Chapter 232 Night Banquet
Fei Zhong and You Hun had a bumpy journey and ended up in a miserable state.

They knew that if they went back in disgrace, they would not only lose face, but would also probably incur the wrath of Emperor Xin.

The two men brushed the dust off their bodies and discussed countermeasures anxiously.

"We have really suffered a big setback this time. If we return empty-handed, I'm afraid His Majesty will not forgive us." Fei Zhong said anxiously.

A sly look flashed across You Hun's eyes, and he whispered, "Don't panic, don't panic. Have you forgotten? Your Majesty will definitely be interested in that fairy.

We only need to focus on the beauty and magical powers of the fairy, and Your Majesty will surely not be able to remember anything else."

When Fei Zhong heard this, his eyes lit up and he clapped his hands in praise: "Your idea is really great! Let's do it!"

The two of them rode at full speed all the way and finally arrived at Lutai.

They stood in front of Emperor Xin, looking pitiful, and tearfully recounted their previous experiences.

In their conversation, the two people especially emphasized the fairy's peerless beauty and extraordinary magical powers, and their words were full of admiration and awe for her.

"Your Majesty, the beauty of that fairy is like Chang'e in the moon, with a myriad of expressions that dazzle us. Her magic power is even more unfathomable. With just a wave of her hand, we, the golden armored guards, fell like fallen leaves swept by the autumn wind..."

Fei Zhong choked with sobs, and the expression on his face was extremely vivid.

You Hun also echoed: “Your Majesty, if that fairy can be used by you, she will definitely be a national treasure.

Her every frown and smile is enough to captivate the whole country and make people bewildered."

As Emperor Xin listened to the two people's descriptions, the anger that had accumulated due to failure gradually subsided. His eyes became deep, and curiosity and desire for the mysterious fairy began to spread in his heart.

He pondered for a moment and slowly spoke: "Since this fairy is so extraordinary, I naturally want to see her with my own eyes. Fei Zhong, You Hun, you should think carefully about how to let this fairy join my harem so that she can serve me and relieve my worries."

Fei Zhong and You Hun looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief, for they knew that they had luckily escaped this time.

However, what followed was a bigger problem - how to get that peerless fairy into the palace?
Fei Zhong and You Hun walked out of the palace, both of them looked unhappy.

They had just told Emperor Xin about the extraordinary qualities of the fairy. Although this temporarily eased Emperor Xin's anger, they knew very well that this only postponed the problem one step.

Just now he had managed to pretend to be confident in front of Emperor Xin, but now he could no longer conceal his inner anxiety.

"It's all your fault. You insisted on praising the fairy's beauty and magical powers. Now, His Majesty wants to see her. What should we do now?" Fei Zhong angrily accused You Hun.

You Hun's face was gloomy, and he retorted: "Humph, if you hadn't mentioned the treasure of Yang's business first, how could we have ended up like this? What's the point of saying this now? The key is to find a way to solve the problem!"

Fei Zhong was so angry that he stamped his feet. The two men were deadlocked and argued for a while. Finally, they realized that if they failed to complete Emperor Xin's order, their end would be miserable.

Finally, a gleam of light flashed in You Hun's eyes, as if he had thought of a plan.

"I have an idea that may allow us to have the best of both worlds." You Hun lowered his voice and said mysteriously.

Fei Zhong hurried over: "What's your idea? Tell me now!"

You Hun looked around and confirmed that no one was paying attention before he whispered, "We can try to trick the fairy into the palace, and then use poison to eliminate her magic power. Then, wouldn't Your Majesty be able to get what he wants?"

When Fei Zhong heard this, his eyes lit up: "This is a good idea, but the question is, what kind of poison can be effective against immortals?"

You Hun raised a cunning smile and said, "Don't worry, I have made friends with many immortals who are good at plague and poison techniques, especially Taoist Lü Yue from Jiejiao Jiulong Island, who has a deep understanding of these.

As long as we can afford the price, they will naturally help. It is not difficult to make poison to deal with immortals."

After hearing this, Fei Zhong's sorrow disappeared immediately, and the weight of his heart was finally lifted off the ground, replaced by a touch of ecstasy: "That's great, we will act according to this plan. As long as we can make the fairy lose her magic power, His Majesty will naturally reward us handsomely.

But we have to be careful about this. If the fairy finds out, we will be in big trouble."

After the two men discussed and decided on a plan, they hurried to contact the Jiejiao immortals on Jiulong Island, hoping to get their help as soon as possible to create a poison that could deal with the immortals.

Fei Zhong and You Hun were anxiously waiting for the response from Jiulong Island, but to their surprise, Taoist Lu Yue disappeared without a trace, as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth. This gave them a bad feeling.

Just when the two were extremely anxious, a secret letter was delivered to them.

The letter said that Taoist Lü Yue disappeared due to an accident during his practice, and the people who came to handle the matter were his two junior fellow apprentices Chen Geng and Li Ping.

The letter also mentioned that these two junior brothers’ attainments in the art of dealing with plagues and poisons were not inferior to Lu Yue’s.

After reading the letter, You Hun frowned for a while, then smiled and said, "Although Lu Yue is not here, his junior brother will do it for him, which may not be a bad thing.

We only need to provide a secret place to make poison, and they will make what we need."

Fei Zhong nodded in agreement, and the two quickly arranged a quiet house to ensure that the drug refining work would not be disturbed by the outside world.

Soon, Chen Geng and Li Ping came to the house quietly. They expressed their satisfaction with You Hun's arrangement and said that they would make the poison as soon as possible.

You Hun was very pleased with this; their plan seemed to be going smoothly.

However, at this moment, Emperor Xin's envoy suddenly came and conveyed Emperor Xin's order, requiring Fei Zhong and You Hun to enter the palace immediately to discuss matters.

The two were startled, and quickly put on their clothes and followed the messenger to the Emperor Xin's palace. Emperor Xin looked at them with a sharp light in his eyes.

"You Hun, Fei Zhong, how is your plan going?" Emperor Xin's voice was filled with unquestionable majesty.

You Hun responded quickly: "Your Majesty, everything is going as planned. We have found someone who can help us, and we are now secretly refining the poison, which will be completed soon."

After hearing this, Emperor Xin showed satisfaction on his face. He nodded and then announced: "If you can complete this task as scheduled, I will reward you handsomely. I will promote you two to higher positions and give you generous rewards to show my appreciation for you."

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, which greatly cheered up Fei Zhong and You Hun. They knelt down to thank him, and were full of anticipation for the upcoming prosperity and wealth.

They knew that if they could make the fairies lose their magical powers and become Emperor Xin's possession, their status and power would rise.

As a result, the two of them pushed forward the plan more actively, hoping that everything would be perfect.

Not long after, Fei Zhong and You Hun once again set out on the road to Yang's trading company. Although they were a little nervous, they had no choice but to move forward in order to complete Emperor Xin's orders.

When they appeared in front of Jiang Ziya again, their attitudes were obviously much more respectful than last time.

"Mr. Jiang, we are here on the orders of His Majesty to invite the owner of Yang's business to the palace to discuss matters." Fei Zhong said straight to the point, with a tone that did not allow for refusal.

"Your Majesty has expressed his willingness to issue an edict of repentance to make up for the previous misunderstanding." You Hun added.

Jiang Ziya frowned slightly. He knew Emperor Xin's temperament and such a change was too sudden.

He replied in a deep voice: "The master has been away for some time recently. All business matters are in my hands. I can go to the palace to discuss matters."

After hearing this, Fei Zhong's smile froze, and he immediately pretended to be dissatisfied: "Master Jiang, you and I both know that your status is not equal to His Majesty's. If your master is not at home, it is better to let the mistress come."

Jiang Ziya's eyes flashed with a hint of vigilance. He knew that the two men had bad intentions, but he remained calm on the surface: "This matter is of great importance. I need to think about it. Please reply later."

Seeing this, Fei Zhong and You Hun knew that it would be difficult to achieve their goal today, so they had to say goodbye and leave.

As soon as the two stepped out of the door, Bigan, who had been hiding in the dark, came out with uncontrollable excitement on his face.

"Sir, His Majesty must have figured it out!"

Jiang Ziya turned to look at Bigan, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "You are too anxious, this is probably a conspiracy."

Bigan clenched his fists and said bitterly: "The late emperor entrusted your majesty and the Great Shang to me. I must do my best to protect the Great Shang. This may be the only chance..."

Jiang Ziya was silent for a moment and finally nodded. He knew Bigan's determination and understood his responsibility.

"Okay, I will report this to my senior brother... As for whether he agrees or not, that is not something I can decide."

"I am already very grateful for this." Bigan said diligently.

……

Deep in the ancient mountains, there is a mysterious valley hidden, which is called "Lingquan Valley".

Lingquan Valley is surrounded by towering mountains, like a peerless beauty, lying quietly under the starry night sky, peaceful and profound.

The valley is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, like a light veil that conceals the secrets of this world.

At the entrance of the valley, there are two stone peaks standing opposite each other. They are towering into the clouds and have strange shapes. They are like guardian gods, silently guarding this sacred land.

Passing through the stone peak, a winding path appears in sight, covered with moss, with some unknown exotic flowers and plants growing on both sides, emitting a faint exotic fragrance, which is refreshing.

As we walked deeper, the spiritual energy in the valley became richer and richer. There seemed to be a thin layer of water vapor in the air, carrying a fresh scent of grass and a slight chill.

The sunlight shines through the treetops, sprinkling on the ground in patches of light. They sway gently in the breeze, like jumping notes, playing the music of nature.

In the center of Lingquan Valley is a natural spiritual spring. The water is crystal clear and you can see the bottom. There are a few green leaves floating on the water. Occasionally, a few nimble little fish jump out of the water, splashing ripples.

Around the spring, there are circles of emerald green bamboo forests. The bamboo leaves sway gently in the wind, making rustling sounds, which interweave with the gurgling sound of the spring water to form a harmonious natural symphony.

On one side of the spiritual spring, there is a small pavilion built of bluestone. In the pavilion, there is a stone table and several stone benches. On the table are several ancient books and some spiritual stones used for cultivation.

Practitioners often sit in meditation here, absorbing the spiritual energy around them, feeling the pulse of heaven and earth, and realizing the mystery of life.

On the other side of the valley, there is an open grassland dotted with several large rocks of various shapes. Many spirit beasts in the valley are sitting or lying, practicing swords or meditating. Everyone is immersed in his own world of cultivation, with satisfaction and tranquility on his face.

As night falls, the scenery of Lingquan Valley becomes more charming.

The starry sky is clear and the moonlight is like water, sprinkling in the valley, covering everything with a layer of silver gauze.

On the surface of the spiritual spring, the reflection of the moonlight flickers and shines, as if it is the entrance to another world, which is very inspiring.

In this valley filled with spiritual energy, time seems to slow down and every second is full of meaning.

Yang Ling sat cross-legged on a piece of bluestone, his eyes closed, his breathing blending with the natural rhythm around him.

The air around him seemed to vibrate slightly, and faint humming of Taoism could be heard.

Even the small animals in the valley felt unusually shocked by such a mysterious aura. They stopped playing and crawled towards Yang Ling one by one, as if they were bowing down to him and expressing their respect for this great man.

As time passed, the Dao aura around Yang Ling became increasingly strong, as if forming an invisible barrier that isolated him from the outside world.

At this moment, colorful clouds suddenly bloomed in the sky above his head, shining with peace and warmth. In the clouds, a Taoist tree loomed, with swaying branches, and each leaf seemed to contain profound laws. On the branch of the Taoist tree, there was a shining Heavenly Fire Taoist fruit, which emitted a dazzling light, like the brightest star in the night sky.

Next to it, there is a delicate flower bud. Although it has not yet bloomed, it has already exuded a hint of eye-catching aura. It seems that as long as the time is right, it will be able to bloom with unparalleled beauty.

Just as Yang Ling was immersed in this mysterious state, a ray of light flew from afar, soared into the sky, and finally landed in front of his knees.

Yang Ling's heart moved, and he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze was like lightning, shooting straight at the spiritual light. He saw a jade slip quietly floating in front of him, with a faint luster flowing on it, which looked particularly mysterious.

Yang Ling reached out and picked up the jade slip. He used his spiritual sense to explore and immediately understood the content of the letter. It turned out that this was a message from Jiang Ziya, in which he described in detail the intentions of Fei Zhong and You Hun, as well as Emperor Xin's eager expectations.

Yang Ling's brows were furrowed; the news in the jade slip made him feel uneasy.

Although every word in Jiang Ziya's letter was sincere, his understanding of Emperor Xin made him realize that the meeting in the palace was not a good one.

Since Daji's death, Emperor Xin seemed to become more debauched, cold-blooded and ruthless, and his methods became more cruel, and he was capable of doing anything.

He stood up and looked at the tranquil beauty of Lingquan Valley around him, but his heart was surging.

He was well aware of Bigan's loyalty and courage, but such qualities would often become fatal weaknesses in the muddy waters of the palace.

Although Yunhua gave Bigan this opportunity out of goodwill, Yang Ling felt that there was a hidden murderous intent in it.

He took a deep breath and decided to leave early.

Yang Ling knew that he had to return to Chaoge in person to ensure the safety of his family.

Turning back to the stone pavilion, Yang Ling quickly packed up a few magic tools and spirit stones he had brought with him, then waved to the small animals in the valley, indicating that he was about to leave.

These little animals had their intelligence awakened by his breath, and when they saw him leaving, they all looked reluctant.

Yang Ling's figure flashed, and he turned into a breeze, flying out of the valley, leaving the group of small animals looking at each other, their eyes full of admiration and worry.

Yang Ling's speed was extremely fast. In almost an instant, he had passed through the valley and arrived in the outside world.

His figure drew a long trail in the night sky and headed straight towards Chaoge.

As the night deepened and the stars twinkled, Yang Ling had no intention of appreciating the beautiful night sky.

Under the moonlight, the outline of Chaoge's city wall gradually emerged, and a heavy feeling rose in Yang Ling's heart.

……

The world returned to evening, and the blood-red glow in the sky tinged the approaching night with a layer of mystery.

Fei Zhong and You Hun hurried to Jiang Ziya's residence, feeling a little nervous and expectant.

In front of the door, Jiang Ziya had been waiting for a long time. His eyes were as calm as water, as if he had already seen through the troubles of the world.

"Mr. Jiang, where is the owner of Guibao?" Fei Zhong asked doubtfully.

They are not here for Jiang Ziya.

At this moment, a figure descended lightly from the sky. It was Yun Hua. Her appearance was like a stunning scenery, causing Fei Zhong and You Hun to hold their breath and stare at her.

Yunhua smiled slightly, his voice as clear as spring water: "I will go to the palace with Mr. Jiang, hoping to be of some help."

When Fei Zhong and You Hun heard this, they were overjoyed.

Carriages moved slowly along the cobblestone road in the afterglow, heading towards the palace.

As they approached the palace, they heard bursts of music, palace lanterns hanging high, and colorful ribbons fluttering. The entire palace was decorated beautifully, like a fairyland in a dream.

They passed through the palace gate and were greeted by a beautiful piece of music. The melodies played by the musicians' harps, shengs and flutes intertwined together, like the sounds of nature.

The palace maids were dressed in colorful clothes and danced to the music. Their dancing was graceful and beautiful, as if they were elves walking out of a painting.

Emperor Xin sat on the high throne, his eyes searching for something.

The moment he saw Yunhua, his eyes lit up instantly, and a greedy light jumped in his eyes, almost impossible to conceal.

He immediately stood up and greeted Yunhua enthusiastically.

"Fairy, it's a great honor to meet you." Emperor Xin's voice was full of enthusiasm and fascination. He stretched out his hand and wanted to lead Yunhua to a seat.

Yunhua just smiled slightly and did not accept Di Xin's hand, but walked to the seat next to him.

Her actions were graceful and appropriate, neither being impolite nor maintaining an appropriate distance.

Although Emperor Xin was a little disappointed, he did not show it. He turned back to the throne and signaled that the banquet should continue.

The music started again, the palace maids danced more passionately, and the whole palace was filled with laughter.

The atmosphere of the banquet gradually became more heated. Emperor Xin raised his glass frequently in his seat, and each time he raised it specifically to Yun Hua, as if he wanted to win the beauty's smile.

However, Yunhua's face remained as calm as an iceberg, her eyes were clear, and she was not shaken by Emperor Xin's hospitality.

Finally, when Emperor Xin toasted for the third time, Yun Hua gently put down the wine glass in his hand, and his voice was as cold as spring water: "Your Majesty, I am not here to enjoy the banquet, but for the sake of Bigan, I hope to talk about business.

If Your Majesty only wants to enjoy himself, then I will leave immediately."

Emperor Xin's expression changed slightly. He knew that Yun Hua was not the kind of woman who could be easily fooled. He nodded quickly and looked at Fei Zhong and You Hun. Under Emperor Xin's gaze, the two of them quickly exchanged glances, signaling him not to be anxious and to calm Yun Hua down first.

Jiang Ziya had been observing all this from the side, his brows furrowed, and he felt something was wrong.

He knew Emperor Xin's character, and that he was always good at hiding his true intentions. Tonight's banquet was obviously full of weirdness.

Just as he was about to get up and persuade Yunhua to leave, he suddenly felt dizzy. He felt his head becoming dizzy and all his magic power was gone.

Jiang Ziya was surprised, and tried to endure the discomfort in his body and steady himself, but he found that he didn't even have the strength to stand up.

He scanned the scene, looking for possible reasons, but found that no one else seemed to be affected, which further strengthened his suspicion.

Seeing this, Emperor Xin showed concern on his face. He stood up and walked towards Jiang Ziya, holding him with his hand: "Mr. Jiang, what's wrong with you?"

Jiang Ziya shook his head. He knew that this was not an ordinary poisoning, but someone had secretly tampered with it to dissipate his magic power.

He tried to send a message to Yunhua to warn her of the possible danger, but he found that he no longer had the power to send a message.

Seeing this, a cold light flashed in Yunhua's eyes. She knew that the situation tonight was much more complicated than she had expected.

She whispered to Emperor Xin, "Your Majesty, since Mr. Jiang is not feeling well, we might as well postpone our conversation."

There was a sly flash in Emperor Xin's eyes, and a wicked smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. His tone was filled with an unquestionable threat: "You are all poisoned. This poison is colorless and odorless. It has been floating in the air. It will only erode your magic power. Even the Golden Immortal can't resist it."

Yun Hua's face was slightly cold, her eyes were as sharp as a knife, she looked directly into Di Xin's eyes and asked, "What on earth do you want to do?"

Emperor Xin sneered, his voice full of arrogance and arrogance: "The whole world belongs to the king, I can have whatever I want.

Now, what I want is the Yang family business, and you! I want to take you into my harem and make you the queen of my Great Shang!"

The music around them suddenly stopped, and the palace maids' dancing also stopped. Everyone's eyes were focused on Di Xin and Yun Hua, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

A trace of disdain flashed across Yunhua's eyes, and her voice was as cold as ice: "Emperor Xin, who do you think you are?

Why do you covet Yang's business? Why do you want to take me into your harem? Do you think you can get everything you want this way? "

Emperor Xin's smile became even more ferocious. He stretched out his fingers and gently stroked the jade cup in his hand, as if he was enjoying Yun Hua's resistance: "Yun Hua, don't think you are special. In my eyes, you are just a woman with some ability. Since you don't know what's good for you, I won't be polite."

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards behind Emperor Xin immediately surrounded Yun Hua and Jiang Ziya.

Seeing this, Emperor Xin couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Yunhua, do you think you can escape from my grasp? Tonight, you will all become my captives."

As soon as he finished speaking, seven or eight figures appeared in the shadows around the hall. They were dressed in Taoist robes and had extraordinary demeanor. It was obvious that they were all Taoists with profound cultivation.

Among these people, two are particularly eye-catching, namely Lu Yue’s junior brothers Chen Geng and Li Ping.

Chen Geng stood in the crowd with a smug smile on his face. He looked at Yun Hua and Jiang Ziya with a scornful smile on his lips, and his voice was full of pride: "This poison was carefully developed by me, Chen Geng. It is colorless and tasteless, and even a Golden Immortal can hardly detect it.

Now, you have all become mortals and can only be at the mercy of His Majesty."

Li Ping stood aside and watched coldly. He knew that the situation tonight was set and Yunhua and Jiang Ziya were powerless to save the situation.

When Emperor Xin heard Chen Geng's words, a trace of ecstasy flashed in his eyes. He immediately said to Chen Geng and the other Taoists: "Good, very good! After the matter is accomplished, I will reward you handsomely!"

After saying that, Emperor Xin turned his head and stared at Yun Hua greedily. He couldn't wait to stretch out his hand and touch Yun Hua's cheek.

A hint of coldness flashed across Yunhua's eyes. She took a step back, avoiding Di Xin's hand, and said coldly, "You are courting your own destruction."

Seeing this, Emperor Xin's face darkened. He looked at Yun Hua unhappily, with a hint of threat in his voice: "No one can refuse me!"

Although Jiang Ziya's magic power was sealed, his momentum was not diminished at all. He stared at Emperor Xin with a sharp gaze and spoke in a sonorous and powerful voice full of righteous indignation: "Stupid emperor! We came here with good intentions, but you used such despicable means to plot against us. You are truly an incurable tyrant!"

Emperor Xin's face suddenly turned ashen, his anger erupted like a volcano, he was furious: "How dare you scold me!
Come, kill him for me!"

Just as Emperor Xin finished speaking and the murderous guards were about to take action, a sword shadow suddenly appeared behind Yun Hua. It was the legendary Avici Sword. Its blade was glowing with a faint blue light, and the tip of the sword was pointing directly at Chen Geng.

No one present could see the trajectory of the sword light. They only heard a scream, and Chen Geng's head flew high into the air, with blood gushing out like a fountain.

A trace of fear flashed in Li Ping's eyes. He didn't expect that Yun Hua could still launch such an amazing attack under such circumstances.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Xin's face turned pale instantly, his lips trembled, and his eyes were filled with fear: "You, you actually..."

Fei Zhong and You Hun were even more frightened. They thought they could just sit back and reap the benefits tonight, but they didn't expect the situation to be reversed in an instant. Yun Hua's strength was far beyond their imagination.

The guards and palace maids present were also terrified. The originally lively banquet instantly turned into hell on earth. No one was not shocked by this sudden bloody scene.

Yunhua's eyes were cold, and her voice was like an icy blade in the winter: "What can a little poison do to me?"

(End of this chapter)