At Fang Mingsheng's earnest invitation, the crowd began to rise in small groups. Even Elder Zhou, who had already booked his flight, showed no sign of refusal, and was escorted by a throng of people, walking slowly toward the banquet hall with Elder Qian and Elder Zhang.

The treasures displayed on the stands would, naturally, be under the care of dedicated personnel; everyone felt entirely at ease. Besides, even if something untoward were to happen, they had no need to fear—Fang Mingsheng would be responsible for compensating any losses.

What choice did they have? This was Fang Mingsheng’s domain; if anything went wrong, who else would they turn to but him?

The venue for the feast was a luxurious, medium-sized hall downstairs. As everyone was seated according to their arrangement, a flurry of staff members filed in one after another, laying out an array of exquisite dishes. The banquet was lavish: delicacies from the mountains and seas, rare river creatures, interspersed with signature, renowned dishes from Mount Longhu, completely filling the tables.

Truthfully, having eaten a light breakfast upon arrival that morning, it was already well into the afternoon. Everyone was feeling a degree of hunger, so after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they immediately began to eat.

However, for the Chinese, the primary purpose of a banquet is not merely consumption, but also an essential means of fostering relationships and camaraderie. Thus, after eating their fill for a while, many set down their chopsticks, picked up their wine cups, and began to exchange toasts of respect.

Some individuals, showing little regard for formal etiquette, didn't even remain seated but instead grabbed wine bottles and moved from table to table.

The three elderly gentlemen naturally commanded the most attention, but everyone was considerate of their advanced age and limited tolerance for alcohol; a simple clinking of glasses was sufficient to convey respect. Alternatively, tea could be substituted for wine—the main point was the lively atmosphere.

Beyond them, Fang Mingsheng and Wang Guan were also the central focus for the toasting.

There was no need to elaborate on Fang Mingsheng; as the host of the gathering, everyone naturally had to show him deference. Moreover, during the appraisal session, Fang Mingsheng’s jade Buddha statue had caused quite a stir. Many people remained intensely interested in the statue.

As for Wang Guan, most people were intrigued by his potential. Although many believed Wang Guan was merely benefiting from good luck, youth was an advantage, youth was capital. Who could predict how far he might advance in the future?

Of course, relative to Wang Guan himself, people showed an even deeper interest in Li Mo. By the time the rounds of toasting were complete, Wang Guan had accumulated quite a stack of business cards, handed to him by CEOs, general managers, and executives from large corporations and conglomerates. Especially during the toasting, most people tried to subtly probe, inquiring whether Wang Guan had any intention of distancing himself from Li Mo.

Wang Guan politely declined these inquiries. Fortunately, those CEOs and managers understood that initial contact would not lead to immediate business deals, so they paid it no mind, merely offering a couple of extra toasts.

Over an hour passed. Although Wang Guan had tried his best to exercise restraint, he was still flushed red and nearly three-quarters drunk from the attentions of those with ulterior motives.

At this point, Gao Dequan noticed the situation, frowned slightly, and murmured, “Feibai, go and help Wang Guan clear the crowd. Also, Elder Qian and the others have finished eating and are preparing to retire to the adjacent private room. You can take the jade belt now and invite Elder Zhou to offer his guidance.”

“Really…” Yu Feibai’s eyes lit up. He glanced back and confirmed that Elder Qian and the rest were indeed no longer at the table.

Immediately, Yu Feibai hurried forward, and without a word, took the red-faced Wang Guan by the arm and led him out. After leaving the banquet hall, he helped him into the restroom to splash cold water on his face.

A moment later, stimulated by the cold water, Wang Guan regained some clarity. He looked up fuzzily and managed, “Thank you.”

“Don’t be polite. I think those people were jealous and maliciously trying to force you into a stupor,” Yu Feibai shook his head. “You’re too stubborn, actually accepting every drink offered.”

“I know,” Wang Guan closed his eyes, covered his burning forehead, and exhaled a hot breath, murmuring, “But it wasn’t entirely without reward.”

As he spoke, Wang Guan pulled out a thick stack of business cards from his pocket. He quickly sifted through them, setting aside those from company presidents, chief executives, and group consultants. In the end, only three or five cards remained.

These few cards were very simple; their textures varied, but their sole commonality was the absence of any title other than a name and a string of mobile phone numbers.

However, both Wang Guan and Yu Feibai understood perfectly: the numbers on these cards were private lines, absolutely guaranteed to connect.

Handing over such cards meant that these few individuals had acknowledged him, hoping for future contact.

“Congratulations.”

Seeing these cards, envy flickered in Yu Feibai’s eyes. “You’ve finally taken the first step.”

They both knew that Wang Guan receiving these specific cards meant he was beginning to enter this circle. If measured by ancient custom, it signified that Wang Guan had completed his apprenticeship. Even without Gao Dequan leading the way later, Wang Guan could navigate social interactions within the circle because he was now officially part of it.

“It’s just the start; the road ahead is still very long.”

Had he received these cards a few days prior, Wang Guan might have been somewhat self-satisfied, but after the appraisal event, he recognized how many shortcomings he possessed and dared not become complacent.

Yu Feibai nodded gently and then asked, “Has the alcohol worn off? Uncle De asked us to take the jade belt to consult Elder Zhou.”

“Still a bit dizzy.”

Wang Guan rubbed his forehead, squinting, “You go and fetch the jade belt first. I’ll get some air nearby to clear my head.”

“Alright then.” Yu Feibai nodded and departed.

Wang Guan also left the restroom, walked to a long bench in an adjacent corridor, sat down, leaning against the wall, and began gently massaging his forehead with his fingers to soothe the discomfort from excessive drinking.

Massaging downward from his forehead, his fingers soon pressed against the yintang point between his brows. At that precise moment, Wang Guan suddenly felt waves of cool energy emanating from the pineal gland within his forehead, dispelling the stuffy heat of the alcohol.

A few seconds passed, and Wang Guan felt completely sober. He walked back into the restroom and looked in the mirror; his face was radiant, completely devoid of any sign of intoxication.

“I never imagined the superpower would have such a marvelous application. Does this mean I’ll be immune to alcohol and invincible at the drinking table from now on?” Wang Guan was ecstatic, his heart soaring with delight.

After a long moment, Wang Guan remembered the real task at hand. He hurriedly straightened his appearance and rushed off.

Naturally, Wang Guan decided against returning to the banquet hall. After all, no matter how powerful his ability, drinking too much would still lead to a headache and discomfort for him personally. Therefore, Wang Guan first called Yu Feibai to confirm the location of Elder Zhou’s private room, then carefully bypassed the banquet hall and made his way over stealthily.

However, Wang Guan could not have anticipated that his action, perceived in certain eyes, would serve as the perfect testament to his sneaky behavior and ill intent.

“Wang Guan, stop right there…”

In a flash of electric light, a person jumped out, their face contorted with smug satisfaction and ridicule.

....................... There is a reader impression in the book page that genuinely makes me uncomfortable to read. Now I finally understand why so many authors disable that impression feature. I hope some kind reader can help by bringing that impression score down, thank you. Finally, requesting collections and recommendation votes. C