Organizations and individuals that held more that a bit of power were all in attendance including the Third Princess of Dong Ting Empire, Second Prince of Bei Dong Empire and the Crown Princess of Xi Qiu Empire.
The more influential people sat at the front such as the representative of Light Phantom Hall, Lilium, then the representatives from the Empires, then the General's Manor and powers.
All powers started giving presents starting from the back but most of them were just armaments or herbs and pills that with Nan Xia Empire's might wouldn't pose any difficulty to get. No one dared to gift stuff from the Light Phantom Halls because they had a representative right there, no one wanted to gain the slightest displeasure from the halls.
The Light Phantom Hall just casually gave some pills and armaments that were successful but still deemed as 'trash' by Zi Hua, but just the sight of those 'treasures' left everyone drooling, the various powers there were daydreaming of what they would get if they invited Light Phantom Hall to their birthday.
Just as everyone finished gifting their presents 'to the Crown Prince', but one glance and you could tell that a five year old wouldn't have much use for them, the emperor was about to start the banquet when a melodious voice resounded in the banquet.
"Wait a moment, I hope I'm not late" Just as the emperor was about to voice his displeasure he sensed the powerful aura from the guest, it seemed even more powerful than the monstrous Light Phantom Hall representative, but only the emperor noticed it since Zi Hua released her aura only on him.
Although Zi Hua had only started cultivating for a few years she had achieved what would normally take others decades, her subordinates couldn't compare to her though. Although their cultivation wasn't too far from her and took less time but they, especially the older ones, already had some cultivation since as long as they had power they could have a better chance at surviving. In addition, with her pills and resources they grew extremely quickly.
However, her master had warned her to never take any cultivation related pills due to her special physique.
"Of course not, zhen welcomes our guest" He didn't have the guts to offend this old monster, yes old, in the emperor's mind she must've used some technique to regain her youthful appearance.
A celestial maiden of 14 years old, wearing a beautiful purple and white hanfu, stepped into banquet with light, soundless steps, seemingly not touching the ground.
Well, Zi Hua was really not touching the ground, she was too lazy to walk so she just flew.
Behind her were two girls although they paled in comparison to the maiden at the front, they were still extremely captivating.
Zi Hua only brought Anemone and Gardenia, leaving her spirit beasts in Heaven-defying pagoda despite their complaints.
Zi Hua merely nodded her head, but no one dared to voice any objections since even the emperor was showing respect to this guest.
"I heard that the next Crown Prince is turning five years old today so I came to join the celebrations, where's the prince? Call him over so I can give him the present"
Albeit suspicious the emperor signaled for the young prince to go over.
"Beautiful big sister, are you going to give me a present?" Zi Hua observed the little prince with her Truth's eye and found that unlike her vicious mother and dumb father the little prince had a smart and reasonable character that would make a great emperor.
The corners of Zi Hua's lips hooked up into a smile, the little prince had great potential as a ruler and his innocence reminded her of Xiao Shen, the child is innocent so she won't target him but she can't let his mother off.
"Yes, it's your birthday after all"
"Nia, Anne, bring that in" That was the nickname she gave to the two of them.
Anemone and Gardenia led a majestic jet black horse with a fiery mane and tail into the banquet.
Everyone gasped in surprise, the spirit beast that was led inside was a fiery nightrider, a Low Stage Advanced rank spirit beast.
The reason why no one gifted a spirit beast was because of the rarity of beast tamers and the man power needed to capture a spirit beast, in addition to the fact that they wanted to butter up to the emperor but it was the little prince's birthday, who should be the one forming the contract?
But this mysterious girl just casually gifted such a strong spirit beast to a little kid.
"Drop a bit of blood on it's forehead to make a contract" Zi Hua just tamed a suitable spirit beast she found on Wan Shou Mountain that was willing to be gifted to the child, she can't exactly bring the spirit beasts from the pagoda since it'll disrupt the balance and war may start, because all the spirit beasts there have some sort of special feature or characteristic, some were even distinctive to the Primordial Lands.
"Thank you, pretty big sister" The little prince followed her instructions and made a contract with the spirit beast.
The imperial family has always been full of deceit and betrayal but the spirit beast will at least protect the little prince so he can become emperor.
"Servants prepare a seat for our guest"
Zi Hua just went to sit down without a word, she didn't need to give respect to such an emperor after all he was the boss of the General's Manor, to have subordinates with such bad moral integrity suggests that he shouldn't be that good either. Not to mention the news that she got from her subordinates...
The banquet was wrapped in a awkward silence.
"Ahem, let's start the banquet" With that announcement, servants brought in the food and guests started talking and performers started dancing.
The banquet was enveloped in a cheerful atmosphere, but Zi Hua could sense the sneaky lustful and greedy glances that people gave her, as well as Xia Fei Yan's 'kind' sister staring at her in jealousy due to her husband, the Crown Prince, staring at the beautiful stranger, of course she wasn't the only one doing that though.
'Disgusting' Zi Hua knew that in the eyes of the men in the room, she was only an object to be possessed, she had always hated this way of thinking. She was a feminist back in her old world and still is one.
Just before the banquet ended Lilium stood up "Ladies and gentlemen, as many have speculated our Light Phantom Hall is connected to Light Phantom Sect, I have attended today to announce that a month from now on Light Phantom Sect will be holding recruitment tests in the capital city of the Four Empires, ones' talent does not matter, the only requirement to take the test is for the participant to be between the ages 15-25 years old, everyone is welcome to participate"
Extra:
Spirit beasts: 'We have been replaced, noooo. WE should be the ones with master, *hic* *hic* sorry for thinking your naming sense is bad (even though it is) *sob* *sob* We got abandoned, author-san please give us more appearances so we can get popular, don't you pity our lonely selves?' *Puppy eyes*