"There are sixty Ethereal Fairy tokens in total. The top-tier geniuses under thirty in the Eastern Ocean Region have basically all received invitations."
"However, close to half of the tokens went to the Immortal Execution Archipelago. There's nothing that can be done about it—the Immortal Execution Archipelago really does have an abundance of geniuses. After all, they are the current rulers of the Eastern Ocean Region," Chun Wu explained with a smile.
Hearing this answer, Chu Feng couldn't help but furrow his brows. The fact that the Immortal Execution Archipelago's geniuses accounted for nearly half of the entire Eastern Ocean Region spoke volumes about just how powerful they were. It was hard to say at present, but once their generation grew into their full strength, no single faction in the Eastern Ocean Region would be able to stand against the Archipelago—unless all the forces united together.
"Though those people from the Immortal Execution Archipelago are far too arrogant. So far, not a single one has come to our Ethereal Immortal Peak. I suppose they intend to wait until the selection is over and the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm officially opens before they show up," Chun Wu added with undisguised distaste, making it clear she had no fondness for the Archipelago's people either.
"When does the selection begin, and how many spots are there?" Chu Feng asked.
"The selection starts tomorrow. Forty people need to be chosen within two days, because the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm can only accommodate a hundred people each time it opens. Based on previous patterns, the Realm opens automatically the day after the selection concludes."
"However, more than a thousand people have already arrived at our Ethereal Immortal Peak without having received an Ethereal Fairy token. In the end, though, those who can stay will need to be at least at the Martial King realm. In fact, I believe the weakest person who can enter the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm this time will have to be at least a second-rank Martial King."
Chun Wu explained in detail, then quickly added, "But Junior Brother Wuqing, you're an exception. I saw with my own eyes how you drove off a second-rank Martial King. Hee hee."
Watching Chun Wu's mischievous grin, Chu Feng couldn't help but ask, "What about those people who attacked you that day? What happened to them?"
"Hee, that's a secret." Chun Wu rubbed the bridge of her delicate nose, then flashed a smug smile.
She hadn't said a word, but Chu Feng could already roughly guess the answer. Given Chun Wu's personality, those people who had attacked her were surely having a terrible time now—and they probably didn't even know why.
"Junior Brother Wuqing." Just then, a familiar voice rang out. It was Jiang Wanshi who had arrived at the summit.
"Oh, it's Junior Sister Jiang! It's been so long—I've missed you to death! Oh, and why didn't Senior Qiu Shui come with you? I missed her too, you know." Upon seeing Jiang Wanshi, Chun Wu actually stepped forward before Chu Feng could, greeting her with enthusiasm.
That warm, intimate energy immediately reminded Chu Feng of the scene outside the Ethereal Immortal Peak the day before, when Chun Wu and Jiang Wanshi had been cursing each other out. So Chu Feng knew that Chun Wu's affection for Jiang Wanshi was entirely superficial—nothing but an act.
"Senior Sister Chun Wu, my master was just summoned by the Ethereal Fairy. She likely won't be coming today, and even if she does, it'll be quite late."
"Also, the Ethereal Fairy asked me to relay a message to you senior sisters—she has something come up and won't be attending tonight's banquet. She'd like you senior sisters to host on her behalf."
Upon seeing Chun Wu, Jiang Wanshi recognized her immediately. Perhaps in terms of age, Chun Wu wasn't necessarily older than Jiang Wanshi, but Jiang Wanshi was still extremely respectful toward her—fearful, even.
Seeing this version of Jiang Wanshi, Chu Feng couldn't help but smile to himself. He couldn't help but wonder—if Jiang Wanshi found out that the filthy woman she had been shouting at that day was actually Chun Wu—what kind of expression she would be making right now.
"Sigh, our Master really is unreliable. But that's perfectly in character for her. It's just a shame for all these elders who've been looking forward to meeting my Master and catching up with her." Chun Wu giggled, sweeping a sympathetic gaze over the esteemed experts who were exchanging pleasantries nearby.
After that, Chun Wu informed Xia Yu that the Ethereal Fairy wouldn't be coming. Xia Yu appeared to be long accustomed to this sort of thing and had the capability to handle it. In a tactful tone and with a mysterious explanation, she informed everyone that the Ethereal Fairy would be unable to attend the banquet, and sure enough, she won everyone's understanding. With that, the banquet officially commenced.
"Miss Xia Yu, the Ethereal Fairy serves as the guardian of the Ethereal Immortal Peak. When she distributes the Ethereal Fairy tokens, are there specific requirements, or does she hand them out at her own discretion?" At the banquet, the Wuya Hall Master, Zhu Tianming's master, asked with a warm smile.
"Elder Wuya, my master does have specific requirements for distributing the Ethereal Fairy tokens. Those who receive them are all people who meet the necessary qualifications," Xia Yu replied with a smile.
"Oh? Well, that's rather strange. My disciple Zhu Diguang is a second-rank Martial King, yet he didn't receive an Ethereal Fairy token. I had assumed that only young cultivators at the third-rank Martial King level or above had the qualifications."
"However, I've heard that this time, for the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm, even a first-rank Martial King received an Ethereal Fairy token. So I was wondering—perhaps the tokens are distributed purely based on the Ethereal Fairy's personal preferences, with no real requirements." The Wuya Hall Master smiled as he spoke.
"Oh? Surely that's not the case. Hall Master Wuya, please don't make such claims. The Ethereal Fairy has always been fair and impartial—how could she do something like that?"
"Indeed. My disciple, while admittedly not the most talented, is still a second-rank Martial King. If this were about personal connections, the Ethereal Fairy should have given my disciple a token. But she didn't. Doesn't that prove she acts fairly? What do you all think?"
"That's right, that's right. If it were based on connections, every disciple of every person here should have received a token."
"Hall Master Wuya, saying things like that is tantamount to slandering the Ethereal Fairy. We all have a good relationship with you, but if you speak about the Ethereal Fairy this way, don't blame us for taking issue."
The Wuya Hall Master's words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Many who were unaware of the true situation began voicing their objections—even some who grew visibly angry. This was a testament to just how high the Ethereal Fairy stood in people's hearts.
But Xia Yu, Qiu Zhu, Dong Xue, Chun Wu, and the others who knew the truth couldn't help but furrow their brows. They all understood that the Wuya Hall Master was deliberately seizing upon this pretext. It wasn't just about making things difficult for Chu Feng—it was about casting doubt on the Ethereal Fairy's credibility in the eyes of everyone present.
"Hehe, everyone, please don't get agitated. How would I dare slander the Ethereal Fairy? I've merely heard that this time, a first-rank Martial King received an Ethereal Fairy token and was given the exception of entering the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm without going through the selection."
"In principle, the Ethereal Fairy is the guardian of the Ethereal Immortal Peak, and the Martial Emblem Immortal Realm is naturally under her authority. Whatever she decides is beyond our right to question."
"So I'm simply asking whether the distribution of these Ethereal Fairy tokens follows special criteria or is left to the Fairy's personal discretion. There is no ill intent." The Wuya Hall Master smiled faintly, and as he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Chu Feng.