A Feast of Kings and Quiet Resolves
The banquet hall was a cavernous space where torchlight flickered off dark wood and polished stone, casting dancing shadows that seemed to hold ancient secrets. The long table could have seated fifty, but was intimately set for six. As Di Tian led them to their seats, Yao Xuan felt the weight of countless unseen eyes—not of servants, but of history itself.
The dishes presented were not merely food; they were trophies of a world untamed. Platters bore whole, roasted beasts glazed with shimmering sauces that smelled of herbs from deep within the Star Dou Forest. There were steamed fish with scales like liquid moonlight, bowls of vibrant, spirit-rich fruits that glowed with internal energy, and roots that pulsed with earthy power. The sheer volume was staggering, suited for appetites forged in wilderness and war.
"Young friend Yao Xuan, do not stand on ceremony!" Di Tian's voice boomed with a warmth that was both genuine and slightly rehearsed. "Gu Yue mentioned your robust appetite. It is a virtue here. We are all… hearty eaters." With that, he reached across the table, his movements deceptively swift, and tore a generous portion of meat from a haunch that smelled of century-old Ironhide Bull. He began to eat with a focused, efficient gusto that was neither crude nor elegant, but purely functional.
Beside him, Xiong Jun mirrored the action, his large hands making the hefty cut of meat look like a snack. His chewing was audible, a rhythmic, powerful sound. In contrast, Zi Ji selected morsels with delicate chopsticks, her every movement a study in controlled grace, while Bi Ji tended towards the steamed greens and glowing fruits, her eating serene and measured.
Yao Xuan noted the divide—the predators and the peacemaker, their preferences a silent testament to their natures. Gu Yue nudged his foot under the table, her silver eyes twinkling. "Eat," she murmured, her voice for him alone. "They're showing approval by sharing their hunt."
Taking the hint, Yao Xuan thanked his hosts and began. He ate with a disciplined enthusiasm, savoring flavors that burst with spiritual energy. Each bite of the beast meat fortified his blood energy; each sip of a clear, aromatic broth distilled from millennium-old fungi smoothed the flow of his soul power. The system quietly tallied the gains in the background of his consciousness.
The meal unfolded over hours, a slow, steady ritual of consumption and quiet conversation. Di Tian asked polite questions about Donghai Academy, his golden eyes missing nothing. Xiong Jun grunted occasional comments about the toughness of the meat. Zi Ji's inquiries were sharper, probing his understanding of soul power theory. Bi Ji simply smiled, occasionally pushing a particularly beneficial fruit his way.
Finally, sated, Yao Xuan leaned back. A gentle warmth suffused his body, and a notification chimed softly in his mind.
It was a significant boost. The efficiency was astounding. A flicker of calculation ran through his mind—the potential accumulation over weeks here was considerable. But he dismissed the greed instantly. This was a privilege, not a resource farm. His purpose was Gu Yue, not her pantry.
Di Tian waved a hand, and silent servants materialized to clear the table. "Take young friend Yao Xuan to his chambers to rest," he instructed.
Gu Yue rose with Yao Xuan. "I'll show him," she said, a note of possessiveness in her tone that made Di Tian nod in acquiescence.
They walked through quieter corridors, the castle settling into a deeper silence. The room assigned to him was, in a word, palatial. It wasn't just a bedroom; it was a suite spanning over a hundred square meters, appointed with rich tapestries, furniture carved from dark, fragrant wood, and a ceiling so high it seemed to dissolve into shadow. A fireplace held dormant flames, ready to be sparked.
The attached bathroom drew a soft exhalation from him. A sunken bathing pool, large enough to swim in, steamed gently. The air carried a subtle, soothing fragrance. His Detection Eye activated automatically.
The value was astronomical. This wasn't just luxury; it was cultivation aid of the highest order. "They really don't do things by halves," he murmured.
Gu Yue, leaning against the doorframe, smiled. "Only the best for our guest." Her eyes softened. "Get some rest. Tomorrow… we begin."
After she left, Yao Xuan didn't succumb to the plush comforts. He found the cultivation chamber adjoining the suite. It put Donghai Academy's facilities to shame. Intricate soul guidance arrays were inlaid into the floor and walls in silver and gold, humming with latent power. As he sat cross-legged in the center and began his circulation, the arrays ignited. Visible streams of soul power, thick as morning mist, converged on him. The "Creation Soul Forging Technique" in his dantian spun like a galactic core, refining the influx into a pure, potent, nine-colored energy that seamlessly merged with his own.
For two hours, he cultivated, the room buzzing with concentrated energy. His soul sea expanded minutely, its hues deepening.
Afterward, still thrumming with power, he opened the system interface. He had 400 Gold Evolution Points remaining from his recent accumulations. 'Time to invest,' he thought.
"Yes."
The points vanished. A familiar, yet always staggering, surge of primordial energy flooded his meridians. It was cooler this time, less of a burn and more of a profound infusion, as his body was now better adapted. His bloodline concentration ticked upward, and a pulse of pure, sovereign draconic aura—uncontainable for a split second—rippled out from his body, through the stone walls of the castle.
In a secluded chamber far below, the four elders froze.
Di Tian's golden eyes snapped open, glowing in the dark. A tremor, fine as a spider's thread, ran through his form. "That aura… It purer than before. More consolidated."
Zi Ji, meditating on a cushion of violet silk, inhaled sharply as if struck by a memory made scent. "It is like… hearing the heart of the world beat."
Xiong Jun, who had been polishing a dark-gold claw, stilled his hand. He said nothing, but the respect in his eyes hardened into something akin to reverence.
Bi Ji felt it as a wave of cleansing, unifying warmth that eased an ancient ache in her spirit she hadn't fully acknowledged. "He grows," she whispered. "Swiftly."
"Yet we cannot rush," Di Tian said, his voice a low rumble, reining in his own blazing hope. "The Silver Dragon King's plan is sound. A forced awakening could shatter a soul still finding its shape in this human shell. The power is there, but the consciousness… it must be woven back together with care, with connection." He looked at each of them, his gaze lingering on Xiong Jun. "We follow the plan. We observe. We protect. During tomorrow's 'examination,' we contain any resonance. The human world must not sense this."
"Understood," the three murmured as one.
Back in his room, Yao Xuan, unaware of the quiet storm his growth had stirred, finally allowed himself to lie on the immense bed. The scent of soul-nourishing wood calmed his spirit. His thoughts drifted to Gu Yue, sleeping just across the hall. To the elders with their piercing gazes and unspoken expectations. To the immense, silent castle that felt less like a building and more like a living entity watching him.
He was a guest here, welcomed with terrifying generosity. But he was also a key in a lock none of them fully understood. As sleep claimed him, his final thought was not of god-kings or ancient beasts, but of a silver-haired girl's smile and the gentle pressure of her hand in his. That was the reason he was here. That was the bond worth tempering his soul for, in a castle of legends, under the watchful eyes of kings.