Even though the two were seated, the hostile glances exchanged between Twelve Luo Yue and Bai Ting still allowed a palpable atmosphere of hidden competition to spread between them.
"Sigh, I hope these two will behave for now," Xin Ci muttered inwardly, observing the situation.
The surrounding young talents also felt a sense of anticlimax.
"Is that it?"
"I thought those two were going to fight. It was just a false alarm."
"Did you really think they would engage in a fight to the death? We're at the Xin family's place. If blood is shed and someone dies, it would displease the Xin family, and that would be asking for trouble."
"That's true. The gathering of prodigies is primarily for exchanging martial arts insights. Life-and-death duels are simply too foolish."
The guests conversed in hushed tones.
Just then, the Xin family's butler stepped onto the stage and cleared his throat, announcing, "The Eldest Young Lady has arrived."
As the butler's words fell, Xin Huanyan, clad in a purple silk dress, made her entrance accompanied by her attendant, Yu Xiu.
All eyes turned to this exceptionally elegant eldest young lady of the Xin family.
Once Xin Huanyan took her seat on the high platform, the crowd withdrew their gazes.
This year, the gathering of prodigies was hosted by the Xin family, and Xin Huanyan, as the eldest young lady, naturally served as the Xin family's representative to preside over the event.
Xin Ci looked at Xin Huanyan with a complex gaze, wondering why his own sister had become this way. What kind of brainwashing had that old scoundrel Xin Li subjected her to, to make her so obedient to him?
"Welcome, everyone, to the gathering of prodigies hosted by my Xin family," Xin Huanyan said, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the crowd.
She then raised a cup of fine wine from the table and addressed the guests, "This wine is brewed from our Xin family's prized Thousand-Year Spirit Spring, named Thousand Mile Fragrance. It is specially prepared to entertain the young talents and sect elders present. Please partake."
As Xin Huanyan spoke, she, as the host of the gathering, set an example for everyone by draining her cup.
Following her lead, Xin family attendants brought forth the spirit wine and poured a cup for each young talent. The guests then raised their cups in return to Xin Huanyan and drank, one after another.
To avoid any unusual actions, Xin Ci also picked up his cup. The moment he took his first sip, his expression changed drastically. He quickly realized something was amiss with the wine and urgently sent a telepathic message to Liu Mu Ming and the others, urging them to stop drinking.
Xin Ci had only taken a small sip, yet he felt his internal true essence becoming chaotic, and a strong wave of drowsiness washed over him. The Eternal Dao Scripture was activated decisively, instantly refining the medicinal effects contained within that single mouthful of wine.
Liu Mu Ming, Bai Ting, Luo Fei, Mo Qian, and the Twelve Luo Yue had also noticed Xin Ci's unusual reaction. They chose to trust Xin Ci and merely pretended to drink, refraining from actually consuming the wine.
However, others were not so fortunate. Having drunk the Xin family's fine wine, their internal true essence dissipated, and they unknowingly slumped onto the tables, falling asleep.
"What's going on?"
"Why have they collapsed?!"
"Xin family's little girl, what have you done?!"
The elders from the four great families, who had not yet had a chance to drink the wine, watched as the younger generation from their respective families collapsed one after another. They immediately realized the wine was problematic and stood up, questioning Xin Huanyan with scrutinizing gazes.
But before they could receive a reply from Xin Huanyan, a cloud of black mist suddenly enveloped each of them. These black mists coalesced, forming a dark curtain that trapped all the elders of the four great families. Their shouts were muffled, and the black curtain contained such powerful true essence that no one below the Great Emperor realm could break it.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard. Xin Ci and the others quickly realized the gravity of the situation and that they needed to retreat immediately. However, the garden they were in was suddenly sealed by spatial power.
Then, a arrogant voice boomed, "Hahahaha, I've finally caught the little mice who have been hiding for three years."
With that, the black curtain rippled again, and a burly man in black emerged. It was Xin Li, accompanied by over forty Shadow Guards. The Shadow Guards immediately dispersed, taking positions in various corners of the garden.
Xin Ci was somewhat perplexed. He had clearly disguised himself as a woman, so why could Xin Li still detect his presence? The Xin family's spirit blood jade token should not have worked. Could it be...!
Xin Ci suddenly jolted awake and immediately looked at Xin Huanyan, whose expression was as cold as ice. Recalling the imperial aura that had emanated from her earlier, he wondered if he had been tainted by Xin Li's imperial aura at that time, thus allowing Xin Li to sense his presence.
"Patriarch Xin, what is the meaning of this! We came to participate in the gathering of prodigies, and yet your Xin family has drugged the wine? Is this how your Xin family treats its guests?"
"Indeed, Patriarch Xin, you had better give us an explanation!" Liu Mu Ming and Bai Ting also stepped forward, angrily denouncing Xin Huanyan.
Xin Li glanced coldly at the two and scoffed. "So, it's the brats from the Liu Mu family and the Bai family. You're quite lucky to have not drunk the poisoned wine."
"However, out of respect for the Liu Mu and Bai families, I'll give you a piece of advice: do not meddle in the Xin family's private affairs. Leave the Xin family now!"
"You want us to leave just because you say so? Why should we listen to you!"
"Exactly. Even if you are the Patriarch of the Xin family, Bai Ting and I are not members of the Xin family. Why should we obey the words of this old geezer?"
"To think that a Great Emperor would use such despicable means against us juniors. I, this young master, despise you." As he spoke, Liu Mu Ming made a one-finger salute of contempt towards Xin Li's face.
"Insolence! Shadow Guards, capture these two brats and bundle them back to their respective families!" Xin Li, as the Patriarch of the Xin family and a one-star Great Emperor, could not tolerate the provocation from these two ignorant juniors. He immediately ordered the Shadow Guards to apprehend them. If not for the special status of Liu Mu Ming and Bai Ting, Xin Li would have slapped these two provocateurs to death long ago.
The Shadow Guards immediately charged towards them. Enraged, Bai Ting, mimicking Liu Mu Ming, also made a gesture of contempt towards Xin Li and cursed, "Shameless old man, you actually dare to attack us! I curse you to fall into a latrine while relieving yourself! May you drown to death!"
"Silence! You are not to be disrespectful to the Patriarch!" The Shadow Guards were instantly furious and swung their palms towards Bai Ting. However, Liu Mu Ming delivered a flying kick to the Shadow Guard's face, sending him flying backward into three or four other Shadow Guards.
"Scram! You dare touch my woman? Are you tired of living?!"