One person: After starting with the academic atmosphere, I'll take down Xia He!

Upon hearing Feng Baobao's suggestion to Ma Long to seal his mouth shut, Wang Zhenqiu cried out.

"No, sister!"

Go easy on him.

Ma Long thought Feng Baobao's suggestion was excellent. This scoundrel was too annoying, and it was reasonable to teach him a lesson.

"The character '兑' is a dark, sticky blob!"

The energy ball that Ma Long released turned into a black, sticky substance, just as he described.

It flew straight into Wang Zhenqiu's mouth.

"Waaaaah~ Waaaaah!"

The surroundings fell silent instantly, with only Wang Zhenqiu's sobs audible.

He couldn't swallow, chew, or spit out this lump of stuff, but it kept his mouth shut, and the effect was excellent.

After putting away the shovel and bucket, Feng Baobao said earnestly, "Let's go eat!"

Ma Long nodded, and the group of eight happily went to the central palace.

Only the planted Wang Zhenqiu was left.

……

As soon as Ma Long stepped into the central palace, he noticed someone with his back to him who looked very familiar.

He wore a bright red cotton jacket embroidered with a Tai Chi symbol. His bald head was shiny and oily, and his skin was grayish-brown due to his age and the resulting pigmentation.

Isn't this Master Kui'er?

He arrived early enough; at that moment, Chen Jinkui was chatting happily with the two people opposite him.

To his left was Feng Zhenghao, the leader of the World Society, and to his right was Lü Ci of the Lü family, who had a scar on his face and a cold expression.

The huge long table was only occupied by the three of them; the other attendants had all gone elsewhere.

Malone glanced around, but without much thought, he noticed that there was a long table available, so he led everyone to sit down.

The eight people, each with a different appearance, entered the hall, attracting the attention of many people, including Lü Ci.

Chen Jinkui also turned his gaze towards Ma Long, and the moment he saw Ma Long, he immediately stood up and quickly ran to Ma Long's side.

He straightened his clothes and was about to speak, but then he noticed that there were many people around, so he took a deep breath and slowly clasped his hands in greeting before speaking.

"Young Master Long, how have you been?"

Happy Chinese New Year!

Ma Long thought to himself that Chen Jinkui still knew his limits, and clasped his hands in return, saying, "Thanks to Master Kui'er's blessing!"

Happy Chinese New Year!

Lu Ci, who was sitting behind, also slowly got up and began to walk towards Ma Long.

Given Lü Ci's seniority, his approach to a junior drew the attention of everyone present.

Including Zhuge Qing, Lu Lin, and Lu Linglong!

A smile crept onto Lü Ci's fierce, scarred face, smoothing out the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth.

"Young Master Long, I am slow to move and have not come to pay my respects and gifts to you. Please forgive me!"

Lu Ci was known for his outrageous statements, and his words stunned everyone present. Even Chen Jinkui and Feng Zhenghao looked at Lu Ci with the same puzzlement.

Malone's brain was forced to start spinning at high speed: 'Damn, I knew it would be this troublesome.'

I'd rather not eat this meal at all.

What does Old Lu mean by this? Is he deliberately trying to flatter and mislead me?

If I agree to this old man's request, will he turn on me?

If I don't agree, will this old mad dog say I'm ungrateful?

In front of so many people, you old dog, you're trying to put me in a difficult position!

After thinking it over and over again, Ma Long organized his thoughts and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Grandpa Lü."

You're joking. It's only right that I, as the younger generation, should be the one to wish you a Happy New Year.

Unfortunately, I was simply too busy to be in two places at once, so I spent the last two days at Longhu Mountain with the Old Celestial Master.

Therefore, I apologize for any neglect I may have shown you!

Upon hearing the words "Old Celestial Master," Lü Ci's sharp, knife-like wrinkles immediately softened.

Lü Ci nodded with a rare smile: "Hahaha!"

I was just being stubborn, so I have no reason to criticize you.

Come sit here, let's talk for a while.

Lu Ci smiled broadly and pulled Ma Long to sit at another table.

Malone had no choice but to follow him: 'Damn, I'm here to eat.'

Why can't we talk about this after we finish eating?

Ma Long sat down to Lü Ci's left, waiting somewhat nervously for the meal to begin.

Chen Jinkui tried to speak, but after smacking his lips, he couldn't say anything.

Lu Ci thought for a while but couldn't find a topic either, so he casually asked, "Is the Old Celestial Master doing well?"

Ma Long nodded: "Yes, he is doing well."

After Lü Ci nodded, the four of them fell silent again.

At that moment, a bright red-clad young man walked in from outside and immediately clashed with Ma Long upon entering.

Hong Bin was overjoyed. He ran a few steps and came to Ma Long's left side, where he plopped down on the stool.

"Young Master Long, you're here early!"

Hasn't the food been served yet? This...

Hong Bin was speaking when he suddenly noticed a pair of big, round eyes staring at him.

Sending chills down his spine, Hong Bin immediately turned his head to look. Across the long table stood a bald middle-aged man. This... wasn't this Chen Jinkui, one of the Ten Masters?

Hong Bin's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked past Ma Long toward his right.

Lü Ci and Feng Zhenghao?

Holy crap! Hong Bin was so startled that he immediately stood up. Apart from Ma Long, everyone at the table was one of the Ten Elders.

He dared not stay here: "Young Master Long, I'm going to the next table!"

……

Before long, it was time to eat. One classic dish after another was served, with all kinds of delicacies from land and sea.

Malone glanced at the three people seated there, then at the dishes on the table; 'Screw it.'

I'll eat first as a sign of respect!

There were fewer people at this table, so no one was competing with me for the food.

He made up his mind and nodded slightly to Lü Ci. Lü Ci was a little puzzled, but nodded symbolically as well.

Ma Long started eating, indulging in a frenzy that ruined the elaborately plated dishes.

Upon seeing this scene for the first time, Lü Ci was taken aback, then laughed and said, "Hahaha!"

Great, it's good to be unrestrained.

I imagine you were probably the same way when you were your age!

We never had such a lavish meal back then; everyone was scrambling to eat it.

That is, the chubby boy from the Wang family usually lives a better life.

Ma Long ignored him and continued eating, as talking is the worst thing you can do during the first stage of eating solid food.

As Lü Ci was still reminiscing about the past, a slow, aged voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.

"It happened so many years ago, why bring it up again!"

Back then, families were well-off, so it was normal to give children more good food!

As the sound came, a group of more than a dozen people walked in through the entrance of the hall.

They all stood tall and proud, putting on an air of arrogance.

The leader was a fat old man leaning on a jade cane. Although he had a smile on his face, the sinister look on his face was chilling.

To the old man's left was none other than Wang Bing, the undisputed number one on the contemporary list of births in the world of supernatural beings!

Wang Ai, leaning on his cane, looked at everyone present. He smiled and nodded in return to each person who clasped their hands in greeting.

After a moment, Wang Ai spoke to the people behind her, saying, "Please find a place to sit."

"Bing'er, come with me to the main table!"

The "main table" he referred to was naturally the table where Lü Ci and the others were currently sitting.

Lu Ci also disliked Wang Bing, feeling that he was inhuman, and remained silent with a gloomy expression.