Chapter 1509: Chapter 166 Guests Arrive_2
Seeing Larthas, Xi Wen didn’t react much, but Kary’s expression changed subtly. The rivalry between the Continental Mage Guild and the Tian Jing Mage Guild had lasted for a long time. If it weren’t for Ah Dai and Xuan Yue’s timely appearance during that incident in Andis City, the Continental Mage Guild’s stronghold might have been forced out of the Federation of Sauturis. In terms of individual strength, aside from Ah Dai, who holds an honorary elder title, there’s virtually no one in the Continental Mage Guild who could match Larthas. Kary had always harbored a certain fear of Larthas. Watching him approach, his heart began to beat uneasily.
Xi Wen, representing the Empire of Huasheng alongside Kary, shot him a glance, signaling him to calm down. He stood up, raised his wineglass to greet Larthas with a smile, and said, "State Preceptor, greetings. I am Xi Wen, Sect Leader of the Tian Gang Sword Sect. It’s an honor to meet you." Upon hearing Xi Wen’s self-introduction, even though Larthas had already guessed his identity, a trace of respect appeared in his eyes. He gave Xi Wen a slight bow and said, "So you are the second-generation Sect Leader of the Tian Gang Sword Sect. It is truly an honor to meet you here. I’ve always admired the elderly Sword Saint of Tian Gang. On the continent, outside of the Church, your Tian Gang Sword Sect is the group I respect the most." Listening to Larthas’s courteous words, Xi Wen couldn’t help but feel slightly surprised. He didn’t expect the man who’s reputedly the continent’s top attack magician to be so polite. Still, since Larthas was behaving warmly, Xi Wen had no reason to express hostility. He smiled and said, "State Preceptor, you are too kind. To have single-handedly established the Tian Jing Mage Guild and earned the title of the continent’s top attack magician, how could we possibly compare? If the opportunity arises, I hope we can grow closer. Though martial arts and magic belong to separate domains, there are certain points where they overlap."
Xi Wen didn’t know why Larthas had chosen to approach their table. Hoping to avoid sparking conflict between the two mage guilds, he aimed to redirect Larthas’s attention toward himself.
Larthas sighed and said, "Here, I wouldn’t dare claim to be the continent’s top attack magician. The magic level of the soon-to-be-married acting Red Priestess Xuan Yue is certainly not beneath mine. Every Red Robe Priest of the Church possesses the highest level of magical mastery. Sect Leader Xi Wen, where is Ah Dai? Has he not arrived yet? I’ve spent a long time searching for him across the Empire of Tian Jing after receiving a message from my pupil, but I haven’t been able to find him. Have you managed to locate him?"
Lowering his voice, Larthas added, "Is Ah Dai not betrothed to Red Priestess Xuan Yue? Now that the woman he loves is about to marry, how could he not come?" Larthas had been astonished when he first learned from Kino that Xuan Yue was a woman. After failing to find Ah Dai within the Empire of Tian Jing, he decided to represent Tian Jing at the wedding. Following Kino’s repeated pleas, he resolved to support Ah Dai with the full force of the Tian Jing Mage Guild, provided that doing so wouldn’t jeopardize the relationship between the Empire of Tian Jing and the Church. Larthas was unafraid of any repercussions the Church might impose on the Tian Jing Mage Guild. Having learned of the severe toll the Dark Forces had exacted upon the Church, he now firmly believed in the prophecy claiming Ah Dai as the Savior. A scholar well-versed in history, Larthas knew that only by aligning with the Savior could the Tian Jing Mage Guild—and even the entire Empire of Tian Jing—survive on the continent. What’s more, the forces supporting Ah Dai extended beyond just his guild. If allied, not even the Church might be able to stand against them. He had approached Xi Wen’s table specifically to inquire about Ah Dai’s plans for handling the wedding.
Xi Wen wasn’t aware of the connection between Ah Dai and the Tian Jing Mage Guild. Upon hearing Larthas’s question, he couldn’t help but pause for a moment and say, "Ah Dai hasn’t arrived yet. Alas, that boy! Who knows what he’s thinking." Xi Wen was deeply concerned about Ah Dai and Xuan Yue’s situation. Initially, he had thought Ah Dai would calm down and come to his senses after taking a few days off, either returning to the Tian Gang Sword Sect or heading directly to the Church. But as of now, there’d been no news of him.
After listening to Xi Wen’s words, Larthas furrowed his brows and said in a low voice, "What then? You know he and Proxy Red Priestess Xuan Yue are a pair, don’t you? Could it be that Ah Dai doesn’t intend to fight for his beloved? My disciple Kino is a close friend of Ah Dai. According to Kino, everything between Ah Dai and Red Priestess Xuan Yue stems from a misunderstanding. If this continues, they’ll likely miss their chance to be together forever. It wasn’t easy for Ah Dai to achieve what he has today. If he suffers such a devastating blow, it might negatively affect his future cultivation. Don’t you intend to help him?"
Suspicion flickered in Xi Wen’s eyes. He couldn’t understand why Larthas was so eager to intervene in Ah Dai’s affairs. In a detached tone, he said, "This is Ah Dai’s personal matter. How could we help?"
Larthas paused and replied, "If all else fails, we must stop the wedding tomorrow. Ideally, we can find Ah Dai now and resolve his misunderstanding with Red Priestess Xuan Yue."
Staring at Larthas’s earnest expression, Xi Wen felt a stirring in his heart. At that moment, Kary approached, fixing Larthas with a cold gaze and saying, "State Preceptor, greetings."
Larthas glanced at him, nodded slightly, and said, "Greetings, Chairman Kary. Sect Leader Xi Wen, Chairman Kary, let’s meet after the banquet. We can discuss Ah Dai’s situation then—there are too many people here now. Chairman Kary, I suspect you and Sect Leader Xi Wen haven’t come merely to attend this wedding. Despite our rivalry, if our goals align, there’s no reason we can’t temporarily set our differences aside."
