I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress-Chapter 166: Asking Gao Zhen

Walking beside Gao Zhen, he headed towards the staircase. While at it, he was thinking about the ten thousand high-grade spirit stones which were gifted to the Feng Clan by her earlier.

’Since her status clearly implies that she likes hoarding money...I doubt she gifted that many spirit stones just for the sake of it. Maybe she wants to build connections with the clan now that its state is going to improve,’

Yi Chen concluded in his mind. Little did he know that she had gifted that much to add moral and obligatory pressure on him.

"This should be Young Master Chen’s first time going to the second floor, right?" Gao Zhen asked with a curious smile.

"Yes. It will be my first," Yi Chen nodded affirmatively.

"Then you should be ready for a little surprise," Gao Zhen said meaningfully as they soon arrived at the staircase.

The upward passage was guarded by two Qi Absorption Stage Experts from the management staff to prevent anyone unauthorised from entering.

Seeing Madam Gao’s appearance, the two immediately bowed and allowed them passage.

’Just how great could it be?’ Yi Chen thought sceptically while walking up the steps. However, despite the scepticism, the moment he arrived on the second floor, his eyes widened in awe.

"Wow..."

On the first floor, a large number of rows were stuck close together to ensure maximum seating for the spectators. However, it was the complete opposite on the second floor.

The rows had significant space between them. In front of each row, there was a separate glass table with cutlery and water arrangements prepared by the management staff.

Talking about the seats in particular, unlike the hard wooden seats on the first floor, they were all meticulously crafted with cushioning material all around them and exuded an air of comfort and luxury.

And to add an extra touch, the ceiling was decorated with hanging crystal lanterns, which glimmered under the sun’s rays, thus making the atmosphere feel more ambient.

"Didn’t I say so earlier?" Gao Zhen chuckled, seeing his expression, and soon took him to the seats that were reserved for the Red Velvet Pavilion.

The management staff responsible for their table soon brought them the snacks and beverages to enjoy.

When Yi Chen took a bite of the delicious fried meat, he couldn’t help but nod in appreciation.

"Are you enjoying this place? How’s it compared to the first floor?"

"The two...they just couldn’t be compared," Yi Chen answered bluntly with the aftertaste of the meat still on his tongue.

This direct response invited a soft chuckle from Gao Zhen’s side.

"I knew Young Master Chen would enjoy it, that’s why I invited you here," Gao Zhen muttered the next instant.

When Yi Chen heard this, he was suddenly reminded of what she had told the Patriarch earlier and stated with an inquisitive expression the next second.

"Madam Gao had mentioned earlier about discussing some private matter..."

"Indeed." Gao Zhen nodded the next moment and said, "There’s something important that I need Young Master Chen’s help with. I want to discuss that matter with you."

"My help?" Yi Chen asked while frowning in confusion.

’She’s already at the Ninth Qi Absorption Stage, is the branch manager of the Red Velvet Pavilion and even has Core Building Stage bodyguards at her beck and call....so just what could it be that she would require my help with?’

"Indeed. However, it’s a topic which cannot be discussed openly," Gao Zhen said while gesturing towards the few nearby cultivators with her eyes and continued.

"So, how about Young Master Chen accompanies me to the Red Velvet Pavilion after the tournament is over? I’ll be able to explain everything to you in detail there."

She suggested.

"Alright," Yi Chen nodded without much thought.

Since Gao Zhen had helped greatly, he didn’t mind helping her out, provided he was capable of doing so.

’It’s not like I can’t reject if I feel it’s out of my league later,’ Yi Chen thought to himself.

"I’m glad you’ve agreed." Gao Zhen said while glancing at the chopsticks which had not left Yi Chen’s hand during their entire conversation, and continued with a smile, "Please enjoy the snacks as we wait for the emperor’s arrival then."

"Yes," Yi Chen nodded and ate the snacks with great relish while enjoying the occasional sips of the beverage provided by the staff.

Meanwhile, Gao Zhen whispered something to one of her guards and the next second, he left for some place.

A while later, the floor began filling up with many cultivators from all cultivation stages.

While this was going on, Yi Chen kept discreetly observing the cultivators who were making their way in and was able to notice tens of Core Building Stage cultivators.

However, the majority of them were all at the First Level.

Suddenly, the previously empty fighting stage started filling up the next instant with cultivators in the Elementary Transformation Stage.

They consisted of both burly-looking men who were all dressed in fiery black robes.

Carrying large drums around their waists, they all soon organised themselves in a neat formation on the stage.

With their backs straight and countenance sharp, they exuded a domineering aura. However, instead of beating the drum, they just stood there. It seemed as if they were waiting for some signal.

Seeing this, all the hustle and bustle in the arena stopped.

’Are they about to perform something?’ Yi Chen thought curiously.

"They are the drumming group. Their arrival means that the emperor is about to enter the arena." Gao Zhen explained, seeing the confused expression on his face.

"Ah, so it’s like that." Yi Chen nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, a low-pitched whistle was heard, and the very next moment, the whole arena thundered with the constant rhythmic beatings of the drum.

THUM! THUM! THUM!

Each hit was so strong that it made everyone’s heart reverberate alongside it despite the large distance between them.

This was soon followed by the high-pitched sounds of several trumpets, which signalled to everyone that the emperor was on the staircase and was moving up at the moment.

A few moments later, the sound finally died down, signifying that the emperor had taken his seat on the third floor.

The very next moment, groups of elegantly and smartly dressed men and women with swords in their hands made their way to the fighting stage.

The rhythmic melody of the zither in synch with flutes and trumpets soon echoed in all reaches of the arena as the men and women began demonstrating a well-practised choreography of sword dance.

’It’s a pity we didn’t get to see him face to face,’ Yi Chen thought to himself with a bitter expression while admiring the dance performance.

He was curious to see the status panel of the emperor.

It was at that point that the Core Building Stage cultivator whom Gao Zhen had sent away for some unknown reasons returned and whispered something into her ear.

’What is he whispering?’ Yi Chen thought curiously while looking at the exchange.

Meanwhile, Gao Zhen slowly nodded after hearing the new piece of information.

’So, the empress has arrived instead...It seems the rumours are true. The emperor isn’t doing well...’

She thought to herself the next moment and soon focused her attention back on the sword dance, which was being displayed.

Seeing that Gao Zhen didn’t say anything, Yi Chen interpreted that it was a matter he shouldn’t be concerning himself with.

The next instant, he too focused back on the dance performance, which had started to become more intense with time, but eventually his mind had begun to wander.

’Wait...isn’t the main branch of the Red Velvet Pavilion in the Silver Cloud Kingdom? Then...!’

All of a sudden, he was reminded of something, and his eyes widened in realisation.

Previously, he had inquired about the Silver Cloud Tournament with Feng Ning, but she had no idea about it.

As a result, he had eventually made up his mind to ask Elder Lei when he returned later.

A thought of asking the Patriarch about the issue had also momentarily appeared in his mind, but he didn’t feel comfortable about revealing his intention of participating in that tournament.

With his greedy nature, Yi Chen worried that Feng Haoran would use him to fulfil another one of his selfish interests.

Therefore, this realisation was like a eureka moment for him.

Overall, he had good relations with Gao Zhen, although it was mostly transactional in nature.

However, he still trusted her a lot more than Feng Haoran, who always wore a mask on his face.

Turning towards Gao Zhen, he asked the next moment.

"Uhm...Madam Gao, there’s something which I wanted to know and was wondering whether you would be able to help me with it?" Yi Chen stated the next moment.

"Oh?" A curious expression formed on Gao Zhen’s face, and the next instant she asked, "Sure, what is it that you want my help with?"

A sweet smile, which could make the other party state everything that was there in their minds, formed on her face the next instant.

"Well...have you heard about the Silver Cloud Tournament? I’ve already made a few enquiries, but they had no idea about this tournament."

Yi Chen asked the next moment.