Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty! Chapter 1733 - 708: The Shocked Leaders of All Sides

Within the dimly lit banquet hall, Qiu Tu, adorned in a charcoal-black uniform and flanked by his trusted inner circle, made his measured entrance. The interplay of light and shadow clung to him, painting a picture of both brilliance and obscurity. An imposing aura, akin to that of a celestial deity, descended silently, permeating every nook and cranny of the gathering space.

A palpable sense of grandeur, interwoven with an undercurrent of lethal gravity, descended upon the hall, compelling an involuntary shiver from all present. Despite his silence, an overwhelming pressure, a primal fear that one might experience when facing the apex predator of the ecosystem, radiated from him.

Consequently, the moment the first individual rose from their seat, a chain reaction ensued. Soon, every leader of the myriad factions within the banquet hall stood in unison, forming a formidable, dark legion to greet Qiu Tu's arrival.

These were figures of immense influence, each capable of toppling nations single-handedly, yet before Qiu Tu, they stood like obedient subordinates, their only recourse a deferential salutation.

Under the scrutiny of nearly a hundred powerful leaders, Qiu Tu, at the head of his entourage, progressed deliberately towards the principal seat of the banquet.

He did not assume his seat immediately but instead directed his attention to Doris, who had been positioned to his lower left.

At this juncture, Doris appeared visibly perturbed, her gaze fixed upon Qiu Tu, her exquisitely crafted features etched with a mixture of apprehension and astonishment.

The reason for her disquiet? As Qiu Tu had entered, not only had the assembled Eighth Rank Great Evil Gods experienced a primal pressure from a being at the pinnacle of the food chain, but even she, a Heavenly God of considerable standing, had felt it.

‘Qiu Tu has ascended once more in power…’

‘Although I attained the status of Heavenly God before him, in his presence, I am consumed by an unbearable helplessness…’

Engrossed in these thoughts, Doris found herself momentarily lost in a reverie.

Then, it happened.

“Clink.”

A delicate sound resonated within the hushed expanse of the banquet hall.

The noise itself was barely audible, less than the plink of a falling droplet. Nevertheless, every soul present, even those at the modest mid-Eighth Rank, registered the sound with acute clarity.

Doris, no exception to this heightened awareness, snapped back to the present and turned her attention to the source of the sound.

Her eyes landed upon an intricately carved jade pendant lying on the floor. It was an item belonging to the host of this very banquet, Qiu Tu.

At that precise moment, Qiu Tu stood directly before her, the jade pendant resting at his feet.

Doris hesitated for a breath, then her gaze ascended past Qiu Tu's legs, only to meet his emotionless stare.

His eyes were enigmatic and profound, resembling a bottomless, frigid pool, concealing depths where unidentifiable, indescribable sentiments lay dormant.

The atmosphere of the entire banquet seemed to freeze unnaturally.

Every attendee understood that given Qiu Tu's formidable capabilities, it was virtually impossible for him to carelessly drop an item. Even in the unlikely event of an accident, his retinue would undoubtedly have scrambled to retrieve it without him needing to lift a finger.

Yet, the current situation was peculiar. His apparent carelessness, coupled with the inaction of his closest aides, strongly suggested an ulterior motive.

This realization prompted a wave of speculation amongst the various powers gathered, each attempting to decipher Qiu Tu's intentions.

Given the sharp intellects assembled, gazes inevitably converged upon Doris.

The timing was undeniable; the jade pendant had fallen precisely as Qiu Tu approached Doris, establishing a clear link between the two.

In that critical moment, Doris, now the undeniable focal point, finally grasped the situation.

She understood that her primary objective for attending this gathering—to formally pledge her allegiance to Qiu Tu—was no longer a private matter.

Naturally, her intention was not to submit unconditionally; she had hoped to negotiate favorable terms.

However, it now seemed Qiu Tu had either divined her purpose or discovered it through clandestine channels. He had deliberately dropped the jade pendant at her feet, compelling her to make a public declaration.

If she were to feign ignorance, it would expose her wavering commitment, potentially leading Qiu Tu to question her motives during negotiations or even reject her overture outright.

Conversely, if she were to acknowledge the pendant and make her declaration, her status as a subordinate would be cemented, leaving her with no leverage for negotiation!

‘This insufferable wretch! To scheme against me so cunningly!’

A surge of incandescent rage coursed through Doris as these thoughts raced through her mind, her teeth grinding in frustration.

Her immediate impulse was to depart, yet she was compelled to reconsider by her current predicament and the significant advantages that allegiance to Qiu Tu would bring.

After a period of intense internal debate, she ultimately resolved to accept the situation!

‘Just you wait, Qiu Tu! Once this is resolved, I will certainly have my revenge!’

While inwardly vowing retribution, Doris stiffly rose and advanced towards him.

Dressed today in a striking dark red, high-slit gown, she gathered the fabric and gracefully knelt on one knee before Qiu Tu.

The form-fitting nature of her dress accentuated the curves of her voluptuous, pear-shaped figure as she lowered herself.

Qiu Tu lowered his gaze, observing the woman kneeling before him amidst the distinguished assembly of the ‘Boundless Heart Sea.’

From his vantage point, the sight of Doris's fair skin and the alluring expanse of her cleavage was a temptation that could easily overwhelm him.

Clutching her skirt with one hand and the jade pendant with the other, Doris lifted her gaze to Qiu Tu, her voice laced with a feigned pitiful tone as she uttered, "Speaker Qiu, your jade pendant has slipped from your grasp."

As she tilted her head upwards, her elegant swan-like neck, delicate collarbones, and full bosom were prominently displayed for Qiu Tu to behold.

Her guise of helplessness, combined with a sorrowful expression, made her appear exceptionally captivating and pitiable.

Despite Qiu Tu's renowned composure and immunity to superficial charms, he couldn't help but experience a fleeting moment of distraction.

He inwardly grumbled, 'What a temptress.'

Nevertheless, regaining his composure, he extended a hand to help Doris rise, stating, "The Lord is far too gracious."

Assisting Doris to her feet, Qiu Tu then declared, "Since this jade pendant is destined to remain with the Lord, I shall present it to you."

The assembled guests, sharp and discerning as they were, immediately latched onto Qiu Tu's choice of word: 'present'.

It was not referred to as a gift, but a presentation. This subtle distinction implied an unequal relationship between Qiu Tu and Doris, one marked by hierarchy rather than parity.

Recalling Doris's earlier gesture of kneeling to retrieve the pendant for Qiu Tu, their gazes inevitably shifted towards her…

Though internally she castigated Qiu Tu, biting her lip, Doris softly conveyed her gratitude, "Thank you, Speaker."

With these few simple words, their relative standing was unequivocally defined.

A palpable tension filled the banquet hall momentarily.

After all, prior to their arrival, it was common knowledge that many among the six Heavenly Gods were aligned with Qiu Tu or belonged to his faction.

Yet, witnessing a newly ascended Heavenly God so readily fall under Qiu Tu's sway and pledge allegiance left them considerably unsettled.

Their prior assumption was that Qiu Tu and the other Heavenly Gods were peers, with the latter merely choosing to operate from the shadows, offering their support to Qiu Tu.

However, it now appeared that the dynamics between Qiu Tu and those Heavenly Gods were not as they had perceived?

This revelation spurred many influential figures to re-evaluate and elevate Qiu Tu's status in their estimations.

At that very instant, Qiu Tu acutely perceived the shift in the hall's atmosphere.

He placed a hand on Doris's shoulder, gesturing for her to return to her seat, before proceeding to take his place at the head of the table.

His loyal retainers stood impassively on either side of the hall, lending an air of grave solemnity to the entire banquet.

Once seated, Qiu Tu cast a cold gaze over the throng that remained standing and finally uttered a single command, "Sit."

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