Chapter 526 - 308: Post

Chapter 526: Chapter 308: Post

"There is!"

Xiong Wanhai said in a deep voice, "Although Xu Yang’s talent is not as great as Huo Xiaochen’s, he is still a prodigy on the Lingyun List. As long as he joins a major faction no less powerful than the Xiao family, this matter can naturally be resolved with ease.

"There isn’t any irreconcilable blood feud between them; it’s merely a matter of pride. If a faction on par with the Xiao family steps forward, even Huo Xiaochen will have to bow his head."

Yue Zhong’s eyes lit up. This was indeed a solution.

Huo Xiaochen could disregard Xiong Wanhai’s face, but if it were a family on the same level as the Xiao family, there was a high chance he would agree to a reconciliation.

"But who would be willing to risk offending Huo Xiaochen and the Xiao family for his sake?" Yue Zhong shook his head.

No one truly understood Huo Xiaochen’s temperament. If a faction stood up for Xu Yang and Huo Xiaochen refused to back down, they wouldn’t be recruiting a genius, but rather courting disaster, bearing the burden of offending both Huo Xiaochen and the Xiao family at the same time.

The Lingyun List had been public for quite some time now. As far as he knew, every genius on the list had been courted by the prominent families of Yunzhou City. Even Sun Tao had been approached by several families, but to this day, not a single family had reached out to Xu Yang. Clearly, these families avoided Xu Yang entirely because of the situation with Huo Xiaochen.

"Ordinary factions naturally can’t afford this risk, but the Kong family, which I serve, wouldn’t fear Huo Xiaochen or the Xiao family even if he refused to reconcile. As long as Xu Yang becomes a member of the Kong family, Huo Xiaochen’s refusal won’t mean a thing.

"If he dares to ambush Xu Yang during the Secondary Dragon Ascension, he would be directly offending the Kong family. He hasn’t fully matured yet; he doesn’t have the guts to target someone from the Kong family," Xiong Wanhai said.

The Kong family was also a thousand-year-old family on the same level as the Xiao family. Huo Xiaochen couldn’t possibly be foolish enough to offend a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family over such a trivial matter. Therefore, as long as Xu Yang joined the Kong family, there wouldn’t even be a need to seek reconciliation with Huo Xiaochen. Huo Xiaochen simply wouldn’t dare to deliberately sabotage Xu Yang during the Secondary Dragon Ascension.

"Would the Kong family even take a liking to Xu Yang?" Yue Zhong asked.

He wasn’t belittling Xu Yang, nor was he dismissing his talent; rather, he understood all too well what it meant to be a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family. When a family like the Kong family recruited geniuses, they only set their sights on those ranked in the top twenty. Anyone ranked lower wasn’t even worth their attention.

"With my reputation backing him, the Kong family won’t refuse. I’ve already communicated with the Kong family regarding this matter; they won’t care about the Huo Xiaochen issue," Xiong Wanhai said.

Xu Yang frowned slightly. He hadn’t expected Xiong Wanhai to communicate with the family he served without even giving him a heads-up. However, he couldn’t fault the man either. From the looks of it, Xiong Wanhai was acting entirely out of goodwill.

Of course, he had never really been opposed to finding a patron and being taken under someone’s wing.

From Qingyuan County to the Purple Sun Sect, and now in Yunzhou City, he had long understood that a genius without a background was nothing more than a free-range workhorse or enforcer for the major powers. Once you revealed your talent, countless factions would flock to bring you under their command.

Remaining completely independent was essentially impossible. Even someone like Huo Xiaochen was likely forced to become someone else’s enforcer. Few people in this world were born wanting to be another family’s attack dog. Although it provided access to resources, most of the time, it was an act of helpless necessity.

"Xu Yang, what are your thoughts?" Xiong Wanhai turned to look at him.

"What kind of treatment will the Kong family offer me?" Xu Yang asked.

His prerequisite for not rejecting the offer was receiving sufficiently good treatment and avoiding any marriage alliances. The moment a marriage alliance was on the table, there would be nothing left to discuss; he absolutely refused to let anyone hold his weakness over him.

"You’ll have to negotiate that with the Kong family yourself. Tomorrow, the Kong family is hosting a banquet for geniuses. Take this invitation and attend; someone will approach you then." As Xiong Wanhai spoke, he took out an invitation forged from pure gold from his chest pocket and handed it to Xu Yang.

"Thank you, Senior Xiong." Xu Yang cupped his hands in thanks and accepted the invitation.

As it stood, Xiong Wanhai wasn’t someone like Xiao Hua; he was genuinely trying to help. Xu Yang hadn’t even gone to him for assistance. Xiong Wanhai had simply heard that his old friend’s disciple was in trouble and proactively offered his aid. It was a true display of loyalty and camaraderie.

Because of this, he didn’t refuse. He planned to go and check it out. After all, Xiong Wanhai had already mentioned him to the Kong family. If he refused to attend, not only would Xiong Wanhai lose face, but Xu Yang himself might also offend the Kong family.

"Thank you, Brother Xiong!"

Yue Zhong also let out a long sigh of relief. If Xu Yang was recruited by the Kong family, the issue with Huo Xiaochen would effectively be resolved. Not only would Xu Yang secure a powerful patron, meaning he wouldn’t easily be pushed around in Yunzhou City, but he would also avoid a great deal of trouble while solving some of his resource problems.

With a disciple of the Purple Sun Sect serving the Kong family, the sect might even be able to build a connection with them in the future. It was a win-win situation for everyone.

"We’re family, there’s no need for such formalities," Xiong Wanhai said with a smile. He then pulled out two more invitations. "The Kong family also issued invitations for Sun Tao, ranked ninety-ninth on the Lingyun List, and Miss Ye. Please pass these on to them for me."

These invitations were also forged from pure gold.

Since stepping out of Qingyuan County, Xu Yang had interacted with many so-called prominent families. However, the Kong family was the very first to be so extravagantly wealthy as to forge their invitations out of pure gold.

"Is the Kong family also trying to recruit Senior Brother Sun and Senior Sister Ye?" Xu Yang asked in confusion.

Xiong Wanhai shook his head. "For a genius banquet, they naturally wouldn’t invite just one or two people, nor does it necessarily mean they intend to recruit them. For a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family like the Kongs, hosting a meal is nothing. Making acquaintances with various geniuses might just save them some trouble in the future.

"Of course, if they perform well at the banquet and catch the eye of one of the Kong family’s big shots, the possibility of recruitment isn’t entirely out of the question.

"Besides, with a millennium of heritage, the Kong family has a swarm of young masters and ladies. They all need to be married off eventually. It’s not just you; even some geniuses who have already been recruited by other families will receive invitations."

At this moment, Yue Zhong stood up and smiled. "Brother Xiong, I’ve already ordered a banquet. Please, let’s head to the restaurant and chat while we eat."

Xiong Wanhai shook his head. "Peak Master Yue, if you were going to book a banquet, why didn’t you tell me first? I’ve just returned and have a multitude of tasks to attend to. I simply don’t have the time to drink. I was actually just about to take my leave; I still have a pile of matters waiting for me to handle.

"How about this? Once I’ve taken care of my business, I’ll be the one to treat Peak Master Yue."

Seeing this, Yue Zhong couldn’t very well insist on him staying. He knew that since Xiong Wanhai served the Kong family, he didn’t have the freedom to do whatever he pleased.

Xu Yang and Yue Zhong escorted Xiong Wanhai out of the Purple Sun Sect’s compound before returning.

"You must seize this opportunity with the Kong family. Even if the conditions they offer are slightly subpar, accept them. Everything revolves around the Dragon Ascension. If you truly have the ability and perform well at the Celestial Strategy Academy in the future, they won’t be stingy with their resources," Yue Zhong advised earnestly.

Clinging to the thigh of a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family was worth it, even if the terms weren’t ideal. Social circles were incredibly important—something he felt deeply on a personal level.

Xiong Wanhai’s strength was merely on par with his own, but simply because he served the Kong family, even someone like Zhang Jingyuan would have to treat him with utmost courtesy, let alone Yue Zhong himself. If Huo Xiaochen hadn’t latched onto the Xiao family, Xiong Wanhai could have resolved the issue with him effortlessly.

In Yue Zhong’s eyes, if Xu Yang didn’t have Xiong Wanhai’s connection, the Kong family wouldn’t have even spared a glance at his talent. Such was the power of one’s circle. Without Xiong Wanhai speaking up for him within the Kong family, they would never consider recruiting a genius ranked ninety-eighth.

"This disciple understands!"

Xu Yang cupped his hands. Without saying anything more, he took his leave.

Exiting the side hall and arriving at his residential courtyard, he saw Zhang Hanzhou, Ye Qiuling, and the others sitting in a pavilion, drinking tea. All three of them had slightly flushed faces, clearly having consumed some alcohol. There was no telling who they had been out socializing with this time.

Sun Tao was also present, chatting idly with the trio.

"Junior Brother Xu, what did Elder Yue need you for?" Sun Tao asked curiously upon seeing Xu Yang return.

"An old friend of my master, Elder Huoyun, simply came to visit me," Xu Yang said with a smile. He then pulled Sun Tao’s invitation from his chest pocket. "Senior Brother Sun, the Kong family is hosting a genius banquet tomorrow. This is your invitation."

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the pure gold invitation was almost blinding, radiating a dazzling yellow brilliance.

"Pure gold?" Zhang Hanzhou was visibly moved.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen gold before, but it was his first time seeing anyone use solid gold to craft an invitation. The value of this single card alone could feed an ordinary family for twenty years.

"The Kong family? Which Kong family?" Qi Xuancheng’s eyes went wide.

Ye Qiuling’s breathing quickened, her face filled with shock. "Could it be the thousand-year-old Kong family?"

Only a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family like the Kongs could be extravagant enough to issue pure gold invitations.

Although she had recently made the acquaintance of numerous geniuses—including some who possessed Root Bone Perfection or had comprehended Martial Dao Imagery while only in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm—her network was strictly limited to these individuals. She had yet to come into contact with a faction on the level of a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family. While these geniuses had potential, they, much like herself, ultimately hailed from small places.

"Exactly!" Xu Yang chuckled.

Ye Qiuling and the other two looked as if they had been struck by lightning. It was actually the Kong family! And they were inviting Sun Tao to their genius banquet?

"The Kong family invited me to their genius banquet?" Sun Tao was utterly bewildered. Although he was ranked ninety-ninth on the Lingyun List, he knew full well that such a ranking wasn’t enough to catch the eye of a colossal entity like the Kong family.

"Xu Yang, you wouldn’t be bluffing, would you? How could the Kong family possibly take an interest in Sun Tao?" Zhang Hanzhou’s eyes were red; jealousy was driving him half-mad.

That was a Thousand-Year-Old Noble Family! Even being a servant for them carried an air of prestige.

"Do I have any reason to brag about something like this?"

Too lazy to entertain Zhang Hanzhou, Xu Yang forcefully shoved the pure gold invitation into Sun Tao’s hands.

"It really is the thousand-year-old Kong family." The moment Qi Xuancheng and Zhang Hanzhou saw the emblem on the invitation, they recognized it immediately, their faces plastered with envy and awe.

"Is the Kong family trying to recruit me?" Sun Tao still found it somewhat hard to believe.

Qi Xuancheng said with a gloating tone, "Sun Tao, you haven’t already agreed to join another family, have you?"

They were well aware that quite a few families had recently approached Sun Tao with recruitment offers.

"No!" Sun Tao shook his head.

He had no intention of agreeing to any family just yet. His plan was to wait until the selections were over before making a decision. If he could advance a few more ranks on the Lingyun List, he would be able to choose a stronger faction and negotiate better terms. Many geniuses actually shared this plan, confident in their belief that the Lingyun List rankings were inaccurate.

"Looks like you’ve struck dumb luck again!" Zhang Hanzhou said sourly.

Xu Yang shook his head and said, "It’s just a simple invitation, it doesn’t mean they want to recruit Senior Brother Sun. They’ve invited many geniuses. Of course, the possibility of recruitment isn’t ruled out either."