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Chapter 243 Banquet
“Master Wei should be Canton Governor Wei Xiongjian of Guanghe Canton…”
Three days after arriving in Guanghe Canton, Xu Ning had a rough understanding of this place.
“Family Head Cheng.”
Wei Xiongjian cupped his fists and returned Cheng Jinxian’s greetings. Although he was the highest official in the canton, he was quite polite to the local families.
“Go in and take a seat first.”
Wei Xiongjian said.
“Then we’ll go in first.”
Cheng Jinxian led the Cheng family into the hall.
There were already many people in the hall.
And they were all chatting in groups.
“This banquet should be a place for all parties in Guanghe Canton to communicate with each other.’
Xu Ning looked around and thought to himself. After entering the hall, Cheng Jinxian ignored the people from the Cheng family and began to talk with the others. “Let’s sit down first.”
Cheng Zengtao had obviously participated in this kind of event often. He asked the disciples of the Cheng family to find their own seats.
There were small tables placed in the hall. Obviously, they would be eating here soon.
After arranging for the members of the Cheng family, Cheng Zengtao took Xu Ning and introduced him to his acquaintances.
As a clan elder of the Cheng family, Cheng Zengtao had his own connections in Guanghe Canton.
Soon, everyone that was invited had arrived.
Wei Xiongjian also walked in.
“Everyone, please take a seat!”
After Wei Xiongjian said this, the noisy room instantly became quiet. Everyone quickly found their seats and sat down.
Cheng Zengtao led Xu Ning to his seat. They were seated in the middle, with the family heads sitting at the front and the younger generation of the various families sitting at the back.
After everyone sat down, Wei Xiongjian stood up and raised his wine glass.
After saying a few polite words, he drank the wine in his glass.
Below, everyone raised their glasses in response.
Xu Ning drank the wine glass on the table as well.
“This wine is not ordinary…’
The moment Xu Ning drank the wine, he absorbed 10 units of energy.
‘Although the wine at this banquet is not as good as Senior Jin Meng’s Demon Ape Wine, it is not bad…
Xu Ning’s mouth was filled with the sweetness of wine.
Wei Xiongjian then returned to his seat.
“Everyone, no need to feel restrained, just converse freely with your friends!”
Wei Xiongjian laughed.
Soon after, the hall became lively again.
Wei Xiongjian began to talk to the family heads seated at the front, while the others began to talk to the people around them. Most of the people sitting together had the same status.
“Brother Cheng.”
A man sitting near Cheng Zengtao suddenly moved over.
The man was fat and had a simple face, but his eyes showed a hint of shrewdness from time to time.
“Brother Shi.”
Cheng Zengtao also raised his glass in response.
“This is Brother Shi Chenghao from the Shi family.”
Cheng Zengtao took the initiative to introduce the man to Xu Ning.
Hearing the introduction, Shi Chenghao then noticed the unfamiliar face next to Cheng Zengtao. “Brother Cheng, this is…”
Shi Chenghao asked politely “I am Xu Ning, a good friend of Brother Cheng.”
Xu Ning did not wait for Cheng Zengtao’s introduction. He took the initiative to raise his wine glass, looking very generous. “Brother Xu!”
Shi Chenghao smiled warmly and drank the wine in his glass. Although he didn’t know Xu Ning’s background, Shi Chenghao knew that Xu Ning’s status was extraordinary when he saw Cheng Zengtao’s respectful attitude towards him.
“Brother Xu is not from Guanghe Canton, right?”
Shi Chenghao was curious about Xu Ning’s identity, but he did not ask directly.
“No, I just arrived recently.”
Xu Ning said.
“Brother Cheng and I are old friends, and Brother Xu is Brother Cheng’s good friend, so you are considered my good friend as well. After this banquet ends today, I will also hold a banquet myself in two days. At that time, we can meet privately.”
Shi Chenghao was obviously proficient in managing interpersonal relationships. With just a few words, he had pulled Xu Ning closer to him.
After chatting for a while, Shi Chenghao approached Cheng Zengtao.
“Brother Cheng, I have a request.”
Shi Chenghao lowered his voice, but he did not avoid Xu Ning. This action seemed to indicate that he regarded Xu Ning as one of his own.
Xu Ning saw through Shi Chenghao’s intentions, but even so, he felt that Shi Chenghao was easy to like.
“What is it, Brother Shi?”
Cheng Zengtao waved his hand.
“I want to refine a Realm Breakthrough Pill.”
Shi Chenghao said, “Brother Cheng, you should know that my martial arts aptitude is extremely poor. If it weren’t for the resources from my family that allowed me to forcibly break through to the body smelting realm, I might not even be in the dao realm.”
“I have been stuck in the body smelting realm for a long time, and I haven’t been able to touch the threshold of the astral qi realm, so I want to refine a Realm Breakthrough Pill to help me break through.”
Cheng Zengtao raised his eyebrows when he heard this. “Why are you looking for me to refine a Realm Breakthrough Pill? You should be looking for a master alchemist.”
Shi Chenghao showed a helpless look. “Brother Cheng, you don’t know this, but ordinary master alchemists are totally unable to refine a Realm Breakthrough Pill. Only those high-level master alchemists can refine it.”
“I found several master alchemists in the past, but they all said that they are not confident and that they can’t do it.” While speaking, Shi Chenghao asked tentatively, “Brother Cheng, can you go to the Faint Bamboo Forest for me and ask Master Alchemist Leng Ran to refine this pill for me?”
Shi Chenghao obviously knew that Cheng Zengtao and Leng Ran knew each other.
When Cheng Zengtao heard this, he frowned and looked a little hesitant.
Although he knew Leng Ran, he didn’t want to disturb her because of this.
“If it’s inconvenient, forget it.”
Shi Chenghao understood Cheng Zengtao’s thoughts when he didn’t agree immediately.
He would never force anyone to do anything against their will.
“Brother Shi, do you have the materials for the Realm Breakthrough Pill?”
Just when Cheng Zengtao was about to apologize, Xu Ning suddenly spoke.
Shi Chenghao and Cheng Zengtao were taken aback by this.
Especially Cheng Zengtao, he didn’t know why Xu Ning would ask such a question. “I do.”
Shi Chenghao responded subconsciously.
The thought that was hovering in his mind was whether Xu Ning knew a master alchemist and was preparing to introduce him.
“Leave it to me. In three days, you can go to the Cheng family and collect it.”
Xu Ning said.
If this was in the past, Xu Ning’s level was not enough to refine a Realm Breakthrough Pill.
But after advancing the Red Sea Pill Sutra to the second level, Xu Ning could manage to refine such a pill.
“Brother Xu, you…”
Shi Chenghao frowned. “You are a master alchemist?”
When Shi Chenghao asked this, Cheng Zengtao’s eyes were full of surprise.
He didn’t know that Xu Ning was a master alchemist.
Facing the doubts, Xu Ning nodded gently. After receiving Xu Ning’s affirmation, Shi Chenghao paused for a moment before quickly filling his wine glass. “Thank you in advance, Brother Xu!”
Shi Chenghao was overjoyed.
When Shi Chenghao found the master alchemists who were reluctant to refine the Realm Breakthrough Pill previously, he was already a little discouraged.
He didn’t expect Xu Ning, whom he had just met, to be a master alchemist.
Cheng Zengtao’s heart was in turmoil.
Xu Ning’s martial arts talent and advancement speed made him feel that he was already a rare talent in the world.
He didn’t expect that he was actually a master alchemist as well.
Most people usually specialized in one aspect, either martial arts or alchemy, and they might never achieve anything in either path after spending their entire lives, but Xu Ning had achieved success in both paths.
‘The Swallow Heron Sect might really be able to restore the glory back when the first sect master controlled it…’
This thought suddenly popped into Cheng Zengtao’s mind.
“Brother Xu, these are the materials needed for the Realm Breakthrough Pill.”
Shi Chenghao took out a bunch of materials from his storage ring and placed them on the table. “There are a total of five sets of materials. If it’s not enough, I can send some more to the mansion.”
“It’s enough.”
Xu Ning waved his hand and put away the materials for the Realm Breakthrough Pill.
His confidence also boosted Shi Chenghao’s confidence. If everything went well, he could advance to the astral qi realm in three days.
“Brother Xu, feel free to ask for the payment.”
Shi Chenghao said.
“You are good friends with Brother Cheng, so forget about that.”
Xu Ning waved his hand.
Shi Chenghao suddenly had a better impression of Xu Ning
He did not force him. “In this case, consider it as me owing Brother Xu a favor. If Brother Xu has any requests, feel free to ask.”
Shi Chenghao’s expression was serious.
“You’re welcome.”
Xu Ning didn’t care.
Afterwards, Shi Chenghao chatted with the two for a while before returning to his seat.
In his mind, Shi Chenghao was already planning how to improve his relationship with Xu Ning.
If he could build a good relationship with a master alchemist of this level, it would be greatly beneficial.
“Sect Master, you really hide your strength
well…”
After Shi Chenghao left, Cheng Zengtao secretly transmitted to Xu Ning. “Shi Chenghao is the son of the head of the Shi family in Guanghe Canton. We are of the same age. Although he is unlikely to inherit the position of family head in the future, he will definitely have the resources of the Shi family in his hands. If we are short of resources when rebuilding the sect, we can totally ask for his help.”
“I see…”
Xu Ning nodded.
Soon after, Shi Chenghao returned.
This time, he introduced Xu Ning to his friends.
Xu Ning was now familiar with half of the dao realm masters in Guanghe Canton.
This Xu Ning has a unique charm…’
At this moment, Cheng Jinxian was also watching Xu Ning constantly. After seeing Xu Ning getting to know so many new friends in such a short period of time, and even gaining the other party’s respect, Cheng Jinxian acknowledged Xu Ning even more.
‘Maybe Xu Ning can really revive the Swallow Heron Sect…
Cheng Jinxian thought to himself.
He was strong and could unite people’s hearts. These were traits of a qualified sect master.
After the lunch banquet ended, the group returned to the Cheng family mansion.
On the way.
“Xu Ning.”
On the carriage, Cheng Jinxian took the initiative to speak. “If you encounter any trouble with rebuilding the Swallow Heron Sect, just tell me.”
“Uncle!”
Cheng Zengtao was shocked.
Cheng Jinxian’s words meant that he acknowledged Xu Ning and had decided to support the rebuilding of the Swallow Heron Sect. “I will select some talented descendants from the family and let them join the Swallow Heron Sect.”
Cheng Jinxian said, “After all, talents are the foundation of a sect.”
Xu Ning was quite surprised.
If Cheng Jinxian did this, he would completely tie the Cheng family to the Swallow Heron Sect.
“Thank you, Family Head Cheng.”
Xu Ning cupped his fists.
With the support of the Cheng family, the pressure of rebuilding the sect would be much smaller.