With a gentle clearing of the throat, the aged instructor of Wenxing Academy, Mei Gaojie, rose unsteadily. He first bowed to His Majesty the Emperor, then executed a sweeping circular bow, "Your Majesty, esteemed sirs, this Golden Autumn Scholars' Banquet—a joyous occasion marking the Double Ninth Festival, the finest season of life! I, on behalf of the thousands of students at Wenxing Academy, humbly wish Your Majesty eternal longevity, may Heaven bless our Tianxiang, granting prosperity to the people and flourishing arts and arms, soon sweeping aside the nations of the continent to unify the land and bring benefit to all sentient beings! Today’s grand assembly is thanks to His Majesty’s boundless grace, for not adhering strictly to the Imperial Examinations but promoting talent through unconventional means. This is truly our..."

He droned on, merely using this as an introduction. Just as he was about to reach the main point, a voice mumbled in complaint, "A grand royal feast, and the dishes are already vanishing before we’ve had a few bites? This is simply inexcusable." Fatty! While I sympathize with your considerable girth, shouldn't you show some consideration for the rest of us? How can you devour so much? Almost an entire table's worth of food has been cleared by you alone in such a short time!"

The voice, though seemingly soft and deliberately hushed, resonated clearly throughout the silent hall. With Mei Gaojie momentarily paused in his speech, everyone else was holding their breath, creating a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop. Instantly, every face registered an expression of peculiar surprise.

It was Jun Moxie speaking. The Young Master Jun, intending to disrupt proceedings, was certainly not going to let such a golden opportunity pass. Meanwhile, Tang Yuan, whom he had just accused, paused mid-air, holding half a crab, staring at Jun Moxie with an expression of profound injustice. Master, who exactly is eating more? I admit I’ve consumed a fair amount, but surely not half of what you have? How can you say such a thing with such a clear conscience?!

Mei Gaojie, deeply immersed in his oration, was jolted by this sudden noise. Anger surged within him; to be interrupted on such a solemn topic by such a shameless remark only fueled his fury. His lips began to tremble as he prepared a fierce rebuke, when a voice, coarse as a rusty gong, cut in with utter disdain: "I have seen shameless people before, but never one this shameless. To hoard all the good things for yourself and then dare to accuse others of eating too much—what kind of person is this?"

It was Dugu Ying. Dugu Ying had been deeply resentful about not securing a bear's paw earlier, and naturally, he seized the moment to voice his dissatisfaction. He hadn't intentionally spoken loudly, but being a tall and robust man, even his normal tone sounded like a regular person shouting. Combined with Young Master Jun's prior antics, the entire hall heard him perfectly, and in terms of sheer volume, he surpassed Jun Moxie's previous utterance by several measures!

Seeing an ally step forward, Jun Moxie’s spirits soared. He curled his lip dismissively, "If I don't eat quickly, how can I help it? Blast it! Other families send one or two representatives, but your family—good heavens—brings along the entire clan, a dozen people perhaps, every one of them stout, broad in the beam, yet you all crowd around a single table. If I don't eat fast, I’ll be lucky to get the soup!"

Fatty Tang hurriedly struggled to stand up, attempting to mediate, "Third Young Master, that's perhaps understandable. After all, he... he isn't paying for this meal!"

At these words, even the lofty Emperor couldn't help but emit a strange "Pfft!" sound. The elders in attendance broke into ghastly, strained laughter, while only Dugu Zongheng glared at Fatty Tang, eyes wide as if he meant to devour him whole.

In that instant, the solemn hall filled with the sound of people stifling their laughter with loud, suppressed snorts and chuckles.

Elder Mei Gaojie was shaking with rage, about to speak, when a voice, strangely melodic and laced with an oily affectation, drawled, "The people of the Jun family are truly as arrogant and overbearing as rumored. Their reputation precedes them." A wave of astonishment swept the crowd as they turned to see the speaker—a man clad in white, seated in a position of honor. It was the distinguished guest of this banquet, Xiao Fengwu from Fengxue Yincheng!

Xiao Fengwu was well aware of the past enmity between his uncle, Xiao Han, and Jun Wuyi of the Jun family. Furthermore, since Princess Hanyan Meng returned from the Jun estate, she had been proudly boasting about recognizing Jun Moxie as a junior relative, which deeply displeased the highly possessive Young Master Xiao. Thus, he took the lead in flinging out this sarcastic remark.

"And who might this be?" Jun Moxie pretended not to know him.

"My surname is Xiao. I am from the Xiao family of Fengxue Yincheng—Xiao Fengwu!" Xiao Fengwu raised an eyebrow, chuckled twice, puffed out his chest, and with a swish, unfurled a folding fan, waving it slowly. His gaze swept across the table where a constellation of beautiful women sat—a gesture performed with considerable flourish.

"A fine name!" It was Li Youran, seated nearby, who spoke up. "Brother Xiao, your name is truly transcendent, carrying an air of immortality!" The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Since the Xiao family harbored ill will toward the Jun family, Li Youran was eager to exploit the situation to his advantage.

"Heh heh, speaking of my name, it does have an origin," Xiao Fengwu said, somewhat vainly, as Li Youran had hit a pleasing chord. He elaborated with care: "It is said that on the night I was about to be born, my mother had a dream where a phoenix landed upon a phoenix tree. Thus, I was named Fengwu."

"A name truly blessed by Heaven!" Li Youran applauded, his face alight with admiration.

"Hahahaha!" Jun Moxie burst into loud laughter.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Fengwu glared angrily. How could he tolerate an interruption during such a moment of pride?

"Oh, nothing much. I was just thinking," Jun Moxie tried to suppress his mirth but failed, rocking back and forth for a moment before continuing, "I was thinking how... capable your mother is. She certainly knows how to dream. She dreamt of a phoenix landing on a Wutong tree, and so you are named Fengwu. What a name! What a name!"

Jun Moxie struggled to hold back his laughter but couldn't, continuing to double over until he gasped for breath. "I was thinking, what if that night your mother had a different dream? What if she dreamt of a chicken landing on a banana tree instead? What would your name be now? You know, dreams are such uncertain things. It’s sheer good fortune that you ended up with the name you have!"

The Emperor choked on his wine, his face turning crimson. He coughed, caught between laughter and tears.

A chicken landing on a banana tree? The implication dawned on everyone, especially when connected to Xiao Fengwu’s surname.

Everyone present wanted to laugh, but fear of Fengxue Yincheng's might prevented them from making a sound. Several people ended up choking painfully.

"What do you mean?" Xiao Fengwu asked, slightly confused. Then, as the realization struck him, his face instantly frosted over. "Jun Moxie, you dare insult me?"

"Insult you? What did I insult you with?" Jun Moxie wore an expression of perfect innocence. "Even if you are from the Xiao family of Fengxue Yincheng, you can't simply be unreasonable! Catch the adulterer with proof, catch the thief with the loot. When you speak, you need evidence!"

"You clearly called me a... chicken..." Xiao Fengwu stopped himself just before uttering the full insult, realizing he had nearly been tricked again. His face twisted in shame and fury as he roared, "Jun Moxie, I will kill you!"

"Fengxue Yincheng is truly formidable; worthy of being the most famous major power of our age!" Jun Moxie shook his head, praising him with feigned admiration. "On the soil of another nation, enjoying the status of a state guest, invited into the Imperial Palace and seated in the place of honor; in the full view of all civil and military officials and court ministers, even before our Great Emperor—you dare publicly threaten to kill the sole surviving grandson of a key military official? Such audacity! Truly admirable, admirable."

At this statement, the faces of the attending ministers all darkened considerably.

Indeed, to openly threaten murder against the sole grandson of a high-ranking military figure right before the Emperor—if he dared such things here, who knew how much more unrestrained he would be outside the palace walls?

Xiao Han quickly stood up, forcing his nephew to sit down. He cupped his hands in apology, saying, "Fengwu is young and ignorant of worldly affairs; he acted impulsively. I ask for everyone’s forgiveness!" Xiao Han cared little for royalty itself, but he was unwilling to rashly make an enemy of any nation's royal house. After all, the Supreme Alliance Treaty carried considerable weight. Moreover, since they had been invited in good faith, falling into an open feud with Tianxiang due to petty provocation would reflect poorly on their own judgment.

The Emperor smiled broadly, graciously indicating that it was of no consequence.

Next, Jun Moxie settled back down. Dugu Xiaoyi, however, edged closer, her large, perfectly distinct black and white eyes looking up with curiosity. "A chicken landing on a banana tree, what is its name?"

Jun Moxie nearly slid under the table in embarrassment, wiping his nose with a wry smile. "Uh, well, you should ask your brother. He definitely knows. I’ve been talking so much, my throat is dry. Let me have a drink first..."

Dugu Xiaoyi snorted and cast him a sidelong glance before turning to ask Dugu Ying. The moment she did, Dugu Ying's dark face flushed purple in an instant. How could he, as an elder brother, explain such a thing to his sister?! He shot Jun Moxie a vicious look, stammering out an excuse. But Dugu Xiaoyi was not satisfied; pouting, she used a mix of childish coaxing and threats, leaving all seven Dugu brothers in various states of disarray.

Seeing the atmosphere in the hall growing awkward, another instructor from Wenxing Academy, Kong Lingyang, stood up. "At last year's Golden Autumn Scholars' Banquet, the talented sons and daughters of the great aristocratic families battled against our Wenxing Academy. Though our academy managed a narrow victory by sheer luck, no one managed to surpass the eldest grandson of Grand Tutor Li, Young Master Li. This old man still holds it deeply in his heart. Today, several of our disciples wish to seek guidance from Young Master Li. What are your thoughts?"

The crowd stirred with renewed spirit. The main event had finally arrived!

The scholars from Wenxing Academy all had shining eyes. Since entering the hall, they had eaten without relish, all for this very moment. If they could manage to stump the recognized foremost talent of Tianxiang, they would, at least in terms of scholarship, demonstrate a slight superiority, which would undoubtedly benefit their future prospects immensely!

Li Youran smiled faintly and rose gracefully. His gaze, gentle and warm, swept over the crowd. "Youran is shallow in talent; how could I possibly warrant being challenged by so many esteemed scholars? It would be best not to make a spectacle of myself. However, if you wish to seek guidance, there is another person present. Both in learning and in strategy, he earns my deepest respect. Perhaps you gentlemen should seek instruction from him instead."

"May we ask who this great talent is?" the entire group asked in unison, inwardly bewildered. Was there truly some peerless genius in Tianxiang City capable of earning Li Youran's complete admiration? Why had they never heard of him before? This was truly strange.

"It is precisely Jun Moxie, Young Master Jun," Li Youran said with a slight smile, his tone sincerely earnest as he pointed directly at Young Master Jun, making his target unmistakable. Jun Moxie, who was in the middle of gnawing on a chicken leg until his mouth was greasy, suddenly found trouble descending upon him, and he glared fiercely at Li Youran.

Damn it! This brat is publicly framing me!

The entire assembly murmured in shock.