Chapter 16: The Benevolent Luo Feng

The two Eternal True Gods of the Qu Meng clan, who had been drinking and chatting, turned their heads to look curiously at Luo Feng, whose aura was now radiating outward.

“Is his mental will so weak? Just a musical illusion performance, and he lost control?”

“Probably an Eternal True God who barely broke through in the wilds, with no secret method to cultivate mental will—hence, so feeble.”

“His mental defect is too severe; he’s easy to target.”

They watched the spectacle. As members of the Wang clan’s Qu Meng clan, they naturally felt superior to external Eternal True Gods—deeming their secret methods crude and their treasure weapons inferior. In their eyes, Luo Feng was just a lucky fool who had accidentally become an Eternal True God without proper mental will cultivation.

“A splendid Hundred Flowers Banquet ruined by him.” The towering figure, covered entirely in black fur, his eyes crimson with rage, had been fully immersed in the music, savoring it as the finest delight—until Luo Feng disrupted his enjoyment.

He was the Third Leader of the Dark Faction, the Blood Viper Guild: Lai Mo.

“A newly emerged Eternal True God, not worth much attention,” said a figure clad in black scales, sipping wine. “Master Meng Hua will soon have him removed; otherwise, he’ll disrupt the entire banquet.”

This black-scaled figure was the Guild Master of the Blood Viper Guild.

“Interesting.” Beneath his misty form, Bai Wu Jun’s single eye observed Luo Feng.

At this moment, all other Eternal True Gods in the hall were watching Luo Feng. After all, an Eternal True God radiating his aura naturally triggered the instinctive wariness of others.

Seeing this, Master Meng Hua, who had been performing the musical illusion, could only pause temporarily.

“I knew he’d be susceptible to musical illusions, but I didn’t expect him to lose control entirely.” Master Meng Hua had no choice—she had to consider the feelings of her other esteemed guests.

The illusion ceased.

Luo Feng snapped back to awareness, realizing the table, food, wine, and everything around him had been utterly shattered. The Eternal True Gods in nearby buildings were all staring this way, murmuring among themselves.

“Lost control,” Luo Feng thought inwardly. “Apparently, practicing the Seven Emotions Refining Mind Method isn’t compatible with Master Meng Hua’s musical illusions.”

“Shang, my apologies,” Luo Feng rose from his cross-legged position and addressed the figure beside him.

“Minor thing,” Shang Tianyan laughed heartily. “I didn’t expect you to sink deeper than I did.”

“Master Meng Hua’s music is truly extraordinary,” Luo Feng smiled. “It brought back many old memories… I’ll step outside for a while. You two carry on.”

Luo Feng glanced at Mo Luo Sa, then walked out. Mo Luo Sa immediately followed.

As Luo Feng stepped out of the building, he gave Master Meng Hua a slight nod of apology, then departed with his servant Mo Luo Sa.

“When he looked at me, there was no infatuation,” Master Meng Hua felt a faint disappointment. Being immersed in the illusion didn’t mean one was necessarily infatuated with her. “Still, his resistance to illusions is clearly weak—there’s still a chance.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, a minor disturbance has occurred—please don’t let it trouble you…” Master Meng Hua’s voice rang out, naturally soothing their minds.

“This unknown Eternal True God probably has average strength.”

“Not sure about other things, but his mental will is clearly weak.”

The group of Eternal True Gods, watching Luo Feng depart, all formed their own opinions.

…

“Master, aren’t you staying for the Hundred Flowers Banquet?” Mo Luo Sa followed Luo Feng.

“Nothing worth attending,” Luo Feng shook his head. Without practicing the Seven Emotions Refining Mind Method, the illusions were meaningless. But if he did practice, it temporarily exceeded his limits and caused loss of control.

Compared to that, the Void True God musicians were far more suitable for him.

“My Lord,” the green-robed attendant Yu Luo also followed.

“Arrange another location,” Luo Feng ordered. “Also, send for A Luo Ya.”

The green-robed attendant nodded and immediately sent word to make arrangements. Soon, she whispered softly: “My Lord, today is the Hundred Flowers Banquet—Master Meng Hua’s guests are overflowing. A Luo Ya is performing elsewhere; she won’t arrive for a while yet.”

“Oh?” Luo Feng’s gaze swept across the hall. With the perception of his perfect divine body, he instantly pinpointed a pavilion—A Luo Ya was performing inside.

Inside that pavilion:

A Luo Ya stood there, vines spreading from her body, coiling around various instruments. As divine power activated them, the instruments played naturally, immersing the guests in illusion.

When the performance ended, A Luo Ya bowed deeply and prepared to withdraw.

“Wait.” One of the youths seated on the main dais spoke. He had four purple curved horns atop his head like a crown, and eyes burning with violet flames. Anyone with even a little knowledge would recognize him as a youth of the Hu Yang City’s Mo Li clan.

A Luo Ya halted.

“I’ve visited Master Meng Hua’s pavilion many times and heard many performances—you’re the most gifted musician I’ve ever encountered,” the Mo Li youth said. “I, Mo Li Lian, formally invite you to become the musician of the Mo Li clan. Will you accept?”

A Luo Ya’s heart trembled. An invitation from a Mo Li clan youth? She didn’t want to go—entering such a top-tier clan would make her nothing more than a plaything.

Beside Mo Li Lian sat a red-haired man, who chuckled: “A Luo Ya, you’re from the Thousand Leaf Vine Grass clan, right? If I recall correctly, your clan resides within the Blood Viper Guild’s territory?”

“I’m a musician of Master Meng Hua’s pavilion—I cannot leave without permission,” A Luo Ya whispered.

“As long as you consent willingly, Master Meng Hua will still grant the Mo Li clan face,” Mo Li Lian smiled.

“Young Master Mo Li Lian… I—I don’t want to go,” A Luo Ya mustered her courage. If she entered the Mo Li clan, she’d be powerless against any of their core youths—she’d be nothing but a servant summoned and dismissed at will.

Mo Li Lian frowned slightly.

The red-haired man immediately spoke: “A Luo Ya, you’re from the Thousand Leaf Vine Grass clan, aren’t you? If I remember correctly, your clan resides within our Blood Viper Guild’s territory?”

The Blood Viper Guild was one of the nineteen dark factions controlling Hu Yang City. A Luo Ya’s face paled.

“The Thousand Leaf Vine Grass clan has nine Void True Gods and over ten thousand True Gods, all residing in the Snow Winter District of Hu Yang City,” the red-haired man stared at her. “I haven’t forgotten.”

Among the countless cultivators within the Blood Viper Guild’s territory, anyone with even a trace of background, he remembered clearly.

Because he needed to find “fat lambs”—and once found, they must be slaughtered.

“Duan Dianzhu,” A Luo Ya hesitated. She truly didn’t want to submit. The path of cultivation—how could she become a plaything? But she feared the Blood Viper Guild.

“Duan Moyun, your Blood Viper Guild is rather weak,” Mo Li Lian sneered, his eyes growing colder.

The red-haired man glared angrily at A Luo Ya: “You insignificant musician—don’t take the gift offered. Get out!”

A Luo Ya sat on pins and needles, too terrified to leave. She could see Duan Moyun was furious—if she walked out now, she’d bring disaster upon her entire Thousand Leaf Vine Grass clan.

Just as A Luo Ya was trapped between despair and fear, a purple-robed attendant hurried into the hall, bowing apologetically: “Young Master Mo Li Lian, Dianzhu Duan Moyun, please don’t be angry. Since Young Master Mo Li Lian has personally invited her, it’s clearly A Luo Ya’s fortune. Let me persuade her.”

Mo Li Lian gave a slight nod.

!.

The red-haired man Duan Moyun sneered: “This little musician has quite the nerve.”

“Yes, yes,” the purple-robed attendant replied, reaching to pull A Luo Ya out.

Suddenly—

The entire hall fell silent. Everyone froze, as if turned to statues, unable to move or speak.

At that moment, a black-haired man entered the pavilion, accompanied by his simple-minded servant.

“Master Meng Hua’s pavilion?” Luo Feng sneered. “I said I admired musician A Luo Ya. How dare your pavilion hand over the musician I favor to some brat?”

Everyone in the hall was gripped by terror—including Young Master Mo Li Lian and Dianzhu Duan Moyun.

They were utterly terrified.

An Eternal True God turning hostile could crush them effortlessly. Though they had backgrounds, background didn’t equal power. Luo Feng, at this moment, didn’t care for their backgrounds—they were merely two Void True Gods.

“Luo He Shangzun!” The green-robed attendant rushed into the hall, frantic. “It’s our pavilion’s fault!”

“Shut up,” Luo Feng said.

The green-robed attendant fell silent at once.

Luo Feng’s gaze swept over Dianzhu Duan Moyun and Young Master Mo Li Lian, speaking calmly: “From today on, neither of you may set foot in Master Meng Hua’s pavilion again.”

“And you, Master Meng Hua’s pavilion,” Luo Feng’s gaze turned to the green-robed and purple-robed attendants. “A Luo Ya—you guard her well. If you can’t protect her, hand her over to me. Understood?”

The green-robed attendant nodded frantically.

“As for the Blood Viper Guild, the Mo Li clan, and Master Meng Hua’s pavilion—if anyone is dissatisfied, feel free to come find me,” Luo Feng smiled faintly. “I’ll welcome them warmly.”

With that, his invisible aura retracted. All life in the hall regained freedom.

Yet no one dared speak, each trembling inwardly.

“A Luo Ya, come with me,” Luo Feng said, then walked out directly.

“Hehehe…” Mo Luo Sa glanced around the hall and chuckled a few times as he followed. He had been ordered not to cause trouble—but when his master caused trouble, Mo Luo Sa wholeheartedly approved.

A Luo Ya and the green-robed attendant followed him out, both dazed.

…

Inside the hall, only Young Master Mo Li Lian, Dianzhu Duan Moyun, the purple-robed attendant, and their subordinates remained.

“This is just too…” Mo Li Lian felt humiliated and furious, yet had no recourse.

“He doesn’t even respect the Blood Viper Guild, Master Meng Hua’s pavilion, or the Mo Li clan,” Duan Moyun raged, immediately sending a message to the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master of the Blood Viper Guild with full details.

At this moment, the Guild Master and one Vice Guild Master of the Blood Viper Guild were attending the Hundred Flowers Banquet.

“We must inform Master Meng Hua,” the purple-robed attendant also immediately relayed the entire incident to Master Meng Hua.

…

Luo Feng arrived at the familiar Lan Xing Hall, where food and wine had already been prepared.

The green-robed attendant whispered: “My Lord, today’s incident may bring trouble.”

Luo Feng glanced at her, saying nothing.

He had already restrained himself!

To avoid bringing great trouble upon A Luo Ya, he hadn’t even struck! When he heard Dianzhu Duan Moyun threaten the Thousand Leaf Vine Grass clan, Luo Feng had already intended to kill.

Threatening a clan like that was the very thing Luo Feng despised most.

Killing them would have been satisfying—but it would have burdened A Luo Ya with immense trouble. So he held back, offering only a mild warning. He had been merciful indeed!

“Luo He Shangzun,” a Blood Viper Guild member stood outside the hall, respectfully bowing. “My Vice Guild Master is also attending the Hundred Flowers Banquet. Hearing of the minor dispute between our Dianzhu Duan Moyun and you, he has sent me to invite you to join his banquet!”

“Invite me to his banquet?” Luo Feng held his wine cup. “If he wants to see me, let him come to me! Why should I go to him?”

(End of Chapter)