Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 661: Chapter 438: Heaven’s Step, Cloud Palace! (Double Chapter)

”Cui Bai Dao, Song Changming, pays respects to Prince Xia,” Song Changming returned the salute.

Song Changming, having roamed Yun Province for many years, had memorized the domains of the thirty-six Daos of Yun Province.

Among them was this Purple Mist Dao, geographically located northeast of Cui Bai Dao, not too far away.

There was once a time when he led troops to the border area of Purple Mist Dao to carry out a mission.

In terms of topography, there’s not much difference between Purple Mist Dao and Cui Bai Dao.

However, in comparison, Purple Mist Dao surpasses Cui Bai Dao in terms of population, town development, and even military strength, making it a more prosperous domain.

One reason Cui Bai Dao lags behind Purple Mist Dao is the good governance of the present Prince Xia, and another is that Purple Mist Dao does not have the Changsheng Su Family draining it, allowing for better development.

This is one of the main reasons why Prince Cui wants to topple the Changsheng Su Family.

In Prince Cui’s view, as long as the Changsheng Su Family exists, Cui Bai Dao will have difficulty achieving significant development for hundreds of years, never matching the domains of other Great Kings.

”Innate Realm, huh...” Li Xuan scrutinized Song Changming, realizing that Song Changming hadn’t entered the Grandmaster Realm and immediately understood his old friend’s intent.

While Li Xuan assessed Song Changming, Prince Cui also observed the ’newcomer’ brought by the opponent.

Soon, Prince Cui noticed that this newcomer was also an Innate Martial Artist, and couldn’t help but jokingly complain.

”Brother Li, you seem to have come to the same thought as I have.”

For this Imperial Banquet, it was evident that both of them had focused their attention on the Innate group competition, not intending to exert themselves in the Grandmaster group.

”It’s truly unfortunate, Old Hu, this time I’m bound to win,” Li Xuan chuckled.

Evidently, he had great confidence in the person he brought.

”What a coincidence, I also have complete confidence in the person I’ve brought,” Prince Cui calmly stroked his beard and smiled.

”Oh?!” Li Xuan took another look at Song Changming and suddenly suggested, ”Why don’t we have a match first, to decide who’s superior?”

”Haha, is Brother Li anxious?” Prince Cui, with a flick of his hand, made two jars of wine and a chessboard appear on the table in the courtyard.

”Let’s leave the suspense for two days later.”

Two days later would be when the Imperial Banquet officially started.

”That works too.” Li Xuan didn’t insist any further and sat on a stone bench, leisurely drinking and playing chess with Prince Cui.

Song Changming noticed that a man named Hong Zhen was staring at him.

Although the two did not engage that night, after the conversation between the two Great Kings, naturally, a sense of rivalry developed between them.

Hong Zhen appeared robust and matured, but his actual age was the same as Song Changming, both under a hundred years old.

In appearance, Song Changming looked much younger.

To reach the Innate Perfection Realm at less than a hundred years old is an extraordinary talent in itself.

Though not having broken through to Grandmaster Realm, it was evident that the person brought by Prince Xia had great abilities, certainly not comparable to an ordinary Innate origin Full Realm Martial Artist.

An entire night of chess, Li Xuan had more winning pieces; the Imperial Banquet had yet to start, but he had already bested Prince Cui on the chessboard.

”Brother Li, you won this time, but if you lose in the Cloud Fighting later, you can’t blame me,” Prince Cui said as he stood up.

Li Xuan laughed twice, his voice bold.

”Old Hu, I do appreciate that confidence of yours.”

After saying this, Prince Xia, with his entourage, gracefully left.

Prince Cui stood with arms behind his back, smiling as he watched his friend leave.

Seeing this, Song Changming also took his leave back to his courtyard.

Over the next two days, Prince Cui met with several members of the imperial Family and some old acquaintances in Cloud Emperor City.

Song Changming accompanied him the entire time. Being a new face, he garnered quite a bit of attention from the imperial Family, becoming familiar in the presence of the Great Kings.

Soon after, the long-awaited Imperial Banquet officially began!

Early in the morning, three officials, holding the Imperial Decree, arrived at Prince Cui’s Mansion, summoning Prince Cui to the Cloud Palace for the banquet.

Despite the officials’ frail appearance, even Prince Cui had to bow and pay respects, not daring to take them lightly.

Of course, Prince Cui’s reverence was directed at the Emperor’s decree, and not truly at these three palace officials.

”Where is Marquis Shao, why didn’t he come this year?” Prince Cui asked after he received the decree.

The two young officials behind the leading elder exchanged glances, not understanding.

The elder official explained, ”In response to Prince Cui, Lord Shao passed away ten years ago.”

This response caught Prince Cui by surprise.

”Was it illness?”

”No, it’s just his time was up, and he had to leave...” the official explained.

Upon hearing this, Prince Cui sighed lightly, shaking his head.

”What a pity, Marquis Shao helped me a lot back then, but now I won’t have the chance to see him again...”

Being a Grandmaster Powerhouse, Prince Cui naturally had a long lifespan.

However, many of his old acquaintances were not as long-lived, and before he knew it, they had become mere dust.

”Let’s go, lead the way.” Prince Cui didn’t dwell on it too long, quickly recovering his emotions.

Song Changming also followed him out the door.

He initially thought the Imperial Banquet would take place in the evening, but didn’t expect it to commence early in the morning.

Before long, he found himself once again at the foot of the thousands of stone steps. This time, they didn’t delay and began ascending step by step.

Because the trip was led by a few officials, the pace wasn’t fast, taking each step deliberately, without skipping any, out of respect for Emperor Yun.

Climbing these steps to the Cloud Palace, everyone must take it one step at a time, and the Great Kings were no exception.

Thus, Prince Cui didn’t dare act differently, dutifully following the officials.

Raising his eyes, Song Changming quickly noticed that others were also ascending, not alone in the climb. Among them were officials of the Imperial City, along with other Great Kings.

Song Changming keenly spotted Prince Xia, who was not far ahead, having merely taken a step ahead with his entourage.

Prince Xia noticed Prince Cui’s group arriving, seeming to intentionally slow his ascent, soon being caught up and walking alongside Prince Cui with cheerful conversation.

An hour later, everyone finally crossed the stone steps, almost reaching mid-air.

Only then did Song Changming understand why the Imperial Decree summoned them so early.

If it weren’t this early, just climbing the steps would consume untold amounts of time needed to gather all the Great Kings with dignity.

Standing outside the Golden Throne Palace, surrounded by the gentle Spiritual Breeze and drifting clouds, the concentration of Spiritual Qi was such that Song Changming suspected this was the densest spot in the entire city, even the entire Spiritual Energy Sea.

Standing there felt like gazing down from the clouds at the city below, at the islands, even gazing far into the Spiritual Energy Sea.

Looking back at the Cloud Palace behind him, one could easily believe this place to be the dwelling of divine beings, a palace in the heavens.

Clang!

The sound of bells and chimes resonated from within the palace, like celestial music.

Outside the palace doors, many palace maids held flower baskets, scattering Spirit Flower petals into the sea of clouds.

At the same time, a path covered with flower petals appeared beneath Song Changming’s feet, leading through the wide-open palace doors straight into the hall.

Under the grand palace, everyone seemed insignificant, spontaneously filled with respect.

Song Changming knew this was the imperial majesty, affecting everyone’s mindset.

Compared to the feeling outside the city, the imperial majesty felt here was even more profound.

In front of him, Prince Cui and Prince Xia seemed accustomed to the grandeur, unaffected as they chatted and stepped into the hall.

However, for newcomers like Song Changming and Prince Xia’s entourage, their expressions were tense, not yet fully acclimated to the majesty here.

Song Changming was actually better off, keeping pace with Prince Cui, gradually relaxing his expression.

Hong Zhen, on the other hand, with clenched fists and a stern face, seemed to be holding his breath, unable to relax.

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