C14 Family Banquet

It's such a shame. The Body Tempering Pill can only be used once in a lifetime by those in the Body Refining Stage. If only I could refine another and employ the Heaven Earth Creation Spell, I'd surely break through to the Qi Gathering Stage.

I wouldn't even need a month to take down that jerk Qiao Junhan!"

Jiaang Lin's advancement in cultivation didn't excite him; instead, he felt a sense of dissatisfaction.

The young disciples of Clear Water Town would be hopping mad if they knew! Jiaang Lin, that rascal, leaped from Body Refining Level Four straight to the Body Refining Level Seven Peak, skipping three whole levels, and he still wasn't satisfied. He was practically asking for envy!

After a brief complaint, Jiaang Lin's silhouette flickered, and he reappeared in the courtyard.

There's truth in the saying, "More haste, less speed."

The martial path is fraught with difficulty.

To reach the pinnacle, a martial artist must take it step by step, enduring trials and tribulations to emerge as a formidable warrior of their era.

Jiaang Lin knew this all too well.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the top warrior on the Divine Martial Continent in his previous life!

"Fists swift as the wind, momentum fierce as a tiger."

In the courtyard, Jiaang Lin began to practice a Fist Technique.

His punches were swift, his presence as imposing as a tiger.

With each strike, the wind roared like thunder, carrying with it a barrage of violent strong winds.

Each gust was more powerful than the last.

This was the Eight Extreme Fist, a Fist Technique Jiaang Lin had mastered in his past life.

The Eight Extreme Fist, a Yellow Rank High Grade martial skill, was well within Jiaang Lin's ability to perform flawlessly at his current Body Refining Level Seven Peak Stage.

With each execution, his fists moved with the swiftness of the wind, each blow infused with Level Eight Dark Strength, capable of shattering an enemy's bones and meridians in an instant. It was a formidable and dominant force to be reckoned with.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

*Bang!*

With the release of the Eight Extreme Fist, a massive three-meter-tall boulder before Jiaang Lin shattered explosively into fine dust.

The formidable power of Jiaang Lin's Eight Extreme Fist was evident.

At his Body Refining Level Seven Peak Stage, this Fist Technique could easily slay a Body Refining Level Eight Cultivator, and even severely injure a Body Refining Level Nine Cultivator.

"Move like a shadow, elusive as an illusion."

After executing the Eight Extreme Fist, Jiaang Lin performed another movement martial skill.

His form flickered erratically, his speed astonishingly fast, leaving a trail of afterimages that made him nearly impossible to track.

Even a Body Refining Level Eight Cultivator would struggle to discern his trajectory.

This movement martial skill, known as Flashing Shadow Step, was a Yellow Rank High Grade martial skill, just like the Eight Extreme Fist, and was also acquired by Jiaang Lin in his previous life.

With his current Body Refining Level Seven Peak Stage Cultivation Level, performing the Flashing Shadow Step was effortless.

"With the Eight Extreme Fist and Flashing Shadow Step, I can now spar with a Body Refining Level Eight expert, and even challenge a Body Refining Level Nine expert."

Jiaang Lin's figure came to an abrupt halt, and as he reappeared, a smile graced his lips.

"Mr. Jiaang Lin."

A soft voice called out from beyond the courtyard.

Turning toward the sound, Jiaang Lin was greeted by Jiaang Xue, approaching with a sweet smile.

"Xue."

He strode forward to meet her, his face breaking into a goofy grin.

"Foster father sent me to find you; we're to attend the family banquet."

Jiaang Xue, seeing the goofy smile on Jiaang Lin's face, blushed, her eyes shimmering with emotion.

She bowed her head, too shy to meet his gaze, her heart fluttering and her voice barely a whisper, resembling a bashful young bride.

"A family banquet? That's odd. Aren't those usually held during festivals? Why is there a sudden banquet today?"

Upon hearing Jiaang Xue's words, Jiaang Lin grew curious.

"Elder Xue and the other pharmacists managed to refine an Essence Returning Pill yesterday that surpasses the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pill. This breakthrough enables our Jiaang family to overcome the Qiao family's market dominance and emerge from our difficulties. That's why our foster father has organized a family banquet today to honor Elder Xue and the team of pharmacists," Jiaang Xue explained with sincerity.

With newfound clarity, Jiaang Lin responded, "Well then, let's be on our way!"

With a smile, Jiaang Lin gently took Jiaang Xue's soft hand and they made their way to the Jiaang family's banquet hall.

As evening fell, the Jiaang family's banquet hall was bustling with activity. It was filled with the family's top brass and disciples, as well as numerous pharmacists the family had invited. Thanks to Elder Xue and his colleagues' creation of the Essence Returning Pill, the Jiaang family had finally cast off the shadow of the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pill in the Clear Water Town market. The entire family was abuzz with excitement, and even Jiaang Zhengzu, Jiaang Zhengshan, and other senior members were beaming with joy.

"Elder Xue, you and your team have worked tirelessly. Without your dedication, our family's trading operations could never have broken free from the Qiao family's Essence Cultivating Pill. This toast is to you!" Jiaang Zhengzu proclaimed, raising his glass and standing with a warm smile.

Around the banquet hall, other senior members and disciples of the Jiaang family followed suit, standing and raising their glasses with smiles, offering a toast to Elder Xue and his fellow pharmacists.

"You flatter me, Patriarch Jiaang. As a Medicine Master of the Jiaang family, this effort is merely part of my duty," Elder Xue humbly replied, smiling as he stood and reciprocated the toast.

"Elder Xue, please have a seat."

After the toast, Jiaang Zhengzu invited everyone to sit down.

The guests settled in their seats and began to savor the exquisite dishes and fine wine.

In the banquet hall, clusters of Jiaang family disciples engaged in lively conversations.

"Did you hear? Today, that good-for-nothing Jiaang Lin knocked out Tang Bei in the Dao Artifact Hall with just one punch!"

In a corner of the banquet, a well-informed Jiaang family disciple quietly shared the news with his peers.

"Seriously?"

The other Jiaang family disciples looked incredulous upon hearing this.

They were aware of Tang Bei's reputation in the Dao Artifact Hall, with a Cultivation Level at Body Refining Level Four.

How could Jiaang Lin, a so-called waste with blocked meridians and no ability to cultivate, possibly take down Tang Bei with a single punch?

"It's absolutely true. The whole of Clear Water Town is buzzing with the story right now!" the informed disciple insisted.

"Hmph! Seeing is believing, but hearing is not. How can a non-cultivating good-for-nothing defeat a Body Refining Level Four expert with just one punch?

"This rumor must be completely false; I can't believe you're all falling for it," a cold voice interjected from a distance.

The group turned to see a young man, about eighteen years old, who had just expressed his skepticism.

The youth had a sharp chin and gaunt cheeks, his frame so lean he resembled a scrawny monkey, seemingly fragile against the breeze.

Yet, the Jiaang family disciples refrained from any confrontation or offense.

They all recognized him as Jiaang Gao, a Body Refining Level Seven practitioner and a Martial Dao Talent within the Jiaang family. His prowess placed him among the top ten of the family's younger generation.

His status and reputation were lofty, and he was greatly valued by the Jiaang family's upper echelons.

"Exactly. How could such a nobody be that formidable? If I ever run into him, I'd knock him down with a single punch myself!" declared a muscular young man standing next to Jiaang Gao, his tone dripping with scorn.

This burly youth was none other than Jiaang Feng, who had been soundly thrashed by Jiaang Lin just the day before.

Jiaang Feng was a lackey who always sought to ingratiate himself with Jiaang Gao.

Given that Jiaang Gao enjoyed demeaning and mocking Jiaang Lin, Jiaang Feng was all too eager to join in with sycophantic zeal.

His resentment towards Jiaang Lin was particularly strong after being soundly thrashed by him just the day before, leaving him seething with anger.

Therefore, Jiaang Feng would not pass up any chance to deride Jiaang Lin behind his back.

"Oh? Knock me down with one punch? When did you, Jiaang Feng, become such a blowhard?"

"Come on then, I’ll give you the opportunity today to try and knock me down with that one punch!"

As Jiaang Feng was speaking, a distant voice carried across the room.

In a corner of the banquet hall, numerous Jiaang family disciples turned to look as Jiaang Lin, holding Jiaang Xue's hand, made his way into the hall with measured steps.

Their gaze landed on Jiaang Feng, filled with contempt and mockery.

A mischievous smile played at the corner of Jiaang Lin's mouth.

Upon Jiaang Lin's arrival, the chatter among the Jiaang family disciples in the banquet hall ceased, and they watched him with scorn and derision, their lips curling into cold sneers.

Jiaang Gao's face also showed disdain upon seeing Jiaang Lin, but it turned even darker when he noticed Jiaang Lin holding Jiaang Xue's hand, his eyes brimming with frostiness.

Next to him, Jiaang Feng was initially taken aback by Jiaang Lin's sudden appearance, but then rage bubbled up within him.

He stood up abruptly.

"You worthless coward, you've got some nerve showing up here!" Jiaang Feng bellowed furiously.

Remembering how he'd been humiliated by Jiaang Lin the previous day, his chest burned with rage.

"Cut the chatter. Get on with it and show everyone how you, Jiaang Feng, can take someone down with a single punch. Let's see you do it!"

Jiaang Lin fixed Jiaang Feng with a taunting look, his face alight with amusement.