This kind of collective attention naturally put some pressure on James Clark as well. However, since the other party wasn’t responding, he had no sufficient reason to challenge them. After all, there was no rule at the banquet that required anyone to respond just because you greeted them. If he were to make a move without cause, he would definitely be the first to be thrown out for acting without provocation.

Seeing James Clark's reaction, Ivy Foster frowned slightly.

“Ethan Brooks... what is this, advancing by retreating?”

“That might really be it. Seventh Young Master is amazing—without saying a word, he’s already thrown the enemy into disarray. What’s that called again? Winning without fighting, yes, Seventh Young Master is truly hiding his strength!”

“Is he really hiding his strength?”

Once again, Ivy Foster realized that she knew far too little about the husband she had married for over a year now. Thinking back on Ethan Brooks's attitude toward her all this time, she even began to doubt the real reason Ethan Brooks agreed to marry her.

At this moment, a friend beside James Clark seemed to sense his pressure and quickly stepped forward to help, saying, “Sir Ethan Brooks, our Commander Clark is speaking to you. What, just because you’re the seventh son of the Marquis of Wuwei, you can look down on everyone and ignore us? Isn’t the Marquis of Wuwei’s family getting a bit too arrogant?”

With someone backing him up, James Clark's pressure eased a little. He first gave his friend a grateful look, then immediately followed up, “Exactly. Although our abilities may not match yours, we are, like you, honored guests who received invitations to this banquet. At this event, there is no difference in status. Isn’t your attitude looking down on us!?”

Hearing this, Lily Foster was a bit displeased and said, “Hmph, no difference in status? By your logic, as long as you’re at this banquet, your status is equal to His Majesty the Emperor!?”

“How dare you!”

“You dare to speak so recklessly about the Emperor!”

“A mere maid—what right do you have to speak here?”

As soon as Lily Foster spoke, James Clark and the other two, unable to find another target, immediately turned their fire on her, each scolding her to relieve the invisible pressure from the three hundred or so young talents watching.

“His Majesty is the host of this banquet, and as the host, his noble status is beyond compare. For you to say such things, you must have ill intentions! Miss Xu, it seems your maid needs to be taught a lesson, lest she brings disaster upon herself with her words and loses her head one day!”

“You…”

Seeing the three of them ganging up on her, Lily Foster was startled and, for a moment, couldn’t find a response.

Ivy Foster wanted to speak up, but recalling the suspicion she’d just had, she suddenly glanced at Ethan Brooks: “This all started because of you. Do you still intend to just sit by and do nothing?”

“Hmph, the master of the Marquis of Wuwei’s household is rude, and the maid is no better. Looks like I should write a letter to His Majesty and ask him to strip your family of its marquisate.”

Ivy Foster couldn’t be bothered to stoop to the level of these small fry and simply said, “Go ahead.”

Although these three acted quite arrogant toward Ethan Brooks, when facing Ivy Foster, who was at the seventh level of Qi cultivation, their momentum faltered. Not only did Ivy Foster represent the Marquis of Wuwei’s household, but she also had General Xu, who guarded the border, standing behind her—a figure of considerable influence.

“Even this kind of provocation doesn’t work... damn, what a cowardly turtle!” James Clark muttered to himself, glancing at Ethan Brooks, who was still sitting silently, and sneered, “I thought the seventh son of the Marquis of Wuwei would have improved after three years of recuperation, but he’s just as timid as he was three years ago!”

“Haha, if he wasn’t like this, how could he be any better? All right, Commander Clark, let’s not waste our breath on someone like him. Besides scribbling like a child, he can’t do anything else. I wonder if he even has the strength to lift a sword now.”

“Exactly. Hey, Seventh Young Master of the Marquis of Wuwei, can you even wield a sword? Can you duel? Haha, I bet you can’t anymore…”

At that moment, just as they thought their words would get no reaction, Ethan Brooks, who had been silent, suddenly looked up and said seriously, “My sword is not for dueling.”

“Not for dueling? Then what is it for, decoration?”

“Killing.”

“Killing?”

Seeing Ethan Brooks say this with a straight face, James Clark felt a hint of delight: “He reacted! Finally, he reacted! After all this provocation, this kid finally couldn’t hold back.”

“Hahahaha, what a joke! A sword is for killing? No offense, Seventh Young Master of the Marquis of Wuwei, but even if I gave you a sword, you couldn’t kill me. Hahaha.”

Ethan Brooks gave the Qi level five cultivator who spoke a strange look: “You just said, even if you gave me a sword, I couldn’t kill you?”

“Of course!”

“May I borrow your sword?”

“Huh?”

Seeing Ethan Brooks actually go along with it, the three of them were all stunned…