Gu Tianzhong looked at his son, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger:
"You recklessly took on this task, and now you've been publicly humiliated, even disgracing the patriarch, and in the end, you've gained nothing."
"Changfeng, you've disappointed me greatly."
Seeing that his father remained unmoved, Gu Changfeng stiffened, and most of the grievance in his eyes immediately disappeared.
As Eternal Sage, he naturally couldn't cry and whine like a child; in reality, most of it was just an act.
After all, this time I've caused trouble, and my elderly father is the only one left to clean up the mess.
The Gu Household has countless descendants, but only a small number truly capture the attention of the Saint Venerable Ancestor.
As the head of the Gu Household family and a top expert at the Holy Lord Realm, Gu Tianzhong naturally carries considerable weight.
"Of course I know I was wrong, but I've been set up. I just don't know if it was Han Xuanji or Chi Yuan... or perhaps, the two of them conspired to harm me."
At this point, Gu Changfeng also began to express his true feelings.
He now felt like the whole world was against him. Anyone with eyes could see that Han Xuanji quickly traverse the Ten Directions Sacred Domain was definitely suspicious, but there was nothing he could do. Even the Spirit of the Saint Realm was one of their people; what could he do?
Chi Yuan appears to have a grudge against Han Xuanji, but who knows what he might be plotting behind the scenes.
Is it possible that Chi Yuan is actually Han Xuanji's man, deliberately trying to harm him?
After listening to Gu Changfeng's words, Gu Tianzhong slowly stood up, walked to the front of the hall, gazed at the surging sea of clouds in the mountains, remained silent for a moment, and then said:
"You don't need to worry about this anymore. No matter what, my Gu Household has suffered such a great loss. I will send someone to negotiate with Saint Venerable Haoxuan. I can't let you bear all the blame alone, but you were in the wrong first, so you will naturally have to apologize."
His tone suddenly turned cold as he said this.
"As for Han Xuanji, I'll see how far he can go at the Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet."
What if the other team wins?
Gu Changfeng asked tentatively.
"It's alright. In the end, he's just an Eternal True God. At most, he'll be an Eternal Sage. Changfeng, you're focusing too much on the present."
Gu Tianzhong said calmly:
"Once I reach a higher level, these gains and losses will be nothing but fleeting clouds."
"Yes!"
With his mind at ease, Gu Changfeng's previous worries vanished.
That's true. Although this matter seems to have caused quite a stir, it's not enough to seriously damage the Gu Household.
Han Xuanji is currently incredibly powerful, but he is merely a minor Eternal True God.
Even if one wins the Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet, it will still take time to settle down and reflect.
His father, however, was about to become Eternal Sage King.
With two Saint King from one family, they could even compete for the title of Saint Emperor.
Thinking of this, Gu Changfeng couldn't help but start daydreaming.
Back then, he was the Saint King; wouldn't little Han Xuanji be easily manipulated by him?
During Han Xuanji's seclusion, the political climate in Nine Mysteries City shifted faster than anyone else's.
The day after Gu Changfeng slunk away from the Nine Mysteries Palace Nine Mysteries Palace, some rumors began to circulate from there.
With the Spirit of the Saint Realm personally endorsing it, and the rules of the Ten Directions Holy Lord remaining unbroken, every battle Han Xuanji fought in the Immortal Palace is documented.
As a result, the gossiping voices were silenced, as if someone had choked them.
Instead, it was met with an almost fanatical wave of praise.
"I knew Young Venerable Han wouldn't do such a thing! Look at his achievements, each and every one of them, isn't that all real skill? It's only because the Gu Household is relying on the Saint Venerable's name that they dare to bully people like this."
Inside the restaurant, a monk slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming like a bell, causing the people at the table to nod in agreement.
" Chi Yuan is truly shameless. He couldn't beat them, so he accused them of cheating. If it weren't for the fact that the Gu family's legal Gu Household was blind, who would believe this? Now that there's no evidence, the Gu Household has completely lost face."
Another person chimed in, their tone full of schadenfreude.
"Finally, our Nine Mysteries Prefecture will have someone who can attend the Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet. Young Venerable Han is already Eternal True God at such a young age, and with the Holy Lord's full support, he might even become the Holy Lord in the future."
Someone else clapped and sighed in admiration.
In an instant, no one in the entire city mentioned " Han Xuanji got in through connections."
Even if a few sour comments occasionally surface, they are quickly swallowed up by an overwhelming barrage of praise.
Han Xuanji went from being a "disciple of the Holy Lord " to " Young Venerable Han," as if he were no longer the disciple of the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord, but the pride of the entire Nine Mysteries Prefecture.
Yaoguang Myriad Realms City is one of the main cities under the jurisdiction of the Eternal Chamber of Commerce.
The city lights are like a sea, Imperishable year-round.
Luxurious flying boats shuttled between the sea of clouds, the streets were wide, and the buildings reached into the clouds, creating a scene of great prosperity.
Today, the largest restaurant in the city, "Wanzhenlou," has had its entire floor booked by Hui Feng.
He leaned back on his high seat, raised his glass and drank with the guests, his face beaming with pride.
The room was filled with guests, including scions of the Aristocratic Clan from Yaoguang City, prodigies from various sects, and even several high-ranking retainers from the Eternal Chamber of Commerce. Yet, they all surrounded him, raising their glasses in toasts and offering undisguised flattery.
" Han Xuanji, Young Venerable Han, is my sworn brother Hui Feng."
Hui Feng raised his glass, the amber liquid shimmering under the lamplight, his tone filled with emotion:
"Back in Thousand Souls City, Brother Han and I were both Eternal Dao Master, and we hit it off immediately. Now, many years have passed in the blink of an eye. He is now the renowned Young Venerable Han of the Sacred Radiance Domain, and I have also stepped into the Eternal True God."
But this bond has never changed. These petty villains have slandered him, but I'm determined to hold this banquet to show you all that my brothers, Hui Feng's brothers, would never do such a despicable thing."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the guests raised their glasses. A young master from a prominent Aristocratic Clan, dressed in brocade robes, smiled broadly.
"Brother Hui Feng and Young Venerable Han have a friendship that transcends life and death; everyone knows that. Now that Young Venerable Han is in seclusion in Nine Mysteries City, it's Brother Hui Feng who has avenged him first."
"Yes, the Hui Feng Brothers and Young Venerable Han started out as strangers, and now they've both become Eternal True God. It's quite a story."
" Young Venerable Han is invincible among his peers, and the Hui Feng Brothers are no less so. In the future, the Hui Feng Brothers will definitely have a place within the Chamber of Commerce."
Among those present were prodigies from powerful factions and retainers of the Eternal Chamber of Commerce, all of whom were filled with envy.
Perhaps some of the top geniuses in the Eternal Chamber of Commerce could still maintain their arrogance in front of Han Xuanji, but among these people, although some are also disciples of the Holy Lord, their status is completely incomparable. You should know that some Holy Lord have hundreds or thousands of disciples, while Han Xuanji is only one of the two disciples of the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord.
Moreover, the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord is no ordinary Holy Lord.
Now, Han Xuanji may even represent the Sacred Court at the Dragon Terrace Sacred Banquet, an unparalleled honor that is difficult for many young cultivators to attain.
Hui Feng laughed heartily and waved his hand, saying:
"Brother Han is Brother Han, and I am me. Don't flatter me. He is a direct disciple of the Nine Mysteries Holy Lord and is highly regarded by the Saint Venerable. That's what you call a Wuliang future."
" My Hui Feng is mediocre; I can only pursue the path of the physical body. My talent is ultimately inferior to Brother Han's."
A Rogue Cultivator sitting at the lower end quickly said:
"Brother Hui Feng is too modest! The physical body also has boundless potential and can also reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao."
Another person chimed in, "When Brother Hui Feng makes further progress in the future, he might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Young Venerable Han."
The prodigies of powerful forces are naturally arrogant, but no matter how arrogant they are, they must bow their heads when they see a true genius.
The fact that Hui Feng was valued by the Yaoguang City speaks volumes.
In the Eternal Chamber of Commerce, the city lord of the main city holds a position similar to that of the lord of the Sacred Hall, and only the top powerhouses among the Holy Lord are qualified to hold this position.
Hui Feng heard this and his smile deepened. He then downed another large glass of wine.
Han Xuanji was his brother, and he, Hui Feng, would never be content to be just a shadow behind his brother.
This banquet was ostensibly to vent Han Xuanji's anger, but secretly, it was also a way for Hui Feng to further solidify his position in Yaoguang City.
Han Xuanji was renowned throughout the Nine Mysteries City, and Hui Feng did not intend to fall too far behind.