Divine Wind City was a hub of bustling activity. The streets teemed with carriages and pedestrians, and the roads were lined with shops of every kind. The air echoed with the ceaseless cries of merchants and the murmur of negotiations. Today, however, everyone from the street vendors to the common laborers was talking about a single joyous event: the grand wedding of Zhao Xingpu, the heir to the Zhao Family, one of the three great families!

If it were just an ordinary family scion getting married, it wouldn’t have caused such a stir. The key was that this Zhao Xingpu was far too famous. A thirty-two-year-old at the Qi Sect, possessing a Royal Family’s Top-Grade Bloodline, he had once distinguished himself in a tournament for young talents, his fame nearly rivaling that of the Empire’s number one genius, Mo Yanqing!

If it were just Zhao Xingpu’s great fame, that would be one thing. But the one marrying him was by no means inferior. A disciple of the esteemed Baihua Sect Master, she had reached the Early-Stage Armor Realm at just seventeen. Not only was she powerful, but more importantly, she was devastatingly beautiful. All who had seen her were filled with admiration!

A genius paired with a genius, a handsome man with a beautiful woman—the wedding was instantly hailed as a match made in heaven.

"I heard that for this wedding, not only is the Zhao Family’s ancestor personally attending, but he also invited three Ultimate Venerables from the Imperial Capital, as well as the Baihua Sect Master and the Mi Tian Sect Master! They’re holding the celebration in the most central plaza of the Imperial Capital. It’s going to be incredibly lively!"

"Three Ultimate Venerables, the Baihua Sect Master, and the Mi Tian Sect Master? Those are all Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses! Their status is even more revered than the Emperor’s. You almost never get to see them!"

"Yeah, and I heard that anyone can go and offer their congratulations this time. Everyone who attends, regardless of their status, will receive a reward!"

"Anyone can go celebrate? And there’s a reward? With so many people in the Imperial Capital, how much money is that going to cost?"

"Cost money? Heh, have you forgotten what the Zhao Family does? They’re the God of Wealth of the Divine Wind Empire! They’re swimming in money. Just the high platform they built for the wedding was cast entirely from white iron. That alone must have cost at least a million taels of silver!"

Everyone on the streets was talking up Zhao Xingpu’s grand wedding, and every face was filled with envy.

The centermost plaza of Divine Wind City, also known as Divine Wind Plaza, was where the Imperial Family held its grand military parades. But right now, it was a sea of people, packed so tightly that nothing could get through. Countless dignitaries and nobles had gathered here to attend Zhao Xingpu’s wedding.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a figure flew through the air, landing squarely on the high platform in the center of the plaza.

"He can fly... That’s an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse!"

"It’s the Zhao Family’s ancestor, Zhao Xun..."

Seeing the figure land, the crowd of onlookers erupted in excited cheers.

Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses rarely made public appearances, so ordinary people almost never saw them. To witness one of the pinnacle figures of the Qi Sea with their own eyes was considered a great honor.

"The Zhao Family’s ancestor reached the Ultimate Venerable Level twenty years ago. His strength is extraordinary!"

"Extraordinary? I don’t think he’s considered particularly strong among the Ultimate Venerables! I heard he was defeated by Lord Mo Yanqing with a single sword strike!"

"Being defeated by Lord Mo Yanqing doesn’t mean he’s not strong. It just means Lord Mo Yanqing is *too* strong! The Empire’s number one genius isn’t just for show!"

While the crowd below was shocked, they also began to animatedly discuss the great battle between Mo Yanqing and the ancestor Zhao Xun.

Mo Yanqing, the Divine Wind Empire’s number one genius, was an idol worshiped by countless people. He reached the Qi Sect at twenty-two and the Ultimate Venerable Level at thirty-one! After becoming an Ultimate Venerable, his defeat of the Zhao Family’s ancestor, Zhao Xun, with a single saber strike became a famous legend.

After being defeated, the Zhao Family ancestor Zhao Xun’s reputation didn’t diminish. On the contrary, Mo Yanqing’s reputation as a genius was so immense that Zhao Xun’s fame actually grew as a result.

Mo Yanqing is a peerless genius. He could defeat Zhao Xun, but could you?

"I heard that after Lord Mo Yanqing became an Ultimate Venerable, he gave up the saber techniques he’d always practiced and switched to cultivating Swordsmanship. He even created his own Sword Techniques of infinite power! They say a single strike from his sword could collapse half a city wall!"

"Sigh, Lord Mo Yanqing is off somewhere in ascetic cultivation now, and he hasn’t appeared in the Imperial Capital for a long time. Do you think he’ll show up for Zhao Xingpu’s wedding?"

"That... I don’t know! I guess he might come. After all, he and Zhao Xingpu aren’t that far apart in age, and I hear they have a pretty good relationship!"

At the mention of Mo Yanqing, everyone’s eyes filled with reverence. A peerless genius would be respected anywhere.

WHOOSH!

Just as the crowd was talking, another flash of light appeared in the sky, and another figure flew in from the distance.

"It’s the Huo Family’s ancestor, Huo Gang!"

"Look, the one in magnificent robes must be the Royal Family’s ancestor, Feng Yu!"

"That person... so beautiful, like a goddess descended to the mortal realm. Could that be the Baihua Sect Master?"

As another figure flew in, the Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses began to appear one after another, like fireworks, landing on the high platform from all directions.

When had ordinary people ever seen so many Ultimate Venerables? They were all going wild with excitement, and a tide of cheers erupted.

"Zhao Xun, I finally see why you insisted on holding the wedding here. It certainly is lively!"

An old man in long, golden-yellow robes looked at Zhao Xun and chuckled.

Although Zhao Xun was the host of the wedding, he was seated in a subordinate position to this person. In other words, the old man in the golden-yellow robes was sitting in the seat of honor.

The platform built on the plaza was already dozens of meters high, but the seats for the few Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses were even higher, further accentuating this person’s status.

The Royal Family’s ancestor, the former Emperor of the Divine Wind Empire, Feng Yu!

"Haha, you flatter me, Brother Feng!" Hearing the praise, Zhao Xun stroked his beard, his eyes filled with unconcealed pride.

Zhao Xingpu’s wedding could easily have been held at the Zhao Mansion. But Zhao Xun had insisted on staging it in Divine Wind Plaza, the very heart of the Imperial Capital. He had two reasons: first, it was more festive, and second, he wanted to make a statement to everyone about the Zhao Family’s current status and power.

Ever since he had been defeated by Mo Yanqing’s single saber strike, the Zhao Family’s prestige had fallen considerably. Zhao Xun intended to use this wedding as a way to bolster his own authority and restore the Zhao Family’s reputation!

And just as he had expected, when the crowds saw that the Zhao Family had managed to invite so many Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses, and that they were forging an alliance with the Baihua Sect through marriage, their eyes shone with excitement.

"That... It’s His Majesty the Emperor! His Majesty the Emperor actually came too!"

"The Royal Family’s ancestor is here. How could the Emperor dare not come? The only reason he’s secure on the throne is because of a single word from his ancestor..."

As the Ultimate Venerables took their seats, sharp-eyed people spotted the figure of the Emperor of the Empire sitting in a subordinate position to the side.

At this moment, the Emperor of the Empire had none of his usual arrogance from sitting at the center of the court. Instead, he seemed like a mere accompaniment, seated below the others.

The Emperor may have held great political power, but in the face of the absolute strength of an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse, that meant nothing!

"The Zhao Family’s ancestor, Zhao Xun; the Huo Family’s ancestor, Huo Gang; the Luo Family’s ancestor, Luo Tianxiang; the Royal Family’s ancestor, Feng Yu; and the Baihua Sect Master... Five Ultimate Venerable Powerhouses gathered in one place! What an eye-opening experience this is!"

"Didn’t they say the Mi Tian Sect Master was coming too? Why aren’t they here?"

"Who knows? Maybe they aren’t coming!"

"They’re also an Ultimate Venerable Powerhouse, and I’ve heard the Mi Tian Sect Master is said to be the number one expert in the Divine Wind Empire, with strength second to none. I wonder if it’s true!"

"It’s true. I heard that a long time ago..." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Just as the crowd was murmuring amongst themselves, a flash of light suddenly shone on the horizon, and a figure flew over from the distance.