Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King-Chapter 189 - 184: The Banquet Begins, Li Xian Astonishes the Crowd!
The sixth floor is the position of the noble, with four seats, and the dishes are slightly lesser. The fifth floor is the position of the minister, with six seats, and the dishes are even lesser... decreasing accordingly, until the first floor, where there are twenty-one seats, and the dishes are the worst. But even the worst cannot be eaten by ordinary people.
From top to bottom, a total of seventy-five seats.
Although it’s a banquet, it’s actually a covert ranking, urging people to compete. Those with lower positions can seize seats, and the way to compete is simple, either through "verbal martial arts debate" or "hand-to-hand martial arts combat".
The Heavenly People Tower is set in Pond Lake.
Pond Lake is vast, but the lake surface is calm. Every year’s first snow, it is windless and ripple-less. Therefore, when the tower hosts a martial arts debate, the sound carries across the lake, and passing commoners, various family clans, and sect leaders can all hear it.
Around the lake rise taverns, and the guests inside have even better positions, able to directly see the feast happening inside.
It is indeed a grand event in the Prefecture City!
This morning.
The lakeside was already surrounded by people. Tall buildings stood around Pond Lake, and wealthy merchants and noble family descendants in the private rooms had already taken their seats early.
How bustling it was.
Gu Nianjun had no interest in this event, but Zhou Shijie, the top of the Hero List, was a fellow student of the academy, and had gained good fortune. He was to enter the tower feast and had extended an invitation days ago. Gu Nianjun bluntly refused, but as he persisted and Gu Nianjun happened to be free today, he came as arranged.
The ’Dragon Gate Tower’ beside Pond Lake.
Zhou Shijie, young and handsome, tall in stature, wearing luxurious brocade, said, "Nianjun, I have reserved a parlour for you in the Dragon Gate Tower. I am really happy you could come."
Gu Nianjun got off the carriage, nodded slightly. Just as he was about to climb the Dragon Gate Tower, he suddenly glimpsed a figure, and his originally disinterested expression turned serious in an instant.
Zhou Shijie looked on, instantly taken aback. On the carriageway, a white horse-drawn black carriage had stopped, and a woman in white got off. Her demeanor was indescribable, her expression gentle. She looked a moment at Gu Nianjun, then walked towards the Dragon Gate Tower with an air impossible to define.
Gu Nianjun said gravely, "Why has she come too?"
"Nianjun, do you know her? Who is she?" asked Zhou Shijie.
"Let’s go upstairs!" Gu Nianjun now had interest, not answering Zhou Shijie, only muttering, "If she arrives, hopefully this floor feast won’t turn into a bloody mess."
"Nianjun, Nianjun!" Zhou Shijie hurried after him, secretly using Lightweight Skill, but regardless of his pursuit, he was always half a step behind.
...
Many onlookers successively took their seats.
Lin Aoshan, being the "Grandmother of the Lin Family", due to her family status, did not enter the Hero List. However, she was quite interested in this tower feast, so she reserved a parlour in the tavern by Pond Lake.
"Everyone, sit down," Lin Aoshan said with a smile.
In the parlour, many Lin family elders, with white-haired temples, wizened faces, and dim eyes, finally took their seats one after another.
Lin Aoshan, holding her chin, remembered Li Xian, renowned in the Prefecture City. If he also came to the feast, it would be quite interesting. Her eyes glanced over, and Pond Lake was already flooded with people; the shore was so crowded people were pushed into the lake, becoming soaked like drowned rats.
Suddenly, a loud laugh was heard, the sound echoing everywhere.
Ou Yezi performed Lightweight Skill, flying gracefully, astonishing everyone. He leaped from the lakeshore, landing directly on the roof of the Heavenly People Tower, standing on the shingles.
His square face and thick beard gave him a coarse appearance. Everyone marveled, yet he laughed loudly several times. Then he took out a longsword from his waist, tearing away the cloth wrapping, revealing a sharp blade.
The treasure sword was three feet long, double-edged, with a gleaming cold light.
Ou Yezi said, "This is the Sinking River Treasure Sword, forged from Water Spirit Profound Iron, incredibly sharp. The sword has extraordinary power, please watch." Holding the sword hilt, he jumped into the lake. His feet could touch the water without sinking.
He inserted the longsword into the lake and lightly stirred. With a ’splash’, giant waves rose from the water. Standing on the water, he performed a sword dance. The lake water followed his will, surging as he wished.
He laughed heartily. With a toe at the water, he leaped back to the top of the Heavenly People Tower. He knocked on the sword blade, producing a sharp sound. Water splashes appeared on the lake surface.
This sword was indeed mysterious, truly eye-opening for many.
Ou Yezi continued, "This sword was forged at Cold River and quenched with water from the heart of the river. Therefore, it has the power of [Playing with Water]."
"However, I am not skilled in using the sword. It is a sin for such a treasure to gather dust. Today, I will present this sword to the city’s heroes, letting it serve its purpose, fulfilling a wish of mine."
He inserted the sword into the eaves. With a leap, displaying amazing Lightweight Skill, he stepped through the air, flying over Pond Lake, landing on the Dragon Gate Tower’s roof.
He sat cross-legged on the roof, opened a gourd of wine at his waist, took a hearty drink, showing no intention of leaving.
The surrounding people, various family members... all looked on. The Cao, Lin, Chu, and Yuwen clans looked displeased, but there was nothing they could do, only snorting coldly.
Gu Nianjun said, "Someone’s coming."
The crowd bustled again. A small boat drifted over the lake; the number one talent from the Prefecture City was arriving for the feast.
"It’s number thirty-four on the Hero List, Luo Bu’Er!" the crowd exclaimed.
Luo Bu’Er, in a green robe, with hands behind his back, looked quite dashing. Now the lake surface was calm, with no wind around, yet he did not need to paddle, steering the boat with his will towards the Heavenly People Tower.
"Luo Bu’Er, may I borrow your boat?"
Number thirty-six on the Talent List, Li Ruhu, leaped, sprinting rapidly on the water. This was an extremely advanced martial arts skill; each time he tapped the water, his body sank slightly. At this rate, when he reached the lake’s center, he would surely sink into the water. And at this level of the martial artist, once submerged, encased by water, he could no longer perform the previous Lightweight Skill.
Seeing his imminent embarrassment, he stepped onto Luo Bu’Er’s boat, immediately stabilizing. In a flash, he had already overtaken Luo Bu’Er. His meticulous plan was just for this crossing of Pond Lake.
