Chapter 159: Hua Dalang's Betrothal Banquet (Part Three)

Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei were thrown out of the Hua family courtyard; both the Second Clan Elder of the Hua family and Sheng Xuan felt deeply ashamed, yet dared say nothing, since unleashing demonic beasts to cause trouble was indeed wrong.

Thus, the moment Hua Minghe stepped out to smooth things over, the two immediately seized the opportunity to save face, smiling as they followed the others into the main hall as if nothing had happened.

After ushering the clan elders inside, Hua Minghe turned to Hua Dalang: "Dalang, hurry and call Hongguang and Pengfei back in." Then he glanced toward Hua Changxi.

"Guests have arrived; how can we push them away?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi snorted, turned, and walked into the kitchen.

Seeing her enter the kitchen, Hua Minghe hastily signaled Hua Dalang to fetch the two men back.

Outside the Hua family courtyard, Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei gritted their teeth and gasped for air; Hua Changxi had held nothing back when throwing them, leaving them dazed and battered.

Sheng Pengfei struggled to his feet and looked at Hua Hongguang: "That Hua Ninth Lady struck far too ruthlessly; she didn't care in the least that I am my elder brother's brother-in-law. Has she always been so arrogant and domineering?"

Hua Hongguang rubbed his body, which felt as though it might fall apart: "This is my first time seeing her today as well, but I heard from Wanyue of the Main Clan Elder's household that Hua Ninth Lady's temperament is indeed difficult to deal with."

Sheng Pengfei said: "Not just difficult to deal with—she is extremely ruthless. Without a word, she killed both our demonic pets."

At the thought of his dead Silver Wolf, Hua Hongguang felt acute pain in his heart. He had expended tremendous effort to form a contract with that demonic beast; among all the cultivators of the entire Hua clan, only he had contracted a demonic beast.

Releasing the Silver Wolf today had been intended to show off before the Sheng family, yet he never expected Hua Ninth Lady would kill his Silver Wolf outright.

Recalling how Hua Ninth Lady had just dismissed him as merely a lowly Qi Sea Realm cultivator, Sheng Pengfei felt deeply unconvinced: "What cultivation level does that Hua Ninth Lady actually possess?"

Hua Hongguang shook his head, indicating he did not know either; thinking that both he and Sheng Pengfei were Qi Sea Realm cultivators yet had been tossed out by Hua Ninth Lady with a mere wave of her hand filled him with irritation.

Among the cultivators of the Hua clan, his single-fire spiritual root granted him a cultivation talent ranking near the top, and his cultivation speed far surpassed that of others.

He had always believed himself the most outstanding cultivator of the Hua clan, but today, facing Hua Ninth Lady, he realized how childish that notion had been.

"Tell me, are we too weak, or is Hua Changxi too strong?"

Sheng Pengfei's expression stiffened; recalling how his Qi Sea Realm Fire Eagle had been reduced to ash by a single wisp of flame from Hua Changxi, he fell silent.

At that moment, Hua Dalang emerged.

"Hongguang, Pengfei, are you both alright?"

Upon seeing Hua Dalang, Sheng Pengfei immediately limped over: "Fourth Brother-in-law, what cultivation level does your sister, Hua Ninth Lady, actually have?"

His tone was intimate, his face beaming with a bright smile; Sheng Pengfei's attitude now was far warmer than before.

Hua Dalang looked at him and smiled: "If you truly wish to know, wait until you and Ninth Lady are acquainted, then ask her yourself."

Sheng Pengfei eyed Hua Dalang suspiciously: "Fourth Brother-in-law, could it be that you do not know your own sister's cultivation level?"

Hua Dalang merely smiled, neither denying nor confirming.

Seeing he could not extract the answer he sought, Sheng Pengfei's face fell: "Your sister is so fierce; I dare not approach her. What if she beats me again?"

Hua Dalang laughed lightly: "My Ninth Lady is quite reasonable; as long as you do not unleash demonic beasts to wreak havoc in the Hua family as you did just now, all will be well."

Hearing this, Sheng Pengfei and Hua Hongguang exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat awkward.

Allowing their demonic pets to fight within the Hua family courtyard was indeed inappropriate; though they had acted impulsively under verbal provocation, deep down they truly had looked down upon the Hua family.

Hua Hongguang could not tolerate the sudden rise of Hua Bin's family; previously, Hua Bin's family had not even qualified to enter their homes, yet merely by presenting a body-refining technique to the clan, now even his grandfather must personally visit to offer congratulations. Naturally, someone as proud as himself could not accept this.

Sheng Pengfei, seeing the Hua family's poor conditions, had wished to vent anger on behalf of his female cousin and simultaneously demonstrate the Sheng family's strength, ensuring they would not dare neglect his cousin in the future.

Neither had expected things to spiral out of control; not only had they lost their demonic pets, but they had also been thrown out.

Hua Dalang was also angry about their mischief; after delivering a slight warning and seeing both men change color, he promptly offered them a way out: "Enough; dinner is about to begin. Come inside with me quickly; Ninth Lady was merely joking with you earlier."

With that, he turned and stepped first into the Hua family courtyard.

Seeing this, Hua Hongguang and Sheng Pengfei exchanged glances.

After a moment, Sheng Pengfei hurried after him: "Fourth Brother-in-law, wait for me!"

His female cousin was still to marry into the Hua family; he had never intended to truly sever relations with them. Now that Hua Dalang had offered a ladder, naturally he would climb down.

Seeing that even Sheng Pengfei could disregard shame and eagerly return to the Hua family courtyard, Hua Hongguang, as a member of the Hua clan, naturally could not remain truly angry, so he hastily followed inside as well.

Once inside the courtyard, Hua Hongguang gave Sheng Pengfei a thumbs-up.

Sheng Pengfei smiled: "A real man must know when to bend and when to stretch." Then he quickly walked to where the ashes of the Fire Eagle remained and crouched down.

Hua Hongguang followed: "What are you looking at?"

Sheng Pengfei, also a single-fire spiritual root cultivator, gazed at the ashes on the ground: "Don't you find the flames Hua Ninth Lady externally released somewhat remarkable?"

Hua Hongguang replied: "Instantly killing our two Qi Sea Realm demonic beasts? Of course it's remarkable."

Sheng Pengfei stroked his chin: "An attack of such power means either Hua Ninth Lady's cultivation realm far exceeds the Qi Sea Realm, or she possesses an exotic flame. Which do you think it is?"

Hua Hongguang shook his head: "I do not know."

Sheng Pengfei looked at Hua Hongguang: "Tell me, should we go ask Hua Changxi for guidance? Ask her how she cultivates?"

Hua Hongguang felt somewhat tempted, yet having just been thrown out by Hua Ninth Lady, rushing back now to seek her instruction made him feel too embarrassed.

Just then, Old Lady Hua emerged to announce that dinner was ready and invited everyone to take their seats.

Sheng Pengfei, in truth, also felt too embarrassed; seeing that dinner was about to begin, he abandoned the idea of seeking instruction from Hua Changxi.

Inside the kitchen, Lady Yao was about to lead the neighbors who had come to help in serving the dishes when Hua Changxi stopped her.

"Mother, watch me."

The next moment, plate after plate of dishes was sent out by Hua Changxi using spiritual energy, landing swiftly, accurately, and steadily upon each table.

Second Aunt Hua exclaimed in surprise: "Spiritual energy can be used like this?"

Outside the kitchen, others also watched this method of serving dishes with curiosity.

"Such precise control of spiritual energy!"

Hua Shuran glanced at Hua Wanyue; receiving her signal, Hua Wanyue hesitated briefly before quickly releasing a wisp of spiritual energy outward, striking a dish plate.

Nothing happened; the plate landed steadily on the table.

Seeing this, Hua Shuran's expression shifted slightly; the spiritual energy casually used for serving dishes was stronger than Wanyue's deliberate attack, meaning Hua Changxi's cultivation was even greater than she had imagined.

Hua Changxi was very likely a late-stage Core Formation cultivator!

The remainder of the meal proceeded without further incident or disturbance.

By evening, after dinner, when the Hua family saw their guests off, Hua Liulang actually stood at the doorway and handed each person a parting gift.

The gift was not valuable, merely a pouch containing fifty low-grade spirit stones.

Everyone who received a pouch paused in surprise, but the expressions on the Sheng family members' faces were the most remarkable; seeing this, Hua Liulang raised his eyebrows triumphantly.

One top-grade spirit stone could be exchanged for 1,000 low-grade spirit stones; he had spent ten top-grade stones to acquire 10,000 low-grade ones.

Hua family cultivators received one hundred low-grade spirit stones per month, and the Sheng family cultivators received the same.

By giving fifty low-grade spirit stones to each person, he was effectively handing out half a month's allowance; let us see if the Sheng family still dares to look down on the Hua family!

Seeing Hua Liulang's behavior, Hua Changxi smiled and shook her head, choosing not to interfere.

As for the rest of the Hua family, they felt extreme pain in their hearts, thinking how much better it would have been to keep those spirit stones for themselves!

That fellow Liulang, just to save a little face, had completely disregarded their actual substance.