After finishing a crab, Bai Yongyan sighed contentedly and let out a long, satisfied burp.

At the same time, everyone present burped with the exact same loudness and length, even the satisfied expressions on their faces were identical.

"Well, everyone, does my crab-eating technique seem novel enough?"

Bai Yongyan smiled as he scanned the guests, picking up a silk handkerchief, wetting it with water, and wiping his greasy fingers.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering what had just happened.

They only felt a craving in their stomachs and their limbs were out of control, involuntarily imitating Bai Yongyan's actions.

Only now did they belatedly realize that something was wrong.

"I didn't expect Mr. Bai to actually know the Puppet Curse technique that has been lost in the martial world for a long time."

A dark-skinned, tall, tower-like strong man said grimly, "Using white peaches as a medium, driven by incantations, those who are hit by the spell cannot control their bodies and can only act according to the caster's will.

Even if they watched themselves jump into a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, they would be unable to resist."

This man was none other than Li Yushan, the Devil Subduing Commandant of the Wuwei Guard, who led the Wuwei Guard soldiers to protect the Annam delegation this time.

"Pah."

Li Yushan spat out a piece of white peach, and the two adjutants on his left and right also spat the white peach into the plate in front of them in a similar manner.

The fingers of these three were clean, without crab oil.

When everyone was eating crabs like Bai Yongyan, they just watched coldly from the side.

Apart from these three, the others who didn't eat crabs were Yu Qingqiu, as well as the monks from Yonglin Temple and the Annam delegation.

However, the latter didn't seem to spit out the white peach chunks, and it was unknown what method they used to shield themselves from Bai Yongyan's spell.

"You flatter me, Commandant Li."

Bai Yongyan sat under the tree, cupped his fist in salute and said with a smile: "Actually, this is not a real Puppet Curse.

The orthodox Puppet Curse only needs to obtain a strand of the target's hair or a drop of blood, and use it to make a puppet, then you can cast a spell,

so that the affected person will be subtly influenced, making various actions that are beneficial to the caster, without noticing anything unusual.

I just took a shortcut, using white peaches as an intermediary to encourage everyone to eat the crabs they already wanted to eat.

It's far from being able to manipulate minds and control bodies."

The guests still looked ugly when they heard this.

They were either prominent figures, or warlocks and cultivators who considered themselves skilled.

Out of self-esteem and self-preservation, they couldn't accept that someone was manipulating their behavior.

Before anyone else could attack, the old man Wu Zhu, whose face was extremely ugly, slammed the table and stood up abruptly, pointing his finger at Bai Yongyan under the tree, and shouted sternly:

"You, surnamed Bai, actually used the Puppet Curse on the king's guests. Are you trying to ruin the reputation of the royal palace..."

Before he could finish his words, all the guests felt an itch in their throats and subconsciously opened their mouths, spitting out a piece of white peach like Li Yushan and others, dispelling the "Puppet Curse".

Only the old man Wu Zhu, with his eyes wide open and bloodshot, grabbed his throat with both hands, making "ho ho ho" sounds in his mouth,

as if he was choked by the white peach.

The young boy beside him was sweating profusely, constantly patting the old man Wu Zhu's back, almost crying.

Bai Yongyan then waved his hand slowly, causing the old man Wu Zhu to cough violently, coughing out a piece of white peach flesh with blood.

"Brother Wei, remember to chew more next time,"

Bai Yongyan said leisurely with a smile: "Old people should chew slowly when eating."

The servant who rushed over from the corridor didn't know what had just happened in the hall, and shouted loudly: "The King of Shu is here!"

The King of Shu is here!

The host of this banquet, the most honorable person in the entire Luzhou and even the entire Southern Region, is about to arrive.

The guests hurriedly tidied up their clothes and sat upright.

The old man Wu Zhu also changed his expression several times, hesitated for a while, didn't bother to pursue Bai Yongyan's crimes, snorted coldly, and sat down silently.

Bai Yongyan stood up slowly, reached out and touched the bark of the tree, and the entire tree withered and withered in place at an extremely fast speed.

Green leaves fell all over the sky, turning into fly ash before landing.

The remaining roots and branches seemed to merge into the wooden floor and disappeared.

After a few breaths, the peach tree, which was as high as the ceiling of the hall, seemed to have never existed.

After a while, the curtain at the innermost side of the hall was lifted by a servant.

A middle-aged man with a wide body, a fat head, and big ears walked in.

He had a pale and greasy complexion, and his ten fingers were short and thick like radishes. The fat on his body was almost overflowing from his purple robe.

"Haha, I, the little king, can't hold my liquor and have been sobering up for a while,"

The King of Shu said with a smile, "I've made you all laugh."

Everyone shook their heads quickly. Those with some education made up a few poems, and those without education said things like "Noble people are always late" and "The King doesn't care about trivial matters and is a true character."

After a burst of flattery, the King of Shu waved his hand, walked to the seat and sat down.

Now that the host had arrived, the banquet could proceed normally.

The music started, and dancers in silk skirts entered and danced, and the banquet seemed to be back on track.

After a few rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, the King of Shu seemed to have thought of something, slapped his forehead, put down his wine glass, and cleared his throat, "Oh, I almost forgot tonight's business."

The originally lively and noisy banquet suddenly became quiet.

The music stopped, and the dancers silently left along the gaps between the guests' seats.

"High Monk Fader, the auspicious omen you brought is to be presented to His Majesty in the capital."

The King of Shu, whose face was slightly red from drinking, said slowly: "In recent years, the world has been plagued by disasters, and droughts and locust plagues have continued. His Majesty is diligent in handling state affairs, going to court early and resting late, and is already exhausted.

I heard that your Annam auspicious omen can predict the weather and avoid evil?

Why not let this king take a look and verify it."

Here it comes!

Everyone present was shocked. After waiting for so long, they finally heard this sentence.

Everyone knew that the current emperor was suspicious by nature.

This time, the King of Shu invited guests and asked the Annam delegation to take out the auspicious omen for verification, which was probably also the emperor's intention.

The Annam monks had also known about this link for a long time, so naturally they didn't object. After discussing for a while, eight young monks pushed a iron cart into the hall.

On the iron cart was a huge iron cage still covered with a cloth.

The iron cage was silent, exuding an indescribable eerie atmosphere.

The originally cheerful atmosphere in the hall instantly disappeared. Everyone's eyes were focused on the iron cage.

The young Annam monks swallowed, grabbed the cloth with fear and awe, and slowly pulled it down.