A collective sigh escaped the four men, each weighted with a shade of gloom. Miao Xiaomiao’s bearing at that moment made the reality crystal clear to them. This birthday celebration would likely be more than just a banquet and a groom-selection party; it might very well turn into an engagement announcement! The utter lack of tension in the expressions of Miao Xiaomiao and Mo Junye suggested they were completely unconcerned, which could only mean one thing: their affair had already received the blessing of the Miao family elders! Li Xingyue’s words served as a warning, a gesture of appeasement, and a subtle probing inquiry. But now, the four young men truly, irrevocably gave up hope! “Well done, kid! You really have something about you!”

Li Xingyue grinned, then unexpectedly brought his fist down hard on Jun Moxie’s shoulder, laughing, “You absolute… you actually managed to pluck the foremost bloom of our Illusionary Prefecture! Today, we absolutely must see you drowned under the table! Otherwise, how can we possibly vent our frustration!” Meng Xianru and the others cheered loudly. Since they couldn't defeat him in matters of romance, and success against him in profound martial arts seemed slim, their only recourse was to take him down in a drinking contest! It was a way to regain some semblance of balance! “I’d be delighted to oblige,” Jun Moxie replied with a soft smile. “However, if you gentlemen end up beneath the table first, don’t blame me for not being righteous. Showing mercy in this endeavor only invites ruin upon oneself.” “Based on what?”

The group of young men roared with laughter, their faces radiating supreme, self-assured confidence! They were veterans tested by hard liquor, all possessing respectable cultivation bases, certain of their profound drinking prowess. This newcomer, stuck at the Golden Profound realm, truly didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth if he thought he could take them all on single-handedly! It was sheer delusion… “When we drink, we must first seal off our profound energy,” Zhang Qiyun offered with feigned kindness, immediately earning unanimous glares from the other three. Not only was their profound energy inherently superior, but even without it, given their collective tolerance against his one, defeat was unthinkable. So what if the opponent possessed the legendary Ethereal Constitution? They hadn't heard of that constitution granting immunity to alcohol! Just then— “A joyous birthday celebration! All esteemed guests are requested to proceed to the Hall of Fortune and Longevity to offer their felicitations and present their birthday gifts.”

A high-pitched voice boomed. Jun Moxie almost burst out laughing: this Miao Prefecture Lord was truly unique. To openly solicit gifts this early was utterly shameless. He suspected that besides the seven other major families, all other influential families and powers present today would suffer a significant financial blow… The Hall of Fortune and Longevity was already buzzing with excitement! The Prefecture Lord’s birthday had drawn nearly every high-ranking figure of the Illusionary Prefecture—a complete roundup! With just a sweep of his eyes, Young Master Jun was already astounded. There were at least forty to fifty experts at the Saint Venerable level and above! Numerous hermitic masters were also present, and those surpassing the Saint Emperor rank numbered over a hundred. Even figures like Cao Guofeng and Bai Qifeng were seemingly too commonplace to warrant notice in this grand assembly. This scale was magnificent… Everyone was beaming, their faces flushed with pleasure. Zhan Wuyun, the head of the Zhan family, was among them, his face particularly warm and natural in its smile; he looked happier than if it were his own birthday celebration…

Miao Jingyun sat high on the main seat, clad in a brilliant crimson robe bearing a large ‘’ (Longevity) character embroidered on the chest, lest anyone forget he was the venerable man turning five hundred. In truth, even without the character, he was the only person in the entire hall wearing red—looking rather like a certain kind of wrapped gift… Though the atmosphere leaned slightly toward the vulgar, it certainly amplified the liveliness. It allowed Jun Moxie to sense the profound familial warmth woven into the scene. The unity among the Illusionary Prefecture’s elite was truly an enviable thing. In the Profound Profound Continent, such cohesion was exceptionally rare! As the Master of Ceremonies spoke with booming vigor, guests stepped forward in turn to pay respects and present their carefully prepared gifts. The mood grew increasingly cheerful, and with each exquisite offering revealed, waves of cheers rose higher and higher from the crowd. It seemed this birthday banquet had become a day for a grand display of competitive excellence. Miao Jingyun sat gleefully in the center, murmuring quietly with a few old comrades, appearing to discuss something. “The Qiu family’s Qiu Chengyun has specially come to congratulate the Prefecture Lord on his grand birthday and presents a Thousand-Year Longevity Pine! May the esteemed elder live as long as the pine, eternally green!”

Following this loud declaration, a thin-faced old man stepped forward. Behind him, Qiu Peng followed, respectfully carrying a miniature pine, no taller than a foot and no thicker than a teacup, its shape bizarrely contorted. The miniature pine was housed in an exquisitely crafted small white jade flowerpot. Though tiny, the tree was lush and vibrant, radiating vitality. Its crown was neatly leveled, every needle pointing outward, none upward. Its trunk was knotted and rugged, the bark patchy yet firmly attached, clearly indicating that despite its small stature, the tree’s age was considerable… “A Thousand-Year Longevity Pine?”

Upon hearing those five words, and scrutinizing the small tree, every eye in the hall lit up. Longevity Pines were common; even those ten thousand years old were not unheard of. However, a pine that had lived for a thousand years, growing naturally without pruning or shaping, yet remaining so exquisitely miniature, was something they had genuinely never witnessed before—truly peculiar! Trees follow inherent rules of growth: expanding either in girth or height. A pine that had truly existed for a millennium would almost certainly not maintain such a compact form. There had to be an unknown reason behind it. Regardless, such a Longevity Pine had unquestionably stolen the spotlight from every other gift today. For a moment, everyone gathered around the pine, murmuring in shared astonishment. The assembled guests were all top experts; a mere probe of their spiritual sense revealed the tree’s true nature. It was indeed a Longevity Pine tempered by a millennium. Someone laughed, “Old Qiu, you slick old eel, where did you dredge up such a treasure? You’ve completely upstaged everyone today!” Qiu Chengyun looked immensely pleased. “It was fate; even now, I don’t fully comprehend the tree’s nature. This spring, feeling adventurous, I went wandering and sheltered in a cave during a sudden downpour. I felt a slab beneath my foot, a stone weighing at least ten thousand catties, suddenly shift… Out of curiosity, I lifted it and found two stone slabs underneath, sandwiching a small, round hollow where this tree was growing. I carefully dug it out, potted it, and unexpectedly, it serves a purpose today…” He chuckled smugly, stroking his beard. “While this isn't a priceless artifact, it is certainly rare. So I offer it as a gift to the Prefecture Lord today, just to make a memorable impression.”

The crowd clustered around Qiu Chengyun, examining the pine with the air of those witnessing a unique curiosity. Just as Qiu Chengyun basked in the attention and was about to step back, his son, Qiu Peng, suddenly shouted out, “The younger generation of the Illusionary Prefecture has gathered today to honor the Lord’s birthday. I hear Brother Mo Junye, possessing the legendary Ethereal Constitution, is also present. I wonder what precious gift Brother Mo has prepared for the esteemed elder on this first visit? This junior would love to broaden his horizons.”

The statement caused astonishment throughout the hall. Cao Guofeng and the others turned ashen-faced, their anger palpable. Even Qiu Chengyun, Qiu Peng’s own grandfather, looked utterly bewildered, never imagining his grandson would voice such a challenge on this occasion. It was obvious to any discerning eye that this was a direct provocation aimed at the prodigious genius, Mo Junye. But why had Mo Junye offended his grandson? Regardless, confronting him now was unwise, especially with all the Illusionary Prefecture’s leaders present; the Qiu family would undoubtedly be in the wrong, no matter how the matter was handled… Furthermore, was someone with the Ethereal Constitution truly someone to trifle with? Even if they suppressed him today, what about the future? This young man was destined to be a pivotal figure in the Illusionary Prefecture; offending him now would guarantee the Qiu family an insurmountable, lasting feud! In that instant, genuine fury flared in Qiu Chengyun’s heart, and he raised his large hand, ready to slap the boy across the face. However, before Qiu Peng had finished speaking, Prefecture Lord Miao Jingyun began to laugh heartily: “Excellent, excellent. I too wish to see what kind of surprise the sole possessor of the peerless Ethereal Constitution has prepared for this old man.”

Hearing this, everyone involuntarily rubbed their eyes and ears: Was that truly the Prefecture Lord speaking? Qiu Peng, meanwhile, felt a surge of triumph. He wasn't entirely thoughtless; he had calculated his move. His outburst had been fueled by jealous rage, and he had regretted it slightly, but now that the venerable old master had spoken these words, his challenging statement could be reframed as addressing the elder’s will! He swelled with satisfaction! As he spoke, Miao Jingyun winked slyly, thinking: Let’s see you keep your arrogant posture, kid! I’ll make you humiliate yourself today! We’ll see how you escape this one. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, how can I soothe my anger? Today, you need to learn that Lord Ma has three eyes… “Grandfather! How could you do this?” Miao Xiaomiao cried out indignantly, “You know perfectly well—” But before she could finish, Jun Moxie interrupted her. Jun Moxie had originally intended to use the birthday celebration to surprise Miao Jingyun, offering a gift to the Illusionary Prefecture to repay the favor owed to Miao Qingcheng. His Grandmist Pagoda space was filled with countless rare treasures; even a casual offering would leave everyone stunned, let alone a proper birthday gift… But seeing the old man’s current conduct, Jun Moxie suddenly felt disinclined to reveal anything, even contemplating walking out then and there. Yet, glancing at Miao Xiaomiao’s pleading look toward her grandfather, his heart softened. Very well, I shall lend you some face, girl… (To be continued. For the rest of the story, more chapters, please support the author and genuine reading!)

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