Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Celebration Banquet

Longhua Villa District, Villa No. 1.

Seven days later, at dawn.

Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes, emerging from meditation, his entire body enveloped in tranquil spiritual energy particles. Sensing the steadily strengthening power within him, Lin Feng’s lips curled into a gentle smile.

“The Trinity Gathering Spirit Formation is truly extraordinary. In just seven days of cultivation within the array, my strength has stabilized at the pinnacle of the Fifth Stage, First Grade Passage Spirit Master.”

“With this, I can finally train in and wield the ‘Three Blades of Abhorrent Path.’”

The “Three Blades of Abhorrent Path” was a blade technique Lin Feng had created himself, its name inspired by the meaning of “ceaseless torment, falling into immeasurable suffering.” Moreover, if this technique were executed with the Kunwu Sword, its mysterious aura would be heightened, returning to the essence of simplicity.

At his current level, Lin Feng could only unleash the first blade—the “Obstruction Sky of Jade Abyss”—which could plunge one into the depths of hell.

Lin Feng drew out the Kunwu Sword, closed his eyes, and began to repeatedly deduce the first blade in his mind.

Soon, he achieved the realm of unity between man and sword, where mind and spirit communicated as one.

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the villa’s living room. Instead, he found himself in the endless hell: underfoot, flames of karma danced; not far ahead, the Jade Abyss hung from the heavens, countless evil ghosts wailed amidst a sea of blood and misery.

This was the blade’s intent.

But at that moment, the sudden ring of a phone shattered the illusion. Lin Feng withdrew his sword and the blade’s intent, answering the call.

“Hello, Lin Feng, it’s Yating.”

“Yating, what brings you to call?”

“I’ve achieved top sales in the department. Everyone’s having a celebration banquet tonight at eight, Longhui Hotel. You must come!”

“A celebration banquet? I…”

Lin Feng frowned slightly. Now that the simplified Trinity Gathering Formation was fully set, cultivation was his priority, and he intended to refuse.

Unexpectedly, on the other end, Li Yating sensed his hesitation and felt disappointed. But not wishing to trouble Lin Feng, she gently said, “If you don’t want to come, that’s fine. Anyway, I…”

“I’ll be there on time. I was just thinking about what gift to bring you.”

“Really? That’s wonderful! Then tonight at eight—we’ll wait for you!”

“Alright, see you then.”

After hanging up, Lin Feng sighed softly.

“What’s wrong with me? Why do I care about Li Yating’s feelings? Never mind, I’ll craft a jade talisman for her as a congratulatory gift.”

At present, Lin Feng had no shortage of rare jade stones.

Wang Jisheng and his son, to keep the jade talisman auctions supplied, had collected a heap of high-grade jade carvings, all locked in the basement safe.

Lin Feng casually picked out a valuable glass-grade jade Buddha pendant and began to channel spiritual energy into it, inscribing formations and refining the talisman.

As the saying goes, “Men wear Guanyin, women wear Buddha.” Lin Feng engraved five spiritual formations onto the Buddha pendant:

The Gale Guard Formation for wind protection;
The Water Moon Formation for nourishing the body;
The Fortune and Longevity Formation to extend life;
The Celestial Communication Formation for transmitting messages;
And finally, the Kunwu Formation for countering sword intent.

Each of these formations represented the highest level Lin Feng could currently inscribe—more than enough to safeguard Li Yating.

…

At eight that evening, Lin Feng took a taxi to Longhui Hotel.

Passing through the parking lot, Wang Lun, wearing sunglasses and acting overly suave, jumped out of a Lamborghini and, with a swift gesture, wrapped his arm around Liu Susu’s waist.

Liu Susu didn’t resist; instead, she blushed shyly, nestling gently in Wang Lun's embrace.

“Hey, Lin Feng, long time no see! Where have you been lately? You haven’t been to work, the manager’s about to lose his mind,” Wang Lun greeted Lin Feng, approaching with a grin.

Lin Feng glanced over Wang Lun and Liu Susu, shaking his head with amusement. “Tsk tsk, Wang Lun, you’re something else. I’ve only been away a few days, and you and Liu Susu…”

Liu Susu still felt a bit embarrassed in front of Lin Feng, slipping free from Wang Lun’s arm and standing quietly with her head bowed.

Wang Lun, however, was unfazed, boldly grabbing Liu Susu’s right hand and holding it tightly, exuding the air of a domineering CEO.

“Heh, I, Wang Lun, am as handsome as Pan An—no beauty can resist me. And with a Lamborghini in hand, picking up girls is a breeze!”

“If you like it so much, I’ll give you the car,” Lin Feng replied casually.

“Really? Lin Feng, you’re the best brother ever!” Wang Lun exclaimed, embracing Lin Feng with laughter.

He had dreamed of owning a sports car; these past days, sitting in the driver’s seat and basking in the admiring glances of countless beauties, he had grown thoroughly attached to the Lamborghini.

To Lin Feng, Wang Lun was his only true friend in Binhai City—a sports car was nothing.

Thus, the three entered the hotel laughing and chatting.

Meanwhile, Li Yating waited anxiously in the hotel lobby, her beautiful eyes scanning the crowd, hoping to catch sight of Lin Feng as soon as possible.

“Lin Feng! You’re here!”

As Lin Feng stepped into the hotel, Li Yating immediately came forward to greet him.

Tonight, Li Yating had dressed up especially for Lin Feng.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded like a waterfall, complemented by a delicate touch of makeup. She wore a high-waisted white dress, moon-bright and pure, paired with her soft, snow-white legs.

She was neither overly alluring nor lacking in gentle elegance; her beauty was fresh and shy, quietly radiant, captivating to the heart.

Even Wang Lun stood stunned in place, unable to move, until Liu Susu pinched his waist to snap him out of it.

“Lin Feng, I thought you weren’t coming tonight,” Li Yating murmured shyly, brushing her bangs aside and lowering her head.

A beauty’s effort is always for the one she cares about.

Lin Feng understood well; though he was touched, the heartbreak of a hundred thousand years in his past life weighed heavily, still preventing him from opening his heart to another woman.

“It’s nothing. Since I promised, I wouldn’t break my word.”

Lin Feng’s straightforwardness made Wang Lun anxious, itching to guide him face-to-face so he’d finally find love.

Moments later, the four entered a private room in the hotel.

Inside, a dozen colleagues from the sales department sat in small groups, chatting and laughing.

Of course, Liu Jian and Ke Feng remained isolated, left to drink in silence.

“Wow, Lin Feng! I didn’t expect you to come! Yating must have real influence.”

“That’s right—the manager can’t find Lin Feng, only Yating can!”

…

After the incident at Phoenix Pavilion Hotel, the colleagues no longer opposed Lin Feng, instead becoming his admirers.

They had long seen through Li Yating’s feelings and were eager to help her.

This only made Liu Jian, off to the side, flush with anger.

These days, with Lin Feng gone, he had hoped to pursue Li Yating more aggressively, but her attitude only grew more resolute—she barely responded and kept her distance.

Even Liu Susu, who used to chase after him, now followed Lin Feng’s friend Wang Lun.

His days in the sales department had become quite miserable.

Tonight, he had hoped to impress Li Yating with an expensive gift at the celebration banquet.

But to his dismay, Lin Feng had returned yet again—like a lingering specter.