The main seat was empty, clearly indicating the guest of honor had not yet arrived. On the seats lining both sides, many of the Chen family’s stewards, deacons, and some distinguished guest elders and retainers were already seated.

Zhou Kai’s gaze swept across the room and soon spotted Chen Muhui in a relatively secluded corner towards the back.

The guy was drinking alone, looking rather sullen, his expression out of place amidst the surrounding lively atmosphere.

Zhou Kai walked over and plopped down on the empty seat beside Chen Muhui.

“What’s wrong? Who’s got you all worked up again? You’re pulling a face longer than a donkey’s.” Zhou Kai casually picked up the wine pot on the table and poured himself a cup.

Chen Muhui glanced up at him, forcing a slight twitch of his lips that passed for a smile. “Who else could it be? Just feeling stifled.”

“Oh?” Zhou Kai took a sip of wine. “Do tell. Let me enjoy your misery.”

Chen Muhui shot him a glare. “Always so happy to see others in trouble.”

He lowered his voice. “Tell me, we’re all members of the Chen family. Why does Chen Xingze’s return warrant such a grand spectacle? Look at this setup! Anyone would think some family ancestor was emerging from seclusion!”

“What? Jealous and resentful? We should just focus on enjoying the food and drink!”

“A bit,” Chen Muhui admitted frankly, then lowered his voice even further. “But it’s not just that! Do you know? To welcome him back, the Patriarch diverted the Spirit Stones originally allocated to several Deacons!”

“Over a decade ago, our resources were twice what they are now! And now it’s all being poured into him alone!”

Zhou Kai patted his shoulder. “Alright, enough complaining. You’re a direct descendant of the Chen family too.”

Chen Muhui gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Direct descendant? With my low-grade Spirit Root, I’m lucky to get scraps. In a few more decades, if I’m still stuck at Qi Condensation level three, I’ll be relegated to a branch line.”

Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow but didn’t pursue the topic further.

What Chen Muhui said was true. In cultivation families, everything spoke in terms of strength and talent. Without value, one naturally became marginalized.

A commotion arose at the entrance to the hall. The previously boisterous noise gradually died down as everyone’s gaze turned towards the doorway.

Patriarch Chen Rulong of the Chen family entered, beaming with pride, personally accompanying a young man dressed in luxurious sapphire-blue brocade robes.

The young man appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with an upright posture and an imposing aura evident in his stride.

This was Chen Xingze, the most outstanding disciple of this generation in the Chen family.

Following behind Chen Xingze were two cultivators wearing the attire of Inner Sect Disciples from the Heavenly Spring Sect, their auras steady and composed.

Zhou Kai silently observed Chen Xingze.

He certainly had good looks and solid cultivation. However, the undisguised pride and sharpness in his eyes were somewhat off-putting.

With a high-grade Spirit Root and the entire Chen family pouring resources into his cultivation, he indeed had capital for pride.

Thoughts churned in Zhou Kai’s mind, but his expression remained unchanged on the surface. He simply picked up his wine cup and settled in to watch from the sidelines.

Chen Rulong walked to the front before the main seat, gestured for Chen Xingze to sit beside him, then cleared his throat and announced clearly, “Everyone! Today’s banquet serves two purposes! First, to welcome my son Xingze back from his sect!”

Immediately, perfectly timed words of flattery rose from below, creating a lively atmosphere.

Chen Rulong waved his hand for quiet, his smile widening. “Secondly, I have good news to announce! Xingze has lived up to the family’s high expectations! Last month, he successfully broke through his bottleneck and has now reached Qi Condensation level eight!”

Whoosh!

Upon hearing this news, exclamations of astonishment and envy erupted from below.

Qi Condensation level eight at twenty-five! With such talent, Foundation Establishment was within reach!

“Congratulations to the Patriarch! Congratulations to Young Master!”

“The Chen family prospers! Young Master Xingze is truly a heaven-sent prodigy!”

“With Young Master Xingze here, our Chen family has nothing to fear about its future!”

Congratulations poured forth incessantly.

A reserved smile played on Chen Xingze’s lips as he nodded slightly in acknowledgment of everyone’s well-wishes. The hint of arrogance deep in his eyes grew even stronger.

Zhou Kai also rose with the crowd, symbolically raising his wine cup in a toast towards Chen Xingze’s direction before sitting back down with everyone else.

He had never been particularly interested in such formalities.

After waiting for the commotion to subside slightly, Chen Rulong continued, “After deliberation by the family council of Elders, it has been decided that effective immediately, Chen Xingze is promoted to Sixth Elder of our Chen family and will participate in family affairs!”

This decision was within reason.

Another round of congratulations followed.

This time, Chen Xingze stood up and gave a shallow bow with clasped fists towards everyone as a gesture of respect.

“Thank you all for your esteem,” he said in a clear voice that carried throughout the hall. “Xingze will dedicate himself wholeheartedly to serving the family.”

Chen Rulong nodded with satisfaction and added, “Well then, I’ve said my piece. Next are two more important matters that will be announced by our newly appointed Sixth Elder.”

Chen Xingze stepped forward and swept his gaze across the hall.

“Everyone,” he began slowly. “The first matter: The Desolate Herb Garden under our sect’s jurisdiction will open half a month from now. At that time, I will personally lead a team of cultivators from our family into it to search for spirit herbs to replenish our family treasury.”

Desolate Herb Garden?

Hearing this name brought looks of excitement and anticipation to many faces below. Clearly, this Desolate Herb Garden represented a decent opportunity for them.

Chen Xingze paused briefly, seemingly pleased with everyone’s reaction. Then he changed tack; his expression turning serious.

“The second matter concerns our sect.” His voice carried a hint of coldness. “Just today, I received an urgent message from our sect headquarters. Two disciples of our Heavenly Spring Sect were attacked and killed near Crouching Tiger Mountain!”

These words sent shockwaves through the entire hall!

“The sect suspects this incident is related to Shen Hanyi—the ‘Sword Fairy’—from Lone Goose Palace!” Chen Xingze continued. “The sect has issued an order: Anyone who provides accurate information leading to Shen Hanyi’s whereabouts will be rewarded with one thousand Spirit Stones! If she can be captured alive and delivered to our sect… three Foundation Establishment Pills will be bestowed as reward!”

Boom!

The entire hall erupted into chaos!

One thousand Spirit Stones!

Three Foundation Establishment Pills!

For most Qi Condensation stage cultivators present here today… these numbers represented astronomical wealth! Especially Foundation Establishment Pills—they were treasures countless people dreamed of obtaining!

“Shen Hanyi? That genius sword cultivator from Lone Goose Palace?”

“Capture her alive? Shen Hanyi is at Sword Control level seven! They say her swordsmanship is peerless—invincible among those at her level! Capturing her alive would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!”

“Three Foundation Establishment Pills! If only I could get them…”

Countless eyes burned with fervor; breathing grew heavy throughout the room.

Zhou Kai’s hand holding his wine cup paused slightly; a flicker of surprise and doubt crossed his eyes.

Heavenly Spring Sect’s reaction seemed far too strange.

Merely the deaths of two Qi Condensation disciples warranted offering three Foundation Establishment Pills as bounty to capture Lone Goose Palace’s heaven-favored daughter?

This scale was far too extravagant. For the sake of mere two Qi Condensation disciples, they wouldn’t go to such lengths regardless of cost.

Why specifically demand she be taken alive? And make such public fanfare practically announcing it to the world? Weren’t they afraid of thoroughly enraging Lone Goose Palace and sparking a full-scale war between sects?

Moreover, the Heavenly Spring Sect had another Nascent Soul-level power—Calamity Abyss Valley—watching closely nearby.

Although Lone Goose Palace had few disciples, each was elite, especially since it was a renowned sword cultivation sect famed for its killing prowess. Its strength was absolutely not to be underestimated.

Unless… something about Shen Hanyi herself, or something she knew, held value the Heavenly Spring Sect was willing to pay any price to obtain!

Zhou Kai felt these waters ran much deeper than imagined.

He turned towards the nearby Chen Muhui, asking quietly, “Hey, what exactly is this Desolate Herb Garden place?”

Chen Muhui, clearly still reeling from shock at the news, took a moment to regain his composure, similarly lowering his voice to explain. “You’ve only been on Crouching Tiger Mountain ten years; not knowing is normal.”

“The Desolate Herb Garden is a special area beneath the riverbed of a small tributary of the Heavenly Spring called Little Spirit Creek.”

“Inside, Spirit Qi is a bit denser than outside, and quite a variety of first-grade and second-grade spirit herbs grow there. A pretty rich assortment. Every fifteen years, the Heavenly Spring Sect allows subordinate cultivation families to send disciples to gather once. Considered a bit of a benefit given to affiliated families.”

“Benefit?” Zhou Kai snorted a laugh. “Sounds pretty good.”

“Good my ass!” Chen Muhui curled his lip, his tone carrying disdain. “Heavenly Spring Sect are shrewd bastards! This Desolate Herb Garden, they themselves don’t even care about; the spirit herbs inside are too low grade.”

“The reason they open it to us at set specific times and glorify it by calling it a ‘bestowal’ is actually just stringing us along.”

“Besides, do you know why the Heavenly Spring Sect always emphasizes they won’t take a single coin of the harvest gathered?”