(Outskirts Of The Gobrean Jungle- White Lotus City)
(City Lord's Mansion- Grand Hall)
In the middle of the large mansion located in the center of the city was a magnificent golden hall where the city lord would host lavish gatherings.
The floors were made of solid gold and magnificent white pillars of pure marble rose up from the ground and touched the ceiling.
Statues of famous figures were scattered across the room and expensive paintings hung on the walls.
It was a true display of opulence and wealth.
The hall buzzed with excitement as the guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the important visitors from afar.
Loud laughter and the sounds of conversation filled the air.
A band played a soft melody in the corner of the room and servants walked from guest to guest offering refreshments and samples of wine.
All the aristocratic families in the city had sent many representatives to tonight's party.
These representatives were either the head of the family themselves or their sons or daughters.
Such was the influence and the name of the Holy Sword Sect. Widely considered as one of the four most powerful cultivation sects in the world.
If one of their children caught the eye of a disciple, then their family would truly be blessed.
Even if that child was taken back as a pleasure servant or maid… it was enough to know that they would now be associated with the Holy Sword Sect.
That name commanded both fear and respect.
The doors to the hall swung open and five people walked into the large room. Four cultivators and a middle-aged man with a jovial smile on his face.
At the center of the group was a remarkably handsome young man with sharp brows.
He wore a light blue robe, and a scarlet sword was attached to his hip.
He looked like the perfect image of a sword cultivator and many young ladies swooned with excitement.
To his right were two male cultivators each with their own unique sense of beauty.
One was dressed as a scholar and waved a white fan around his mouth while the other had a piercing gaze and a steely glint in his eyes.
The final member was a short haired girl with a soft gentle face who held a zither in her right hand and playfully touched its strings.
The melody coming from the zither was captivating almost like a siren whose sweet sounds lured sailors to a watery grave.
The four cultivators were all extremely attractive.
Cultivation involved shedding internal wastes and modifying one's body, so most cultivators possessed otherworldly beauty.
"I must once again thank you for attending my humble banquet tonight," Lord Peng smiled flatteringly as he gestured towards the hall.
"Please… it was our pleasure," Lin Kun replied in a warm tone as his eyes swept over the pretty ladies in the corner of the room.
"Just…" Lord Peng hesitated slightly as he tried to think about how to word what he wanted to say in a way that would not offend the cultivators in front of him.
"Will the saintess be making an appearance tonight?"
There was a terrible moment of silence.
The four cultivators exchanged glances and each could see reluctance and fear in the eyes of the others.
"We are not privy to the saintess' movements," Fu Qiu spoke softly as he used his white fan to cover his mouth.
"She… does her own thing," Cao Ji muttered quietly as she forced her body to stop trembling.
Every time she closed her eyes, she kept seeing the saintess' slender hand as it gripped tightly around her throat.
"I see…" Lord Peng hid his disappointment and plastered a welcoming grin on his face.
"Well, I hope that you all do enjoy the banquet!"
Lin Kun nodded politely and then made his way into the hall. His companions followed closely behind, and soon excited whispers filled the room.
"By the gods… they are so handsome!"
"Cultivators from the Holy Sword Sect … just looking at them… one can clearly feel an aura of power and skill."
"Isn't the saintess coming as well? Do you think the short-haired girl is her? If my son could get her favour…"
"You wish! I've seen your boy… he is nothing special."
The welcoming banquet went over for several hours, and it didn't take long for the cultivators to engage in debauchery.
Lin Kun was sitting down on one of the chairs in the corner of the hall surrounded by five pretty ladies who fawned and swooned over his every move.
He reached out with his hand and pulled one of the giggling women onto his lap. A thin smile spread across his face as he touched and played with her body.
Fu Qiu was currently engaged in a lively debate with several academics about the latest literacy competition held in the capitol city of the Viren Empire.
Cao Ji had gotten over her unpleasant mood and was now silently admiring the multiple men who came up to her and attempted to win her favour.
Most assumed that she was the saintess of the Holy Sword Sect and Cao Ji had not bothered to correct their assumption.
She relished the attention. It felt good to watch these rich boys simper and beg for even a crumb of her favour.
There was only one exception.
Shen Guo.
He stood apart from the reveling and partying and was currently leaning against a wall with his mind filled with numerous thoughts.
Where was Xu Lu?
She was the only focus on his mind.
The mission that his master had given him was basically impossible. The saintess was clearly stronger than him and the others would easily find out if he attacked her and failed.
Well… it wasn't like he had no options.
Shen Guo reached into one of the pockets of his robe and his fingers brushed against the top of a glass vial.
He didn't want to use this.
It was a dangerous weapon that had every likelihood of killing himself along with Xu Lu.
But did he have any other choice?
Shen Guo continued to touch the top of the glass vial and a conflicted expression flashed across his face.
He didn't know what to do.
He could not disobey his master's orders, but he also didn't want to put his life on the line. His master might claim that the demonic cult would protect him but…
Would they?
The Holy Sword Sect would be furious. Under the threat of outright war, Shen Guo knew that sacrificing him to the righteous sects would be an easy decision.
"Damn it," Shen Guo snarled darkly as he withdrew his hand from his robes and strode towards two attractive mortal women.
He needed a distraction tonight.
Suddenly the doors to the hall swung open and a figure dressed in a white robe strode into the room with confident steps.
Shen Guo's heart sank as he saw the familiar gleam of the metal mask that covered the saintess' face.
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