It is well-known that Lord Ying Zhu greatly favors his youngest daughter Ying Xiao.

The Eldest Young Master might be crude, but he possesses some cleverness; he knows that praising Ninth Sister will please Father.

Sure enough, upon hearing the Eldest Young Master’s words, Lord Ying Zhu’s face shows a subtle smile.

"Father, Ninth Sister is probably the most likely among us siblings to reach your level in Dao Skill," the Eldest Young Master continues, while observing Lord Ying Zhu’s expression.

"Alright, let’s not speak of things that are beyond reach," Lord Ying Zhu waves his hand.

Although he instructs the Eldest Young Master to stop speaking, his tone is gentle. The Eldest Young Master beams and returns to his seat obediently.

He knows that in this lifetime, it will be difficult for him to inherit his father’s position as Lord, but even if he cannot become the Lord, he can enjoy a comfortable life if he keeps his father pleased.

"Today is the Ying Family’s familial gathering. Present here, aside from my children, are numerous guests. Though you may not bear the Ying name, as guests of the Ying Family, you are considered half-family. Come, let’s raise a cup. I offer you a toast, in gratitude for your contributions to the Ying Family." Lord Ying Zhu raises his cup slowly.

Everyone present follows suit, including Jing Yan.

As they down a cup of sake, they feel its extraordinary quality. This liquor is undoubtedly something exceptional.

"Feel free and at ease, we have no outsiders here," Lord Ying Zhu adds.

In the Immortal Domain, there are many lords like Ying Zhu. The families of lords often recruit guests. The hosts generally treat their guests well, and the guests are mostly loyal.

The banquet continues for about an hour before the main event begins.

The Eldest Young Master rises once more.

"Fourth, it’s been some time since we last met. For today’s familial gathering martial contest, why don’t we start with the two of us?" The Eldest Young Master suggests to Fourth Young Master.

Fourth Young Master stands up, shaking his head with a bitter smile, "Brother, you always bully me. You know well that none of my guests can rival Fellow Daoist Qian Gu."

Fourth Young Master refers to Qian Gu, a longtime guest of the Eldest Young Master. Before the Eldest Young Master was assigned by Lord Ying Zhu to manage other cities, Qian Gu was his guest.

Qian Gu, too, is a Cultivator of the All Things Realm, with impressive strength. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Haha, it’s just sparring; no harm intended." The Eldest Young Master laughs.

"Alright! Then I’ll ask Brother Yu Yong to spar with Fellow Daoist Qian Gu," Fourth Young Master turns to a guest seated nearby.

"Yes!" Yu Yong, the named guest, stands and moves to the center of the square.

Qian Gu and Yu Yong, the two Cultivators, quickly go at each other fiercely.

Jing Yan occasionally glances at the two in the arena and soon predicts that among their clashes, the final victor will surely be Qian Gu, the guest of the Eldest Young Master. Yu Yong of the Fourth Young Master, although also a Cultivator of the All Things Realm, falls short compared to Qian Gu.

"Qian Gu is the strongest guest of the Eldest Young Master, while Yu Yong is the strongest guest of the Fourth Young Master. In terms of strength, Qian Gu is indeed superior. However, their martial contest is merely friendly sparring; the Eldest Young Master and Fourth Young Master are on good terms, and their guests won’t truly fight to the death," Huo Tong says softly.

"Indeed," Jing Yan nods.

Both combatants show no killing intent; their techniques, although impressive, are merely superficial.

The outcome is as expected: Qian Gu defeats Yu Yong.

Lord Ying Zhu seems content with the sparring; after it concludes, he nods approvingly.

"Qian Gu performed exceptionally well. Reward him!" Lord Ying Zhu commands.

As his voice falls, a Cultivator dressed in peculiar attire steps forward from beside him and presents a sack-like object before Qian Gu.

"Thank you, Lord!" Qian Gu accepts the sack gratefully, repeatedly expressing his thanks with delight.

"That contains one thousand Black Crystal Stones," Huo Tong immediately interjects.

"Oh?" Jing Yan becomes intrigued this time.

Jing Yan only sees a sack, unaware of what it contains. Even if it’s Black Crystal Stones, how can Huo Tong know the exact quantity?

Huo Tong turns to Jing Yan with a smile, explaining, "Fellow Daoist Jing Yan, this being your first familial gathering, you might not be aware. Lord rewards guests with a remarkable regularity. Generally, rewards are Black Crystal Stones, packed in such spatial sacks. Blue sacks contain one hundred Black Crystal Stones; red sacks contain one thousand Black Crystal Stones; and black sacks contain as many as ten thousand Black Crystal Stones, though black sacks are rarely given."

With Huo Tong’s explanation, Jing Yan understands.

He smiles and says, "No wonder you are all eager to participate in these familial gatherings. A casual sparring session can yield substantial rewards."

The rewards start from at least one hundred Black Crystal Stones, enough to last a Cultivator at the Taoist Realm several years.

"Fellow Daoist Jing Yan, do not assume that sparring is easy. For some guests it’s easy, but for others it poses threats. Guests under the Seventh Young Master, like us, tend to be targeted. At the last familial gathering, Fellow Daoist Lu Tuan was injured," Huo Tong lowers his voice again.

Lu Tuan, who once accompanied Seventh Young Master Ying Zuo outside Divine Martial City. Before Jing Yan arrived, Lu Tuan was one of Ying Zuo’s two All Things Realm guests.

"In martial contests, it’s even possible to be slain outright. The lord does not strictly forbid guests from killing opponents, and extraordinary skill still earns rewards. The Lord’s reward is a mere token; just a small part. Last time, after a guest under the Second Young Master injured Fellow Daoist Lu Tuan, it’s said that the Second Young Master rewarded the guest with a full fifty thousand Black Crystal Stones afterwards." Huo Tong’s eyes glitter as he elaborates.

Jing Yan furrows his brow, sensing trouble might be brewing.

After the spar between the Eldest Young Master’s guest and Fourth Young Master’s guest, the Second Young Master stands. However, his target isn’t the Seventh Young Master but rather the Sixth Lady; he proposes that his guest spar with a guest of the Sixth Lady.

The Sixth Lady does not refuse, dispatching a guest of the Taoist Realm, since the Second Young Master also sends forth a Taoist Realm guest.

Soon, the two Taoist Realm guests resolve their contest, and Lord Ying Zhu rewards yet again; this time Jing Yan notices the reward is a blue sack, meaning a sack containing one hundred Black Crystal Stones.

"Old Seven, I hear you recently recruited a promising guest. Congratulations!" The Third Young Master stands up and remarks to Seventh Young Master Ying Zuo with a smile.

"Thank you, Third Brother," Ying Zuo promptly stands to return the courtesy.