Not to mention falling further behind Zhou Heng, he was also lagging behind Zhu Zhihe and Liu Yan.

“Genuine article!” Zhou Heng smiled slightly, but he knew that if he were tested again for his spiritual body, he would definitely register as a Four-Star or even a Five-Star Human Spirit Body, especially since his breakthrough to the Third Layer Heaven had significantly enhanced his dual bloodline powers.

But he couldn’t tell anyone this fact.

Who wouldn’t be shocked by the ability to enhance the quality of one’s bloodline power?

“Second Brother Yu, you’ve now become Third Brother Yu.

If you don’t step up, you’ll be Fourth Brother soon!” Zhu Zhihe laughed heartily, “Just make sure Fourth Brother Wan doesn’t surpass you!”

“He’s stuck as the fourth forever!” Wan Liang said, brimming with confidence.

“Pfft, I won’t lose to you, you fat pig!” Yu Zhenye protested, refusing to show weakness.

They were all longtime friends and didn’t mind exchanging a few harsh words to tease each other.

The five of them entered the Pine Crane Pavilion.

There were no private rooms on the ground floor; one had to go to the second floor for that.

However, these “private rooms” were not much different from the rest; they were just divided by screens, preventing visuals but not blocking sound.

Fortunately, the clientele here were quite classy, speaking in hushed tones, making it practically impossible to overhear unless one paid close attention.

A restaurant worker led the way for Zhou Heng and his group, winding like a maze.

Suddenly, Zhou Heng paused and cocked his ear, listening intently.

“Zhou Heng, what’s the matter?” Liu Yan noticed Zhou Heng had stopped and turned to ask him.

Zhou Heng gave him a slight smile, then darted into one of the “private rooms” as there were no actual doors, only screens, which naturally did not obstruct passage.

“Dear guests!

Dear guests!” The worker panicked.

If Zhou Heng disturbed other guests during their meal, he would be reprimanded.

He quickly ran over to stop him, but how could he catch Zhou Heng?

He didn’t even touch the hem of his clothes before Zhou Heng had already gone inside.

“Dear guest, you shouldn’t do this—” The worker hurried in after him, first quietly scolding Zhou Heng.

Then, he turned around to face the two dining guests, continuously bowing and apologizing, “I am so sorry, guests!

I truly apologize!”

His gaze swept over the room, seeing a man and a woman in their twenties.

The man was handsome and dashing, the woman beautiful like a flower, especially her bosom, so high it seemed it could pierce the clouds, almost mesmerizing him.

“Zhou Heng, you are being quite rude!” chided the man in the booth, his face clearly displeased as his immense aura swept across.

Although it wasn’t directed at the worker, it caused him to go weak at the knees and plop down on the floor.

Zhou Heng, however, was unfazed.

To dominate him with sheer presence would take at least a Land Cleaving Third Layer expert!

He smiled slightly and took a seat next to the busty beauty, asking, “What brings you here?”

He completely ignored the man!

Zhou Heng recognized the couple; the man was Liu Shengjie, and the woman was Gu Zi.

He had swerved into the room upon hearing Gu Zi’s voice.

“He said he wanted to discuss the Dayan Conference with me!” Gu Zi pointed at Liu Shengjie, her expression as calm as ever, unchanging across the years.

“Brother Liu, you don’t mind if I sit down and listen, do you?” Zhou Heng smiled.

Damn it, you’re already sitting down.

Would it matter if I minded?

Liu Shengjie cursed internally.

However, Zhou Heng’s status had changed significantly.

Now, as the son-in-law of an Open Heaven Realm expert, everyone had to give him some degree of respect.

He was no longer the little foot soldier from Galaxy Court.

Damn it, An Yumei was clearly the one he had his eyes on.

If he could have married this natural beauty, this status would have been his!

Zhou Heng, that fool, had no idea how to play his cards.

If it were him, all riches of Tianhang City’s Nine Peaks would already belong to him by now!

Wasted, utterly wasted!

How did this idiot manage to deceive An Yumei?

He looked Zhou Heng up and down, finding nothing outstanding about him.

He was neither an extraordinarily handsome man nor a remarkably imposing figure.

Could it be that his skill in bed was remarkable, thoroughly satisfying that sultry An Yumei?

—He did guess partly right, though the details and actual circumstances were somewhat different.

If it hadn’t been for Zhou Heng’s act of rescue, An Yumei, after being dishonored, would surely have fought to the death.

And if Zhou Heng hadn’t truly been exceptional, she would merely allow him to hold the title of husband, never letting him touch a hair on her head ever again!

Zhou Heng might not be a handsome man, but was he not outstanding?

“So it’s the esteemed son-in-law of the An Family, please have a seat!” Liu Shengjie emphasized the word ‘please’ heavily, naturally mocking Zhou Heng for seating himself uninvited, while also making it clear that Zhou Heng was married — a warning to Gu Zi that he was already someone else’s husband.

In this era, men often had multiple wives, but would a remarkable woman like Gu Zi share her man with others?

Naturally not!

“Brother Zhou, you—” Zhu Zhihe and his group also followed in.

When they saw Liu Shengjie, they immediately fell silent, the imposing presence still intimidating them into fear.

Liu Shengjie was nearly bursting with anger.

He had finally found an excuse to invite Gu Zi out and was about to say a few words when irrelevant people began popping up one after another!

An Yumei had already chosen the Zhou Family, and he was not one to dwell on what could not be changed.

He immediately shifted his focus to Gu Zi, who was already on his list of romantic pursuits.

Unlike pursuing An Yumei for her background, Gu Zi herself was in the Initial Separation Realm; marrying her would be a significant support!

Of course, he considered Gu Lu, but although the two women were twin sisters, as a man whose aesthetic taste was not unusual, his choice was quite straightforward.

“Everyone, please sit!” Liu Shengjie said gruffly, maintaining his composure in front of Gu Zi.

Zhou Heng sat close to Gu Zi, turned his head to the waiter, and said, “Bring five more pairs of chopsticks and the menu.

This amount of food isn’t enough.

We can’t let people say Brother Liu is stingy!”

Liu Shengjie nearly jumped up in anger.

He had only asked Zhou Heng and the others to sit down; where had it been said that he invited them to eat?

He hadn’t realized Zhou Heng was so shameless!

The food on the table was clearly not enough; it was meant for two people!

But Liu Shengjie was Liu Shengjie after all, not his brother who wore his heart on his sleeve!

He immediately calmed down, thinking: this young man has suffered under me in the past, and now he’s deliberately causing trouble.

If I react impulsively, I’ll be falling into his trap!

Right, my goal is Gu Zi, and this kid has seen through that, purposely ruining my image in front of Gu Zi!

Damn him, I should have found an excuse to finish him off back then, avoiding such embarrassment now!

Liu Shengjie clenched his fists tightly, his eyes nearly shooting flames.

He quickly composed himself, calming his rage, and a bright smile appeared on his face, as though nothing had bothered him.

The waiter, realizing both parties knew each other, hurriedly brought the five pairs of chopsticks and the menu, handing them to Zhou Heng to order.

Zhou Heng didn’t hesitate, choosing the most expensive items.

He even nonchalantly ordered the priciest dish, costing a hundred Spirit Stones!

Liu Shengjie’s heart bled, aware of how expensive the dishes Zhou Heng ordered were, yet he had to maintain his smiling façade as if nothing was wrong.

The strength disparity among the Nine Peaks of Tianheng was significant.

Yan Yinglong might afford twenty thousand Spirit Stones, but this didn’t mean Liu Shengjie could, as their backgrounds were from the First Peak and the Ninth Peak, respectively.

Liu Shengjie’s entire fortune was roughly around three thousand Spirit Stones.

Although enough to cover this meal, spending over four hundred Spirit Stones just on this was indeed cause for tears.

If these four hundred Spirit Stones could win Gu Zi’s favor, it might be worthwhile.

But the infuriating part was that a private meeting turned into a seven-person dinner, leaving no room for any romantic atmosphere.

His four hundred-plus Spirit Stones might as well have been thrown into the water!

Having lost nearly twenty percent of his fortune in one go, even Liu Shengjie’s composure turned pale, his smile excruciatingly forced.

The dishes at the Pine Crane Pavilion were served swiftly, one after another, continuously.

Within less than ten minutes, all the dishes Zhou Heng ordered were served.

“Come on, let’s eat!” Zhou Heng deliberately irritated Liu Shengjie, picking up his chopsticks and acting as if he were the host.

Zhu Zhihe and his group were all laughter, having known about Zhou Heng’s new connection, they were fearless of what Liu Shengjie could do, and began eating voraciously.

They had never had such costly dishes before, usually reserved only for those in the Land Cleaving Realm, and they ate like starving ghosts.

“Little sister, try this steamed tailfish, the meat is fatty and the taste is unforgettable!” Zhu Zhihe didn’t just focus on his food, eventually pausing to invite Gu Zi to try.

“Zhu Zhihe, don’t talk nonsense!” Liu Shengjie finally couldn’t help but shout.

The address ‘little sister’ clearly followed Zhou Heng’s manner; if he remained silent, that would indeed make him a foolish easy target.

“Brother Liu, what did I say wrong?” Zhu Zhihe looked aggrieved.

Although their Cultivation Levels were vastly different, their fathers’ standings were equivalent, ensuring they interacted as equals—this was a matter of private connection.

This kid really knew how to play his role!

No matter what, Zhou Heng found Liu Shengjie displeasing to the eye; he immediately picked up a piece of fish and put it in Gu Zi’s bowl, saying, “Eat some more!”

“Hmm!” Gu Zi nodded, picking up the fish that Zhou Heng had offered and chewed it slowly and deliberately.

Liu Shengjie almost spat out blood!