Wang Ping was also full of curiosity, whispering to Han Xuanji,
"Brother Han, who do you think this S-rank Prodigy is? For the Patriarch of the Hun Family to personally announce them, their talent must be extraordinary!"
"Perhaps."
Han Xuanji picked up his wine cup and took a light sip.
The whispers around them grew more intense; some were curious, some were envious, and some harbored hidden resentment, all speculating about the identity of this mysterious S-rank Prodigy.
"Han Xuanji?"
Wang Ping subconsciously murmured to himself, his hand holding the wine cup freezing in mid-air. His face was full of bewilderment as he turned to look at Han Xuanji beside him, muttering under his breath,
"How is it the exact same name as yours, Brother Han? That's too much of a coincidence..."
As he spoke, he lightly bumped Han Xuanji's arm with a joking expression, not connecting the person in front of him to the S-rank Prodigy personally announced by the Patriarch of the Hun Family at all.
After all, in his eyes, Han Xuanji was just like him—an ordinary junior who had come along with his elders just to make up the numbers. With his ordinary clothes and plain aura, he didn't seem to have anything to do with being a "Way of Laws Genius" or an "S-rank Prodigy."
Just then, Hun Qianling smiled and waved toward the corner, signaling for Han Xuanji to come over and stop hiding.
Han Xuanji then set down his wine cup, patted Wang Ping's shoulder, and gave a faint smile, leaving behind a single sentence:
"Brother Wang, I'll head over for a bit."
After saying that, Han Xuanji stood up and walked toward the center of the hall.
Only at this moment did Wang Ping completely realize that the Brother Han who had been chatting, laughing, and drinking with him as a kindred spirit was actually the newly promoted S-rank Prodigy of the Hun Family, that Genius of the Way of Laws!
"One... one really cannot judge a book by its cover..."
Wang Ping murmured to himself, his heart churning with stormy waves of disbelief and a hint of relief.
He hadn't expected to inadvertently befriend such a "big shot." Since he hadn't spoken out of turn or been neglectful just now, perhaps there would be further interactions in the future.
However, as he watched Han Xuanji's retreating figure, his gaze was complex—filled with envy, respect, and a touch of self-mockery. He had actually treated an S-rank Prodigy as an unremarkable disciple like himself and even poured out his grievances to him; it was truly embarrassing.
Han Xuanji walked to the side of Hun Qianxue and Hun Qianling, bowing slightly to Hun Qianxue. His expression remained calm without a hint of arrogance, as if being announced as an S-rank Prodigy was merely a trivial matter.
Inside the hall, everyone's gazes converged on Han Xuanji like a tide, their probing intentions plain to see. Many people stood up, their eyes scanning Han Xuanji back and forth. Some released faint Divine Thoughts to quietly investigate his cultivation, but no matter how they searched, they could only sense the faint aura of an Early Stage Eternal Dao Lord. Beyond that, there was nothing extraordinary.
"With this level of cultivation, he doesn't look special at all. How can he be titled an S-rank Prodigy? Is the Patriarch overvaluing him?"
"Exactly, a Way of Laws Genius? I think he's just average. Even a Genius from an ordinary Family could reach this cultivation at his age, right?"
Whispers rose again, now laced with doubt and confusion. The looks many people gave Han Xuanji shifted from initial curiosity and envy to slight contempt. But even though their hearts were full of doubt, no one dared to stand up and question it publicly.
As the Patriarch of the Hun Family, Hun Qianxue possessed immense power. Questioning Han Xuanji's status now would be a public slap to Hun Qianxue's face. No one dared to take that risk; no matter how much dissatisfaction they felt, they had to suppress it.
In the crowd, a young man dressed in black martial attire looked particularly displeased, the dissatisfaction and jealousy in his eyes nearly overflowing. He was the S-rank talent recommended to the Hun Family by Hun Cangfeng, named Ling Feng. He excelled at manipulating various types of combat treasures and possessed outstanding talent, with the potential to master Saint-level combat treasures in the future.
Consequently, he was highly regarded within the Hun Family. When Ling Feng originally joined the Hun Family, although he was also titled an S-rank talent, he had never received such fanfare—no personal announcement from the Patriarch, no debut at a clan-wide banquet, and he rarely even saw Hun Qianxue's face.
Now, Han Xuanji, an outside Cultivator who had only just entered the Eternal Dao Lord stage, was held in such high regard by Hun Qianxue, personally announced at a banquet, and given the spotlight. This made Ling Feng feel extremely unbalanced.
He knew in his heart that although he was an S-rank talent, he hadn't been personally recruited by Hun Qianxue but was recommended by Hun Cangfeng, creating a difference in closeness.
But even so, he felt his talent and strength far surpassed this seemingly ordinary Han Xuanji and that he should have received adequate courtesy. Why should Han Xuanji receive such favor while he had to bow and scrape just to establish a foothold in the Hun Family?
Ling Feng clenched his fists, the Qi around him fluctuating slightly as a dark glint flashed in his eyes. He wanted to see just how much real skill this Han Xuanji had, whether he was worthy of the S-rank Prodigy title, and whether he could bear Hun Qianxue's high regard. If Han Xuanji proved to be unworthy of his reputation, he wouldn't mind finding an opportunity to test him thoroughly and let everyone see who was the S-rank talent truly worth the Hun Family's attention.
Han Xuanji took in everyone's gazes and whispers, his heart unruffled. He had long expected that being titled an S-rank Prodigy with only the cultivation of a newly-attained Eternal Dao Lord and no outstanding battle records would inevitably attract doubt and jealousy, but he didn't care.
In any case, if you want to argue, go find Hun Qianxue. Why look for me?
Hun Qianxue watched the commotion below, a profound look flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say much. He simply raised his hand to signal for silence and said slowly:
"Little Friend Han's talent is not as simple as it appears on the surface; you will all come to know this in the future. Tonight's banquet is only for celebration and the announcement. Please enjoy yourselves."
With those words, Hun Qianxue did not linger and turned to leave.
The banquet resumed its clamor, but everyone's gaze toward Han Xuanji remained probing and curious. Ling Feng's gaze, in particular, was like a needle, fixed intently on Han Xuanji as if trying to discern what made him so different.