"Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion has arrived!"
The servant at the doorway, with an excited flush across his face, stretched his neck and shouted at the top of his lungs.
His voice overshadowed all the sounds in the great hall.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
One after another, the guests almost simultaneously stood up, shock apparent on each of their faces as they turned toward the direction of the main entrance.
Fang Tianhao was so excited that he trembled, his face aglow with delight.
The Zhang, Zhao, and Chen family patriarchs looked toward Fang Tianhao, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
Chen Yong said with a wry smile, "Ever since Elder Yan came to Nanhuang City, I've invited him no fewer than ten times a year, but the old man has not accepted an invitation even once!"
Zhang Yong sighed and said with a sour tone, "It's Mr. Fang who has the grand face, to actually have Elder Yan come to personally celebrate his birthday!"
Within Nanhuang City.
Apart from the city lord's mansion, the four great families reigned supreme.
These four stood at the pinnacle of Nanhuang City's power pyramid, and even the city lord's mansion had to show them some courtesy. The only exception was Elder Yan from Treasure Pavilion, who never paid them much heed.
Of course.
The Treasure Pavilion, present throughout the entire Heavenly Yuan Realm, indeed had such strength and prestige.
And because of this...
Every family considered it an honor to be able to invite Elder Yan to their feast.
However, Elder Yan had always abstained from these gatherings; even the city lord's mansion could not persuade him!
Today Elder Yan had actually come to the Fang Family, naturally causing everyone else to be green with envy.
Fang Tianhao beamed from ear to ear, his eyebrows lifting slightly in a gesture of pride as he feigned helplessness, "Ah, Elder Yan and I have been good friends for many years. I am just a man of low-profile who does not wish to flaunt our friendship. This year is my eightieth birthday, and he insisted on coming to celebrate..."
The surrounding guests, upon hearing this, felt their envy intensify.
Any family that could establish a connection with Treasure Pavilion was like attaching itself to a hen that laid golden eggs. If not soaring high, at the very least the family's power could multiply several times over a short period.
Zhao Yu, the patriarch of the Zhao Family, said in a deep voice, "Mr. Fang, you must lend us your support in the future!"
"Certainly, certainly!"
Feeling the envious gazes of everyone around him, Fang Tianhao's smile grew even more brilliant.
Today was destined to be the most glorious moment in his life! The high and lofty Elder Yan personally coming to celebrate his birthday was something he hadn't even dared to dream of. Over the years, the Fang Family had sent no small number of invitations to Elder Yan, but he had never accepted one.
Fang Tianhao thought to himself, "He must have heard about Fang Jin's imminent admission to the Royal Martial Arts Academy, becoming a high and mighty royal disciple, so he specially came to curry favor with our Fang Family!"
With that thought.
Fang Tianhao stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the entrance with light steps.
With five or six meters still separating him from Elder Yan, Fang Tianhao extended his right hand, with an excited face he said, "Hahaha, Elder Yan gracing us with his presence truly brings glory to my Fang Family!"
All the envious guests around him thought, "When will we ever be like Mr. Fang, to have dealings with a personage like Elder Yan?"
However...
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the expected scene of the two towering figures engaging in pleasant conversation did not occur.
Elder Yan simply walked past Fang Tianhao and headed toward someone behind him.
Leaving a windblown Fang Tianhao behind, his hand outstretched and his face still wearing a beaming smile.
Watching Elder Yan approach her direction, Fang Qingzhu's heart tightened—she was very clear about the terrifying influence Elder Yan wielded in Nanhuang City.
If she were to offend the person before her, it would definitely be a dead end!
Fang Qingzhu quickly tugged at Xiao Yi, whispering urgently, "Quick, move aside—this is Elder Yan from the Treasure Pavilion; we mustn't block his path!"
But Xiao Yi remained motionless, with an odd expression, watching the approaching Elder Yan.
"What on earth are you doing? This is Elder Yan; we can't afford to provoke him..." Fang Qingzhu's face was filled with anxiousness, as she was already thinking about how to seek Elder Yan's forgiveness should Xiao Yi offend him.
However, Elder Yan, who was like an uncrowned king in Nanhuang City, quickly stepped forward, stopping a meter away from Xiao Yi, with hands clasped together in utmost respect, "Yan Mingli pays his respects to young master Xiao!"
What?
Everyone was simultaneously petrified.
Their unblinking eyes were fixed on Xiao Yi and Elder Yan, and the word "flabbergasted" was clearly written on everyone's faces. The heads of the three great families looked at one another in confusion—what was happening?
Wasn't it said that Elder Yan had been an acquaintance of Fang Tianhao for many years?
Why was he completely ignoring Fang Tianhao and instead enthusiastically approaching the good-for-nothing, son-in-law of the Fang Family?
The three of them stared fixedly at Fang Tianhao.
Fang Tianhao's face stiffened, feeling as though his cheeks were burning from the pain, as if he had been slapped dozens of times. Recalling the words he had said before, he wished he could dig a hole and bury himself in it.
Elder Yan gave him a sly wink, as if to say, "Master, this should make you proud, right?"
Xiao Yi shook his head helplessly, turning towards the dumbfounded Fang Qingzhu beside him, "Qingzhu, this is Yan Mingli, Elder Yan. You should just call him Elder Yan like I do!"
"Elder… Elder Yan?!" Fang Qingzhu repeated subconsciously.
"Hahaha, I have long heard that Madam Xiao is a heavenly beauty, and seeing you today, it is indeed true! This bottle of 'Gestation Elixir' is a gift I've specially prepared for our meeting. I hope Madam Xiao won't find it too modest!" Elder Yan took out a bottle of elixir and thrust it into Fang Qingzhu's hands without any further explanation.
Hiss!
Around them, a series of astonished gasps rang out: "The Gestation Elixir? Isn't that a third-grade medicinal pill, worth five thousand silvers each? With at least ten pills in the bottle, that's fifty thousand silvers, right?"
"What exactly is going on? Wasn't it said that Elder Yan was here to celebrate Mr. Fang's birthday? Why is he completely ignoring him and instead seems to have come for Xiao Yi?"
Fang Qingzhu looked panic-stricken, turning towards Xiao Yi with a helpless look.
Xiao Yi patted the back of her hand, reassuring her with a smile, "Don't worry, since it's a gift from Elder Yan, just accept it with peace of mind!"
Only then did Fang Qingzhu accept the elixir.
Elder Yan also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is Elder Yan doing this just to curry favor with Xiao Yi?" Fang Qingzhu was shocked by her own thoughts. She saw how Elder Yan continually maintained a low profile in front of Xiao Yi, and was frightened by the speculation in her mind.
This was the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion, whose status was incredibly exalted.
Even when the four great families had sent him invitations several times, Elder Yan had been disdainful, yet now, he had brought a precious Gestation Elixir as a gift to please Xiao Yi?
Was this really the same man who everyone despised as useless?
Looking at Xiao Yi again, Fang Qingzhu felt as though there was a layer of mystifying fog surrounding him, one that was impenetrable to the eye, and the more she tried to investigate, the more she felt like she was sinking deeper, as if mired in the mud.
"Excuse me for a moment..."
Fang Tianhao, steeling himself, came over. He felt pins and needles all over, having just boasted proudly; if he couldn't turn the situation around, it would be a huge embarrassment.
With a glimmer of hope in his eyes, he tentatively asked, "Elder Yan, weren't you here to celebrate my birthday? Why have you started chatting with this good-for-nothing?"
"Good-for-nothing?"
Elder Yan was momentarily taken aback before realizing Fang Tianhao was referring to Xiao Yi, and a glint of cold light flashed deep in his eyes. With utter disdain, he countered, "And who do you think you are? Worthy of me celebrating your birthday?"