Chapter 1866 Raw 1877 : Competition at the Drill Ground, Part 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1866 (Raw 1877): Compet.i.tion at the Drill Ground, Part 1

This seemingly peaceful family banquet actually had deep undercurrents. Monarch Yu successfully changed the tempo to his liking.

This made the entire Long Clan hold some enmity for Xiao Chen, eyeing him coldly.

While Xiao Chen was there, he found it somewhat strange. However, he did not overthink it.

When Lan Luo’s first brother saw this situation, he shook his head in his heart but held his silence.

“Long Yan, have the cultivation and practice of the Long Clan disciples been neglected in the days I was not around?”

Just as the family banquet approached its end, the Soaring Dragon Marquis looked at Lan Luo’s first brother and questioned him in a serious voice.

“Since the beginning of the dynasty, my Long Clan has been famous for its warriors. We have never forgotten the teachings of our ancestors. Lord Father, you may inspect us at any time. The disciples of the Long Clan never slack off or even dare to do so,” Lan Yan answered confidently without fl.u.s.ter.

The Soaring Dragon Marquis nodded in satisfaction. “Everyone is born with different talents, comprehension ability, and foundations. We cannot force these things, and I do not require them, either. The members of my Long Clan can have a trashy start, but we cannot have lazy people.”

The Soaring Dragon Marquis looked around before fixing his attention on Long Yan. Then, he continued, “After the family banquet, I will test everyone at the drill ground. Those who can catch my eye will be rewarded. However, if the reverse is true, I will not punish them. I will only punish you, Long Yan.”

Long Yan obeyed, not paying these stringent conditions any mind.

When the Long Clan disciples in the hall heard what the Soaring Dragon Marquis said, they showed excited expressions, filled with antic.i.p.ation.

Everyone had a compet.i.tive heart. Furthermore, there was a potential reward from the Soaring Dragon Marquis. It would be hard not to get excited.

“Monarch Yu and Xiao Chen, you’ll come along as well, right?”

The Soaring Dragon Marquis looked at Xiao Chen and Monarch Yu, issuing an invitation. While these words sounded casual and easygoing, his tone precluded rejection.

“I’ll be glad to. My father always told me that the Soaring Dragon Marquis is strict with his family teachings. You have been a pillar of the north for so many years already. I will be sure to observe carefully.” Monarch Yu smiled faintly, facing him calmly.

Xiao Chen thought for a while. He had been preparing to leave after the family banquet was over.

However, the Soaring Dragon Marquis’s invitation made things difficult for him.

“Xiao Chen, Luo`er has told me about your matter. I contacted the Hidden Spirit Temple’s abbot last night. They will send people over to come and pick up the little monk Yan Chen. At the same time, they asked me to convey their thanks to you and that the Hidden Spirit Temple owes you a favor,” the Soaring Dragon Marquis said softly; he seemed to have guessed what Xiao Chen was thinking.

When the Soaring Dragon Marquis said that, he shocked all the Long Clan disciples. They all revealed expressions of extreme incredulity.

Monarch Yu’s words had already caused their impression of Xiao Chen to dive. They all felt that Xiao Chen was just a country b.u.mpkin new to the Central Great Realm.

Furthermore, Xiao Chen was sectless and factionless. There was no need to pay him much mind at all.

There were simply too many such people.

In the entire Great Thousand Realms, everyone took the Central Great Realm as a glorious place. This was the center of the Martial Epoch. The four dynasties, the many empires, and overlords directed the direction of the Martial Epoch from here.

As the family of the Yanwu Dynasty’s Soaring Dragon Marquis, they set their sights high and were hard to criticize.

This was because they had the capital to do so. No matter where they went outside the Central Great Realm, they would all be able to receive the highest level of treatment.

However, right now, a casual word from the Soaring Dragon Marquis shocked them.

The abbot of the Buddhist sect’s Hidden Spirit Temple, someone who did not care about mundane matters, actually said that the Hidden Spirit Temple owed Xiao Chen a favor.

The strength of the abbot aside, the Hidden Spirit Temple itself was an existence that surpa.s.sed a Rank 7 sect. It had an even longer history than that of the dynasty.

The Long Clan members were naturally shocked to hear that such a Holy Land actually acknowledged owing Xiao Chen a debt of grat.i.tude.

At the same time, they all felt unconvinced. How could such a person get the Hidden Spirit Temple to owe him a favor?

All those here were proud people. When they heard these words, they could not help feeling compet.i.tive.

Even Monarch Yu’s ever-calm expression showed a small change. As he looked at Xiao Chen, his face appeared rather strange.

“Master is coming? Hehe! This is really great.”

The little monk had been staring at the fine food and wine on the table, which he could not partake; all he could do was drool. On hearing the news, he felt very excited and happy.

Given the situation, Xiao Chen could not reject the Marquis’s invitation and could only agree.

The family banquet ended, and the group of people went to the Marquis’s Residence’s drill grounds.

A drill ground needed to be extremely large since it was normally used to train the army and was a key military installation.

However, it would be more accurate to call the Marquis’s Residence’s drill ground a martial arts training field. It was just that the Soaring Dragon Marquis, who ruled this area, was the royal court-appointed general who guarded the borders.

All the members of the Long Clan were used to seeing this martial arts training field as a drill ground. This was also due to the Soaring Dragon Marquis’s character.

Along the way, Long Yan purposely slowed his footsteps to walk with Xiao Chen.

“Xiao Chen, do you know why my father specially invited you to the family banquet?”

Xiao Chen had long noticed the strangeness. If the Soaring Dragon Marquis wanted to meet him, they could just meet in private.

There was no need to meet during the family banquet. However, Xiao Chen did not mind, so he did not ask about it.

Since Long Yan was willing to explain, it would be great.

“Would Brother Long please dispel my doubts?”

Long Yan’s gaze landed on Monarch Yu. At this moment, Monarch Yu was saying something to Lan Luo. His expression looked sincere, but Lan Luo never responded warmly.

“Monarch Yu?”

“That’s right. It is because of Monarch Yu. He is the son of a duke, a relative of the emperor. He has a n.o.ble ident.i.ty, and his comprehension ability and talent are even more incredible. He appears easygoing and has a good reputation.”

“Then?”

“Then, there is no then.”

Long Yan smiled faintly and did not say anything more, leaving directly.