"Old Zhao, do this… this… and then this."
—
Hearing Tang Lan's plan, Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in shock!
"Sect Master, is this really okay?" Zhao Wuji hesitated. "Won't this cause problems?"
"Just report it. Don't worry." Tang Lan was full of confidence.
—
Zhao Wuji opened his mouth, wanting to argue—
But…
He couldn't find a reason to refute.
So—
He could only silently nod and leave quickly.
—
His scratching head and confused expression showed just how conflicted he was.
—
Meanwhile—
Zhu Zhuqing gave Tang Lan a thumbs-up.
"Lan, you really understand how nobles think!"
"Right?" Tang Lan smirked. "A bunch of people who can't cultivate—ten-thousand-year soul bones might not even excite them, but this? They'd kill each other over it."
—
Zhu Zhuqing imagined the scene and couldn't help but grin.
Then—
Tang Lan took a step forward, pinning Zhu Zhuqing against the wall.
Leaning close to her ear—
He whispered, "What exactly were you trying to do earlier?"
—
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes at him, her gaze sultry.
Then—
She lowered herself.
—
"Hiss—"
—
The Night of the Grand Banquet
On the open-air field of Tang Sect Academy,
A lavish banquet was in full swing.
Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong stood at the main gate, welcoming one high-ranking guest after another.
Beside them—
A herald loudly announced the arrivals.
—
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Board of Education: Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin—arriving!"
"Prince Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng—arriving!"
"His Highness, the Crown Prince—arriving!"
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo—arriving!"
—
With every new distinguished guest,
The spectators' perception of Tang Sect kept rising.
A newly established sect… yet it could invite so many powerful figures?!
Tang Sect's status was skyrocketing.
—
But—
Only when the banquet was about to start did Tang Lan finally make his entrance, hand-in-hand with Zhu Zhuqing.
—
One handsome and striking.
One graceful and mesmerizing.
—
The moment they arrived—
All eyes in the room turned toward them.
—
The perfect pairing of a stunning man and a breathtaking woman…
Many noblewomen and young noblemen felt their hearts stir.
—
Some even wanted to approach them—
But then—
They hesitated.
—
Because—
Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi immediately stepped forward to greet them.
—
"Lan, this is your own event, yet you're the last to arrive?" Ning Fengzhi gently reminded.
—
Tang Lan smiled helplessly.
Zhu Zhuqing was just too captivating—
He simply couldn't pull himself away.
—
And they hadn't even reached "zero distance" yet…
Just that alone was already dangerous.
If they really went all the way…
He couldn't even imagine how blissful his future would be.
—
"Cough! Nothing much, just had a minor breakthrough in training." Tang Lan casually brushed it off. "Looks like everyone's here. When does the auction begin?"
—
"Then congratulations on growing even stronger, Lan." Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Most of the guests have arrived. We were just waiting for His Majesty—"
—
Suddenly—
A loud announcement echoed through the hall.
—
"His Majesty, Emperor Xue Ye—arriving!"
—
"Boom—Boom—Boom—"
The Imperial Guard stomped their spears in unison, signaling the emperor's arrival.
—
Tang Lan turned toward the entrance—
And saw—
A white-haired elder, draped in a golden imperial robe, walking in with an imposing presence.
—
Tch!
Dude's got a built-in BGM?!
—
Even Ning Fengzhi and the others bowed deeply.
—
"All—Hail—His—Majesty—"
—
Tang Lan also bowed.
—
It wasn't kneeling—just a respectful gesture toward an elder.
—
"Rise." Emperor Xue Ye raised a hand.
—
"Thank—You—Your—Majesty—"
Everyone stood upright again.
—
With Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue leading the way,
They introduced Tang Lan to Emperor Xue Ye.
—
"Father, this is the Tang Sect Master, Tang Lan." Qian Renxue introduced.
—
Emperor Xue Ye scrutinized Tang Lan.
And Tang Lan—
Met his gaze directly.
—
Ning Fengzhi broke into a cold sweat.
—
Standing before the emperor was like standing beside a tiger.
As a sovereign ruler, Emperor Xue Ye wouldn't be enraged by a mere stare.
But he definitely wouldn't be pleased, either.
—
Ning Fengzhi was about to smooth things over—
But—
Before he could—
"Hahaha! Good! Very good!" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly laughed heartily.
"As expected of the genius behind the Tang Sect Encyclopedia—such boldness!"
—
"Your Majesty is too kind." Tang Lan humbly replied.
"If Your Majesty is interested, I could even list you as the second author in the second volume of the Tang Sect Encyclopedia."
—
The hall—
Fell into dead silence.
—
Emperor Xue Ye's laughter came to an abrupt halt.
He was tempted!
—
The impact of the Tang Sect Encyclopedia was beyond question.
—
Unlike Yu Xiaogang's incomplete, vague theories,
Tang Lan's Encyclopedia was a true manual for self-study.
—
If you had a copy, you could train yourself into a proper Soul Master!
—
This… this was a chance to leave his name in history!
—
A copy in every household might be a bit much—
But at least one per family?
That was entirely possible.
—
And what would that mean?