Weight

"Star Refiners visualized Star Gods and bathed in starlight. Their qi and blood could easily break past a hundred; each one's physical strength surpassed that of ordinary people by who knew how many times."

Zhao Yuan said, "However, the stronger their bodies became, the harder it was for them to control and wield their own strength. Therefore, Star Refiners improved their control over themselves through martial arts. Better control also made it easier to bathe in more starlight, making their bodies even stronger. It was a virtuous cycle."

Li Pin nodded.

While ordinary people had to struggle desperately to break through realms just to improve their physical strength by a few points, Star Refiners only needed to visualize a Star God and bathe in starlight a little, and their physical strength shot upward in leaps and bounds.

"For Star Refiners, improving physical strength has never been the problem. The problem is how much their bodies can contain, and how much they themselves can control."

Zhao Yuan said, "The limits of containment and control are tied to their martial arts realm. The qi and blood a Gang Refining Grandmaster who has tempered the five viscera and six bowels can contain and control are clearly not on the same level as that of a martial artist who has only just begun practicing force. That is precisely why Star Refiners seek advice from Gang Refining Grandmasters and even Martial Saints who refine the spirit on methods of moving force, thereby forming bonds of master and disciple."

He looked toward Shang Feng, who had become the center of the venue the moment he appeared, drawing everyone's attention. "Back then, after Guardian Shang successfully visualized a Star God, Master personally visited Guardian Shang's residence and stayed there for three years, teaching him the methods of practicing force and Embracing Dan. Guardian Shang remembered that kindness deeply. Whenever Master returned to Canglong City, he would take the initiative to host a banquet for him, honoring him as if he were a benefactor and teacher."

As he spoke, he grew somewhat sentimental.

Not every Star Refiner who grasped force and Dan Jin would feel reverence toward the grandmasters who had taught them.

To many Star Refiners, martial arts were merely a supplement to the Star Refiner system. Their relationship with martial arts masters was nothing more than an ordinary transaction.

Once the transaction ended, they went their separate ways with a clap of their hands.

Some even worried that the grandmasters who taught them force and Dan Jin would use the connection to attach themselves to them and swindle others beneath their names. They would strictly forbid the details of the transaction from spreading, and after the teaching ended, they would not permit any further contact whatsoever.

A Star Refiner like Shang Feng, who respected his teacher and valued the Dao, was rare even among Star Refiners.

At that moment, Shang Feng, whom Cao Tianyou had gone to welcome, seemed to sense something. His gaze turned toward Zhao Yuan and Li Pin.

Zhao Yuan hurriedly gave Li Pin a covert warning. "You must remain respectful toward Star Refiners. You must not harbor even the slightest thought of resistance."

Unfortunately...

His warning was evidently a moment too late.

Shang Feng's gaze had already fallen on Li Pin.

He seemed a little surprised.

But when he saw how young Li Pin was, he could not help but smile.

He seemed to understand what Li Pin was thinking.

He did not hold it against him.

He had seen plenty of young people like this after becoming a Star Refiner.

Even though he himself was not yet thirty.

Led by Cao Tianyou, he and Judy headed deeper into the banquet hall.

As they passed Li Pin, Cao Tianyou wanted to introduce him to Shang Feng, but found it difficult to bring it up.

In the end, he secretly gave Li Pin a look telling him to stay calm, then continued chatting and laughing with Shang Feng.

Zhao Yuan followed behind the group and gave Li Pin a bitter smile. "My reminder came too late."

"It is not your fault. Even if you had reminded me, it would have been difficult for me to change my mindset in such a short time."

Li Pin said.

Zhao Yuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end could only say, "We were the ones who overlooked this."

Then he sighed. "You attained Embrace Dan as a martial artist at such a young age, and you may well rise above the rest at the Jiangzhou Tournament in the future. It is necessary to maintain a sharp, unrestrained state of mind, but... when facing Star Refiners, the respect due to them cannot be lacking... Visualizing a Star God requires purity of thought, even the heart of a child, so Star Refiners often act as their nature dictates... Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Pin nodded.

As for what he truly thought, no one knew.

Interestingly, Zhao Yuan had originally brought Li Pin directly to the round table on the right, the table where Cao Tianyou, Tian Feiyu, Jiang Qingyue, and the others sat.

But this time, Zhao Yuan brought him back to the round table on the left.

Though every person at that table was also a major figure with deep ties to the Five Elements Sect, their weight was clearly far inferior to that of the table on the right.

"Even after Embracing Dan, the pressure a Star Refiner constantly exudes cannot fully dissipate. If your heart is full of reverence and you have no thought of resisting, you will only feel that they occupy lofty positions, that every gesture of theirs carries a profound weight. But if you have thoughts in your heart... you would feel very uncomfortable sitting at that table."

Qi Dongyuan, who was responsible for entertaining the distinguished guests at this table, leaned close to Li Pin and quietly explained, "So Master had me arrange for you to sit here first, so that you would not feel uncomfortable even while eating at the banquet."

"I understand."

Li Pin nodded. "I was the one who made Grandmaster Cao uncomfortable."

"We should be the ones apologizing. We failed to consider things thoroughly. Once the grand banquet is over, our Five Elements Sect will hold another small gathering among ourselves."

Qi Dongyuan said.

"Alright."

Li Pin did not dwell on the matter.

Once Shang Feng and Judy arrived, the grand banquet began.

The two of them seemed to be the true protagonists of this banquet. Even Cao Tianyou, the birthday celebrant, had to step aside.

Of course, Shang Feng and Judy gave Cao Tianyou sufficient face and never tried to steal the birthday celebrant's limelight.

After Cao Tianyou went onstage to speak and thank the guests, all kinds of fine wines and delicacies were brought out one after another.

There were clearly only six long tables and two round tables, with just over a hundred and fifty guests, yet there were fifty or sixty attendants standing on both sides of the hall.

There was practically one attendant dedicated to serving every two guests.

Xingyao International Center had been exceptionally thorough in its hospitality.

After the banquet began, the invited celebrities took the stage one after another to perform.

About twenty minutes into the banquet, a woman in a bright violet gown, its long train trailing behind her, took the stage to sing.

Li Pin had seen her photograph when he entered the hotel.

She was An Youran, the dazzling new star of Star Hall Entertainment.

The guests at the long tables were somewhat better; quite a few appreciated An Youran's performance. But not a single guest at the two round tables gave her more than a passing glance.

One by one, they seized the time to converse closely with those beside them, laughter and cheerful voices ringing out.

From time to time, people went in pairs or threes to toast the table on the right and offer birthday wishes to the elder celebrant.

Naturally, after toasting the elder celebrant, they had to toast Judy and Shang Feng as well.

Moreover, only those at this table and in the first row of the long tables had such qualifications.

Once the people in the first row had more or less finished their toasts, Judy, Shang Feng, and Cao Tianyou took the initiative to raise a toast to everyone in the hall, announcing the end of the toasting segment.

After that, if anyone wished to clink cups and exchange drinks, it could only be done among the people at their own tables.

Watching this, Li Pin finally understood why there was such a gulf between Changfeng Martial Hall and the Five Elements Sect.

Judging from their connections alone, the two sides were simply not on the same level.

The lively atmosphere in the hall lasted for nearly two hours before gradually dispersing.

Cao Tianyou, Tian Feiyu, Jiang Qingyi, and the others went off with Judy and Shang Feng.

Zhao Yuan returned and said to Li Pin with a smile, "Do not rush back today. There is another small banquet tonight. Also, we have booked you a room at the hotel and arranged an event for you. You will not be disappointed."