Chen had attended plenty of strange events during his time in the Celestial Realm.
A banquet wasn’t one of them.
So when Bai Yuexian suddenly appeared in his room one evening and told him to get dressed, Chen immediately became suspicious.
“Where are we going?”
“A banquet.”
Chen stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because I was invited.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
Bai Yuexian smiled innocently.
“You’re coming with me.”
Chen looked down at his clothes.
He was wearing the same simple robes he normally wore while working.
“Do I need something fancy?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll embarrass me if you dress wrongly.”
Chen narrowed his eyes.
“You’re the one who once arrived at a formal meeting wearing pajamas.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“I looked good.”
Chen sighed.
After changing into formal celestial robes, he followed Bai Yuexian through the palace.
They soon reached a massive golden platform suspended above the clouds.
At its center stood an enormous palace surrounded by floating lanterns and rivers of glowing spiritual energy.
Music drifted through the air.
Hundreds of celestial beings had already gathered.
Chen slowed down.
“…How many people are here?”
“Several thousand.”
“Several thousand?”
“It’s a small banquet.”
Chen turned toward her.
“That is not a small banquet.”
Bai Yuexian shrugged.
“By celestial standards, it is.”
They entered.
Immediately, Chen realized just how different this gathering was from anything he had seen before.
There were humans, fox spirits, dragons in humanoid forms, winged races, spirits, beastfolk, elves, and beings Chen couldn’t even identify.
Some wore elaborate robes covered in ancient symbols.
Others wore armor decorated with divine treasures.
A few didn’t appear to have physical bodies at all.
Chen quietly leaned toward Bai Yuexian.
“Who are all these people?”
“Immortals, rulers, sect leaders, ancient clans, scholars, wandering cultivators, and people who think they’re important.”
“Which category are you?”
“All of them.”
Chen nearly laughed.
As they walked through the hall, several powerful figures greeted Bai Yuexian.
Some were respectful.
Others were clearly nervous.
Chen noticed something interesting.
Everyone knew Bai Yuexian.
And almost everyone seemed to have a different opinion about her.
Some treated her like an honored goddess.
Some treated her like a dangerous lunatic.
A few tried very hard not to make eye contact.
Chen understood why.
Bai Yuexian had casually destroyed three decorative statues within the first ten minutes.
“You broke those.”
“They were ugly.”
“They belonged to the host.”
“They were still ugly.”
Chen rubbed his forehead.
“Please don’t get us thrown out.”
“No promises.”
They eventually reached a quieter part of the hall.
A group of celestial beings stood around a long table, discussing something Chen couldn’t hear.
One of them noticed him.
“Bai Yuexian, who is your companion?”
Bai Yuexian glanced at Chen.
“Oh. Him?”
Chen looked offended.
“I’m standing right here.”
“He’s my assistant.”
The celestial being studied him.
“Human?”
“Originally,” Bai Yuexian replied.
Chen raised an eyebrow.
“Originally?”
She ignored him.
The conversation continued, but Chen quickly realized that people were beginning to notice him.
He wasn’t famous.
He wasn’t powerful.
He wasn’t even supposed to be important.
Yet Bai Yuexian had brought him here.
That alone made people curious.
Chen suddenly felt uncomfortable.
He leaned toward Bai Yuexian.
“Can I go somewhere quiet?”
“Already bored?”
“I’m surrounded by immortals who can probably erase me by blinking.”
“That’s fair.”
She pointed toward a balcony.
“Go get some air.”
Chen walked outside.
The balcony overlooked an endless sea of clouds.
He rested his hands against the railing and watched the celestial lights moving through the distance.
For a moment, everything was peaceful.
Then someone spoke behind him.
“You don’t look like someone who belongs here.”
Chen turned.
A young-looking celestial woman stood nearby.
She had long dark-blue hair and calm silver eyes.
Chen smiled awkwardly.
“That’s because I probably don’t.”
She looked toward the banquet hall.
“Yet Bai Yuexian brought you.”
“Unfortunately.”
The woman smiled.
“You’re brave.”
“No. I’m just tired.”
She laughed softly.
Before Chen could respond, the sound of bells suddenly echoed across the banquet hall.
Everyone inside became silent.
Chen turned around.
The atmosphere had changed.
The celestial beings who had been laughing and talking moments earlier were now watching the entrance.
A group of powerful figures had arrived.
At the center was a man dressed in dark celestial armor.
The spiritual pressure surrounding him was so immense that Chen could feel it from across the hall.
Bai Yuexian appeared beside Chen.
Her playful expression had disappeared.
Chen noticed immediately.
“Who is that?”
Bai Yuexian didn’t answer.
The man slowly entered the banquet.
His eyes swept across the room.
Then, for the briefest moment, they stopped on Chen.
Chen felt something strange.
A sharp pressure touched his soul.
His body froze.
Then it vanished.
The man continued walking.
Chen stared after him.
“What was that?”
Bai Yuexian remained silent.
For once, she wasn’t smiling.
And Chen had a feeling that whatever had just happened was far more important than this banquet.
Much more important.