When guests passed through the first main gate, they handed over their invitations and gifts.

Once their status and background were known, specific Qin family attendants guided them.

Standing at the first main gate were Qin Ruyu and a line of young Qin family members, led by Qin Dehao, ready to receive them.

Qin Ruyu and the others were dressed in grand attire, looking spirited and well-behaved, clearly showing the Qin family’s prestigious upbringing.

Each of the younger generation showed exceptional talent and manners.

Beyond the first gate, guests began to diverge.

Families of higher ranks continued forward.

At the third main gate, the elder council, led by Qin Deming, awaited.

It’s worth noting that Qin Ruqing wasn’t present here.

Only families of significant rank could proceed to this point.

Moving further ahead, oh, there were no more gates.

The Qin family’s main entrance only had three gates in total.

Anyone who passed through all three gates of the Qin family would be led by an elder through the corridors to the specially prepared banquet area of the Qin family to rest.

Here, only two people awaited them: the Ancestor and Qin Ruqing.

It wasn’t surprising that the Ancestor personally greeted them, as there might be guests of similar stature.

However, Qin Ruqing, being one of the six elders, following closely behind the Ancestor, had its own significance for the Qin family.

On one hand, this grand banquet was meant to celebrate the six elders of the Qin family reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, so Qin Ruqing, as one of the celebrants, naturally stood out.

One reason was for the Qin family to intentionally showcase Qin Ruqing’s distinct status to the guests.

At this moment, escorted through the three gates by the Grand Elder was the Zuoqiu family from the silver-ranked families of Northern Ridge.

The Zuoqiu family had been in the silver rank for over ten years with a strong foundation.

Among the silver-ranked families, they were considered powerful.

Their presence at the Qin family’s invitation for this banquet was a great honor and a gesture of congratulations and goodwill.

At this moment, the head of the Zuoqiu family clearly perceived Qin Ruqing’s different status within the Qin family.

This young and extraordinarily clever girl, clearly a younger generation of the Qin family, could stand beside their Ancestor and personally receive silver-ranked guests.

The Ancestor introduced her as one of the six elders of the Qin family.

Heavens above, one of the six elders! How significant was this young girl!

Glancing at her cultivation level, their thoughts began to churn wildly.

Qin Ruqing indeed was a bona fide elder, and her clear Foundation Establishment aura couldn’t deceive anyone.

Moreover, she didn’t seem like a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator; her aura was solid and profound, more akin to someone who had immersed in Foundation Establishment for many years.

Before the banquet began, after guiding honored guests to rest inside, Qin Ruqing personally served them a cup of Qin family’s specially brewed Spirit Milk Medicine Tea.

There was no need for elaborate introductions; guests only needed to take a sip to discern the richness of its ingredients.

After Qin Ruqing left, the Zuoqiu family members couldn’t take their eyes off her retreating figure for a long time.

The tea was just right in temperature, so the Zuoqiu Clan Leader absentmindedly took a sip to calm his nerves.

Yet, instead of calming him down, the tea surprised him even more.

“This is Spirit Milk Tea, no—its medicinal aroma is stronger. It’s made with Spirit Milk blended with Soul-Calming Flower nectar and some other herbs I can’t identify?”

One elder sighed, “Soul-Calming Flower nectar can calm the mind and prevent spiritual disturbances if consumed regularly.

Spirit Milk is a rare spiritual nourishment. For the Qin family to use it to brew tea for their guests, it truly shows their extravagance.”

“And that Sixth Elder…” The Zuoqiu clan was deeply impressed by this Sixth Elder of the Qin family.

The Zuoqiu Clan Leader, after a long silence, remarked, “She should be the Qin family’s Golden Core seed, even surpassing a Nascent Soul seed. Her talent is extraordinary. If fate favors her, she might achieve even greater heights… The Qin family is clearly setting her up for the Hundred Clans Assembly!”

After this banquet, the reputation of this young Sixth Elder of the Qin family would spread throughout the Southern Domain without needing any push from the Qin family.

When the banquet finally began, the Zuoqiu clan members were led by attendants to the banquet site, and their eyes widened in awe.

The Qin family had chosen an ingenious location for the banquet: amidst the Lingapricot Forest, filled with spiritual aura and fragrant flowers.

Low tables were set among the apricot trees, where guests sat in clusters.

Instead of food, only drinks were served on the tables.

Genuine spiritual fruits and delicacies were placed in jade bowls and plates, floating in the meandering stream that circled the apricot forest.

The slow-flowing stream, obviously fed by artificially introduced spring water, was sweet and clear.

Countless exotic spiritual delicacies floated downstream on the stream, occasionally clinking the jade plates, making a clear sound as the breeze rustled through the falling apricot blossoms—a truly rare and elegant scene.

Wide-eyed, the Zuoqiu clan exclaimed, “This… this banquet is truly extraordinary!”

They had attended numerous banquets, big and small, but had never seen anything quite like this.

Truth be told, it was refreshingly unique, with its own charming appeal.

After taking their seats and looking around, they realized that the Qin family had indeed organized a grand banquet.

Apart from the Zuoqiu family from Northern Ridge, they also spotted the Tang family from Western Ridge.

As for why the Tang family was here, they weren’t surprised.

They had heard rumors before that even before the Qin family achieved its current status, they had a close relationship with Western Ridge.

Rumor had it that they were an official cooperating family with the Western Ridge Immortal Quality Office.

Therefore, inviting prominent families from Western Ridge wasn’t unexpected.

Western Ridge aside, what caught their attention was the stern young man in the central seat, dressed in a green robe adorned with auspicious cloud patterns—the Scribe Official from the Southern Ridge Celestial Bureau .

That the Southern Ridge Celestial Bureau would give the Qin family such face? Sending an official Scribe was truly surprising.

“Leading the procession!”

Looking around, Qin’s Wenxuan patriarch hadn’t yet announced the start.

Could it be that some guests hadn’t arrived?

The Left Qiu family took stock and indeed found some absentees.

If they had invited their own, the other family wouldn’t have missed out.

Yes, the missing family was the Ren clan from Beiling, long acquainted with the Left Qiu clan.

Qin Wenxuan and Qin Ruqing exchanged a glance.

Seeing that the auspicious time had arrived and not intending to wait any longer, they instructed attendants to pour wine for the guests and prepared to declare the banquet open.

Suddenly, a loud voice came from outside the apricot grove, “The Rens arrive late. Has this banquet already begun?”

Everyone turned to see Qin’s attendants leading a group around from behind the apricot grove.

The attendant was clearly flustered, sweating profusely, while the guests behind him strolled leisurely.

He couldn’t rush them, so he slowly moved forward.

Facing the guests, the Ren Patriarch bowed to Qin Wenxuan, “Due to a long journey and delays, we arrived late. Please forgive us, Ancestor Wenxuan.”

Qin Wenxuan maintained a smile, seemingly unaffected, and even stood up to greet them, “The Ren clan of Beiling honors us greatly by coming. How could we be displeased? Quickly, please take your seats!”

Ignoring the surprised and scrutinizing gazes of the crowd, the Ren family’s group settled down comfortably.

The Qiu family found this rather odd and couldn’t understand why the Ren family was being so disrespectful today, not giving face to the hosts.

Apart from a few prominent families, including the bronze-tiered Zhang-Han family from Nanling, the Lin family from Xiling, and the Jin family from Beiling, who were all old acquaintances of the Qin family, there were also several others invited to this banquet.

After the incident with the late arrival of the Ren family, the banquet finally began.

The sound of music and dance filled the air, complemented by the clinking of glasses, creating an atmosphere akin to celestial music.

The atmosphere at the table remained peaceful and joyful until an unexpected delegation from the Xiling Celestial Bureau descended from the sky, elevating the atmosphere to the fullest.

It turned out that the Xiling Celestial Bureau had specially sent people to congratulate the Qin family of Nanling on their promotion!

At that moment, everyone was enjoying their meal when suddenly they heard a sharp cry.

Looking up, they saw a dense formation of Peng eagles flying in the sky.

Peng eagles were high-level monsters that appeared only in the western mountains, closely related to the powerful demon, Qing Peng Eagle.

Despite their incredibly fast flying speed, they were the overlords of the western skies, known for their fierceness.

The noble families of the western mountains were accustomed to taming flying mounts, but they dared not tame Peng eagles due to their wild nature.

The arrival of the Peng eagles startled the guests at the table, who feared it was the onset of a beastly attack.

However, Elder Qin of the Qin family quickly reassured them with a few words.

The Elder said, “No need to worry, everyone. The flying formation in the sky are also guests of the Qin family.”

Even guests? Which family could it be, making such a grand gesture?

Sure enough, fourteen Peng eagles, arranged in two lines, circled over the Qin family’s territory without causing any trouble.

After a while, a person descended from the sky.

Although unfamiliar at first glance, they recognized his attire! He wore the robes of the Celestial Bureau, but with a pattern of swirling smoke.

He turned out to be the Scribe Recorder from the Western Redge’ Celestial Bureau!

It turned out that the Celestial Bureau had come to deliver a promotion gift to their “official cooperative family,” the Qin family.

The Scribe exchanged a glance with Qin Ruqing and then began to unfold the scroll of gifts, reciting it aloud.

As the guests listened to this cascade of rare and exotic treasures, their initial shock turned into numbness.

Of course, it wasn’t that numb… just that their admiration for the Qin family had risen several notches.

Why was the formerly aloof Immortal Office suddenly so polite to the Qin family?

They were really giving them face!

Qin Ruqing listened to the Western Redge’ Scribe record recite the names, and her mouth twitched.

She thought of the message she received last night from a certain troublemaker.

He told her he had prepared a big surprise for her and asked her to be mentally prepared.

Oh, he even reminded her before hanging up, given how much face he was giving her, not to forget her promise.

Qin Ruqing had cut him off then.

This person kept finding ways to make her work for him.

This Western Redge Celestial Bureau was the only one giving her face.

Ahem, but don’t mention it… this show of face was indeed quite generous.

Compared to the subtle demeanor of our Southern Redge’ Director this troublemaker’s personal style is really too strong.

At the table, the Southern Mountains’ record-keeper calmly took a sip of wine.

Earlier today, he had mentioned that if necessary, the Director could come in person.

Even if he didn’t participate in the banquet, sitting down for a few sips of wine would still give face to the Qin family.

However, the Fifth Ziyan couldn’t bring himself to lose face.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give face to the Qin family; it was mainly because, as the Director of the Southern Redge, being so close to a local noble family might lead to gossip, or even reports.

So he used a tactful compromise and called in the Scribe Recorder instead.

The Fifth Ziyan said his position was quite appropriate, expressing the Southern Redge’ Celestial Bureau’s esteem without going overboard.

Now, the Scribe silently thought, if the Western Redge hadn’t come, you would have been quite suitable.

But now they’ve made such a grand gesture, with fourteen Peng eagles in formation and the gift scroll being recited for nearly a quarter-hour.

If you ask me to sit here now, it’s only half as effective.

Both from the Fifth Family, the Western side’s wall-digging has gone directly onto people’s faces.

I wonder what the Director think if he sees this scene.