Sangyuan Palace.
After countless years of effort, Earth Venerable Sang Yuan had finally advanced into the realm of Heavenly Venerable.
To celebrate this occasion.
The other three Earth Venerables of Sangyuan Palace had specially sent invitations to several factions that were usually on good terms with Sangyuan Palace, inviting them to come and join the festivities.
To that end, they had set out dozens of banquet tables.
They had brought out Sangyuan Palace's finest wine.
As the atmosphere reached its height, Earth Venerable Sang Yuan—no, Heavenly Venerable Sang Yuan now—raised his wine cup and generously declared, "From this day forth, I am a Heavenly Venerable. If any of you fellow Daoists ever need my help, feel free to speak. So long as it is within my power, I will never refuse."
A wave of fervent applause immediately erupted.
Quite a few people showered him with praise, lauding Heavenly Venerable Sang Yuan for not looking down on his old friends simply because his realm had risen, and even for taking the initiative to shelter them. They called him a good man and more.
However.
None of those who had come to this celebration were fools.
Where in this world was there such a thing as a free lunch?
Heavenly Venerable Sang Yuan had only just advanced to the Heavenly Venerable realm and was brimming with high spirits. How could he possibly protect them for nothing?
He merely wanted them to willingly submit to Sangyuan Palace.
But was submission something one could simply demand and receive?
Just because you, Heavenly Venerable Sang Yuan, said one word, everyone was supposed to submit to you? You were thinking far too simply.
Thus.
Compliments were compliments, and praise was praise.
Yet after all that commotion, not a single person took the bait voluntarily.
That was