Although Wu Tian was pondering this matter in his heart, he couldn't voice it aloud. He even wondered if he had truly forgotten about the idea of preparing a gift. But that shouldn't be the case—watching others give gifts should have reminded him. Or maybe it was because the child seemed too young for proper gifting? Upon realizing this, Wu Tian quickly let it go.

Without further deliberation, he soon led everyone to the main hall—a spacious room illuminated by faint, twinkling lights. Despite its openness, the surroundings were filled with thriving plants emitting a soft glow, complemented by the hazy, pale purple skies above. In an ambiance like this, drinking wine would undoubtedly leave people more inebriated by the atmosphere than the alcohol itself. At least for now, the plump one was visibly anticipating the coming feast.

As for food and drink, right after Blade Warrior had connected to the Heavenly Communication system, Wu Tian had already issued orders for a feast to be prepared swiftly. He intended to host his guests with the utmost hospitality.

Looking at the dazzling array of sumptuous dishes, from a plethora of delicacies to exotic greens that were both familiar and unfamiliar, the crowd was momentarily bedazzled. It was truly a feast too grand for words.

"Honored guests, why not take your seats at once? Hahaha…"

Wu Tian smiled warmly, extending his hand in a gesture of invitation to urge everyone to sit down quickly, lest the dishes grow cold. He himself took the host's seat, followed by various protectors, elders, and hall masters. The elite disciples were intentionally not invited—not due to improper etiquette, but because Wu Tian deemed it more appropriate to gather the senior ranks of the Jade Clear Sect to fully honor their guests.

"Everyone, please." Wu Tian raised his glass and toasted all around.

But… Zhang Xiaobo suddenly felt somewhat out of place. Wasn't this setting a bit peculiar? The usual gatherings were filled with cheerful conversations and playful banter; wasn't it said that laughter brings warmth to any occasion? But this overly formal atmosphere instead made Xiaobo feel awkward.

Despite these thoughts swirling in his mind, Zhang Xiaobo constantly reminded himself: Fatty, as a man of your caliber, feeling embarrassed is definitely normal, right? Nonetheless, his actions proved faster than anyone else's. He immediately grabbed his own wine glass, waited for Wu Tian to lead the toast, and then, without hesitation, emptied his drink in one go. Following this, he grabbed a drumstick and began devouring it straight away...

Indeed, Zhang Xiaobo considered himself a man of principles—albeit one whose mouth occasionally betrayed him. And so, he indulged himself in the feast.

In truth, the members of Xiu Yi's team also found themselves somewhat ill-at-ease with this kind of gathering, as it was entirely new to them. During their previous adventures and training expeditions, they had never experienced formal drinking occasions like this. Being accustomed to a more relaxed lifestyle, this rare sense of restraint left them feeling rather out of place.

"Lord Wu Tian, there's really no need for such extravagance. Look at these two younger fellows—they're already feeling embarrassed."

Wu Tian was momentarily taken aback but then erupted into hearty laughter. "Hahaha—there's no need to stand on ceremony, my young friends. Eat and drink as much as you like! Consider this place as your home away from home. Besides, you're all disciples of Feng Yi—in a way, we could be considered family, with shared ties of kinship, don't you think?"

"Huh? Kinship?" Kevin and Xiu Yi were visibly startled. How had this conversation turned to family relations within just a couple of sentences? Clearly, the Blade Warrior's disciples carried significant weight.

Zhang Xiaobo, on the other hand, was quite carefree. He urged Xiu Yi to simply accept this newfound "relative." Being out in the world, braving the elements and enduring hardships wasn't easy. After all, more friends mean more paths to tread; and more relatives? Well, that surely means multiple roads ahead! Should trouble ever arise, having connections like this could offer some serious backup. His flippant words brought forth unrestrained laughter from everyone present.

Sara's cheeks flushed bright red. This hefty fellow never seemed capable of uttering a positive word—his ideas were always riddled with nonsense. What an embarrassment. She hissed at him, "You'd better pipe down, or prepare to kneel at home on a washboard when we get back!"

The fatty was instantly dumbfounded. Despite his usual act of fearing neither Heaven nor Earth, he always showed deference toward women.

"I was just joking!"

But as it turns out, Xiu Yi proved that joking wasn't always the safest option. He teased, "Fatty, sure, you're joking—but Sara wasn't! That washboard kneeling session? It's still happening."

"Hey! You brat—why can't you just read the room for once?"

"Xiu Yi, you should stop talking now. If you keep at it, someone might make YOU kneel on a washboard soon too," Xixi remarked cryptically, casting a glance at the Red Ghost...

The mood instantly turned awkward. Fatty looked at Xiu Yi, who then looked back at Fatty, while the rest looked at them both. Frankly, the two seemed quite fated—to be squabbling partners whenever they spoke, even to the point of matching each other's antics while playing cards. Truly, a one-of-a-kind pairing.

Wu Tian chimed in, "Since everyone's come such a long way, I suggest staying here for a few days. By the way, in a few days, there'll be a Martial Arts Tournament held right here."

"A Martial Arts Tournament? What's that?"

"Haha, it's something that has gained popularity in the past year."

Wu Tian explained to Blade Warrior and the group that in response to the global promotion of Ancient Martial Arts over the past year, nearly every star sector now hosts several tournaments annually. At least, that's the case in the Zana Republic. The primary aim is to enhance the physical fitness of the populace. And, of course, participants can win prize money. Naturally, such competitions would hardly pose a challenge for warriors of their caliber.

After all, the contestants at these Martial Arts Tournaments vary widely in skill—some are extraordinarily strong, while others are weak. However, the main focus of the tournament is participation, with an emphasis on creating a lively spectacle. Even disciples of the Jade Clear Sect often attend these events, though participation is strictly limited to external and ordinary inner disciples. Elite disciples generally disdain joining such competitions.

That being said, one can't deny that powerful fighters occasionally emerge at such gatherings. About half a year ago, in this very region, an exceptionally formidable, mysterious individual appeared. Based on current combat standards, this person likely ranked among the First-Order warriors.

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