In the bamboo forest.
More than a hundred people had gathered there, all young men and women in embroidered silk robes and beautiful attire. Liu Long's sons all had three wives and four concubines, like their father, and a crowd of children.
When Liu Ji Ya arrived, gazes immediately focused on her.
Then, almost all of those gazes shifted to Chu Hao.
Who was this person who was with Liu Ji Ya? One had to know that Liu Ji Ya rarely interacted with men.
"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is the one who had a life-and-death battle with Wen Bing a few days ago, the one who caused a great stir. He is Chu Hao."
A young man stepped out. It was Liu Feng. He walked up to Chu Hao.
"I originally thought that anyone who dared to have a life-and-death battle with Wen Bing would be at least an outstanding prodigy, but it turns out he's just..."
The corner of Liu Feng's mouth curled up in disdain, his eyes full of ridicule.
"A useless weakling who hides behind a woman. An ignorant fool."
The icy sarcasm rang out, intentionally amplified by Liu Feng's cultivation, echoing throughout the area.
The space instantly fell silent. All eyes were fixed on Chu Hao.
Gradually, a look of contempt appeared in everyone's eyes.
Their gazes were like needles. If they were real, Chu Hao would have become a pincushion at this moment.
The Chu Hao who had a life-and-death battle with Wen Bing, one of the Ten Prodigies of Jade City, was just a seventh-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator!
All eyes were focused on Chu Hao. As the person who had a life-and-death battle with Wen Bing, the name Chu Hao had been mentioned repeatedly in the past few days, and his reputation was not small.
But no one had expected that this person who had caused a sensation among the younger generation at that time only had the cultivation of the seventh-stage Qi Refining Realm!
With such cultivation, he couldn't even withstand a single move from Wen Bing. He would definitely die.
The gap between different stages of the Qi Refining Realm was already big enough, let alone the gap between the Qi Refining Realm and the Great Grandmaster Realm.
"Another fool who's desperate for fame."
"Utterly reckless. That's a perfect description."
The people secretly shaking their heads were not a minority.
"Hehe, Liu Ying, a few days ago you said that anyone who dared to have a life-and-death battle with Wen Bing must be a talent from a certain area and that you were very interested in seeing him. Now that you've seen him, what do you think?"
A few beautiful young women gathered together, talking in low voices, their eyes appraising Chu Hao.
"Hmph, it seems I overestimated him."
The beautiful woman named Liu Ying withdrew her gaze, her eyes filled with disappointment.
She had indeed been very curious about Chu Hao initially, but today she was disappointed. A seventh-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator challenging Wen Bing was not courage; it was foolishness.
Hearing the rising ridicule around him, Liu Feng's eyes filled with a cold smirk. He had tricked Chu Hao into coming here. The talk of resolving grievances was just a pretense. With his personality, how could he possibly let the humiliation at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion go?
"Liu Feng, how presumptuous!"
Liu Ji Ya's face trembled. No one here knew how important Chu Hao was, but she did. At this moment, even Liu Long had a request for Chu Hao. What would happen if he angered Chu Hao and he no longer refined the pill to heal Liu Long?
"Liu Ji Ya, don't think that just because the ancestor favors you, you can look down on everyone. You say I'm presumptuous? I think you're the truly presumptuous one."
Liu Feng's voice grew louder, and he said coldly, "Everyone, Liu Ji Ya actually gave the command medallion that represents the ancestor's identity to this person. Just yesterday, this person, relying on the ancestor's command medallion, caused a huge disturbance at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion! He even smashed a mural that the Drunken Immortal Pavilion was famous for!"
"Shameless."
"Scoundrel."
"Lunatic."
Instantly, one after another, hostile curses were aimed at Chu Hao.
Although the Drunken Immortal Pavilion belonged to Liu Zhengkun and had nothing to do with many of them, it was still a Liu family business. They were all members of the Liu family, so they naturally shared a common enemy.
"He dared to cause trouble at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion yesterday with the ancestor's command medallion. Who knows which of our siblings' businesses will suffer next time?" Liu Feng intentionally incited everyone's hatred towards Chu Hao.
Sure enough, the hostility at the scene escalated even further.
"Liu Ji Ya, the command medallion was something grandfather gave you. Why did you hand it over to an outsider?"
"Liu Ji Ya, him smashing the mural was an act of humiliating our Liu family, and this is all your responsibility!"
Not only Chu Hao, but Liu Ji Ya was also targeted and questioned.
Instantly, she and Chu Hao felt like they were against a thousand people.
Liu Ji Ya's expression became colder and colder. She hadn't expected to accept the invitation to a banquet only to be interrogated like this. She knew right then and there that this was clearly a trap waiting for her and Chu Hao to fall into.
What made her frustrated was that most of the people here were already dissatisfied with her. If it were just a few people, she could still suppress them, but now there were more than a hundred people, all from the Liu family's younger generation, and they all had the support of their respective elders behind them.
There is strength in numbers. With so many people gathered, only Liu Long could suppress everyone.
"Everyone, today is my banquet. Please give me some face and let me say a few words."
While the curses were echoing, a young man around twenty-three years old walked out. His appearance was somewhat similar to Liu Feng's, but he was more resolute and mature, with sharp eyes.
"Liu Yun, he has indeed entered the Great Grandmaster Realm." Liu Ji Ya felt Liu Yun's aura.
"Liu Ji Ya, I've heard about the Drunken Immortal Pavilion incident. I think you owe us an explanation, but today is my celebration, so let's set this matter aside for now."
As soon as Liu Yun appeared, he showed a kind of magnanimity that made a good impression on people.
"You are a member of the Liu family, and you can stay at tonight's banquet, but as for this person..."
Liu Yun's gaze moved to Chu Hao. His expression suddenly turned cold, and he articulated each word clearly.
"You are not welcome here. Please leave."