Jiang Wang, having cracked open two Fated Mansions and gained two divine abilities, now harbored the hope of achieving a Heavenly Mansion. With the Seven Stars Sacred Building secret technique at his disposal for the Outer Building realm, he indeed possessed the right to declare that the Divine Entrance was not an insurmountable peak.

At this moment, Feng Ming was oblivious to the thoughts swirling within his newly acquired follower’s mind, or to the sights he beheld. In Wenxi County, countless sycophants and fawning retainers flocked to him; their presence held no consequence for him.

He smarted from the humiliation suffered at Weining Marquis’s manor, yet in his heart, he understood that he lacked the standing to erupt in anger.

Thus, he could only drown his frustrations cup after cup in wine.

Feng Yue, however, paid him no heed, his face perpetually plastered with a self-satisfied smile, engaging every guest with effusive conversation.

How could he maintain such a radiant facade?

Jiang Wang, silently accompanying Feng Ming in his drinking, suddenly grasped a crucial point – the dignified sect guardian of Qingyun Pavilion, subjected to countless snubs at Weining Marquis’s birthday feast, would ultimately bear the brunt of it in the Weining Marquis’s eyes.

If Feng Yue’s presence was a strategic move to mend relations, then any slight he endured at this moment was not in vain. The more boisterous he was, the more he was cold-shouldered, the more effectively he could absorb and deflect the host’s potential ire.

Jiang Wang silently cautioned himself: this was an old fox with a mind too deep for casual scrutiny. Extreme caution was paramount when dealing with him. To smoothly infiltrate Qingyun Pavilion and acquire the lost building from the Cloud Cauldron Immortal Palace, he could not reveal even a hint of his true intentions before this man.

Amidst the clinking of wine cups and the murmurs of conversation, a voice suddenly boomed from outside: “Wugong Marquis comes to congratulate!”

The guests erupted in a clamor.

Weining Marquis’s three-hundredth birthday drew countless well-wishers, but none commanded such weight. Even the Momen prodigy, Mo Jingyu, paled slightly in comparison.

Who in Yong did not know Wugong Marquis Xue Mingyi, the current Yong Emperor’s most trusted and capable minister?

A single national war had wrought earth-shattering changes upon Yong’s landscape.

Among Yong’s one duke and eight marquises, England Duke Beigong Yu, both before and after, was unquestionably the foremost. This status was cemented by his past achievements and formidable strength.

Yet, the ranking among the eight marquises had shifted.

During the reign of Han Yin, Wugong Marquis Xue Mingyi, though possessing prodigious talent, was the youngest among the eight marquises and was always viewed as a rising star. The court generally perceived him as somewhat immature, and his position among the eight marquises respectfully occupied the last seat.

Conversely, Weining Marquis Jiao Wu was a seasoned Divine Entrance expert who had long operated within Yong’s military and political circles. His strength was considerable, and his prestige was high, placing him among the upper echelon of the eight marquises.

Now, with Han Yin deceased and Han Xu in power, Wugong Marquis Xue Mingyi had immediately seized control of the Forbidden Army upon Han Yin’s demise, executing a bloodbath within the Heavenly Mandate Mansion and washing the Yong Imperial Palace in crimson, forcefully suppressing the volatile situation.

Subsequently, he had personally entered Lan’an Mansion, engaging in a face-to-face battle with the Qingjiang Water Monarch, Song Hengjiang. Finally, he had joined forces with England Duke Beigong Yu to expel the allied forces of Zhuang and Luo from Yong territory.

Although military communiqués lauded Beigong Yu with the primary credit for this victory, those with discerning eyes could see that Beigong Yu’s support for Han Xu had been less than steadfast. As Yong’s sole duke, his position remained unshakeable, yet Xue Mingyi’s ascent was unstoppable.

Weining Marquis Jiao Wu, also a participant in the Zhuang-Yong national war, had performed relatively unremarkably. Leading three Divine Entrance marquises, he had failed to eliminate Du Ruhui. Inevitably, whispers circulated, suggesting that the four marquises in the war had not fully exerted themselves, having indulged in ease for too long, their fighting spirit dimmed, unwilling to risk their lives for the nation’s affairs.

As one waxed, the other waned, and the times shifted.

The current Wugong Marquis, if not at the pinnacle of the marquises’ ranks, stood shoulder to shoulder with Chengde Marquis Li Ying.

Such a rise and fall in influence, while not always explicitly declared, manifested concretely in every facet of life, known to all.

For instance, at Weining Marquis’s two-hundredth birthday celebration, the Yong Emperor had personally attended to offer congratulations. This time, for his three-hundredth birthday, only an inner official had been dispatched with a gift.

Compared to this moment… subordinates had merely announced Xue Mingyi’s name.

Yet, within the courtyard, all the guests who had come to wish Weining Marquis a happy birthday hastily rose to their feet, not daring to remain seated!

Weining Marquis had not yet issued a welcoming decree, yet someone, unable to contain their eagerness, had already rushed towards the door.

Even Feng Ming, whose heart held resentment and who sought solace in drink, quickly rose. This indicated that he was not truly drunk, his mind still clear.

Jiang Wang, rising with the crowd, subtly glanced towards Weining Marquis. That individual’s expression remained unchanged, but this very lack of change underscored the significance of the moment.

Within the entire opulent courtyard, the only individuals still seated were Weining Marquis Jiao Wu and Mo Jingyu beside him.

Weining Marquis, as the host and the elder, naturally remained seated. Mo Jingyu, with the backing of both Momen and Qin, had no need to overly defer to Wugong Marquis.

Of course, his remaining seated was also a form of statement – a demonstration of his support for Weining Marquis.

He was not obligated to do so. Even if he had risen to welcome Xue Mingyi, no one would have accused him of flattery; they would have simply perceived it as politeness and thoroughness, and he would not have needed to offend anyone. Yet, he chose this path.

The complex implications behind this decision demanded deep contemplation.

The resounding thud of military boots echoed through the courtyard. The heroic and extraordinary Wugong Marquis strode in, clad in armor, a smile gracing his face: “Old Jiao’s three-hundredth birthday is indeed a momentous occasion. Xue has arrived late; I hope you will forgive my tardiness!”

“Since you have come, you are not late. Rather, this old man, entertaining esteemed guests, cannot free himself to welcome you. I hope Marquis Xue does not take it to heart.” Jiao Wu sat at the head seat, extending his right hand flatly in invitation: “Please take a seat this way!”

Someone had already vacated the seat to Jiao Wu’s right, awaiting Xue Mingyi’s arrival. Mo Jingyu sat to Jiao Wu’s left, silent.

“Old Jiao jests. If you were to come out and welcome me, how would I dare to enter and take a seat?”

Xue Mingyi, with the stride of a dragon and the bearing of a tiger, walked directly to the main table, to the seat specially vacated for him, yet he did not immediately sit.

He lifted his gaze to the “heavenly dome,” examining the luminous pearl instrument carved with stars and moon. Then, his eyes swept over the fine wine and delicacies in the courtyard, and for a moment, he remained silent.

Jiao Wu, conversely, displayed no apprehension. His current position had been earned through blood and steel. All his enjoyments were rightfully his. Even if Han Yin were resurrected, he could not fault him. Much less a Xue Mingyi of equal rank.

“How so?” Jiao Wu, observing his delay in seating, asked, “Does Marquis Xue have any instructions?”

“How could I dare?” Xue Mingyi turned back, smiling: “Xue merely feels that having entered such a noble abode and witnessed such a grand spectacle, I have arrived with empty hands, which truly feels somewhat inadequate.”

“You are a noble person. Your arrival makes you a noble guest, your words are noble pronouncements, and your seating is a noble courtesy. What further need is there for external offerings to congratulate?” Mo Jingyu spoke at this juncture, his voice passing through the black iron mask, possessing a dry, ethereal quality: “Please take a seat.”

Xue Mingyi looked at him, as if he had been waiting for him to speak, and smiled slightly: “Since the esteemed person of the Mo family elevates me thus, I should not be so impolite as to arrive empty-handed. Fortunately, I did come prepared; the Xue family is not an uncouth household.”

Speaking thus, his gaze returned to Jiao Wu, and he declared: “Present the gift!”

No sooner had the words left his lips than the courtyard gates swung open.

Four armored soldiers, carrying a person bound with five ropes, walked into the courtyard.

Their steps were firm, their armor plates interlocking.

Like a marching column, like a charging formation, their momentum was overwhelming.

At once, the entire hall erupted in uproar!