Chapter 389: Chapter 355: Celestial Essence Banquet
The Heaven-Dominating Tower also learned about Lin Miao’s draw with the black-robed man at the night market, and promptly sent an invitation to the Celestial Essence Banquet.
He now had three invitations in his hand.
One was from Shanglin Temple, allowing him to represent Shanglin Temple at Nie Tian’s promotion to Celestial Essence at the banquet. Another was under "Lin Bei," but considering Lin Bei’s lower status, it’s likely his seat at the banquet wouldn’t be prominent.
The last one was his own.
The well-known Dongshan Prefecture doctor "Lin, the Little Holy Hand" — it wasn’t difficult for the Heaven-Dominating Tower to verify his identity.
This identity wasn’t part of the martial world, but it had some connections to it, so it’s likely that his seat would also be towards the back.
After careful consideration, Lin Miao decided to attend the banquet using his original identity.
He couldn’t bear to leave his senior sister alone at the Snow Mountain Residence while he attended the banquet, so for this Celestial Essence Banquet, he would definitely take her along.
But his senior sister was simply too beautiful. If she walked down the street without any disguise, the head-turning rate would be 200%, and even with half her features covered, it would still be 100%.
No matter how plainly she dressed, without any jewelry, her peerless elegance couldn’t be concealed, and this wasn’t even at a woman’s most beautiful age. If a few more years passed, who could imagine?
If the daughter is so beautiful, what kind of unmatched beauty must the mistress be, whom he had never seen?
Why did she fall for the master?
He couldn’t figure it out.
Having such an unmatched beauty as his fiancée, Lin Miao felt considerable pressure, especially since Sun Youwei had recovered and grown more radiant than a year ago. Sometimes he couldn’t help but want to keep her locked away at home, like a hidden treasure, away from everyone’s sight.
After seeing her once, Shen An became infatuated. Though Lin Miao tried not to cause trouble, trouble wouldn’t avoid him.
Shen An possibly already knew his identity. Lin Miao couldn’t predict what the guy’s next move would be, but he needed to stay alert.
At no time or place should his senior sister be left alone.
"Senior sister, since we’re going to the banquet tonight, why don’t you dress as a man? It might be more convenient that way," Lin Miao suggested.
"Sure, it’s been a while since I dressed in men’s clothing with you," Sun Youwei agreed cheerfully. She was aware that going out dressed as a woman attracted too many stares, and dressing more neutrally, especially in men’s clothing, was usually better.
She loved wearing men’s clothes because it allowed her to go out with Lin Miao without feeling so constrained.
They changed into their clothes and headed to the banquet!
Lianxin and Liansuo were disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect, but as they were now under Lin Miao, they naturally followed Lin Miao and Sun Youwei.
The two sisters also changed into men’s clothes.
Lin Mao and Ling Yu’Er, the two little ones, were left at Snow Mountain Residence. They were too young for such an event, and there would be too many people at the banquet; with their weak cultivation, they might be overlooked.
The Heaven-Dominating Tower was located on the main street north of Li Hen City, occupying almost half the street. Its exquisite architecture was, without doubt, three levels higher than the Su Family’s Star-Picking Tower in Dongshan Prefecture.
The Heaven-Dominating Tower was enormous.
A restaurant, casino, auction venue, and theater — everything a man could want except for the company of girls.
Tonight, it was brightly lit and bustling, with banners everywhere celebrating the Heaven-Dominating Tower’s leading figure, Nie Tian, ascending to the Celestial Lord.
All along the street, flower arrangements sent by various sects filled the entrance.
The red carpet welcoming guests almost covered the entire main street.
The sides were lined with members of the Heaven-Dominating Tower’s Tiger Roar Team, each wearing tiger head armors, tiger head boots, and red capes, exuding an overwhelming aura.
There were two ways to attend tonight’s Celestial Essence Banquet.
First, was with an invitation from the Heaven-Dominating Tower. Holding the invitation, one could directly enter the tower, but a single invitation could bring a maximum of two people.
The other way was to register one’s identity; upon registering, one could enter as well. However, though both ways led to the Celestial Essence Banquet, the seating differed.
Those with invitations sat closest to the action, near Nie Tian and various sect leaders.
Those who registered could only sit on the outskirts. If it wasn’t about networking with influential figures, just enjoying a good meal wouldn’t matter.
Of course, not just anyone could enter. At the very least, you needed to be someone known in the martial world.
Lin Miao took his senior sister, along with Lianxin, Liansuo, and the Snow Mountain Sect elder Helian Wanwan, to the Heaven-Dominating Tower.
Following guidance, they parked the carriage.
"Mr. Lin, this way please." With an invitation, there was naturally someone to guide them into the banquet venue. Lin Miao and Sun Youwei entered a gigantic courtyard hand in hand, its area no less than half a football field.
Tables surrounded a semicircular platform, arranged in concentric circles from the inside out.
With a rough estimate, there were at least a hundred tables.
This means that tonight, over a thousand people have come to attend Nie Tian’s Celestial Essence Banquet.
Lin Miao and Sun Youwei were arranged to sit near the edge of the core area. Their position was about four tables away from the front stage.
They were just here to watch the spectacle.
Lianxin and Liansuo had seats closer to the front because they followed their master Helian Wanwan. After all, the Snow Mountain Sect is a top-tier sect, so it’s appropriate for their seats to be arranged closer to the front.
If he used the invitation from Shanglin Temple, his seat could also be closer to the front, but he didn’t want to be in the spotlight.
In this kind of occasion, it’s better to keep a low profile.
Shen Hao of Green Blade Sect, known as the Life-taking Saber, came together with Shen An. They seemed to have noticed Lin Miao and Sun Youwei, especially as Shen An’s gaze lingered on Senior Sister for no less than three breaths.
This guy probably hasn’t given up on his intentions towards Senior Sister, which made Lin Miao feel very uncomfortable, but since Shen An hasn’t taken any concrete action, he couldn’t make a move either.
The grudge with the Green Blade Sect hasn’t been settled yet.
The people from the embroidery house arrived, and Lin Miao saw that Baili Yuyao and Baili Bingyun appeared alongside Mrs. Mei. In such a scene, Baili Bingyun did not show up, probably suggesting that kings don’t see kings.
Baili Bingyun had advanced to the Celestial Essence earlier, and now Nie Tian had also advanced. If they were to meet on such an occasion and words were exchanged, it would be really difficult to handle.
Heaven-Dominating Tower also sent people to participate in the marriage recruitment at the embroidery house. Someone entered the top ten but unfortunately lost and couldn’t make it to the top three.
The same goes for the Skull Association.
The head of the Skull Association didn’t come, but Lin Miao saw an old acquaintance, Black Robe, but today Black Robe should be a main representative.
He was walking behind someone who looked somewhat like a strategist. Listening to others, this person is surnamed Cao and ranks second among the Eight Vajras of the Skull Association.
Then there were some prominent figures in Li Hen City, including Mr. Jin, the owner of the "Jinsheng Hall" clinic, whom Lin Miao wanted to meet before.
This guy was adorned in gold and looked quite striking and captivating, with white hair and a youthful face. It’s said he was already ninety years old yet still able to spend the night with young women.
The Blade Catching Alliance, Seven Stars Pavilion, Hongxiu Recruitment...
Basically, all the notable figures in Li Hen City were here, slowly taking their seats at their designated places, certainly giving enough face.
Listening to the murmurs behind, quietly discussing, tonight’s scale and pomp were far more grandiose than when Baili Bingyun hosted her Celestial Essence Banquet at the embroidery house.
After all, the Heaven-Dominating Tower’s venue is large enough, and its buildings are equally magnificent.
Actually, this kind of banquet is just to externally confirm that one has truly advanced to the Celestial Essence and to intimidate rivals or potential enemies a bit.
After all, just because you say you’ve advanced to the Celestial Essence doesn’t mean you have. Some people fake it to bluff others.
It’s not unheard of for people to spread such enormous lies, so the Celestial Essence Banquet is also a platform to showcase one’s strength.
If fortunate, some experts who have advanced to the Celestial Essence might even share some insights and experiences about their advancement at the banquet.
Generally, unless it’s among fellow sect members, few would share such valuable experiences.
Attending this kind of banquet requires giving gifts.
If representing Shanglin Temple, Lin Miao really didn’t know what gift to give. If it were Lin Bei, it would be easier to handle, given that he’s just a layman, though he received some rewards from the embroidery house, it wouldn’t be right to give out the embroidery house’s items to Nie Tian.
It’s just not quite right for Lin Miao to send a gift in his name.
After careful consideration, Lin Miao decided to include a three-hundred-year-old "wild ginseng" he found at the night market as a gift on the list.
The seller knew it was something good, but didn’t know how old the ginseng was. Lin Miao and Sun Youwei, being very familiar with herbs, easily spotted a bargain.
With just ten taels of silver, he bought a three-hundred-year-old ginseng, which was indeed a good deal. Sending it out now does cause a bit of heartache.
As the guests arrived one after another, the tables in front, except for a few vacant seats, were basically all full.
The time was about right, and finally, the protagonist of tonight appeared.
The ruler of the Heaven-Dominating Tower, known as the "Tyrant," Nie Tian appeared, wearing an extremely luxurious black brocade robe embroidered with mysterious and domineering patterns with golden thread. In the light, the robe shone with a dazzling glow.
His face was fair and stern, with two grayish-white sword-like eyebrows slanting back into his temples, his deep and cold eyes radiating an air of arrogance and tyranny that was palpable.
He strode in with large, steady steps, each one exuding power as if bringing forth the momentum of an army, making the air seem to quiver as he passed.
His gaze swept over the guests, with a hint of cold brilliance, like lightning in the night sky, instilling a sense of fear.
A powerful aura, like a sharp blade, cut through the air. Even slightly revealing it felt like a heavy stone pressing on one’s chest, making it hard to breathe.
Following him closely was his eldest son Nie Yang, whose appearance was almost exactly the same as his father’s, though in terms of presence, he was much less imposing than other fathers.
In recent years, Nie Tian had been focusing on cultivation to seek a breakthrough, and the Heaven-Dominating Tower was actually managed by Nie Yang, whose prestige there is not inferior to his father’s.
Nie Yang, in his early thirties, had already advanced to the Meridian Passage Realm, and among the younger generation of the three major forces in Li Hen City, he was considered the top figure.
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