Chapter 16 - The Banquet (1/2)
A week had passed since Itachi arrived at the New Moon Profound Palace. In this week he had been hanging around the New Moon Profound Palace and with Cang Yue/Lan Xueruo. What he didn't expect was not seeing Yun Che seeing as how in the original story he was given a ticket by his grandfather to enter the New Moon Profound Palace because his grandfather had saved the live of Great Elder Sikong Han's son. During his stay at the New Moon Profound Palace he didn't meet or see him even once.
Walking around the forests behind the New Moon Profound Palace Itachi was just enjoying a nice, stress free evening when he lays eyes on Yun Che cultivating beneath a tree with Xia Yuanba next to him. Taking a good look at them he sees that Yun Che has gotten stronger. He was now at level 8 Elementary Profound Realm. Considering the fact that he just started cultivating 5 months ago its a feat that he managed to get this strong in such a short amount of time. Looking at Xia Yuanba next to him Itachi could see that he was at level 6 Elementary Profound Realm. Seeing those two sitting together cultivating it was clear why he didn't see Yun Che all week. He was most likely cultivating in solitude together with Xia Yuanba and probably came out only recently.
After walking around the forest for a few more hours Itachi came back to his room. After closing the door Jasmine immediately came out.
”So that banquet is tomorrow. What are your plans? Because looking at the strength levels of this city your are one the strongest and you could dominate them with your overwhelming power.” Jasmine asked curiously
”The plan for tomorrow is to keep my power level down to make them think I'm weak. After I beat all of the disciples we will be on our way. I am doing this as a favor for elder Sikong Han. He is a really good man and I can't stand it to watch him bow his head in shame while those other sect belittle him and the New Moon Profound Palace.” Said Itachi.
”Good. I can't wait to see their faces once those disciples face off against you and you beat them effortlessly.” Jasmine said with a smile while she was eating candy out of a paper bag.
Looking at Jasmine eating his sweets while at the same time expressing her joy at watching Itachi beat the disciples tomorrow during the banquet put a smile on his face.
”Looks like you really got addicted to those candy's I make. But you better safe some for tomorrows show. We wouldn't want you to run out of candy to eat during the fights tomorrow now would we.” Itachi said with a teasing smile to which Jasmine reacted with a blush and turned her head away in embarrassment.
”Hmmphh..... This princess is not addicted to your candy's. This princess will eat whatever she wants whenever she wants. And don't you forget that.” Jasmine said in a prideful/embarrassed way.
”Of course. How could I forget that. As a princess you may eat whatever you want whenever you want. So..... Do you want me to make you some more candy's?” Itachi said with an even more teasing smile.
Hearing Itachi's offer Jasmine couldn't help herself but want even more candy. Turning her head away and looking at the ground with a deep blush she gave the candy bag back to Itachi while muttering ”Yes please” at a barely audible volume.
The next evening.
At the heart of New Moon Profound Palace was a wide area of a sparse emerald-green bamboo forest, and in it, stood a huge palace that emitted a dignified atmosphere. This was the biggest and most extravagant building in the entirety of New Moon Profound Palace; it's known as the ”Main Palace”. All the important matters inside the Palace are conducted in the Main Palace; and the banquet for the new Palace Chief's appointment, would also be conducted here.
Walking in to the main palace and looking around Itachi could just see the other sects still hadn't arrived. As a show of their stature and as a show of contempt towards the New Moon Profound Palace these sects purposefully were arriving later than was planned. Taking a seat at the front next to Cang Yue Itachi sat down and waited for the sects to arrive and for the fights to begin.
Soon after the banquet started. The major sects had entered the main palace and the minor sects gave their respects to the new palace chief Qin Wuyou. The major sects with the exception of the Iron Spear Clan showed the New Moon Profound Palace the minimum courtesy that was expected from them. After that Qin Wuyou gave a speech to commemorate his new appointment as palace chief. Soon Profound Heart Sect's Head Elder Xuan Duanao stood up and 'suggested' to have the younger disciples 'exchange pointers', which was actually the major sects showing off their disciples strength to the New Moon Profound Palace and humiliating them in the process. Xuan Ao suggested one of his sects own disciple Xuan Yu to start first. Elder Sikong Han had told Li Hao to go up first. After a fairly unfair match against Xuan Yu Li Hao was beaten down with ease and was left in a severely wounded state. Li Hao was taken back to be treated and the New Moon disciples were looking at him with much rage in their eyes but they were powerless to do anything about it.
Xuan Yu proud of his rather easy victory was arrogantly looking over the New Moon disciples and calling out to anyone to come up to fight him. Looking over the crowd his eyes soon fell on Xia Yuanba who was trying not to look him in the eyes. Calling out to have Xia Yuanba come up and fight him he heard someone else issuing a challenge.
”I wish to come up and fight.”
Xuan Yu looking at the source of the voice saw a guy standing up wearing a large black coat with red clouds on it. Looking at his weird clothes Xuan Yu was inwardly laughing at him but stayed composed on the outside.
”Sure you can come up. It just means I have another chance to exchange pointers with a New Moon disciple.” Xuan Yu said with great sarcasm and arrogance in his voice.