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**
As the ceremony to the heavens concluded, Xiao Lin and the others took their seats.
"Hahaha, the ceremony is over! Now, everyone, please drink to your heart's content. On behalf of the Sky Serpent Empire, I, Tian She, welcome all our friends who have come today."
"This Founding Ceremony, marking 800 years since our founding, has been able to proceed so smoothly and perfectly only because of your participation and witness! Once again, I express my gratitude to all the friends who have traveled from afar. Please, drain this cup with me!"
Standing alone atop the massive altar, the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire first expressed his thanks to Xiao Lin and the other participants before raising a wine cup in his hand.
"Cheers!" ×n
Seeing this, everyone, including Xiao Lin, raised their cups toward the Emperor in return. Following that, the crowd drained their cups in one gulp.
As the wine flowed down his throat, a refreshing and mellow fragrance instantly welled up in Xiao Lin's heart. Personally, Xiao Lin didn't care for strong spirits, but the Sky Serpent Empire had prepared fruit wines infused with medicinal fragrances for them!
It was evident that the Sky Serpent Empire had put a lot of thought into this detail for the Founding Ceremony. Of course, they were all at the Dou Zong level; what kind of strong liquor could they not handle?
With a single circulation of Dou Qi, even the strongest spirit would turn into plain water. As for poisoning, that was essentially impossible. To poison a Dou Zong without being detected, how could it be done without a poison of the Tier 7 or higher?
Moreover, ordinary poisons had almost no effect on those with Dou Zong cultivation. Furthermore, no matter how much courage the Sky Serpent Empire had, they wouldn't dare poison so many Dou Zong experts attending their ceremony all at once.
Unless the Sky Serpent Empire had lost its mind and was ready for the destruction of its nation. Even if the Sky Serpent Empire was an overlord of the Northwestern Region, it couldn't withstand a siege from so many factions!
Therefore, such a possibility didn't even need to be considered.
At this moment, the Emperor standing on the altar looked high-spirited, yet after drinking his cup, he still seemed a bit unsatisfied. One could see a flicker of hesitation on his face. Finally, as if he had made a firm decision, his gaze suddenly became resolute.
Never mind Xiao Lin—which of the Dou Zong experts present couldn't see through these changes? Unless they were blind... Of course, the Emperor's expressions weren't even slightly concealed; anyone slightly clever could guess that he was doing this on purpose.
As for why the Emperor was doing this? They would find out once they saw his next move.
Xiao Lin had long guessed that the Imperial Family would make a big move during this ceremony. He wasn't in a hurry; he just needed to watch what tricks they wanted to play.
"I hope you don't disappoint me!"
Looking at the Emperor's exaggerated expressions, Xiao Lin merely gave a calm smile.
Up until today, the Imperial Family hadn't mentioned a single word about the deal discussed with First Elder Su Qian back at Jia Nan Academy.
He had already vaguely guessed their goal.
It was simple: in the minds of the Sky Serpent Imperial Family, it was enough as long as Jia Nan Academy sent a Dou Zong expert to attend.
Yes, that was Xiao Lin's guess.
In the eyes of the Imperial Family, as long as Xiao Lin was physically here, the trade between them and Jia Nan Academy wasn't important at all!
This explained why, even though Xiao Lin had arrived in the capital so many days early, they had only treated him as an honored guest without taking any further practical action. Thinking of this, Xiao Lin naturally felt displeased.
At the same time, his favorable impression of the Sky Serpent Imperial Family had dropped to a very low level. After all, whose mood would be good after being plotted against like this?
Compared to the Sky Serpent Mansion—who didn't scheme and wasn't overly friendly, but merely treated him as a passerby—the Imperial Family's actions clearly made Xiao Lin feel even more disgusted.
Therefore, Xiao Lin had already made up his mind: if a full-scale conflict erupted between the Sky Serpent Mansion and the Imperial Family, he would either choose to watch the show or help the Sky Serpent Mansion.
As for helping the Imperial Family?
Sorry, we aren't close. Who are you again?
Thus, although Xiao Lin appeared calm on the surface while attending the ceremony today, he was actually already thinking about how to celebrate once the Imperial Family became the puppets of the Sky Serpent Mansion!
It had to be said—pitiful people often have hateful qualities!
While Xiao Lin was waiting to watch the aftermath, the Emperor on the altar took further action.
"Very well! To show our gratitude to everyone who has traveled far to attend our Founding Ceremony, the Sky Serpent Imperial Family has specially prepared a gift for you!"
As the Emperor spoke, a look of "pain" appeared on his face.
This look was actually seven parts real and three parts fake.
Because the gift he was preparing was indeed very precious!
After all, it was a treasure the Imperial Family had prepared for over a hundred years!
However, when they first began preparing this gift, the Imperial Family was already preparing for this very day. That's right; for today, the Sky Serpent Imperial Family had been preparing for over a hundred years.
After today, either the Sky Serpent Mansion would completely submit to the rule of the Imperial Family, or the Imperial Family would decline or even be destroyed. But thinking of the centuries-old wishes of his ancestors, the Emperor still gritted his teeth and made this decision.
Even if it wasn't him, the next generation wouldn't escape this fate.
If so, let the grievances between the Imperial Family and the Sky Serpent Mansion end completely in his generation. The Imperial Family's confidence in completely subduing the Sky Serpent Mansion rested upon this "gift."
As the Emperor's voice fell, under the confused gazes of the Dou Zong experts, an attendant with Dou Huang cultivation appeared, carrying a magnificent jade bottle.
A Dou Huang expert serving as a mere attendant—one couldn't help but marvel at the strength of the Sky Serpent Imperial Family!
Next, this attendant from the Imperial Family prepared a jade cup no larger than a fist for every Dou Zong expert present.
They were clearly made of the finest Warm Jade!
Usually, such material was used to store high-quality medicinal pills. To think the Imperial Family used them to make cups. It had to be said, the Sky Serpent Imperial Family was truly extravagant!
Finally, the attendant filled each jade cup with the liquid from that magnificent jade bottle.
As the liquid poured out and landed in the cups, it actually began to burn like a flame. However, when people passed their hands over the flames, they couldn't feel the slightest sensation of burning pain.
Such a miraculous scene caused even Xiao Lin to click his tongue in wonder internally.
"Your Majesty Tian She, this is?"
At the same time, someone voiced the question in the hearts of all the Dou Zong experts. Because, just as that liquid was poured into the cups, a desire to drain it in one gulp had actually sprouted in the depths of their hearts.
Even Xiao Lin was no exception!
But one must realize, they were all Dou Zong experts!
What kind of thing could cause even Dou Zong level cultivators to feel a sense of longing? Clearly, the effects of this liquid were definitely comparable to a Tier 7 pill or higher!
"Hehe, everyone, please don't be anxious. This gift prepared by my Sky Serpent Imperial Family is called Red Flame Celestial Liquid! It was brewed using a secret method that took our Imperial Family over a hundred years."
"In those hundred-plus years, we only managed to brew this one small bottle. As for its effects, even among Tier 7 pills, it would definitely be considered top-tier! This is the gift our Imperial Family has prepared for all of you."
With a light chuckle, the Emperor explained the origin of this mysterious liquid to the crowd.
**
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