Smoke filled the air

With a long shout, a matron stepped down from the Phoenix carriage, and eight young girls slowly stepped forward to support her.

As the matron stepped off the carriage, all the men and women present knelt on the ground, calling out respectfully:

"Greetings, Empress Dowager."

However, Long Chen was not among those kneeling. According to the rules of the Empire, Martial Artists at the Blood Condensation Realm or higher were not required to perform the kowtow ceremony to princes.

But when meeting the Empress Dowager, regardless of how high one's cultivation was, as long as one was still a subject of the Empire, one had to kneel.

However, Long Chen held the status of an Alchemy Apprentice, so he could choose whether or not to kneel. Naturally, Long Chen chose not to. Besides, among the large crowd, Long Chen was seated, so it was impossible for him to be discovered.

"Rise."

As expected, the Empress Dowager only glanced at the crowd slightly and then raised her hand indifferently.

The crowd then slowly stood up. Long Chen looked at this woman who embodied the entire power of the Empire.

She looked to be thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, but it was said the Empress Dowager was already over fifty. Long Chen knew she was not the Emperor's biological mother, but the Crown Prince's mother.

Originally, the Crown Prince's mother should have been titled Empress, but the Emperor had been in seclusion for many years, and the Crown Prince had already reached the age of thirty.

Dragging it out like this was not a solution. After discussions among the ministers, it was finally decided that the Crown Prince would ascend the throne next year, so this year, the title of Empress could only be changed to Empress Dowager; otherwise, the generational ranking would be in chaos.

Supported by the crowd, the Empress Dowager slowly sat on the chair in the center of the banquet. As soon as the Empress Dowager sat down,

the seven princes came out one by one and sat beside the Empress Dowager. This was the first time Long Chen had seen all seven princes gathered together.

He examined them one by one. He had already seen the Crown Prince, and among the other princes, he only recognized the Seventh Prince. At this moment, the Seventh Prince was much better behaved, and he didn't dare to glance around randomly.

Long Chen finally found the person he was looking for—the Fourth Prince. It had to be said that the Fourth Prince was a man of talent and appearance, with a humble smile always hanging on his face, possessing great approachability.

Taking a slight look around, Long Chen discovered that many young girls already had stars in their eyes, clearly captivated by this handsome and dashing prince.

As for the other princes, Long Chen couldn't help but shake his head. Although they all looked quite steady, the arrogance in their eyes could not be hidden at all.

Long Chen couldn't help but think of Chu Yao. Among these princes, who wasn't wearing a mask? Or rather, was everyone wearing a mask? Or perhaps, how many layers of masks were they wearing?

A mocking smile appeared on the corner of Long Chen's mouth. This was the imperial court; the greater the power, the more severe the corruption. It wasn't as satisfying as the struggles in the Jianghu, with its flashing blades and swords.

Long Chen scoffed at that kind of struggle where one kills without shedding blood and plays dirty tricks in the dark. If one had the energy for that, why not think about how to improve one's own strength?

"Great Master Yun Qi has arrived."

To Long Chen's surprise, the aged figure of Great Master Yun Qi actually appeared at the banquet. The appearance of Great Master Yun Qi immediately caused a commotion.

Everyone was shocked. The Fengming Lantern Festival had been held for so many years, but it seemed this was the first time a figure like Great Master Yun Qi had appeared.

Long Chen was also stunned. As soon as Great Master Yun Qi came up, the Empress Dowager hurriedly stood up from her seat and saluted Yun Qi, saying:

"Greetings, Great Master."

"The Empress Dowager does this old man too much honor," Great Master Yun Qi said with a slight bow.

After the two exchanged greetings, Great Master Yun Qi sat in his seat. The seat was next to the Empress Dowager, but the height was the same, which indicated the transcendent status of Great Master Yun Qi.

After Great Master Yun Qi sat down, his gaze swept across the crowd, and he suddenly saw Long Chen hiding in the corner, nodding slightly.

This action of Great Master Yun Qi immediately attracted everyone's attention. They followed Great Master Yun Qi's gaze and immediately found Long Chen's figure.

"It seems the rumors are true. Long Chen has gained the favor of Great Master Yun Qi and may have already been taken as a disciple."

Some people couldn't help but sigh. Not long ago, Long Chen was a piece of trash that everyone bullied. Now, having gained the appreciation of Great Master Yun Qi, he had transformed into a respected Alchemy Apprentice, which made people sigh endlessly.

As soon as Long Chen saw Great Master Yun Qi nod at him, he couldn't help but inwardly cry out that it was bad. Sure enough, everyone looked at him, and he instantly became the focus of the entire venue.

Long Chen inwardly complained bitterly. He didn't want to be the center of attention, but since it was already like this, trying to keep a low profile was useless.

Seeing Long Chen stand up and salute Great Master Yun Qi from afar, the Empress Dowager glanced at Long Chen and smiled, "It seems the Great Master's heart, which has been sealed for many years, has finally moved. Are you planning to pass on your mantle?"

Hearing the Empress Dowager ask this, everyone instantly fell silent. It was rumored that Great Master Yun Qi was very arrogant and had never taken a disciple in his entire life, so they were very curious about how Great Master Yun Qi would answer.

"This child has a bright future, and I would certainly hope for him to become my disciple," Great Master Yun Qi replied indifferently.

Although Great Master Yun Qi did not answer directly, everyone was shocked. Almost everyone knew of Great Master Yun Qi's arrogance, and it was said that he never praised anyone.

Great Master Yun Qi actually thought so highly of Long Chen. What exactly did Long Chen have that made him value him so much? For a moment, countless question marks appeared in people's minds.

"Long Chen must possess great talent for Alchemy; otherwise, with your discerning eye, Great Master, it would be difficult for an ordinary Alchemy Apprentice to enter your Dharma Eye," the Fourth Prince praised.

Yun Qi glanced at the Fourth Prince and smiled, "Alchemy talent is only one part; what ultimately matters is perseverance and determination. The Fourth Prince's determination is also equally admirable."

The Fourth Prince smiled slightly, "The Great Master flatters me."

After saying this, the Fourth Prince did not continue speaking, but Long Chen keenly noticed that the Fourth Prince's expression was slightly abnormal.

"Could it be that Great Master Yun Qi has a hidden meaning in his words?" Long Chen couldn't help but feel moved.

"Great Master Wei Cang, Prince Changfeng, and Princess Baichi have arrived."

As the voice fell, Xia Changfeng and Xia Baichi escorted a lean man who looked to be in his forties, sporting a goatee and wearing an Alchemy Master's robe.

On the chest of the robe was drawn an exquisite Alchemy Cauldron, and there were three lines engraved on the cauldron, marking that he was also an Alchemy Master.

Long Chen also had such a robe, but the material was obviously much worse, and the pattern on Long Chen's Alchemy Cauldron only had one line.

One line meant Alchemy Apprentice, two meant Alchemy Scholar, and three meant Alchemy Master. Long Chen's eyes narrowed. Who exactly was this person? How could he appear here?

"Yun Qi, it's been many years. You seem to have aged a lot," Wei Cang looked at Yun Qi and said indifferently.

As soon as Wei Cang's words came out, the whole place fell into a deathly silence. Great Master Yun Qi held a revered position in the Fengming Empire; no one had ever dared to speak to him like that.

"Wei Cang, if you don't stay in Great Xia, is it a flash in the pan, wanting to walk around more before you die?" Great Master Yun Qi said indifferently.

"Even if it is a flash in the pan, it's better than having a dead wife. At least for all these years, I have had many wives and concubines, and I have lived quite comfortably."

Wei Cang laughed. Whether intentional or unintentional, Xia Baichi was holding Wei Cang's arm, pressing it very close to her chest. Well, to be specific, it was stuck in her cleavage.

Long Chen's expression turned slightly cold. The clothes Xia Baichi was wearing today were exactly the same as those of the woman in the painting that Yun Qi had shown him.

If Long Chen hadn't guessed wrong, that zombie-like man with the goatee was more than likely Yun Qi's enemy, and what's more, the death of Yun Qi's wife was related to him.

Today he was clearly targeting Great Master Yun Qi, using Xia Baichi to provoke him. Thinking of this, an inexplicable anger rose in Long Chen's heart.

Although he hadn't had much contact with Great Master Yun Qi, Yun Qi was quiet, indifferent, upright, and a respectable elder. Now that he was being plotted against like this, without even thinking, he said coldly:

"Just an old lecher, with not even four taels of meat on his body. Beware, one day you might have a stroke during intimacy and die on a woman's belly."

The whole place was already deathly silent. Long Chen's voice was clearly transmitted to every corner, and everyone looked at Long Chen with shock.

"Audacious commoner, how dare you be rude to the Great Master!" Xia Baichi saw Long Chen, her eyes as if they were going to spit fire.

"Give it a rest. That Great Master is almost drowning in your cleavage; do I need to be rude to an old lecher?" Long Chen said disdainfully.

Hearing Long Chen's insinuation, everyone hurriedly looked at Xia Baichi. Sure enough, the Great Master's arm was already buried in her chest.

Xia Baichi hurriedly released Wei Cang's arm, staring fixedly at Long Chen, pointing at him for a long time without being able to speak.

"Is the heir of your Fengming Empire so ill-bred?" Wei Cang glanced at Long Chen and snorted coldly.

The Empress Dowager was about to speak, but Yun Qi already said indifferently: "Long Chen is an Alchemy Apprentice of my Alchemist Association."

"Old lecher, did you hear that? I am a member of the Association. Who the hell are you?" Long Chen said disdainfully.

"Audacious! Great Master Wei Cang is the President of our Great Xia Alchemist Association!" Xia Baichi said angrily.

"So he's not a domestic product. I knew it! The land of our Fengming Empire is fertile; it couldn't grow such a wretched lecher." Long Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Long Chen's words made everyone suffer. Everyone wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, yet they couldn't hold it back. The smart ones just lowered their heads.

And some who couldn't react in time went "Pfft" and hurriedly covered their mouths with their hands, but that look was even more embarrassing than laughing out loud.

For a time, the whole scene was extremely awkward. The ones who suffered the most were not the people below, but those princes; they dared not laugh, and had nowhere to hide, their faces twisted from holding it in.

"Ahem, today is a festive day. Great Master Wei Cang, please take your seat. The program will begin in a moment."

The Empress Dowager was also in a difficult position. Both sides were powerful figures she couldn't afford to offend, so she could only smooth things over.

"In that case, I will impose."

Wei Cang said politely, snorted coldly at Yun Qi, slowly walked to his seat, sat down, and coldly glanced at Long Chen in the venue.

Seeing this old lecher glaring at him, was he trying to give him a show of force? Long Chen hurriedly extended a fist, palm facing up, and raised a middle finger high.

When Long Chen made this gesture, everyone at the scene, regardless of gender, tightly covered their mouths, their faces full of shock.

Wei Cang's face immediately turned livid, his eyes overflowing with murderous intent. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager hurriedly shouted:

"The Lantern Festival begins!"

As the Empress Dowager's voice fell, a melodious music sounded. Many people had long since started lighting the lanterns, illuminating the entire square as if it were daytime.

Suddenly, a string of huge lanterns appeared on the stage.