Under a barrage of surprised and bewildered stares, Huang Taiji’s stride faltered for a fraction of a second before returning to normal. Yet his posture subtly straightened and his expression grew even more austere—just like a celebrity walking the red carpet, suddenly burdened with maintaining an idol's dignified image.
"I have told you many times: do not call me your godfather," Huang Taiji said with a solemn frown.
"Slip of the tongue, just a slip of the tongue," Zhang Yuanqing replied breezily. "Godf—Brother Huang, you really have to help out at tonight’s banquet. The boss is offering an annual interest rate of only 2.9%, so not many people are eager to lend big sums."
Huang Taiji said in a deep voice, "2.9% is on the lower side. Even bank certificates of deposit yield more than that."
"Which is why we're turning to you for help! Everyone knows real estate developers and property tycoons are rolling in dough."
Huang Taiji wore an expression of strict business professionalism. "The conglomerate's capital isn't my personal wealth. An investment with such substandard returns will tarnish my reputation and track record..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly wailed at the top of his lungs, "Godfather—!"
The corner of Huang Taiji’s mouth twitched slightly. "I'll consider it."
"Thank you, Godfather!" Zhang Yuanqing led Huang Taiji into the banquet dining hall, announcing loudly, "Boss, honored guests, my godfather has arrived!"
Inside the hall, the handsome men and gorgeous women dressed in sharp suits and elegant evening gowns turned toward them in astonishment.
One familiar face after another, their eyes laden with unreadable expressions, focused squarely on Huang Taiji.
Huang Taiji didn't possess the skill of Insight, but he could easily read the shock, bewilderment, and faint glint of newfound envy coming from these second-, third-, and fourth-generation scions of the official factions.
This surprise and envy were entirely different from the respect he enjoyed as one of the Four Official Princes.
Yuanshi Tianzun was no longer who he used to be. Following the Chaos of the Five Elements dungeon, he had firmly established himself in the uppermost tier of power beneath the Dominator realm. In terms of strength, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the Four Official Princes.
In terms of renown—regardless of whether it was fame or infamy—he had surpassed the taciturn Prince Huang, the fiery and reckless Prince Fire, the indolent playboy prince, and Money Prince, who supposedly won people over with virtue.
That cry of "Godfather" conveyed everyone’s sheer disbelief that Huang Taiji had actually managed to tame Yuanshi Tianzun.
Huang Taiji silently drew himself up to his full height, striding into the banquet hall like a star walking the red carpet. Prominent guests swarmed forward to greet him, their manner brimming with warmth and deference.
Zhang Yuanqing backed out of the hall, crossed the courtyard, and returned to his post by the villa gates to welcome arriving guests.
Before long, he greeted two more familiar figures—the stars of tonight’s banquet.
Miao Teng'er and Lingjun.
Miao Teng'er looked stunning tonight, dressed in a sleek, shimmering white silk blouse and a pleated, light blue maxi skirt, looking as fresh and refined as a blooming orchid.
Her outfit complemented her beauty and demeanor flawlessly—ethereal and pure, yet carrying the subtle, captivating allure of a mature woman.
"Little Sister Teng'er, a single day without seeing you feels like three whole autumns!" Zhang Yuanqing laughed heartily and stepped forward with open arms, looking as though he intended to pull her into an affectionate embrace.
A radiant smile bloomed across Miao Teng'er’s face. She gave him an airy, polite half-hug before huffing playfully, "I’m older than you. You should be calling me Big Sister."
"That won't do. Lingjun is my dearest brother and confidant. You're his sister, which makes you my sister too. Tsk, tsk, Little Sister Teng'er, are you trying to outshine every beauty in the room tonight?" Zhang Yuanqing offered sincere, effusive praise.
Miao Teng'er chided teasingly, "Silver-tongued flatterer."
"You're too modest, far too modest!" Zhang Yuanqing caught Miao Teng'er’s delicate hand, gently patting the back of it as he spoke with utter earnestness, "In my eyes, Little Sister Teng'er is the number-one beauty in the entire official organization—a good three shades prettier than Yin Ji!"
His tone and expression were so solemn he looked ready to swear an oath to heaven.
This compliment struck Miao Teng'er right in her sweet spot, bringing a luminous smile to her breathtaking face.
Then, she suddenly sighed.
"I'm really sorry about the tribunal."
She was referring to the fact that Elder Miao hadn't spoken up to support Yuanshi Tianzun during the trial.
"Ah, Elder Miao is a shrewd strategist. He knows you, Lingjun, and I are on great terms. Even if he didn't help me, I could never hold a grudge." Zhang Yuanqing shrugged.
Miao Teng'er looked at him for a moment and broke into a smile once more.
"Teng'er, you go on inside first. I need a word with Yuanshi." Lingjun cleared his throat beside them, urging his cousin to head inside rather than linger with Yuanshi Tianzun.
Miao Teng'er nodded softly, gliding gracefully across the courtyard toward the villa with light, measured steps.
"Five seconds!" Lingjun said gloomily.
"What five seconds?" Zhang Yuanqing gave him a puzzled look.
"You held Teng'er’s hand for five whole seconds. She despises physical contact with the opposite sex, including handshakes. Yet she not only hugged you, she let your wandering paws hold her hand."
"It was just a polite air-hug. I didn't even get to measure the breadth of your sister's bosom."
"Hey, hey! Keep talking dirty about my cousin and I'll fall out with you," Lingjun sighed. "Still, Teng'er really does have a soft spot for your type—talented, irreverent, emotionally intelligent, and knows how to charm people. It's a shame you're already with Guan Ya. Otherwise, I'd be more than happy to entrust Teng'er to you."
"Let's pass on that. Fu Qingyang would slice the two of us down with a strike of Skill Nigh unto the Dao."
"You're actually more afraid of Fu Qingyang cutting us down than Guan Ya having her heart broken? You care more about Fu Qingyang's feelings, don't you?"
"Don't suddenly get all bromantic on me. Time to go in." Zhang Yuanqing shoved him firmly into the courtyard.
***
By eight in the evening, the invited guests had arrived at the Fujia Bay Villa one after another.
The banquet was held in the left wing of the estate, where a specialized grand ballroom spanned over five hundred square meters. The floor was covered with plush carpeting, and tiered crystal chandeliers shaped like nine-grade lotuses hung from the ceiling.
Long buffet tables draped in white cloths were arranged in neat rows, laden with top-tier delicacies.
Bunny girls led waitresses through the crowd, serving an endless array of gourmet food and fine wine. In the center of the hall stood a gleaming, lacquered grand piano, where Miao Teng'er, ethereal and elegant as an orchid, sat playing with her head bowed, her fair, slender fingers dancing deftly across the black and white keys.
As the host, Fu Qingyang wore a snow-white suit, his hair tied back in a short ponytail, his sculptured, handsome face as cool and aloof as ever.
Accompanied by his trusted subordinate Yuanshi Tianzun, he made his rounds among the official elite, chatting and clinking glasses. The two of them were undeniably the most striking figures of the night.
Several rounds of drinks later, the atmosphere grew lively. Huang Taiji also led Yuanshi Tianzun around for a lap, making no objection whatsoever when the young man called him Godfather.
Zhang Yuanqing knew that his mission from the boss was accomplished—Prince Huang would lend the money.
In truth, Huang Taiji held the lion's share of funding for this banquet. As the CEO of a state-owned construction conglomerate, he was sitting on a massive pool of liquid capital due to the conglomerate downsizing its investments amidst this year’s sluggish real estate market.
Securing Huang Taiji meant covering eighty percent of the funding deficit.
However, Fu Qingyang had noted that Huang Taiji was rigid and severe, strictly business in commercial matters; even Money Prince’s personal face carried little weight with him.
It took Yuanshi Tianzun, his newly minted godson, to get the job done.
After toasting two rounds, Zhang Yuanqing stopped drinking. He had no tolerance for alcohol; pouring expensive liquor down his throat was a total waste. He vastly preferred iced cola, but Fu Qingyang had insisted that formal occasions demanded formal decorum, leaving no room for cola at the banquet.
Now, seated near the balcony, he enjoyed the gentle night breeze while quietly observing the laughing, chatting ladies and gentlemen.
He was waiting for his opportunity.
Lingjun’s old habits had flared up again. He was flirting his way across the hall, bantering loudly amidst a crowd of women, completely ignoring his cousin.
Most guests were focused on prominent figures like Fu Qingyang and Huang Taiji, leaving Miao Teng'er relatively unattended.
By all rights, with Miao Teng'er’s beauty, figure, and prestigious family background, she should have been a focal point of the evening. But much like Yin Ji, she had yet to move on from her past lover. As a result, she kept her distance in social settings, offering zero opportunities to any high-value men.
Over time, people stopped approaching her. After all, everyone present was someone of status; three-legged toads might be hard to find, but two-legged women were everywhere, so why bother embarrassing oneself chasing someone unobtainable?
Just then, Fu Qingyang suffered an "unfortunate mishap" as a few drops of red wine splashed across his chest. He promptly excused himself to change his clothes.
No sooner had Fu Qingyang departed than a bunny girl approached Miao Teng'er and murmured in a low voice, "Miss Miao Teng'er, the Young Master wishes to discuss something with you. Please follow me."
*Fu Qingyang wants to see me?* Miao Teng'er glanced across the banquet hall. Seeing that Fu Qingyang was indeed absent, she nodded, rose to her feet, and smiled gently.
"Alright."
She followed the bunny girl out of the hall, descended the stairs, and entered a guest room on the first floor.
The bunny girl bowed politely. "Please wait here a moment. The Young Master will arrive shortly."
With that, she closed the door and left.
***
Capital City.
The delegation composed of Heaven's Punishment and the Thousand Cranes Group arrived at the Fenglinwan Grand Hotel.
Outside the entrance, an impeccably dressed middle-aged man with a refined, affable demeanor had been waiting for some time.
"Executive Officer Demon Hunter, greetings. I am Elder Miao's secretary, Yang Rong!" The man's smile was polished and courteous, his handshake beyond reproach.
This was Demon Hunter's first visit to the Five Elements Alliance on behalf of Heaven's Punishment. While he was an envoy, his primary portfolio covered Europe. Only because the diplomat in charge of Asia happened to be inside a Spirit Realm did Heaven's Punishment assign this mission to him.
Demon Hunter appraised the man, quickly pulling up the relevant intelligence in his mind.
Yang Rong, secretary to Grand Elder Baihui and Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs Department.
Elder Miao of the Baihui faction served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, specializing in receiving international Orderly organizations and serving as the outward face and image of the Five Elements Alliance.
Demon Hunter had always believed that appointing Elder Miao as Foreign Minister was a clever and calculated move by the Five Elements Alliance.
That formidable Wood Monster was gentle-mannered and lacked sharp edges, yet possessed a calculating, strategic mind. He was perfectly suited to lull enemies into complacency at diplomatic tables and project a benign, harmless image of the Alliance onto the international stage.
While Demon Hunter evaluated Secretary Yang, Yang was also observing him, along with the three youths from Heaven's Punishment.
Among the trio, the Siren Osmond was a familiar face. He had visited China twice before—once during his Transcendent stage, when he was Heaven's Punishment’s star figure, much like Yuanshi Tianzun was today.
Despite being a Siren, he had chosen not to join the Sea God Church. Even back in his Transcendent stage, he had single-handedly hunted down several evil faction members of the same level, amassing an illustrious record and distinguished battle merits that left the Sea God Church lamenting his loss—much like how the Taiyi Sect lamented Elder Sun’s folly.
Years ago, while accompanying a Heaven's Punishment diplomatic mission to China, Osmond had swept through six Transcendent practitioners of the Five Elements Alliance during an exchange, enjoying unparalleled limelight.
He had visited again last year as a Level 6 Saint, only to cross paths with the brainless Jiang Ju, who had nearly beaten him to death.
This was his third visit to China.
Of the other two, the one with an indolent aura resembling Lingjun’s was the Wind Mage Hoover York. Unlike Lingjun, however, behind this man's languid exterior lay a ruthless killer.
His mentor was First-Class Gold Executive Officer Doyle Jerome, a peak Dominator.
Hoover York’s talent and prowess were slightly below Osmond's, putting him roughly on par with Huang Taiji and Jiang Ju.
As for the stern, taciturn youth who carried himself with the meticulous austerity of an ascetic monk, Secretary Yang had never seen him before, nor could he recall any intelligence matching the description.
There were only two possibilities. First, the youth was a secret weapon of Heaven's Punishment who kept an exceptionally low profile, leaving the Five Elements Alliance with no prior dossier on him.
Second, he was merely an insignificant underling brought along to make up the numbers. Naturally, underlings didn't warrant Secretary Yang’s attention; Heaven's Punishment had countless elites, making it impossible to investigate every single one in detail.
Every time Heaven's Punishment visited China, they brought along a cohort of prodigies. On one hand, it showcased their heritage and talent to foreign Orderly organizations; on the other, diplomatic engagements inevitably involved "friendly sparring," and bringing along weaklings would only invite humiliation.
Those chosen to represent an organization abroad were invariably from the uppermost crust of elites. This was true for any faction.
"Elder Miao has been expecting you for some time. Please, this way."
Secretary Yang escorted the members of the Thousand Cranes Group and Heaven's Punishment into the hotel, taking the elevator up to a private dining suite.
Inside the elegantly decorated Chinese-style private room, an elderly figure with a human form sat at a round table, gazing warmly at the arriving delegates.
He possessed a gentle, peaceful face, resembling a wise prophet of antiquity. Yet his hair consisted of finger-thick black serpents that flicked their tongues and swayed like aquatic reeds.
His feet were writhing root systems, anchored firmly into the ground.
By rights, an executive officer of Demon Hunter's rank lacked the status to warrant a personal audience with Elder Miao. However, since he came as an envoy of Heaven's Punishment, protocol dictated that Elder Miao could not be absent.
Demon Hunter strode forward, offering a handshake with measured dignity.
The executives of the Thousand Cranes Group, on the other hand, bowed so low their foreheads nearly touched the floor. "Greetings, Elder Miao!"
The three young Saints carefully composed their expressions and bowed in respect.
Executive Officer Demon Hunter could afford to remain poised and equal, but they could not. This was not only out of respect for a superior being, but also stemmed from the instinctive psychological suppression a high-ranking practitioner exerted over those of lower rank.
"Please, be seated. The dinner is served," Elder Miao smiled gently, gesturing for everyone to take their places.
Once the guests were seated and had sampled the exquisite state cuisine for a few minutes, Elder Miao spoke.
"We have reviewed the application submitted by the Thousand Cranes Group. What is the identity of the fugitive Heaven's Punishment seeks to apprehend?"
The application submitted by the Thousand Cranes Group stated that they sought to extradite a fugitive, making no formal mention of Heaven's Punishment to adhere to procedural protocol. However, everyone present understood the reality.
It was merely capturing a fugitive; the Five Elements Alliance was more than willing to do Heaven's Punishment a favor. Over the past year or two, relations between Heaven's Punishment and the Five Elements Alliance had been relatively amicable.
"An A-rank fugitive. The organization he belonged to has already been dismantled, but he holds a list of contacts who were secretly colluding with individuals inside Orderly organizations."
Demon Hunter briefly summarized Pluto's level, profession, and organizational background.
After listening, Elder Miao gave a slight nod. "As long as Heaven's Punishment abides by our regulations during the arrest, avoids harming civilians, does not escalate the incident, and accepts supervision and assistance from the Five Elements Alliance, we are willing to facilitate your operation."
Demon Hunter smiled. "You are truly a magnanimous elder."
The two sides raised their glasses and drank together.
After a few moments of casual conversation, Demon Hunter brought up their second matter of business. "It has been nearly a year since the Demon Lord fell. I wonder if the Five Elements Alliance has located the Demon Lord's successor?"
"We have not," Elder Miao shook his head. "The Five Elements Alliance has no interest in who the Demon Lord's successor is. That is a matter for the Taiyi Sect to ponder."
"Yet if traces of the Demon Lord's successor were discovered, the Five Elements Alliance surely wouldn't turn a blind eye," Demon Hunter said in a deep voice. "We received a tip-off, and we have already provisionally locked onto the identity of the Demon Lord's successor."
Elder Miao’s eyes narrowed instantly. He stared at Demon Hunter for several seconds before asking in a low, heavy voice:
"Who is it?"
Chapter 561