Mr. Carter nodded and said, “That’s right. People who come out of the Sword Lodge are all respected. Not to mention anything else, there’s a great opportunity tomorrow. That Mr. Grant from the Sword Lodge fell seriously ill ten years ago and moved to the reed marshes outside the city, not seeing outsiders for many years. But yesterday, news suddenly came that Mr. Grant has recovered and is returning to the Sword Lodge. This is a big event—countless people will go to the Leng residence to offer congratulations. Tomorrow, you should take three hundred taels of silver from the accounts room, buy some gifts, and pay a visit. Get your face known first, then I’ll pull some strings and see if you can become a disciple at the Sword Lodge. With that status, there’ll be far fewer people in the city gossiping about you!”

“This... is it really necessary?”

Henry Carter gave a wry smile, instinctively wanting to decline.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Carter became even more insistent, slapping the edge of the bed and saying, “It’s settled! You’ll go tomorrow!”

“Alright, I’ll go then!”

Henry Carter sighed, beginning to make plans in his mind.

No wonder Mr. Carter was so invested. Although Mr. Grant was not an immortal cultivator, his swordsmanship had reached a profound level, and his skills were at least as strong as, if not stronger than, the average elder of the Immortal Sect. Moreover, since founding his school in Four Symbols City, he had always made it his mission to slay demons and protect the people, keeping evil at bay. Though his temperament was a bit eccentric, he was a highly respected figure among the populace.

Just as Mr. Carter said, if one could become a personal disciple of Mr. Grant, their status would immediately rise, likely no less than that of a disciple of the Immortal Sect.

“Hmph, who does he think Mr. Grant is? He’s just a cast-off expelled from the Immortal Mountain, and he wants to become Mr. Grant’s disciple? Why would Mr. Grant even look at him? Tomorrow’s grand banquet at the Leng residence will attract countless important figures from inside and outside Four Symbols City. As for him, a good-for-nothing, let alone Mr. Grant, he probably won’t even get to see the Leng residence’s steward. No matter how much silver he brings, it’ll be wasted. Just give him thirty taels, that’s enough!”

The next day, when Henry Carter sent his servant to the accounts room for the silver, the steward didn’t dare give it to him and instead went to David Carter’s room to report the matter. David Carter immediately sneered and complained, finally instructing the steward to give Henry Carter only thirty taels of silver.

Looking at the three silver ingots brought by the servant, Henry Carter sneered and said directly, “Forget it, send them back!”

If last night’s David Carter could be excused for being drunk and venting his anger at Henry Carter because of the Jiang family’s exclusion, what he did now truly enraged Henry Carter. He was not one to swallow his anger, so he decided not to take a single tael. Instead, he wrapped up two packets of pastries from his own room and set off for the Leng residence with just those in hand.

When he arrived at the entrance of the Leng residence, he found the place already bustling with people, even livelier than the marketplace.

Countless carriages and exotic beasts crowded together, and high-ranking officials and nobles in splendid attire entered the Leng residence with smiles on their faces.

Many onlookers gathered just to catch a glimpse of those legendary figures they’d only heard about in stories.

“Look, isn’t that Master Chengdeng from the Great Zen Temple? He hasn’t appeared in public for three years...”

“Hey, isn’t that General Lewis, the guardian of Four Symbols City? He’s here too? Oh right, I heard Mr. Grant once instructed General Lewis in swordsmanship. They have a half-master relationship, so of course General Lewis would come...”

“Look, the lady masters from Qingmiaofeng are here—each one is a peerless beauty...”

Just then, a cloud of auspicious light suddenly floated down from the sky and landed in front of the Leng residence. From it stepped a young man in white, ethereal as an immortal, exuding confidence and poise.

This extraordinary sight immediately drew gasps from the crowd, and people began asking who he was. Someone who recognized him explained to those nearby, “That’s the eldest young master of the The Bennett Family. He entered the Immortal Sect as a disciple seven years ago and just returned a couple of days ago. It’s said that although he’s still young, his magical powers are extraordinary. He’s now a personal disciple of the Immortal Sect and a leading figure among the younger generation in Four Symbols City!”

At this moment, a steward from the Leng residence came out to greet him respectfully and led Young Master Bennett inside.

“So he’s here too... and he even brought out the auspicious cloud refined by the Immortal Sect. Ridiculous!”

Henry Carter sneered. Back in the Immortal Sect, although he and Edward Bennett were from the same hometown, their relationship was only average. Mainly, Edward Bennett was too opportunistic, always currying favor with the most talented disciples and mocking the mediocre ones like Henry Carter. Later, when Henry Carter was accepted as a personal disciple by the Sick Old Man, Edward Bennett secretly envied him. And when Henry Carter was expelled from the sect, Edward Bennett was one of the happiest, even blocking the mountain gate to taunt him as he left.

As for the auspicious cloud Edward Bennett was riding, it was laughable.

When a cultivator breaks through the True Qi stage and reaches the True Spirit stage, they can refine their own flying cloud and ride the mist. But Edward Bennett was only at the sixth level of True Qi, far from having such abilities. The cloud he rode was a low-grade magical artifact refined by the Immortal Sect for inner disciples, meant only for convenience. Moreover, the sect had rules forbidding the public display of sect magic to attract attention, but Edward Bennett ignored these just to show off.

“Another auspicious cloud is coming...”

Someone sharp-eyed shouted, and instantly all eyes turned to the sky.