King of Creation
Chapter 148 - 146 Great Desert Fury Sand

Chapter 148: Chapter 146 Great Desert Fury Sand

"Third brother, your nose is really sharp," the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan said with a smile as he reluctantly rose to his feet to welcome the Third Prince Zhu Kun to the banquet. "The feast has just started, and here you are, drawn by the scent!"

Even though Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan was unwilling to do so, he still stood up and greeted Third Prince Zhu Kun with a smile.

Their fake smiles made Ye Zhen frown deeply.

To live like this must be exhausting; being a martial artist is so much better.

As long as you’re strong enough, you can do what you want—laugh when you want to laugh, cry when you want to cry. No need for so many false faces.

With the arrival of Third Prince Zhu Kun, many princes and nobles at the banquet started to look uncomfortable.

"Big brother, it’s not that I have a sharp nose; it’s just that my home is so quiet compared to your lively gathering. . . ."

A few words from Third Prince Zhu Kun turned the atmosphere of the banquet cold.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Third Prince Zhu Kun suddenly stood up, took out a stack of red invitations with a smile, and said, "Big brother, I am also hosting a banquet at my mansion tomorrow."

"Since everyone is here today, I’ll take this opportunity to hand out a few invitations. You won’t mind, will you, big brother?"

The face of Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan turned ugly in an instant; he realized that Zhu Kun had come to the event just to cause a scene.

But no matter how irritated he was, he still had to laugh and say ’no problem’ with a beaming face hiding his towering rage, which made Ye Zhen’s teeth ache from watching.

If it were Ye Zhen, he would certainly give them a piece of his mind and make it impossible for them to save face.

"Master Jiang, we are holding a banquet tomorrow at my residence. I respectfully invite you to attend. . . ."

Third Prince Zhu Kun began to hand out invitations one by one, and every attending prince and noble took them with embarrassed expressions. Some of the less assertive ones even sneaked glances at Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan, fearing his anger.

"Heh heh... Certainly, certainly..."

As he continued to distribute the invitations, it soon came to Elder Bao’s turn near the entrance of the hall.

The seating of Elder Bao, Ye Zhen, and the Black Water Pill King was a bit peculiar, which could throw off anyone else.

But Third Prince Zhu Kun laughed and said, "Pill King, what kind of wind blew you into my brother’s banquet today? I must sincerely invite Pill King to grace my banquet tomorrow!"

"Not free!"

The Black Water Pill King waved his hand and flatly refused Third Prince Zhu Kun’s invitation, much to the joy of Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan.

The posture of the Black Water Pill King alone was enough for today’s banquet.

However, Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan was very clear that the Black Water Pill King’s refusal was not to give him face, but rather to give face to Ye Zhen.

Previously, the Eldest Prince had invited the Black Water Pill King to a banquet dozens of times without success.

Later, it became a habit for the Pill King to accept an invitation but not show up.

"It seems I must try to win over Ye Zhen. What benefits should I offer to be appropriate?" the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan thought to himself.

Even though Black Water Pill King usually refused such invitations, having his refusal done to his face made Third Prince Zhu Kun look a bit awkward, and a sneaky light flashed in his eyes.

The next moment, although the order would have been to invite Elder Bao of the Black Water Dao Field, Third Prince Zhu Kun suddenly turned and handed an invitation to Ye Zhen instead.

"Ah, Young Hero Ye, we meet again," he said with a laugh. "I am hosting a banquet at my mansion tomorrow and have prepared a special gift for you. I hope you will honor us with your presence."

These words instantly changed Elder Bao’s expression.

Third Prince Zhu Kun was clearly setting a trap for Ye Zhen.

The Qiyun Sect had always clearly sided with Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan in the matter of royal succession and had been openly dismissive of Third Prince Zhu Kun, who was fully supported by the Lishui Sect.

Elder Bao, a person skilled in dealing with all sides, had always directly refused invitations from Third Prince Zhu Kun.

Knowing that Elder Bao would definitely refuse his invitation was precisely why Zhu Kun skipped over him and directly invited Ye Zhen.

If Ye Zhen were to accept, it would make for quite a spectacle.

Besides, Third Prince Zhu Kun was confident that, as a prince inviting a young man like Ye Zhen so earnestly, pretty much offering the invitation with both hands, who wouldn’t be thrilled?

Anyone of lesser temperament would probably be so excited on the spot that they couldn’t contain themselves.

Princess Huayang’s beautiful eyes were also on Ye Zhen, curious about what choice he would make.

Watching Third Prince Zhu Kun extend the invitation with both hands, Ye Zhen didn’t even bother to stand up, let alone move from his spot. He waved his hand in annoyance and blurted out two words,

"Not going!"

At those words, the previously composed Third Prince Zhu Kun’s face stiffened, his confidence replaced by surprise.

The whole room was shocked!

Damn, who do you think you are, the Black Water Pill King? Declining just like that!

Ye Zhen’s response was even more direct than the Black Water Pill King’s.

The Pill King at least had an excuse and left Zhu Kun some dignity.

But Ye Zhen’s reply was blunt to the point of rudeness.

Elder Bao, who had been somewhat anxious, instantly relaxed. That response had even more backbone than his own.

Honestly, Ye Zhen might have left some dignity for anyone else.

But with this Third Prince Zhu Kun, Ye Zhen was truly annoyed.

Especially since the matter of the Lishui Sect killing Old Madam Meng and the eventual weak resolution were all facilitated by Third Prince Zhu Kun behind the scenes—how could Ye Zhen give him a good face?

"Ha... Haha... Indeed... Heroes emerge from the young!"

After a few forced laughs, Third Prince Zhu Kun, extremely embarrassed, retracted his hands, turned away, and continued down the line, skipping Elder Bao altogether.

To continue would have only embarrassed himself further.

"Good lad, you’ve even got more character than I do!"

The Black Water Pill King gave Ye Zhen a big thumbs up.

"Huayang, pour the wine!"

With a light call from Ye Zhen, Princess Huayang, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration, hastily began pouring the wine, stunning the prince and nobles opposite them.

Under the influence of alcohol, Ye Zhen began to treat even the exalted Princess Huayang as if she were a mere palace maid to be ordered around.

The small interlude with Third Prince Zhu Kun passed, and although the atmosphere of today’s banquet no longer carried the earlier mood, the banquet continued as normal with a succession of songs and acrobatic performances.

Just as another group of dancers with long water sleeves took the stage, an unexpected change occurred!

Third Prince Zhu Kun suddenly drew his sword and threw it!

Whoosh!

A long sword fiercely thrust into the center of the grand hall, trembled unceasingly, startling the dancing girls, who scattered in panic with continuous shrieks.

"Third brother, what are you doing? Are you drunk?" The Eldest Prince’s face darkened, and he instantly became enraged.

Third Prince Zhu Kun, holding a cup of wine, shouted with the help of his inebriation, "Big brother, don’t you think that these constant chirping and twittering dances are too boring?"

"What do you want to do?"

Third Prince Zhu Kun did not answer Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan. Instead, he raised his glass toward the princes and nobles in the grand hall and said, "Gentlemen, today we have the swordsman Lie Kuangsha from the Northern Border’s Great Desert, willing to perform a sword dance for the gentlemen. The wild sands of the Great Desert, the wind sweeping the sky, would you gentlemen care to watch?"

Without waiting for a response, a swordsman with an extraordinary aura and dark skin behind Third Prince Zhu Kun leaped to the center of the grounds and shouted loudly, "The Great Desert Swordsman Lie Kuangsha has come to dance with the sword!"

"Big brother, what do you think?"

"Good, good, good! With third brother so considerate, how could I not agree!"

Even though the Eldest Prince Zhu Xuan was already furious, he still controlled his emotions.

By this point, everyone could see that Third Prince Zhu Kun had come to the banquet today with the deliberate intent to cause a disturbance.

First with an invitation, then a sword dance, the intention to show off was self-evident.

Clang!

A dragon-like sound of a sword being unsheathed suddenly rang out, and a fierce wind burst forth.

Sword light crisscrossed, and as Lie Kuangsha’s sword momentum unfolded, there seemed to be an illusion that one was in the desert storm itself.

"A mood?"

Ye Zhen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Lie Kuangsha wasn’t dancing with the sword; he was clearly displaying his swordsmanship and showing off.

With the sword light crisscrossing and the mood taking shape, what should have been a cool grand hall suddenly seemed filled with a scorching heat. This sword momentum was indeed a bit extraordinary.

Combined with his mid-stage Spirit Summoning Realm cultivation, even though he was somewhat restrained, the residual force of his Sword Qi also caused the prince and nobles’ cheeks to sting with pain.

Especially the cultivation-less palace maids, who cried out in alarm and retreated, turning the banquet hall into complete chaos.

But particularly, Lie Kuangsha danced his sword form exceedingly well; at the most exciting moments, it was as if a yellow dragon was sweeping through, and it really did convey a taste of the Great Desert’s wild sands.

"Young Hero Ye, what do you think of this Lie Kuangsha?"

Princess Huayang, who was intently observing the sword momentum, suddenly asked.

"Barely passable!"

"Oh, so you mean to say that, Young Hero Ye, you don’t think highly of it?" Princess Huayang’s response seemed quite astonished.

Ye Zhen responded with a smile, offering no further explanation.

It wasn’t that Ye Zhen was being arrogant; it was simply that after he had formed the half-vein Sword Heart Enlightenment, even though the half-vein Divine Power wasn’t realized and built by him, his discerning eyesight had become exceptionally sharp through influence and understating.

Although Lie Kuangsha’s sword technique might appear profound to others, to Ye Zhen, it was full of flaws.

Ye Zhen, unwilling to explain further, actually incited Princess Huayang’s pride.

"Do you know of Lie Kuangsha’s battle achievements?"

"This Lie Kuangsha was recruited by the Third Prince into his ranks no more than half a year ago, and the martial artists who have died by his hand already exceed a hundred. Not to mention those early-stage Spirit Summoning Realm martial artists, for those with the same cultivation level as him in the early-stage Spirit Summoning Realm, he has slain more than twenty."

"However, that’s not his strongest record!

One and a half months ago, in Royal City, Hu Yi, known as the Silver Moon Saber of the late-stage Spirit Summoning Realm, was slain by Lie Kuangsha in nine strikes!

One month ago, Ran He, known as the invincible Stele-Opening Dragon King among his peers, was killed by Lie Kuangsha with six strokes during a sparring session!"

"Defeating opponents above his level, not too bad!"

Ye Zhen replied nonchalantly, not out of indifference, but because these sorts of deeds were too common for him.

However, Princess Huayang was dissatisfied with Ye Zhen’s indifferent expression.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the long sword in Lie Kuangsha’s hand made a startling sound of breaking the air. At the instant that all eyes were drawn, a streak of sword light headed straight for Ye Zhen!

As the sword light chopped down, Princess Huayang, who was speaking, was so frightened that her face turned pale, and the whole room was shocked.

"Pill King Gai, cheers!"

Ye Zhen remained seemingly unconcerned, raised his cup, and together with the Black Water Pill King, they finished their wine, paying no attention to the sword light slashing down above them.

Just as it appeared that the sword light was about to fall squarely on him, in an instant, the sword light vanished abruptly like a firework.

Even with ten times the courage, Lie Kuangsha wouldn’t dare to bring that sword down.

Besides, Ye Zhen had seen through the realness of that sword light long ago.

At the same moment, a pausing Lie Kuangsha stepped forward and pointed his sword at Ye Zhen, saying, "It’s quite boring to dance the sword alone. Having heard that Young Hero Ye is renowned throughout Royal City for his unparalleled sword techniques, dare you join me for a duel to add to the fun?" (To be continued. If you like this novel, you’re welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)