Time ticked by second by second. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Qin Fen. They missed none of his expressions or movements, hoping to infer some clue about what would happen next from any detail he revealed.
Tick-tock, tick-tock. Time did not pause, yet the scene before them seemed frozen in eternal stillness. Qin Fen stood before the three Imperial Lords, looking down at them from above.
The Jade Emperor, Ziwei, and Gouchen likewise said nothing, quietly watching Qin Fen.
Both sides remained silent at the same time, placing immense pressure on everyone present. The deeper the silence, the more it signaled the calm before the storm. How would this confrontation begin?
Many people were guessing. No one doubted that Dongwang Gong would back down; that would be utterly impossible. Qin Fen had charged ahead even in the face of the Heavenly Laws, so facing three Imperial Lords would naturally be no problem. Nor did anyone doubt the reactions of the three Imperial Lords. The Jade Emperor cared deeply about appearances and was the Heavenly Court's greatest show-off—everyone in the world knew it. Faced with Qin Fen's aggressive advance, he was even less likely to yield. If he did, he would lose face before the Dao Ancestor.
A fierce battle was about to unfold.
The Northern Dipper Star Lord felt Uneasy. He knew nothing about the discussion between his boss and Qin Fen, but now everyone was focused on the seating arrangement. This detail was not to be underestimated, nor was it merely a matter of face. Seating determined one's identity and status, and it also determined the heart of today's culinary banquet.
Who would be in charge of the New Year activities could be seen from the seating arrangement alone! Once they thought of it that way,