The courtyard steadily grew more lively as the morning wore on. Even the Cultivators Hall students were here to watch the entertainment. Watching some refining was a nice, relaxing change after their purging mission in the Umbra Cave.

Besides the Suncreek Villa, every other villa present was easily in the top 20 in the Xia Kingdom...

Such was the standard for an invitation. These villas had all proved themselves as highly capable.

In comparison, the Suncreek Villa was unproven on every front.

This was where the lions gathered. Meeker villas were like scavengers that were afraid to pick up scraps while the kings feasted. They would end up empty-handed for sure, and that would just be humiliating.

The crowd suddenly parted for a group. They were led by the First Princess.

Behind her was a retinue of skilled artificers. Their arrogant expressions were an unspoken declaration that they knew just how good they were.

"That's the Skypalace Villa,...