"So my father accepted my request. What a rare occurrence," Tian Shi said, twirling the porcelain cup of wine between his fingers.
Tian Yue sat across from him, a smile he rarely saw adorning her face. Ever since their relationship stopped being purely familial, a rift had formed between them. The ever-hanging blade of tradition made it almost impossible for them to share moments and enjoy each other's company like they used to. For him, it was quite easy to pretend that not much had changed. The same couldn't be said for her; while his status ensured he could break most rules and conventions without consequence, she could not.
"Well? It's more accurate to say that he approved of your actions. You have two weeks to finish your plans in the Blue-Volt Plane," Tian Yue said with a sigh.
She injected qi into her ring, retrieving a few jade slips. After laying them in order on the table, she swiped her hand over them. The runes and scripts inscribed on the slips rose into the air, bathing the room in soft golden light. With a few gestures, the information coalesced, forming a bluish-gold interface between them. All the information she had gathered over the past few days, along with special reports from her intelligence force, was condensed into summaries for the Junior Patriarch.
"Firstly, the Patriarch has approved your request and granted you access to all the resources you need, up to 1-Star Divine Rank artifacts. Additionally, he has given you the authority to isolate the Blue-Volt Plane for the next two weeks, which should provide us the necessary leeway to mobilize an unstoppable force to accomplish our objectives," Tian Yue said.
Her fingers, deftly skilled with the interface, blurred into motion, picking and choosing the relevant pieces of information. With a single swipe, she tossed them to Tian Shi. He caught them and plugged them into his personal recording slip. As much as he trusted his memory, he didn't want a repeat of what had happened a few days ago—two days' worth of memories had vanished.
"That is more than I expected from him. At least he is finally spoiling me," Tian Shi said with a chuckle.
"Don't be like that. It's pretty hard being neutral, too," Tian Yue replied.
Tian Shi sipped and nodded in agreement. Her assessment was correct. It wasn't that he didn't understand his father's struggles; holding the sky for an entire clan like the Tian Clan was a nearly impossible task. Few people were capable of it. That didn't change his feelings—the old man owed him many fond childhood memories that he had only seen in weaker clans.
"Once you become a god, I think he'll be more open," Tian Yue suggested.
Tian Shi loved to believe that. One day, after proving his path and gaining the strength of a deity, he wished for the old man to be there, arms wide open to congratulate him. He pushed those thoughts aside and chugged the cup of wine.
Don't be foolish.
"Don't make me sentimental. What's this invitation to Feng Zhi's gathering?" Tian Shi asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tian Yue pulled up the full set of information and flung it to him. He caught the golden runes and, after recording them, awaited her elaboration.
"Well, he dubbed it 'The Gathering of Talents,' but the main draw is that he managed to invite the heiress of the Abyss Divine Mountain," Tian Yue explained. "Aside from her, the cold beauties from Flower Dance Pavilion will also make an appearance."
Tian Shi heard the sarcasm, tinged with a hint of disdain in her voice. He couldn't hold back; wine sprayed in all directions with the force of a waterfall. Tian Yue acted quickly, covering herself with a shield of qi. And that was only the beginning. Tian Shi laughed as if his life depended on it. All the pent-up frustrations, along with the stress and immense pressure, evaporated.
"I knew it," he pointed an accusatory finger at Tian Yue.
The lady scoffed, rolling her eyes. Tian Shi slowly gathered himself. His hands, however, seemed to have a mind of their own, slamming the table to Tian Yue's horror. After a while, his ear-splitting laughter receded. Only then did Tian Yue begin to take him seriously.
"Brother Jian wasn't wrong at all. Ladies do hate the competition these Dual Cultivation Sects bring," Tian Shi remarked. "Though I wonder what he meant when he said the taste of the Demoness is divine."
"Uhm. As I was saying, this event is happening within the next seven days," Tian Yue continued. "We could have just skipped it, but a few of your rivals will be there. The Imperial Crown Prince has confirmed his attendance as well."
Tian Shi drew a sharp breath. Feng Zhi really pulled through this time. Based on what he knew, the man was known to be lascivious, prone to surrounding himself with beauties. Rumors suggested that he had acquired an ancient art allowing him to make significant progress in his Nirvana Breath Scripture through intercourse. His intelligence force had returned a negative on that rumor; the man was simply indulgent in his desires.
Most people treated him as a non-threat, but that impression was shattering. Clearly, he was capable of hosting a gathering that could attract so many important characters from the younger generation. It seemed the event was calling to him.
"Here, take my token," Tian Shi said, removing a golden badge embroidered with his name, crafted from the quintessence of his father.
Tian Yue received it and placed it in her spatial ring.
"Use the edict along with my token to mobilize a force. I only need two immortals and a minor god for this, and you can bring in people you trust. I'll procure the artifacts I need myself," Tian Shi instructed. "We are going to the Blue-Volt Plane tonight. I can't miss this 'Gathering of Talents,' as Feng Zhi so aptly put it."
Tian Yue disappeared in a flash of light.
Feng Zhi, oh Feng Zhi, what play are you attempting to write?