The banquet at the Zhao Clan's estate consisted mostly of spirit beast meat, and some of the spirit cuisine was exquisite in color, aroma, and flavor.
"This is what a one-hundred-and-sixty-thousand-year foundation gets you," Li Wei's eyes shone, "I've never even tasted dishes like this."
He wished he could be there in person and eat the Zhao Clan into poverty.
Li Chang'an and Li Xinghuo also sat obediently at the outer seats.
Besides the spirit cuisine, there were also numerous spirit teas and spirit wines.
They even distributed spirit pills for enhancing cultivation to every table, showing their extraordinary generosity. Even they couldn't help but click their tongues in amazement.
It wasn't that the family's powers had never held banquets before, but they never had this many novel delicacies, and every single one was a top-quality item.
The two of them remained well-behaved and didn't cause a scene because of it.
However, the clan heads from the medium-sized families at their table were extremely reserved and cautious.
At the central seats, Zhao Qingguang raised his glass for a toast, looking extremely joyous.
Immortal Master Qi Yue, who was among the guests, was still brooding over the matter of the competition.
Now, seeing Li Chang'an relegated to a low-ranking seat, he couldn't help but scoff:
"Does everyone know if the Li family people have come or not? When I saw them back then, the Li family was so imposing! Now, who knows where they've all disappeared to."
"Seventh Elder, you must be joking." Sun Haotian instantly saw through Immortal Master Qi Yue's intentions.
He pointed toward the two Li family members in the low-ranking seats several dozen meters away.
"Our Fellow Daoists of the Immortal Zhao Clan have come to my Eternal Sun Prefecture to settle; how could the Li family possibly neglect the proper etiquette? Look, they are right over there."
"Oh my."
Ding Yuanxiao slapped his head—he was clearly the type who loved to stir up trouble.
He shot to his feet and respectfully raised his cup toward Li Chang'an, pitching his voice high so that everyone in the outer seats could hear him clearly.
"Your Excellencies from the Li family, why didn't you say a word to old Ding upon your esteemed arrival?
Now you're seated so far away... Look at this, even offering a toast has become a troublesome affair. Come! I, Ding Yuanxiao, offer you two a toast!"
Li Chang'an heard this. He made a calming gesture toward Li Xinghuo, whose gaze was dark, then elegantly rose to his feet.
He unhurriedly raised his cup and drained it in one go, the very picture of a refined scholar.
This calm demeanor made Ding Yuanxiao feel as if he had punched a ball of cotton.
He inwardly thought, "How boring," and didn't pester them any further.
Zhao Qingguang was also somewhat surprised. "What excellent composure," he thought.
He hadn't expected the Li family to actually come and offer congratulations.
In order to give them a show of dominance, he had deliberately arranged for the two of them to be seated in the lowest-ranking seats.
He had originally thought the Li family members would cause a huge scene. Although he couldn't kill them, he could at least teach them a lesson.
Who could have known that this Li Chang'an would be so capable of forbearance?
However...
Zhao Qingguang's gaze swept over the crowd.
The clan heads of the various great families of the Duravia Trade Prefecture were all present.
In addition, there were also people from the Perennis Immortal Palace and Prince Jiang's Mansion.
He believed that after this event, both the Perennis Immortal Palace and Prince Jiang's Mansion would have to re-evaluate whether they should stand with the Zhao Clan or with the Li family.
After the banquet, Zhao Qingguang rose, clasped his fists to the numerous guests, and said:
"Everyone, my Immortal Zhao Clan has established the 'Immortal Domain.'
First, I must thank all you Fellow Daoists for coming to celebrate with my Zhao Clan. To be honest with you, Fellow Daoists, since my Zhao Clan intends to settle and thrive here, we must establish a foundation.
In the future, our family's shops will be opened throughout the entire Duravia Trade Prefecture, and perhaps even the entire Imperial Dynasty.
I must ask all you Fellow Daoists to show us your generous support."
Hearing this, even Li Chang'an and Li Xinghuo couldn't help but look over.
The Li family also opened shops, acting as a middleman. But to truly establish a reputation for a shop, you must have something commendable.
The Li family's Beast Blood Fruit, Spirit Puppets, Yang-Boosting Elixir, etc., are undoubtedly what built the reputation of the Hall of Heavenly Principle's shops.
The medicines and spirit pills refined by Li Yaoqing are all, without exception, of the highest quality.
Every family and clan's products have their own selling points.
For Zhao Qingguang to dare proclaim he will imitate the Li family and open shops all over the Azure Dusk Dynasty, this is undoubtedly an attempt to snatch business from the Li family and cut off their source of wealth.
"What audacity!"
The rage in Li Xinghuo's heart almost burst from his nostrils.
He saw that a member of the Immortal Zhao Clan took out a list. On it, aside from the Li family's specialty products, were all the items regularly sold by the Hall of Heavenly Principle—and what's more, every single one was cheaper.
The Zhao Clan also had their own products.
"The Imperial Preceptor and the Human Emperor's lingering authority are still present; they don't dare to be the first to make a move against our Li family. But if we were to strike first, then it would give them all the justification they need."
Li Chang'an smiled.
"The best way to force us into a corner is to make the people of the Duravia Trade Prefecture and the Eternal Sun Prefecture align with the Zhao Clan.
And snatching away the Hall of Heavenly Principle's business will greatly weaken our Li family's strength.
After all, we control so many powers and need a massive amount of Spirit Stones to support them. Otherwise, even the closest relationships will develop conflicts over profit."
"If I were him, I would go a step further and use this to pull all the major powers onto the same warship."