The people of the Immortal Office, including An Ran, were terrified upon hearing this. Although she had heard before that the Immortal Court Nobles were all arrogant, domineering, and overbearing, she never imagined they could be arrogant to such a mad degree. Just because those reincarnated seniors did not come out to welcome them, they not only wanted to kill them but also feed their souls to a spirit fox?
Was this mere arrogance?
This was simply insane!
An Ran immediately sent a voice transmission to her grandfather, asking, "Grandfather, are these Immortal Court Nobles really going to kill the reincarnated seniors in our Immortal Office?"
"Don't ask!"
An Qiongshan, along with the other estate lord Li Feiyuan, were still kneeling on the ground. He replied to An Ran, then cupped his hands and said, "Esteemed Immortal Nobles, the reincarnated seniors residing in our Immortal Office often go into seclusion and rarely concern themselves with mundane affairs. Their failure to come out and welcome you this time is likely for the same reason. They probably were not aware of your esteemed arrival. We beg your forgiveness!"
"You old fool! Since when do you have the right to speak here!"
Immortal Noble Ruolan, holding the spirit fox, snorted coldly and was about to teach An Qiongshan a lesson when the voice of Immortal Noble Star-Shining suddenly rang out.
"Ruolan."
Star-Shining merely called Ruolan's name, and she stopped her action.
"I told you all to rein in your tempers when we arrived in the Great Northwest. Have you all taken my words as wind past your ears?"
Star-Shining stood quietly with his hands behind his back, his handsome face expressionless. Even as he reprimanded them now, not a trace of anger could be heard in his voice.
Yet, it was precisely his calm tone that made both the overbearing Immortal Noble Ying Nian and the arrogant Immortal Noble Ruolan dare not retort.
"Thank you for your mercy, Lord Star-Shining!"
An Qiongshan bowed in gratitude. As soon as his words fell, Star-Shining's voice came again: "Did I say I would definitely forgive them?"
"This..." An Qiongshan was stunned, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
"Whether they were in seclusion or unaware of this matter is unimportant. Since they have taken up residence in the Immortal Office to cultivate and have accepted the Immortal Dynasty's conferment as guest elders, they are considered people of our Immortal Dynasty. It doesn't matter if they didn't welcome us; I wouldn't hold that against them. However, we have come this time representing the Immortal Dynasty. Their disregard is truly disrespectful to the Immortal Dynasty and shows they hold our dynasty in far too little regard."
Star-Shining's words were reasonable and well-founded, leaving An Qiongshan unable to refute them. Just as he was worrying, a group of several dozen people flew over from the direction of the Immortal Office. Leading them was Murong Han, and the several dozen accompanying him were none other than the reincarnated great powers residing in the Immortal Office—eighty or ninety of them, nearly a hundred.
"Esteemed lords, this humble official has... has brought them... brought them over."
Murong Han's complexion was poor and ugly. Facing the hundreds of Dharma Aspect Grand Venerables around the Nine-Star level, the eighty-one Hundred-Tribulation Elders, and the nine Immortal Court Nobles present, he was not only mentally tense but also panicked.
After the nearly hundred reincarnated great powers appeared, they too seemed not to have expected the Immortal Dynasty to send so many people.
Of course.
Unexpected or not, they were, after all, reincarnated great powers. Even if more than half of their hundred reincarnated individuals had been pseudo-immortals in their previous lives, they were all masters who had seen great storms and waves. A scene like this was far from enough to frighten them.
"This old man, Bei Feng, pays his respects to the esteemed Immortal Officials."
Among the hundred reincarnated great powers, an elderly man stepped forward. He seemed to represent all the reincarnated individuals as he cupped his hands in salute to the Immortal Officials present.
The cultivators kneeling around the immortal domain might not recognize this old man, but the people of the Immortal Office all knew that Bei Feng absolutely had the qualification to represent all the reincarnated individuals. He was one of the few True Immortal reincarnations in the Immortal Office. After reincarnation, he was also a powerful Dharma Aspect Grand Venerable and carried considerable weight among all the reincarnated great powers.
"Esteemed Immortal Officials, for your grand arrival, we old folks failed to come out to welcome you from afar. We beg your forgiveness for our discourtesy."
Bei Feng was neither subservient nor overbearing, his attitude very sincere.
Star-Shining asked, "You have all accepted the Immortal Dynasty's conferment and serve as guest elders of the Northwest Immortal Office, correct?"
Bei Feng nodded. "That is correct."
"Guest elders of the Immortal Office hold esteemed positions. They need not pay courtesies, nor manage the miscellaneous affairs of the Immortal Office. Under ordinary circumstances, they may completely ignore the affairs of the Immortal Office."
Star-Shining spoke unhurriedly, then suddenly changed his tone: "However, they must attend important occasions and significant matters. I wonder if what I say is correct?"
Bei Feng stroked the white beard on his chin, his brow deeply furrowed. After a moment, he responded, "Indeed, it is so."
"Very good."
Star-Shining nodded. His expression remained placid, showing neither joy nor anger as he asked lightly, "Did you know beforehand that we would come today?"
Bei Feng pondered for a moment, glanced at the people of the Immortal Office, and responded, "We knew."
"Then did you know we came representing the Immortal Dynasty?"
"We... also knew."
"Then does this count as an important occasion and a significant matter?"
"Yes..."
"Since that is the case, why did you not attend?"
"This..." This question left Bei Feng also unsure how to respond.
And Star-Shining seemed not to expect an answer from him. He turned to look at Murong Han and asked, "Who was in charge of the Immortal Office in your absence?"
Murong Han didn't understand the meaning behind Star-Shining's question, but he still answered truthfully, "It was... the Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder of the Immortal Office, who was kneeling on the ground, shuddered and quickly raised his head to say, "When the three estate lords and the five cabinet elders were absent, it has always been this humble official in charge."
Star-Shining didn't even glance at him, his tone still very calm. "Did you notify them beforehand?"
"After receiving the estate lord's message talisman, this humble official immediately informed them of the matter, clearly stating that your esteemed lords had come representing the Immortal Dynasty and would be gracing us with your presence today. But... but..." The Immortal Office's Grand Elder trembled with fear, seemingly afraid to speak the words that followed.
"But what?"
"But..." The Grand Elder looked at Murong Han, then at Bei Feng and the other hundred or so reincarnated great powers. Gritting his teeth, stamping his foot, and steeling his heart, he said, "But all of them, relying on their status as noble immortals in their previous lives, refused to come out and welcome you."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Bei Feng and the nearly hundred reincarnated individuals instantly turned gloomy. Although what the Grand Elder said was the truth, having it stated publicly still bothered them somewhat internally. Especially since it was said in front of so many Immortal Officials, it made Bei Feng and the other reincarnated individuals very displeased.
Although they had all been immortals in their previous lives, that was only their previous lives.
They understood better than anyone that the previous life was the previous life. After reincarnation, everything had to start anew. They also understood clearly that in this world, the Immortal Dynasty was the absolute ruler. None of them wanted to offend the Immortal Dynasty.
However.
If they were to go out and welcome these Immortal Officials of the Immortal Dynasty—such a loss of face and status—none of them could accept it. After all, they had all achieved the Dao and become immortals in their previous lives. Even if they were mere mortals after reincarnation, they could not humbly welcome these Immortal Officials who, in their eyes, were nothing more than little brats.
Otherwise, how could they hold their heads up in the future?
They would become a laughingstock.