Chapter 1312: Banquet Deadlock

Chapter 1312: Chapter 1312: Banquet Deadlock

After saying this, Pei Yan noticed the look of dissatisfaction on Lin Ruxue’s face as he interrupted her speech. He quickly gave an awkward smile and said, "Since we have more people, we can dispatch fifty instructors! Similarly, we can send out fifty students, and we can guarantee to teach them everything we know. We can also provide technical support afterward, and if fifty is not enough, we can hold a second or third phase of classes. I believe such academic exchanges between our two realms can be greatly beneficial."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ruxue pondered for a moment, nodded, and acknowledged, "You do have a point there. Chaozong, select fifty people to handle this task! Ensure that as he said, everything is comprehensively taught. Cultivation Techniques below the Asura Dao can be taught with full dedication." As she spoke, Lin Ruxue looked at Pei Yan sternly and said, "However, you must ensure that these techniques can only be used by people from your Investigation Department, and they must not be disclosed to anyone else. If there is any leak, you will be held responsible!"

"Alright! I can’t control basic techniques due to the number of people and inevitable issues, but I guarantee that anyone qualified to learn techniques above the fifth tier will undergo a strict review. If any issues arise, I will personally resolve them," said Pei Yan, after deliberating for a while, making this firm promise.

"I trust you!" Lin Ruxue expressed her faith in Pei Yan’s integrity. After saying this, she turned to everyone at the table with a gentle smile and said, "Now that we’ve discussed both official and private matters, let’s start the feast! Let’s not let the dishes from places like Fan Tower and Linjiang Immortal get cold and lose their flavor."

Having said that, as the most esteemed person at the table, Lin Ruxue was the first to pick up her chopsticks and take a translucent little dumpling, savoring it with great praise. With the Spirit Emperor hosting this meal, no one dared to disrespect it. Even though everyone had long moved past these dining habits, they all picked up their chopsticks and started tasting the delicacies in front of them.

It was unclear whether it was the nervousness of being in front of the Spirit Emperor or not having dined with so many people for too long, but for whatever reason, this was undoubtedly the most oppressive meal Pei Yan had ever had. It was like a company lunch with a group of colleagues each harboring their own agenda and a boss with an unpredictable mood. Everyone just kept their heads down, eating the little amount of food in front of them, not even willing to extend their arms further, let alone engage in conversation. Only Lin Ruxue and Lin Junzhao occasionally joked, causing others to glance over cautiously and join in weakly. The rest remained tight-lipped, not daring to say more.

Moreover, at the table, there were three groups of feuding parties. Wan Qianli from the Celestial Sword Manor cast a sinister glare at the two from the Hongjun Sword Furnace, while Liu Xuanji, quickly growing accustomed to the scrutiny, instead cast a vicious gaze at Su Fengchen from the White Deer Institute. Pei Yan thought to himself that if Lin Ruxue weren’t present to maintain order, these three parties would probably have flipped the table and started a fight by now.

It was evident that Lin Ruxue also noticed the awkward atmosphere at the table and gave Pei Yan a pointed glance repeatedly, only to find him still hesitant, unwilling to get involved in the chaos. This angered her, causing her to cough lightly, and she looked at Pei Yan with a smile, saying, "Pei Yan, how does this meal compare to that breakfast I treated you to before!"

"Good! Much better! Oh, this dish, that’s truly a dish, the soup is truly soup!" Pei Yan responded with a forced smile, enduring the pain inflicted by Lin Ruxue’s toe pressing down on his foot. It seemed that he couldn’t avoid involvement in this matter any longer. If he didn’t do something, the very tiles of the courtyard might be cracked by Lin Ruxue’s stomping.

"As far as cuisine goes, this is truly the best feast I’ve ever had, but still, it’s a pity!" Having decided to get involved, Pei Yan decided to embrace it fully, grinning and saying.

"Oh? What’s the pity?" Lin Ruxue asked, showing interest as she finally lifted her toe slightly.

"It’s a pity that it doesn’t quite match the snowy scene! With such a snowy scene, if we could set up a hotpot with an assortment of top-quality ingredients, and everyone gathered around, enjoying the steam and warmth, having a drink while watching the snowy scene, that would be truly delightful!" Pei Yan gestured enthusiastically, explaining to everyone at the table.

"Hotpot?" Feng Tianhe raised his head in confusion.

"It’s a method of eating similar to a traditional stew, where fresh ingredients are placed into a well-seasoned broth and cooked," Lin Ruxue explained, not unfamiliar with such things after spending years in the foundational realm. After explaining, she looked at Pei Yan and nodded in praise, "That’s well said! Enjoying such food here would indeed be quite fitting. Next time! After the great battle, I’ll set up a hotpot here as a celebration feast and invite everyone to drink together."

Lin Ruxue’s words immediately drew a chorus of praises and agreement from those present, and the atmosphere opened up as a result. Pei Yan didn’t hold back any longer, occasionally tasting the dishes, asking about their cultural history, and from time to time, delving into humorous stories of his own cultivation journey. The atmosphere at the table gradually livened up under his efforts. Even the Sect Leaders, though old, weren’t unwise, recognizing this as what the Spirit Emperor desired to see. So, they also displayed some of their youthful vigor and enjoyed drinks with those they had close relations with. For a moment, the table was filled with toasts and laughter. Lin Ruxue rarely let down her guard and joined in the conversation, occasionally teasing Pei Yan about the youthful follies of the Sect Leaders, prompting a few embarrassed defenses from them and resulting in bursts of laughter from everyone present.

In this increasingly harmonious atmosphere, the three sects with their own agendas stood out awkwardly. Everyone else understood that they were merely supporting guests at the feast, with these few parties being the main focus. Therefore, once they let their guards down, they took the opportunity to draw closer to the Spirit Emperor, Pei Yan, and the new Spirit Lord.

But these three groups were different. Su Fengchen, without detailed knowledge, was unsure if the Spirit Emperor was aware of his actions. Liu Xuanji, who was in the know, couldn’t understand why the Spirit Emperor wasn’t pursuing White Deer Institute’s crimes. Meanwhile, Wan Qianli, full of opportunity, began to worry that in order to maintain the Immortal Palace’s stability, the Spirit Emperor, after granting a position in the Six Mansions of the Immortal Palace to a sect, might use it as leverage to pardon the two sects that had wronged them.

Lin Ruxue saw through the machinations of the three parties, yet said nothing about it. During the meal, she only spoke of pleasant topics and, when in the mood, discussed with Pei Yan the merits of delicacies from both realms, showing the assembled Sect Leaders an everyday side of the usually high and mighty, inscrutable Spirit Emperor.

As the banquet went on, serving girls moved back and forth, pouring drinks and serving food for the Sect Leaders. These leaders, now enthusiastic, were eagerly eating, and as empty dishes were removed, freshly prepared ones took their place. Just as Pei Yan found himself slightly tipsy, joking absentmindedly with Lin Daozi beside him, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his foot once more. Holding back a shout, he turned to find Lin Ruxue gesturing towards someone with her eyes. Following her gaze, Pei Yan quickly identified the target and could only sigh in exasperation as he drank his cup of wine in one gulp.