50: Chapter 50 Invitation to the Feast of Prodigies: A Feast for the Senses? No, it's a buffet!

Life on Changshang Island was so pleasant that it made one's bones feel soft.

Since bringing back Jiang Liuli and Bai Ningbing, the atmosphere in the harem of Hall of Eternal Life had been unprecedentedly harmonious. The four stunning beauties didn't fight for favor; instead, they spent all day together researching parenting, beauty techniques, or discussing how to "nourish" their husband's body.

For Xu Chen, this was both supreme happiness and a "sweet burden."

In the early morning, sunlight spilled across the white marble floor, and the scenery in the Imperial Garden behind Hall of Eternal Life was delightful.

Xu Chen was slumped ungracefully on a lounge chair in the pavilion, holding a cup of wolfberry spiritual tea that seemed particularly precious at this moment. He sipped it occasionally, his face filled with the "sage-like glow" that follows being completely drained.

Not far away, Su Qingge was sunbathing while holding Great Treasure, her maternal radiance making her look incredibly gentle.

Luo Hongyi, dressed in tight-fitting martial attire, toyed with her red whip as she instructed several maids in cultivation. Occasionally, she would snap the whip, and the loud cracks made Xu Chen's lower back twitch.

Jiang Liuli played the zither nearby, the music lingering and melodious like the tinkling of a spring.

Meanwhile, Bai Ningbing held a delicate pair of scissors, pruning the leaves of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Spirit Wood. A faint chill emanated from her, perfectly neutralizing the heat of the Fire Spirit Wood and acting as a natural "human air conditioner."

This scene was one of peaceful years and a stable world.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

A series of hurried and somewhat exaggerated footsteps broke the silence.

The Great Elder ran over in a frantic rush, clutching a gold-stamped invitation. His expression was strange—half-smiling yet indignant—and his white beard bobbed up and down as he ran.

"Great Elder, slow down."

Xu Chen set down his teacup and spoke leisurely, without even raising an eyelid.

"If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. If your old bones fall apart from running, I won't be able to explain it to my old man."

"Young Master, please stop teasing this old servant. Something big has happened!"

The Great Elder wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed over the invitation, his tone exaggerated.

"This is an urgent delivery just sent from the Central Continent via the Void Teleportation Array. It's an invitation to the 'Hundred Sects Prodigy Assembly'."

"Prodigy Assembly?"

Xu Chen took the invitation and flipped through it casually.

It stated that a Dao Discussion Assembly for the younger generation would be held at the Star Observation Platform in the Central Continent. It invited talents from all over the world and was signed by the Three Great Sacred Lands of the Central Continent and several Ancient Families, showing quite a bit of prestige.

"Aren't there boring gatherings like this every year?"

Xu Chen tossed the invitation onto the stone table with little interest and yawned.

"A bunch of brats huddling together to praise each other, comparing whose treasures are better or whose voice is louder. Instead of wasting time on that, I'd rather stay home with my wives and child and figure out how to get Great Treasure to call me 'Dad' sooner."

"It's different this time!"

The Great Elder lowered his voice, his expression becoming mysterious. He even glanced around as if guarding against something.

"Young Master, this old servant just received a report from our spies in the Central Continent. On the surface, this assembly is for discussing the Dao, but in reality... it's aimed at you."

"Aimed at me?"

Xu Chen raised an eyebrow, amused.

"What? Did they hear that I, Xu Chen, am handsome, suave, and exceptionally talented, and want to invite me to be a judge so they can worship the number one father of all time?"

"Ahem, I'm afraid it's quite the opposite."

The Great Elder coughed awkwardly twice and pulled out an information-recording jade slip from his robes. He infused it with spiritual power, and a cacophony of voices emerged.

"According to the intelligence, the outside world's evaluation of you, Young Master... can be described as polarized."

"Although everyone fears the strength of our Xu Family and dares not do anything to you openly, in private, the Holy Sons of those Sacred Lands and Ancient Families all want to swallow you whole."

"They've even secretly formed something called the 'Anti-Xu Alliance'."

"Anti-Xu Alliance?"

Now even Su Qingge, who was looking after the child, was intrigued. She walked over holding Great Treasure, and Luo Hongyi, Jiang Liuli, and Bai Ningbing also stopped what they were doing and curiously gathered around.

"Why would they oppose Husband?" Su Qingge asked, puzzled. "Although Husband's actions... are a bit flamboyant, he hasn't exactly bullied the innocent."

The Great Elder glanced at the four stunning young madams gathered there and said with a bitter face:

"Because... of jealousy."

"In this past year, the Young Master first married the Tai Chu Saintess, then took in the Demon Sect Empress, and just a few days ago, he swept up the Jiang Family Divine Maiden and the Ice Palace Mistress in one go."

"These four were originally the goddesses and dream lovers in the hearts of those prodigies! They were the untouchable 'white moonlights'!"

"But now, they've all entered our Xu Family's gates and are getting along so harmoniously."

The Great Elder spread his hands, his tone carrying a hint of uncontainable pride mixed with helplessness.

"Now it's being spread outside that the Young Master is the 'Number One Public Enemy of the Cultivation World' and a 'Stunning Beauty Collector'."

"Those Holy Sons who have been single for hundreds of years are seeing red with envy."

"This Prodigy Assembly is called a Dao discussion, but it's actually a 'Hongmen Banquet'. I heard they plan to join forces to challenge the Young Master at the assembly, hoping to humiliate you in front of everyone."

"They want to prove that the Young Master is worthless except for relying on his background, his face, and his women."

"How audacious!"

The hot-tempered Luo Hongyi was the first to lose her cool. She snapped her long whip, leaving a crack in the ground.

"A bunch of trash who say the grapes are sour because they can't reach them! How could they possibly imagine Husband's capabilities?"

"I'll go pull out all their tongues!"

Bai Ningbing's face was also frosty, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.

"Anyone who dares to be disrespectful to Husband, I will freeze into an ice sculpture and display them as a decoration at the Star Observation Platform."

Although Jiang Liuli didn't speak, her Seven-Aperture Exquisite Eyes flickered with calculating light. Clearly, she was already thinking of how to scheme against that group.

Seeing this group of protective wives, Xu Chen felt a warmth in his heart.

He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and a playful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Anti-Xu Alliance? Number one public enemy?"

"The imagination of these people is truly and adorably lacking."

He stood up and stood with his hands behind his back. Though his aura as a Dao Severing King was restrained, it exuded a calm and unhurried dominance.

"A Hongmen Banquet?"

"No, Great Elder, you're wrong."

Xu Chen extended a finger and wagged it gently.

"Since they've already set the stage, if I don't go, wouldn't it seem like I, Xu Chen, am afraid of them?"

"Besides, how is this a Hongmen Banquet?"

Xu Chen's eyes shone with the light of a hunter seeing its prey, and he even licked his lips.

"This is clearly... a buffet."

"A buffet?" The ladies and the Great Elder were all blank-faced, clearly having never heard the term.

"It means..."

Xu Chen looked toward the Central Continent, his tone domineering and confident.

"Since they want to stick their faces out for me to slap, I won't be polite."

"It just so happens that life has been too comfortable lately; I've almost forgotten how to trample people."

"Don't they say I rely on women?"

Xu Chen turned around and looked at his four magnificent wives, his smile becoming exceptionally bright.

"Then I'll show them what it truly means to 'eat soft rice with a hard attitude'."

"Wives, are you interested in accompanying your husband on a trip to the Central Continent?"

"We'll go together and stand there, letting them see what... unreachable despair looks like."

Su Qingge smiled slightly, straightened Xu Chen's collar, and said softly, "Wherever Husband goes, we go."

"Good!"

Xu Chen waved his hand grandly, full of heroic spirit.

"Great Elder, go and reply to them."

"I, the Young Master, accept this invitation."

"Also, tell my old man to bring out those Emperor-grade War Chariots we've kept in storage, and pick three thousand elite divine soldiers to accompany us. The honor guard and the orchestra—not a single one can be missing!"

"Since we're going to a banquet, the prestige must be fully displayed."

"I want everyone in the world to know."

"I, Xu Chen, am not just here to eat; I'm here to... flip the table!"

Hearing this, the Great Elder felt his blood boiling, as if he had suddenly aged backward by several thousand years.

"This old servant obeys!"

"I'll go arrange it right now! I'll make sure those little brats wet their pants before the feast even starts!"

Watching the Great Elder's excited departure, Xu Chen turned back and pulled his four lovely wives into his arms.

"Wives, get ready."

"Put on your most beautiful clothes and your most expensive jewelry."

"In a few days, we're going to the Central Continent to crash the party."

"And while we're at it... we'll teach those children what the cultivation world is really like."