Qin An gazed at the figure in plain attire, his brows slightly furrowed.

The middle-aged man before him wore a simple long robe and stood respectfully with clasped hands on the steps.

"Does Mr. Qin have some leisure time today?" the middle-aged man inquired.

Qin An stroked his chin and replied, "I am free this afternoon. What urgent matter does the Profound Celestial Array Gate have?"

This person before him was the elder of the Profound Celestial Array Gate, whom he encountered in Lingzhou not long ago.

Back then, when arranging the array to destroy the Demon Transformation Pool, this elder accompanied Gao Lingyu.

The middle-aged man let out a sigh of relief. "The Sect Leader specifically instructed me to invite you to our grand feast at the Profound Celestial Array Gate today."

Qin An raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why the feast?"

The middle-aged man explained, "First, to express gratitude for your heroic deeds in Lingzhou, and second, to allow the heroes from all walks of life to witness your elegance at this banquet."

At this point, the middle-aged man paused slightly, waiting for Qin An's response.

Qin An pondered briefly and said, "Alright."

The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief.

He understood Qin An's temper and originally thought this invitation would be declined, never imagining Qin An would actually agree.

The prepared arguments were instantly stuck in his throat.

Qin An asked, "Is there anything else?"

The middle-aged man hurriedly shook his head and clasped his hands. "Nothing else, I take my leave first."

Qin An watched the middle-aged man walk away, thought for a moment, and then headed toward the blacksmith shop in Xunyang Prefecture.

The feast this afternoon seemed worth attending for Qin An.

As for why he didn't go when Yang Qing invited him, he naturally had his reasons.

The people Yang Qing invited were mostly scions of aristocratic families.

In terms of power, they were far inferior to the sect forces.

And the Profound Celestial Array Gate was well-connected in Xunyang Prefecture, so the influential powers they invited were worth meeting.

Xunyang Prefecture is an enormous vortex of power; unless one becomes a Mountain Patrol General and can stay away from there, one cannot avoid being part of it.

Since it's unavoidable, one might as well face it head-on.

Having figured things out, Qin An arrived at the blacksmith shop.

With the Evil Extermination Bureau's dark robe on him and the generous payment in silver coins from Qin An, the shop owner naturally did not refuse his request.

Subsequently, Qin An began hammering in the blacksmith shop.

The clanging sound resonated endlessly.

...

In the afternoon, the western sky was filled with sunset clouds, painting the sky crimson.

Qin An stepped outside and, looking at the smoke before him, a slight smile formed at the corner of his mouth.

[Blacksmith lv.9 (250/3000): The quality of your forged items improves, material consumption for forging decreases, and the characteristics of the forged items are enhanced]

[Talent: Mastery in Gui Cang Realm Power Cultivation Technique, Gui Cang Realm Forged Object Spirituality Granting, Gui Cang Realm Heart Forging Skill Mastery]

The higher the level, the faster the increase in proficiency.

Gaining 250 points of proficiency today was quite satisfying for Qin An.

"It's time to visit the Profound Celestial Array Gate."

Qin An stroked the sheath of his sword, pressing the sword as he moved, his silhouette as dark as ink in the twilight.

...

The Profound Celestial Array Gate was quite renowned in Xunyang Prefecture, and unlike other powers, it was deeply rooted within, so finding it only required a quick inquiry.

At this moment, the Profound Celestial Array Gate was adorned with festive decorations, and the vermillion gate was bustling with carriages and horses.

The red silk on the necks of stone lions fluttered in the wind, and the guests in their resplendent attire exuded extraordinary presence.

Qin An, dressed in a dark robe, was inconspicuous when he arrived at the main gate of the Profound Celestial Array Gate, not attracting much attention.

The reason was that the Profound Celestial Array Gate had deep ties with the Evil Extermination Bureau, and there were indeed many from the bureau attending the feast today.

Thus, Qin An, in his dark robe, appeared quite ordinary.

Two disciples stood guard at the entrance, checking the identities of those coming and going.

No invitation was needed; merely stating one's name would suffice.

After all, those who came were prominent figures and would naturally speak truthfully.

The disciple on the left, seeing Qin An's dark robe, quickly approached, respectfully clasping his fists. "Mr. Qin, please enter."

Qin An lifted his gaze and asked, "Do you know me?"

The disciple nodded, responding, "I was one of those who went to Lingzhou; I was fortunate to witness your elegance during the array setup in Lingzhou!"

Hearing this, Qin An asked, "Just enter?"

The disciple replied, "Once inside, someone will guide you."

Upon receiving the response, Qin An said no more and, with his sword at his side, walked straight in.

The disciple on the right asked in confusion, "You seem to respect him a lot."

The disciple on the left gave a knowing look, "He is that array prodigy from Lingzhou."

"Hiss!" The disciple on the right took a sharp breath, "The Sect Leader has always remembered him; who would've thought he would come to Xunyang Prefecture."

The disciple on the left looked in the direction Qin An left. "Don't ask much; keep your vigilance up."

Though the two said no more, their occasional glances toward the main gate were filled with curiosity.

...

Upon entering the courtyard, a disciple came specially to lead Qin An to a seat.

"Where is Mr. Gao?"

After coming in, he did not encounter Gao Lingyu.

By now, most guests had arrived; Gao Lingyu should have appeared.

The disciple answered, "The Sect Leader is still preparing. There is half an hour until the banquet starts; it's still early."

Hearing this, Qin An surveyed the surroundings.

At this moment, he was seated at a table, surrounded by individuals from various powerful influences in luxurious attire.

Many were scrutinizing him, especially upon seeing the copper badge hanging from Qin An's waist, showing a hint of surprise.

The rank of the copper Prefecture General in the Xunyang Prefecture's Evil Extermination Bureau is the lowest besides the Household Officer.

This rank in the Evil Extermination Bureau garners great respect from some lower-tier influences, but not from the powerhouses here.

This group was quite curious about the relationship between this copper Prefecture General and Mr. Gao.

Qin An could sense everyone's gaze and understood they were speculating about his identity.

Among those present, who were all seasoned players, a middle-aged man in brocade quietly leaned over.

"This gentleman, may I know your name?" the man in brocade cautiously initiated a conversation.

His tone was slightly respectful, not revealing the superficiality hidden in his eyes.

Even though they were speculating about Qin An's identity, they inevitably looked down on this Pulse Condensation Realm Copper Prefecture General in front of them.

Qin An stated his name, resting his hand on the sword sheath, and began drinking on his own.

The man in brocade turned his head, exchanging glances full of confusion with other members of the group.

This name was one they had never heard of, nor had they heard of anyone named Qin An being particularly talented.

Subsequently, a middle-aged woman covered her mouth with a light laugh.

"Sir, are you here to attend the banquet on someone's behalf?"

As soon as she said this, everyone at the table showed a look of realization.

If they hadn't heard of him, it proved that this Copper Prefecture General was just an ordinary person.

Why would an ordinary person attend this banquet? There was only one result, that this Copper Prefecture General was here on behalf of someone higher up.

After all, the Evil Extermination Bureau was busy with official duties. Perhaps the Silver Prefecture General, who was supposed to attend, had to leave for official business and, considering the face of the Profound Celestial Array Gate, sent a subordinate instead.

With this understanding, their attitude towards Qin An, including that of the man in brocade, became somewhat indifferent.

A disciple nearby noticed this and slightly clenched his fist.

He was one of the disciples who went to Lingzhou and naturally knew Qin An's talents in various aspects, as well as Gao Lingyu's appreciation of Qin An.

He wanted to remind these people of power, but recalling Qin An's personality displayed in Lingzhou, he didn't dare speak out.

He simply felt that this group might miss out on a great fortune today.

No one came to bother Qin An, and he felt at ease with the solitude.

He wasn't constrained, leisurely sipping from his wine cup.

...

Time gradually passed, and in a blink, half an hour had gone by.

A sound of footsteps arose from the inner courtyard.

Everyone turned their gaze to see Gao Lingyu arriving with a group of elders.

Many of the influential people stood up, cupping their hands to greet Gao Lingyu.

Even though the Profound Celestial Array Gate's combat power was not impressive, every sect and force needed its expertise in setting up arrays.

Therefore, their attitude towards Gao Lingyu was quite proper.

Gao Lingyu, being a figure mixed in Xunyang Prefecture and the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Array Gate, was naturally a masterful role.

Subsequently, Gao Lingyu raised her hand, gestured slightly at everyone, and loudly announced, "The banquet begins."

Soon after, a lively atmosphere enveloped the entire Profound Celestial Array Gate.

Qin An finally understood what Xunyang Prefecture's so-called interwoven power truly meant.

He saw members of various forces weaving through the venue, conversing and toasting with different groups.

If a force was slightly inferior, they would toast with a bent back and a fawning smile.

Those on equal footing whispered into each other's ears.

"This is the reality of the arena of fame and fortune," Qin An mused with understanding.

If there were mutual benefits, they embraced each other; without benefits, they stared indifferently.

If seeking favor, one would bow; if being sought after, one would stand tall.

No one approached Qin An.

Since the man in brocade had inquired about Qin An's name and everyone speculated that Qin An was just a small Copper Prefecture General with no background, no one wanted to engage with him.

Qin An sipped the fine wine with a hint of mockery in his smile.

He initially thought he could build some connections by coming here today.

Yet, at this moment, Qin An realized this place didn't suit him.

Everyone has places where they fit, and this arena of fame and fortune was not his.

His place was in enhancing his own strength and carving out his own world with his blade.

Connections, as such, naturally come flying to you like flies when your strength reaches a certain level.

Just like in Lingzhou.

Without strength, one is merely a minor figure.

When one's strength is enough to dominate Lingzhou, one only encounters good people.

With this understanding, Qin An made a decision in his heart.

If there were more banquets like this in the future, regardless of who invited him, he would refuse them all.

He preferred to return to the Evil Extermination Bureau, rest a bit, and have plenty of energy for cultivation tomorrow.

However, since he was already here, leaving now might appear disrespectful to Gao Lingyu.

Thinking of this, Qin An patiently awaited the end of the banquet.

At this moment, Gao Lingyu, holding a cup of wine, slowly walked up to Qin An.

This action immediately drew everyone's attention.

Especially the people at Qin An's table, they instinctively placed their hands on their wine cups, thinking Gao Lingyu was coming to toast with them.

Unexpectedly, Gao Lingyu turned her body, swaying her slender waist, raised her wine glass, and looked towards Qin An from afar.

Qin An slightly smiled, already knowing what Gao Lingyu meant, then raised his wine cup and clinked it with hers.

"Long time no see, Mr. Qin. I knew you would come, but you didn't show any consideration," Gao Lingyu smiled delicately, fully displaying the gentleness of a woman.

Qin An asked, "In what way was I inconsiderate?"

Gao Lingyu pondered for a moment and said, "When Mr. Qin arrives, he should notify this little woman so she can play host."

Qin An shook his head and said, "That won't be necessary."

Their exchange was immediately noticed by others at the table.

Especially the man in brocade, who had just shown disdain towards Qin An, now turned pale.

Even a fool could see that Gao Lingyu placed Qin An on an equal footing with her.

This was extremely rare in Xunyang Prefecture.

The middle-aged woman who had made teasing comments earlier was now covering her red lips in disbelief.

At this moment, Gao Lingyu also noted everyone's expression.

Being such a perceptive individual, she immediately guessed Qin An's earlier predicament, her eyes showing a hint of apology.

"I'm sorry for not offering proper hospitality, Mr. Qin."

Qin An waved his hand and said, "No need."

Gao Lingyu turned to look at everyone, her clear voice ringing out, "Let me introduce, this is Mr. Qin from Lingzhou, a genius in martial arts, arrays, alchemy, and medicine."

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