After a while, Ancestor Zuoqiu spoke with a complex expression: “…They really are Foundation Establishment Pills, and of quite high quality too.”

Upon hearing this, the guests started buzzing with excitement.

Did the Qin family really bring out two genuine Foundation Establishment Pills?

What kind of background did they have to be so wealthy?

In these times, who doesn’t count every penny?

How could a newly promoted silver-grade family be more extravagant than the old established ones?

Hearing this, the guests’ curiosity only grew stronger.

They all wanted to see the wooden boxes and verify the pills themselves.

So, the wooden boxes were passed around, eventually reaching the Ren family.

This wasn’t intentional by the Zuoqiu family; it was simply because the Ren and Zuoqiu families, both silver-grade families from North Ridge, were seated next to each other.

However, when Ancestor Ren received the wooden boxes, he glanced at them casually and then abruptly closed the lids.

The loud click of the boxes shutting made the room fall silent.

Ancestor Ren acted as if he hadn’t noticed, smiled, and said, “These two pills from Ancestor Wenxuan remind me of something.”

No one asked what he was reminded of, because it didn’t seem like it would be anything good.

Without anyone prompting him, Ancestor Ren continued with a chuckle, “If I remember correctly, before the Qin family was promoted, they had a medicine shop in North Ridge and introduced a new medical model, right?”

Qin Wenxuan shifted her gaze, set down her wine cup, and didn’t smile this time.

She just nodded and said, “That’s true. But what does that have to do with today’s event?”

Ancestor Ren shook his head and said, “Oh, it has a lot to do with it. I heard that the Qin family’s medicine shop in North Ridge once caused a death with one of their basic pills, a type that is very common and in high demand. If such a simple pill could go wrong, how can we be sure these high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills are safe? Rewarding someone is a kind gesture, but if it causes harm to your affiliated families, that wouldn’t be good, right?”

With these words, the entire banquet fell into silence.

The guests’ eyes darted between Ancestor Wenxuan and Ancestor Ren in astonishment.

Now they were certain that the Ren family’s late arrival was no accident; it was intentional, just like Ancestor Ren’s provocative words.

Isn’t the Qin family newly promoted? What grudge do these two families have?

The Zuoqiu family was even more confused.

By rights, the Ren family should have the biggest grudge against them, not the Qin family.

Why did it seem like the Ren family hated the Qin family more?

To cause trouble at someone’s promotion banquet, how deep was this grudge?

Ancestor Wenxuan’s face darkened, and she set her wine cup down heavily, saying in a loud voice:

“Ancestor Ren, watch your words! The Qin family has always practiced medicine with integrity, and we have never had a case of faulty pills causing deaths. Please do not spread rumors at this banquet and tarnish the reputation of the Qin family!”

Seeing Qin Wenxuan’s agitation, Ancestor Ren pretended to be startled and said “innocently”:

“I was just reminded of those two Foundation Establishment Pills.”

Ancestor Ren continued with a hint of sarcasm, “I just casually mentioned it because it reminded me of the incident. Ancestor Wenxuan, you’re blowing this out of proportion. Slandering your reputation? That’s not my intention. Besides, my Ren family did hear about this issue, and it was indeed related to Qin family’s medicine. How could this be a mere rumor? Would the reputable Ren family from North Ridge, a dignified silver-grade family, lie at such a gathering?”

The guests seemed momentarily uncertain.

They hadn’t heard of any enmity between the two families before, and now Ancestor Ren was suddenly bringing up the Qin family’s medicine issue.

Could it be that there really had been an incident that caused a death?

“Would the reputable Ren family from North Ridge lie at such a gathering? I don’t know, but bringing up an unverified rumor at such an event is certainly improper,” said a light female voice.

It came from the young female cultivator sitting next to Ancestor Wenxuan.

The guests recognized her as the highly respected Sixth Elder of the Qin family.

Dressed in a red ceremonial robe, she sat gracefully with her back straight, a slight smile playing on her lips as she looked disdainfully in Ren family’s direction.

Ancestor Ren was taken aback, not expecting anyone to talk back to him so bluntly.

He scanned Qin Ruqing up and down and said, “And who might you be, young girl? I am speaking with your ancestor. What right do you have to interrupt?”

Qin Ruqing covered her mouth and laughed lightly, speaking slowly, “It’s quite unfortunate. If the Ren family hadn’t been delayed on the way, I should have welcomed you together with Ancestor Wenxuan. It seems it’s my fault for not being recognized.”

There were faint chuckles among the guests.

This Sixth Elder of the Qin family had a sharp tongue.

Since she was supposed to welcome them but the Ren family arrived late and didn’t recognize her, it was clearly the Ren family’s fault.

Her words cleverly turned the situation around.

Ancestor Ren’s face darkened, unable to find a retort.

After all, it was the Ren family who had been late.

A member of the Zuoqiu family intervened to smooth things over, “This is the Sixth Elder of the Qin family.”

Recognizing her as a legitimate elder, speaking in such a setting was perfectly normal.

So, there was no point in questioning her right to speak anymore.

Insisting would only embarrass himself.

Ancestor Ren was initially shocked, realizing his mistake, and added grudgingly, “The Qin family has now been promoted to silver-grade. Such important positions should be filled with more care.”

He implied that the Qin family’s leadership didn’t match their new status.

Qin Ruqing, however, shook her head with a broader smile, “According to Ancestor Ren’s logic, doesn’t that make the Ren family’s choice of leader even more careless?”

“Today is a joyful occasion for our Qin family’s promotion, and Ancestor Ren suddenly brings up an unverified incident, claiming our medicine caused a death.

Can you specify which of our medicines caused this death?

Why did this person buy our medicine?

What illness did they have?

How can you prove they died because of our medicine?

Where is the evidence, the witnesses?”

Ancestor Ren was speechless for a moment, his face darkening, “I merely heard about it. This isn’t a court trial; why would I have witnesses and evidence?”

Qin Ruqing smiled, spread her hands, and said:

“Look, even Old Ancestor Ren himself said he only heard about it. How can something heard through the grapevine be spoken of so firmly in court as if it were true?”

“That’s the first point. Secondly, I am the dignified Sixth Elder of the Qin family, duly registered with the Celestial Bureau, yet Ancestor Ren scolds me without any basis. After learning the truth, instead of apologizing, he criticizes the internal selection of elders within the Qin family.”

“From Ancestor Ren’s words and actions today, it seems he isn’t here to attend the banquet but to deliberately cause trouble. Using Ancestor Ren’s own words, our Qin family acts with integrity and uprightness, unafraid of gossip. However, if today’s incident spreads, Ancestor Ren’s reputation will be tarnished, won’t it?”

A bright, radiant face looks at you with a smile but speaks sharply enough to choke someone to death.

Earlier, Ancestor Ren said that if there was an issue with the Qin family’s Foundation Establishment Pill and something went wrong, it would reflect poorly.

The Sixth Elder of the Qin family retorted that Ancestor Ren’s disgraceful behavior at the banquet, if spread, would also reflect poorly on his reputation.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, as it should be.

“You…” Ancestor Ren’s face turned from black to red, and he was so angry he couldn’t speak for a long time.

Quickly, he realized something.

Initially, causing trouble wouldn’t have impacted his reputation much because he was sure the Qin family would swallow their pride.

But now things were beyond his expectations; he hadn’t anticipated such a strong reaction from the Qin family!

If he didn’t respond today and let the girl’s words spread, not only would he lose face, but the Ren family’s reputation would also be affected.

He would be labeled as “disgraceful.”

Understanding this, Ancestor Ren’s anger surged.

He decided not to endure anymore and to use this anger to teach the Qin family’s little girl a harsh lesson.

Qin Ruqing stared at him, thinking it would be best if the old man couldn’t help but strike.

Even if he tried to intimidate her, she was ready to confront him with her skills.

However, before she could activate her skill, an invisible ripple gently blocked Ancestor Ren’s pressure.

Qin Ruqing paused her skill activation and looked in the direction of the ripple.

Our handsome Scribe Fifth Xiyao from the South Ridge gestured, summoning two wooden boxes, and said calmly:

“Ancestor Ren’s previous remarks were out of concern for the quality of the Foundation Establishment Pill, fearing it might damage the Qin family’s reputation… a good intention.

Why not let me help identify it?

This way, we can prove the quality of the Qin family’s pill and alleviate the Ren family’s worries. What do you all think?”

The plot twist felt like a roller coaster.

The audience at the banquet was utterly entertained.

South Ridge Celestial Bureau… he really loves this!

The phrase “alleviate the Ren family’s worries” was so subtle, almost outright saying the Ren family was meddling unnecessarily.

Amid many scrutinizing gazes, Fifth Xiyao remained expressionless.

He hadn’t planned to intervene, but the communication stone in his sleeve suddenly vibrated intensely.

It turned out that the commotion from the Peng Eagle earlier had agitated Fifth Ziyan, who was watching from some cloud, witnessing the Ren family’s troublemaking.

So, he started frantically calling him.

The communication stone connected, and his excited superior’s voice came through:

“Good, good, good! The timing is perfect! You can reclaim the honor from earlier. Fifth Lingyu still wants to compete with me for people… Xiyao, immediately take action now! Hit back hard and secure my people!”