Chapter 521: Chapter 522 The Ancient Family of Aolai Country
The speaker was an elder from the Dongfang Family, his eyes full of disdain as he looked upon the Situ Household’s entourage as if they were flies, a clear look of disgust on his face.

“Truly nauseating, to encounter cultivators from the Situ Household here of all places, completely ruining my good mood!”

“Exactly, you don’t seem like you’re here to celebrate a birthday, more like you’re here to pick a fight. Today is a joyful day, don’t be an eyesore—get out of here quickly!”

An elder leading the Nangong Family, known for his fiery temper, launched into a tirade against the Situ Household.

The cultivators of the Beichen Family looked indifferent, staring coldly at Uncle Ying and the others, uttering just one word.

“Scram!”

“Hehe, so the major aristocratic families are also here to offer birthday congratulations. It seems, esteemed elders, that you are well-acquainted with the Zong Family?”

Uncle Ying’s face was iron blue, as grim as if he had swallowed a fly, but he still managed to squeeze out a smile and asked.

Not expecting to run into his arch-enemy here, what exactly had they come for?

To say it was to wish Lady Zong a happy birthday, he wouldn’t believe it for a second.

“Or else what, do we need to tell you about our relationship with the Zong Family?”

“Stop smiling, you—you look hideous when you smile!”

The elder from the Nangong Family, known for his explosive temper, opened his mouth and began a wave of furious scolding, as if he found every part of Uncle Ying irritating.

Uncle Ying’s chest heaved violently as he struggled to calm his emotions; these old fellows’ mouths were too malicious.

Everyone was supposed to be cultured individuals—when had such vulgar insults become commonplace?

It was as if they were common fishwives quarreling in the streets!

But he simply couldn’t retort; he was a person of status, and to curse back like these old men would be beneath him.

Luckily he didn’t voice his thoughts, as if the other families knew what he was thinking, they’d likely curse him out even more viciously.

“Ahem, esteemed elders, as a junior, I’m here today on behalf of the Situ Household to wish Lady Zong a happy birthday. On this joyful day, can we set aside past displeasures for the time being?”

Situ Renjie stepped out from the carriage, straightened his clothes, and smiled slightly.

“Who do you think you are? I was talking to your Uncle Ying, where do you get off interrupting?”

“The Situ Household is still the same Situ Household, with no manners at all, any Tom, Dick or Harry thinking they can just come up and talk to us. Kid, if you’re thinking of leeching off our presence, forget it!”

“Exactly, just a Transcendance Tribulation Stage waste—hurry up and scram, don’t be an eyesore!”

As soon as Situ Renjie spoke, all the elders from the families glared, their gazes suddenly sharp, pressing so heavily on Situ Renjie that his breathing stalled, and he stepped back twice, his face flushing red to his ears.

His fists clenched tight, he was the second son of the Situ Household, the future pillar of the family; when had he ever been humiliated like this?

It was because of this that he loathed the cultivators from the line of the Great Family Head, who didn’t care about connections, recognizing people only based on strength.

“Elders, this is a bit much. Attacking a junior cultivator—is this how you show your face?”

“We’re all here to offer birthday wishes; there’s no need to make things difficult for each other, is there?”

Uncle Ying’s expression darkened completely as he spoke evenly.

“Enough, Tianlao, we’re here to wish Lady Zong a happy birthday. Let’s not concern ourselves with these vermin.”

From inside the official’s palanquin, a cold woman’s voice came out.

“Understood, miss, let’s go in.”

The elder with the explosive temper bowed slightly, saying respectfully.

“Vermin?”

Situ Renjie felt like his lungs would explode from rage. It was one thing for the respected elders of the older generation to insult him, but for this younger generation member of another family to so blatantly disregard him as well—it was unbearable. All at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage, none more precious than the other, this woman was truly full of herself.

Situ Renjie’s eyes flashed with cold light as his anger could not be contained.

Nangong Wan, sooner or later, I will have you whine and whimper on the bed!

“Let’s head in as well, the gates are open; it seems they’re welcoming us, and their manners are quite in place.”

The other families remarked as well.

“Manners in place?”

“Don’t blame me for not warning you, but this Zong Family is intentionally trying to give us a cold reception. Just now, none came to greet us after we announced our households, clearly intending to dampen our spirits!”

Uncle Ying snorted coldly, and since the other party was rude, he didn’t bother to put on a pleasant face either.

Yet, as soon as these words were spoken, the people from the major families looked at him as if he were a fool.

“Uncle Ying, are you alright? The doors of Li Mansion are wide open, which clearly means they are inviting us in. Why are you waiting for someone to come and receive you?”

“Is the Situ Household’s face that big?”

From the palanquin of the Dongfang Family, a young man burst out laughing.

“Indeed, with no disciples guarding the front, it seems they’re all attending Lady Zong’s birthday. Such loyal and filial people indicate that the entire mansion is united in spirit, which is commendable.”

“In contrast, Uncle Ying seems to want these disciples to bear the infamy of disloyalty and come out to greet the Situ Household’s cultivators. The one lacking manners, I’m afraid, would be Uncle Ying?”

In her palanquin, Nangong Wan chuckled softly, her laughter ringing like silver bells, grating to the ears of all who heard her.

“Moreover, Young Master Situ’s palanquin is of shoddy workmanship, a poor imitation at best. It’s clear at a glance and it is fatally misleading. If you can’t afford a better one, don’t force yourself into pretending. There are some circles you just can’t squeeze into.”

Nangong Wan spoke sharply, her words making Situ Renjie’s face turn green and then white, almost overcome with a fury that consumed him.

“Alright, Nangong sister, the Situ Household is notorious for having thick skin. No matter what you say, they won’t feel ashamed. Let’s focus on the task at hand!”

A handsome young cultivator emerged from the crowd and led the people of the Dongfang Family into the mansion.

“Uncle Ying, what should we do?”

Watching the figures of the other guests entering the mansion, Situ Renjie turned to Uncle Ying, wondering if there was any point in continuing to wait when such prestigious families had already walked in with no protest.

“What else can we do, go in, of course!”

“Remember, don’t be intimidated by those old fogies. We came here today to do what needs to be done. These stubborn forces will have to be swept away sooner or later!” Uncle Ying spoke coldly.

…

Inside Li Mansion, in the main hall.

Several figures slowly entered the hall.

“Today, hearing it’s Lady Zong’s birthday, we from the major families have come especially to offer our congratulations!”

“My Dongfang Family has little else to offer but a Thousand-Year Fire Lingzhi, wishing Lady Zong a long and prosperous life!”

“My Nangong Aristocratic Family doesn’t have much in terms of Spirit Stones, but here are twenty shops within the borders of Aolai Country, wishing the Zong Family’s wealth to flourish unceasingly!”

“My Beichen Family presents a set of wooden oxen and horses, to wish the Zong Family a smooth and unobstructed path ahead!”

The major families spoke in unison, their voices echoing through the hall.

Above the dais, Zongdao was somewhat stunned, not understanding what was happening. Wasn’t the Situ Household supposed to come for retribution? How did a group of big shots suddenly appear out of nowhere?

Dongfang, Beichen, Nangong are some of Aolai Country’s most ancient and significant families!

That they would all come together today to celebrate a birthday was something he found overwhelming, and turning his head, he looked at Li Xiaobai, who was smiling at the side, a shock going through him.

Could it be that all of this was arranged by Young Master Li?