48: Chapter 48 A banquet is never a good banquet; danger lurks everywhere.

The second floor of Wangjiang Tower had long since been cleared.

Inside the massive hall, only a single round table was set.

Delicacies from land and sea were brought out like a flowing stream.

Fragrant, fine wine filled every cup.

Town Mayor Zhao Hong sat at the head of the table, wearing an incredibly warm smile, as if all previous unpleasantness had vanished into thin air.

"Brother Gu, your presence truly brings splendor to my humble Wangjiang Tower!"

He raised his wine cup, lowering his posture significantly, "Some days ago, my son was ill-mannered and caused much offense. Today, I shall use this humble cup of wine to apologize to you on his behalf!"

As he spoke, he actually stood up, offered a distant toast to Gu Yan, and drained his cup in one gulp.

Town Mayors Son, sitting beside him, still wore a look of reluctance, but under his fathers stern gaze, he unwillingly stood up, raised his cup, and mumbled, "Gu... Senior Gu, previously... it was my fault."

The father and son played their parts in perfect harmony, acting out what seemed like a sincere "apology for past wrongs."

Gu Yan also wore a faint smile on his face.

He likewise raised his wine cup and returned the toast, "Town Mayor Zhao Hong, you speak too seriously. Friction between juniors is a common occurrence; it is fine once talked through. How could I, Gu, be the type of person to haggle over such trifles?"

The two smiled at each other, seemingly in perfect harmony.

It was as if all grievances had truly vanished into thin air within this cup of wine.

Only Liu Ruyan, sitting beside Gu Yan, acutely felt what surging undercurrents were hidden beneath this hypocritical peace.

Her hand, clutching Gu Yans arm, tightened involuntarily, and beads of sweat seeped from her palms.

Three rounds of wine had passed, and the dishes had been tasted.

Town Mayor Zhao Hong finally stopped beating around the bush. He set down his wine cup and remarked with a tone of extreme envy, "Brother Gu, to be honest, I truly admire you. In just a few short months, you have been reborn and stepped onto the path of immortality. Now, relying on your superb Alchemy skills, you earn vast amounts of wealth daily and have become a living immortal revered by everyone in Luoyun Town. Such an Opportunity, such methods—they truly make us mere mortals feel like we cannot keep up!"

Gu Yan just smiled without speaking, sipping the fine wine in his cup on his own.

"Luoyun Town is, after all, a shallow pond with small waters, unable to trap a real Dragon like you, brother."

Town Mayor Zhao Hong finally revealed his true colors, "However, our two families are both pillars of this town. If we could cooperate sincerely and develop together, wouldnt that be a wonderful story? You, brother, manage the Medicinal Pill business, and my Town Mayors Office will provide you with all convenience and protection. As for the profits, our two families can split them equally. What do you think?"

These words sounded high-sounding and honorable, but in reality, he just wanted to seize half of the Gu Family profits without drawing a blade.

Gu Yan still did not answer directly.

He just leisurely picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks for Liu Ruyan beside him and said gently, "Eat more. Your constitution is cold, and this Fire Qilin fish meat is the best supplement."

His movements were calm and unhurried, as if he had not heard Town Mayor Zhao Hongs words at all.

Liu Ruyan felt the mans palm gently pat the back of her hand. That calmness was transmitted through his body temperature, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, inexplicably settled down much more.

This disregard from Gu Yan made the faces of Town Mayor Zhao Hong and Town Mayors Son turn somewhat ugly.

But Gu Yans Divine Sense had already spread out silently like an invisible tide. In an instant, it had thoroughly probed the entire Town Mayors Office, inside and out.

Ambushed on the rooftops were thirty-six archers, each with a steady aura, clearly elite soldiers. The heavy crossbows in their hands were already strung, and the arrowheads were coated with a potent poison that emitted a fishy, sweet scent to his spiritual perception.

Hidden behind the rockeries and shadows of the courtyard were three powerful auras. Two at the Peak of Qi Refining Stage 7, and one... at Level 8 Qi Refining! Those three auras were each distinct: one cold and sinister like a snake, one heavy like a mountain, and another tyrannical like fire.

And beneath his feet, under this seemingly ordinary ground, a massive and complex Formation was slowly operating, emitting waves of obscure energy that shrouded the entire Wangjiang Tower!

What a grand gesture!

It seems this Town Mayor Zhao Hong is determined to keep him here today.

"Gu Yan!"

Town Mayors Son, seeing his father so ignored, could finally no longer contain himself. He slammed the table and stood up!

"My father is discussing this with you nicely, dont be ungrateful!" He glared at Gu Yan, his eyes filled with resentment and jealousy, "Today, if you are sensible, hand over the secret obediently! Otherwise..."

"Tianhao! Do not be rude!" Town Mayor Zhao Hong shouted lowly, interrupting his sons words.

He looked at Gu Yan, who was still serving food to Liu Ruyan and had not even lifted his eyelids, and the smile on his face slowly, bit by bit, faded away.

In its place was an icy, gloomy expression.

He knew that the other party was... refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.

Since that was the case... then there was nothing left to talk about.

Gu Yan finally put down his chopsticks.

He raised his head and wiped his mouth leisurely with a napkin.

Then, he looked at Town Mayor Zhao Hong and said the last sentence of the night with a smile.

"Town Mayor Zhao Hong."

"Your wine is not bad."

"It is a pity..."

"The food is a bit lacking."

Town Mayor Zhao Hongs pupils contracted sharply!

He knew that the other party had already seen through everything!

He no longer hesitated in the slightest! The muscles on his face twisted in a hideous manner, and that feigned elegance vanished completely!

He grabbed the bronze wine cup on the table that he had already wiped countless times!

Then, using all his strength, he smashed it fiercely onto the ground!

Clang!!!!!!!

An incredibly crisp shattering sound suddenly rang out!

This sound was like an order, a switch, instantly tearing apart all the hypocritical peace at the banquet!

And it also signaled... the general attack!

Crash!

Just at the moment the wine cup shattered!

The heavy decorative screens surrounding the banquet hall were kicked to pieces from the outside by brute force!

Dozens of elite guards holding sharp blades and wearing armor surged in frantically from all directions like a tide! Their movements were uniform, instantly forming small battle Formations, blades and shields combined, filled with Killing Intent!

On the rafters and in the courtyard, the archers who had been lying in ambush for a long time also appeared one after another, drawing their bows and nocking arrows. The arrowheads, flickering with a ghostly blue light, were aimed in unison at Gu Yan and Liu Ruyan in the center of the banquet!

At the same time, three incredibly powerful figures appeared like ghosts at three positions in the hall. Together with Town Mayor Zhao Hong, whose aura was surging at the head of the table, they vaguely formed a four-cornered Formation, completely sealing off all of Gu Yans retreat routes!

An aura of extreme, solemn Killing Intent instantly shrouded the entire Wangjiang Tower!

Boom!

The ground beneath their feet shook violently!

A screen of earth-yellow light, composed of countless runes, soared into the sky from the ground, forming a massive, inverted bowl that completely shrouded the entire Wangjiang Tower!

Earth Net Formation, activate!

A net of heaven and earth had already been cast!

Town Mayor Zhao Hong slowly stood up. There was no longer any warmth or disguise on his face, only the hideousness and madness of having revealed his true intentions!

He looked at Gu Yan, who was still sitting calmly at the table, even having the leisure to pour a cup of tea for the woman beside him, and his voice sounded as if it came from the Nine Netherworlds.

"Gu Yan!"

"Today, this place shall be your..."

"Burial ground!"