Come Meet Me Inside! . . .
The portly individual made his way towards the king, his corpulent form undulating like waves as he approached. With a deep bow, he prepared to address the king. However, just as he was about to speak, he suddenly toppled to the floor.
His fall sent tremors through the ground, as if an earthquake were imminent. The unexpected spectacle left everyone in shock, pondering, "What on earth is happening?"
The king furrowed his brow, perplexed by the bizarre scene. He couldn't fathom the reason behind the man's dramatic gesture, thinking, "Is this a form of showing respect, touching the floor with his entire body?"
Wan Zhenghao, amid the audience's gaze, struggled to rise. His considerable weight made it a challenging endeavor. He attempted to push himself off the floor three times without success. Some attendants from Ling-Bao Hall rushed over to lend their aid. Finally, they managed to help him regain his footing.
The king was so taken aback that he almost couldn't find his voice. "This is... our first encounter, my good man. Such an extraordinary salute is unnecessary."
Though he had heard that Boss Wan was significantly overweight, the actual sight of him was astounding. Wan Zhenghao stood firm once more, seemingly unfazed by his fall. He smiled and casually explained, "Your Majesty, you've misunderstood me. I was attempting a fist salute. Unfortunately, my considerable weight caused me to lose my balance and fall. What a jest! I'm merely a simple man from the countryside, not the individual you seek, Your Majesty. Hehe!"
The king cleared his throat, momentarily at a loss for words. It became apparent that Wan Zhenghao had not intended to pay homage and wasn't willing to kneel. His mention of being a countryman and not the man the king sought hinted at his position, reflecting his audacity.
"Is Feng Monarch present?" the king inquired, shifting the conversation away from Wan Zhenghao. The true owner of Ling-Bao Hall was Feng Zhiling, and the king was eager to meet with him.
"He is in the inner hall, awaiting Your Majesty," Wan Zhenghao responded. He held great admiration for Feng Monarch, who had emphasized the importance of not flattering the king. "Splendid Monarch! His words were wise. I refrained from flattery, and Your Majesty remains unchanged. We possess power and wealth; why should we covet royal privilege? His reasoning is sound!"
However, as Wan Zhenghao relayed this information, the king's entourage expressed their annoyance. They questioned Feng Monarch's arrogance, given that the king had arrived and he had not yet emerged to greet him. Some wondered whether Feng Monarch expected the king to come to him.
"Outrageous!" Master Sun shouted in anger, his eyes flashing like lightning. "How dare Feng Zhiling not appear to greet His Majesty? This is a disgrace to the king!"
Wan Zhenghao's expression remained unchanged as he coolly stated, "Monarch may reside in the Kingdom of Chen, but he is not a citizen of this realm. Ling-Bao Hall operates across the three kingdoms, and Monarch has never bowed to any king. He will never do so. The contributions he made to the kingdom were for the benefit of Ling-Bao Hall. It was not a duty of citizenship. The kingdom may choose not to reciprocate, and if that is the case, it will be a mistake in our business dealings and a significant error on the part of the kingdom."
His words were sharp and unapologetic, outsmarting those who had raised objections. No one could refute his argument. Feng Monarch was not subject to their authority; he had already contributed significantly to the Kingdom of Chen.
In essence, a favor should be reciprocated.
The king smiled and concurred, "Indeed, Feng Monarch has remained in this kingdom and made substantial contributions. I should have visited him long ago. Boss Wan, would you kindly inform Feng Monarch of my arrival?"
With a wave of his hand, he signaled to Master Sun and the others to calm down.
Wan Zhenghao beamed like a blossoming flower as he relayed the message, "Monarch has given the order. If you come, you can proceed to the inner hall. No further announcement is necessary!"
His words further aggravated the irritation of the officials and martial artists.
"Unbelievable! Is he implying that there's no need for an announcement? Who does he think he is?"
"The audacity is unparalleled!"
"This is nearly treason!"
The king, on the other hand, remained quite composed. He restrained his officials and offered a genial smile. "I am not his sovereign, after all. He is the host, and I am the guest. Please, lead the way, Boss Wan."
The king had experience dealing with individuals like Feng Zhiling and his predecessors, Cha Nantian and Song Jue. He didn't find Feng Zhiling's attitude to be particularly challenging.
In fact, not only Feng Zhiling but even Chen Xuantian held a certain level of respect for Wan Zhenghao. Wan Zhenghao was no ordinary man; he had lived for over three thousand years and was renowned as the wealthiest individual in the Land of Han-Yang. Even if Feng Zhiling hadn't suddenly emerged, Wan Zhenghao would still be a legendary figure in history. Kings from all corners of the world would naturally extend their respect.
After all, every king aspired to live longer, ideally seeking immortality. In Wan Zhenghao's lifetime, many sought to conquer Ling-Bao Hall to unearth the secret of immortality. However, none of them had succeeded. None had learned the secret, and those who had meddled with Ling-Bao Hall mysteriously disappeared within a few years.
A long-debated question was whether the House of the Chaotic Storms could best Ling-Bao Hall in a confrontation. Yet, the House of the Chaotic Storms had never sought anything from Wan Zhenghao's domain—neither immortality nor wealth. The two factions had never clashed, except for the instance when Feng Zhiling forcibly assumed leadership in Ling-Bao Hall. This had forged a connection between the two powers, even if it was not out of choice.
Naturally, such speculations remained mere conjecture in the eyes of the world. Only those within the respective factions held the actual answers.
Regardless, Chen Xuantian, the King of the Kingdom of Chen, was unaware of these hidden truths. He was about to meet Wan Zhenghao, the immortal of the age, and would soon encounter the figure who held authority even above Wan Zhenghao, the renowned master of alchemy, Feng Zhiling. At this moment, Chen Xuantian didn't perceive himself as a king.
To demonstrate his sincerity, he instructed the royal martial artists not to accompany him. He ventured into the inner hall with Wan Zhenghao as his sole escort.
As they entered the inner hall, the king stood face to face with the legendary figure himself—Feng Monarch, Feng Zhiling!