Chapter 886
Tall green willow trees can be seen everywhere in Weeping Willow City, which is also the origin of the name Weeping Willow City.
The tallest willow tree in the city is said to be ten thousand years old.
This huge willow tree is more than a thousand meters tall, and its spreading branches cover a large area.
Under the tree, there is a group of buildings surrounded by high walls.
This is where the Cui family is.
At this time, the huge willow tree was hung with red silks and lanterns, which looked particularly festive.
At the four gates of the Cui family, representatives from various sects continued to enter, as well as a large number of casual cultivators from the martial arts world.
All the younger members of the Cui family were also arranged at the door to greet the guests.
At this time, hundreds of chairs were neatly arranged in a hall in the core area of the Cui family.
Cui Yuan, the ancestor of the Cui family, was sitting in the upper seat, smiling and talking to the guests who were already seated.
Those who can enter this hall are not ordinary people.
Most of them are famous casual cultivators in the world, as well as elders from other large sects.
One of them, a middle-aged man with an elegant face, was wearing a black python robe and was sitting on a chair.
Behind him, there were two young men, a man and a woman.
Cui Yuan, the ancestor of the Cui family, looked at the middle-aged man with a smile.
"Prince Yun, it is really an honor for my Cui family that you can come here in person."
Tuoba Yun smiled and said:
"The Cui family is the mainstay of our Haoyang Empire."
"The fact that you can reach the Fusion Realm is not only a great joy for your Cui family, but also a great joy for our Haoyang Empire."
"So the emperor specially asked me to express his congratulations."
Everyone else present also laughed.
"His Majesty the Emperor is indeed kind."
Cui Yuan also smiled and nodded:
"I heard that His Majesty's third prince, Tuoba Qingyun, has now become a disciple of the Xiuyuan Sect and has become the direct disciple of the First Peak Master, Senior Gu Chen."
Tuoba Yun nodded:
"Qingyun is young and promising, and he is the pride of our Tuoba royal family."
Everyone present knew that once the Tuoba royal family confirmed the prince, they would make the prince a registered disciple of the head of the Xiuyuan Sect.
Now that Tuoba Qingyun just worships Gu Chen, the master of the first peak, it shows that Tuoba Qingyun is probably not the first choice for the prince.
The Tuoba royal family has yet to announce who the prince is, which is not normal.
But these things are not something that these people at the scene dare to ask.
Tuoba Yun looked at Cui Yuan, frowned and asked:
"I heard that the Cui family also sent an invitation letter to Xiuyuan Sect."
"Will Xiuyuan Sect send someone today?"
Cui Yuan smiled and nodded:
"The Xiuyuan Sect sent a message to my Cui family that day, saying that they would send someone to attend my promotion banquet."
"Probably something delayed me on the way, so I haven't arrived yet."
Tuoba Yun nodded, looked at everyone again and asked:
"A great monster comparable to the Fusion Realm has appeared in the Tuotian River. Have you all heard about this?"
Everyone present nodded.
Tuoba Yun said 'hmm':
"The palace has sent a request to Xiuyuan Sect. The master of Xiuyuan Sect has sent a message saying that he will send someone to deal with the big demon."
Some people looked puzzled:
"Prince Yun, there are rumors in the world that that big demon is comparable to the Nascent Soul realm."
"Some people also say that the big demon has the strength to transform into a god."
Prince Yun shook his head slowly, with a chill in his eyes:
"These messages are released by people with ulterior motives."
"Actually, that big demon has the strength of the Fusion Realm!"
"Otherwise, how could our royal family ask for help from the Xiuyuan Sect."
Everyone present looked surprised.
The Great Demon of the Fusion Realm!
This has not happened in the Haoyang Empire for decades.
There are also people who are full of doubts.
The royal family also has several worshippers, all of whom are in the Fusion Realm. Why not take action to deal with the big demon yourself, instead of asking Xiuyuan Sect for help?
It seems that he has noticed everyone's speculation.
Tuoba Yun slowly said:
"The royal family members are all performing secret tasks in various places, and there is no manpower available."
Everyone nodded, even if they had doubts in their hearts, they did not dare to ask them in person.
At the same time, a junior from the Cui family ran to the door of the hall with excitement on his face, knelt down with a plop, and shouted to Cui Yuan:
"Ancestor, the seniors of Xiuyuan Sect are here!"
Hearing this, Cui Yuan looked overjoyed and quickly stood up and walked towards the entrance of the hall.
Others also stood up one after another to welcome him.
Even Prince Yun stood up with a smile and walked toward the door with his hands behind his back.
Then everyone saw Xiao Zhan and Ye Qingcheng walking outside the hall under the leadership of a Cui family maid.
Cui Yuan didn't recognize Xiao Zhan and Ye Qingcheng, but still clasped his fists and smiled:
"Welcome two Taoist friends from the Xiuyuan Sect to come from afar. This is an honor for my Cui family!"
Ye Qingcheng nodded calmly and walked into the hall without any intention of introducing himself.
Xiao Zhan took a sip of wine and didn't say a word.
After everyone sat down again, Cui Yuan looked at Prince Yun with some embarrassment, really not knowing what topic to talk about.
Prince Yun looked at Ye Qingcheng and Xiao Zhan with a smile, cupped his fists and said:
"Don't be surprised by the two Taoist friends of Xiuyuan Sect. Don't you know their names?"
Ye Qingcheng looked cold and spoke slowly:
"Xiuyuan Sect, the master of the fourth peak, Ye Qingcheng."
Hearing this, everyone was surprised.
Even Cui Yuan and Prince Yun were a little stunned.
They didn't expect that Xiuyuan Sect would actually send a peak master!
And he is still the extremely powerful Ye Qingcheng!
Everyone looked at Xiao Zhan again.
Xiao Zhan smiled, waved his hand and said, "I'm just a free person, you don't have to worry about me."
Ye Qingcheng glanced at Xiao Zhan and said nothing.
Cui Yuan laughed loudly:
"Since the Xiuyuan Sect's envoy has also arrived, let's have a banquet and chat while drinking."
While speaking, Cui Yuan clapped his hands.
The maids brought in tables one by one and placed them in front of everyone.
More maids and servants came in carrying wine, fruit trees, and delicacies and placed them on the table.
After three rounds of drinking, Prince Yun suddenly walked up to Ye Qingcheng with a wine glass in hand and chuckled softly:
"Master Ye, I have heard of your name for a long time. When I saw you today, I didn't expect Master Ye to be so young."
"Master Ye Feng, let me toast you!"
Ye Qingcheng picked up the wine glass, raised his slender neck, and poured the wine into his mouth.
"Master Ye Feng is so happy!"
Prince Yun smiled, poured himself another glass of wine, looked at Xiao Zhan and said:
"These fellow Taoists, I also toast you."
Xiao Zhan nodded, took the wine bottle from the table, raised it in the air, and poured it into his mouth.
Prince Yun smiled and nodded, then walked back to his seat and sat down.
He said in a deep voice:
"Today, on behalf of the Tuoba royal family, I am here to congratulate the ancestor of the Cui family for entering the fusion realm, and I have one more thing to do."
Hearing this, everyone put down their wine glasses and all looked at Prince Yun.
Prince Yun smiled and said:
"With Xiuyuan Sect here, our Haoyang Empire is safe and secure."
"But the Xiuyuan Sect is the sect that governs the country and cannot be easily touched."
"And the five ministers of the royal family are always on the go, which leads to a serious shortage of manpower in the royal family."
"Let's just say that on the border of Western Xinjiang, the Zhenrong Kingdom has repeatedly invaded, but we don't have the sacrifices from the Fusion Realm to suppress Western Xinjiang."
"So, on behalf of the royal family and the Haoyang Empire, I invite the ancestor of the Cui family to become the sixth worshipper of the Haoyang Empire."
Having said this, Prince Yun looked at Cui Yuan, raised his glass and smiled:
"Cui Yuan, what do you think?"
Cui Yuan's hand holding the wine glass froze.
The smile on his old face also froze.
Becoming a tribute to the empire is, in the eyes of countless people, a coveted honor that represents identity and status.
Together with him, the Cui family will also become the new wealthy aristocracy of the Haoyang Empire.
But that also meant that he, Cui Yuan, had to obey the royal family's arrangements.
At least for now, two of the five worshipers of the royal family are from the royal family, and the other three are all casual cultivators in the world.
Other families, such as the Huangfu family, although they also have powerful people in the Fusion Realm, have not become enshrined.
Cui Yuan looked at Ye Qingcheng.
Everyone else present also looked at Ye Qingcheng.
Everyone understands that even the Xiuyuan Sect will not watch the power of the royal family expand.
Although the offering was from the Haoyang Empire, it was equivalent to the power of the royal family.
The Xiuyuan Sect hopes to see a powerful Haoyang Empire, but may not be willing to see a powerful Tuoba royal family.
But Ye Qingcheng's face had no expression at all, and was still so cold.
Xiao Zhan also had a faint smile on his face, just focusing on drinking, as if he didn't hear what Prince Yun said.
Upon seeing this, Prince Yun looked at Cui Yuan with a smile:
"Cui Yuan, do you have any concerns?"
Cui Yuan suddenly didn't know how to answer.
After a long time, he put down his wine glass and sighed:
"Prince Yun."
"I, Cui Yuan, am already old. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to make further progress in my cultivation in the future."
"My only thought is to make the Cui family more prosperous while I am still alive."
Prince Yun smiled and nodded:
"You can rest assured on this."
"As long as you become a tribute to the empire, the descendants of the Cui family can join the court as officials and work with you to contribute to the Haoyang Empire."
"In a few years, your Cui family may not be able to grow to a level comparable to the Huangfu family and the Ouyang family."
Cui Yuan looked at Ye Qingcheng again:
"Master Ye Feng, what do you think?"
Ye Qingcheng raised his eyes and glanced at Cui Yuan, and said slowly:
"We are here to attend your promotion banquet. You have become the Fusion Realm, which is a good thing for the entire Haoyang Empire."
"As for whether you want to become a tribute to the empire, it all depends on your own opinion."
"Our Xiuyuan Sect protects the entire Haoyang Empire, but never interferes with the government affairs of the court."
After hearing this, Cui Yuan sighed secretly.
He knew that Xiuyuan Sect would not be happy if he became a member of the royal family.
Otherwise, why send a peak master from the Fusion Realm here?
This is clearly a matter of pressure.
But... what choice does Cui Yuan have?
There would probably be no consequences for making Xiu Yuan Zong unhappy. After all, Xiu Yuan Zong was a man of few desires and didn't pay much attention to worldly affairs.
But if the Tuoba royal family is unhappy, the Cui family may not be able to move forward in the Haoyang Empire in the future.
Thinking of this, Cui Yuan nodded to Prince Yun:
"Then I would like to thank the empire for giving me this opportunity. I am willing to dedicate myself to the empire."
Prince Yun nodded with satisfaction.
Although he has only reached the Great Perfection Realm of Void Refining and is only one step away from the Fusion Realm, with the support of the Tuoba royal family, he will not have the slightest fear when facing Ye Qingcheng and Cui Yuan.
Ye Qingcheng stood up at this time and said:
"Since Xiuyuan Sect's blessing has been brought, we will return to Xiuyuan Sect first."
Cui Yuan's expression changed.
Obviously, Ye Qingcheng is angry!
But he overthought it after all.
In Ye Qingcheng's view, it was not important at all whether Cui Yuan should be worshiped by the royal family.
She just didn't want to waste time here.
As she said, she had already brought Xiuyuan Sect's congratulations.
Xiao Zhan, however, sat still and did not move.
Ye Qingcheng frowned slightly:
"Why, do you still have something to do?"
Xiao Zhan smiled and shook his head:
"Delicious food, try it again."
Ye Qingcheng was silent for two seconds and sat down again.
Seeing this scene, others were a little surprised.
Including Cui Yuan and Prince Yun, their eyes were full of astonishment.
At the beginning, Xiao Zhan did not introduce his name, and Ye Qingcheng did not introduce Xiao Zhan.
So everyone thought that Xiao Zhan was a disciple of Ye Qingcheng, or an unknown disciple of the Xiuyuan Sect.
However, looking at Ye Qingcheng's attitude now, it seems that this man's status is no lower than Ye Qingcheng's.
Ye Qingcheng slowly spoke at this time:
"His name is Xiao Zhan, the master of the tenth peak of our Xiuyuan Sect."
Some people died, but not completely...
