473: Cangwu shows goodwill

Li Xuan led Elder Cang Wu toward the head seat, his pace slightly brisk. He was about to invite him to sit in the seat of honor beside him—a place reserved for the most distinguished guests, and only Elder Cang Wu was worthy of such courtesy.

But before he could speak, Elder Cang Wu waved his hand, interrupting him. His gaze swept past the guests filling the hall and landed directly on a side table at the very back.

That single table stood lonely in a corner at the end of the hall, far removed from the head seat. On the table sat a set of bowls and chopsticks and a cup of imperial wine that hadn't been finished, a faint mark still visible on the rim. It was Situ Jun's original seat.

And at this moment, Situ Jun had just returned to this table and was just about to sit down.

Cang Wu's gaze paused squarely on Situ Jun.

Situ Jun's heart gave a sudden thud, his fingertips stiffened slightly, and an inexplicable sense of vigilance rose from the depths of his heart.

He looked up to meet Elder Cang Wu's gaze, his eyes still indifferent, but he was secretly on guard—why would this Elder Cang Wu notice him at the back of the hall?

"I have never liked crowds; that place is quiet, so I shall sit there."

Cang Wu raised a finger toward Situ Jun's side table, his tone casual and natural. He lacked the slightest air of a great figure, instead appearing thoroughly approachable.

Li Xuan was stunned, the smile on his face freezing for a moment, and a look of deep surprise flashed in his eyes.

He never expected that this Soul Transformation powerhouse from the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty would actually forsake the seat of honor at the head of the hall and insist on sitting at a side table at the back, and specifically chose to sit beside Situ Jun.

That corner was remote and lonely; how could it be a place to host such a powerhouse?

But since Elder Cang Wu had spoken, how could he dare to object? He immediately suppressed his surprise and said with a smile:

"As you wish, Elder. Every part of this hall is at your disposal."

Inwardly, however, he was secretly puzzled. Why would Elder Cang Wu take a fancy to that side table?

Could he be acquainted with Situ Jun?

He instinctively glanced at Situ Jun and saw that he remained calm, as if he didn't care about the matter at all. Suppressing the doubt in his heart, he said in a low voice to Li Fu beside him:

"Quickly, bring a brand new set of jade cups and chopsticks for Elder Cang Wu, and fetch the thousand-year-old Spiritual Wine from my collection. Be sure to serve him with the utmost care."

"As you command, Your Majesty." Li Fu hurried to bow in response and turned to instruct the attendants to carry it out.

Cang Wu didn't stand on ceremony either, stepping toward the side table at the end of the hall.

His pace was not fast, yet it drew the eyes of everyone in the hall. Officials and envoys all looked on as this powerhouse from the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Astronomical Bureau bypassed the seat of honor to walk toward a corner at the back. Their hearts were full of confusion, but none dared to ask. They only bowed one after another, greeting him with "Peace to you, Elder."

Cang Wu merely gave a faint nod in response, his gaze never lingering for a moment.

Seeing Cang Wu walking toward him, Situ Jun's vigilance grew even stronger, yet he remained calm. He slowly stood up to the side and bowed slightly to Cang Wu, his voice respectful but not fawning:

"Situ Jun greets Elder Cang Wu. Please, take a seat, Elder."

"No need for such formalities."

Cang Wu waved his hand with a gentle tone and walked directly to the empty seat opposite Situ Jun. He looked him up and down. His gaze seemed casual, yet it felt as if it could pierce through his breath-concealing technique and reach his very Origin.

A moment later, a flicker of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes, which then gave way to a gentle smile as he said to Situ Jun:

"Sit down. No need to be nervous; I simply felt this place was quiet, nothing more."

Situ Jun gave a faint smile and sat down as told:

"Thank you, Elder."

Before long, two attendants hurried forward, carrying brand new Mutton-fat Jade cups and chopsticks. They placed them gently before Cang Wu and then held a gold-painted red sandalwood wine pot, pouring him a full cup of Spiritual Wine.

That Spiritual Wine was a High Grade treasure from the Apocalypse collection, brewed from hundred-year-old spiritual grain and nurtured within a Spiritual Vein for several years. For an ordinary Cultivator, drinking it could nourish their spiritual power.

The two young Disciples behind Cang Wu also silently sat at the empty table next to them, standing still with lowered heads and not saying a word, showing perfect discipline.

Situ Jun suppressed the doubts in his heart and quietly activated his Eye of Detection.

An imperceptible spiritual light flashed through his eyes for a fleeting second, sweeping toward Cang Wu silently.

He wanted to know what Realm this Imperial Astronomical Bureau Elder's true Cultivation had reached.

A moment later, Situ Jun's heart jolted violently. His fingertips trembled slightly, and the hand holding his wine cup almost shook. The clear wine in the cup sloshed, and a drop spilled out, landing on the white marble tabletop and forming a small wet mark.

Late Stage Soul Transformation!

No wonder his spiritual senses had instinctively detected danger; it turned out this Elder Cang Wu was actually a Late Stage Soul Transformation powerhouse!

Such Cultivation was a top-tier existence on the entire Divine Beast Continent, and even in the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, he would be one of the few top-level experts.

The foundation of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty was indeed unfathomably deep!

Situ Jun forcibly suppressed the stormy waves in his heart. His face remained calm, but his fingers holding the wine cup quietly tightened. His gaze toward Cang Wu now held a few more degrees of genuine wariness.

He had thought that his Early Stage Peak Soul Transformation Cultivation was already invincible in Apocalypse, and even looking at the entire Divine Beast Continent, he could hold a place. But before a Late Stage Soul Transformation powerhouse, his bit of Cultivation seemed so tiny, far from being comparable.

But what puzzled him even more was why Cang Wu would suddenly sit beside him.

Was it an unintentional, casual act, or was it deliberate?

Situ Jun's heart was filled with suspicion, but he didn't dare show it in the slightest. He just picked up his wine cup and took a light sip, trying to hide his abnormality.

Cang Wu seemed not to notice his abnormality. He raised the wine cup on the table, looked at it, and gave it a slight swirl.

The liquid was clear and had a faint fruity aroma, but there wasn't much spiritual power fluctuation; it clearly wasn't true Spiritual Wine.

He took a sip, his eyebrows arching slightly. He shook his head gently as if unsatisfied, then took out a palm-sized white jade wine jar from his robes.

The wine jar was pure white, carved with intricate cloud and star patterns. Spiritual power faintly flowed within the patterns. A bright yellow talisman was pasted over the seal, and the cinnabar runes on it pulsed with faint spiritual power. It was clearly used to seal the Spiritual Wine and prevent the spiritual power from leaking out.

"This wine of the mortal world ultimately lacks flavor; it is bland and tasteless."

Cang Wu smiled as he placed the white jade wine jar on the table. With a light tug of his hand, the talisman fell away.

In an instant, a rich and mellow aroma of Spiritual Wine erupted from the jar, instantly filling the entire Taiqian Hall.

The fragrance was clear but not sharp, mellow but not cloying, carrying the purest Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth as it drifted into everyone's nostrils.

In just a few breaths, it completely overwhelmed the aroma of all the delicacies and sandalwood in the hall. Even the soft music seemed to be somewhat eclipsed by this wine fragrance.

Everyone in the hall was stunned, turning their heads toward the back of the hall with looks of unconcealed envy in their eyes.

That wine fragrance was by no means ordinary. Just one breath made one feel refreshed, and the spiritual power throughout their bodies faintly fluctuated. It was definitely a top-tier spiritual brew, a rare treasure even within a great Sect!