Tian Shou, his face etched with a practiced serenity that masked the underlying tension, rose from his seat at the head table, performing a formal hand gesture—a respectful zuoyi bow with his left hand covering his right fist—before addressing the gathered guests. He lifted a delicate porcelain cup filled with shimmering, amber wine, his movements slow and deliberate, each motion part of a sacred ritual. His fingers curled gracefully around the cup, and as he raised it, he paused briefly, his eyes closing in silent reflection before continuing the motion. The amber liquid shimmered, catching the lantern light, as if it held within it a piece of the evening's spirit.
His voice, amplified by a subtle cultivation technique, resonated clearly across the assembled guests.
"Honored elders, esteemed disciples, welcome to the Skyward Lotus Sect," he began, his tone warm and welcoming. "We are deeply grateful for your presence at this humble gathering. May this feast be a symbol of unity, a testament to our shared pursuit of cultivation, and a foundation for prosperous relations between our sects."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard, meeting the eyes of each elder in turn, before raising his cup higher. "To unity, growth, and enduring prosperity!"
A chorus of greetings and well wishes echoed through the courtyard as the guests raised their own cups in response, the clinking of porcelain a delicate counterpoint to the murmur of conversation. Elder Jin, however, his eyes gleaming with a predatory sharpness, rose from his seat, his booming voice cutting through the pleasantries. "Sect Leader Tian Shou," he began, bowing slightly, "we are honored by your hospitality and grateful for your invitation to this grand gathering."
"Indeed, Sect Leader Tian," he continued, his words carrying a weight of unspoken challenge, "unity and prosperity are noble goals. But words are but fleeting whispers in the wind. True strength lies in action, in the tangible display of one's cultivation, in the unwavering pursuit of power." He paused, his gaze lingering on Tian Shou for a moment longer than necessary, a subtle but unmistakable jab at the Skyward Lotus Sect's perceived weakness. "Let us hope that tonight, the Skyward Lotus Sect proves that its strength matches its hospitality."
He raised his cup, his smile tight, his eyes glinting with an unspoken dare. "To action, and the unwavering pursuit of power!"
A ripple of tension spread through the courtyard. Disciples from the Blazing Sun and Golden Feather Sects exchanged knowing smirks, their eyes gleaming with amusement at the veiled insult.
Tian Hao, seated at his lower-status table, felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he caught the barely concealed tension.
At the head table, Elder Hua's face hardened, her jaw clenching as she met Elder Jin's gaze, her eyes blazing with barely suppressed anger. Tian Hao could practically feel the heat radiating from her, the tension in her posture speaking volumes.
With the formalities concluded, the feast began, not with food, but with a cultural showcase carefully orchestrated to impress the visiting sects.
A hush fell over the courtyard as Elder Li, a wizened scholar with a long, flowing white beard, stepped onto the raised platform. Before beginning, he bowed deeply to the four cardinal directions, a gesture of respect to the heavens, the earth, and the gathered guests. He cleared his throat, his voice carrying clearly across the assembled guests, and began to recite a poem—an ancient ode to the virtues of cultivation, the words flowing like water, each phrase imbued with centuries of tradition.
心如静水,志如巍山,
道法无边,恒心不渝.
苦海无涯,勇者当渡,
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This Hedonistic Young Master
FantasyAbstract "A man who gains power through pleasure, reborn in a life where pleasure is a sin." Yu Cheng didn't sign up for this-a life of noodles, endless shifts, and envy was all he knew. But one cosmic fluke later, he's reborn as Tian Hao 2.0, the s...
