Wu Tian and Yang Ziwei spoke for a long time, leaving everyone else to the side. But they dared not say anything. After all, the most important thing for an Array Master is the formation. To hear the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening! Whoever interrupted them would become Yang Ziwei’s mortal enemy.
That group could only watch. The most uncomfortable among them were Xiao Shimin and his son, Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian. Of course, there was also Consort Yu. Wu Tian’s performance today was utterly dazzling, a complete slap in her face. If there was one person present who was a Qilin of talent—one whose acquisition meant the conquest of the world—in the eyes of the crowd, it was definitely not Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian. It had to be Wu Tian.
...
"Listening to your discourse is countless times better than studying from texts in isolation." At last, Wu Tian’s lecture concluded. Yang Ziwei, having benefited immensely, immediately bowed to Wu Tian once more. "In the future, I, Yang Ziwei, will be right here. Should you have any need for me, please ask directly, Mr. Wu Tian. Today’s teachings are a life-saving favor."
"You’re too kind," Wu Tian said with a casual smile.
What he spoke of was merely the basics! Yet Yang Ziwei revered it as divine wisdom. Most of Wu Tian’s expertise in formations came from his Brother Mu in the All Heavens! I wonder if that Brother Mu has achieved the status of Great Dominator by now!
"No, no, no, what seems trivial to you is a monumental event in my eyes. It cannot go unrepaid," Yang Ziwei said respectfully, clasping his fists. "I must return and properly digest the contents of what you’ve said, Mr. Wu Tian."
After speaking, he turned and left. From beginning to end, he only bid farewell to Wu Tian.
Xiao Shimin’s face stung. After Yang Ziwei’s departure, the atmosphere grew intensely solemn. Everyone looked at Wu Tian. Those with no prior dealings with him had astonishment in their eyes. This young man has boundless potential, they thought. As for those who did have dealings with Wu Tian, like Consort Yu and the Emperor of Qin Country, their expressions were complicated.
Si’er was smiling to the side. She felt her luck was truly excellent. To think she was associated with such a person and had even joined the Heavenless Gate. In her mind, the Heavenless Gate was sure to become a nine-star power in the future, perhaps even an Immortal Dynasty or a Divine Country. After becoming a Queen, Si’er found that the hearts of men were nothing special. But this Brother Wu Tian... she could never see through him.
...
"Wu Tian, I’m asking you, how do you know about formations?" Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian couldn’t bear it any longer. He should have been the one at this banquet who was exalted, the one everyone looked at with shock, but now he wasn’t.
Furious, he immediately strode forward and demanded, "Tell me, where did you secretly learn it from?"
Wu Tian smiled faintly. "None of your business."
"Right, none of your business!" the little one shouted.
"None of your business," Si’er echoed, mimicking them. Beside Wu Tian, she could be herself, free from the burdens of her country and family.
"You... you won’t tell me?" Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian flushed with rage and gritted his teeth. "There’s scum among Array Masters, too. You must have learned from some scum, right? Yes, that must be it..."
"Your mother," Wu Tian said indifferently as he kicked out.
Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian was just a sickly man with little martial prowess. Plagued by countless illnesses, he was now weak and feeble. Wu Tian’s kick sent him flying backward, vomiting blood.
"A posturing clown," Wu Tian remarked, looking at Xiao Tian’s state. After taking that kick and slandering an Immortal Emperor, he likely had only two days left to live.
"I... I am royalty," Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian sputtered as he struggled to stand, "not some... posturing..."
"Enough!" Just then, it was Xiao Shimin who spoke up, reprimanding him. "Heavenly Emperor, stop this foolishness."
Hearing these words, Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian looked at his father, his face a mask of disbelief. He couldn’t understand why his father wouldn’t take his side. After all, with all his other brothers dead, his father had always supported him unconditionally. What was wrong today?
"Mr. Wu Tian, my son is ignorant. Please don’t take it to heart," Xiao Shimin said, personally walking over. He looked at Wu Tian with a warm, gentle smile and took a token from his sleeve. "The Heavenly King Pond is a top-tier cultivation sacred land, inaccessible to those without merit. Today, I am giving this token to you. You may enter to cultivate whenever you wish."
What? Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian was stunned. Whenever he wanted to go cultivate in the Heavenly King Pond, his father would always refuse.
...
Wu Tian chuckled. As if Xiao Shimin’s little schemes could escape his notice. But he couldn’t be bothered to expose them. He simply accepted the Heavenly King’s Order and said, "Alright."
"Then our grievances are settled," Xiao Shimin laughed heartily. He suddenly turned to Si’er and said kindly, "You’re so young to be bearing the great responsibility of a nation. That must be a heavy burden, isn’t it?"
"Yes," Si’er nodded directly.
"I see. I have many capable people under me. How about this? I will call for one of them to go to your kingdom and help you. He is an excellent Strategist, and I shall give him to you," Xiao Shimin said with a smile.
Si’er frowned slightly, feeling something was not quite right. But, still wanting to see if she had the ability to bear the weight of the River and Mountains, she agreed.
"If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave," Wu Tian said indifferently.
Xiao Shimin nodded, not daring to stop him, and allowed Wu Tian’s group to depart.
With Yang Ziwei gone, what point was there to the banquet? Immediately, the other guests began to disperse in twos and threes.
Xiao Shimin also left, taking Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian with him.
"Father, what was all that about?" Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian couldn’t help but ask, his voice full of dissatisfaction. "You weren’t the least bit angry, and you’re even sending a Strategist to Xiuyuan Country to advise them on state affairs? Who are they to deserve such good treatment from you?"
"You don’t understand," Xiao Shimin shook his head, his expression dark and cold. "Wu Tian’s relationship with Yang Ziwei is not simple now. You saw it with your own eyes—Yang Ziwei treated him with deep respect, acting humbly. We must make him one of us."
The Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian nodded but remained hesitant. "Is... is that even possible? He’s so arrogant. He won’t be easily tamed."
"Did I not give him the Heavenly King’s Order? Once he goes to the Heavenly King Pond, he will become one of us," Xiao Shimin said, his eyes deep and profound. "Heavenly Emperor, do you know why I’ve never allowed you to cultivate in the Heavenly King Pond? It is the finest cultivation sacred land in our Heavenly King Country, but there is something you don’t know. The water in the pond has been laced with Mind-Bewildering Powder. The longer one cultivates in it, the more they lose their true self, eventually becoming our docile dogs."
The Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian was shocked. He never imagined his own father would use such methods to recruit talent.
"Talent is paramount! To ensure a continuous flow of it, sacrificing the Heavenly King Pond is a worthy price to pay, in my view," Xiao Shimin stated.
The Heavenly Emperor Xiao Tian nodded, saying no more. But his hatred for Wu Tian grew even deeper.
If Wu Tian becomes one of them in the future, then he, Xiao Tian, can finally teach him a proper lesson.