The Fu family ancestor was not currently near the great hall. Instead, he was in a secluded pavilion deep within the fortress, gazing at a softly glowing jade slip in his hand.
As the guest of honor for the birthday banquet, he would naturally only appear before the attendees at the very last moment.
And during this brief interval, as the person in charge of the Fu family, he still needed to handle a matter of some urgency.
Aside from the Fu family ancestor, a broad-shouldered, imposing man with coppery-purple skin sat nearby. His cultivation appeared to be at the early Core Formation stage. His waist was bulging with several leather pouches of varying sizes.
"Hmph! This isn't the Purple Gold Kingdom, after all. The Spirit Controller Sect actually wants us to send people out and expend effort on their behalf — gathering intelligence, searching for some unknown object, from the looks of it. As if our Fu family were their subordinates. Preposterous!" The Fu family ancestor suddenly slammed his palm on the table, his face darkening as he hissed in a low voice.
"Seventh Uncle, there's no need to get worked up. Does the jade slip say anything about what they're looking for? If the Spirit Controller Sect's cultivators are this anxious about it, it must be something extraordinary!" The man stroked his chin, rather intrigued.
"That's exactly what's infuriating. On the one hand, they want to use us. On the other, they're being evasive and haven't mentioned what they're searching for at all. They only told us to keep an eye out for any unusual incidents occurring throughout the Yuanwu Kingdom recently, and to notify them immediately if anything comes up."
"Oh! In that case, it seems the Spirit Controller Sect doesn't want the Devilflame Sect to learn about this — which is why they came to us, the Fu family, and spoke so vaguely." A sharp glint flashed in the man's eyes as he spoke thoughtfully.
"Little San, you've hit the mark. Our Fu family, as a precaution, has been currying favor with the Devilflame Sect on the surface while secretly cultivating ties with the Spirit Controller Sect in the shadows. But now it seems that despite our multiple overtures, the Spirit Controller Sect still doesn't quite trust us. It seems we should adjust our strategy. I wonder whether the Ghost Spirit Sect — the weakest of the Six Sects — might be easier to befriend." The old man stroked his beard and murmured pensively.
"Well, that could work..."
"Tsk tsk! I didn't expect the Fu family, besides latching onto the Devilflame Sect's coattails, to also have connections with the Spirit Controller Sect. No wonder you've been able to prosper and stand strong for the past hundred years!"
Just as the burly man opened his mouth to say something, a strange man's voice suddenly came from outside the window, carrying a hint of mockery.
"Who is it? What esteemed guest has come to our Fu family? I, Fu Tianhua, failed to rise and greet you from afar—please forgive my slight!"
The Fu family ancestor and the burly man simultaneously leapt from their chairs, as if their tails had been stepped on. They exchanged a look of mutual shock, and then the ancestor called out in a startled and uncertain voice.
Both of them were utterly astonished that someone had managed to approach so closely without their noticing.
"There's no need for a greeting. I am an uninvited guest today."
As the man's voice from outside the window faded, the pavilion suddenly erupted in brilliant azure light.
The Fu family ancestor and the burly man were greatly alarmed. They quickly flickered backward, each retreating to a corner of the room, as a layer of shimmering protective barriers materialized around their bodies.
The ancestor spat out a white flying sword that hovered unsteadily before him, while the burly man, his expression grave, snatched a dark, unassuming spirit beast pouch from his waist.
The brilliant light subsided, and in the middle of the room, a cyan-robed cultivator had suddenly appeared. His features were unremarkable — a young man who looked to be in his mid-twenties at most.
It was none other than Han Li, who had slipped into the fortress undetected.
At this moment, Han Li stood with his hands clasped behind his back, sweeping a glance over the warily postured Fu family ancestor and the burly man before speaking in an unhurried tone: "Just now, I swept the area with my spiritual sense. The entire Fu family fortress has only three Core Formation cultivators, and of those, you two are the strongest. You must be the ones who hold power in the Fu family!"
Having finished speaking, Han Li's expression remained perfectly calm, without the slightest hint of emotion, making it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or angered.
"So it's a senior of the Nascent Soul stage! We had no idea a senior of your stature would grace us with his presence. Is there anything the Fu family can do to be of service?"
Han Li had made no effort to conceal his cultivation, so the old man had likewise sensed that his depths were unfathomable. His face changed drastically, and he forced out a smile as he spoke, his heart churning with unease.
"You are the Fu family ancestor?" Han Li narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing his gaze on the purple-robed elder in the corner, and asked in an indifferent voice.
"I wouldn't dare. How could this junior presume to call himself an ancestor in the presence of a senior? This junior is Fu Tianhua, and I am indeed the current head of the Fu family." Upon hearing Han Li's question, devoid of any warmth, the Fu family ancestor replied outwardly with deference. But the unease in his heart only deepened — he had a growing sense that this Nascent Soul cultivator before him had not come with good intentions.
"Mm. Since you are the Fu family ancestor, it seems I've come to the right person. I've come to the Fu family to collect a debt, so naturally I ought to introduce myself to you first." Han Li looked at the old man, a faintly peculiar expression crossing his face as he spoke.
"Collecting a debt? The senior must be joking. This junior believes this is the first time we've met — perhaps the senior has made some mistake." Upon hearing Han Li's words, the Fu family ancestor felt his heart clench, and it instantly sank as if plunging into an endless abyss.
The large man who had been standing silently nearby paled at these words, his grip on the spirit beast pouch involuntarily tightening.
A Nascent Soul cultivator speaking openly about collecting a debt — no matter how one heard it, that was an exceedingly dire matter.