Limitless Ascension: Strength Amid Adversity – Chapter 142

Wendaozong.

After An Zizai’s body recovered, he stood tall with a confident smile on his face.

Seeing the Sect Master regain his vigor, all the disciples and elders were delighted, and the entire sect was filled with joy, creating a happy atmosphere.

“A few esteemed guests came all the way to help me out of my predicament; you are my benefactors. On such a celebratory day, I’ve decided to throw a top-tier banquet to properly host you all!”

An Zizai spoke enthusiastically.

“A top-tier banquet?!” An Miaoyi’s eyes widened in surprise.

As the Sect Master’s daughter, she had never had such a grand banquet thrown in her honor; it had always been of a lower tier. In fact, she had never seen a top-tier banquet in her life.

She only remembered that in the history of Wendaozong, there had only been two instances of such grand banquets, both of which carried extremely significant implications, enough to alter the fate of the sect.

She thought these kinds of banquets only existed in hearsay, but to her surprise, she would witness one in her lifetime!

The surrounding disciples and elders were equally shocked, unable to believe the Sect Master’s decision, as they also knew what a top-tier banquet meant for Wendaozong.

It was enough to prove the importance of the distinguished guests!

Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow; why did this group look so shocked?

Was there some kind of risqué performance planned for the banquet?

If that were the case, as a remarkable new-age youth who traveled through time, he had to firmly resist such bad influences!

Of course, he would check it out before resisting!

“Sect Master An, you’re too kind,” Ye Junlin chuckled.

After all, he wasn’t in a hurry to leave; he originally just wanted to snag some sign-in rewards, so he might as well stick around for the warm hospitality.

“Haha, friend Ye is too modest. Please follow me into the hall; let’s discuss great matters!”

An Zizai led Ye Junlin and the others toward the most luxurious and spectacular building of Wendaozong.

Along the way, they encountered many busy people preparing for the extravagant banquet.

The entire sect was in an uproar; countless disciples were extremely excited because every time a banquet was held, even the lowest-ranked servants could enjoy delicious delicacies.

“By the way, friend Ye, there’s something I don’t quite understand. After you wiped out the Hanging Temple, why did you go on to bloodily wash the Pure Land Kingdom Imperial Palace?” An Zizai hesitated for a moment before asking.

When this news first circulated, it sent shockwaves everywhere, solidifying the title of the God of Killing.

There were even rumors claiming Ye Junlin was in cahoots with the Underworld Abyss beings; otherwise, how could one explain that as soon as he left, the Pure Land Kingdom fell?

But after their recent interactions, An Zizai felt that Ye Junlin’s character differed greatly from the rumors. Was there something deeper to this?

Ye Junlin frowned and said, “To clarify, I didn’t wipe out the Hanging Temple, and what happened at the Pure Land Kingdom Imperial Palace has nothing to do with me.”

The mention of it only irked him.

“So that’s it!” An Zizai was a bit shocked; the mastermind behind it deserved to be dealt with.

“Ah, fame brings many troubles; who understands?” Ye Junlin shrugged, a look of helplessness on his face.

An Zizai opened his mouth, wanting to offer some words of comfort, but they got stuck in his throat.

Entering the Great Hall, they were met with an overwhelming aura. The murals portrayed various grand scenes, like sword cultivators vanquishing demons, gods carrying the sun and moon, and phoenixes reborn from flames…

The most astonishing aspect was the perfectly aligned floor tiles, which were made from rare top-grade Spirit Crystals, shining with a brilliance like smooth jade.

Luxurious, extremely luxurious!

This was the place Wendaozong used to host esteemed guests; they certainly went all out for appearances.

An Zizai felt a sense of pride; even those from the Yuhua Sect, who had high opinions of themselves, would change their expressions when they stepped foot here.

As his thoughts wandered, he secretly glanced at the silver-haired youth, trying to find a similar expression.

To his surprise, Ye Junlin appeared completely unfazed, as if he was no stranger to this kind of extravagance, not regarding it at all.

“How could this be?”

An Zizai’s heart skipped a beat; could it be an act?

He then carefully observed the other disciples, discovering they all maintained their composure.

“Seems like the rumors are true; the Xuantian Sect truly is an ancient hidden sect, with lineages that date back even further,” An Zizai thought to himself, feeling a bit silly for his earlier paranoia.

What An Zizai didn’t know was that the sign-in rewards Ye Junlin casually received daily were resources countless cultivators dreamed of, with top-grade Spirit Crystals piled up like mountains that he could squander at will.

Even the water he used to soak his feet was the legendary Infinite Taoist Water, with every drop being exceptionally precious, capable of transforming a mortal being.

For Ye Junlin, the scenery inside the hall wasn’t worth a second glance.

As for Hong Qianye and the others, having followed Ye Junlin, they had witnessed all kinds of incredible treasures and had long grown desensitized to such small scenes, treating it like child’s play.

Afterward, they all took their seats.

Servants came in one after another, serving various exquisite delicacies made from ingredients nearly impossible to find outside, along with jars filled with a rich wine, all of which were ancient treasures.

The banquet outside stretched for kilometers, with disciples and elders eating, drinking, and celebrating, their previous gloom greatly eased.

Laughter filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively.

The hall was alive with the sounds of music, captivatingly beautiful.

Under the leadership of a charming female elder, the delightful female disciples danced gracefully, occasionally stealing glances at Ye Junlin and the others.

At this moment,

Li Wujie was devouring food with unabashed greed, oil spilling from his mouth.

Bai Xiaoxi’s cheeks were puffed out, chewing non-stop, a furry little mouse face full of excitement.

The Great Mushroom King was far more reserved, taking small bites, occasionally looking around as if sneaking around.

Hong Qianye ate slowly, her expression cold, creating a sense of distance.

As for the little boy transformed from Kunpeng, despite his small size, he had an enormous appetite, devouring food at a frightening speed, making many elders wide-eyed in shock.

“Friend Ye, I heard that you and my daughter have known each other for a long time; it seems there’s a fate there.” An Zizai smiled.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ye Junlin said, busy stuffing his face, too preoccupied to respond.

An Zizai’s eyes sparkled with mischief, trying to sound it out, “So what do you think of my little girl?”

Compared to Chen Xiao, An Zizai valued Ye Junlin even more, especially since his daughter liked him. If they could hit it off, what could be better?

“Dad!”

An Miaoyi’s cheeks flushed red as she protested, “Why are you asking Ye about such things? I can decide my own matters!”

“I was just asking, I meant no harm,” An Zizai chuckled meaningfully, turning to Ye Junlin. “So, friend Ye, what do you say?”

“Uh…”

“Uh?!”

An Zizai’s face lit up with joy; was this a roundabout acknowledgment of interest in his daughter?

If the feelings were mutual, that would be easy!

Even though there were rumors that this guy might be an ancient monster here to experience the world, An Zizai didn’t take that to heart. For cultivators, looks and strength mattered; age was completely irrelevant.

Especially given the current dire situation, a powerful ally was the most important.

An Miaoyi’s lovely face turned even redder; her naturally carefree personality had attracted many outstanding talents, but she had never felt anything romantic until she met Ye Junlin. After experiencing various events, she had unknowingly developed feelings of admiration.

Now, hearing him admit it, An Miaoyi felt extremely nervous, mixed with a joy she couldn’t express.

Could it be that he liked me too?

“Wow… this is delicious!”

Ye Junlin mumbled with his mouth full, holding a fragrant skewer, which had clearly grilled dragon meat that was golden brown and glistening.

Being able to present such ingredients showcased Wendaozong’s effort; no wonder it was called a top-tier banquet.

After finishing that skewer, Ye Junlin grabbed his wine cup and gulped it down. The potent alcohol rushed within him, only to be tempered by his rich magical power, causing every pore in his body to relax, feeling warm and cozy.

“Ah, bliss~!”

Ye Junlin reluctantly set down his cup, staring at the pair of wide-eyed father and daughter, and was immediately puzzled. “Why are you staring at me? What did I say wrong?”

An Zizai chuckled awkwardly, “Haha, if it’s delicious, eat more.”

He was inwardly pondering; was this guy being deliberate?

Unable to decipher his intentions, An Zizai tried to ask further, but was immediately interrupted by his daughter, “Dad, stop asking! It’s annoying!”

Realizing there had been a misunderstanding, An Miaoyi felt very disappointed, deeply embarrassed, and when she saw her father wanting to persist with the questions, she quickly cut him off.

Even if he didn’t like her, she didn’t want to know. She only cared about what she liked. If they broke this window of ambiguity and ended up with an unpleasant outcome, what would be the point?

“Miaoyi, you… sigh!” An Zizai understood his daughter’s meaning, sighed helplessly, and had to drop the subject.

Ye Junlin was confused but didn’t bother to ask further, continuing to stuff himself, determined to be the ultimate eater.

Meanwhile, Fan Dezhen shook his head, thinking, “The most difficult thing to unravel in this world is love; I hope the young lady can find peace.”

He picked up a silver kettle, slowly poured wine into his cup, then raised it towards Ye Junlin, saying, “Senior Ye, when we met at the Dragon Gate Inn, I felt you were extraordinary. Later, at the Medicine King Valley, you saved me and my lady. With all that gratitude, let me toast you with a cup!”

Saying so, he finished the drink in one go.

An Zizai nodded with a smile, “Fate; it’s all fate.”

However, at this moment, Fan Dezhen suddenly smashed his cup on the table, startling everyone present.

Without hesitation, he jumped onto the table, stripped down to nothing, and began to dance wildly, completely disregarding his image, very “ascetic.”

“Ah!”

The sudden incident made the leading female elder cover her eyes with her hands, her fingers peeking through a gap, watching curiously and excitedly.

As for the young female disciples, they had never witnessed such wildness, all turning pale and screaming.

“What… what’s happening to me?” Fan Dezhen’s head buzzed, feeling utterly frantic.