Ji Linglong's words were simply baffling. No matter how you listened, they sounded off.
He quickly tried to salvage the situation, "Linglong, you shouldn't say things like that. I just wanted to introduce you to some outstanding individuals, not to have you serve drinks."
Ji Hongyue's face remained grim, his expression as cold as ice. Ji Qing was so scared he didn't dare to breathe.
At this moment, Ji Chen stepped forward to add fuel to the fire, feigning concern, "Father, please calm down. Brother must have had too much to drink. He even had a quarrel with Leng Sect Master's top disciple earlier and almost attacked Brother Lin."
Ji Qing was instantly enraged and glared at Ji Chen, "Ji Chen, you..."
Before Ji Qing could finish his sentence, Ji Hongyue slapped him across the face.
Ji Qing was left stunned by the slap.
Before he could react, Ji Hongyue roared, "This is outrageous! Chief Eunuch, expel him from the hall and confine him to his residence for a month! He is not allowed to go anywhere!"
The chief eunuch beside Ji Hongyue immediately complied, sighing as he approached Ji Qing.
"Eldest Prince, today is the birthday banquet. How could you cause such a scene? Let me take you back."
With that, he hoisted Ji Qing onto his shoulder and disappeared in an instant.
This eunuch was also a top-tier expert.
Ji Qing was thus taken away, utterly humiliated, and now even more disfavored by his father. This incident had unnecessarily increased the difficulty of his struggle for the throne.
Back at his residence, Ji Qing was so furious that he nearly smashed the entire place.
With Ji Qing gone, the banquet continued.
Ji Hongyue returned, and the princes resumed their seats.
Ji Tongyin and Ji Linglong also bid farewell to Lin Jichen and returned to their seats.
Without Ji Qing's interruption, Lin Jichen continued to eat heartily.
When he finally couldn't eat any more, he reluctantly stopped.
But then Lin Jichen suddenly said something shocking.
"Hey, beautiful, could you bring me another serving of the dishes and wine? I want to take them to go."
Even after he was full, he didn't forget to ask the palace maid to pack some food to take to Ren Lan and Jiang Luoyu.
It's better to share joy than to enjoy it alone.
Asking for a takeaway after a banquet? Such a bizarre request made everyone laugh.
Even Ji Hongyue and the Empress couldn't help but chuckle.
But the Empress graciously instructed the palace maid to follow Lin Jichen's request without any disdain.
After the banquet, Ji Hongyue stood up and smiled at everyone, "Thank you all for attending my birthday banquet and for the gifts from each sect. As a token of appreciation, I have prepared a gift for all the young people here."
Ji Hongyue's words piqued the curiosity of all the sect disciples.
The sect leaders laughed and clasped their hands in thanks to Ji Hongyue.
Led by the palace maids, the group passed through the grand hall, winding corridors, and arrived at a mysterious temple.
The temple was surrounded by armored guards, with many experts hidden in the shadows.
Each of these armored guards was at least at the Golden Core Realm.
This made everyone curious about what was inside.
Ji Hongyue stepped forward and smiled, "This is the most secret place of the Hidden Dragon Royal Family, the Scripture Repository. It contains all our secret techniques and core techniques."
Everyone was shocked.
Before they could react, Ji Hongyue's sleeve billowed, and he grabbed at the air with his left hand!
A mysterious stone tablet flew out from the pavilion.
The tablet floated above everyone's heads, spinning without wind.
When they looked at it, they found it blurry and mysterious.
Moments later, the tablet landed and stood before everyone.
"This is the Hidden Dragon Tablet. It records many of our secret techniques and core techniques, ranging from Spirit Grade to Heavenly Grade. Each sect disciple can step forward and place their hand on it to randomly receive a technique suitable for them. What grade of technique you get depends on your luck."
Upon hearing this, all the sect elites' eyes lit up.
Heavenly Grade techniques? This was extraordinary.
Even as Inner Temple elites or Sect Master's disciples, they rarely had the chance to learn such techniques.
Now, with a free opportunity, it was like a pie falling from the sky.
The sect leaders and elders smiled, knowing that Ji Hongyue wasn't this generous without reason.
They had agreed to cooperate with Ji Hongyue against the demons in the earlier meeting, which was why he was being so magnanimous.
Soon, the first brave soul stepped forward, an Inner Temple disciple of the Fist Sect, Fang Feifeng.
He walked up to the tablet and lightly touched it with his hand.
Moments later, a secret manual appeared in Fang Feifeng's hand, titled: Spirit Grade Martial Arts Technique - Gale Fist Force.
He looked disappointed, and the sect leader behind him also showed a hint of regret.
After all, it was free, and he hoped his disciple could get something good. Better to have it than not.
"Thank you, Emperor Ji." Fang Feifeng thanked him and returned to the sect leader's side.
Next up was Zhang Chang from the Saber Sect. He placed his hand on the tablet.
Moments later, a secret manual appeared in his hand: Mysterious Grade Core Technique - Purple Sky Saber Scripture.
Not bad, Zhang Chang smiled and thanked him.
One by one, disciples stepped forward to touch the tablet, receiving various secret techniques and core techniques.
There were Spirit Grade, Mysterious Grade, and even someone lucky enough to get an Earth Grade!
From core techniques to martial arts techniques, spirit skills, and ultimate techniques, there was a wide variety.
But no one got a Heavenly Grade technique.
This made everyone wonder if there were any Heavenly Grade techniques at all.
Could Ji Hongyue be bluffing? After all, he had no reason to be so generous.
Heavenly Grade techniques were treasures that any sect would guard jealously. Who would give them away for free?
What they didn't know was that Ji Hongyue had indeed placed one.
But he had deliberately put it at the very bottom of the tablet, making it nearly impossible for anyone to get.
After everyone had their turn, he would open the tablet to prove that he had indeed included it, perfectly silencing any doubts.
This scheme was flawless!
Ji Hongyue couldn't help but praise himself as a genius.
Gradually, fewer people went up to touch the tablet.
Only one person remained.
He had deliberately stayed at the back, knowing that the best items were likely at the end. The more people went before him, the higher his chances of getting something valuable.
So he stood there calmly, watching.
Ji Hongyue saw this and thought Lin Jichen was someone who had seen the world, nodding in approval. As expected of Leng Sect Master's disciple, he was composed.
"Young Hero Lin, you're the last one," Ji Hongyue invited with a smile.
Lin Jichen stepped forward.
Ji Tongyin and Ji Linglong quietly cheered him on.
Lin Jichen looked at the tablet, took a deep breath, silently prayed, and then placed his hand on it!
The tablet began to stir.
In the next moment, instead of a book, a jade slip appeared in Lin Jichen's hand.
Seeing the jade slip, Ji Hongyue's heart skipped a beat...