229 Chapter 229 (1/2)
Each of these sects here were owners of large tracts of lands with millions and maybe even billions of people living in them. But they were only pieces of a larger whole which consisted of the whole Empire that they were part of.
Every leader from each of those sects was here. They gathered every ten years to discuss and measure their opponents. Some would remain silent while others would boast and seek trouble with factions that they were on bad terms with.
Most sects here were part of the old elite. They had been in power for hundreds or thousands of years. They were mostly here to uphold the status quo, yet some of the crafty cultivators wanted more. Just like with the Dark Palm Sect that used demonic arts to get ahead and finally perish under three others that went against it. The others were looking for cracks in the armors of their opponents and waiting for the right chance to strike.
Zhang Dong and his sect members were walking out of the hotel just like the other sects were. The moment he showed himself outside people started whispering. His face was well known after his small spar against the older Silver Spear Sect Patriarch. He and his sect disciples were nowhere to be seen as they were waiting for him and his group to leave first.
The men moved their heads to the side in fright of meeting his gaze. The ladies looked intrigued and were giving Zhang Dong all sorts of sensual gazes. He was a man of principle though and just kept his poker face up. His elders rubbed their chins and nodded.
They were glad that their Patriarch wasn't the same man as his grandfather. If that man was here he would have already been choosing his next target from the beautiful fairy-like cultivator women here.
”Senior Dong, we welcome you and your sect members.”
A servant greeted Zhang Dong while standing in front of a carriage. This was with what he and his people would be brought to the banquet. Zhang Dong nodded and entered along with granny Maling. The other old farts would travel in a larger carriage behind them and together.
”Young Patriarch you did well, now no one should search for trouble with us.”
The granny reassured Zhang Dong as she knew the reason that he went through with that fight. Before it she also feared that the sect would be looked down on because of their lack of fame and prestige. Now thanks to Zhang Dong's show of might she was reassured that nothing out of the ordinary would be happening.
The two of them entered the carriage and Zhang Dong nodded at his grandmother in agreement.
The seats inside were quite soft and the intricate patterns on them depicted the Yinglong Pavilion's dragon and a couple of other creatures. The soon took off, the other sects were sure to wait till the ferocious United Element Sect's Patriarch was gone before also walking out.
”That was terrifying…”
”It was hard for me to hold my breath so long, luckily he is gone…”
The people commented while looking into the distance. They would be following right after Zhang Dong and his party of oldies but they would be sure to avoid him like the plague during the festivities. He seemed to have a short fuse and was even willing to battle with other sect leaders in the arena.
They also knew that during the banquet the duels would be handled differently. They would be a lot more bloody and not in a safe place like the Rain Tiger Arena. Every nascent soul master that had witnessed the battle made sure to advise their sect members to not bother Zhang Dong's faction. The ones that arrived a day later might not have gotten the memo though.
The regular people were greeted by roars of flying wyverns that were pulling carriages behind them. This was something that the adults were used to seeing every ten years when the sects arrived. The children pointed towards the sky and waved with smiles on their faces. They weren't allowed to the banquet grounds but they could see the fireworks later that would be happening at night.
There were quite a bit of those flying contraptions in the air, some were being pulled by other creatures more akin to bats others to regular birds. Zhang Dong looked out through the small window at the scenery below, the buildings looked small from all the way up here. The people were the size of ants but if he chose so he could insert some spiritual energy into his eyes and take a closer peek.
”The people in this city seem to be relaxed, the city lord must be a fair leader.”
Zhang Dong mentioned while granny Maling nodded. It was easy to determine how people were fairing in the city. None of them would be smiling this much if they didn't feel a certain amount of freedom. Most people in this world would even fear looking up into the air. They might catch the eye of some powerful cultivator who might feel offended.
Here the citizens didn't seem to care. He wasn't sure if it was a regular occurrence or if the people were feeling protected by the fighting ban that was placed on all the visiting sects.
”Indeed but they pale in comparison to our own citizens, you have done a good job in constructing such a grand city. Some of the elders think that you are being too generous to them.”
The granny continued talking while Zhang Dong looked outside. He couldn't say that he was keeping the happiness level of his citizens up so that he could earn more Spirit Points in his system. He did prefer to keep them happy, the system's incentives only made him go further beyond what he would normally do.