Gazing at him with a series of astonished and amazed eyes, Huang Taiqi's steps momentarily stumbled, then swiftly resumed, his posture subtly straightening and his expression growing more serious—now clearly embodying the aura of a celebrity. "I've told you many times," Huang Taiqi frowned, speaking with earnestness, "don't call me your adoptive father." "Oh, right, right," Zhang Yuanqing said, "I mean, your adoptive father—well, actually, Huang brother. Tonight's dinner, you really have to help us out. The interest rate our boss has set is 2.9%, so not many people are willing to lend large sums." Huang Taiqi said solemnly, "2.9% is a bit low—bank time deposits for large amounts typically offer better returns." "That's exactly why we're asking for your help," Zhang Yuanqing added, "who could forget that land and property sales are always handled by the well-established, established families?" Huang Taiji spoke with a formal, businesslike demeanor: "The group's funds aren't mine. A single investment yielding returns could damage my reputation and standing..." Before he finished, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly cried out, "Uncle! Uncle!" Huang Taiji gave a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "I'll think about it," he said. "Thank you, Uncle," Zhang Yuanqing said, leading Huang Taiji into the banquet hall and announcing loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, my esteemed uncle has arrived." The well-dressed men and women in suits and formal attire turned to look in surprise. One by one, familiar faces exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions now fixed on Huang Taiji. Huang Taiji, though lacking in intuitive insight, easily sensed the astonishment, surprise, and a growing sense of admiration and envy among the official second-, third-, and fourth-generation heirs. This sense of surprise and admiration was distinct from the expectations tied to his status as the official fourth son. Master Yuan Shishen is no longer what he used to be. Following the upheaval of the Five Elements' Chaos quest, he has firmly established himself among the very strongest of the subordinates, now on par in strength with the official's four noble sons. In terms of reputation—whether praised or criticized—he has surpassed Huang Gongzi, the quiet and reserved one; Huo Gongzi, the passionate and impetuous; Hua Gongzi, the relaxed and charming; and Qian Gongzi, the one known for his moral authority. The title of "paternal uncle" is a surprise and a revelation, given that no one expected Huang Taiqi to win over Master Yuan Shishen. Huang Taiqi quietly straightened his posture, walking with the grace of a celebrity on a red carpet into the banquet hall, where distinguished guests gathered around him, expressing warm and respectful greetings. Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of the dining room, through the courtyard, and continued to welcome guests at the villa entrance. Soon, he welcomed two familiar faces—also the featured guests of the evening. —Miao Teng'er and Ling Jun. Tonight, Miao Teng'er looks especially striking, dressed in a soft, luminous white silk blouse and a And this perfectly matched her grace and appearance—clear and refined, yet never lacking the delicate charm of a mature woman. "Vénérée, it's as if we haven't seen each other in three autumns!" Zhang Yuqing laughed heartily, opening his arms to greet her, as if eager to embrace her warmly. Vénérée beamed with a bright, radiant smile, and gave him a graceful, open embrace, then hummed, "I'm older than you—I expect you to call me 'sister.'" "Never! Lingjun is my closest friend and brother, and you're her sister—so you're my sister to me. Hmph, is Vénérée going to outshine all the others tonight?" Zhang Yuqing praised her sincerely and warmly. Vénérée scowled. "You're just full of flattery!" "Ah, modest, so modest!" Zhang Yuqing took her small hand, clapped it gently on his back, and poured out his heartfelt words: "In my eyes, Vénérée is the official number-one beauty—three parts more beautiful than Yin Ji." His expression and tone were serious and earnest, as if about to swear an oath This clearly touched the very core of Miao Teng'er's heart, and the clear, exquisite face instantly bloomed with a bright smile. Suddenly, she sighed, "I'm truly sorry about the Council of Judgment." She was referring to Miao Senior's failure to support Yuan Shi Tianzun during the council proceedings. "Ah, Miao Senior is so strategic—knowing how close I am to Ling Jun and you, even if he doesn't actively help me, I simply can't hold a grudge." Zhang Yuanqing shrugged. Miao Teng'er glanced at him and smiled again. "Teng'er, go in first. I'd like to chat with Yuan Shi a moment." Ling Jun coughed softly, urging his cousin to hurry inside and not linger with Yuan Shi Tianzun. Miao Teng'er nodded slightly and gracefully walked through the courtyard toward the villa. "Five seconds!" Ling Jun murmured. "Five seconds? What does that mean?" Zhang Yuanqing looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You held Teng'er's hand for five seconds. Teng'er usually dislikes physical contact with the opposite sex, including handshakes—yet she not only embraced you, but also let your slightly clumsy hand hold hers." "I just gave her a casual hug; I didn't even measure the breadth of her chest." "Hey, if you keep talking about how wonderful she is, I'm going to lose my patience." Lin Jun sighed. "Teng'er actually really likes people like you—talented, a bit unorthodox, high in emotional intelligence, and naturally charming. Unfortunately, you've already settled with Guan Ya. Otherwise, I'd be very satisfied to entrust Teng'er to you." "Come on, Fu Qingyang will give each of us a technique that's nearly an art form." "You're worried about Fu Qingyang giving each of us a sword, not about Guan Ya being sad or distressed? Isn't that more about Fu Qingyang's feelings?" "Don't suddenly go all romantic—let's go in." Zhang Yuanqing pushed him firmly into the courtyard. At 8 p.m., the guests who had been invited arrived one after another at Fu's villa. The venue is located in the adjacent building on the left, featuring a dedicated banquet hall spanning over five hundred square meters, carpeted with thick rugs and adorned with cascading crystal chandeliers resembling nine-tiered lotus blossoms. Long tables laid with white tablecloths are neatly arranged, each serving premium ingredients. Rabbit maids guide female servers among the guests, bringing forth an array of dishes and beverages. At the heart of the banquet, a gleaming lacquered grand piano shines brightly, where Miao Teng, with the elegance of a peony, gently plays. Her delicate, fair hands move fluidly across the piano keys. As the host, Fu Qingyang wears a crisp white suit, with a short braid and his sculpted, composed face maintaining its reserved grace. He engages in heartfelt conversations and toasts with his trusted subordinate, Yuan Shiyu, and official elites, effortlessly becoming the highlight of the evening. As the wine flows and the atmosphere grows more vibrant, Huang Taidi also takes Yuan Shiyu on a tour, willingly accepting his title of "father-in-law" without hesitation. Zhang Yuanqing knew his task—what the elder had assigned him—was complete when Huang Gongzi would lend money. In fact, the bulk of the funds for this banquet came from Huang Taidi, the CEO of the Government Building Group. This year, the real estate sector has been sluggish, and the group has reduced its capital allocation to real estate, resulting in a surplus of liquid funds. Securing Huang Taidi meant closing eighty percent of the funding gap. Yet Fu Qingyang noted that Huang Taidi was rigid and serious, strictly business-oriented, and in his presence, even the face of the money公子 (the money-giving guest) carried little weight. It would require Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn—the elder’s adopted son—to step in. Zhang Yuanqing finished his two glasses of wine and then stopped drinking. He didn’t drink at all; no matter how expensive the wine, it was simply wasted in his mouth. He preferred chilled cola, but Fu Qingyang emphasized that in formal settings, one must uphold form—there was no place for cola at the dinner. Now, seated near the balcony, he enjoys the gentle evening breeze, calmly observing the gentlemen and ladies who chat and smile with ease. He was waiting for an opportunity. Ling Jun's old ailment flared up again, and he began charming the women throughout the room—loudly chatting and engaging with them, flirting with one on the left and another on the right, leaving no time to pay attention to his cousin, Miao Teng'er. Most of the attention was focused on stars like Fu Qingyang and Huang Taidi, and few people approached Miao Teng'er. After all, with her appearance, figure, and family background, she should have been considered a star in her own right. Yet, like Yin Ji, she had not forgotten her former love, and thus remained reserved and dignified in social settings, deliberately avoiding any chance to connect with the so-called "high-quality male" guests. Over time, she received fewer and fewer approaches. After all, everyone present was a well-known figure—finding a creature with three legs was no easy task, and women with two legs were everywhere. Why make a fuss over her? At that moment, Fu Qingyang, by mere accident, had a few drops of red wine splashed on his chest and immediately excused himself to change his clothes. Just as Fu Qingyang had left, a young rabbit-dressed attendant approached Miao Teng'er and whispered, "Miss Miao, Master has something to discuss with you. Please follow me." Fu Qingyang had something to talk to me? Miao Teng'er glanced around the ballroom and indeed didn't see Fu Qingyang there, so she nodded and stood up, smiling, "Certainly." She followed the attendant out of the ballroom and descended the stairs into a guest room on the first floor. The attendant bowed, "Please wait a moment, Master will be right with you." Then she closed the door and departed. ... The Capital. The delegation composed of Tianfa and Chien He, arriving at Fenglin Wan Hotel. At the hotel entrance, a well-dressed, composed middle-aged man had been waiting for some time. "Good morning, Executive Officer of the Hunt Magi. I'm Yang Rong, the secretary of Master Miao!" The man's smile was polished and his handshake impeccable. This was the first time a Hunter of the Divine Judgment had visited the Five Elements Alliance as a diplomatic envoy. Of course, he was an official diplomat, but primarily responsible for Europe. This time, however, the official handling Asia had just entered the Spirit Realm, so the Divine Judgment assigned him this task. The Hunter of the Divine Judgment studied the other's appearance and quickly recalled relevant information from memory. Yang Rong, Secretary to the Grand Elder of the Hundred Blossoms, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Grand Elder Mei of the Hundred Blossoms serves as the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically responsible for hosting international lawful organizations, and thus serves as the face and image of the Five Elements Alliance abroad. The Hunter of the Divine Judgment has always believed that the Five Elements Alliance's choice of Grand Elder Mei as Foreign Minister was both shrewd and well-intentioned. The powerful Wood Spirit, though gentle and lacking sharp edges, is deeply strategic—ideal for subtly disarming opponents in diplomatic settings and for cultivating the image of the Five Elements Alliance as harmonious and harmless on the international stage. As the Hunter of the Divine Judgment observed Yang Rong, Yang Rong was also observing him, as well as the three Among the three, the sea nymph Osmon is a familiar face—he has visited China twice during his transcendental phase, when he was much like the current Yuan Shi Tianzun, a star player in the realm of celestial justice. As a sea nymph, he never joined the Sea God Church; during his transcendental phase, he single-handedly defeated several equally powerful evil professionals, amassing a rich record of accomplishments and battlefield triumphs that left the Sea God Church in admiration. Much like the Taiyuan Sect lamented the confusion of the Sun Elder, Osmon had once, during a diplomatic visit with the Ministry of Celestial Justice, decisively defeated six transcendental members of the Wu Xing Alliance in a forum exchange, establishing himself as a rising star. Last year, he returned again, now a sixth-level sage, but he narrowly escaped being killed by Jiang Ju, who was notably unthinking and unprepared. This visit marks his third trip to China. The other two—Rufu Yoke, the wind mage, whose demeanor is as relaxed as Ling Jun’s—is quite different from Ling Jun in that, though outwardly laid-back, he is in fact a ruthless killer. His mentor, Dore Jerome, a first-tier golden executive, Huo You-ye's talent and capability are no less than Osmon's, akin to Huang Taiji and Jiang Ju. As for the young man who is serious, reserved, and appears meticulous, like a monk devoted to rigorous practice—Yang Secretary has never seen him, nor can he recall any information about him. There are only two possibilities: first, he is a secret asset of Tianfa, exceptionally low-key, thus the Wuxing Alliance has not investigated him. Second, he is genuinely a junior member, brought in merely to fill numbers. Junior members naturally don't warrant Yang Secretary's attention, given that Tianfa's elite are so numerous that it would be impractical to investigate each one in detail. Every time Tianfa visits China, it brings a group of top-tier, high-caliber talents—not only to showcase its depth and strength to foreign orderly organizations, but also to facilitate diplomatic exchanges, where sending underperforming representatives would be embarrassing. Only the most elite members are entrusted to represent the organization abroad, a standard shared by all organizations. "Master Miao has been awaiting you for some time. Please follow me." Yang, the secretary, led the Chihoko group and the Heaven's Judgment members into the hotel, took them to their floor by elevator, and guided them into a private dining room. In the elegant Chinese-style room, an elder with a humanoid appearance sat at a round table, smiling warmly at the visitors. He had a serene, composed face, like an ancient, wise seer, yet his hair consisted of thick black serpents, each as thick as a finger, hissing softly and swaying like water plants. His feet were rooted, pulsing root-like tendrils firmly anchored into the floor. Though, as a Hunter of Monsters, he was not of a rank worthy of a personal audience with Miao the Elder, he had come as a representative of Heaven's Judgment, and thus, by courtesy, Miao the Elder could not miss the meeting. The Hunter stepped forward with steady grace and shook Miao the Elder's hand. The Chihoko group's officers, however, wished they could press their heads into the floor, bowing deeply and saying, "Greetings, Miao the Elder!" The three young saints each managed their expressions with composure, bowing and offering polite greetings. The executives of the Hunter Magi can be composed and dignified, but they cannot. This is both a mark of respect for those in high positions and a reflection of the natural psychological pressure that such high-ranking individuals exert on their peers. "Please sit—the banquet is ready," smiled Miao the Elder, gesturing for everyone to take their seats. Once all had seated themselves and enjoyed a few minutes of national cuisine, Miao the Elder said, "We've reviewed the application submitted by the Chiyoko Group. What is the status of the fugitive that the Heavenly Judgment wishes to arrest?" In the Chiyoko Group's application, it clearly states that they intend to extradite and arrest the fugitive—separately from Heavenly Judgment—since this is the procedural "standard." Yet everyone knows what's really going on. It's merely a matter of capturing a fugitive. The Five Elements Alliance is willing to give Heavenly Judgment a favorable impression, and their relationship has been quite solid over the past few years. "The fugitive is a Class A target. His organization has been completely eliminated, yet he holds a list of names revealing secret alliances with certain individuals within the lawful, orderly factions." The elder of the Hunted Warriors briefly introduced the Lord of the Underworld's rank, profession, and organizational background. Upon hearing this, Elder Miao nodded slightly. "As long as the Heavenly Judgment team adheres to the rules during the operation—without harming civilians, without escalating the incident, and without refusing the supervision and support of the Five Elements Alliance—we are willing to provide facilitation." The Hunted Warriors smiled. "You are a generous and compassionate elder." They raised their cups and drank together. After a brief conversation, the Hunted Warriors brought up their second matter. "The Lord of the Magic has fallen nearly a year ago. Has the Five Elements Alliance discovered any trace of the Lord's successor?" "Not yet!" Elder Miao shook her head. "The Five Elements Alliance does not care who the successor is—this is a matter for the Taiden Sect." "But if the successor is found, will the Five Elements Alliance then remain indifferent?" asked the Hunted Warriors seriously. "We have received reports and have already identified the likely identity of the successor," they said. Elder Miao immediately narrowed her eyes, gazing at the Hunted Warrior for several seconds, then spoke firmly: "Who?"