Inside the banquet hall
The Shen Clan's guest seats
Shen Xinyue leaned close to Shen He'an, her eyes full of anticipation. "Brother, I want to fight the Nan Clan's Divine Son."
Shen He'an glanced at her and warned, "You're not allowed. That Divine Son of the Nan Clan won't show a woman any mercy."
He continued, "With that mouth of yours, if you accidentally say the wrong thing, watch out or he'll kill you."
Shen Xinyue immediately grew displeased and cried, "Ah! Brother, how can you say that about me?"
The Lin Clan's guest seats
Lin Zong looked thoroughly impatient. He complained, "What's going on? We've been sitting here forever, and he still hasn't shown up. Where's Nan Xunran?"
At those words, the Lin Clan patriarch's brows knitted into the shape of the character 川, and he shouted, "Shut up!"
Looking at Lin Zong, he sighed inwardly. Lin Zong, the son of a servant, had a temperament utterly unsuited to any great responsibility.
Only when he looked at the young man sitting quietly beside him did his brows relax. Feng'er was the sensible one.
Hearing his rebuke, Lin Zong muttered under his breath, "Tch."
At that mutter, Lin Weiwei's brows drew together in a tight knot.
Why did Father bring Lin Zong here? He's such an embarrassment to the Lin Clan.
The Su Clan's guest seats
A Su Clan elder looked at Su Zhuyi and asked, "Zhuyi, what do you think of the strength of the heavenly talents here?"
Su Zhuyi swept an expressionless gaze over the people present and said evenly, "They're all weak."
The Su Clan elder burst into satisfied laughter at her answer, saying "Good" several times in a row.
Su Zhuyi added, "I want to spar with the Nan Clan's Divine Son."
She continued, "He's strong."
The elder froze. "Huh?"
Divine Son Hall
Jiang Ruxi concentrated as she dressed Nan Xunran.
Nan Xunran wore moon-white robes, with silver threads faintly visible across the fabric, glimmering as the light shifted.
His hair fell gently, a few strands gleaming in the sunlight.
His earrings swayed gently with his movements, and an innate nobility showed in his every gesture.
She carefully straightened Nan Xunran's robes, her fingers brushing lightly over his hair. "There," she said softly.
Nan Xunran nodded slightly, then walked out of the inner hall.
The banquet hall
Tap. Crisp footsteps rang out.
Everyone's attention was drawn at once, and they all turned toward the entrance.
Nan Xunran was walking into the banquet hall.
The entire hall fell silent in an instant, leaving only Nan Xunran's unhurried footsteps echoing through the air.
The heavenly talents of the various clans stared at him, their eyes filled with wonder.
He walked into the banquet hall step by step, proceeding as though no one else were there.
Bai Wanying smiled and beckoned. "Ran'er, come over here."
Nan Xunran answered, "All right," and walked toward her.
As he passed the Lin Clan's guest seats, Lin Zong muttered, "Tch, what good is being handsome?"
Nan Xunran stopped in his tracks, then slowly turned to look at Lin Zong.
At the sight, the members of the Lin Clan went pale with shock.
Nan Xunran had stopped not because of Lin Zong's words, but because the system had suddenly issued a notification.
His gaze shifted to the space above Lin Zong's head.
[Child of Fortune: Lin Zong]
[Born to a servant of the Lin Clan, recently rose to prominence]
[Regressor]
[Heaven's Mandate Points: 870/870]
A regressor? So his opportunity is his own memories? A flicker of interest passed through Nan Xunran's eyes.
"Divine Son Xunran! Lin Zong didn't mean it. Please don't hold it against him!" the Lin Clan elder hurriedly apologized.
The corners of Nan Xunran's lips rose slightly. "It's fine."
With that, he turned and walked toward the seat of honor.
Lin Weiwei gazed at his face in a daze, momentarily lost in a trance.
Nearby, Lin Zong wanted to say something else, but the Lin Clan patriarch stopped him with a stern shout. "If you dare say one more word, get out of the Lin Clan!"
Lin Zong's face flushed red, his hands involuntarily clenching into fists as his body trembled slightly.
The Su Clan's guest seats
Su Zhuyi murmured softly, "He really is strong..."
When he had walked past her just now, that powerful pressure had washed over her.
Her heart had instantly begun to race, and she had grown excited all over.
"I really want to fight him..."
Early afternoon
Shen Xinyue walked gracefully toward the seat of honor and raised her wine cup, offering Nan Xunran her congratulations. "Divine Son Xunran, congratulations on becoming the acting representative."
Nan Xunran smiled slightly and raised his cup in return. "Thank you."
When the other heavenly talents who had been itching to make a move saw Shen Xinyue step forward, they too crowded around Nan Xunran.
"Divine Son Xunran, a toast to you."
"Divine Son Xunran, I've admired you for a long time..."
"..."
Before long, Nan Xunran was surrounded by people. He kept a smile on his lips and patiently spoke with each of them.
"Divine Son Xunran, let's have a match."
A voice suddenly rang out. Everyone fell silent and turned to find its source.
Su Zhuyi stood at the back, her gaze fixed on Nan Xunran.
Seeing that it was her, the crowd stepped aside and made a path for her.
Su Zhuyi, the Azure Moon Sword Immortal, was hailed as the foremost talent beneath Nan Xunran. Anyone she chose to challenge would ultimately suffer a crushing defeat.
Everyone was curious just how wide the gap between first and second really was.