In the 211th year of Nanxun, on the ninth day of January.
The Chen Residence was at this time a buzz of activity. Yet, it was not chaotic or noisy, with sounds of laughter interspersed amongst the melody of string and wind instruments. The guests were either wealthy or of high status, all of them refined scholars.
At this moment, there were even numerous high-ranking officials paying their respects outside the Residence, all queuing to offer congratulatory gifts, clearly demonstrating the Chen family's imposing status.
However, at this moment, the protagonist of this celebration, Chen Dengming, the head of the Chen family, was somewhat weary of these worldly dealings. The long-suppressed impulse in his heart, accompanied by the approaching date on the invitation, had begun to stir more and more.
As Nanxun Kingdom's eight-figure who has stepped into the Innate realm, Chen Dengming has made a name for himself in Nanxun over the years.
However, what truly made him famous was his stint as Crown Prince's teacher, appointed personally by the king of Nanxun, a dozen years ago. He was invited to the royal palace to teach the Crown Prince martial arts.
Although the title of the Crown Prince's teacher was an honorary one, it heightened the status of the Chen Residence from a renowned martial arts family to an influential bureaucratic household.
Among these rumors, the most intriguing was that Chen Dengming had encountered an Immortal in his early years and been gifted a Stay Young Pill. This meant that although he was well into his eighties, he still looked youthful, with a handsome and composed appearance, becoming the dream lover of many women in the martial arts world.
Recently, for his successful instruction of the Crown Prince, the king of Nanxun personally awarded Chen Dengming with a golden plaque titled, "Nanxun Blade King".
Chen Dengming's reputation seemed to eclipse the other innate Grandmasters.
During these days, the guests coming to Chen Residence to offer congratulations were constantly coming and going, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the title plaque 'Nanxun Blade King' and take a glimpse of Chen, the Blade King.
The irony is that Chen Dengming's most powerful martial art was not the sword technique, but the Gu Skill he got from the Immortal.
"It's been eighty-two years since I crossed over. If I didn't have the golden finger technique to prolong my life, I would probably be dead by now... What's unfortunate is that, even though I mastered martial arts twenty years ago, no ordinary martial art, even the highest-level ones, could help prolong my life anymore. The only hope left was that Gu Skill from the Immortal."
Chen Dengming, with his hands behind his back, stood on top of the tower, looking down at the bustling banquet below. With an expressionless face, he seemed to have seen through the worldly vanity and was reluctant to waste any more energy on it.
Behind him was a screen depicting the eighteen scenic spots of Nanxun. At this moment, kneeling behind the screen were all the loyal guards of the Chen family; all top-level experts personally trained by him, all preparing to do something for him.
Chen Dengming sighed inwardly, "Unfortunately... that Gu Skill from the Immortal, even with the help of the golden finger, has become difficult to improve due to a lack of cultivation resources.
Now I only have fifty years left to live. If I still cling to the worldly glory and wealth, I will eventually live a life like an ordinary person and die..."
If he didn't know about the existence of immortals, he could easily assume that he had crossed over into a martial arts world.
Through his hard work and cultivation up to this point, he could drink and chat happily with the king, instruct the Crown Prince, become the teacher of the Crown Prince, become renowned across the land, indulge in debauchery, have countless beauties, and take seven wives. It can be said that he has enjoyed all the riches, beauty and power, and his life has been without regret.
In the next fifty years, he was also confident of reaching the pinnacle of the martial arts world and truly becoming the number one martial artist.
But... Since he has known for a long time about the existence of immortals in this world, his ambition has subtly changed early on.
Ever since he received the legacy of Gu Skill from the Immortal, he has been practicing non-stop these years. Yet, due to limited worldly resources, progress has gradually become impossible.
His lifespan had also stopped at the age limit of 132 years fifteen years ago, and could no longer be improved through the cultivation of martial arts techniques.
Therefore, fifteen years ago, he made a big show of taking wives and concubines, expanding his family, and preparing for the worst-case scenario: a perfect yet regretless life.
However, he never had any children, mainly because of the Diamond Vajra Zen Dharma he practiced in his early years, and his heart still held onto the last glimmer of hope – the invitation that came along with the Gu Skill.
The invitation mentioned that every hundred years there would be an assembly of immortals descending in the land of Nanxun, on the Misty Cliff at the Ice Wind Forest.
Those with an invitation, regardless of their origins, are eligible to attest their fortunes at the Misty Cliff.
If they have the qualification for cultivation, they will be accepted into the Immortal's gateways to set foot in the Cultivation World and seek immortality.
It was this invitation that kept Chen Dengming's aspiration for cultivation burning for many years.
Now, with only half a year left until the convention, Chen Dengming was preparing to leave the Chen family and set off.
He took one last look at the bustling family banquet and then looked towards the backyard area through another window.
His seven wives were having a lively chat with a group of high-ranking officials' wives.
It was clear to see that all his wives were very much enjoying their wealthy lifestyle...
These wives were all married in the wealthy period fifteen years ago. All of them were well-bred daughters of good families. Initially drawn to wealth, they naturally enjoyed all they had gained.
The pity was that no one understood his heart.
Now he suddenly understood the indifferent emotions of Flirting Scholar when looking at his many wives in 'Flirting Scholar', it was so similar to his current state.