The next evening, **Yue Zhen** gathered his advisors and key family members in the main hall of the Yue Manor. The tension in the room was palpable; the influx of sects and the friction between the Crimson Hawk and Thousand Peaks disciples were causing no small amount of concern.
"The city is on edge," one elder said gravely. "The rivalry between the sects is growing more heated by the day. If it escalates further, it could spill over into violence."
Yue Zhen nodded thoughtfully. "We cannot allow that to happen. The Grand Auction and the trials are too important for Silverleaf's stability. To quell the rising tensions, I will host a **Grand Banquet**—a gathering of all the sects' disciples and elders, as well as the city's key figures. It will be a chance for them to interact, exchange pointers, and perhaps defuse some of the hostility."
An elder raised an eyebrow. "And if the banquet only adds fuel to the fire?"
Yue Zhen's eyes hardened. "Then they will learn that Silverleaf is not a place where discord is tolerated."
----
At the Yue Manor, preparations for the banquet reached fever pitch. The expansive halls were draped in rich silks, their colors reflecting the Yue Clan's wealth and elegance. Servants moved like streams of water, setting tables with golden platters and jade cups. The menu had been meticulously crafted to impress even the most discerning elders, featuring spiritual beast dishes and rare wines infused with Qi.
**Yue Feiyan**, though outwardly composed, found herself uneasy as she oversaw the final touches. The influx of powerful sects and their disciples had turned Silverleaf into a boiling pot of tension, and the banquet felt like a fragile lid barely keeping it contained.
When she passed her father's study, she overheard Yue Zhen speaking with one of the elders. "We cannot show weakness at this banquet," Yue Zhen said firmly. "The sects must understand that Silverleaf is a place of unity, not discord. If they cannot see reason, we must make them see it."
----
The next day, Yue Feiyan found Tianyu once again in his garden. This time, she brought news of the upcoming banquet, her excitement barely concealed.
"My father announced the Grand Banquet," she said as she approached. "It's happening the night before the auction. All the sect disciples and elders will be there."
Tianyu glanced at her briefly. "I assumed as much."
Feiyan leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And I need an escort."
Tianyu raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me?"
"Who else would I ask?" Feiyan's tone was teasing, but her smile held sincerity. "You'd be doing me a favor. Besides, it might be entertaining to see Ren Zixuan's face when you show up."
Tianyu sighed lightly, sensing there was little chance of declining without further argument. "Very well. I'll accompany you."
Tianyu prepared for what lay ahead, his thoughts steady despite the chaos brewing around him. The banquet would be a stage, not just for mingling, but for power to be measured. And Tianyu, though uninterested in pride, knew he could not remain in the background forever.
The storm was coming. And Silverleaf would soon feel its full force.
----
Silverleaf City thrived in the growing excitement, its lantern-lit streets bustling with cultivators and merchants drawn by two magnetic events: the **Yue Pavilion Grand Auction** and the looming **Thousand Peaks Sect Trials**. Every inn, tea house, and courtyard brimmed with life, their conversations layered with intrigue and speculation.
In the weeks leading to the grand banquet hosted by the Yue Clan, tension brewed visibly between rival sects. Disciples adorned in the robes of powerful sects walked with measured pride, their very presence commanding respect—or inciting envy—from onlookers. These weren't the rogue cultivators or lesser clans that made up the majority of the city's visitors. These were the disciples of Silverleaf's most powerful sects: ones whose names carried weight across the empire.
The **Thousand Peaks Sect**—undisputed masters of the region—was a formidable institution. Their mountain stronghold, hidden among the clouds, served as both fortress and sanctuary. Their disciples carried the honor of their legacy like a badge, clad in golden-white robes embroidered with celestial patterns that shimmered faintly under the sun. Their techniques, honed through millennia, focused on the mastery of Qi flow and resilience, making them nearly untouchable in direct confrontations.
Among their disciples, whispers of **Xiang Tianyi**, a prodigy on the cusp of Nascent Soul Plane, struck the city like lightning. His name inspired equal amounts of awe and caution. Known as the **Heavenly Resplendent Blade**, he had earned his moniker for his effortless mastery of sword techniques infused with radiant Qi, blinding his opponents before delivering decisive blows. His arrival in Silverleaf was anticipated like that of a revered king, bringing with it an almost palpable shift in the air.
The **Crimson Hawk Sect**, by contrast, thrived on a foundation of aggression and innovation. Their scarlet robes matched the heat of their techniques, which specialized in Qi combustion and explosive attacks. They were a rising power, quickly closing the gap between themselves and the Thousand Peaks Sect. Among their ranks, **Ren Zixuan** had become a household name—a talented, brash cultivator whose fiery personality mirrored his techniques. Though young, he had already achieved significant victories in duels across the empire, cementing his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Hailing from a secluded mountain fortress lined with ancient monuments of their sword masters, the **Celestial Blade Sect** was the epitome of refinement and discipline. Generations of unparalleled swordsmanship had made them one of the most respected sects in the empire. Their disciples were known not for fiery techniques, but for precision and grace.
The sect's delegation was led by **Elder Jianfeng**, a Nascent Soul cultivator who embodied the quiet strength of his sect's legacy. Dressed in robes of deep azure, Jianfeng's presence alone silenced the bustling streets as the Celestial Blade delegation entered Silverleaf. Behind him followed a line of disciples whose movements were as sharp and fluid as blades drawn through water.
At the head of the disciples stood **Jian Lin**, a prodigy of the sect known for his sword technique, **Heavenly Veil Dance**, which rendered opponents unable to track his blade's motion until it was too late. Jian Lin's stoic demeanor reflected the teachings of his sect—every move calculated, every thought measured. Cultivators whispered excitedly as he passed.
"Is that Jian Lin?" one merchant asked, his voice awed. "They say he defeated three Northern Frost Valley disciples in one sparring match without even unsheathing his blade."
"Three? The story I heard said it was four," another replied.
From the icy peaks of the far north came the **Northern Frost Valley Sect**, renowned for its mastery over elemental arts and ice cultivation. Their disciples arrived in Silverleaf, cloaked in robes that shimmered like frost under sunlight, their very presence cooling the air. Unlike the fiery and bombastic arrival of the Crimson Hawk Sect, the Northern Frost Valley delegation exuded a quiet, commanding power—an icy calm that hinted at deadly precision beneath the surface.
Their leader, **Feng Xinyue**, an Astral Ascension cultivator, was both revered and feared in cultivation circles. Known as the **Queen of Ice**, her techniques could freeze entire battlefields, halting armies in their tracks. Even as she walked through Silverleaf's markets, her piercing gaze seemed to cut through the chaos, leaving onlookers chilled.
Beside her stood **Lu Han**, the sect's brightest prodigy, whose ice spear technique, **Frozen Heaven's Impalement**, had earned him both respect and notoriety. Rumors swirled around Lu Han's victories, one of the most impressive being his duel against Ren Zixuan from the Crimson Hawk Sect, which ended in a draw—a rare feat against the fiery genius.
As the Frost Valley delegation moved through Silverleaf, whispers followed them like snowflakes drifting on the wind.
"They say Lu Han once froze a Nascent Soul beast with a single spear thrust," murmured a cultivator.
"Can you imagine him facing off against Xiang Tianyi? What a battle that would be."
In stark contrast to the refined techniques of Celestial Blade and Frost Valley was the **Iron Horizon Sect**, a powerhouse built on sheer strength and unyielding will. Their disciples favored brute force, channeling their Qi into augmenting their physical capabilities to devastating levels. Their techniques relied on resilience and power, overwhelming opponents with direct, relentless strikes.
The delegation was led by **Elder Zheng Hao**, a towering figure whose cultivation level at the Astral Ascension Plane was matched only by his reputation for crushing enemies in combat. His arrival in Silverleaf reminded many of the Iron Horizon Sect's motto: "Stand like a mountain, strike like a storm."
Among the disciples, **Bao Xinjun** drew the most attention. A prodigy specializing in **Titan's Edge**, a Qi amplification technique that allowed him to deliver strikes with the force of collapsing mountains, Xinjun was known for his straightforward, no-nonsense demeanor. Unlike the other sect prodigies, Xinjun did not bother with reputation—his actions spoke louder than words.
The Iron Horizon Sect's arrival sparked murmurs in the streets.
"I've seen Bao Xinjun knock down a thirty-foot stone wall with one punch," whispered a rogue cultivator.
"Well, I saw him uproot a centuries-old tree during a spar," another countered.
----
It was late morning when the procession from the **Thousand Peaks Sect** entered Silverleaf. Unlike the bombastic arrival of the Crimson Hawk Sect, the Thousand Peaks delegation moved with quiet confidence, their disciplined formations exuding a sense of unshakable purpose.
At its head stood **Xiang Tianyi**, his golden-white robes gleaming under the sun like celestial armor. His sword, strapped to his waist, radiated a faint luminescence that seemed almost alive. Tianyi's expression was calm, detached from the chaos that seemed to ripple in his wake. Disciples whispered excitedly as he passed.
"Is that Xiang Tianyi?"
"They say his blade has never been touched in combat."
"He's the one who blinded three Nascent Soul cultivators during a duel."
The rumors surrounding him only fueled the rivalry between the Thousand Peaks and Crimson Hawk Sects. Ren Zixuan, hearing of Tianyi's arrival, smirked but said nothing. Yet his silence carried a weight—an unspoken challenge that hummed in the atmosphere.
----
Beneath the streets of Silverleaf, in a chamber lit only by flickering torches, the rebellion's masterminds gathered. Cloaked figures surrounded a circular table, their faces hidden but their intentions clear.
"The banquet will bring all the empire's pawns into one room," one figure said, their voice low and cutting. "The sects, the clans, the city's leaders—they'll all be there, distracted by false unity."
Another figure, their hands resting on the table, spoke with venom. "And when the trials begin, chaos will erupt. The Thousand Peaks Sect will be drawn into conflict. The empire will weaken itself in the aftermath."
The leader of the group, shrouded in the deepest shadows, raised a hand. "Silverleaf is only the beginning. This city will burn, its flames a signal to the empire that its end has begun. Our fire will spread to the emperor's gates, and his reign will crumble to ash."