18:00
Boom!
The sound of thunder roared over the sea, and rain poured down in torrents, churning the ocean into towering waves.
The luxurious cruise ship swayed and rocked on the vast sea, its massive hull drifting with the currents, but the banquet hall inside remained entirely unaffected.
Through the thick glass windows, the raging storm outside could be seen wreaking havoc.
Inside the banquet hall, representatives from various major factions had already gathered. Beneath the dazzling chandelier, the tables were adorned with exquisite tableware and gourmet dishes.
The men were dressed in sharp suits, while the women, impeccably made up, wore a variety of elegant evening gowns.
Su Bailian was dressed in a white evening gown, her delicate and pitiable demeanor captivating a group of young scions from the royal city.
"Xiao Lian, let me tell you something. Your sister is a great evil spirit. Later, my father and the Daoist priests from Dragon Tiger Mountain are going to eliminate her for the sake of the world!"
A young scion who knew the inside story but couldn't bear to see Su Bailian hurt whispered to her: "When the time comes, hide behind me. I'll protect you."
Upon hearing this, Su Bailian rolled her eyes internally.
These days, people really don’t think twice before spouting nonsense.
She pretended to be frightened: "Ah... how could that be? How could Sister Su be a great evil spirit?"
"It's true, it's true!"
Another young scion who also knew the inside story immediately pushed his way forward and said, "Lian Lian, let me tell you, Su Muwan is no longer Su Muwan. She's not your sister anymore!"
"Otherwise, think about it. You grew up with Su Muwan. Was she always such a venomous woman in the past?"
Hmm...
Su Bailian thought back to her childhood.
It was when Su Muwan was about 7 or 8 years old, after returning from some banquet.
[Daughter, what are you doing with our family’s ancestral manual?]
[I want to cultivate! I want to learn martial arts!]
[That bitch Jiang Xueqi stole my toy!! I’m going to get stronger!!!! And then I’ll throw them all into the river to feed the sharks!!!]
[Daughter, breaking their limbs and crippling their dantian is enough. Feeding them to sharks is a bit too inhumane, and besides, there are no sharks in the river.]
[Then I’ll put some in and raise them!!]
[They won’t survive in that environment, daughter...]
[Then I’ll drain the river and change the water!]
[Su Bailian, who had just joined the Su family: ......]
And so, the gears of fate began to turn, and Su Muwan embarked on the path of cultivation.
End of recollection.
Su Bailian’s eye twitched, and she coughed lightly: "It’s probably different... right?"
"Right, right! Su Muwan is now an evil spirit!"
Heh... hehe... hehehe...
Su Bailian looked at the group of young scions chattering about some unknown plan.
She maintained her smile.
These young scions! They’re all out of their minds!
What evil spirit? Are we shooting a movie here?
No, not even movies have proper evil spirit stories anymore!
Su Bailian made up her mind.
She’d pack some steak for Boqi, then bid farewell to these idiots!
Meanwhile.
Su Muwan was dressed in a black evening gown, the fine material shimmering under the light.
The skirt of the gown flowed gracefully to the floor, its slightly fishtail design accentuating her slender figure.
A black shawl of the same color draped over her shoulders, and the silver necklace and earrings she wore complemented each other perfectly.
She had only applied light makeup, yet she was the center of attention for everyone.
Qin Luo, dressed in a well-tailored gray suit, followed beside Su Muwan with a gentle and scholarly smile.
You could call Su Muwan a venomous woman.
But you couldn’t deny she was a beautiful venomous woman.
After the customary greetings to the elders.
Su Muwan glanced around and yawned boredly: "Banquets, banquets."
"They never get tired of them, but I’m almost sick of eating."
Su Muwan rubbed her slightly bloated stomach and pressed it inward.
"Retract!"
Her belly flattened, and the food was converted into true qi.
Clap, clap, clap.
Qin Luo, seeing this, applauded in admiration: "As expected of the young miss. The speed at which you convert energy is truly unprecedented."
In this world where martial arts reigned supreme.
Once one stepped onto the path of cultivation, aside from absorbing the energy of heaven and earth.
The human body could also condense true qi by circulating cultivation techniques.
The energy consumed came from the food one ingested.
Among the seven peak late-stage martial artists, one had an enormous appetite due to the unique nature of their technique.
Their daily food intake could exceed half a ton.
Most importantly, they could store the excess true qi in their body and release it all at once when the time was right.
Hearing this, Su Muwan’s lips curled into a slight smile, but she quickly frowned.
She looked at Qin Luo suspiciously and asked, "Qin Luo, are you indirectly saying I eat a lot?"
To be fair, martial artists generally had large appetites.
Since everyone’s efficiency in absorbing the energy of heaven and earth varied, the deficit had to be made up with food.
But for someone like Su Muwan, it didn’t matter. Even if she ate nothing, her true qi would never run out.
Because even without circulating her techniques, the energy of heaven and earth continuously flowed through her meridians.
Of course, Su Muwan still enjoyed the process of savoring good food.
Qin Luo shook his head earnestly: "Of course not. The young miss is the number one martial artist."
"This isn’t eating; it’s just normal cultivation."
Su Muwan thought this made sense.
"Then stock up on some snacks when we get back. We’re out at home."
"Understood, young miss."
In the shadows.
Shangguan Chuxue sat elegantly in a corner of the banquet hall.
She swirled her glass of red wine, her eyes filled with amusement as she observed Su Muwan and Qin Luo.
How laughable.
Su Muwan, unaware of her impending doom, was still flirting with her lackey.
Thinking this.
She glanced at Shui Yue beside her and said indifferently, "How are things on Suan Tianxing’s end?"
Shui Yue replied respectfully, "Everything has been arranged."
As she spoke.
Shui Yue’s gaze toward Su Muwan carried a hint of pity.
Poor thing, unknowingly walking step by step into the trap set by the lady.
Su Muwan, in your next life, I hope you don’t bring your lackey to provoke the lady again.
She took a light breath. The entire cruise ship had been set up with an exorcism array by the Daoist priests of Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Even the most formidable figure, Su Ba...
Shui Yue glanced at Su Ba, who was slumped over, drunk and snoring loudly.
He had also been deliberately made to drink until he passed out.
With experts from all major factions gathered in the banquet hall.
Su Muwan... you have nowhere to run!
Shangguan Chuxue took a small sip of her red wine, a slight smile curling at the corner of her lips.
She would witness Su Muwan’s tragic end here.
And...
She extended her hand toward Qin Luo, as if cradling his head in her palm.
I’ll make your most trusted lackey reveal his true colors!!
"!!"
On Su Muwan’s side, she suddenly shivered.
"Young miss, what’s wrong?"
"I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I feel like something dirty is talking about me behind my back again."
"Young miss, this might not be your imagination."
"?"