I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly

With such an incident, the birthday banquet obviously could not continue.

After Zong Jinkui explained the situation to all the guests, everyone expressed their understanding and left one after another, with only a few who were extremely close to Zong Jinkui remaining.

Xue Jing and Meng Qingjiao were naturally among them.

What was meant to be a grand birthday banquet turned into a small family feast. While it was somewhat less lively, it became much more comfortable.

During the meal, Xue Jing also spoke with Zong Jinkui about the Golden Wind Dojo issue.

Zong Jinkui was extremely angry with the sect that dared to kidnap his granddaughter and intended to silence them upon discovery.

But when Xue Jing asked what he planned to do, Zong Jinkui fell silent for a while before saying:

"...do nothing."

"The downfall of the Golden Wind Dojo is already a matter of fate, likely happening soon. It's very complicated... Little Jing, you should also try not to get involved."

Xue Jing raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Zong Jinkui picked up a large bowl filled with white liquor, downed it in one gulp as if drinking water, his expression unchanged.

After contemplation, he spoke softly: "I also heard a bit from Qingsheng, apparently the Golden Wind Dojo is involved in a struggle between 'corporations' and 'officials'..."

Qingsheng refers to Zong Jinkui's disciple Lin Qingsheng, who had successfully established a Tiger Soul branch in the inner ring of Yuan City and secured a foothold.

"The current situation is like immortals fighting, and the Golden Wind Dojo is a pawn of one side... Getting involved is not a good thing; better to stay well away."

Xue Jing nodded: "I see... Thanks for the advice, Old Dojo Master."

Zong Jinkui's advice echoed what Void Blade had previously said to him, to stay out of Golden Wind Dojo's affairs.

Certainly not one to bang his head against a wall, Xue Jing had no plans to get involved anymore.

However, from the time he began his martial arts practice, the Golden Wind Dojo had already suffered too many losses at his hands, this time even having six of their direct disciples taken down by him directly.

It was hard to know what Jiao Hongyuan's reaction would be.

But no matter, he would face whatever came; when the soldiers come, block them, when the water rises, cover it with earth.

Jiao Hongyuan, who had been severely injured by the point-struck hit from the eldest senior brother Meng Boshang, no longer had the strength from his heyday; even if he took action himself, Xue Jing was not afraid.

With all his techniques at the ready, Twin Lifes, Shadow Flame, Dragon Cherry, Dragon Horn... Xue Jing himself didn't know how strong he was now.

Unless he faced a breakthrough-level Grandmaster, he figured he should be able to handle anyone.

"Master, eat this, this is delicious."

Sitting next to Xue Jing, with her chair pushed right up beside him and her body almost leaning on him, Zong Shichan kept piling food onto his plate.

After heaping a full bowl, she stopped using her own chopsticks and watched Xue Jing with her hands cupping her cheeks, seemingly lost in some fantasy, occasionally letting out a giggling laugh with her cute little tiger teeth on show.

Xue Jing had grown accustomed to her quirky ways and didn't mind, pushing the full bowl of food in front of Meng Qingjiao, who was eating voraciously, and fed all of it to his senior sister.

Zong Shichan: "..."

Love doesn't disappear; it just moves on, doesn't it?

...

The banquet ended, and the host and guests were all pleased.

Xue Jing declined Zong Jinkui's and Zong Shichan's invitations to stay overnight and bade farewell to Tiger Soul and his party before he and Meng Qingjiao got into the deep red convertible and sped back to the Hidden Dragon Dojo.

The two took the elevator, entered the dojo, and came to the Heart-Nourishing Room.

"Master..."

Xue Jing began to report everything that happened at the banquet to Li Qi.

After listening, Li Qi stroked his chin and said:

"Although I expected some incident to happen, I didn't think it would be related to that bunch of bastards from the Golden Wind Dojo again."

"Now that you've killed so many direct disciples of the Golden Wind Dojo, an unbreakable enmity has been forged... We should find a time to eliminate that old ghost Jiao Hongyuan to prevent future problems."

Xue Jing said, "Master, about that..."

He repeated Zong Jinkui's words and then added:

"We should still refrain from getting involved."

Li Qi looked thoughtful and nodded: "Well then, we'll leave it be for now."

Then he looked at Xue Jing and smiled:

"Little Jing, we owe you a lot this time for getting that old man Zong Jinkui to let his guard down."

Xue Jing shook his head: "I am your disciple, Master; it's only natural for me to share your concerns."

Li Qi said with satisfaction: "You are too dutiful, my child..."

"But, even if you consider it your duty, I must not fail to express my gratitude... Come here, in front of me."

He beckoned with a wave of his hand.

At his words, Xue Jing stepped forward in front of Li Qi, curious: "Master?"

Li Qi extended his withered hand, grabbed Xue Jing's wrist, and said:

"You have been practicing Hidden Dragon School for nearly three months, and your progress is outlandishly fast. Not only have you already comprehended the five major techniques early on, but you've also brought the 'Dragon Qi' to a state of physical manifestation..."

"Moreover, you've even begun trying to combine techniques for combined execution, touching the realm of the Mystic Art·Vital Point... So, I will add fuel to your fire. How hot it burns is up to you."

"You have only one chance... Remember the feeling that comes next."

Li Qi's aged, murky eyes suddenly brightened, changing to a dark golden vertical pupil.

Sharp, majestic, noble... An air of arrogance only possessed by the strongest creatures at the top of the food chain erupted wildly from his entire body.

In the room with the doors and windows shut tightly, a visibly fierce energy endlessly poured from Li Qi's body.