The decline of the Fang family had a far-reaching impact.
After all, they were a super conglomerate with assets worth hundreds of billions, and their businesses spanned the globe, their strength undeniable.
Consequently, the Su family also crossed the boundaries of Linzhou and entered the sights of the most elite families.
Regardless of the Su family's background, merely being able to bring down the Fang family was enough to warrant attention from all top-tier families.
This was precisely Zhang Fan's objective.
...
When Zhang Fan returned to the Su family this time, he had intended to quietly spend the New Year with his parents and hadn't expected to stir up so much trouble.
He knew that due to the Fang family incident, having a peaceful New Year's Eve with his parents and grandfather would likely be extremely difficult.
And so it was, just as Zhang Fan had predicted.
On New Year's Eve, Zhang Fan's uncle, Su Sihang, had only arranged a small banquet for the Su family to gather, without inviting any outside guests.
But as night fell and the lights of myriad homes flickered on, a line stretching hundreds of meters long formed outside the Su family's villa, filled with guests arriving to pay their respects and offer gifts.
To the Su family's surprise, even the Lin and Zhu families, who had previously had conflicts with the Su family, arrived with generous gifts to offer New Year's greetings.
As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face, and besides, the conflicts between the Su family and these two families were minor, not deep-seated hatreds. After their sincere apologies, the Su family stated that they would not dwell on past matters.
Relieved by the Su family's forgiveness, both families breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that they were cowardly; it was simply that the Su family was too formidable now. If the Su family were to dislike them one day, with the influence Zhang Fan possessed, they could easily wipe out both families.
Similarly, Xu Shichang, who had been arrogant at the Su family's New Year's Eve banquet the previous year, came to the Su family. In front of countless guests, he apologized to the Su family, presented them with lavish gifts, and expressed the Xu family's goodwill.
Although Su Sihang still harbored resentment towards Xu Shichang, he understood that the Xu family's submissive apology was entirely due to their nephew. Without Zhang Fan, the Su family might not have even been on the Xu family's radar.
Therefore, considering the Su family's future, Su Sihang accepted Xu Shichang's gifts with a smile, acknowledging the Xu family's goodwill.
Su Sihang's acceptance of his goodwill brought Xu Shichang immense relief. Ever since he learned of Zhang Fan's true identity, he had been unable to sleep or eat properly.
After all, he had led people to cause trouble at the Su family's home on New Year's Eve last year, attempting to abduct Zhang Fan's uncle.
Every time he thought of that incident, Xu Shichang's palms would begin to sweat, and he would feel a chill of fear.
...
The entire New Year's Eve banquet was spent by the Su family amidst the flattery of their guests. Although they knew it was all insincere praise, it was undeniably pleasant to hear.
Su Guoguo sat beside Zhang Fan. Seeing Xu Shichang cast a friendly smile his way, she couldn't help but pout and say, "Hmph, I still remember their arrogant faces at last year's New Year's Eve banquet. The way they're acting now is so hypocritical, it's disgusting."
Hearing this, Zhang Fan gently stroked the two cute pigtails on Su Guoguo's head and smiled, saying, "This has nothing to do with hypocrisy; it's because circumstances dictate actions. For survival, they can only act this way."
...
After the New Year's Eve banquet, Zhang Fan stayed with the Su family for a few days. He felt that cultivating here was too slow for his progress and decided to return to his lake island in Donghai.
At the same time, he informed his parents about the situation on the lake island. When his father learned that the spiritual energy on the island was dozens of times richer than elsewhere, he immediately and righteously lectured Zhang Fan.
"You have such a good cultivation paradise, and you're only telling your old man about it now. Do you know that's unfilial?" Zhang Xing'an glared.
"I shouldn't have told you then," Zhang Fan retorted.
"You dare!" Zhang Xing'an's eyes widened even further, as if his eyeballs were about to pop out.
His mother, however, did not react with much excitement upon hearing this news. She was not as obsessed with cultivation as Zhang Xing'an and was already very satisfied with her current strength.
Furthermore, with the construction of the Tianxiu Lake project just starting, she had many matters to oversee. Therefore, she declined the invitation, planning to visit later when she had time.
Zhang Fan did not press the issue.
Thus, after some preparations, Zhang Fan bid farewell to the Su family and returned to Donghai with his father.
...
On the Bibo Lake, the two of them walked on the water, heading towards the center of the island.
Standing on the Bibo Lake, Zhang Xing'an could see, in the depths of the lake, a small island shrouded in mist, its silhouette only vaguely discernible.
As they approached the island, Zhang Xing'an could clearly feel the spiritual energy growing denser.
"This is a grand formation I've set up that not only gathers spiritual energy from tens of miles around Bibo Lake but also serves as a defense. Even an ordinary Divine Realm expert would find it impossible to forcefully break through this formation," Zhang Fan told his father.
Previously, when Dan Zu had entered the Divine Realm, he had broken through the formation Zhang Fan had set up, injured Ellerbella, and stolen his cultivated spirit herbs.
However, after Zhang Fan's strength improved, he had refined the formation. Zhang Fan estimated that even a late-stage Divine Realm expert would need to expend considerable effort to break through his grand spiritual gathering formation.