This sentence, Yun Ze did not lower his voice.
Whether it was Ji Lanshan on the throne, or Gong Xiao who had just entered, including the Qi Refining stage cultivators around, and those ministers, all heard it!
Upon hearing this, Gong Xiao's brows immediately furrowed.
But he merely sneered, then led the three behind him to continue walking towards the center of the great hall.
A dog?
If he were to get angry now, he would truly resemble a dog.
In matters like this, whoever is in a hurry first is the one who loses.
This was also a good thing. At least, judging by this fellow's attitude, the rumors he had heard were indeed true.
He had offended another collateral branch of the Gong family, and even attracted someone from the direct lineage!
Gong Xiao walked to the center of the great hall and politely cupped his hands towards Ji Lanshan on the throne, saying, "Your Majesty, we are here to fulfill the promise of the discussion."
"Mm."
Ji Lanshan had already taken a side and naturally would not give Gong Xiao a good look. He merely nodded indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Gong, please find a place to sit. The discussion will commence shortly after the banquet begins."
Gong Xiao merely nodded, then proceeded to the seat opposite Yun Ze and the others to take his place.
He intended to put psychological pressure on the other party!
"Since the main guests have arrived, this banquet of discussion shall officially begin!"
Ji Lanshan raised the jade goblet on the table and stood, inviting everyone to drink with him, "Come, everyone, drink this cup with me!"
In the great hall, everyone who had a seat picked up their lacquered jade goblets and drank the wine within.
Once the cup was finished, the sounds of silk and bamboo music quietly ceased.
A group of palace maids, who seemed to have appeared from nowhere, began serving the dishes. In a mere few breaths, a dazzling array of dishes filled the dining tables.
A palace maid also remained by the table to refill wine for each table.
Yun Ze glanced back at the empty doorway.
Well, Brother Yu was probably not even awake yet at this time.
However, as long as that Golden Core cultivator from the Gong family did not show up, it didn't matter if Brother Yu came or not.
After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.
When Ji Lanshan raised his third goblet of wine, he smiled at everyone and said, "This banquet is called a discussion, and naturally, the focus should be on discussion!
If everyone has eaten their fill, then this banquet of discussion shall formally commence."
The crowd did not reply, signifying their agreement with Ji Lanshan's proposal.
"Good!"
Ji Lanshan smiled, raised his jade goblet high, and said, "Come, let us drink this cup, and the discussion officially begins!"
Yun Ze also picked up his jade goblet and took a shallow sip of the turbid wine.
To better conceal himself, after drinking, he forcibly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood!
"Pfft!"
The wine mixed with crimson liquid, directly splashing onto the great hall!
"Master!"
Ji Xiu was the first to react.
He rushed to Yun Ze's side and gently shook him, "Master, are you alright, Master!"
"Sir!"
"Brother Tu!"
"Fellow Daoist Tu? You..."
"Cough, cough, cough."
Yun Ze covered his mouth and coughed twice. With Ji Xiu's support, he stood up, "I'm fine."
"Fellow Daoist Tu."
Ji Shan also rushed over from the side, standing beside him with a worried expression, "If you are unable, perhaps I can participate in this discussion?"
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Ji, is that true?"
Gong Xiao said with a laugh from the side, "I don't mind changing participants at the last minute, but by what authority would you participate in the discussion?
Are you representing the royal family of the Chengtian Dynasty, or an official of the Immortal Mansion? This matter needs to be clarified."
Ji Shan's brow furrowed, and he fell silent.
Neither of those identities was suitable for participating in the discussion.
Although the discussion originated from Chengtian, regardless, the Chengtian Dynasty itself could not participate. Otherwise, the nature of the matter would be entirely different.
And as for the identity of an Immortal Mansion official, that was even more impossible to participate in this discussion.
"Since the discussion was promised by me, then I should naturally be the one to fight."
Yun Ze took a step forward, breaking free from Ji Xiu's support, and walked to Ji Shan's side, looking at Gong Xiao, "Fellow Daoist Gong, if you are ready, perhaps you could first show us the stakes you have prepared?"
"Mm, that would be good."
Gong Xiao stroked his beard and smiled, then took out a second-grade spirit brush, "I was just thinking that if Fellow Daoist Tu did not participate in the discussion today, you would surely regret it.
After all, the stakes prepared today are all tailor-made for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the other three also took out their prepared second-grade spirit artifacts.
They were a writing brush, an inkstone, an ink stone, and a jade slip.
Yun Ze frowned upon seeing this.
Brush, ink, paper, inkstone?
And all of them were second-grade spirit artifacts!
The spirit brush was self-explanatory; the price of a second-grade spirit brush was at least two to three times that of an ordinary second-grade spirit artifact. The inkstone was more complex to make, and its price was even higher than the spirit brush.
The ink stone was slightly inferior, as it only required finding suitable materials and inscribing some formations to become an artifact.
The value of the jade slip was equivalent to an ordinary second-grade spirit artifact.
The reason Gong Xiao prepared them this way was likely to ensure that he would be the one to fight.
He must have his reasons for doing this!
"How is it?"
Gong Xiao asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Tu, what about the stakes you have prepared?"
Yun Ze did not say much, merely taking out three second-grade spirit artifacts from his spatial ring: two swords and one saber.
Ji Shan also took out the long spear he carried with him.
Although they were also four second-grade spirit artifacts, in terms of value, they were far inferior to what Gong Xiao and the other three had brought out.
"Good!"
Gong Xiao did not say much, merely looking at Yun Ze and smiling, "Fellow Daoist Tu is indeed a man of his word, but... please wait a moment."
"Hm?" Yun Ze let out a soft hum.
"Please don't misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Tu."
Gong Xiao raised the jade goblet in front of him and took a sip, "Since it is a discussion, if only a few Foundation Establishment cultivators like you and I are present, it would naturally be difficult to determine the victor.
If one accidentally makes a mistake, it is easy for accidents to occur.
To ensure safety, I have specifically invited a Nascent Soul stage senior to observe the proceedings. If any accidents occur, he can intervene immediately to ensure our safety.
Judging by the time, this senior should be arriving soon. Fellow Daoist Tu can also take this time to rest more."
Nascent Soul?
A bad premonition immediately arose in Yun Ze's heart.
At this moment, the previously closed palace doors burst open with a bang!
Everyone turned their heads towards the doorway almost simultaneously, and saw a figure slowly walking towards the hall.
"Yo, am I arriving at a good time?"
This voice was... Gong Li!
Yun Ze's brows furrowed, and he could only see the figure getting closer and closer.
"Cough, cough."
Seeing this, Ji Lanshan also hurriedly got up from his throne and cupped his hands towards Gong Li, "May I ask what this senior is called?"
"Where is this stray dog barking?"
Gong Li gave Ji Lanshan no face at all. He didn't even glance at him directly, but instead, with a flash, he arrived in front of him and sat on his table.
The throne could not be sat on, but that did not mean the table in front of the throne could not be sat on.
He crossed his legs and looked down!
"Didn't you want to have a discussion? Let's start now!"
Ji Lanshan's expression was extremely unpleasant, but he knew that the other party was someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.
He could only frown and reluctantly return to his throne.
Royal power?
Except for the empires ruled by those immortal cultivation families in the Central Profound Heaven, the so-called royal power was nothing more than a pile of dog excrement in the eyes of these cultivators!
They looked down on it, disdained it, but also did not want to touch it, lest they dirty their boots.
Fortunately, his bloodline was relatively good.
Both of his sons had spiritual roots. One had entered the Immortal Mansion, and the other, as long as he could pass the Ascension Assembly, he would have no regrets in this life.
As for the second child... she was a little girl, and it was enough for her to live a peaceful and happy life.
Ji Lanshan quickly composed himself, a smile returning to his face, as if he had not heard the words just spoken, and quietly watched the scene before him.
"Yes, Senior."
Gong Xiao respectfully cupped his hands towards the front, then looked at Yun Ze, "Fellow Daoist Tu, this is the senior I invited. Shall I introduce him to you first?"
"No need."
Yun Ze replied indifferently, then turned to look at Gong Xiao, "Let's just start."
"Start?"
Gong Li asked back, leaning forward slightly, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Yun Ze, "Kid, is it up to you whether the discussion starts or not?"
"Then what are you? How dare you cause trouble in my Chengtian Hall!"
Suddenly, a childish voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone looked at Ji Xiu behind Yun Ze with shock in their eyes.
Ji Shan quickly pulled him behind him, protecting him tightly, while still cupping his hands towards Gong Li at the front of the hall.
"Senior, my younger brother is still young and doesn't understand the rules. If he has offended you, please forgive him!"
"He has indeed offended me."
Gong Li looked at the person before him, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "However, I felt a connection with this boy the moment I saw him!"
He turned to Ji Lanshan behind him and said in an almost commanding tone, "Ji... Ji what was it?
Never mind, none of that is important.
I see a connection with your son, so let him become my disciple and cultivate properly. You won't refuse, will you?"
Ji Lanshan dared not reply.
If he agreed, it would be an insult to the Tongtian Academy and would also ruin his son's path to ascension.
But if he refused...
"Gong Li."
Yun Ze's voice echoed through the hall, "Have you had enough fun?"
Gong Li could only turn his head to look at him, still with a smile on his face, "Yo, you're finally willing to speak? I thought you were going to act like a turtle and hide your head in your shell."
"Tsk tsk tsk, it's truly pathetic. After living for so many years, you don't even know how to use an idiom. I wonder if all your life has been wasted."
Yun Ze shook his head and clicked his tongue, then turned to Zi Ji, "Come, Zi Ji, teach him what this word should be called?"
"Shrinking-head turtle!" Zi Ji said without thinking.
"That's right!"
Yun Ze replied, then continued, "This is the problem with turtles, they're so cheap. When you want to hit them, they shrink their heads under their shells for protection.
When you're busy and can't spare a hand, they stick their heads out to provoke you, just like some children.
When they can't play with others, they act like little grandsons, but as soon as they get their turtle shells at home, they stick their heads out and retract them, afraid that others won't see their turtle..."
The words abruptly stopped.
Yun Ze covered his mouth, looking a little embarrassed, "Oh, there are children here, so it's not good to say the latter word.
However... Little friend Gong, with your intelligence, you should be able to figure out who I'm talking about, right?"
Gong Li did not speak.
By the time Yun Ze finished his first sentence, his originally flushed face had turned pale with anger, and he couldn't utter a single word!
Now, as Yun Ze asked, he simply slapped the golden table beneath him!
Bang!
A muffled sound exploded, and the golden table in front of the throne was snapped in half!
"Tu Sheng! You are courting death!"
Yun Ze stepped forward, spreading his arms, his eyes fixed on Gong Li!
"Come on! I'd like to see if you dare to make a move!"