This shout immediately made many people start to speculate.

"Lu Ye... seems a bit familiar, have I heard of him somewhere before?"

Someone suddenly remembered.

"Isn't he that disciple of the Red Cloud Sect who was initially set to marry into the Jiang Family...? How does he now know Miss Chen from the Luohua Chen Family?"

"Hiss... brother, don't say it, you'd better not say it!"

The crowd buzzed with discussion; even the Wang Family Ancestor cheerfully went to greet them.

Aside from the Three Great Sects, the Innate Chen Family's strength could firmly hold the top spot within a nearly ten thousand mile radius.

"Miss Chen, your esteemed presence truly brings great honor to the Wang Family, please come in." The Wang Family Ancestor smiled warmly at Chen Lingxiang.

Chen Lingxiang said softly, "Elder Wang, you're too kind. This is a small gift I prepared for you."

Jiang Qingge looked at the exceptionally beautiful Chen Lingxiang, feeling a twinge of jealousy in her heart.

In name, he was her husband, yet how come... others seemed more familiar with him than she was?

"Husband, who is this person?"

She knew that once they left the crowd, Lu Ye was unlikely to pay attention to her, let alone answer such questions.

So, Jiang Qingge seized the opportunity, gently holding Lu Ye's arm, and asked softly.

"Chen Lingxiang, met during an escort mission last time, just a normal friend," Lu Ye said blandly.

Jiang Qingge glanced at Chen Lingxiang, with a hint of jealousy she herself hadn't noticed, and said: "Just a normal friend? She seemed very happy to see you."

"Probably because she borrowed a storage ring from me and was worried I might disappear. Seeing me now, she's naturally relieved." Lu Ye frowned slightly; something seemed off about Jiang Qingge's state.

He hadn't intended to explain, but since they were in front of Su Wan and others, he felt compelled to say something.

With that, even Su Wan's gaze turned a bit strange.

A normal friend... who could borrow your storage ring, and still be just a normal friend?

After all, a storage ring is not cheap!

Even Su Wan only received one as a reward in the second year after becoming a true disciple of the Red Cloud Fairy.

Chen Lingxiang didn't seem like a fool, how could she lend such a valuable item so easily?

Fortunately, Chen Lingxiang seemed to sense the subtle atmosphere and did not come over but instead went to the next room as arranged.

This banquet was divided into two main parts, inside and outside.

While many Postnatal Realm martial artists without any background were invited, they naturally sat in the outer courtyard.

Whereas people like Su Wan, Jiang Qingge, who had the backing of Sect or family, were invited into the inner courtyard.

"Do you think that mysterious person who destroyed the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold a few months ago might also have come to the banquet? After all, the Wang Family invited nearly all the strong figures within a few thousand miles of the Northern Territory."

"Even if invited, that person wouldn't dare come, would you dare to come?"

"Exactly, rumors had it that person had Innate First Layer strength, but the Wang Family Ancestor has already advanced to the Second Layer, the gap is still too big, especially with the Wang Family's solid foundation."

"Even if they came, I guess it would be to reconcile with the Wang Family, as the old saying goes... those who understand the times are wise."

The people at the next table spoke in low tones, discussing the mysterious person who had wiped out the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold.

Many people didn't believe that the Wang Family could just easily brush over this matter.

Hearing what these people were saying, Jiang Lingyue clenched her fist and muttered softly.

"If it were me, I wouldn't come."

Lu Ye remained unfazed; he was already Innate Second Layer now.

At Innate First Layer, he could make the Tian Family Ancestor submit with a single sword, a moment later he'd have perished on the spot.

Now at Innate Second Layer, even if the Wang Family Ancestor might have cultivated an evil technique, Lu Ye had absolute confidence he could easily take him down.

One could even say that without using any of his hidden trump cards, if Wang Family Ancestor could withstand ten moves from him, it would be enough to make him proud.

"Do you also think that person won't come?" Lu Ye looked at Jiang Lingyue.

Jiang Lingyue scratched her clever head and said: "Though what they said isn't pleasant, it is true that the Innate Realm has a tremendous difference between each layer."

"With the Wang Family's current momentum, if it were me, I'd avoid the sharp edge. What's that saying again?"

"Right... where there's life, there's hope!"

Not only this table, but all the banquet attendees aware of the Wang Family's connection with the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold thought similarly.

In the Innate Realm, one's lifespan is generally around two hundred years.

The Wang Family Ancestor was already over a hundred sixty years old; without a way to prolong life, he'd live at most another twenty or thirty years.

After enduring till the Wang Family Ancestor's death, the crisis would naturally be resolved; that was the thought of most people.

The banquet unfolded amid this subtle atmosphere.

After the banquet began, its main character, the Wang Family Ancestor, made an appearance on stage.

Everywhere, congratulatory voices rose and fell.

In fact, a Postnatal Third Layer from a small sect aware of some information, eager to show loyalty, directly said:

"With Wang's continued progress on the Martial Dao Innate path, those clowns who obliterated the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold wouldn't dare show up before Wang, even given the courage of two lions!"

The grand scene instantly turned silent.

After all, that was a bandit stronghold, not a glorious association.

Bringing it up didn't bring honor to the Wang Family but rather was a smear.

The Wang Family Head's face darkened; he'd already decided to make sure this chatty Postnatal Third Layer would disappear into a river after the banquet.

However, the Wang Family Ancestor's expression remained unchanged, smiling as he said:

"I know that many friends are curious about this matter."

"Today, while everyone is gathered, I'd like to share a few words."

"Actually, the rumors about my Wang Family's connection to the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold, or being the power behind it, are inaccurate. It's pure slander."

"However, there is indeed a slight connection between the Chaotic Wind Stronghold and my Wang Family, not with the stronghold itself, but because one of its members is my Wang Family's long-lost nephew."

"After discovering him, I instructed our patriarch to send someone to persuade him, to return to the family."

"But my foolish nephew said he was already accustomed to life in the stronghold and would feel uncomfortable returning."

"Since I couldn't persuade him, I let it be, and because of this, my Wang Family became saddled with the reputation of having ties to the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold."

"But all the wrongful acts committed by the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold have absolutely nothing to do with us!"

"We only want to bring to justice the obliterator of the stronghold for the sake of avenging my deceased nephew."

After his impassioned speech, the crowd immediately started buzzing with discussion.

"So that's how it is, there were hidden secrets in this."

"The nephew was also killed by the mysterious person... avenging the nephew seems reasonable."

"Elder Wang, I, Chang Tianze, support you!"

The Postnatal Third Layer who naively brought up the topic, still unaware of his fate, shouted loudly.

"Haha, thank you all for your support, you've all traveled far, today let us not dwell on the sad matters, enjoy the food and drink."

With that, the Wang Family Ancestor stepped down from the stage.

The banquet was lavish, with even two dishes made of Tier One Fierce Beast Meat.

Lu Ye was unfazed, eating the Wang Family Ancestor's banquet without any awareness that he was the wanted person they're discussing.

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