Chapter 47: Chaos at the Banquet

  Everyone in the room fell silent. Not a sound escaped their lips. Everyone was still bewildered by the events unfolding before them. Everything was a perfectly coincidental turn of events. Unexpectedly, a genius Engraver of his caliber had tripped and fallen backward. Not only had he failed to regain his balance with his Engraver reflexes, but he had also fallen in an extremely embarrassing manner.

  The crest of a family, which he had just cherished so much, easily fell down from his chest. And most importantly, it rolled and landed right in front of the ordinary animal he had just taunted.

  The puzzled expressions on everyone's faces created an incredibly tense atmosphere. But nothing compared to the furrowed brows of Banphot and Salika. The sheer pressure emanating from the two Enlightened was chilling.

  They had witnessed everything from start to finish. The moment the crest fell, Qianbao Yue's pathetic slip, and the moment Kiita placed the crest back on his chest.

  Both of them frowned intensely, yet they are bewildered.

  They could have intervened to help Qianbao Yue at any moment, but they chose not to. They want to capture Nitaan red-handed while he's using his Word of Power. If they were able to restrain Nitaan, they could use it to severely reprimand Princess Pailin and create problems.

  Using the Word of Power to launch a covert attack at such a celebratory banquet is far worse than a direct challenge. The punishment would be far more severe and terrifying.

  A direct challenge, if lost, would only result in minor insult and damage to reputation. A cowardly covert attack, however, is a different matter. They can use this to their advantage. After all, Nitaan is under the command of the Fourth Princess, and they can even pass this matter through legal channels to the royal family.

  The impact would be enormous. They could gain benefits while simultaneously weakening the other side—that's what they're waiting for.

  But what they're waiting for doesn't happen. That's why they're frowning and bewildered.

  They can't sense any spiritual energy from Nitaan.

  There are traces of spiritual energy between Nitaan and Kiita, but that is constant and was already there before Qianbao Yue slipped. There are also traces of spiritual energy, but that is before Qianbao Yue tripped.

  They can’t sense any spiritual energy from Nitaan that affects Qianbao Yue. All spiritual energy that Nitaan releases only affects himself and his companion.

  Nitaan stood before them with an innocent smile. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except for his gaze fixed on Qianbao Yue's feet before he tripped. There was also a suspicious scrutiny of various parts of his body, yet no spiritual energy emanated from him.

  It was as if Nitaan hadn't done anything at all, as if everything had been a mere coincidence.

  As Enlightened, they had experienced countless things: war, politics, relationships, friendships, and adventures. What hadn't such great Enlightened as they had encountered?

  They absolutely didn't believe that everything that had happened was a coincidence, especially one that was so humiliating for their side at that! If that were the case, this young man must be the vessel of the Goddess of Fortune, Lakiz.

  "The crest is a symbol of factions. It is a proof of identity as a proud member of that faction. Be careful not to drop it again," Colonel Lalanta sneered.

  She obviously sides with Nitaan, feigning ignorance.

  Qianbao Yue leaped up from the ground. The strange force holding him down was gone. His face was red with anger, his bloodthirsty eyes glaring at Nitaan.

  "You! You commoner!" Qianbao Yue roared ferociously. His two hands spread out, transforming into gleaming golden blades. A powerful golden armor instantly enveloped his body as he prepared to attack Nitaan.

  Nitaan didn’t have to do anything; it was Salika who unleashed an invisible pressure that enveloped Qianbao Yue.

  "Lord Salika!" Qianbao Yue's face turned grim. The invisible pressure suffocated him, making it difficult for him to breathe.

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  A direct pressure of the Enlightened!

  "Try to attack someone in the middle of such a grand banquet, Did you trip and fall so hard your brain went numb?" Salika sneered.

  "Lord Salika! You clearly saw that he used a despicable trick to ambush me!" Qianbao Yue suppressed his anger. After all, the person in front of him was an Enlightened.

  "That young man was merely standing still. You tripped and fell," Salika said through gritted teeth.

  Qianbao Yue's face turned red with anger. He clearly knew that Nitaan was playing some kind of trick.

  He had tripped in front of hundreds of powerful figures! Yet, no one saw it as Nitaan's doing!

  "You all! How could a First word Engraver like me possibly fall backward like that!? Then what about me not being able to get up!? I must have been suppressed by some kind of power!" Qianbao Yue shouted in denial.

  "Qianbao Yue, it's normal to be a little disoriented after a head injury." Nitaan said with a slight smile.

  "Nonsense! Lord Banphot, even you are saying that a genius Engraver like me tripped and fell on my own?”

  “It's clearly his doing!" Qianbao Yue pointed maliciously at Nitaan.

  "He didn't use any power. You just made a pathetic mistake and fell," Banphot said calmly, though his eyes were bloodshot.

  Qianbao Yue, though furious, turned pale.

  He had even thought this was just a staged act to frame him, a play even the Enlightened were involved in. But he quickly dismissed that thought. There was no reason for such a thing, unless Kodchasan and Virupaksha Families wanted to wage war against Qianbao's trading group.

  The expressions on both Banphot and Salika filled Qianbao Yue with despair.

  The fact that Banphot and Salika chose not to protect him meant that they don’t understand how it happened either!

  Although he himself couldn't sense Nitaan’s spiritual power, Banphot and Salika were Enlightened! There's no way they couldn't sense anything.

  But their actions clearly prove him wrong. Since they couldn't sense anything, they couldn't blame Nitaan for anything. If they blindly protect him, enemies can easily strike back.

  So, they chose to shift all the blame onto him, making it seem as if the earlier fall was his own foolish mistake.

  Qianbao Yue gritted his teeth. He couldn't accept this. He was one of the family's young geniuses, someone who had always looked down on others. Yet today, he was being trampled on by a broken good with no future commoner!

  "Colonel Lalanta, with all due respect! I never thought you would step forward and intervene in an argument between the younger generation." Qianbao Yue said through gritted teeth. Although his words were still respectful, everyone could clearly sense the anger within.

  Since no one detected the use of power, it meant that the power was concealed by something. A concealment that even Enlightened cannot sense. That concealing power must also be at the level of an Enlightened. Nitaan couldn't possibly do that, so only a few people remained.

  "Are you implying that I plotted to harm you?" Colonel Lalanta laughed, but her eyes began to blaze.

  The air suddenly became scorching hot. An even heavier pressure than before weighed down on Qianbao Yue, forcing him to collapse to his knees.

  "You are saying I, the Enlightened Sun Avatar, would plot an evil act to create a pathetic image for YOU, a foolish junior?" Colonel Lalanta's emotionless voice was laced with the oppressive power.

  "Who do you think you are? With a flick of my finger, you would instantly find yourself facing Tiran. Why would I need to invest time and effort in plotting against you?" The surrounding air trembled, and people around began to back away. When an Enlightened is enraged, disaster follows.

  Banphot frowned. With a single flick of his hand, another force swept over to contest with Colonel Lalanta's pressure. Yet that particular force couldn't withstand Colonel Lalanta's pressure. The cracking and sizzling sound rang out from Banphot's hand. He could only buy a little time.

  "This punishment is sufficient. Qianbao Yue was merely overcome by anger and acted foolishly, disrespecting an Enlightened. Enlightened like us shouldn't lay hands on a junior," Banphot said, though beads of sweat appeared on his face. He knew that if a real confrontation occurred, they would be no match for the woman in front of them.

  "Hmph, I didn't do anything. As those two said, there are no traces of spiritual energy. You merely fell by yourself," Colonel Lalanta stated.

  Qianbao Yue gritted his teeth. He couldn't find any evidence, but he wouldn't let himself be a laughingstock at the banquet!

  "You! Confess! Swear before the Blood Oath Altar that you didn't do anything!" Qianbao Yue roared, turning to look at the Nitaan.

  Princess Pailin frowned. Qianbao Yue at this moment was like a bloodthirsty beast. Swearing before the Blood Oath Altar was an oath of life. If anyone breaks their oath, that person's life will end in death.

  “Enough!” Princess’s authoritative voice rang out.

  “Enlightened Mountain-Moving, Enlightened Feather Hand, take care of your people!” Princess Pailin spoke with a stern voice.

  “We deeply apologize that my subordinate has displayed such a pathetic act.” Banphot bowed his head, while Salika used her power to pull Qianbao Yue back to her side.

  “Lord Banphot! Do you really believe he didn’t do it? How would I fall so badly? I couldn’t even get up when I fell! How is that possible? My body was unbalanced and pinned to the ground, yet you say no one did anything?!” Qianbao Yue roared ferociously.

  “I really didn’t do anything. I am a mere Learner. How could I possibly attempt such a covert trick in the presence of so many Enlightened?" Nitaan asked, his face showing bewilderment.

  "Don't you dare lie! I'm a First word Engraver, a genius of the Qianbao Trading Group! How could I possibly trip and fall like that!"

  "So you are saying that a First word Engraver, a genius of the Qianbao Trading Group, was completely defeated by a simple country bumpkin like me? How would that be the case?" Nitaan said, his face showing confusion, playing the role of the accused.

  Colonel Lalanta and Princess Pailin burst into laughter at Nitaan's sarcastic remark but quickly composed themselves. However, many people noticed, and others began to stifle their laughter as well.

  Qianbao Yue gritted his teeth, unable to speak further. Salika waved her hand. Numerous guards appear and helped Qianbao Yue to his feet, leading him to another corner of the grand hall.

  Now, all eyes were on Nitaan. Many Enlighteneds focused their attention on the handsome young man before them. None of them were fools. They all knew that Qianbao Yue had indeed been ambushed. However, they still don’t understand how his trick manage to escaped the watchful eyes of so many Enlighteneds.

  Nitaan, with a faint smile, continued to feign ignorance amidst the murmurs surrounding him. Many sparkling eyes gazed at him as if he were a priceless treasure.

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  Atop the magnificent palace, at the very top of a fiery red tower blazing with Firegan, sat a throne made of multicolored fire. The mere sight of each flame seemed to melt the soul, yet it also exuded a purity, as if being cleansed by the most sacred fire.

  The figure enveloped in flames slowly opened its eyes, its gaze fixed on the air before it, piercing through everything and heading towards the grand banquet hall.

  “Interesting,” the flames smiled faintly.