Although irritated by the sudden interruption, Zhou Lin didn't want to disrespect him because that would mean disrespecting the clan behind him.

Therefore, she subtly nodded at Huo Li's words and accepted the glass of wine that was offered to her.

However, that wasn't the end of it.

"I'm not good at holding a conversation while standing, so how about Miss Lan stroll along with me in the hall as we exchange some small talk with each other?" Huo Li stated confidently while glancing towards Yi Chen and the rest with his head held high.

There was blatant superiority apparent in those eyes of his as he did so.

'A haughty Young Master, noted,' Yi Chen noted in his mind as his gaze fell on his status panel.

Already in his early thirties, the man was only a First Qi Absorption Level cultivator.

'Since when did trash get the right to act haughty…' Yi Chen furrowed his eyes and glanced back at Zhou Lan.

"Sure, Young Master Huo Li," Zhou Lan agreed with a forceful smile. She gave Hui Min and the rest a subtle nod and went along with him.

"Trying to get a mile when given an inch," Hui Min snorted in irritation and said, "Does that womaniser really think that Sister Lan would choose him?"

"Bastards like him don't know anything about shame." Xie Rou, who had a cheerful expression earlier, commented with hate apparent in her eyes, "It just amazes me how someone like him, who has destroyed the lives of so many women, can still move so freely in the city."

"If not for the Huo clan's backing, a bastard like him would have long been lynched to death by us," Huang Bo cursed, seeing Zhou Lan, who was trying her best to converse with Huo Li.

While Yi Chen was listening to all this information, he suddenly felt a tug on his right sleeve. Tilting his head down, he soon saw Zhou Mei, who was pointing her finger towards a particular direction.

"Brother Chen, the food's already been laid. I'm starving, so let's go and eat, shall we?" She asked. It was obvious that she wasn't worried about her sister at all.

Although her words weren't loud, they were clearly heard by Zhou Lan's friends as well, and their irritated mood lessened all of a sudden.

"Zhou Mei's right," Huang Bo nodded with a chuckle, "Since we are at a banquet, we should enjoy the food rather than being frustrated about something we can't control."

"True," Xie Rou added while walking towards Zhou Mei the next moment. Bending her back a little, she asked while caressing her head, "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Little Mei, shall we go and eat then?"

"Mhmm," Zhou Mei nodded with a pleased smile, and soon the five of them made their way towards the table to line up with others.

As the seats were limited and were reserved for the elderly or important guests, with plates in their hands, the five of them were soon standing at one corner and conversing among themselves.

"Well, I prefer to eat while standing at functions to be honest," Hui Min commented with a chuckle.

"It's the same with me. We tend to converse more when eating like this, so it adds to the fun, haha," Xie Rou added from the side.

"I don't! Just because they are older than us, they get the right to sit, and I do not? That's unfair!" Zhou Mei said in an aggrieved tone, making the others chuckle.

"Oi, don't be rude. The others can still hear you!" Yi Chen said while gently knocking her on her head with his fist.

'Can't let her attract aggro towards us now, can I?' he thought to himself while meeting Zhou Mei's glare with an expressionless face and soon turned back towards Huang Bo to continue with his conversation.

"So, Brother Chen is also taking the entrance test," Huang Bo nodded when he heard Yi Chen's words.

Since in his group he was the only male member, he appreciated Yi Chen's company and talked openly with Yi Chen.

"Yes, Senior Brother Bo. Would you mind giving this Junior some tips?" Yi Chen asked with an ingratiating smile on his face.

"Tips, huh?" Huang Bo thought for a second and asked, "Before that, does Brother Chen know about the three stages the rest has been divided into?"

"Ah, that. I've heard about it before, but I would appreciate it if Senior Brother Bo could say it again for me in case I missed out on something earlier." Yi Chen stated after a thought.

"Very well then," Huang Bo nodded and explained, "The first stage is just a test of your cultivation stage to ensure whether the applicants are in the Meridian Refinement Stage or not.

The second stage is a test of one's comprehension. You'll be handed a manual containing a set of fighting techniques. It could be anything ranging from complex halberd handling to simple fist fighting techniques.

You'll be needing to understand that particular set of sequences as thoroughly as possible and then duel with the assessor who would be assessing your progress in the said technique."

Hearing the extra tidbits of information which Zhou Mei had missed brought him great delight as he kept nodding and listening to Huang Bo's explanation.

"…and lastly, there is the test of your heart. For that, I can only advise Brother Chen to try to understand yourself better by means of meditation.

Whatever you'll be facing in that test will be something related to you. So, knowing oneself thoroughly is the only way you can have an edge in that test.

It was because I became extremely clear about my strengths and weaknesses that I was able to clear the third stage."

Huang Bo finished the next moment.

"Thank you for the explanation, Senior Brother Bo, I'll take your advice seriously," Yi Chen said with a thankful nod.

"Haha, it's Nothing. You're Zhou Mei's friend, so it's the least I can do." Huang Bo said.

After hearing the small exchange between Zhou Lan and Yi Chen, he was able to tell that Yi Chen was really on good terms with Zhou Mei and her family.

Therefore, he had decided to openly inform him about the test details, not hiding anything from him.

"I still appreciate it greatly," Yi Chen said with a smile and shifted the topic of conversation to other miscellaneous stuff.

Meanwhile, the banquet hall was livened with guests who were talking amongst each other while eating and enjoying the dance and music shows that had been arranged at the side.

The important guests were exchanging some business and strategic ideas for the future, while the young cultivators were exchanging small talk and waiting to catch a glimpse of Zhou Lan, who seemed to have gone outside the hall a few moments back.

A few moments later, Zhou Lan's figure finally walked inside the hall after dropping Huo Li off at his carriage.

'That man just doesn't know when to stop!' she thought in frustration while clenching her fists.

Even though she repeatedly made it clear that she wasn't interested in him, Huo Li kept pestering her, and it was only after they had eaten their meal together that he decided to leave the banquet.

"I wanted to share my meal with them though…" Zhou Lan sighed in exhaustion and thought, 'Well, at least I won't be pestered by him any longer.'

Her steps seemed to have gained energy thinking about her friends, and she decided to go and look for Hui Min and the rest.

However, before she could do that, she was surrounded by a group of men who had been waiting all this while to exchange greetings with her.

Knowing Huo Li's status, they had been controlling themselves all this while, but now that he was gone, they finally saw a chance to greet Zhou Lan.

"Miss Lan, congratulations on your birthday."

"Miss Lan, would you like to eat some dessert with me?"

"You look like an angel today, Miss Lan!"

Miss Lan this and Miss Lan that. Hundreds of similar lines flooded her ears the very next moment, making her feel like banging her head on the floor.

'Enough! I've had enough of this shit!'

Something that had been restraining her all this while finally broke in her mind, and the next moment she forced the men aside with sheer strength and made her way towards an attendant who had been minding his own business all along.

Glancing at five glasses in the man's tray, she asked with an expression that could kill.

"What are these?"

"…S-Spirit rum," The attendant stammered.

He was just at the Elementary Transformation Stage, so Zhou Lan's current disposition was nothing but terrifying to him.

"Are they enough to make me drunk?" She asked the next moment. Having never gotten drunk before, she wasn't aware of how much she would need.

"I-It should be..." the attendant managed the squeak.

"Good!" Zhou Lan nodded, and the next instant started gulping one glass after another.

"Miss, you shouldn't..." The attendant couldn't help but look towards her with concern, thinking that she misinterpreted his words.

Just one cup of spirit rum was enough to inebriate a Meridian Refinement Stage Cultivator, so seeing her drink so many of them at once was really concerning.

However, Zhou Lan paid no heed to his words and continued drinking with a scrunched-up expression.

'It tastes disgusting....'

She thought, but the feeling of her head lightening up propelled her to keep grabbing the next glass.

After clearing the contents of the last glass, she roughly wiped her lips with the sleeves of her robes and threw the glass aside.

Break!

The shattering of the glass attracted everyone's attention.

Several eyes around the hall were directed towards the spot, the very next instant before landing upon Zhou Lan, who was making her way towards the stage with unstable steps.

"Isn't that Lan'er? What is she doing?" Zhou Fei, who had been standing alongside her husband, asked with a furrowed expression.

"Lan'er?"

Hearing his wife, Zhou Tian's head turned in the direction Zhou Fei was looking towards, and an expression of confusion appeared on his face.

'Just what is she doing?' he thought with furrowed brows.

By this time, Zhou Lan was already standing on the stage and was facing the crowd. Her stance was a little shaky, and an inebriated smile was apparent on her face.

"Greetings, you rigid, old bastards!" She shouted with a wide grin the very next moment, and the whole hall turned silent.

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