Chapter 61: Emperor Art!
"This..."
The expression on Elder Miao's face was peculiar.
If it were any other disciple, or even a senior, they might have readily accepted the invitation, but Su Zhan was different. It was difficult to say.
However, it was inappropriate to say this in front of the Butler of the Eastern Palace, so he merely smiled and said, "In that case, I hope Butler Qi's journey goes smoothly!"
"Goodbye!"
Butler Qi nodded, his figure floating down from the mountain, and he walked out of the Baiyun Peak Formation before releasing a Xuan artifact shaped like a disc, which flew into the air.
...
One day later.
In the imperial city of the Xia Nation, at the Eastern Palace.
Crown Prince Xia Qitian, in his thirties, stood with his hands behind his back in the main hall of the Eastern Palace, his gaze directed outward as if awaiting something.
"The old servant pays respects to Your Highness!"
At that moment, the Butler of the Eastern Palace entered from outside and knelt about five meters in front of Crown Prince Xia Qitian, speaking respectfully.
"Butler Qi, there is no need for excessive courtesy. Please rise!" Xia Qitian showed a faint smile. "Regarding the task I entrusted to you, how did it go?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, it has been completed!" The Butler of the Eastern Palace held a light blue voice transmission talisman in his hand and handed it over.
"Good."
Crown Prince Xia Qitian took the voice transmission talisman, but he didn't activate it immediately. He rubbed his fingers against it, seeming lost in thought.
"Your Highness, the annual Xia Hua Palace gathering only invites noble families and high-ranking officials. Su Zhan is a member of the Yuntian Sword Sect, and the Yuntian Sword Sect has never involved itself in political affairs. Why did Your Highness invite Su Zhan to the Xia Hua Palace gathering?" The Butler of the Eastern Palace carefully asked his greatest doubt.
"This person is different from the other disciples of the Yuntian Sword Sect. His name as a genius has spread to various countries during his journey in the Dark Star Forest. If we can bring him under our command, This palace prestige can spread to other nations. Moreover, Su Zhan does possess exceptional talent, which can be a significant aid in realizing this palace's ambitions in the future!"
"Your Highness has far-sighted vision and unparalleled wisdom!"
Xia Qitian glanced at the Butler of the Eastern Palace and smiled. "Alright, enough with the flattery. Tell me, what did Su Zhan say to me?"
"No need to wonder."
The Butler of the Eastern Palace chuckled. "It's surely nothing more than flattery like 'I have long admired the renowned reputation of the Crown Prince, and I feel honored to be invited by the Crown Prince.'"
"I don't think so."
Xia Qitian shook his head slightly. "Even if it is flattery, a genius like Su Zhan would be much more subtle. He wouldn't be so straightforward as you described.
I guess he might have just expressed his thanks briefly, or perhaps found a reason to decline my invitation!"
"Would he dare to decline the invitation from Your Highness, the Crown Prince?"
The Butler of the Eastern Palace laughed. "That's impossible!"
"A genius is proud. Nothing is impossible for them!"
Xia Qitian infused his original essence into the voice transmission talisman. "By the way, I'm quite curious. Since that's the case, let's listen and see whose guess is correct, yours or mine!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he activated the voice transmission talisman.
Amidst the anticipation of Crown Prince Xia Qitian and the Butler of the Eastern Palace, a cold and impatient voice tinged with indifference was heard:
"I will not go."
Both of them were stunned.
Xia Qitian's smile vanished instantly.
He thought that even if Su Zhan declined, he would at least provide some reasons. He didn't expect the rejection to be so straightforward.
He didn't give any face to the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace!
The Butler of the Eastern Palace was the first to curse, "This cursed Su Zhan, how dare he show disrespect to Your Highness, the Crown Prince! This servant will..."
"Can you defeat Qin Jincheng?"
Xia Qitian suddenly asked.
"Well... This servant cannot defeat him."
The Butler of the Eastern Palace deflated immediately. "But Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, with your esteemed status, if you want to exert pressure on the Yuntian Sword Sect, you only need to invite a few peak experts from the palace. Qin Jincheng will also be cautious!"
"You fool!"
Xia Qitian scolded with a cold expression, "Is that necessary? Go and draft an order for Su Zhan on behalf of me. Tell him that after the Xia Hua Palace gathering, I will personally visit the Yuntian Sword Sect!"
"Personally visit!"
The Butler of the Eastern Palace was surprised. "That is not advisable at all! Your Highness, as the future king and the 95th Respected, Su Zhan's disrespect should have been forgiven, considering your benevolence. How can you lower your status and personally visit a disciple of a sect like that?"
"You know that I am the 95th Respected, but do you think Su Zhan doesn't know?"
Xia Qitian raised an eyebrow, showing a slight smile. "Imagine, when Su Zhan knows that I'm not seeking his accountability but instead visiting him personally, what do you think he will think and do?"
"Well..."
The Butler of the Eastern Palace brightened up. "He will surely be grateful and shed tears! On the day the Crown Prince goes, he will surely wait outside the Yuntian Sword Sect to welcome you, showing full respect and admiration!"
"Is that all you see?"
Xia Qitian laughed. "At that time, not only can I recruit Su Zhan, but when this matter spreads, everyone will know that I respect and welcome talented individuals. Why worry that geniuses from all over the world won't come to join me?"
"Truly, Your Highness, you are a talented emperor! This servant admires you!"
"Alright, don't waste any more time. Go and arrange it!"
Your Highness is eager to see the scene of Su Zhan, full of gratitude, kneeling outside the Yuntian Sword Sect. It will surely be very interesting!"
...
A few days later, at the Yuntian Sword Sect.
Su Zhan completed his seclusion and difficult cultivation.
During these days, he didn't leave his residence, disregarding worldly matters, and finally reached the Major Achievement level in the Starfire Flowing Light Sword Technique.
Although he couldn't find a suitable opponent to test his sword skills at the moment, Su Zhan could clearly feel that with the current Starfire Flowing Light Sword Technique, a single sword attack would be difficult for a cultivator at the early stage or even middle stage of the Core Yuan Realm to withstand!
As for the late stage of the Core Yuan Realm...
He couldn't be certain until he actually fought.
"After reaching the Major Achievement level in the Starfire Flowing Light Sword Technique, I can now visit the main peak hall and hand over the sect's ancestral sword techniques to the Sect Master."
Some of these sword techniques were already known in the sect, but most of them had been lost. Now that Su Zhan had achieved the Major Achievement level in the Starfire Flowing Light Sword Technique, he finally had the leisure to pass on these sword techniques to Qin Jincheng.
Huh?
Another message from the Crown Prince?
As he arrived in the front courtyard, Su Zhan's gaze fell on the envelope pinned to the tree by a small flying needle. Seeing the large characters on the envelope, Su Zhan furrowed his brow and took it down.
The Crown Prince wants to visit me, and the time... today?
Is he out of his mind?
Instead of thinking about how to govern the country, he wants to visit me?
Su Zhan crumpled the letter into a ball and casually threw it to the ground as if it were trash. He paid no attention to this matter at all and went straight to the main peak.
At that moment.
Outside the gate of the Yuntian Sword Sect.
A large carriage pulled by four flying demonic beasts, Red Feathered Horses, descended from the sky.
On the left and right sides of the carriage were guards, all of them Barrier Master Realm cultivators. They flew with their spiritual artifacts and landed with the carriage.
"Your Highness, it seems that Su Zhan is not here?"
The Butler of the Eastern Palace, who also acted as the coachman, glanced at the frightened and mesmerized outer disciples near the gate of the mountain, furrowing his eyebrows as he spoke to the person inside the carriage.
"Not here?"
The carriage curtain opened slightly, and Xia Qitian glanced, his face slightly cold. "I, This palace personally visiting, and he doesn't even wait at the mountain gate to welcome me?"
"Your Highness, can Su Zhan wait inside the inner sect gate instead? After all, the distance between the inner sect gate and the mountain gate is quite far. Perhaps he is just seeking comfort?"
"Should be so!"
Xia Qitian nodded. "When Qi Yang, the first genius of the Yuntian Sword Sect, visited me, he traveled thousands of miles to pay his respects!
Su Zhan, after receiving this personal visit from me, a great honor, how can he not shed tears and wait to welcome me?
However, I am overestimating his emotional intelligence. For the sake of comfort, he doesn't even wait at the mountain gate. He truly has no etiquette!
Let's go, let's go a little slower. It will make Su Zhan, waiting at the entrance of the inner sect gate, wait longer. It's a way to weaken his sharpness and show benevolence and authority. It's the art of an emperor!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The Butler of the Eastern Palace's face turned grim as he drove the carriage towards the mountain gate of the Yuntian Sword Sect.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SuXiaoshu
SuXiaoshu I don't know why, but I feel that the last three chapters have been kinda difficult to translate. Please leave a comment if there are any translation errors according to your understanding.