Qian Xunji Taunts Yu Yuanzhen Alone

His seat had been arranged near the head table, forming a triangle with the seats of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect, faintly suggesting a balance of power among the three.

As soon as Qian Xunji sat down, his gaze naturally fell on the neighboring table.

Tang Yin and Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect were seated there.

From the original owner's memories, Qian Xunji knew that the Clear Sky Sect Master had suffered hidden injuries in his younger years that had never fully healed. Coupled with his unyielding temperament and heavy worries, it seemed that in the original story, after learning that the conflict between Tang Hao and Spirit Hall had intensified, his pent-up anger and anxiety worsened his condition.

He raised his wine cup and gave Tang Yin a slight gesture. "Sect Master Tang, it has been a while. I hope you have been well."

Tang Yin turned around. Seeing Qian Xunji, he forced a faint smile. "Brother Xunji, you came as well."

"Is Uncle Qian still in good health?"

"My father is well. Thank you for your concern, Sect Master Tang."

"On the other hand, Sect Master Tang, you seem somewhat weary. Have sect affairs been too taxing? You should take better care of yourself."

Tang Yin frowned, then laughed heartily to cover it up. "Just trivial matters. Nothing serious."

"Rather, Brother Xunji, you took charge of Spirit Hall at such a young age and made your name shake the continent. You are the one truly burdened with both mind and body."

"Xiao'er, why don't you offer His Holiness the Pope a toast?"

Tang Xiao immediately rose and lifted his cup. "This junior, Tang Xiao, offers a toast to Your Holiness the Pope."

Qian Xunji raised his cup in return. "Nephew Tang Xiao is both valiant and extraordinary, with profound Soul Power. The Clear Sky Sect has worthy successors."

"I hear you have spent many years traveling and training abroad. You must have gained remarkable experience."

At that moment, Ning Youcai's gentle, smiling voice came from beside them. "Sect Master Tang, Your Holiness the Pope, you two are in high spirits indeed. This old man will join the fun as well."

Ning Youcai approached at an unhurried pace with Ning Fengzhi beside him, a wine cup in hand.

"Sect Master Ning."

Ning Youcai said with a chuckle, "Today is His Majesty's birthday banquet, and so many worthy guests have gathered."

"Seeing you speaking so pleasantly with His Holiness the Pope brings this old man great comfort."

"The continent's stability depends on every side working together."

Tang Yin snorted. "Brother Ning, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's business has been growing larger and larger. I heard you recently discovered several new mineral veins?"

Ning Youcai stroked his beard and smiled. "It is all thanks to the Empire's favor. We merely conduct small businesses. We cannot compare to the deep foundations of the Clear Sky Sect, nor to Spirit Hall's teachings that reach across the land."

As Qian Xunji listened to the two old foxes probe each other while conveniently dragging Spirit Hall into it, he felt no ripple in his heart. If anything, he felt like yawning.

System, do you have a time accelerator? Let this boring banquet end sooner.

[Suggestion: Host should focus on the delicacies before him, or consider Soul Tool improvement plans. The flow of time cannot be adjusted.]

Qian Xunji said, "Fine."

Amid this subtle atmosphere, the attendant at the hall entrance announced another arrival.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Patriarch Yu Yuanzhen has arrived!"

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Elder Yu Luomian has arrived!"

Everyone's gazes gathered once more.

Two middle-aged men with faces sixty to seventy percent alike strode into the hall.

The man in front had a face as fair as jade, and faint flashes of lightning flickered in his eyes whenever they opened and closed. He was Yu Yuanzhen, the current patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The man half a step behind him was his younger brother, Yu Luomian, who was also Liu Erlong's father.

Yu Yuanzhen strode with the bearing of a dragon and tiger. He first cupped his hands toward Xue Ye at the head table from afar. "Your Majesty, Yu has arrived late. I ask Your Majesty's forgiveness. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless longevity!"

Xue Ye naturally responded with another round of polite courtesies.

Only then did Yu Yuanzhen lead Yu Luomian toward the area occupied by the Upper Three Sects.

When he saw Qian Xunji, Tang Yin, and Ning Youcai gathered together, a glint flashed through his eyes, and he walked straight over.

"Sect Master Tang, Sect Master Ning, Your Holiness the Pope. All three of you are here. What a coincidence."

"Patriarch Yu."

"Brother Yu."

Yu Yuanzhen's gaze lingered briefly on Qian Xunji's face before he smiled. "It is rare indeed that Your Holiness the Pope had the leisure to attend in person today."

"Some days ago, a few of my clan's disappointing juniors seemed to have had a minor misunderstanding with your hall's patrol squad on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. Fortunately, Your Holiness kept your subordinates in check and did not allow the matter to escalate. Yu thanks you for that."

"Patriarch Yu overstates it."

"It is simply Spirit Hall's duty to maintain order for soul masters' training. So long as the rules are followed, Spirit Hall treats every soul master equally."

Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily. "Your Holiness is fair and just. Yu admires you."

He no longer pursued the matter, instead turning to Tang Yin. "Brother Tang, I heard that Nephew Tang Xiao has reached the rank of Soul Douluo. Congratulations!"

"It seems the Clear Sky Sect will gain another Titled Douluo before long. When that day comes, you must invite us for a celebratory drink."

Tang Yin's expression eased slightly. "I'll borrow Brother Yu's auspicious words. I heard that the eighty-thousand-year Frost Earth Dragon in the northern lands was recently slain by you alone?"

A trace of pride appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's face. "Merely luck. That beast had thick hide and tough flesh, so it took some effort."

Ning Youcai interjected at the right moment, steering the discussion toward safer subjects such as strange tales from across the continent and mineral market prices.

On the surface, the great figures chatted and laughed, praising one another and maintaining an image of harmony.

While the great figures appeared to exchange harmless pleasantries in perfect harmony, Qian Xunji took a sip of wine and turned his gaze toward Yu Yuanzhen.

"By the way, Patriarch Yu."

Yu Yuanzhen turned at the words. "What guidance does Your Holiness the Pope have for me?"

"I would not dare call it guidance."

"I simply recalled hearing that Patriarch Yu has a son whose martial soul underwent a rather interesting mutation?"

At those words, the smile on Yu Yuanzhen's face instantly froze.

"Your Holiness is remarkably well-informed."

"That is correct. My son, Xiao Gang, does indeed possess a martial soul somewhat different from those of the clan."

"This is Heaven's will. Even if the martial souls of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's descendants differ slightly, their resolve and potential are still far beyond the ordinary."

Yet Qian Xunji seemed not to understand his implication—or perhaps he simply did not care.

He gave an oh and nodded. "Slightly different? I heard it evolved in a direction that was somewhat less suited for offense?"

"That is quite rare in the history of martial soul mutations on the continent."

"As his father, Patriarch Yu must have devoted considerable effort to raising him. What fatherly love, as deep as a mountain."

To Yu Yuanzhen, those words were no different from mockery.

It was a blatant jab at his wound, ridiculing him for having a son with a "useless martial soul," then hypocritically praising his fatherly love!

"You!"

Yu Yuanzhen's chest heaved, and powerful Soul Power fluctuations spilled forth, leaving the guests at several nearby tables feeling numb all over.

Ning Youcai gave a light cough, trying to smooth things over. "Ahem, the path of martial souls is endlessly profound. The path of mutation is even more difficult to fathom. Everyone has their own destiny, their own destiny..."

Xue Ye, seated at the head table, had clearly noticed the gunpowder in the air and was about to speak.

Yet Qian Xunji seemed utterly unaware that he had lit a powder keg. He even raised his cup toward the iron-faced Yu Yuanzhen.

"I spoke out of turn. I merely voiced a passing thought. Patriarch Yu, please do not take offense."

"After all, being able to calmly accept that one's child possesses unusual talent and still guide him with care—such breadth of heart is not something ordinary people possess. I admire it." With that, he took a sip himself.

Yu Yuanzhen said nothing.

He was so angry that he nearly crushed the cup in his hand.

How was that an apology?

That was clearly another stab.

And it was in front of every influential figure present.