Among the princes, the southern princes were the strongest. Most of the soldiers and tribes who accompanied King Huan in conquering the world were granted fiefdoms in the south, while in the north there were many rulers of the Fang countries who defected to the north after the demise of the Xuanyuan Kingdom.
These foreign states that came to surrender were basically small countries based on clan and tribal systems. Separated by a large river, it was difficult for Dahuan to effectively manage and control them. Naturally, the entire Dahuan was supported by the nobles, shamans, sorcerers and princes in the south under the Dahuan system.
There were frequent conflicts among the princes, states, and tribes. Over the decades, some states were destroyed and new states were born. New clans and tribes were also born and migrated to the north. The vassal states of the Dahuan Dynasty were also constantly changing.
This time, there are more than a thousand leaders of states and tribes, big and small, who have come to pay tribute. This shows how complicated the internal situation of Dahuan is. Coupled with the people they brought with them, the entire Xun has become lively and crowded.
Jia Guobo and Qing Guohou were the founding princes who had been living in the south for many years. This time they were summoned by the king to come to the royal capital. The three princes who had traveled thousands of miles from the south were arranged to live in Li Chi after meeting King Huan.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore was an additional palace where the king lived when the royal palace was built. Although it is not as majestic as the royal palace, it is extremely luxurious. It is not open to the public on weekdays. Only the most distinguished guests will be accommodated here when they arrive in the royal capital.
At this moment, a grand banquet is being held here.
The one who hosted the banquet was naturally Qingyang, the Marquis of Qing State, and those who attended were some of the Dahuan nobles that Qingyang was familiar with. Decades had passed, and in this era when the average life expectancy was not long, there were not many people they knew left, and there were quite a few old men who came to attend, along with their children and grandchildren.
A dozen musicians were holding black pottery ocarinas and playing them, while several female musicians behind them were holding copper hammers and carefully striking the chimes. In the center of the hall, there was a woman from the northern country, playing the long harp that had been lost from the Xuanyuan country.
All the guests in the hall were intoxicated by the melodious music, drinking wine and being unrestrained.
Fang Xiu sat in front of an exquisite desk, with a row of red-painted pillars behind him. The spacious hall was covered with red cloth with floral patterns printed on it.
Beside him was a lady in simple light white clothes who was pouring wine for him. There was broth in the bronze tripod on the table, but Fang Xiu did not take a sip. He was just interested in the fine wine from Xundu.
The cup for holding wine is a white pottery cup with naturally fired patterns. It is pure white and transparent, and makes a crisp sound when knocked. It is said that the clear wine is the fine wine bestowed by King Huan, and is usually only used in sacrifices.
Fang Xiu lay in the arms of the concubine without any image at all, drinking one glass of wine after another, watching the song and dance on the stage change one after another.
Because Fang Xiu was arranged to sit in the front row, opposite him were Jia Yi and Tengguo Lord Sheng. The people who were left in the Mountain and Sea Realm last time now had gray hair and looked very old.
The people below were discussing Fang Xiu's identity. Some recognized Fang Xiu as the teacher of Xundu Academy, but most of the people present did not know who Fang Xiu was or why he was able to sit in that position.
After several big men painted themselves up as shaman priests and performed a fighting scene with weapons in hand, the atmosphere of the banquet reached a climax.
At this moment, Qingyang, the Marquis of Qing State, who was at the top, suddenly looked at Fang Xiu.
"I've heard that Master Feng knows astronomy and geography, and knows about the history of the past and present. He has even traveled all over the mountains and seas. I wonder if he can show it off here today!"
When Qing Guohou opened his mouth, all the guests in the audience looked at Fang Xiu, especially some young and powerful people in Xundu. They also wanted to see what abilities this man, who looked about the same age as them and was the legendary master of Xundu Academy, had.
Fang Xiu, who was intoxicated by the aroma of wine and the soft jade, suddenly opened his slightly squinted eyes, but he had no intention of putting down the wine glass between his two fingers. Looking at Qingyang's playful eyes, he knew that this guy wanted to tease him.
Even Jia Yi on the opposite side laughed and clapped his hands, shouting in a cheering manner: "Great! This is perfect!"
Fang Xiu's eyes sparkled, and a smile appeared on his face: "If that's the case, how about I give Qing Guohou a stunning beauty?"
Jia Yi was stunned: "Where is the beauty?"
Fang Xiu sat up straight: "Look, I'll invite the beauty out right now!"
Fang Xu took out a piece of talisman paper from his arms, used his hands as scissors to cut out a human figure, blew a breath, and immediately saw a white shadow blowing from Fang Xiu's mouth into the talisman paper.
The talisman paper rose with the wind, floating in the air, and in an instant it transformed into a beautiful woman with bright eyes, white teeth, and fair skin.
She was wearing a gauze dress that was as thin as a wing. The gauze was layered and translucent and embroidered with phoenix patterns. Her eyes under her willow-leaf eyebrows swept across like autumn water, making the men present feel weak all over. Even the women showed jealous eyes.
The banquet suddenly became more lively, many people applauded and cheered, and there were even officials in the audience who recorded this scene.
Illusions are not strange, but illusions that are so mysterious and exquisite, so lifelike and enchanting, as if they have souls, are not something that ordinary people can perform.
Moreover, even the witches and monks cannot see through it easily, which can be said to be extraordinary.
However, this is not the end yet. Fang Xiu picked up the wine in the glass and poured it into the air.
"Catch the sword!"
The wine condensed in the air and turned into a gorgeous sword, which fell into the hands of the stunningly beautiful woman.
The beauty dances with a sword, accompanied by the sound of the xiao and the beating of the chimes. The sword lights flash back and forth like the shadow of the bright moon, and her feathered clothes flutter, just like a fairy from heaven in a painting walking down.
The guests in the audience were all staring with their eyes wide open, as if they were completely mesmerized by the woman at the moment.
Even the Marquis of Qing on the stage couldn't help but applaud: "Really... what a powerful illusion!"
At this moment, the woman suddenly put away her sword, looked at the Marquis of Qingguo on the stage, jumped up like a gust of wind, and walked towards the Marquis of Qingguo with the sword in hand.
This sword was like a fairy from the sky. The sharp sword light scattered from his palm, illuminating the entire hall, and stabbed at Qingguohou. The sword light brushed past Qingguohou's ear, and a strand of long hair fell off.
"It's not an illusion?"
Qingyang was stunned for a moment. He stretched out his hand to grasp the sword. He shook his hand and took off the sword. He pressed the table with his other hand and a strong wave rushed out, and there was a gust of wind in the whole hall.
The beauty holding the sword turned over and was directly knocked down. Even so, the power did not dissipate.
This time, not only Qingyang, but also Jia Yi, the witch priests, and the sorcerers present were stunned. They stood up all of a sudden and looked at Fang Xiu. They had no idea what kind of method this was and were even more at a loss at Fang Xiu's audacity.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
"Marquis Qing! How is my beauty?"
At this time, Fang Xiu, who was lying in the girl's arms, suddenly burst into laughter.
He stretched out his hand and flicked his long sleeves, and saw that the beauty had finally turned into a paper figure. The ghost attached to her body was also taken back by Fang Xiu and fell into Fang Xiu's sleeves.
The long sword in Qingyang's hand finally turned into a pool of wine and melted on the ground.
At this time, Jia Guobo on the opposite side also laughed, loosening his arms that were hugging left and right and searching wildly: "Qing Guohou! You looked a little embarrassed just now!"
Qingyang laughed in silence and clapped his hands unconsciously: "Master Feng really has a good method!"
"Come! Drink to Master Feng! And to the beauty he gave me!
At this moment, the stunned crowd suddenly started laughing together.
At night, the banquet was over and everyone had left. Oil lamps were lit in the hall, illuminating the interior. Only four people were left: Xia Fangxiu, Jia Yi, Qingyang and Tengsheng.
Fang Xiu and Qingyang chatted for a while. Qingyang teased Fang Xiu about being a teacher in Xundu, and Fang Xiu teased Qingyang about his embarrassment just now.
Then, Fang Xiu looked at Jia Yi and said, "Mr. Jia, you really dare to come here!"
In the Mountain and Sea Realm, they would address each other using the identities and titles used in the Mountain and Sea Realm.
Jia Yi had no idea what Fang Xiu was talking about: "Why don't you dare to come?"
Fang Xiu laughed loudly, his eyes seemed to be a little drunken, holding the wine glass and said dimly: "Three months ago, Xundu offered sacrifice to the witch god. I saw the great witch standing on the stage from afar. Guess who I saw?"
Jia Yi: “Who?”
Fang Xiu glanced at Jia Yi with a playful look, and pursed his lips: "Of course, the person you are most worried about running into."
Jia Yi and Qingyang, who were originally leisurely and relaxed, suddenly changed their expressions. After Fang Xiu said this, they both knew who he was talking about.
Qingyang sat up straight immediately, and Jia Yi put down the wine glass in his hand.
"Old thief Qingyun?"
"The Taoist Qingyun from Sanyang Temple? Is he also in Xundu?"
"We are all in Xundu, why can't he be in Xundu too!"
Qingyang and Jia Yi's faces changed drastically. They couldn't say they were afraid of this enemy, but they were extremely wary of him.