Reversing the Milky Way

As the actions of the man in black became visible to everyone, the cultivators sitting at the table stared at him in astonishment. They were surprised that the man in black had only released a small amount of spiritual energy, yet he had managed to keep the mechanism of the cauldron open for such a long time.

After the man in black's actions, none of the cultivators sitting there seemed to have any intention of making a move easily. After all, there was only one chance, and no one wanted to miss it.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall...

The view of the banquet outside is projected onto the top of a bead.

“Not bad! This person’s aptitude and comprehension are both excellent, not inferior to the genius disciples of our great families. However, what he is wearing seems to be a spiritual treasure that can shield him from others’ spiritual senses. I wonder if he is wearing it to escape pursuit. Moreover, the wooden box on his back does not look like an ordinary item.” The speaker was Feng Wuhen.

However, immediately afterward, Xu Yuanshan, the sect leader of the Overlord Blade Sect, looked at the projection outside and said, "Oh? Could it be that Sect Leader Feng has taken a liking to this person? However, judging from his calm and reserved personality, he doesn't seem like the demeanor of a scion of a local prominent family. Could he be a disciple of a cultivation family from elsewhere? Or perhaps he came from a sect to gain experience?"

Hearing Xu Yuanshan's words, Wu Daoling also spoke up: "Sect Leader Xu, it's best not to make wild guesses. Perhaps this person just doesn't like to show his face."

At this moment, Shiraki Gen, who was sitting in the main seat, interrupted the group.

"Alright, this person is wearing a magical artifact that can conceal his cultivation level. The power behind him should be no less than that of any of you present here. Let's put aside the matters outside for now. There is a special person who has also come to this banquet."

After speaking, Shiramu Gen stood up and then gestured for everyone present to look to one side.

A beautiful woman dressed in a purple dress slowly emerged from behind the screen. As her purple dress swayed gently, she resembled a violet blooming in the morning light, both mysterious and noble. Her face was as beautiful and ethereal as a fairy in a painting.

Behind the woman were two attendants dressed in dark black robes with a golden dragon pattern embroidered on them. Their cultivation levels were higher than most of the sect leaders and family heads of various forces present, reaching the late stage of the Meridian Opening Realm.

Upon witnessing this scene, almost everyone immediately stood up, cupped their hands, and said, "Greetings, Fourth Princess!"

Xia Qinglian smiled and gestured for everyone to sit down.

"Gentlemen, there is no need for such formalities. I am here on behalf of my father to attend the Bai family's Tonghai banquet."

After speaking, Xia Qinglian turned her head and looked at Bai Muxuan. Upon seeing this, Bai Muxuan also came to Xia Qinglian's side and said with an extremely solemn expression, "This time, taking advantage of the Bai family's banquet, I want to announce something to everyone present, that is, my Bai family will represent Baifeng City to fully assist the Fourth Princess in ascending to the throne."

Upon hearing Bai Muxuan's words, everyone in the hall looked at him with astonishment. Some of them showed fear, some looked strange, and some remained calm.

Because more than three hundred years have passed since the last royal succession struggle, and any aristocratic family that has experienced such a struggle has only two possible outcomes: first, the prince or princess they supported fails to seize the throne, and these families either disappear into the annals of history or cease to exist in the mountains and forests, with only a few surviving.

The second is that the princes and princesses they supported successfully ascended to the throne, and these forces soared to prominence, becoming important members of the royal family and receiving generous rewards.

Regardless of victory or defeat, the power he supports needs to hold a certain status and be able to provide full family support. Bai Muxuan's choice essentially binds the entire Bai family to Xia Qinglian; success means meteoric rise to power, while failure carries the risk of suppression by the new emperor, or even purging them entirely.

Upon hearing Bai Muxuan's words, Xue Chuan was the first to speak, while only he and Lin Qingyi showed little surprise upon hearing the news.

"Patriarch Bai, although your Bai family represents Baifeng City, how can you make a decision unilaterally without consulting with other major families and forces like us?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyi calmly added, "Patriarch Xue is right. Although you surpassed the heads of our two families two hundred years ago, it doesn't mean that all the aristocratic families in Baifeng City are involved in this royal struggle as you think. You should know that Baifeng City's peace over the past century is due to the joint efforts of all the major families within Baifeng City. Although you have broken through to the Tonghai realm today, it is inappropriate for you to make decisions on behalf of the entire Baifeng City on your own."

Upon hearing this, many people present turned their gazes to the two of them.

Upon hearing this, Bai Muxuan did not change his expression at all. He was already at odds with the old patriarchs of the Xue and Lin families, and the fact that neither of them attended his Tonghai banquet this time already showed their attitude.

"Although my grudges with the two old patriarchs date back two hundred years, we are now developing together in Baifeng City. I, Bai, have never let down the two families. Moreover, I said that my Bai family will represent Baifeng City to fully assist the Fourth Princess, but I did not mention you."

After speaking, Bai Muxuan looked calmly at the two people.

Upon hearing this, Xue Chuan felt displeased.

'That damned Bai Muxuan! He claims to be representing Baifeng City to assist the Fourth Princess, but doesn't that just make everyone think that all the forces within Baifeng City have already taken sides? He keeps saying it's none of our business, yet he's pushing us into a fire to be roasted.'

Upon realizing this, Xue Chuan exchanged a glance with Lin Qingyi. Not only that, but the other forces present also understood the meaning behind Bai Muxuan's words, and their expressions turned serious.

Although they cannot represent Baifeng City, they are all major forces within Baifeng City. It is impossible for them to be completely unrelated. Bai Muxuan's words declare that they are already in the same boat.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhentian cautiously observed the expressions on everyone's faces. He already knew about his father's decision, but he didn't know if it was right or wrong. He only knew that Bai Muxuan was very determined to reach the Tonghai Realm, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to reach an agreement with the Fourth Princess, allowing her to use the power of the National Seal to activate the power of the underground spiritual veins to help Bai Muxuan reach the Tonghai Realm. Now that his father had broken through to the Tonghai Realm, according to the agreement, the Bai family had to support the Fourth Princess's ascension to the throne.

When Bai Muxuan saw the serious expressions on the faces of some of the powerful families, he had already anticipated this situation. In fact, he could understand these families, after all, each of them had been developing in Baifeng City for over a hundred years. The Green Forest Sect had even existed when Baifeng City was still called Maple City, and had now been firmly established for five hundred years.

Although he hadn't witnessed the last royal succession struggle, he had heard about it from the Bai family's ancestors. At that time, almost half of the famous aristocratic families had declined, while some unknown small families rose to prominence and became famous and powerful families today. The most famous of these was the Qin family.

Thinking of this, Bai Muxuan immediately said, "I know that you are all unwilling to take risks with my Bai family, but I, Bai Muxuan, will not force you all to be on the same boat as my Bai family. So how about this, as long as any of you here are on the same boat as my Bai family, I, Bai Muxuan, will immediately guarantee that I can grant special privileges to all those who support me in the Earth Spirit Tower. As long as they are direct descendants of your families, or the sect leaders and confidants present here, no more than two people, I can give them the opportunity to enter the Earth Spirit Tower for free, without time or floor restrictions."

Upon hearing Bai Muxuan's words, everyone present widened their eyes. It should be known that the Earth Spirit Tower is the location of the spiritual vein's eye, the most important and most strictly guarded place in Baifeng City. The list of people who can enter the Earth Spirit Tower for cultivation requires the strictest approval, and even entering the third level or above requires the personal approval of the city lord.

Therefore, when Bai Muxuan made this suggestion, everyone present immediately showed a hint of surprise in their eyes. Although those who were clan heads or sect leaders basically did not need such an opportunity, for the disciples of their own clans, such an opportunity was simply a rare and precious one. You should know that all the tokens that can enter the Earth Spirit Tower now require points to exchange, and the promise that Bai Muxuan made this time is that each family can select two people to enter and cultivate for an unlimited period of time, which is an enormous benefit for cultivators.

Based on the concentration of spiritual energy inside the tower, even cultivators with very average aptitude can match the cultivation speed of so-called geniuses outside.

"Patriarch Bai is really generous, actually granting access to the Earth Spirit Tower directly to the public. You must know that it is the key seal of the underground spiritual veins in Baifeng City. If there is a problem, the entire Baifeng City will probably be finished."

The speaker was none other than Yan Wuhen, the head of the Crimson Flame Hall. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunshen suddenly spoke up, "I'm afraid Head Yan doesn't need to worry about that. After all, the Earth Spirit Tower has been open for a hundred years, and there haven't been any problems so far. Moreover, the sealed area of ​​the Pulse Eye is guarded by a powerful expert from the royal family at the Tonghai Realm. Now, with the addition of Patriarch Bai, it's even more impossible for anyone to break into the sealed area without permission."

Upon hearing this, He Yu, the sect leader of the Green Forest Sect, looked at Zhou Yunshen and said, "It seems that your Arrow Shadow Sect has already made its choice. In that case, our Green Forest Sect will not say anything more. If we are only talking about seniority, our Green Forest Sect has the most say."

Indeed, the Green Forest Sect is the oldest among all the aristocratic sects present. It was established when Maple Kingdom was renamed Maple City, making it the first sect established in Maple City at its inception. Crane Feather is also the only female sect leader among the six major sects present. She is now 133 years old, but she looks like a woman in her forties, possessing a unique charm.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yun Shen gave her a disdainful look.

"Then what are your thoughts, Sect Master He? You have been cultivating for over a hundred years, yet your cultivation level remains at the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. You should know that I am only 106 years old this year, and I have already opened my Soul Meridian and reached the late-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm. I was able to reach this level thanks to the effects of cultivating in the Earth Spirit Tower. Otherwise, if I wanted to cultivate to this level, it would have taken at least another fifty years. I believe that Sect Master He will not refuse Elder Bai's suggestion, since almost everyone here knows the effects of the Earth Spirit Tower."

After speaking, Zhou Yunshen turned to look in He Yu's direction. He Yu's face also showed an indescribable expression, and her silence indicated that she also agreed with Zhou Yunshen's words.

Afterwards, Zhou Yunshen slowly stood up from his seat, looked around at everyone present, and said, "Everyone, I know that many of you are still hesitant, but you must know that all of us here had no other choice the moment the old patriarch of the Bai family made his choice. Even if you disagree, the forces of the powerful will take over Baifeng City in the future, and none of the families here will have that opportunity."

Upon hearing this, everyone present turned grim and uncertain. Even Bai Muxuan, who was seated high above, showed displeasure. From Zhou Yunshen's words, it was clear that while he seemed to be persuading everyone, he was actually implying that it was Bai Muxuan's personal decision that had forced them to come together.

However, none of the people present objected to Zhou Yunshen's words, and their silence meant that they acquiesced to Bai Muxuan's suggestion.

Just then, Xia Qinglian's words delivered another bombshell to everyone present.

"Please rest assured, everyone. I can make a promise to you all: if I, Xia Qinglian, succeed to the throne, I will assist you in reaching the Tonghai realm after you have opened your Heavenly Veins."

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Lin Qingyi jumped up from his seat, his expression filled with excitement.

"Fourth Princess, are you telling the truth?!"

It should be noted that Lin Qingyi's father, Lin Yuchen, was one of the three who fought against Bai Muxuan back then. After Bai Muxuan went into seclusion, he also tried to break through to the Tonghai realm several times, but ultimately failed each time.

Xia Qinglian also had a confident expression on her face at this moment.

"Absolutely no lies."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood why Bai Muxuan was able to break through to the Tonghai Realm. After realizing this, the gloom on everyone's faces disappeared, and a hint of fanaticism appeared on their faces.

It's important to understand that countless cultivators are stuck at the Great Perfection of the Meridian Opening Realm throughout their lives, and the condition for breaking through to the Sea-Connecting Realm is to open the Heavenly Meridians within their bodies. Only by opening the Heavenly Meridians can one advance further. However, even after opening the Heavenly Meridians, countless cultivators find it difficult to reach the next step and are unable to break through to the Sea-Connecting Realm in their entire lives.

Therefore, Xia Qinglian's words shocked many people present.