Chapter 361: Taishi Night Banquet

The moment the formation opened, Li Weiyi quickly retreated, taking a detour to avoid being followed, and rushed back to Yunxiu Square.

Publicly using the Staff-Spear of All Things was not a big deal.

He had only made one move, which was obscured by ghostly mist and dazzling light. Regardless of whether anyone noticed, Li Weiyi was not afraid in the slightest, having considered all possible consequences.

News of what happened at Manyue Square that afternoon spread quickly, causing a stir throughout Lingxiao City.

However, the main topic of discussion revolved around Song Qingli.

That evening, Taishi Chengdao, the current patriarch of the Taishi family, hosted a grand welcome banquet at the ancestral mansion for the guests and spirit masters who had arrived from Nanyan Pass.

Hundreds of servants and maids bustled about, swiftly serving meals, precious medicinal fruits, and ancient thousand-year-old brews.

There were also soups brewed from thousand-year-old elixirs and dishes prepared from the meat of Longevity Realm demonic beasts.

For a family that had existed for a thousand years, only the descendants of Longevity Realm powerhouses constituted the main lineage; all others were collateral branches. As for the descendants of transcendents, the entire family was considered to be such.

Currently, the Taishi family had only two main lineages, Taishi Qingcang and Taishi Qingshi, both holding the status of masters.

However, Taishi Qingcang was responsible for guarding Nanyan Pass, and his descendants within three generations were few, so the ancestral mansion was mostly populated by those from Taishi Qingshi's lineage.

As for the thousand-year-old ancestor, Grand Historian Taishi, he mostly resided in Yongzhou, in the eastern region, which was the ancestral land and foundation of the Taishi family.

Because of this, officials in Yongzhou and Liangzhou were almost all affiliated with the Taishi family.

Similar to the Jiang family in Fuzhou, or the Chen family in Youzhou.

The only transcendents who truly stayed long-term in Lingxiao City, apart from the three reclusive Palace Lords, were Ye Xuanming, the Blood-Clothed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Divine Guard, and Cao Caishen of the Ministry of Works.

Taishi Chengdao, seventy-two this year, should have retired long ago to fully dedicate himself to achieving Longevity and let the current Head of the First Rank serve as patriarch.

However, Taishi Yu was frivolous and cynical, showing no interest in family affairs, and completely refused to take over.

At the banquet, Li Weiyi enjoyed the top-tier treatment of sitting at the main table with Taishi Chengdao, Taishi Bai, and Long Xiangcen. This was because he had blocked Taishi Yu's psychic rebuke, earning everyone's respect.

His talent and strength had been recognized, granting him the qualification to share a table with the patriarchs of the world's most prominent families, surpassing other guests.

Taishi Chengdao sighed deeply: "Xiaobai, you must cultivate quickly and condense your Dao Fruit as soon as possible, so I can pass on this burden to you. If you keep delaying, the time to break through to the Longevity Realm will become more pressing after you turn eighty. Things are not like before; Lingxiao Palace no longer has Longevity Pills, and Du'e Temple has sent them all to the Zuoqiu Sect."

Taishi Bai asked with concern, "Has Second Uncle not returned yet?"

"The Second Palace Lord personally summoned him; it must be to question him about the Mother-Child Spring. I heard that Longevity Realm powerhouses from various families have all been summoned to Luan Terrace," Taishi Chengdao said, looking worried.

Discussions arose, touching upon what had occurred at Manyue Square that afternoon.

Li Weiyi frowned: "Everyone knows about it already? Is this matter really so influential?"

Those present were unaware that the other protagonist of the incident was sitting right beside them.

One of the white-haired guests solemnly stated, "The Ghost Infant Incident supposedly began two months ago, but it was just hearsay, and everyone dismissed it as rumors. However, this time, it happened at Manyue Square, appearing blatantly before everyone's eyes. How can it be covered up now?"

Another added, "What's more, the one involved is the top young master of the West Sea Royal Family, the West Sea King's favorite fifth-generation granddaughter, and a disciple of the Third Palace Lord. The impact is so great that the news will likely spread across all twenty-eight states very soon."

Taishi Bai pondered, "The day after tomorrow is Song Yulou's sixtieth birthday. He is the leader of Lingxiao City's Ten Prodigies and the strongest below the Longevity Realm on the 'Jiazi Register.' Originally, the West Sea Royal Family would surely have been packed with esteemed guests, and all families in Lingxiao City would have gone to offer congratulations. With such a scandal, will the grand birthday celebration still proceed?"

Li Weiyi had underestimated the incident's impact and felt that his identity would most likely be uncovered soon.

Outside the banquet hall, a hearty laugh rang out: "The sixtieth birthday celebration has been planned for months; how could it just be canceled? I just came from the West Sea Royal Family; Miss Song has regained partial consciousness. As long as she fully recovers and appears at the birthday banquet, the rumors will collapse on their own. Who can prove that the person who appeared at Manyue Square wasn't someone else in disguise?"

Taishi Yu walked in, smiling, "Gentlemen, I'm speaking frankly because I consider you my own people. If you spread this, you're no longer part of the Taishi family."

He scanned everyone, noting the subtle changes in their expressions, and continued: "It's said that after the Ghost Infant Incident broke out, Song Qingli was confined to her home. The reason she appeared at Manyue Square today was because someone within the royal family instigated it, and an anomaly occurred on the way. When I arrived, there were more than a dozen human heads displayed in the courtyard; the West Sea Royal Family had purged many within their ranks."

Everyone noticed that Taishi Yu's tone was off, as if he were hinting at something.

Instantly, the atmosphere at the banquet grew strange.

Taishi Bai's face stiffened: "Taishi Yu, are you saying that some of the guests I brought have issues?"

"I didn't say that," Taishi Yu chuckled.

Taishi Yu chuckled, walked to the main table, and tapped the head of an elderly guest next to Li Weiyi, signaling him to get up.

The old man, not daring to offend him, stood up and left.

Taishi Yu sat down and continued: "However, the demon race is making a comeback, massing troops in the Western Region. Tombs and grave mounds, spawned by evil cult sorcery, are scattered across several states. The Zuoqiu Sect, backed by Du'e Temple, is ambitious. Xuejian Tangting is ready to march south at any time with the armies of the five northern states."

"The Taishi family controls Lingxiao City and half of the defensive formations of the four major passes, and also governs Yongzhou and Liangzhou. With such immense power, it's quite normal for some ill-intentioned individuals to infiltrate."

Taishi Bai said, "Are you targeting me, or my people?"

Taishi Yu shook his head and laughed, "Brother Bai, I'm not targeting you; someone is targeting my Taishi family. Why did something happen at the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices? The incident at the Grand Court of Imperial Sacrifices could tie down Father and leave him overwhelmed."

"Why was Liangzhou's provincial capital attacked by a demon transcendent? Because it could tie down the ancestor, preventing him from returning to Lingxiao City."

"I'll say just one thing: if the people you brought inexplicably disappear or die, don't get angry. If the two of us start fighting, it would be considered internal family strife, and countless people would secretly rejoice."

Li Weiyi was secretly surprised. This Head of the First Rank Taishi did not seem as dissolute as he appeared. But what did it mean for him to suddenly reveal everything in front of everyone?

Had he already seen something and was trying to lure the snake out of its hole?

Patriarch Taishi Chengdao quickly stood up to mediate, ease the atmosphere, and ordered the maids to present the welcoming gifts prepared for all spirit masters and guests.

Every spirit master received a Starday Pill, worth one hundred thousand Spring Coins.

Each guest, on the other hand, received a thousand-year-old elixir herb, also worth one hundred thousand Spring Coins.

Lingxiao City's soil was extraordinary, and medicinal herbs grew much faster there than elsewhere.

Transcendent great families like the Taishi family received some Immortal Soil from Lingxiao Palace each year, which could increase the growth rate of medicinal herbs tenfold.

Families with a thousand-year legacy had their own medicinal fields and planted many new herbs each year.

Those living today consumed ancient herbs.

Descendants a thousand years later would consume the new herbs planted today.

How could they ever lack thousand-year-old elixirs?

As a result of Taishi Yu's disruption, the welcome banquet naturally ended unpleasantly.

"The imperial court's Starday Pills are likely refined by the Taishi family, so guests should be able to purchase them at a discounted price. The Taishi family's records on talismans and formations are also worth reviewing, to find one or two combat talismans or formations to refine for future use."

Li Weiyi took the Starday Pill and returned to Wei'yi Residence.

The Starday Pill was a high-grade magical pill, several to ten times more potent than the Xihe Pill he refined. To quickly cultivate to the peak of a five-star spirit master, he would need to consume the former.

Entering the Blood Mud Space, Li Weiyi, following his usual habit, immediately activated the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish to condense a cocoon of time, forgetting that Tang Wanzhou had already awakened.

Li Weiyi, sitting cross-legged inside the cocoon, took out all the top-tier talisman-making materials he had purchased and arranged them before him.

He used ancient immortal beast blood, immortal soil, and other ingredients to mix the talisman ink.

Suddenly.

The cocoon of time vibrated, and a slender, snow-white arm reached in.

"Whoosh!"

Tang Wanzhou walked in, one hand behind her back, her eyes full of curiosity. Then, she extended a hand, carefully sensing the profound mysteries of time power.

Li Weiyi's eyes narrowed, and he quickly put the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish inside his clothes.

"The time difference between inside and outside is about fivefold; so that's it. I wondered why my cultivation speed, already unmatched in the world, was still slower than yours. The answer was here all along."

Tang Wanzhou smiled in understanding, then sat down opposite Li Weiyi, saying, "I want to cultivate in here too..."

"Pop!"

The cocoon of time disintegrated, like a popping bubble.

Li Weiyi closed his eyes and sighed: "Young Lord, your cultivation is too high. With my current psychic power, I cannot sustain you inside the cocoon of time for cultivation."

Tang Wanzhou had her own assessment: "Since the strength of this cocoon of time is closely related to your psychic power, and you can already sustain it for a moment as a five-star spirit master, you will definitely be able to support both of us cultivating in the cocoon once you reach six-star. How long will it take you to break through?"

"I just broke through!"

Li Weiyi gave a wry smile and added, "Cultivating as a spirit master is not that easy."

Tang Wanzhou furrowed her brow in thought, her neck slender, hands resting on her knees, sitting upright with the aura of a powerful expert: "I don't know much about psychic power, so I can't help you... Oh, I remember, Aurora Dew seems to be an important resource for spirit master cultivation. I saw some suspended high above the sea surface in the waters very close to the Fusang Divine Tree."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Li Weiyi suddenly stood up, pulled her wrist, and headed towards Tanggu Sea.

Li Weiyi felt no awe toward this renowned Young Lord, unlike the martial cultivators of the Northern Region, and did not find her in any way unapproachable. He found her to have a good, open, and uninhibited personality.