I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress-Chapter 159: Banquet Invitation

’Wait! So, tomorrow’s a free day, right? Sweet!’ Yi Chen’s eyes shone even more brightly in the next instant. In his mind, he had already begun thinking about how he was going to train as effectively as possible tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Envoy had finished with his last address and declared the end to today’s events.

Walking toward Yi Chen, he patted him on his shoulder and said, "I enjoyed watching your performance a lot these two days. Rest well, you deserve it."

He said with an impressed nod.

"T-Thank you, Elder." Yi Chen was a little taken by surprise by this intimate gesture and thanked him.

The Imperial Envoy nodded upon hearing his response and left the stage soonafter.

’I’ll have to inform the Empress about him,’ The Imperial Envoy nodded to himself as he left the arena.

A few seconds later, Yi Chen, Feng Ning and Feng Duli also made their way towards the exit gate before finally leaving the Soaring Dragon Arena.

Yi Chen had planned to go straight towards their carriage. However, the moment they left through the arena’s entrance, he saw an enormous crowd of cultivators who were all waiting there to receive him.

"Brother Chen has arrived!"

"Look, it’s brother Chen!"

"Our hero is here!"

"Hmmm? He looked a lot more handsome from a distance,"

"Does it even matter?! Brother Chen, make me your wife!"

"No, me!"

.

.

.

Several such sentences bombarded his ears the very next instant, which clearly portrayed how excited everyone was to see him.

They were all the members of the Feng Clan, his clansmen.

If not for the many elders who were standing in the front row as deterrents, the rest of the clansmen would have already rushed towards Yi Chen and surrounded him completely.

In the front row, there were several Elders. However, among them, the patriarch, who was standing in the middle, easily stood out.

Seeing this, Yi Chen, along with Feng Ning and Feng Duli, immediately went ahead and greeted the patriarch.

"Greetings Patriarch,"

"Greetings!" Feng Haoran nodded at the three with a radiant smile on his face before focusing his eyes only on Yi Chen.

Grabbing Yi Chen’s shoulders, the next moment he stated with a voice filled with praise, "It looks like our Feng Clan has finally been blessed by the heavens! You really caught everyone in the arena by surprise, do you know that?

We were already satisfied with the Nineteenth rank, but you ended up going several steps further and bombarded us with this epic result, ahaha. I’m glad! I’m glad!"

As Feng Haoran finished his words, he patted Yi Chen heavily on his shoulders a number of times.

Still maintaining a humble image, Yi Chen bowed gratefully and said, "It was my obligation to do so."

"Still as humble as before," Feng Haoran shook his head, the next moment gestured behind him with his hand, "Just look behind me,"

Hearing those words, Yi Chen’s eyes moved past Feng Haoran’s shoulders and soon fell on his fellow clansmen who were staring at him with glimmering eyes.

Several heads at the back were stretched as far up as possible, as well, in order to get a good glimpse of him.

"Your humbleness could have been justified if you had only done a little for the clan. But what you just did is something almost no one in the clan could have possibly done.

Thanks to you, we’ve not only gotten out of a precarious position but have also risen to the first rank! With the resources guaranteed to use now, we’ll easily be able to strengthen our forces and avoid a similar crisis from repeating in the future.

As a result, you have become a source of inspiration for everyone in the clan, especially the young generation. Therefore, take pride in that and own it because sooner or later, this inspiration will turn to drive to become as strong as you."

Feng Haoran explained with an encouraging smile on his face. To everyone else, it obviously sounded like words filled with concern and encouragement, but in reality, there was a personal motive hidden behind it.

’Only then will you get deeply attached to our clan...’ Feng Haoran thought underneath his smile. With Yi Chen being an external member, there was always a chance of him leaving the clan of his own volition.

He wanted to prevent that from happening at all costs.

’...only then will I be able to make use of you until the end,’

Meanwhile, Yi Chen, who was unable to fully understand what exactly was going on in the Patriarch’s mind, could only nod at his words and speak.

"I thank the Patriarch for his guidance," Yi Chen bowed the next moment.

’I’m sure he doesn’t have the clan’s best interests in his mind, but I just can’t prove it...’

Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed subtly before returning to normal as he finished his bow.

Meanwhile, hearing the Patriarch’s remarks, the nearby elders nodded in agreement.

"The Patriarch is right. Yi Chen has indeed done a lot for our clan!"

"That’s true, I just can’t imagine how strong the generation cultivated by these resources will be in the future." Another Elder said with anticipation.

"What’s there to wait?" The First Elder responded to the previous elder with an obvious tone and said, "The next generation will definitely be strong enough to help our clan regain its rightful status as a Noble Clan.’

When the Elders and the nearby clansmen heard the First Elder’s words, they all nodded with an expectant glint in their eyes.

"Indeed, the status which we lost decades ago finally looks within our grasp,"

"Indeed, it is as the First Elder states, we must use all our resources to strengthen the new batch of cultivators to the best of our ability,"

Hearing those words of agreement and praise directed towards him, the First Elder couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride welling up in his heart.

Meanwhile, the constant smile which was plastered on the patriarch’s face all this while somewhat broke when he heard this.

’This vain bastard!’ Feng Haoran glared at his son with irritation in his eyes, ’Can’t he see that if we bring out such goals, then it would rouse everyone’s emotions?! That was the reason I haven’t mentioned it all this while, but now...’

Seeing the flames of passion rising in the eyes of many elders and clansmen, a bitter feeling welled up in Feng Haoran’s heart, ’...I’ll have no choice but to waste a significant portion of my resources on this unrealistic dream...we could have enjoyed it all to ourselves if not for that stupid bastard...’

Not wanting this topic to linger any longer, Feng Haoran attracted everyone’s attention the next moment.

"You must be wondering about the reason why we are still here, right?" Feng Haoran chuckled while glancing towards Yi Chen and continued, "The reason why we came here to see you was not only to congratulate you on your achievements but also to formally invite you."

After a brief pause, he continued.

"A banquet is going to be organised in the Clan’s Plaza tonight to not only celebrate your achievements in the Inter Clan Tournament but also to celebrate our clan’s monumental rise to the first rank.

Every member of the clan will be present there and it would prove to be a good opportunity for you to get to know your fellow clansmen in a better manner while also acting as their pillar of motivation,"

Feng Haoran finished his words while pointing at the several clansmen who were still observing him from behind.

"I understand. I’ll definitely be attending the banquet then, Patriarch." Yi Chen answered.

Although he was mentally and physically exhausted, this was still something which felt more like an obligation than a random event, the invitation of which he could refuse.

"Great then!"

Feng Haoran exclaimed with a cheerful expression and the next moment turned towards the other clansmen, "I know everyone is dying to talk and exchange views with today’s hero. However, this is not the place.

Inform everyone in the clan about tonight’s banquet at the Clan Plaza. There, everyone will be able to freely interact with him as much as possible."

An anticipatory wave of whispers developed amongst the clansmen when they heard about the banquet.

The next moment, they all soon gave their respects to the Patriarch and Elders before rushing back to the clan.

They wanted to inform all their friends and family who couldn’t make it to the tournament today.

’Looks like I’m going to be very busy by today’s end..." Yi Chen thought while glancing at the dispersing crowd.

"Then we’ll also be leaving," the Patriarch informed.

Hearing this, Yi Chen bowed to him, and so did Feng Ning and the rest as the entourage of elders followed behind him.

However, there was still one elder who didn’t go and instead walked up to them.

"Father," Feng Ning greeted with a smile the next instant.

"Ah, Fourth Elder." Realising who the other party was, Yi Chen bowed respectfully towards him. This was his first time meeting him, so he had not been able to recognise him.

Glancing at his status, Yi Chen was able to understand why Elder Lei had previously told him and Qin Yao to approach the Fourth Elder in case any problem arose.