Chapter 697: Alliance Invitation

The appearance of the Blood Qilin had thrown Xingyuan City into some chaos.

「Early the next morning.」

Chenxi Pavilion received a visitor.

A woman with a stunning figure, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, appeared in front of Chenxi Pavilion.

She frowned slightly.

‘This must be the National Preceptor’s Chenxi Pavilion.’

She slowly stepped inside Chenxi Pavilion.

Xiao Jun was just about to ask who she was when his eyes widened.

“Huo Wu?”

“What are you doing here?”

Xiao Jun hadn’t expected to see Huo Wu here.

Huo Wu was a loyal and valiant general who served Wen Shiren, the Third Prince of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.

When the Third Prince became the Sovereign of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom, Huo Wu was smoothly promoted to the immensely powerful position of Grand General.

And now, Huo Wu had come to Xingyuan City.

Huo Wu, of course, recognized Xiao Jun.

She said with pleasant surprise, “Looks like I’ve found the right place.”

After a brief conversation, Xiao Jun learned that Huo Wu was looking for Jiang Chen.

“Come, I’ll take you to our Master.”

Xiao Jun led Huo Wu to the courtyard where they were staying.

Jiang Chen, Mr. Qiu Shui, and the others hadn’t left the courtyard.

“Master, look who’s here.”

Xiao Jun said with a smile as he and Huo Wu appeared in the courtyard and saw Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen took a closer look.

He was a little surprised.

‘Huo Wu?’

‘I didn’t expect this violent woman to come to Xingyuan City.’

Of course, even without her saying anything, Jiang Chen knew the purpose of her visit.

‘It must be about that Angel.’

Wen Shiren had sent Huo Wu to find the Angel.

Huo Wu bowed to Jiang Chen.

“Greetings, National Preceptor.”

With Wen Shiren’s enthronement as Sovereign, Jiang Chen, the former Military Advisor, had been officially appointed National Preceptor by Wen Shiren—a position second only to one and above all others.

Of course, even Wen Shiren himself was extremely respectful in Jiang Chen’s presence.

As Grand General, Huo Wu was naturally very courteous and observed all proper etiquette with Jiang Chen.

After some pleasantries, the two sat down facing each other.

Jiang Chen asked, “Go ahead. What instructions does your Sovereign have this time?”

Huo Wu immediately replied with humility, “It’s nothing like that. The Sovereign’s meaning is that the Fire Sparrow Kingdom currently lacks any suitable talent to accomplish this mission.”

“Therefore, the Sovereign requests that you take charge and represent our Fire Sparrow Kingdom in the search for the Angel.”

“You may command me to do anything at any time.”

As she spoke, Huo Wu took out a token and handed it to Jiang Chen.

“The Sovereign has arranged for your identity this time to be the City Lord of Hanwu City.”

“This is the City Lord’s Order.”

Jiang Chen accepted the City Lord’s Order with surprise. Wen Shiren really didn’t hold back.

Not only had he entrusted everything to him, but he’d even given him the position of Hanwu City’s City Lord.

He gave a wry smile.

‘Wen Shiren really knows how to put me to work.’

“Fine, I have no objections.”

Huo Wu, for her part, could only smile wryly to herself.

‘Only Jiang Chen would dare to address the Sovereign, Wen Shiren, by his full name.’

Now that Wen Shiren was the Sovereign, his authority and prestige grew by the day.

No one dared to say Wen Shiren’s name.

But Jiang Chen was different.

Huo Wu didn’t dare to object in the slightest.

For the time being, he had Huo Wu settle in.

However, the peaceful days did not last long.

One day, Huo Wu brought an invitation to Jiang Chen.

“Military Advisor, this is an invitation from the Five Nations Alliance.”

Jiang Chen opened the invitation and took a look.

The invitation was from the Five Nations Alliance, inviting the representative of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom to a meeting at Xianghe Restaurant.

For the sake of the Angel, all five nations had sent important figures.

After reading it, Jiang Chen nodded slightly.

“Alright. Since they’ve invited us, let’s go and see.”

Huo Wu naturally had no objections, but she reminded him, “Military Advisor, the other four nations all have ulterior motives. We need to be on guard against them.”

Jiang Chen already knew this without Huo Wu having to say it.

In reality, the Five Nations Alliance’s gathering was an opportunity for each kingdom to display its strength.

No kingdom was willing to be outdone.

It was natural for everyone to have a competitive mindset.

Xianghe Restaurant was considered the most high-end restaurant in Xingyuan City.

Anyone with power and influence would host their banquets at Xianghe Restaurant.

Jiang Chen headed straight for Xianghe Restaurant with Huo Wu and Xiaotian.

At this moment, Xianghe Restaurant was packed with people.

However, despite this, the vast space of the fifth floor held only a handful of people.

It was, in contrast, exceptionally quiet.

Of course, everyone here exuded an air of arrogance. They each stood in their own area, clearly disdainful of one another.

And among them was Tang Yuan, the Prince of the Tang Kingdom.

When the Blood Qilin was rampaging through the City Lord’s Mansion, Tang Yuan had fled.

Now, with the five nations gathering, as a Prince representing the Tang Kingdom, Tang Yuan naturally couldn’t be absent.

He looked at the people present.

He took the initiative to greet them. “Everyone, are we all here?”

“If so, let’s get started.”

One of the women, dressed in a long white dress, snorted.

“Can’t you see? The people from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom haven’t arrived yet.”

A sudden silence fell over the group at her words.

Indeed. Of the five nations, the Snow Kingdom, Wind Sea Kingdom, Tang Kingdom, and Qianye Kingdom all had representatives present.

Only the Fire Sparrow Kingdom, one of the five, had yet to send anyone.

They were, of course, waiting for the people from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.

The woman in the long dress was Ao Xi, the Princess of the Snow Kingdom.

After Ao Xi spoke, the representative from the Wind Sea Kingdom—its prince, Hai Xunyi, who wore a black cloak—let out a cold laugh. “The Fire Sparrow Kingdom? Can they even send anyone at this point?”

“They have no one left to send. In my opinion, we shouldn’t wait.”

Tang Yuan chimed in, “Brother Hai is right. The Fire Sparrow Kingdom’s power has been severely weakened. If you ask me, they don’t even count as part of our Five Nations Alliance anymore.”

“Whether they come or not is irrelevant.”

A handsome, long-haired man with a scholarly air, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

He was Tian Ci, the Prince of the Qianye Kingdom.

He finally spoke up.

“The Fire Sparrow Kingdom is, after all, a member of the Five Nations Alliance. Since we already sent them an invitation, we should show them some respect and wait a little longer.”

“It would be a joke if the Five Nations Alliance was missing one of its nations.”

As soon as Tian Ci spoke, the others all showed looks of disdain, paying his words little mind.

They all looked down on the Fire Sparrow Kingdom. In truth, in terms of strength, the Fire Sparrow Kingdom was the weakest among the Five Nations Alliance.

Even in terms of experts, it didn’t have as many as the other kingdoms.

Furthermore, the princes of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom had already been wiped out in an internal conflict, leaving only the Third Prince, who then became the Sovereign.

Therefore, it would be difficult for the Fire Sparrow Kingdom to send someone of both status and standing.

“Brother Tian Ci, you think too highly of the Fire Sparrow Kingdom.”

“If the Fire Sparrow Kingdom actually manages to send someone this time, I’ll slap myself a hundred times,” Hai Xunyi of the Wind Sea Kingdom continued.

But the words had barely left his lips when someone from downstairs suddenly announced, “The representative from the Fire Sparrow Kingdom has arrived!”

Hai Xunyi froze on the spot.

Everyone else turned to look at Hai Xunyi with mocking expressions.

Only Hai Xunyi’s expression was ugly. Having been so instantly proven wrong was a great loss of face.

Following the announcement, three figures slowly ascended the stairs from the floor below.