DDD Chapter 139: Feast at North King Palace

Several hours later, after the sunset and evening arrived, I stood on the deck of a beautiful flying boat as it flew towards Black Iron Mountain. Several other members of the Dawn and Dusk Sect were there as well. There was Sect Leader Twinheart, all the elders who had come to North King City, and all of the disciples who had ranked within the top one hundred of the Rising Heroes Tournament.

Excited chatter filled the air, since the disciples looked forward to the feast. The elders, on the other hand, were more circumspect. However, it was clear that they looked forward to the feast.

There were no clouds in the night sky, giving us a clear view of the stars that twinkled above. The cool winter air felt refreshing as we flew towards Black Iron Mountain. Our destination, the North King’s palace, glittered in the distance. So many lamps illuminated it that it almost appeared like a star itself.

I stood near the flying boat’s bow, with Willow and Harlow by my side. The three of us wore our finest clothes. After all, we were attending a feast hosted by the North King. Such an occasion deserved our very best. Unfortunately, Ellen hadn’t participated in the Rising Heroes Tournament, so she couldn’t join us.

I wore a set of crimson robes, with intricate designs embroidered in gold. Willow wore a yellow dress, as well as a silver necklace and a silver hair pin. The latter two were gifts that I bought for her during our travels a few months ago. Harlow wore a blue and azure dress, as well as silver jewelry adorned with sapphires and emeralds. Despite this, she regarded Willow’s hair pin and necklace with envy.

I made a mental note to buy gifts for her. In fact, I should buy gifts for Ellen as well. Part of it was to keep the peace, but I also wanted to let the women in my life know that I loved and appreciated them. I wasn't a poet, an artist, or anything of the like, so the only way I could think of to show my sincerity was through giving gifts. Well, that and affectionate gestures whenever I saw them.

It didn’t take us long to reach the North King’s palace. Our flying boat landed on a clearing right in front of the main entrance. After we all disembarked, servants of Clan Black Iron greeted us and guided us inside the palace. Other flying boats landed near ours as the other invited guests arrived as well.

The North King’s palace was a massive edifice built from all sorts of precious materials. Black and gold were the primary colors. This palace was more opulent and luxurious than Divine Beast Palace, which made sense. The latter was reserved for guests. This palace was the home of the North King, the ruler of the Northern Region.

Music reached my ears before we arrived at our destination. It was a hall with enough space to hold hundreds of people with room to spare. It was brightly lit, since there were hundreds of crystal lanterns hovering in the air. All sorts of decorations adorned the hall, giving it a lively and festive atmosphere. The ceiling was built from some kind of transparent material, allowing those inside to gaze at the night sky above.

There were already plenty of guests, who were seated at tables along the outer edges of the hall. In the center, a band of musicians and troupe of dancers put on an enchanting performance. At the head of the hall sat the North King, surrounded by members of Clan Black Iron. Servants moved about, offering light refreshments, since the feast hadn’t started yet.

Seating was arranged by order of status. Those with higher status, such as the sect leaders and elders of the Seven Great Northern Sects, sat the nearest to the North King, while those with low status sat the furthest away. However, other than that, there weren’t any assigned seats. As long as we sat in our designated area, we were free to sit wherever we wanted.

Sect Leader Twinheart and the sect elders went to sit near the North King, leaving us disciples to figure things out on our own. As a core disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect, I sat somewhere between the middle of the hall and the North King. Willow and Harlow joined me, since they were of similar status. We even had a table all to ourselves.

Amidst the chaos, I noticed Sister Jasmine standing not too far away from us. She looked around with an unsure expression on her face. I asked Willow and Harlow for their assent, which they gave, before inviting her to join us. After some hesitation, she nodded and headed in our direction.

Things were a little awkward at first, since this was the first time Willow, Harlow, and Sister Jasmine met one another, as far as I knew. However, after some time, they warmed up to each other. So much so, that I felt a little left out as they talked with one another. This amused Willow, who reached over to hold my hand. Harlow narrowed her eyes at my second wife, before grabbing my other hand. Sister Jasmine eyed this with a wistful expression on her face, but made no comment.

Over the next hour, the hall filled up as more and more guests arrived. As I enjoyed the light refreshments, I took note of all the guests in attendance. In particular, I focused on the cultivators from the Thousand Blade Sect and the Ancient Blood Sect, since they both made the Northern Region’s central continent their home. I was more likely to run into them than cultivators from the other Seven Great Northern Sects.

The ones that first caught my attention were Sword Emperor and Blood Demon, the sect leaders of the Thousand Blade Sect and the Ancient Blood Sect respectively. The former, unlike most cultivators at his level, looked like an old man. A well preserved old man, but an old man nonetheless. He had long white hair, which he kept tied up in a neat knot, a trimmed white beard, and a wrinkled face.

However, none of this made Sect Leader Sword Emperor seem weak or frail. Rather, it gave him an air of maturity and gravitas. He was like a blade, one weathered by the passing of time and all the stronger for it. It felt like I would be cut by just looking at him. I couldn’t ascertain his cultivation base, which meant he was in the Domain Creation realm or above.

Sect Leader Blood Demon, on the other hand, looked younger than me. He was thin and frail, with skin so pale that it was almost translucent. Both his eyes and his long hair were blood red, the latter of which he wore loose. The stench of rotten blood clung to him. After meeting Uncle Scarlet Demon and experiencing the purity of his bloody aura, Sect Leader Blood Demon’s aura seemed particularly unpleasant in comparison.

From what I knew, his name was inherited. Whenever a new sect leader of the Ancient Blood Sect ascended to their position, they discarded their old name and took on the name Blood Demon. I wasn’t sure why. Was it a tradition of their sect? Or was there something more sinister involved? I didn’t know, nor did I care. After all, this was above a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like myself.

Like with Sect Leader Sword Emperor, I couldn’t discern Sect Leader Blood Demon’s cultivation base.

I gave the other leaders of the Seven Great Northern Sects a cursory glance, since they weren’t as relevant to me. However, to my surprise, I found one of them glaring at me. She was a slender woman with fair skin, sapphire-like eyes, and pink hair. I found her hostility disconcerting. Why was she glaring at me? Had I offended her somehow? When?

Given her appearance, the pink and purple robes she wore, I believed she was Rose Heart, one of the two leaders of the Devilish Beauty Sect. Was she connected to Cultivator Jaime, the woman I encountered in the Myriad Landscapes Painting?

Dwelling on the matter didn’t help my mental state, so I looked away and continued looking around. I noticed Cultivator Vivian not too far away from me. She was also glaring at me. However, when I looked in her direction, she turned away from me. The moment I turned away, she resumed glaring at me. Odd. I looked back at her. She looked away. I looked away, and she glared at me once more. This pattern repeated itself several times.

I gave her a mystified look. What was going on with Cultivator Vivian? She was angry at me, that much was obvious. However, I didn’t know why. I wanted to reach out to her and ask, but I refrained. There were too many eyes on us. Acting too friendly with one another might have severe consequences for the both of us. Besides, I noticed that both Willow and Harlow were getting upset by how much attention I was paying to Cultivator Vivian.

Soon after that, I found Lucius. Like Cultivator Vivian, he sat not too far away from me. However, to my surprise, his parents were with him. How? As far as I knew, neither of them were cultivators of the Thousand Blade Sect. Nor were they prominent cultivators in their own right. Had they used their connection with Lucius to come along? That seemed like the most likely answer.

To my complete lack of surprise, both my uncle and Senior Lucille glared at me. I was so used to the former’s hatred, to the point that it no longer fazed me. Senior Lucille, on the other hand, looked ready to tear me apart limb from limb. She never liked me, and I did take her hostage, so I expected some hostility. However, the sheer loathing in her eyes caught me off guard.

A part of me pointed out that I was good at generating grudges and angering cultivators more powerful than myself. This wasn’t limited to Sect Leader Rose Heart, Cultivator Vivian, and Senior Lucille either. A number of the other guests threw dirty looks in my direction. They were all participants who had fallen victim to my ambushes and underhanded tactics. At least I wasn’t alone in that. Cultivator Byron, who was also in attendance, received his fair share of glares.

When all the guests arrived, the sound of a gong rang out. Everyone fell silent and turned towards the North King. He stood up and addressed all the guests. I was somewhat distracted, since his shiny bald head reflected the light from the floating crystal lamps.

“Welcome everyone,” the North King said, “To my humble abode.”

Someone snorted loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear. To my horror, it was Mom. I wasn’t the only one. The other members of the younger generation also stared at Mom in shock. However, to my surprise, the North King just threw a glare in her direction and continued speaking. The other sect leaders and elders were also unfazed by Mom’s display of blatant disrespect.

“We are here today to celebrate those who ranked within the top one hundred of the Rising Heroes Tournament.” The North King said. “Truly, you are a credit to your respective clans and sects. If you are a rogue cultivator, then that is even more impressive.”

A fair point. Rogue cultivators only had themselves to rely on. Growing powerful enough to participate in the Rising Heroes Tournament, and ranking within the top one hundred, was no easy feat for a rogue cultivator. I admired the sheer tenacity it took to get that far.

“We will distribute the prizes later on.” The North King said. “Until then, I have three commands for you all. Eat, drink, and be merry!”

With that, a small army of servants entered the hall carrying massive platters laden with food. The feast had begun in earnest.

***

Needless to say, the food served by the North King was magnitudes greater than anything I had ever eaten before. Even the fare served at the feast organized by the Dawn and Dusk Sect, right after the entrance exam, paled in comparison. There were so many delicacies on display, many of which I had never seen before. Their delicious scent roused my demonic nature, to the point that I almost lost control of myself.

When I took my first bite, I let out a moan so loud that everyone in the hall heard it. At least, that’s what it felt like to me. However, I was too enraptured by the food to notice, or care for that matter. Words could not describe the divine flavors that washed over my tongue. I floated on a cloud of bliss, unaware of the world around me. I heard Willow, Harlow, and Sister Jasmine speaking, but I couldn’t discern their words. However, from their tones, they sounded amused.

The next few hours passed by in a blur as I focused on eating, to the exclusion of all else. My hands moved faster than they ever had before, as I tried to stuff as much as food into my mouth as possible. I made sure not to make a mess of myself, I had enough presence of mind for that, but I otherwise forewent any manners. In my state, I didn’t see the point. All I cared about was satisfying the endless hunger deep within me.

Best of all, eating the food benefited my cultivation as well. It nourished me in body and soul. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my demonic nature, the cultivation techniques I practiced, or the food itself. Perhaps it was a combination of all three. Regardless, it didn’t matter.

When I regained my sanity, after eating my fill, I found a small mountain of empty dishes in front of me. There were so many that the table groaned under the weight of them. I stared at the mountain of dishes, horror rising inside me. Now that I had regained my sanity, embarrassment and shame filled me.

I looked around. The other feast attendees, the ones paying attention to me that was, regarded me with varying expressions on their faces. Some looked impressed, some disgusted, and others shocked.

I looked away from them and turned towards my companions. Willow regarded me with amusement and astonishment, while Harlow and Sister just stared at me in disbelief.

“Did… Did I eat all of that?” I asked, pointing to the small mountain of empty dishes.

Willow nodded.

“Yes,” she said, a little awed, “It was both fantastical and horrifying to witness. I had never seen anyone eat that much food.” She leaned closer to me and gave me a lascivious grin. “I hope you’ll devour me with the same enthusiasm some day.”

A wave of lust surged through me. It took every ounce of willpower to not pounce on Willow right away. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“Please don’t tease me right now.” I said, strained. “I think satisfying one of my hungers sharpened the others. My self control is thin right now.”

I opened my eyes to find Willow wearing a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Fine.” She said. “However, only if you promise to make it up to me tonight.”

I nodded.

“Why do you keep tormenting me like this?” Harlow asked in a bitter tone.

I looked over to find her wearing a bitter expression on her face. Acting on impulse, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against me. She stared at me in shock, her eyes wide. Her body felt warm, and the scent of medicinal herbs teased my nose.

“You know,” I said, “Why don’t we fix that? After we return to the Dawn and Dusk Sect, I’ll meet with your family. We’ve already made our decision. I see no reason to hold back anymore.”

Harlow stared at me for a moment, her cheeks turning red, before she looked away and nodded.

“Okay.” she said, before leaning her head against my shoulder.

Willow snorted.

“Not until we have a proper wedding,” she said, pressing against me from the other side. Due to our size difference, she almost dwarfed me, “And that won’t happen until you have a proper wedding with Big Sis Ellen. As your head wife, it’s only fitting that she gets a ceremony first.”

I frowned.

“That won’t be possible until I meet with her family, which might take some time.”

Willow shrugged.

“Not necessarily.” She said. “Weddings are important for cultivators, but not as much as they are for mortals. We could hold a small ceremony, just for ourselves. As long as you and Big Sis Ellen consider yourselves married, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”

Willow made a fair point. Ellen and I already considered ourselves a married couple. By this point, a wedding ceremony would be a formality. However, that didn’t diminish its importance. If nothing else, a wedding ceremony would reaffirm our commitment and sincerity towards one another.

With Willow, it was a different matter altogether. It involved Clan Stone Pillar and Clan Wind Dance, so it would be a grander affair. Ugh. I wondered if there was a way we could exclude Clan Wind Dance from it. Other than Lucius, I didn’t want any of my paternal kin to attend my wedding.

“How long will that take?” Harlow asked, pouting. “You know how difficult it is to wait while watching you and Big Sis Ellen acting all affectionate with Darian?” She glanced at Sister Jasmine. “Besides, I’m not the only one holding back.”

Sister Jasmine blushed at this.

“I’m not… Brother Darian… Um…”

Willow chuckled.

“Oh, don’t be shy. We know you like Darian. Don’t pretend otherwise. It hasn’t escaped our notice that you keep staring at him when you think no one is looking.”

Sister Jasmine looked stricken at this.

“Forgive me-” She started to say, but Willow cut her off.

“There’s nothing to forgive. I knew what I was getting into when I chose to be with Darian, and I’m willing to share.” She gave me a sideways glance. “Up to a certain limit.”

Harlow snorted.

“Yes,” she said, “We need to hold a meeting with Big Sis Ellen about that.”

I let out a sigh. While a part of me felt offended that they would try to limit me, I knew it was for the best. If I didn’t hold myself back, I would end up becoming a beast, driven by my impulses. My wives deserved better than that, and so did I.

The feast continued on for a while afterwards. The servants of Clan Black Iron brought out pitchers of spirit wine, but I refrained from drinking. My self control was already shaky enough. If I imbibed spirit wine, I might lose all control of myself. I was a little tempted to see what would happen.

However, I didn’t want to shame myself or the Dawn and Dusk Sect. Besides, I needed to keep my wits about me if I wanted to deal with my uncle and Senior Lucille when the time came.

***

A few more hours later, well after midnight, the hall’s festive atmosphere started to wind down. The lighting grew dimmer as several of the hovering crystal lamps went out. The music grew softer and gentler, and the troupe of dancers left the hall. The servants of Clan Black Iron still served food and drink, but in lesser quantities.

A loud clap rang throughout the room, attracting everyone’s attention. I looked over to find the North King standing up.

“I hope you’ve all enjoyed yourselves,” he said. “Clan Black Iron prides itself on its hospitality.”

Everyone murmured words of agreement.

“Now then,” the North King continued, “Shall we move on to giving out the prizes?” He grinned. “I know all the youngsters have looked forward to this.”

The disciples who had participated in the Rising Heroes Tournament all perked up, myself included.

“We’ll start with those who ranked within the top one hundred.” The North King said. “Come up here to collect your prize.”

A few servants entered the hall. Each one carried a golden platter with a pile of storage bags atop it. The prize for ranking within the top one hundred: five hundred spirit stones and a few cultivation resources. While this didn’t seem like much, when multiplied by one hundred, it equaled to fifty thousand spirit stones in total.

For most clans, that amount represented their entire wealth. And yet Clan Black Iron was able to give this much away without hesitation. This alone illustrated their wealth and power. No wonder they were the rulers of the Northern Region. Or maybe it was the other way around.

The disciples who just ranked within the top one hundred all stood up and went over to collect their prizes. Some threw dirty looks at one another, especially those from rival sects, but they otherwise behaved themselves. To my surprise, after everyone collected their prizes, there were still some storage bags on the golden platters. This confused me.

After everyone sat back down again, the North King spoke up.

“Those who ranked within the top twenty five, you may now collect your prizes as well.”

More servants entered the hall. They also carried golden platters piled with storage bags.

“Don’t forget to collect both of your storage bags.” The North King said.

That’s when it hit me. Those who ranked within the top twenty five also ranked within the top one hundred. Did that mean they received the prizes for both? It appeared so. Elation filled me.

Those of us who just ranked within the top twenty five stood up and walked over to collect our prizes. It made for an amusing sight, since Cultivator Byron and I were the only ones in early Foundation Establishment. The rest were in mid, late, or even peak Foundation Establishment. Several of the other participants, the ones who hadn’t ranked within top twenty five, glared at us as if we had cheated them.

I collected my storage bags, resisting the urge open both right then and there. While the prize for ranking within the top twenty five was nothing compared to the wealth I gained from looting Golden Core cultivators, it was still substantial for a Foundation Establishment cultivator like myself. I returned to my seat in a buoyant mood.

The same process repeated itself for the participants who ranked within the top ten, though they collected three storage bags. Afterwards, a hush settled over the hall.

“So we come to the highlight of this feast,” the North King said. “Will the winner of this iteration of the Rising Heroes Tournament come up here?”

Lucius stood up and walked over to stand before the North King, before giving him a martial salute.

“Everyone here already knows your name,” the North King said, “However, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Lucius nodded.

“I am Lucius Wind Dance, Your Majesty,” he said, “Disciple of Flowing Sword Peak of the Thousand Blade Sect.”

The disciples from the Thousand Blade Sect let out restrained applause. Even the elders wore proud smiles on their faces, with two exceptions. The Sword Emperor looked unmoved. No doubt, this sort of thing was beneath a cultivator of his caliber. Meanwhile Peak Master Righteous Fury wore a neutral expression on his face, making it difficult to read him. Lucius’ parents wore expressions of anticipation.

“With a disciple such as yourself among their ranks, the future of the Thousand Blade Sect looks bright.” The North King said in a jovial tone. He looked over at Peak Master Righteous Fury. “You must be proud to have Lucius Wind Dance as a disciple for your peak.”

Peak Master Righteous Fury nodded, though his expression remained the same.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” He said in a neutral tone.

If this curt response bothered the North King, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he focused his attention on Lucius once more.

“First, let us get the lesser prizes out of the way.” He said.

He made a gesture. A servant entered the hall carrying a golden platter with a single storage pouch on it. Envy and pride filled me. Envy because the prize for winning the Rising Heroes Tournament included ten thousand spirit stones, a top-grade Foundation Establishment magic treasure, and a technique from Clan Black Iron. This was in addition to the boon from the North King. Pride because it was Lucius who won this iteration of the Rising Heroes Tournament.

Lucius collected all four of his storage pouches and placed them in his storage ring.

“Tomorrow, you may enter Clan Black Iron’s private scripture pavilion and select a technique of your choosing.” The North King said. “There are limitations, of course, but we can discuss those later.” He paused. “Now, your final prize is a boon from me. Go ahead, make your request. As long as it is reasonable, and within my power, I shall grant it.”

A hush fell over the hall as everyone watched Lucius, wondering what he would request. I played along as well, even though I knew what was coming.

“Your Majesty,” Lucius said in a hesitant voice. “I request your aid in a… Delicate matter. I would elaborate, but it involves a grievance between my clan and two others. May we finish this conversation in a more secluded location, along with those involved?”

Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions on their faces, with a few exceptions. Peak Master Righteous Fury narrowed his eyes at Lucius. My uncle just about vibrated with eagerness. Senior Lucille threw a triumphant smirk in my direction.

“I see.” the North King said in a wary voice. “This is an unusual request, but I see no reason to not grant it. Very well. Who does your clan have a grievance against?”

“Cultivator Darian of the Dawn and Dusk Sect and his mother, Hall Master Nova, Your Majesty,” Lucius said.

Everyone in the hall looked at either me or Mom, wondering what was going on. On the surface, I wore a scowl on my face. However, on the inside, I felt anticipation. My uncle and Senior Lucille were about to fall into a trap of their own making, and I looked forward to seeing it happen.