Another round of Zhou Family cultivators served various grades of spiritual wine to the guest tables, free for anyone to partake.

The Zhou Family has been preparing for this Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony for years, and all the delicacies, wines, spirit fruits, and teas on the table are of top quality, implying a significant investment.

The two most prestigious dishes are "Dragon Liver and Phoenix Marrow."

The first dish is made from the hearts and livers of Second Order and even Third Order Dragon Blood Demon Beasts, while the second is derived from the marrow of Second Order Phoenix Blood Monster Beasts.

These dishes are exclusively for Golden Core Stage cultivators to sample, with only a small plate provided to each person.

As for the origins of those Phoenix Blood Monster Beasts, they are ferocious birds hunted by the Zhou Family over the years during their quest for Phoenix Blood Monster Beasts in the cultivation world.

"Dragon Liver, Phoenix Marrow, fine wines and delicacies — though Wei Mou has cultivated for hundreds of years, this is my first time tasting such food. Today, I am graced by True Person Zhou's presence. May I boldly propose a toast to the True Person here,"

After tasting a bite of the stir-fried dragon liver, Moon Wheel Sect's Wei Yong closed his eyes in enjoyment and raised his cup to toast Zhou Chun at the head table.

With an old acquaintance with Zhou Chun and representing the Moon Wheel Sect, he indeed had that privilege.

Zhou Chun did not refuse; he raised his cup and reciprocated from afar, saying, "As long as Taoist Friend Wei is satisfied, please drink to excess."

"Thank you for the drink, True Person."

Wei Yong's face bore a hint of joy as he finished his drink in one gulp, smiling as he sat back down.

This scene inspired envy in many other Golden Core Stage cultivators.

Despite only being one realm apart, the difference in power and status between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages is immense.

At such an event, only a select few could propose a toast to Zhou Chun, the newly advanced Nascent Soul Stage True Person.

If one's standing were insufficient, rashly offering a toast might not only fail to please the host but also become a joke about one's overconfidence.

Therefore, few dared to toast.

After Wei Yong took the initiative, Xiao Sheng, the sect leader of Sunflame Sect, also raised his glass and slowly stood up to toast Zhou Chun, saying, "I, too, propose a toast to True Person Zhou, wishing the True Person eternal life in the divine path."

However, Zhou Chun responded to his toast with a mere, "Taoist Friend Xiao, you are too kind,"

And did not raise his glass.

This left Xiao Sheng stunned and incredulous.

Other Golden Core Stage cultivators changed their expressions slightly, and their gazes towards Xiao Sheng turned peculiar.

Even Wei Yong looked at him with puzzled uncertainty, glancing from him to Zhou Chun, spawning various speculations in his mind.

But Xiao Sheng, being a sect leader, maintained his composure.

His expression fluctuated between gloom and clarity before he took a deep breath, slightly lowering his head and said, "I acted recklessly; I shall punish myself with a drink!"

Then he drained the spiritual wine in one gulp and silently returned to his seat, making no further comments.

Witnessing his cold reception, those still contemplating courageously toasting retreated in droves.

Yet Liu Zhenkong, from the Great Zhou Kingdom, seemed unaffected and rose to toast Zhou Chun, saying, "I also represent my master in proposing a toast to True Person Zhou, wishing the True Person everlasting fortune!"

"Taoist Friend Liu, you are too kind. Please convey to Taoist Friend Kuanglei that I'm very pleased with his gift. Hopefully, next time we can continue enjoying tea and discussing the Dao. Drink to excess!"

Zhou Chun beamed a smile, lifting his cup in reciprocation, a stark contrast from his previous demeanor.

This sight cemented the suspicion among the Golden Core Stage cultivators that the relationship between the Zhou Family and Sunflame Sect had become exceptionally tense, on the verge of explosion!

This realization frightened the Golden Core Stage cultivators from Jingguo Country, filling them with anxiety.

Since the end of the last Great Beast Tide, Jingguo has only experienced a century of peace, where various forces have just started recovering their Essence Energy.

Under such circumstances, a conflict between Sunflame Sect and Zhou Family, the second and third largest forces in Jingguo respectively, would undoubtedly spell disaster for all subordinate forces.

None of the factions wished to see this happen.

Yet such matters clearly were beyond their control, and they could only drown their sorrows in drink.

Upon Zhou Chun's reciprocation, Liu Zhenkong was also jubilant, respectfully saying, "Thank you for the drink, True Person. I shall certainly relay your words."

Then he sat back down.

Once he sat down, Zhou Zhiying also raised her cup to toast Zhou Chun, her mentor.

However, before she could speak, Zhou Chun suddenly stood up, joined by Thunder Flood Dragon Baibai.

Zhou Chun frowned slightly, sternly addressing a certain direction outside the mountain gate, "Which Taoist friend is spying outside? Today is Zhou Mou's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony. If any fellow Daoist wishes to come in for a drink, Zhou Mou would be delighted!"

These words stunned everyone present.

It's commonly known that a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator's grand ceremony adheres to the "king doesn't meet king" unwritten rule.

Even within the same sect, Nascent Soul Stage True Persons usually do not appear at another's Nascent Soul grand ceremony, so as not to steal the host's spotlight.

Hence, at Zhou Chun's Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony, all attendees had lower cultivation levels. Even Thunder Flood Dragon Baibai accompanying him at the ceremony had so far remained silent, willingly serving as a backdrop.

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