"That is Young Miss Qianling. I heard the Family Head is very happy that she returned safely."
"Of course. The two of them have always had a good relationship. Now that Young Miss Qianling is back, she can help share the Family Head's burdens."
"That unfamiliar face behind her—could that be the newly promoted S-class Genius?"
"It seems so. He hasn't left his room for the past few days and has been quite low-key, unlike the previous ones. I wonder how capable he actually is; he became an S-class Prodigy without a word as soon as he arrived."
"Tsk tsk."
Several people whispered at the banquet, mostly out of curiosity, though there was also a hint of disdain.
Those able to attend this banquet were either high-level Core members of the Hun Family, talents of the Hun Family, or scions of major families in Qianhun City who came to broaden their horizons. In short, none of them were ordinary people. However, those who knew Han Xuanji's identity were still in the minority; most people's information networks were not that well-informed.
At most, they knew that a new S-class Prodigy would be announced at this banquet and that even the Family Head took it very seriously and would attend in person.
Facing this scene, Han Xuanji was not nervous. To him, this was a minor occasion.
He didn't feel the slightest bit of inferiority coming from the Primordial Chaos, but he also didn't possess the typical arrogance of a Prodigy.
Hun Qianling was clearly more familiar with the crowd. As a direct descendant of the Hun Family, although her talent wasn't exceptionally high, her status was quite significant. After all, she was the biological daughter of the previous Family Head and the younger sister of the current one, so many people came to converse with her.
Whenever someone took the opportunity to ask about Han Xuanji's identity or probe into his background, Hun Qianling would smile and stand in front of him, brushing them off with words like, "He's a friend I met while abroad and returned with me this time." She neither exposed Han Xuanji's identity nor offended anyone.
Han Xuanji watched this and nodded slightly in his heart. Taking the chance while Hun Qianling was fending off guests, he quietly retreated to a small table in a corner of the Great Hall and sat down.
The table was covered with delicacies carefully prepared by the Hun Family, all of which were ingredients unique to the Eternal Continent. There were Spirit Fish containing pure eternal qi with tender meat that melted in the mouth, and Soul-Gathering Fruits that ripened once a century, with crystalline flesh and a sweet-and-sour taste.
The drinks were also excellent, consisting of fine wines brewed from spiritual springs. The aroma was rich, and the value was exorbitant.
Out in the world, a single table like this would cost an ordinary Eternal Dao Lord Cultivator ten years of labor without eating or drinking.
Han Xuanji didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the jade chopsticks and slowly tasted these never-before-seen delicacies, occasionally picking up his wine cup to take a sip of spiritual wine, looking relaxed and at ease.
He wore green robes rather than the brocade robes of a Hun Family Core Disciple, and his aura was not strong. Combined with his position in the corner, he really didn't attract much attention.
Before long, a young man dressed in light blue brocade robes, holding a cup of wine, walked up to him somewhat awkwardly with a shy smile on his face.
The man had delicate features, a cultivation of only the Early Stage Eternal Dao Lord, and a hint of loneliness in his eyes. He was Wang Ping, a direct descendant of the Wang Family in Qianhun City.
The Wang Family was considered a prominent Family in Qianhun City, with an Eternal True God presiding over them. However, Wang Ping was just as his name suggested—of average talent—and was not highly valued within the Family. He had come with his Elders to broaden his horizons and spent most of his time alone in the corner, watching others talk and laugh.
Wang Ping didn't know Han Xuanji's identity. Seeing him alone, he assumed he was also a scion of another Family in Qianhun City, someone as ordinary as himself who was just there to make up the numbers, and he immediately felt a sense of kinship.
True Family Prodigies wouldn't wander around with their Elders; they would be in closed-door cultivation or sent to major powers to train. Only those with average talent but significant status would be brought out to socialize and become a familiar face.
He gently set down his wine cup and cupped his hands toward Han Xuanji, his tone slightly stiff.
"This brother, I am Wang Ping, a disciple of the Wang Family of Qianhun City."
"Seeing as you are alone, you must have come with your Elders as well. Why don't we have a few drinks together?"
Han Xuanji looked up at him. Seeing that his expression was sincere, without a trace of malice or the typical arrogance of a noble scion, he put down his jade chopsticks and gave a faint smile.
"I am Han Xuanji. Brother Wang, please sit."
Hearing this, a look of joy appeared on Wang Ping's face. He quickly sat down at the table and filled both his and Han Xuanji's cups.
As for the Han Family?
Wang Ping simply assumed it was some Family from out of town and didn't think much of it.
The two chatted idly; most of the time it was Wang Ping talking and Han Xuanji listening, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
After several rounds of drinks, Wang Ping began to open up more. He sighed and said:
"Brother Han, to be honest, my talent in the Family is mediocre and I'm not valued. I'm only here to make up the numbers."
"Seeing your steady aura, your talent must be much better than mine, yet you stay in this corner alone. I suppose you also dislike socializing?"
Han Xuanji picked up his wine cup, clinked it gently against the other's, and said in a flat tone:
"Socializing is just a bit tedious. It's better to eat something quietly and enjoy the peace."
He didn't say much about his background, nor did he point out Wang Ping's awkward situation. He just responded casually, occasionally listening to Wang Ping complain about Family trivialities and chiming in every now and then.
Just then, a commotion came from outside the hall. A series of steady footsteps rang out, and the originally noisy Great Hall instantly fell silent. Everyone's gaze turned toward the entrance.
Before long, a majestic figure slowly walked in. It was Hun Qianxue, the head of the Hun Family. He wore a black robe embroidered with golden Soul-Runes, and his body was enveloped in the thick aura of an Eternal True God. His steps were steady, and every step he took carried an invisible pressure that instantly suppressed all the noise in the hall.
Seeing this, Wang Ping quickly sat up straight, his expression becoming respectful, completely devoid of his previous tipsy appearance. After all, he was still an Eternal Dao Lord. He whispered to Han Xuanji:
"Brother Han, Family Head Hun is here. We must be on our best behavior."
Han Xuanji looked up at the man, feeling somewhat speechless. He thought to himself that he was just eating and drinking, and hadn't done anything improper.
On the other hand, this fellow next to him used quite a bit of body language when he spoke.
At this moment, Hun Qianxue walked to the main seat of the hall and sat down, while Hun Qianling quickly walked to his side.
Once everyone was completely silent, Hun Qianxue spoke slowly, his voice carrying through the power of an Eternal True God to every corner of the hall:
"The primary purpose of today's banquet is to celebrate the safe return of my younger sister, Hun Qianling."
As his voice fell, everyone stood up to offer their congratulations. After all, Hun Qianling had been missing for nearly a thousand years. The Hun Family had sent people to find her before but had found nothing. Her safe return now was considered a good omen.
Hun Qianling bowed slightly, her gaze scanning the room as she thanked everyone with a gentle smile. In reality, she was looking for Han Xuanji. When she spotted him, her eyes lit up, and her smile became even more radiant.
Hun Qianxue raised his hand to signal for silence and continued:
"Although Qianling encountered danger during her travels, she has also grown."
"From now on, Qianling will serve under Elder Yulong, assisting in the management of the Family's businesses to help share the Family's burdens."
Upon hearing this, many people showed expressions of surprise. The Hun Family's businesses were the Family's vital source of wealth. Management rights were always precious and belonged to those with real power. That Hun Qianling received such a position as soon as she returned showed Hun Qianxue's trust in her.
However, this wasn't strange. For the current Hun Qianxue, there weren't many people he could fully trust, and his sister Hun Qianling was one of them.
If it weren't for Hun Qianling's low cultivation, she would have been placed in an even more important position.
Hun Qianling didn't look surprised either, as this had all been discussed beforehand.
"Thank you for your trust, Brother. Qianling will certainly do her utmost to live up to your expectations."
Hun Qianxue nodded in satisfaction, his gaze slowly sweeping across the room as his tone became solemn.
"Besides this, there is another important matter to announce today—our Hun Family has recently brought in an outside Prodigy. He is a Genius of the Way of Laws and will henceforth be a Core Guest of our Hun Family, enjoying S-class talent treatment."
As his voice fell, the hall instantly erupted into a commotion. Everyone's eyes searched the hall, curious to see who this S-class Prodigy, whom the Hun Family valued so highly, actually was.