Chapter 214: Lord Son-in-law

The translucent curtain of spiritual silk shielding the upper balcony rippled once before silently withdrawing into the white-marble pillars. As the last traces of spiritual light faded, the private gallery overlooking the banquet hall was laid bare before the countless cultivators gathered below.

Ye Jun stepped forward first.

Leaving the shadows of the upper corridor behind, he emerged into the brilliant glow cast by thousands of spirit lanterns suspended beneath the vast invisible dome.

His tall, broad frame carried the deep-indigo ceremonial robes of the Northern Hegemony with effortless authority. Frost-glyphs embroidered in silver thread stretched across his shoulders and sleeves, glimmering softly beneath the light while lending him the quiet dignity expected of the Song Clan’s newest pillar.

Beside him, Song Liangxue matched his pace without the slightest hesitation.

Her sweeping ice-blue gown flowed gracefully over the polished stone beneath her feet, each measured step elegant without appearing forced. A glaciated jade crown rested atop her dark hair, reflecting the pale radiance of the hall in delicate flashes of blue-white light.

Her expression remained calm as ever, beautiful yet distant, carrying the regal composure that had long earned her the admiration, and caution, of the younger generation throughout the Northern State.

Standing side by side, they presented a striking contrast.

Ye Jun’s presence was steady and immovable, like a towering mountain that had weathered countless storms without yielding.

Song Liangxue embodied the stillness of eternal frost, graceful and untouchable.

Together, they formed an image that immediately drew every gaze within the hall.

Not far behind them, Meihui remained where she was, concealed within the shadows of the upper corridor.

She had no intention of descending alongside them.

Tonight belonged to Ye Jun and Song Liangxue. This banquet marked the Northern Hegemony’s formal introduction of its future generation before the continent’s foremost powers. Were she to appear beside them now, the inevitable speculation regarding her own position within the Song Clan would only distract from the message the clan wished to convey.

She quietly closed her iron-ribbed scholar’s fan with a crisp snap and folded her hands behind her back, watching the pair with a faint smile.

’Go on,’ she thought. ’The stage is yours.’

Without another word, Ye Jun and Song Liangxue began descending the broad ironstone staircase.

Their footsteps echoed softly throughout the immense hall.

The effect was immediate.

The subdued conversations filling the banquet floor gradually faded before vanishing altogether. One after another, heads turned toward the staircase. Imperial princes, sect elders, merchant lords, clan patriarchs, foreign envoys, and the younger generation of every major power instinctively raised their eyes toward the descending pair.

Within moments, the grand hall had fallen into complete silence.

Every person present had heard the rumors. The mysterious youth who had survived heavenly lightning. The outsider who had married into the Song Clan. The man whom the previous Patriarch of Song Clan had personally acknowledged.

Many had come solely to judge whether those rumors had been exaggerated.

Now, they finally had the opportunity.

Almost simultaneously, invisible waves of perception spread across the hall.Divine senses surged outward. Soul arts quietly unfolded.

Hidden perception arrays embedded within rings, robes, and jade pendants activated one after another as cultivators from every direction sought to examine Ye Jun’s true foundation before he reached the banquet floor.

Some wished to gauge his cultivation. Others wished to inspect his dantian to know if it was any different after surviving Nine Tribulations. A few also attempted to probe the strength of his physique.

The more cautious among the older generation refrained from such discourtesy, merely observing with narrowed eyes. The younger geniuses, however, possessed no such restraint. Pride and curiosity drove them to seize the initiative.

Ye Jun noticed every one of them as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He neither circulated his Qi nor raised a defensive barrier. He didn’t need to.

Instead, he quietly awakened the strength of his Qi-Tempered Physique. At the same time, his Soul Sense settled around his body like an invisible membrane extending scarcely half an inch beyond his skin.

There was no dazzling display, no overwhelming burst of pressure, yet the space surrounding him became impossibly solid, as though an invisible mountain had quietly settled around his body.

The first probing technique reached him and It shattered the instant it touched that unseen boundary.

Then another.

And another.

Crack.

Crack.

Crack.

A series of crisp fractures echoed faintly throughout the southern seating area as several young masters stiffened abruptly.

One’s expression paled as his Soul Sense recoiled violently, forcing him to steady himself against the edge of his table.

Another hurriedly severed the connection to his soul art before the backlash could spread further, only to discover that the technique had already collapsed on its own.

A third quietly wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his lips beneath the cover of his sleeve, pretending nothing had happened.

The surrounding cultivators immediately noticed.

"What happened?"

"My perception array collapsed."

"I never even reached him."

"Did he counterattack?"

"No... he didn’t move."

Whispers quietly spread through the surrounding tables.

Across the central northern seats, Grand Elder Mo of the Heavenly Frost Palace observed the scene without the slightest surprise. His weathered eyes remained fixed upon Ye Jun, a thoughtful smile slowly appearing beneath his neatly trimmed beard.

"So that’s how it is."

The elite disciples seated behind him exchanged puzzled glances.

One finally spoke, "Grand Elder... did he use some hidden defensive art?"

Mo slowly shook his head. "No. He didn’t defend himself at all."

Several disciples frowned. "Then why were their techniques broken?"

The old elder chuckled softly. "They were searching for Qi, but they chose the wrong target."

His gaze never left Ye Jun.

"A cultivator whose physique has reached a sufficiently terrifying level no longer requires conventional defenses. The density of his flesh, blood, and marrow alone is enough to disrupt weaker soul techniques before they can properly take hold."

One disciple drew in a quiet breath. "So the rumors are true..."

Grand Elder Mo nodded.

"The heavenly lightning did more than temper his meridians, it tempered the man."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "And look more carefully."

The disciples obeyed. At first, they noticed nothing unusual. Then...

One after another, their expressions changed.

Sword Intent.

It wasn’t erupting from Ye Jun, nor was he intentionally displaying it. Rather, it rested quietly within him, restrained yet unmistakably present, like a peerless blade sleeping peacefully inside its scabbard.

The realization instinctively caused several disciples to tighten their grip around their sword hilts out of instinct. Every swordsman recognized another.

Across the eastern flank of the hall, the representatives of the Ancient Unorthodox Sects also leaned forward with renewed interest.

The grand elders of Blood-Fiend Valley watched with openly amused expressions, their crimson robes carrying the faint metallic scent of fresh blood.

Beside them, the veiled representatives of Thousand-Face Pavilion observed through layers of illusion that obscured both their faces and their true cultivation.

"He broke every probing art without circulating Qi." One elder smiled faintly. "Interesting."

"More than interesting." Another tapped the armrest of his chair. "If the rumors surrounding him are true, he may become the greatest variable this generation has produced."

Not everyone viewed Ye Jun through the lens of cultivation.

Seated near the western marble arches, the leaders of the Myriad Commerce Chamber quietly observed the unfolding spectacle behind rows of glowing spiritual ledger crystals. Their attendants diligently recorded every notable exchange occurring within the hall.

The elderly chamber master stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Power changes more than battlefields." His advisors listened in silence. "If he truly rises...trade routes will shift...alliances will follow...and every major resource market across Xuanwu will move with the North."

One middle-aged merchant nodded slowly.

"In that case, our greatest investment tonight isn’t a spirit mine." His eyes settled upon Ye Jun. "It’s him."

Before anyone could respond, a soft chuckle drifted across the hall. The sound came from the eastern tables.

A young man clad in crimson robes leaned casually against his sandalwood chair, one hand lazily turning a jade wine cup between his fingers. His sharp eyes rested upon Ye Jun with unconcealed amusement.

"So..." His voice carried effortlessly through the silent hall. "This is the Song Clan’s celebrated Lord Son-in-law."

A number of orthodox disciples frowned. The title sounded respectful, buthe tone behind it was anything but that.

The Blood-Fiend disciple smiled wider. "I’ve heard quite a few stories these past few weeks. They say you endured heavenly lightning. They say your body rivals ancient beasts. They say the Northern Hegemony has found a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius."

He lightly swirled the wine within his cup before taking a leisurely sip.

"I expected someone... more impressive." His gaze sharpened. "A mountain may be large, but if it cannot move quickly enough, it merely becomes the easiest target on the battlefield."

He lowered the cup. "I wonder, does the Lord Son-in-law possess strength worthy of those rumors, or is he merely wearing robes too heavy for his shoulders?"