"Incredible... truly incredible..."
Looking at the crystal pendant in her hand, Shen Yun Yao's face was filled with disbelief. "Theoretically, there are countless arcane energies in this world... but no one has ever heard of directly absorbing arcane energy from the air..."
"Arcane cultivators have always relied on Arcane Origin Stones to cultivate arcane energy..."
"This... this is a treasure that would drive any arcane cultivator mad..."
As she spoke, Shen Yun Yao couldn't help but swallow.
"Young Madam, the City Lord has asked me to invite you, Mr. Ye, and Little Miss!"
At this moment, a deep male voice echoed from not far away.
"It's the butler..."
Shen Yun Yao quickly hung the crystal pendant around her neck, explained to Ye Feng, and then strode towards a man in his fifties with a refined demeanor.
...
As night fell,
Led by the butler, Shen Yun Yao, Ye Feng, and Xiao Xiao arrived at the entrance of the palace-like building next to the mecha plaza.
This palace-like building had clearly also suffered an attack; there were many damaged pits on the pillars and walls.
At this moment, many people were already gathered at the entrance of the palace, including familiar faces to Ye Feng – Shen Qing and Shen Bai.
"Young Madam!"
"Ye Feng!"
Shen Qing and Shen Bai also spotted Ye Feng and the others and immediately came forward to greet them.
"Wuwu! ~ Er! ~"
At this moment, a person wrapped head to toe in bandages, like a mummy, with only one eye, two nostrils, and a mouth exposed, walked up to Ye Feng.
The person leaned on a cane with one hand, waved the other bandaged hand in front of Ye Feng, and made strange sounds.
The person seemed to want to say something but couldn't.
"Who are you?"
Ye Feng looked at the person with some bewilderment.
"Ye Feng, this is Cang Shi!"
Shen Qing chimed in.
"Wuwu!"
As Shen Qing finished speaking, the mummy-like man nodded rapidly, making guttural sounds again.
"Teacher Cang, you can walk now!"
At this moment, Shen Yun Yao stepped forward, greeted the mummy-like man, and then turned to Ye Feng, "Ye Feng, Teacher Cang was severely injured in the previous battle... a Golden Rank nine monster pierced his jaw and injured his tongue..."
"Oh, I see!~"
Ye Feng nodded, understanding.
"Since everyone is here, let's have a meal!"
At this moment, Shen Bo Tian's voice came from behind the palace doors.
...
Soon, Ye Feng, Shen Yun Yao, Xiao Xiao, and the others who had been waiting at the palace entrance arrived in an ancient and elegant hall.
In the brightly lit hall, a large round table was laden with dishes that were both aromatic and visually appealing. Attendants stood by, ready to serve.
"Everyone, allow me to introduce Ye Feng, and this is Little Miss!"
"Mecha City faced an unprecedented crisis, and it was thanks to Ye Feng and Little Miss that we pulled through!"
As everyone settled around the round table, Shen Bo Tian introduced Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao to the assembled guests.
"Ye Feng, let me introduce you!"
"Shen Qing, Shen Bai, Cang Shi, you've known these three for quite some time, so I won't elaborate. This is Song Tie, the Commander of Mecha City's Royal Guard..."
As he spoke, Shen Bo Tian pointed to a stern-faced middle-aged man.
"This is Sun Zhi Zhi..."
"This is Zhang Jian..."
"And this is..."
...
Shen Bo Tian quickly introduced Ye Feng to the others present, and they all greeted Ye Feng with considerable politeness.
These were all Shen Bo Tian's trusted subordinates, and they were sharp individuals who understood that this banquet was specifically for Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao.
After a somewhat awkward exchange of greetings with over a dozen people, Ye Feng eagerly picked up a roasted lamb chop and began to eat. Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao followed suit.
After all, the three of them had been sparring all afternoon and were ravenous. With Ye Feng leading the way, Xiao Xiao and Shen Yun Yao joined in.
"Ugh..."
Watching Ye Feng, Xiao Xiao, and even Shen Yun Yao eat heartily without any pretense of refinement, the people around the table exchanged glances, surprise evident in their eyes.
"Everyone, please don't be reserved. When we eat, there's no City Lord. Eat as you would at home!"
At this moment, Shen Bo Tian said with a smile.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony~"
A burly man with a beard responded and proceeded to pick up a steak, devouring it in large bites.
Seeing this, the remaining guests also picked up their chopsticks or took a large swig of wine, smiles of genuine pleasure on their faces.
Because Shen Bo Tian's words had made it clear: they were to eat "as if at home."
...
The sumptuous dinner continued until ten in the evening.
"Yao Yao, you..."
After seeing Ye Feng and Xiao Xiao off to rest, Shen Bo Tian, slightly tipsy with a flushed face, was about to retire for the night when he suddenly stopped and looked at Shen Yun Yao with a frown.
"Grandfather, what is it?"
Shen Yun Yao, who was instructing a servant to clear the table, turned around upon hearing Shen Bo Tian's voice.
"Am I drunk?"
Shen Bo Tian muttered. A flash of green arcane energy emanated from him, dispelling much of the alcohol's effect. He stared at Shen Yun Yao for a while, his expression gradually turning to astonishment.
"Yao Yao, what has happened to you recently?"
Shen Bo Tian's tone was filled with evident confusion and surprise.
"Wh-what has happened?"
Shen Yun Yao blinked slightly, momentarily taken aback.
"Yao Yao, you now... give me a strange aura... it's as if..." Shen Bo Tian closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, "it's as if the arcane energy in this world... is gathering towards you on its own..."
"But you clearly haven't cultivated with Arcane Origin Stones... it's not caused by arcane energy being drawn out from the Arcane Origin Stones and causing a reaction..."
Shen Bo Tian opened his eyes and looked at Shen Yun Yao, both surprised and puzzled.
"Oh... Grandfather, it's like this..."
Shen Yun Yao immediately understood and recounted to Shen Bo Tian how Ye Feng had repaired the crystal pendant.
"This..."
Looking at the crystal pendant in his hand, beads of sweat appeared on Shen Bo Tian's forehead, and his face was filled with disbelief.
Then, Shen Bo Tian let out a sigh of relief. He returned the crystal pendant to Shen Yun Yao and said sternly, "Yao Yao, do not mention the matter of the crystal pendant's array to anyone!"
"Oh, alright!"
Shen Yun Yao also understood that an object that could autonomously absorb and gather ambient arcane energy would undoubtedly attract a storm of trouble.
"Hmm!"
Shen Bo Tian nodded. With a flash of light in his hand, he produced a Mirror Arcane Yuan Coin and a device that resembled a teleportation array, yet also looked somewhat like a table.
Under Shen Yun Yao's surprised gaze, Shen Bo Tian inserted the Mirror Arcane Yuan Coin into a slot on the device.
Instantly, a square frame appeared on the device, which was a magnified version of the text interface on Shen Bo Tian's Mirror Arcane Yuan Coin.
"Yao Yao... from now on, you will have to train diligently with your Uncle Luo..."
Despite his reluctance, Shen Bo Tian spoke to Shen Yun Yao with determination.
...