Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Lanterns, Banquet

People from the Marquis’s Manor are here!

This news was like a thunderclap, instantly detonating the atmosphere of the entire county town.

That was the Wenhai Marquis’s Manor, a family with the title of Founding Marquis, with a legacy of over two hundred years and countless experts within!

In the entire area under the jurisdiction of Wenhai Prefecture, the Marquis of Wenhai was the sole emperor!

In this region, Anping County Town was just an insignificant little place. When had such a big shot ever come here?

“How did this matter alarm even the Marquis’s Manor?”

Everyone was shocked and could not understand.

Outside the Martial Alliance in the north of the city, a troop of fifty black-armored cavalrymen waited quietly.

They stood there, their eyes cold, their bodies emanating a chilling aura.

Ordinary passersby on the street could only make a detour, avoiding this place from afar, and no one dared to approach.

After the arrival of the Marquis’s Manor’s forces, not long after, several other groups of people arrived, all of whom were from powerful factions with extraordinary momentum and astonishing strength.

When the time came to evening, the entire street outside the Martial Alliance was filled with various carriages pulled by exotic beasts.

“These forces from the prefectural city are too terrifying, why are they all using demon beasts to pull their carriages?”

The martial artists of the county town couldn’t help but exclaim, all feeling like frogs at the bottom of a well, having their horizons broadened.

Among the many county town forces, only the Qin family disciples could remain relatively calm.

They often traveled between the county town and the prefectural city, had seen many grand scenes, and were very adaptable to this.

“Everyone, don’t stand outside, go in early, the banquet is about to begin.”

Qin Zhong said, and then walked into the Martial Alliance, heading towards Bright Moon Lake behind the mountain.

The lantern banquet was held by the side of Bright Moon Lake.

Behind him followed several core disciples of the Qin family, including Qin Yu and Qin An.

The hall master of the Mountain Fist Martial Arts Hall, Shen Nong, came over and asked him, “Brother Qin, is your family head not coming today?”

“The family head has already gone in ahead. The seating for Skin Tempering Realm experts is different from us ordinary martial artists,” Qin Zhong replied.

“I see.”

Shen Nong understood and followed Qin Zhong towards Bright Moon Lake in the back mountain.

Not long after, the hall master of the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall, Qi Hong, also arrived. He brought Qi Yue and his two direct disciples.

As for the other disciples of the martial arts hall, they could only participate in the banquet as individuals, like ordinary martial artists.

As time passed, the major forces in the county town arrived one after another, such as the Dragon and Snake Martial Arts Hall, the Boulder Martial Arts Hall, the Xu Clan Cloth Shop, the Wu Clan Escort Agency, and even many people from the Green Robe Gang.

The sky was about to completely darken.

The evening breeze blew gently, and the big red lanterns on the street swayed in the wind.

Chu Liang also came. He came with Hall Master Li Ren, participating in the banquet as a core disciple of the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.

In fact, he could have used other identities.

Such as the owner of the Black Market Amnesty Token.

But if he used that identity, he would probably be arranged to sit with those Skin Tempering Realm experts, which would inevitably make him uncomfortable.

“Senior Martial Brother Chu, you really don’t want to sit with the Skin Tempering Realm experts? This is a rare opportunity,” Li Feng asked curiously, following beside Chu Liang.

“So what if I sit with them?” Chu Liang shook his head. “If your strength isn’t enough, even if you sit together, they won’t pay you any mind. I won’t make myself uncomfortable.”

“That’s true.” Li Feng nodded. He just felt it was a pity, after all, he had never been in contact with Skin Tempering Realm experts in his life.

But in Chu Liang’s eyes, the Skin Tempering Realm was no longer a high threshold.

He had not been idle these past few days.

The two little rats were busy observing Xu Long all day, while Chu Liang himself was busy cultivating the secret techniques “False Skin Technique” and “Blood Explosion Technique”, and had already mastered the basics of the Blood Explosion Technique.

As for the False Skin Technique, to activate this secret technique, one must condense a sixth strand of Qi and Blood, which is independent of the four limbs and torso, and uses the skin as a carrier.

Chu Liang had already condensed a very small trace, and with the help of the Blood Gathering Pill and various auxiliary medicines, he should be able to fully condense it in two or three months.

Now, if Chu Liang went all out and used the Blood Explosion Technique he had just mastered, even if he couldn’t defeat a Skin Tempering Realm expert, he could easily escape from one.

When he became more familiar with the Blood Explosion Technique, he would basically have the strength to contend with a Skin Tempering Realm expert for a short period.

◈◈◈

“Brother Chu!”

A familiar voice suddenly sounded from afar.

Chu Liang turned his head and saw Song Zhong and others. They were also on their way to Bright Moon Lake in the back mountain, a group of more than ten people.

Song Zhong, with a smile on his face, asked the same question, “Brother Chu, are you not planning to use that Black Market Amnesty Token?”

“No, I know my limits,” Chu Liang smiled.

“Haha, with your talent, achieving the Skin Tempering Realm is only a matter of time. Why be so modest?”

Song Zhong and the others smiled and walked over, proceeding together with Chu Liang.

The further they went, the more familiar faces Chu Liang saw. He even saw Master Hu among the many martial artists.

Master Hu also saw Chu Liang, was slightly taken aback, and then smiled awkwardly, “Chu Liang, long time no see.”

“Yes, long time no see.”

Chu Liang looked relaxed and responded with a smile.

He could tell that Master Hu was here to make connections, wanting to take the opportunity of the banquet to get to know more martial artists.

Ahead, there were more and more people, bright lights, and the sound of people talking and laughing. The atmosphere gradually became lively. Without realizing it, they had arrived at Bright Moon Lake in the back mountain.

It was already night, and the Bright Moon Lake was surrounded by flowers and lanterns as bright as day.

The lake rippled, and the moonlight shimmered.

Tall pavilions stood by the lake, with glazed golden tiles and the fragrance of wine. The brilliant lights reflected in the lake, making it seem like another world.

“Hall Master Li, Chu Liang.”

The manager of the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall, Wang Luo, stood at the entrance of the banquet, greeting the two with a smile.

The two also responded with smiles.

Not far away, Ye Long’s boorish voice also appeared, “Hall Master Li, and Chu Liang, you guys are a bit late. The banquet is about to start, and Ye’s stomach is already growling.”

“Hall Master Ye, today is for discussing matters, not for eating,” Li Ren replied.

“We can eat while we discuss, how can we discuss on an empty stomach?”

Ye Long patted his belly, making a loud thud, without any regard for his image.

Another voice sounded, it was the hall master of the Boulder Martial Arts Hall, “Haha, Hall Master Ye is right, my stomach is also a little hungry.”

“Why is everyone hungry, are you all reincarnations of gluttons?”

Luo Hong came over with a smile, speaking as he walked.

He raised his hand and made a gesture of invitation, saying to everyone outside, “It’s cold outside, please come in, everyone. The wine and food are all prepared.”

“Good, we won’t be polite then.”

“Let’s go, let’s see what good food they’ve prepared for this year’s lantern banquet.”

Everyone talked and laughed, the atmosphere was lively, and they entered the tall building by Bright Moon Lake one after another.

Upon entering the main hall of the banquet, everyone’s eyes lit up.

The main hall was brightly lit, resplendent with gold and jade, a scene of prosperity.

The banquet was filled with silver candle lamps, jade plates of delicacies, fine wine, and the sound of music, dazzling and luxurious, like a palace in the heavens, beautiful beyond compare.

“Everyone, please be seated.”

The local Martial Alliance Leader, Qi Cang, spoke from the side, his aged voice echoing in the banquet hall.

Although he was the host, he could not sit in the main seat. The main seat had to be reserved for the people from the Marquis’s Manor in the prefectural city, followed by the three Count families, and only then could he, the host of the banquet, take his seat.