Four days later.
Lu Ming's entire family came out, even bringing Lu Mengmeng along. After all, it was a grand feast today, and the gluttonous girl would surely enjoy herself.
The area in front of the ward office was unusually lively. Today, all the prominent figures in Qingyuan Market had brought their families to the banquet.
After all, this was the first time Zhou Xuan, the head of the neighborhood, had formally invited various forces to gather at the neighborhood office since taking office.
When Lu Ming and his group arrived at the entrance of the ward's government office, they saw that the Li Clan's carriage had also arrived. Li Yan, along with Li Shuang and Li Mu, stepped down from the carriage.
" Auntie Li."
Upon seeing this, Lu Ming quickly stepped forward to greet them.
" Lu Ming, your Thunderfire Hall has been making quite a splash lately, congratulations!" Li Yan said with a gentle smile when she saw Lu Ming.
"We also have to thank Auntie Li for helping us through the most difficult time."
That's true. Without Li Yan's various overt and covert support, Thunderfire Hall's situation would have been even more difficult. Although Li Yan's help was because of Jingyi, Lu Ming and the others always remembered this kindness.
In particular, Lu Ming's Golden Pupil played a crucial role in the bloody battle against the Peach Mountain Band. Without the power of the Golden Pupil, he and Lu Jin would not have been able to break into the Peach Miasma Mountain Range and wipe out the Peach Mountain Band.
Naturally, one would not be able to obtain a treasure like the " Red Jade Flat Peach Tree ".
If Li Yan hadn't asked him to attend the " Spirit Fish Banquet," all of this would have been in vain, and they might even have ended up with Guo Kui, a troublesome figure who would cause them sleepless nights.
With a sincere look in his eyes, Lu Ming took out a sandalwood box from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Li Yan, saying with a smile, "A small gift, I hope Auntie Li won't refuse. This is the only token of our Thunderfire Hall's appreciation."
"Oh, you're even giving gifts now. Looks like you've been doing well lately."
Li Yan couldn't help but chuckle, took the box, opened it, and glanced inside. She paused slightly, somewhat surprised, and said, "This is... Red Jade Flat Peach?"
"You didn't find this in the Peach Mountain Band's storeroom, did you?"
Lu Ming smiled and nodded, then said seriously, "They stole our Moon Spirit Grass, so it's perfectly reasonable for us to take their Red Jade Flat Peach."
Oh, right, and they also took their lives.
But they started it, so this result is their just deserts, and they can't blame the Thunderfire Hall for it.
"Since you have such filial piety, then I will accept it."
Li Yan smiled and nodded, putting the wooden box away. As the head of the Li Clan, she had naturally seen many fine things. Although a Red Jade Flat Peach was worth some money, she valued Lu Ming's sentiment even more.
She had practically watched this little guy grow up, and he hadn't become cold towards her just because the Thunderfire Hall's situation had improved and he had become involved with Zhou Xuan.
Now that I've finally managed to snag some Red Jade Flat Peach after a lot of hard work, and even gave her a portion, it's truly not easy.
This pleased her greatly.
Then, Li Yan inquired about Lu Ming's cultivation progress before stepping forward to greet Lu Jin and the others.
Lu Ming followed behind her, while Li Shuang moved closer and asked in a low voice, "Have you been seeing Fuling quite often lately?"
Lu Ming was taken aback, then nodded. "I follow the workshop master in cultivating Dao of Alchemy, so I often come to the workshop office and frequently see my senior sister."
Upon hearing this, Li Shuang immediately curled her red lips, snorted, and her pretty face returned to its icy coldness as she ignored him.
Lu Ming was baffled by this, so he ignored her and went back to Lu Jin and the others.
Lu Ming was already extremely familiar with this yamen, and the guards were equally familiar with him. They didn't even need to announce his arrival; they simply let him lead his group inside on his own.
Lu Ming, familiar with the place, led Lu Jin and the others to the west courtyard of the government office. This was the reception area, and it had been cleaned up thoroughly. In the extremely spacious courtyard, tables were arranged in a clear and distinct manner, and the tables were piled high with exquisite fruits and pastries.
"Haha, Master Lu, Patriarch Li Clan."
Zhou Xuan and Zhou Fuling greeted them with broad smiles, and both sides bowed respectfully.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats in turn.
After that, various forces from Qingyuan Market arrived one after another, including the Yan Clan family, whose head Yan Jing, was followed by Yan Qing and Yan Zhizhi.
Other Divine Ability Hall naturally wouldn't be absent either. When Lin Changkong appeared, he was greeted by bigwigs from various factions, as the status of True Qi Master was quite extraordinary.
Lu Ming then looked behind Lin Changkong, where Xu Xiong and a cold-looking young man were standing.
"That's Zhao Changming from the Golden Gang Sword Hall. He also comes from a small family of supernatural powers in Qingyuan Market. He's the youngest Great Divine Ability Practitioner in the Golden Gang Sword Hall. Speaking of which, he entered the Golden Gang Sword Hall around the same time Zhang Yue entered our Thunderfire Hall. I remember he should have cultivated fifteen Divine Ability Dharma Mark by now. Lin Changkong brought him here, probably intending for him to enjoy the ' Spirit Pill Jiao '." Lu Jin glanced at him and said to Lu Ming.
Zhou Xuan had already informed all the families about the " Spirit Pill Jiao," so today each family brought their youngest and most outstanding Great Divine Ability Practitioner.
Lu Ming nodded slightly. Although Zhao Changming's talent was far inferior to Zhang Yue's, his small family behind him was doing its best to support him. Therefore, he could be considered a young talent to have cultivated fifteen Divine Ability Dharma Mark at this age.
"Today's Spirit Pill Jiao will be attended by A-Ming and the eldest brother. It's a chance, and if they can improve a Divine Ability Dharma Mark, that would be even better," Lu Jin arranged.
"Father, let my second brother go," Lu Qingyan said hastily upon hearing this.
Lu Ming has already gone up; it would be unfair for his father to go up too.
"What's there to be modest about? Big brother, you're already stronger than me, more talented, and you'll get more benefits once you're in. Don't you know our family's situation? Of course, whoever is more useful will get more resources," Lu Jinglei said nonchalantly.
Lu Qingyan gave a helpless, bitter smile.
Lu Ming laughed and said, "It's alright. I'll find a high-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Object for Second Uncle later. Even if it can't forge High-Grade Divine Ability Dharma Foundation, it's at least a mid-grade one. And who knows, there might even be a slight chance of him becoming Grandmaster in the future."
"Wow, you little rascal, you're actually making empty promises to me. A top-grade Foundation Establishment Spirit Object, Grandmaster, haha, I've never dared to dream of that in my life, but your second uncle is waiting for that day." Lu Jinglei laughed, overwhelmed by Lu Ming's grand promises.
While they were talking, Lu Mengmeng stopped talking and began to silently stuff the exquisite pastries and fruits on the table into her stomach one after another. This scene made Lu Ming even think that her stomach was a Heaven and Earth Sleeve.
As time went by, all the forces from Qingyuan Market arrived, making the courtyard a lively and bustling place—a truly rare and grand event.
The " Spirit Pill Jiao " that Zhou Xuan is going to hold is truly rare in Qingyuan Market. After all, there are not many Dao of Alchemy masters here, and even if one does come occasionally, it is impossible for him to sacrifice his own Dao of Alchemy foundation to benefit others by holding a " Spirit Pill Jiao ".
Therefore, all the factions were very interested in this and none of them were absent.
As Zhou Xuan took his seat, all the factions in Qingyuan Market saw a beautiful woman in palace attire sitting next to him. This woman had an undisguised arrogance on her face. She sat there casually, not greeting any of the factions in Qingyuan Market, and didn't even bother to show a smile.
Behind him stood a tall, handsome young man and woman.
However, no one showed any dissatisfaction with her attitude, because they could faintly sense the Primordial Qi emanating from the beautiful woman in palace attire.
Even Li Yan, Yan Jing, and Lin Changkong lingered on the beautiful woman in palace attire for several breaths, their eyes filled with doubt and some apprehension. She must be a True Qi Master with profound knowledge and skills.
How did such a person suddenly appear in Qingyuan Market? And judging from his appearance, he is a distinguished guest of the ward master, Zhou Xuan.
The powerful figures from all sides were secretly plotting their moves.
Meanwhile, Zhou Fuling was helping to attract guests at the banquet. The girl was slender, with a slim waist and full breasts, and a beautiful face with a special charm. Even when facing those Divine Ability Master of supernatural abilities who held high positions in Qingyuan Market, she was still able to handle them with grace and poise.
Yan Qing, who was following behind Yan Jing, looked at Zhou Fuling's beautiful figure with a slightly fiery gaze. Then he gave Yan Zhizhi a wink, and the latter understood. She got up and walked towards Zhou Fuling, and then chatted with her. Yan Qing then had an excuse to walk over with a smile.
However, just as the two members of the Yan Clan surrounded them, Li Shuang pulled Li Mu up and joined them.
"These bumpkins from Qingyuan Market, from families with extraordinary abilities, dare to dream of eating swan meat like toads?" Ye Ling's eyes flashed with annoyance upon seeing this. How could she not know what those two girls were up to? After all, she was tired of this kind of thing.
Without making a sound, she grabbed Ye Yuan's sleeve and, ignoring his struggles, headed straight for the small circle.
"Hehe, Fuling, is this a scion of a family of supernatural powers from Qingyuan Market? He does have quite the bearing," Ye Ling asked sweetly.
Yan Zhizhi and Li Shuang glanced at her, then turned their gazes to Ye Yuan, who was tall and handsome, standing beside her, their eyes filled with hostility.
Is this outsider trying to interfere? What low class!
Zhou Fuling smiled and introduced them to each other. When Li Shuang, Yan Zhizhi, and Yan Qing learned that the other party came from a family of supernatural powers in the city of " Southern Heaven Prefecture ", their eyes changed slightly.
Like Fengyang Prefecture, to which Qingyuan Market belongs, Southern Heaven Prefecture is one of the prefectures in the Great Luo Domain. The Ye Lineage is a famous family of supernatural powers in the city of Southern Heaven Prefecture.
This outsider seems to be a powerful dragon crossing the river.
They thought this to themselves, but their expressions remained unchanged. Then, a group of young disciples from families with supernatural powers, centered around Zhou Fuling, chatted happily and amicably.
However, Zhou Fuling gradually sensed that the people were speaking to each other with veiled barbs and sarcastic remarks, and realized that they harbored hostility towards each other. So she could only helplessly try to mediate and maintain the atmosphere. After all, it was a banquet hosted by Zhou Xuan, and as the hostess, she couldn't let the atmosphere become awkward.
However, this inevitably leads to mental and physical exhaustion.
Seeing this scene, Lu Ming couldn't help but want to laugh. He could sense that Zhou Fuling must be extremely annoyed at this moment, but she could only force herself to maintain the facade because of the situation.
But just as he was smiling, he noticed a sharp gaze sweeping over him.
That was Zhou Fuling. She stared at Lu Ming, who was clearly watching her make a fool of herself, with an unfriendly look in her eyes, and a malicious smile curled her red lips.
Then, leaving the others behind, she walked straight towards Lu Ming's location. At the same time, her red lips moved slightly, and a playful chuckle, enveloped in a wisp of Primordial Qi, reached Lu Ming's ears.
"Junior brother, I've helped you so many times, it's time for you to repay my kindness."