Shortly after the two appeared, members of the Gongsun, Xuanyuan, and Dugu families also descended upon the plaza, exchanging greetings with the Zhuge Family Head.
Brother Yun, long time no see!
Brother Yanguang, it must have been a tiring journey!
Brother Qi, please come inside!
The atmosphere was harmonious, filled with continuous laughter.
An incense stick's time later, the Shangguan family also arrived.
Among the Five Immortal Families, the Dugu family's immortal roots were basically severed by now, leaving only remnants, and the Shangguan family had also suffered heavy losses.
However, the Five Immortal Families were friends for generations. The other three families naturally would not kick them while they were down, continuing to treat them with equal courtesy.
The descent of the three Immortal Kings this time naturally meant they had to look after not only their own families but also the Shangguan and Dugu families.
Once the members of all five families had gathered, Zhuge Jinglong personally guided them to their seats.
These seats were placed at a higher elevation in the plaza, higher than all surrounding seats, highlighting the status and relationships of the five families.
Five desks were arranged in a single row.
This had been the convention of the five families for many years.
Throughout the entire Central Continent, any faction with a bit of insight knew this rule and never harbored any dissatisfaction.
Today, however, the Zhuge family broke the rule.
The crowd was surprised to discover that on the high platform, aside from the five desks, there was actually a sixth seat.
This sixth seat was placed on equal footing with the other five.
Ever since Gu Changyuan displayed his astonishing strength and Zhuge Dancheng issued the order to befriend him, the Zhuge family placed even greater importance on their relationship with the Heavenly Human Holy Land.
Or rather, their relationship with Gu Changyuan.
Therefore, the Zhuge family chose to add a sixth seat for the people of the Heavenly Human Holy Land.
Many visiting guests had flashes of surprise in their eyes upon seeing the sixth seat above.
The family heads of the Xuanyuan, Gongsun, Dugu, and Shangguan families also revealed a hint of astonishment.
For the Zhuge family to temporarily break convention and add a main seat was enough to show that the person sitting there must be treated with equal or even higher status.
Everyone's gazes swept over simultaneously. They saw a black-clad man with an unfathomable aura sitting upright at the sixth seat.
On his sides were the First Ancestor Ye Qingxue, Second Ancestor Lin Jingyu, and Fourth Ancestor Yue Lingxi of the Heavenly Human Holy Land.
All three Holy Land ancestors maintained a respectful posture and a reverent expression.
The five family heads exchanged glances, and the answer was basically confirmed.
The man before them could only be the Holy Ancestor of the Heavenly Human Holy Land, who had not shown his face in a thousand years.
Zhuge Jinglong first directed the accompanying members of the other four families to take their seats, then personally led the four family heads to Gu Changyuan's table.
With a smile on his face and a solemn posture, he introduced to the four.
Brothers, this is the Holy Ancestor of the Heavenly Human Holy Land, Excellency Gu Changyuan.
Excellency Gu possesses vast magical powers and is an honored guest of our Zhuge family!
Saying this, he turned around, bowed slightly to Gu Changyuan, and introduced the four family heads one by one.
Excellency Gu, these four are the current heads of the four families: Xuanyuan Family Head Xuanyuan Yunting, Gongsun Family Head Gongsun Yanguang, Dugu Family Head Dugu Qirong, and Shangguan Family Head Shangguan Yihao.
His gaze swept over the seats of the four families. At this moment, Xu Mengyao was sitting at the main table holding a cub, while another cub was in the hands of Zhuge Sijue's mother, her mother-in-law.
Each family was personally led by their family head, accompanied by two clan elders with steady auras and several young members with extraordinary auras.
These were clearly the core disciples heavily nurtured by each family, brought to attend the banquet to broaden their horizons and build connections.
Among them, the one who made him take an extra glance was a young woman at the Gongsun family's seating area.
The woman wore a pale green dress, had a beautiful face, and lively eyes. She was currently looking over with a hint of curiosity.
What caught Gu Changyuan's attention was her talent, which was grade ten.
It seemed the Gongsun family had produced a good seedling in this generation.
Gu Changyuan slowly stood up, his expression calm yet polite. He gave a slight nod to the four family heads, acknowledging them one by one without any superfluous pleasantries.
The four, including Xuanyuan Yunting, were also extremely respectful toward Gu Changyuan, bowing in return with humble tones.
After all, with Zhuge Jinglong valuing Gu Changyuan so highly, even specially adding a main seat for him to sit on equal footing with the Five Immortal Families, any fool could see Gu Changyuan's extraordinary nature.
Not to mention they were all family heads of their respective domains; their minds were sharp, and they naturally would not be negligent.
When it was time to exchange greetings with Dugu Qirong, after a simple nod of acquaintance, a hint of expectation flashed in Dugu Qirong's eyes as he spoke respectfully.
Excellency Gu, my daughter Dugu Shiling should be at the Heavenly Human Holy Land right now, yes? I assume she has received much of your care these past days.
Hearing the name Dugu Shiling, Gu Changyuan suddenly remembered that he still had such a grand-disciple who had not formally entered Xu Mengyao's tutelage.
He had been so busy dealing with the affairs of the three lands that he actually forgot about this matter.
He should have brought her along to the Central Continent to let her complete the apprenticeship ceremony.
Gu Changyuan nodded gently, his tone softening a bit.
Not at all, it can hardly be called care.
During the Heavenly Abyss Ceremony, I happened to be present. Your daughter's performance was outstanding, and both her temperament and talent were quite good.
I had intended for her to become Mengyao's disciple, but events unfolded hastily, and it never materialized.
In the future, once she completes her apprenticeship ceremony, it is naturally only right for me, as her grandmaster, to look after my grand-disciple a bit more.
Hearing this, Dugu Qirong's heart instantly relaxed. A gratified smile appeared on his face as he nodded repeatedly, his tone carrying a bit of emotion.
Then I thank Excellency Gu for your compassion and care.
My daughter traveling alone to the Heavenly Human Holy Land this time was her own wish. She wholeheartedly wanted to seek a master to learn and improve her strength, not wanting to hold the family back.
In the future, I ask Excellency Gu and Fairy Xu to discipline her strictly.
Gu Changyuan smiled faintly, his tone certain.
Rest assured. Although Mengyao has a lively personality, she has a sense of propriety when teaching disciples and will not wrong your daughter.
Moreover, your daughter has outstanding talent and will definitely achieve great things in the future.
After the simple greetings and acquaintances, the four family heads sat down at their respective seats.
At the same time, in the sky above the plaza, Zhuge Dancheng, Gongsun Xiangming, and Xuanyuan Feiyue all locked their gazes in Gu Changyuan's direction. With solemn expressions, they conversed in low voices.
Zhuge Dancheng spoke first, his tone deep and carrying a hint of probing.
Can you two see through his cultivation base and background?
Gongsun Xiangming narrowed his eyes, a purple-gold light faintly flickering around him. He was clearly operating some secret technique at full power, attempting to pry into Gu Changyuan's depths.
A moment later, his brows furrowed tightly and he shook his head.
I cannot see through him.
His voice carried a trace of disbelief.
This person is like an abyss, yet also like a void. When my divine sense probes over, I cannot perceive anything.
Xuanyuan Feiyue was similarly making an attempt.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and righteous aura flowed around his body, clearly utilizing a deduction method as well.
Then, he opened his eyes, which were filled with shock.
I cannot see through him either.
He paused, his tone solemn.
This person is unfathomable.
Hearing this, the corners of Zhuge Dancheng's mouth curled up slightly.
Unfathomable.
To think that such a figure could actually appear in this Nine Heavens Realm.
He sighed softly.
Gongsun Xiangming and Xuanyuan Feiyue nodded in unison, both with looks of shock in their eyes.
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
