
