Tang Yu set down his wine cup and finally turned his head to glance at Qian Renxue.
His gaze was piercing, seeing through that layer of disguise.
"My plans?"
"My plan is simple: whoever stands in my way, I'll crush them."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince had better pray that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family doesn't become that rock in my path."
The undisguised threat made Qian Renxue's heart sink.
But at the same time, that burning desire to conquer only flared hotter.
Just then.
The master of ceremonies announcing the gifts at the entrance to Wuyang Mansion suddenly raised his voice, sending it ringing across the entire square.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen, has arrived!"
"His congratulatory gifts: a piece of ten-thousand-year-old lightning-struck wood, three fragments of top-grade Soul Bones, and one million purple gold coins!"
As soon as the announcement rang out,
the square, where a few conversations had still been going on, fell into deathly silence.
Everyone froze.
Hands holding wine cups hung in midair, and chopsticks poised over dishes stopped short.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes all turned toward the entrance to Wuyang Mansion.
Even he had come!
Gasps swept through the crowd.
The Upper Three Sects had always stood together, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was famously hot-tempered and never bowed its head lightly.
Now even Yu Yuanzhen, a Super Douluo, had come to the banquet in person, bringing such lavish gifts.
It meant Tang Yu's influence had already surpassed that of the three traditional great sects.
It meant the old order of the Douluo Continent had been shattered today!
At the entrance,
Yu Yuanzhen strode over the threshold in a purple robe embroidered with lightning patterns.
Though he had restrained his Soul Power, the aura of a Sect Master who had long held a position of authority remained intimidating.
Behind him, Yu Xiaogang followed closely with his head lowered.
His hands clutched the hem of his clothes, and his eyes kept darting toward the figure in the main seat.
Deep in his eyes, jealousy and hostility churned, impossible to conceal.
Yu Yuanzhen walked to the center of the square and stopped beneath the awed gazes of the crowd.
He looked up at Tang Yu on the raised platform.
Then this Thunder Douluo, so used to being above all others, cupped his hands and bowed slightly.
"Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Greetings, Prince Wuyang."
"May Your Highness enjoy everlasting prosperity and awe the lands far and wide."
Hearing such flattery from Yu Yuanzhen's lips made many present feel their scalps prickle.
Tang Yu leaned back in his chair, his python robe draped over it, and looked down at Yu Yuanzhen from above.
His gaze then slowly shifted to Yu Xiaogang behind him, who was shrinking back yet unable to hide the resentment in his eyes.
Looking at this good-for-nothing, whom he had once crushed with ease and whom Liu Erlong had abandoned,
the corner of Tang Yu's mouth twitched, forming a sneer of utter contempt.
"Your visit is too kind, Sect Master Yu."
"To get the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to come all this way in person—my face must be worth a great deal."
"Give him a seat."
Tang Yu waved his hand, his voice echoing over the vast square.
At those words, the muscles in Yu Yuanzhen's face twitched faintly.
He was the Sect Master of the mighty Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Wherever he went, people treated him as an honored guest and showered him with reverence.
But here in the Blue Silver King Mansion, Tang Yu hadn't even bothered to get up.
He hadn't even given Yu Yuanzhen a proper look before tossing out two words in the tone one might use to dismiss a subordinate.
He was clearly showing no regard at all for a Super Douluo like him.
Behind Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened, his fists clenching with a sharp crackle.
Ever since entering, Yu Xiaogang had kept staring at Tang Yu, trying to vent the boundless hatred in his heart through his gaze.
But Tang Yu had merely glanced over him carelessly, treating him as if he were air.
That lofty, all-seeing attitude was more painful than a slap in the face.
Yu Xiaogang's pathetic self-respect was trampled to pieces.
Two Black Horse Iron Cavalry soldiers in heavy armor walked up expressionlessly and gestured for him to follow.
The guards' movements were stiff, without the slightest courtesy.
Yu Yuanzhen drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger.
The situation favored his opponent. He had come to the banquet today to protect his clan, not to play the hero.
Yu Yuanzhen gave a cold snort and strode toward the seat assigned to him at the edge.
Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and followed, still staring resentfully at the raised platform.
As soon as they sat down, Yu Yuanzhen shot Yu Xiaogang a fierce glare and warned him in a low voice.
"Get a hold of yourself!"
"If you look at him like that again and bring disaster down on us, I'll cripple you myself before he even has the chance."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head in humiliation, biting his lip until blood seeped out.
The guests from all sides had seen the whole scene and began whispering among themselves.
A city lord with a goatee lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of alarm.
"Even Sect Master Yu was treated so coldly. Isn't this Prince Wuyang far too arrogant?"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is one of the Upper Three Sects, yet they weren't even given a seat at the main table."
A nearby clan patriarch hurriedly tugged at him, fearfully glancing at the Iron Cavalry standing guard all around them.
"Keep your voice down! Do you want to die?"
"He beat the Star Luo Empire into ceding territory and suing for peace. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wiped out."
"He wields a real butcher's blade. What does he care about a sect's deep roots?"
Though everyone present was deeply displeased by Tang Yu's arrogant attitude,
under the weight of his fearsome reputation and the imposing military ranks surrounding them, no one dared provoke him.
They could only swallow their resentment and obediently put on an air of submission.
After a few rounds of drinks,
the master of ceremonies' ringing announcement sounded once more from outside the square.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi, has arrived!"
"Accompanied by Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong!"
Those words instantly changed the atmosphere in the square.
The guests, who had seemed lifeless only moments ago, perked up at once and turned to look toward the entrance.
Many of their eyes even gleamed with barely suppressed excitement.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest sect in the world, and the most prominent of the Upper Three Sects.
Within its ranks was Ning Fengzhi, hailed as the greatest support-type Soul Master in the world, along with the two peak powerhouses Chen Xin and Gu Rong.
A sect elder couldn't help rubbing his hands together as he muttered under his breath.
"Now this should be interesting."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has unfathomable foundations and formidable strength. Even the Heaven Dou Imperial Family usually treats them with great respect."
"However arrogant Prince Wuyang may be, surely he won't make Ning Fengzhi sit out in the cold too?"
Another city lord nodded, his face full of anticipation.
"Of course not. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never accept such an overbearing show of force."
"If Tang Yu still dares to put on airs, and the two Titled Douluos lose their tempers, this banquet won't end peacefully."
Everyone secretly hoped the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would put Tang Yu in his place and curb his arrogance.
Even Xue Qinghe, seated to the side of the raised platform, set down his teacup and looked toward the entrance with interest.