Chapter 419 - 290: Tests and Overtures at the Banquet, Cultivation Advancement
The sightseeing cart glided silently to a stop before a brightly lit, three-story main building.
An elderly man in a crisp butler’s uniform was already waiting by the entrance and respectfully opened the cart’s door.
"Mr. Han, welcome."
"Brother Han, this way, please. My grandfather and the others are already waiting."
Su Jian was full of enthusiasm, personally leading the way with an exceedingly humble posture.
Just as Han Feng stepped into the Entryway, he saw a graceful and elegant middle-aged woman approach to greet him. There was a strong resemblance to Su Jian in her features.
"You must be Han Feng. Please, come in. I’m always hearing Yunxi and Muxue talk about you. You’re such a fine, handsome young man."
The woman’s smile was warm and kind. She was Su Jian and Su Yunxi’s mother.
To one side, another woman with an equally distinguished but more reserved temperament also smiled and nodded in greeting.
Standing beside her was a young man of about twenty, who was curiously sizing up Han Feng.
"Han Feng, this is my Second Mother, and this is my younger brother, Su Ming," Su Jian introduced from the side.
Han Feng nodded to each of them in greeting. His attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, but perfectly appropriate.
Just then, the sound of footsteps drifted down from the staircase.
Su Yunxi had changed into a moon-white dress, its hem adorned with fine, glittering silver specks that made her skin seem whiter than snow.
She wore light makeup that made her look pure and otherworldly. However, her eyes darted away when she saw Han Feng. She took small steps to her mother’s side and quietly murmured, "Brother Han."
Following right behind her was Su Muxue. She had changed into a sleek, silver-white gown with a clean cut that perfectly accentuated her tall, slender figure.
Her long hair was tied back, revealing a smooth forehead and a swan-like neck, giving her an air of cool competence.
She walked up to Han Feng, her gaze direct, and gave a slight nod.
"Han Feng, welcome to our home."
"Let’s not all just stand here. Please, take your seats. The Old Master is waiting in the dining room," Madam Su said with a smile, ushering everyone along.
The Su Family’s banquet was held in an elegant, Chinese-style dining room, where a massive, round mahogany table could easily seat twenty.
However, only a handful of place settings—fewer than ten—were arranged near the head of the table, making the occasion feel grand without being overly sparse.
At the head of the table sat an elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair, yet he was hale and full of vigor. He wore a dark Tang suit, and his gaze was profound, radiating a natural authority.
Though he just sat there quietly, he was the natural center of attention.
This was the pillar of the Su Family, Su Zhen.
"Grandfather, this is Han Feng, Brother Han," Su Jian introduced respectfully.
Han Feng took a step forward and bowed slightly. "Mr. Su."
Su Zhen raised his eyes, carefully studying the young man before him.
A calm face, a sharp gaze, and an aura restrained to the absolute limit.
If you hadn’t seen it for yourself, you would never connect him with the monster who had slain a Grandmaster in the middle of the street.
"Good. A fine young hero indeed."
Su Zhen spoke slowly, his voice sonorous. "There’s no need for formality. Sit. You saved Yunxi, which makes you an honored guest of the Su Family."
The banquet began in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. The dishes weren’t elaborate, but every single one was a treasure that would be priceless on the open market.
There was a thick soup simmered from the Fish Swim Bladder of a Tier Two Ice Crystal Fish, a side dish of stir-fried Tier Two Spirit Plant ’Jade Bamboo Shoots’, and the main staple was steamed ’Golden Grain Rice’, which contained immense Vitality.
"Brother Han, try this."
Su Jian enthusiastically pushed a plate of sliced, crimson fish toward Han Feng.
"This fish was just brought back from the Arctic Icefield. The meat is exceptionally tender."
Without any ceremony, Han Feng picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.
It melted the moment it entered his mouth. A warm current slid down his throat into his stomach, then transformed into pure Energy that spread throughout his entire body.
For someone like him who had already reached Enlightenment, this bit of Energy was negligible, but the taste was superb, and it required no effort to refine.
"It’s good," Han Feng commented before turning his full attention to the food in his bowl. He had always been pragmatic about eating. ’This is good stuff, and it would be a waste not to eat my fill.’
The atmosphere at the banquet was very congenial.
Madam Su continuously placed more food on Han Feng’s plate, asking about his life at school while also subtly probing about his family and whether he had a girlfriend.
Sitting beside her mother, Su Yunxi wanted to strike up a conversation with Han Feng several times.
But every time she saw his placid expression, the words would die on her lips, and she could only blush, lower her head, and nibble at her food.
"School is fine, quite busy," Han Feng replied, his answers watertight. "I’m currently single. My main focus is on my projects and Cultivation."
Hearing the word "single," the smile on Madam Su’s face grew wider, and she even gave Su Yunxi a subtle nudge.
Su Yunxi’s face instantly flushed crimson all the way to her ears. She lowered her head even further, wishing she could just bury it in her bowl.
"Mom, stop interrogating him. Let Brother Han eat in peace."
Su Jian, unable to watch any longer, laughingly came to the rescue. Then, he changed the subject and looked toward his grandfather.
"Grandfather, you have no idea. Brother Han showed off an incredible skill this afternoon."
Su Zhen set down his chopsticks and asked with great interest:
"Oh? And what was that?"
Su Jian put down his wine cup, his face alight with excitement:
"You know my Wind Thunder Spear? Remember how Master Ouyang and Master Tie Hong couldn’t solve the Energy conflict issue?
Well, Brother Han spent just twenty minutes on it, didn’t even swap any parts, just casually tinkered with it a bit, and the Energy conductivity increased by at least thirty percent!"
"What?!"
This time, even Su Muxue looked astonished. ’Who were Ouyang Zhen and Tie Hong?’
They were the titans of the East Sea City Artifact Refining Realm, the Su Family’s own chief Craftsmen.
’A problem that left even them helpless was solved by Han Feng in twenty minutes?’
’This wasn’t just genius—this was monstrous!’