Once, I wanted to be a good person

So, from the very start, Fang Ze was already on invincible ground in this battle.

As for the comparison between the strength of the nine Yang Transformation stages and one Mortality-Shedding stage... Xiong Qi felt that even if Fang Ze didn't understand, when discussing the battle plan, those at the Yang Transformation stage would definitely have explained it.

Realizing this, Xiong Qi suddenly discovered that from the very beginning, Fang Ze had the Mortality-Shedding stage member of the Sima family completely calculated, trapped like a turtle in a jar.

But now... the fight had taken place, the person was captured, and the Sima family was offended. What exactly did Fang Ze want to do?

Was it simply to establish his authority?

Thinking of this, Xiong Qi couldn't help but stealthily glance at He Weidao, who seemed all-knowing. He had a feeling: This conceited fellow must surely know. Or at least know a part of it.

But thinking of asking him, and the conceited manner he'd adopt, Xiong Qi immediately lost the desire to ask.

'Forget it, forget it, just watch and see. Let's see what that youngster is really planning to do...'

.....

Meanwhile.

At a restaurant in the eastern part of the Provincial Government's area, the Zeng family.

After learning that the Sima family's Mortality-Shedding stage member had recklessly gone to capture Fang Ze but ended up being calculated by Fang Ze and was directly captured alive, the smiles on the Zeng family members' faces never for a moment ceased!

They chatted quietly among themselves, their faces full of Schadenfreude, "The Sima family really thought this place was Yunlan State. They thought they could do whatever they wanted, and even the Council couldn't control them."

"This is Xida State. It's the Bai family's, the Jiang family's, and the Si family's territory."

"Coming to someone else's turf and acting so recklessly, they got what they deserved."

"I'm curious to see how they will deal with this moving forward."

"A family has only so many Mortality-Shedding stages, and to have someone captured alive like that, it's not only embarrassing but they also have to consider how to get them back. I guess even their Demigod must be having a headache now."

.....

In a restaurant in the central area of the Provincial Government.

Representatives of the three families from the Directly Governed State looked at each other with heavy expressions after hearing the news.

"Nine Yang Transformation stages? The Si family actually hid so many experts?"

"The Mortality-Shedding stage member from the Sima family isn't just promoted through resources; he has actual combat ability. This means that the nine people from the Si family are also combat-oriented."

"Moreover, since the Si family has hidden Yang Transformation stages, do they also have hidden Mortality-Shedding stages? Do they have any Ascension stages?"

"Ascension is already the top combat power of each family..."

As they spoke, they exchanged glances, all sensing that the situation was increasingly slipping out of their control...

.....

While the various families were either enjoying the show or reassessing the strength in Fang Ze's hands.

The other protagonist of tonight, the Jia family, was also gradually receiving a series of messages.

At first, when Fang Ze chose them, the Jia family was both excited and worried.

After all, their strength was the weakest among the seven noble families. Even within the entire Eastern Administrative Region, they were among the lowest, only ranking ahead of the Si family, which did not have a Demigod.

Therefore, they could not afford to offend the wrath of the other six families.

But thinking that they were still stronger than the Si family, that they could take the lead in the cooperation and break the decades-long suppressed situation, they felt it was worth it.

Then... they received news that the Sima family deployed a Mortality-Shedding stage member to forcefully take away Fang Ze, but Fang Ze responded by throwing out nine Yang Transformation cards, turning the tables on them.

Nine Yang Transformations! Even the Jia Family doesn't have such a luxurious lineup. Over the past fifty years, they've only accumulated six Yang Transformations. Moreover, half of those are built up through resources—their realms are hollow with strength lacking.

As for the Mortality-Shedding rank, they do have them, but only two. And one of those is their Family Head.

Now Fang Ze had casually captured a Mortality-Shedding rank, and they could not help but feel... as if it was their own Family Head that had been captured.

This also caused their originally joyful hearts, from believing they could dominate the cooperation, to sink.

Don't think that just because their family has a Demigod, they are stronger than Fang Ze.

You must know, a Demigod is to suppress a region on behalf of the Federation and cannot easily be mobilized. Once they move, it might lead to a breach in the defenses of somewhere or a mass descent of Demigods from the Outer Realm in their state.

Thus, Demigods can only ensure the family's indestructibility, but not its prosperity.

Whether a family can develop or not still depends on whether the descendants are competent and how many possess combat strength above the Mortality-Shedding rank.

Upon thinking this, for a moment, the Jia Family suddenly didn't know how to face Fang Ze.

Could it be... their family must lower its stance in cooperation with a family that doesn't even have a Demigod?

While they were pondering this, suddenly, someone pushed open the door of the private room from the outside, and the Jia Family butler rushed in. As he ran, he said, "Second Master, Fang Ze has arrived!"

Hearing the butler's words, the man addressed as Second Master stood up involuntarily. He took several deep breaths, expelling the frustrations brought about by the rapid changes in circumstances, then plastered a smile on his face and went out to greet the visitor.

As soon as he reached the staircase entrance, the man saw a young lad, clad in purple noble attire, handsome, and smiling, striding up majestically.

Normally, such handsome features would make one seem frivolous, but strangely, this young man didn't have this problem.

His every move carried a faint authority, his actions brimming with a sense of power, giving off both an inviting and unapproachable aura simultaneously.

But no matter what, at first glance, the man knew that the person before him was a real dragon among men, a truly favored son of heaven!

'Could it be... there really is such a thing as destiny's favor?'

For some reason, the man couldn't help but recall a study by the Federation from years past: Destiny was also a favorite of the World Origin. All Demigods possessed this great destiny of the world, but as they had descendants, their bloodlines dispersed, causing the destiny to scatter as well.

Thus, the more descendants a family had, the weaker the later generations would be.

And for a family like the Si Family that had been reduced to one person, destiny was fully condensed within them and it seemed... as if it could indeed give birth to an extraordinary person.

Considering this, the man couldn't help but humble himself even further, wearing a smile as he advanced to greet, taking the initiative to say, "I assume this must be Mr. Si Ze, right?"

Fang Ze:.....

"Uncle Jia is too courteous, just call me Fang Ze."

Having said this, Fang Ze took a package from the butler beside him and handed it to the man.

The man accepted the package from Fang Ze with a grin, but upon inspection, his eyes slightly narrowed: half a jin of Double-sided Fan Tea.

This was an item valued at over ten million Lini, and what's more, a precious tea that even money couldn't buy.

Realizing this, Uncle Jia couldn't help but take a deeper look at Fang Ze, thinking: Indeed a remarkable person, even the gift giving is so astute...

Giving away an item worth over ten million on a whim showed Fang Ze's regard for the Jia Family, indicating that he was wealthy and extravagant, money being of little concern to him.

And presenting Double-sided Fan Tea, of which every family has limited shares, also displayed the most crucial thing about Fang Ze: the covet-worthy quota.

Thus, although it was a mere introductory gift, Fang Ze had managed to demonstrate his sincerity, value, and power all at once.

Knowing that negotiating tonight's deal would be difficult, Uncle Jia's smile remained undiminished. He thanked Fang Ze while leading him towards the private room.

At the same time, he pondered how he might turn the tables...

While thinking, he suddenly had an idea for a good angle to work. So he turned to Fang Ze with concern and asked, "I heard my noble nephew encountered some trouble on the way here?"