Zhenzhen cautiously glanced at everyone around the table and said with some unease, "I... shouldn't sit here, right?"

At this point, Jiang Caiyue smiled and said, "Since you are a friend of Chu Mo, come and sit here." As she spoke, she motioned for a descendant of the Luotian Imperial Clan to give up his seat: "Just sit next to me." After saying that, she flashed a triumphant smile at Chu Mo.

Zhenzhen certainly knew who Jiang Caiyue was, and upon hearing her invitation, was filled with gratitude in her heart. She no longer denied being friends with Chu Mo, as even their past enmity now placed her firmly within Chu Mo's camp. And from this point on, changing sides was no longer an option for her. Ji Xuefeng and his group would surely hate her to death. Not that her status as a supreme was particularly important, but her betrayal was a demoralizing and disgraceful matter for the aligned camps of the Imperial Clan.

Then, Jiang Caiyue transmitted a message to Chu Mo: "Be careful with those people from the side branches, among them are truly capable individuals. Although they won't attack you openly, they will definitely plot against you in secret."

Chu Mo nodded in response.

Soon the banquet began.

This was Chu Mo's first time attending a banquet of the Imperial Clan. As he looked at the table filled with exotic and precious delicacies, he did not recognize more than half of them.

At that moment, Jiang Caiyue took on the role of a guide, introducing to Chu Mo and Zhenzhen the origins of these dishes. It was evident that she held a rather special status within the Luotian Imperial Clan. Even a proud scion like Junior King Ji behaved modestly in her presence.

After three rounds of wine, people began toasting each other throughout the hall.

Chu Mo wanted to toast his parents, but was surprised to find a continuous stream of people coming to toast with him. Ji Qi was the first to come over.

Prince Ji looked at Chu Mo with a low voice, and the others around fell silent.

Chu Mo looked at Prince Ji with a composed expression.

"I still don't like you," Prince Ji said without using his cultivation to sober up, his handsome face slightly flushed as he looked at Chu Mo. "However, I have started to notice that there are indeed a few redeeming qualities about you."

This arrogant member of the younger generation of the Imperial Clan remained true to his nature, speaking without regard for others' feelings. Glancing at Zhenzhen sitting beside Jiang Caiyue, he then said to Chu Mo, "At least, you do possess some breadth of mind."

Chu Mo, looking at Prince Ji, spoke indifferently, "That's right, I don't like you either, and if one day you die, it will certainly be because of your mouth."

As these words were uttered, silence fell all around. The number of people who dared to speak to a prince in such a manner was very few across the entire Luotian Immortal Domain. Many present had never heard such a thing before, which made their faces turn tense as they worriedly looked at Prince Ji.

Even at the main table, Chu Tianji and Ji Qingyu turned their gazes here. Ji Qingyu's eyes showed a faint helplessness, while Chu Tianji's eyes revealed undisguised admiration—as if to say: This is my son!

Prince Ji was stunned for a moment, likely the first time anyone had ever boldly made such a comment to his face. But then he burst out laughing, "Chu Mo, I suddenly find I don't dislike you as much. You're right! No pretense! I do have a foul mouth! Hahaha." He said, finishing his glass of wine in one gulp and then turning to leave, "I originally wanted to tell you not to disgrace the Imperial Clan, but now I suddenly don't want to say it. All I want to say now is, don't disgrace yourself!"

The atmosphere in the great hall instantly relaxed, and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. They truly feared that Prince Ji would erupt on the spot, turning the banquet into chaos—not only giving the side branches reason to scoff but casting an ominous shadow over the upcoming battle.

Fortunately, Prince Ji wasn't that foolish. Although arrogant, he wasn't an idiot and had a bit of magnanimity.

However, this group of typically haughty direct descendants of the Imperial Clan also came to understand Chu Mo's temperament. He wasn't one to indulge others!

Subsequently, a large number of Imperial Clan descendants came to toast with Chu Mo, including several princesses who expressed goodwill toward him.

Chu Mo treated all those who came to toast with the proper respect, a stark contrast to his attitude towards Prince Ji earlier. However, these people could also sense the distance in Chu Mo's courteous manner, and none took it to heart, knowing they couldn't match his generosity themselves.

Because they were all aware that Chu Mo's achievements today had absolutely nothing to do with the Imperial Clan! They were all earned step by step, through his own efforts.

Until the end of the banquet, Chu Mo had found no opportunity to toast his parents, as his area was just too bustling.

However, after the banquet had concluded, he finally had time to chat with his parents.

Zhenzhen was taken away by Jiang Caiyue, who transmitted to Chu Mo, "It's better for such a girl to be placed in my care rather than following you. If those people from the side branches of the Imperial Clan want to cause trouble, let them come to me."

Jiang Caiyue's continuous gestures of goodwill finally touched Chu Mo a bit. Without further courtesy, he nodded in agreement.

In Chu Tianji and Ji Qingyu's room, the family of three gathered together. Ji Qingyu brewed tea for the father and son.

Chu Tianji sat there and asked his son, "How confident are you about the upcoming battle?"

Chu Mo thought for a moment: "It should be a fifty-fifty chance."

"Fifty-fifty?" Chu Tianji frowned, "That's a bit low, isn't it?"

"Dad, don't criticize me, what confidence do you have against a cultivator of Zhong Cheng's realm?" Chu Mo looked at Chu Tianji, more worried about his father compared to himself.

Zhong Sheng is formidable, at most a Quasi-Saint. Although Chu Mo is still a little short of reaching the Quasi-Saint level, the difference is not huge. Moreover, in battle, he believes he can take that last step. But the battle between Zhong Cheng and his father is different.

Zhong Cheng has stepped into the Great Saint Realm many years ago, yet his father has only recently achieved sainthood. Even if Zhong Cheng suppresses his own realm to that of a saint, his understanding of that realm is far beyond what his father can compare to.

This is not about inflating others' ambitions and diminishing one's own prestige; it is an ironclad fact.

Chu Tianji smiled and said, "If he doesn't undo the seal and returns to the Great Saint Realm, I have a full confidence of winning. If he does undo the seal and returns to the Great Saint Realm, I still have a thirty percent chance!"

"What?" Chu Mo looked at his father in surprise; he didn't think his father was the kind of person who liked to boast, but this statement seemed a bit too exaggerated, right?

One hundred percent confidence? What kind of concept was that? That was simply a crushing victory!

Chu Tianji looked at his son and sighed softly, "Do you think our Yanhuang domain lacks powerful legacies? Do you believe that your grandfather was truly just an ordinary Half-Saint back then? The path we have to take is extremely arduous, making it overly difficult to improve our realm. If we had chosen a different path, your grandfather would have become a saint long ago, perhaps even already reached the Great Saint Realm! The same is true for me!"

Chu Mo gaped at his father and murmured, "What path? Refining one's own body?"

From Chu Mo's perspective, the biggest difference between the Chu Clan's method and that of other cultivators is the refinement of the physical body. Like his current ancestral realm body, although still in the Supreme Realm, its strength is already comparable to that of a saint!

In truth, if he took a hit from a saint, his cultivation might be damaged, but his physical body wouldn't suffer much harm!

"It's not just what you're thinking," Chu Tianji said with a heavy voice. "There are countless methods of cultivation in this vast universe. Refining one's own body also has many different methods. The fact that you can achieve the body of the ancestral realm is one of the utmost methods of self-refinement. This was also the path your mother and I had planned for you, but we never thought you would actually succeed. As for the true path that the Chu Clan line wants to take, it is not the one you're on."

Ji Qingyu, at this moment, poured tea for the father and son, and softly said, "The path taken by the Chu Clan is unique in the entire Luotian cosmos. Otherwise, how would the prophesied one who is to respond to the calamity emerge from our family?"

Chu Mo took a deep breath, looking at his parents.

Chu Tianji shook his head, "That path is different from yours, and they cannot even be mutually validated, so I can't tell you the true core of the Chu Clan line, as it would have an adverse effect on your future. However, you don't need to worry. Although the path you are on is chosen by your mother and me, it is one you have walked by yourself, so your path is not inferior. On the contrary, taking this path may even be better for you. You haven't yet realized the true potential within yourself. So, your battle with Zhong Sheng will definitely not be an even split. Boldly release the constraints of your ancestral realm body. You'll find that, in facing a mere Zhong Sheng, you can easily crush him!"

"There are secrets within me... even I haven't discovered?" Chu Mo was indeed somewhat surprised.

"There is no end to the way." Ji Qingyu added, speaking from the side: "You must have absolute confidence in yourself."

After pondering for a moment, Chu Mo nodded, then suddenly asked, "Dad, Mom, do you know where exactly this prophecy about me came from? What was the motive of Spiritual Master Lingtong to make such a prophecy?"

Chu Tianji and Ji Qingyu, the couple, glanced at each other, their eyes showing a touch of helplessness.

This question of Chu Mo's hit the core issue, not only for their own family but also for the greatest crisis currently facing the Luotian Imperial Clan. As a direct descendant of the Imperial Clan, Ji Qingyu had known many secrets before she was suppressed by her brother.

It was just that at that time, Ji Qingyu had not realized that these secrets would become so closely entwined with her fate, generating such significant karma.

"This matter is actually a long story. It involves an ancient grudge that is almost unknown to outsiders," Ji Qingyu gestured, and summoned several dharma instruments, instantly sealing the room into an isolated realm.

After all this, she continued, "Spiritual Master Lingtong was the one who, in ancient times, contended with the Ji Imperial Clan for the qi movement of the Luotian Immortal Domain."

Chu Mo was taken aback and looked at his mother.

----------------

It's just four hours left until the end of September, and tomorrow is October 1st. The long holiday begins, but don't forget to vote!

In these last few hours, let's at least keep our rank within the top ten for monthly tickets. After a month of hard work, I do not wish to see these efforts go to waste.

Brothers and sisters, the updates are out, the monthly tickets depend on you!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.