Ju Imperial City.
It was evening in the Ju imperial capital, everyone continuing their daily lives as the city crowded with people doing daily stuff, some shops still open preparing for the evening close-down, others open twenty-four hours, wine already doing the work rumor would finish.
"Have you heard, the imperial guardians are hosting a feast inviting other empires and even sects?"
"Yeah, I heard it was because of a kid who was merely a Qi Condensation realm cultivator."
"Merely a Qi Condensation realm, you surely weren't there at the coliseum."
"What are you saying, is he some kid from an influential background that even the imperial guardians honor him?"
"I don't know about that, but I heard apart from him being a genius, he's also a master alchemist."
"Hahaha, I think you drank too much wine for tonight for you to start spewing bullshit, a kid who is not even a Spirit King, a master alchemist, haha, what a joke."
A group of men was drinking at a pub as they talked about today's events from the coliseum, while some witnessed the events and still found it hard to believe, others completely denying the rumors of this so-called Alex, who would believe a grown man who's a Qi Condensation realm cultivator to have caused all these rumors winding around. First off a Qi Condensation realm warrior is the weakest cultivator in the cultivation world, only stronger than a human, some humans can even beat Qi Condensation warriors in rare cases, and it takes years of practice before even one calls themselves an alchemist, let alone a master alchemist, which would take longer or even a lifetime, a pub doing the continent's mathematics with cups.
Clang.
"Tell me more about this genius named Alex."
The men were enjoying themselves when suddenly they heard a clang as from the back tables a tall skinny man covered in majestic robes asked while one of his guards laid a gold coin on the men's table.
"Huh, you want to know about this fake news?"
One of the men in the group who wasn't at the coliseum spoke as he quickly grabbed the coin, kept it, flicked his head telling the man who was at the coliseum to go and explain, that man standing, walking toward the group, sitting as he felt uncomfortable, the urge to leave, the asked group consisting of six men, four in masked black uniforms, an old man in a more expensive black robe with eyes closed, their leader wearing an expensive purple robe with a gallant demeanor.
After a couple of minutes the man told what he knew and witnessed as he hurriedly headed for the large bar door, his friends following as the group left.
"Master, are you going to believe that, from what I heard this rumor seems too far-fetched."
"Far-fetched, no, from what was said this man's name is Alex, and he was seen by thousands of people, so the rumors are true, but not entirely."
"Has master discovered anything?"
"According to what was said this man's name is Alex, which is a name never been heard in the Eastern Continent, if my guesses are correct then this person might be as strong as the rumors portray him to be, but this Alex might also be a master alchemist disguising as a young man due to unknown reasons."
"If master wishes, we will investigate this person named Alex."
"No need, he's the center of attention for today's banquet anyways, I shall uncover the true identity of this hidden master."
The man spoke as he drank his wine, while the master was calm the four guards exuded extreme ominous qi, the old man standing to the right of their leader, hands cupped under his garments, eyes remaining closed.
"Let's head for the banquet, I have certain people to meet."
The leader spoke as his body began discharging dark ominous energy when he said certain people, making a big smile, his guards not reacting, standing with folded arms and double swords attached to their backs, it seeming they understood their master well enough, a smile that already knew an old man in a red robe.
Far away from the Ju Empire two men floated in the air as one asked what had caused the Ju imperial guardians to hold the meeting this early, the man floating below the other, the one above answering he thought something happened to have made them change the date this early, both wearing brown garments, both exuding powerful suppressive energies, twins who had not yet been told they were not the loudest thing in a hall.
Ju capital.
The feasting hall is located at the center of the imperial city, next to the Imperial Tower, the usual insides of the hall having tables facing a higher stand where the leading person sat, the below tables not distinguishing between the weak or strong, sitting in this hall alone representing a person's reputation and power as powerful on high evaluation. Hours later people could feel powerful energies coming towards the imperial city, the arriving guests not even releasing any oppressive qi or force, their presence alone able to pressure the weak.
"Welcome!"
Ju Han, the Emperor, personally welcomed the arrived guests as he stood at the entrance of the imperial feast hall, greeting the flying cultivators.
"Huh, is the imperial Emperor of the Ju Empire personally greeting us, what's going on?"
A woman in sexy clothes charmingly spoke as she alerted the other arriving cultivators, Ju Han hearing this sentence almost raging, he the Emperor of the Ju Empire for heaven's sake and an Emperor realm cultivator, but merely a welcoming man when introduced to greater powers and powerhouses. The others also wondered as they remained hovering in the air, although Ju Han was the welcoming host he maintained his dominance as the Ju Emperor and a powerful cultivator, a throne handle at the coliseum still remembering it had wanted a disciple.
"Why have your guardians called the meeting, which is months from now, this early?"
A man with an extremely arrogant demeanor asked while fingering his ears.
"This is something you will know later."
Ju Han had his hands behind him as he answered, the next moment Ju Shu appearing next to him with a smile.
"Thank you for coming at a later notice like this, we truly appreciate your efforts, let's continue this conversation inside, shall we?"
Everyone heard Ju Shu as they followed him inside the feast hall, but upon entry the usual settings of the hall had changed, instead of one there were three highly designed seats on the higher stands, and the lower tables also had magnificent designs. Ju Han wasn't surprised, he had witnessed when they were preparing when suddenly the entire feast hall's design and settings were transformed by an unknown entity, guessing it must be the doing of the being named Alex. The guests became suspicious but did not consider it much, they were powerful cultivators, seeing changes like this did not cause much reaction, their adventures full of dangers and mysteries and unknown encounters and treasures.
The Ju powerful families were first to occupy their seats, followed by the sect representatives from the top sects in the Eastern Continent, also surprised by how magnificent the banquet hall was, even the designs seeming majestic and royal. From all the families Lou Min from the Lou family was the unhappiest, her daughter facing a mental breakdown due to Alex the imperial guest, Lou Yan not in the hall, a Saint of one afternoon still learning how to be a girl. The cultivators who arrived began occupying seats, and with them occupying their respective seats the hall became tensed with strong energies from all corners, more than sixty cultivators in total, moments later servants roaming around with food and wine as they served the best food in the empire.
"Hahaha, how come there's no one to welcome the untouchable twin brothers."
Suddenly a loud voice bellowed as two men hovered over the guest hall, these two wearing brown garments as they were the ones previously hovering far away from the Ju imperial city.
"I don't think you need to cause such a disturbance to satisfy your pathetic egos of dominance."
A person flashed behind the twins as he spoke more authoritatively than them, Ju Shu flashing behind the two men with an annoyed expression, returning to the ground, heading inside the hall without waiting for the twins to reply. But even after being surprised by Ju Shu with an antagonizing expression the twins didn't even react, let alone turn their backs, still holding calm faces as they went down and headed inside the banquet hall.
With the food and wine passing around everyone enjoyed themselves as the atmosphere began calming down slowly, but then an ominous qi was sensed by the cultivators as they raised their guards against this energy.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Ju imperial guardians hosting a banquet, what a surprise it is."
A group of six men walked into the hall as they drew all attention, their leader speaking as he put on a warm smile, any cultivator in the hall able to tell the smile wasn't genuine the least because of the energy the four masked men behind him exuded.
"Lu Fan."
Ju Han was first to speak as he held a folded fist and glared at this new guest called Lu Fan, not acting upon his anger, calming himself seconds later, as an Emperor it is always important to maintain a calm and calculating perspective. Lu Fan walked towards Ju Han as his five men remained at their spot, they slowly reducing their energies as they calmed down, but every cultivator in the hall still keeping their guards against this group.
"It seems you were fast enough to catch up on time."
Ju Han spoke to Lu Fan with a sarcastic tone, from the tension between the two one could guess there is a conflict between them.
"I wondered what caused the arrogant Ju Emperor and his imperial guardians to host a sudden banquet in honor of some unknown guest, I am wondering who this imperial guest of the Ju Empire is."
Lu Fan mockingly spoke as he confidently headed back to his group, he and his group occupying a table in the far back as they distanced themselves from the crowd. Being the arrogant person he is Ju Han felt degradation, but the most annoying thing was that he couldn't do anything to this person as Lu Fan's power is not condoned, Lu Fan a Half Immortal realm cultivator, his techniques making him an annoying opponent, cultivating a technique considered the most annoying, giving everyone the reason not to initiate a fight with him.
The cultivators were enjoying themselves when suddenly a cultivator stood and asked when this important guest of the Ju Empire was coming out, who did he think he was, and with this comment most of the other cultivators also became curious, but then they heard a loud bang as it drew all attention, from the outside the voice of an old man booming.
"Ju Fan, are you not coming to welcome me?"
Ju Shu and the cultivators inside saw the old man standing outside with a walking stick, grey hair, long white beard, height of six-five, donning a red robe as it fluttered around, and although everyone could see him they couldn't feel his cultivation realm, indicating how powerful this old man was.
"Hahaha, it is not that I don't want to, it's just you are still incapable of making me welcome you."
An arrogant voice rang out as Ju Fan appeared before the old man, the old man not reacting to Ju Fan's insult, standing both hands on his stick as he asked.
"What has caused you to call for me like this?"
"There is someone you need to know before you spur trouble for us."
Ju Fan answered as he walked into the hall, the other cultivators seeing the first imperial guardian and this unknown old man following behind with a walking stick, but from afar Lu Fan wickedly smiled when he saw the old man as he spoke softly.
"You finally here."
"Now that everyone is here, I would like to introduce young master Alex, who is an imperial guest of our Ju Empire and possibly the whole Eastern Continent."
Ju Fan spoke, most of the cultivators instantly comprehending the meaning behind his words, everyone should watch their attitudes towards this imperial guest with the interpretation meaning, the mentioning Eastern Continent meant this young master Alex could affect the whole Eastern Continent with his power or background. Some cultivators knew their abilities and strengths, but if a full-fledged Immortal realm cultivator seriously summons most of the powerful cultivators in the Eastern Continent in honor of this person, it meant matters are serious.
"But where is this guest called Alex, and why is he making us wait for him?"
Among all the cultivators the twins from earlier were the ones to interrupt with their questions, although they were rude most of the other cultivators agreed with them, just who is this young master Alex and where is he.
"Did someone mention my name?"
While everyone was busy looking at the twins they suddenly heard a voice coming from the high stand not far from them.
"Huh, how did he, when."
Most of the cultivators wondered and immediately took caution as they evaluated this person, the only ones to not react being Lu Fan and his group, the unknown old man, the twins, and an unknown womanly figure covered in a good robe sitting at the far back than Lu Fan's group. The unknown old man sat at a table as he thought to himself, this person and those two women appeared on the stage without even making noise or distortion in the atmosphere, even my sense couldn't detect them, it seems Ju Fan was right, these people might be powerful masters in disguise as kids.
"No need to be so tense, why don't we continue the banquet."
Patrick spoke as he sat at the magnificently designed chair, his left hand supporting his chin and his right leg over the left, Athena and Anna sitting at his sides and occupying their seats, Athena on the right, Anna on the left, Anastasia's absence from the three chairs not absence from the afternoon. All attention was on Patrick, this person named Alex too handsome, even some of the female cultivators unable to resist his charm, worse for the women beside him as most men couldn't even take their eyes off them.
Patrick sat at his chair as the servants roamed and served food and wine, he seeing a woman covered in white hood robes as she denied the food and drinks, smiling as he spoke softly.
"You are finally here, my dear wife."