Just as Gu Zhongtong felt he could no longer hold on, he heard Lin Fang laugh lightly, and instantly, a wave of relief washed over him.

The pressure bearing down upon him seemed to melt away in an instant, and everyone in the great hall gasped in amazement—even the renowned Demon Path Ancestral Master’s lips oozed a trickle of fresh blood, which he hastily wiped away.

"It seems we are not very welcome here, are we?" Lin Fang’s voice rang out softly, yet it seemed to echo in everyone’s ears. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Everyone hurriedly put on a smile, and an old Taoist priest stood up and said, "Fellow Taoist truly possesses divine skills; we were presumptuous."

With smiles, the others also cupped their hands in a greeting, though what they truly thought remained unknown to all.

"A mere trifle, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all," Lin Fang replied very modestly.

However, the old Taoist priest tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking that if suppressing the entire hall wasn’t worth mentioning, then this young man must indeed be a formidable figure.

"You’re too humble, Fellow Taoist."

After some polite chit-chat, the tense atmosphere successfully eased, and a young Daoist priest had already stepped forward to show Lin Fang and his companions to their seats.

Before long, a bell sounded, causing everyone in the great hall to become solemn, sitting upright, their gazes fixed on the screen at the back of the hall.

Three Daoists stepped out from behind the screen, each dressed in Daoist robes and feather crowns, holding silver horsetail whisks adorned with sparkling gemstones.

As soon as they appeared, everyone in the hall immediately stood up and said respectfully, "We greet the three State Preceptors!"

"Haha, it is our honor that so many fellow practitioners have come to observe the ceremony," Great Immortal Yang Li said with a laugh, gesturing for everyone to sit down.

The blazing hot weather became refreshingly cool with just a gentle wave of his hand, a feat that left the crowd inwardly marvelling.

Lin Fang, however, noticed the fleeting glimpse of a Cold Dragon in the sleeve of his robe and chuckled to himself; these three were truly concerned with appearances, constantly maintaining the airs of a high personage.

With the host seated, it was naturally time for the banquet to begin. A group of beautiful maids carrying fine food and wine entered lightly and gracefully.

Some practitioners of particular cultivation techniques, from the paths less righteous, couldn’t take their eyes off the maids for a moment, but knowing they were in the National Master Mansion, even those who defied all laws didn’t dare to misbehave.

When the meal was served, Great Immortal Hu Li raised his glass and said, "Our meeting is predestined; my friends, please drink this cup to the full!"

Everyone shouted in approval and raised their glasses in response, except for Lin Fang and his group, who buried their heads in their meal, voraciously eating while turning a deaf ear to their surroundings.

Their odd behavior quickly drew the attention of the three great immortals. Great Immortal Lu Li snorted coldly, and his mana transformed into a small insect that flew toward the necks of Lin Fang and his group, aiming to teach these impudent fellows a lesson.

However, just as the insect neared them, a flame appeared out of nowhere, landing on the insect and reducing it to ashes.

Upon seeing this, Great Immortal Lu Li became even more indignant and was about to take action again, but was stopped by Great Immortal Hu Li.

"Could this be Fellow Taoist Lin Fang?" Great Immortal Hu Li asked, addressing Lin Fang and his companions.

Lin Fang raised his head and wiped his mouth, revealing an apologetic smile as he said, "I’m just a man from the mountains; to be known by the State Preceptor truly catches me off guard."

If Lin Fang hadn’t looked at the feast on the table with such fiery desire, Great Immortal Hu Li might have believed his tall tale.

"Fellow Daoist, your spell is indeed marvelous, earning my renewed respect. This drink is one of the finest in the world; why not give it a try?" Great Immortal Hu Li raised his cup and suggested.

Seeing this, Lin Fang also smiled, knowing full well that Great Immortal Hu Li was expecting a gesture of acknowledgment, especially since the three brothers weren’t known for their generosity of spirit.

Thus, he too lifted his cup with a smile and drained it in one gulp before slowly saying, "Indeed, it is a fine wine."

Watching Lin Fang empty his cup, Great Immortal Hu Li revealed a satisfied smile. Lin Fang’s attitude was sufficient, and so he said, "Since you all enjoy the feast at my mansion, feel free to eat your fill today, there’s no shortage of food here."

"Then we thank you for your kindness, State Preceptor. We shall certainly not let you down," Lin Fang said with a smile, clasping his hands in thanks.

The previously tense atmosphere suddenly mellowed, and everyone resumed eating, drinking, and chattering, though many couldn’t help but steal glances at Lin Fang and his companions.

After all, they were the only ones who dare to defy the State Preceptor, not show face, and still sit peacefully.

"Big brother, why choose to quell the situation? This fellow dared to disrespect us brothers. In my opinion, it would be better to challenge him to a duel of spells and send him to the great beyond," Great Immortal Lu Li said darkly.

"Are you sure you can win against him in a duel of spells? The flames he conjured were fierce; Lin Fang is clearly no ordinary man. Moreover, he has shown us face, so why quibble over such trivial matters? If we were to fight and damage even a grass or tree of Chechi Kingdom, wouldn’t you and I feel regret?" Great Immortal Hu Li said in a soft voice.

"Besides, as we are both from the Daoist Sect, let’s be forgiving where we can."

"Hmph, very well, then. This youngster got lucky," Great Immortal Lu Li said, still somewhat disgruntled, but he decided not to stir any further trouble.

Though Lin Fang was enjoying the feast heartily, his mind remained alert. Once he noticed no further disturbances, he completely relaxed, confident that the three State Preceptors truly preferred to avoid conflict.

"Eat slowly; didn’t you hear the State Preceptor? If it’s not enough, there’s more. Today, eat to your heart’s content," Lin Fang said with a laugh to some comrades who were acting as if they had been starving ghosts in a previous life.

"The State Preceptor is indeed generous," said Bashan Tiger, his mouth still full of food, yet he managed to free a hand to give a thumbs-up, praising the three generous State Preceptors.

As the banqueting proceeded and everyone started to feel the effects of the wine, one person could no longer hold back. A Daoist with a face full of pockmarks suddenly yanked a maid beside him, intending to do something improper. His ugly, large mouth clumsily moved as he displayed his crude behavior.

"How dare you act so insolently in our National Master Mansion," said Great Immortal Yang Li, who had been silent for a long while. A flash of blue light was seen, and the offender was instantly turned into an ice sculpture, emitting a cold air.

The maid quickly straightened her clothes and got up, thanking Great Immortal Yang Li.

"Since you are in our mansion, naturally you must follow our rules. Otherwise, do not blame us for being inhospitable."

No sooner had these words been uttered than the hall fell silent. The fearsome chill displayed by Great Immortal Yang Li petrified everyone present. All doubted they could withstand such cold and instinctively shrank their necks.

Several individuals, nearly drunk, were instantly sobered by fright, looking at the ice sculpture standing in the hall with a hint of relief.