The banquet at the top tier was arranged in a semicircle, a traditional kneeling seating arrangement, with low tables set in front, and a spacious open area in the center. Under the direction of Geng Fu, beautiful maidens led the distinguished guests to their seats. Yu Ci took a deep breath, forcing his attention away from the Divine Bronze Mirror. His gaze swept across the grand hall, taking in all the characters present.
His eyes first landed on Jin Huan. The master of the White Sun Mansion had not entered the Cloud Bamboo Garden earlier, but was conversing with someone in a corner of the hall. Upon hearing the music of the banquet, he walked over, the man he had been speaking with trailing behind him, matching his pace. That was Kuang Yan Qi.
Jin Huan looked as usual, wearing a Black Gold Long Robe, with a Jade Belt around his waist. His square face radiated an inherent authority. The passive situation of the past few days seemed to have no impact on him. He strode over, greeted Xie Yan, and made a gesture of invitation, exuding the grandeur of a landlord.
Everyone then took their seats. Xie Yan naturally took the top seat, and Yu Ci sat next to him. Some might not be pleased with this seating arrangement, but no one dared to question it. Jin Huan sat on the other side, facing them from a distance. Kuang Yan Qi, however, had no seat and stood behind him, remaining silent.
The distinguished guests were, of course, allowed to bring attendants. Kuang Yan Qi held the role of a mediator. As to why it was not Jin Chuan, who had a closer relationship with Jin Huan, rumor had it that the young man had been confined by Jin Huan to his mansion after his encounter with Yu Ci at Sky Wing Tower. However, it seemed that Kuang Yan Qi's mental state was not too good; he had lost much weight in the few days they hadn't seen each other.
After a moment of confusion, all the distinguished guests had taken their seats. The atmosphere was harmonious, filled with laughter and conversation. Yu Ci's gaze swept over the crowd once again. This time, he saw Zhao Zirui, who was suspected of smuggling, smiling at him. Zhao then turned his head and locked eyes with a Taoist priest across from him.
That Taoist priest was naturally Lu Mingyue. Yu Ci had only glanced at him from a distance before, but now, under the light, he could see him more clearly. He seemed to be a man of wine and pleasure, yet for some reason, his eyes were full of joy. Even when he was having a staring contest with Zhao Zirui, he had a sense of superiority, as if he couldn't be bothered to compete, which was rather odd.
Next to him was a monk.
When Yu Ci's gaze landed on him, the monk also looked up. His surprisingly calm and upright face was expressionless, but upon meeting Yu Ci's gaze, he smiled and nodded, very friendly. Yu Ci also smiled, as if there was an unspoken understanding between them.
Without a doubt, this was Monk Yi Xin. His appearance bore no resemblance to his disciples, who were as venomous as snakes. The way he sat was comparable to any revered monk.
"Knowing a person's face is easy, but understanding their heart is a challenge," Yu Ci murmured to himself. Who would have thought, looking at him, that he was the instigator of the turmoil in Sky Rift Valley, a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike?
At this moment, there were still guests who hadn't arrived at the banquet.
Fourteen seats had been arranged on the top floor of Sky Wing Tower. They were designed for the Immortal Elder of Lichen Sect, the leaders of the five major powers of Sheer Cliff City, the representative of the Lone Cultivator Lu Mingyue, five distinguished guests from afar, and the yet-to-arrive Leader of the Sui Xin Pavilion Trade Caravan.
At this point, the "distinguished guests" represented by Zhao Zirui had all arrived. The Trade Caravan leader was due to preside over the upcoming Treasure Exchange Banquet and had not yet taken his seat. In addition, the seat below Yu Ci, meant for the Thousands Spirits Sect, remained vacant. This was to be expected, as Shi Song had not set foot in Sheer Cliff City since his crushing defeat to Jin Huan years ago. The seat was merely a token of respect.
Only one seat remained...
"Red Yin, the master of Xuan Yin Sect, has arrived."
In such a setting, Geng Fu could hardly make a grand announcement, but even his plain statement, coupled with the elegant figure that entered alongside a fragrant breeze, instantly drew everyone's attention.
Dressed in the distinctive black robe of the Xuan Yin Sect, Red Yin stepped into the hall. Her face was expressionless, her features sharp and clear, like a beautifully sculpted statue. She responded simply to the greetings from the guests, showing no sign of self-consciousness for her late arrival. In fact, she had arrived precisely on time.
Throughout the entire process, she only spoke more than necessary to Xie Yan, saying something along the lines of "Greetings, Immortal Elder Xie." Given the tension between the two sects, it was hardly a warm exchange. With a nod, the female cultivator took her seat, situated below Jin Huan, directly across from Yu Ci.
Neither of them exchanged glances.
The heat from the Divine Bronze Mirror on the inside of Yu Ci's forearm still lingered on his skin. But at this moment, his previously anxious mood suddenly calmed, as if a handful of ice and snow had been placed over his heart.
Downstairs, a sudden burst of applause echoed like thunder, making the Sky Wing Tower tremble slightly. The Treasure Exchange Banquet had begun, and it had started on a high note.
This seemed to be a signal, and the small-scale conversations on the top floor ceased. However, the merchants from the Random Heart Pavilion had not yet arrived.
Naturally, everyone present had the ability to remain composed. Despite the waves of applause and cheers that echoed from the floors below, they all sat unflinchingly. However, some of them couldn't help but murmur inwardly, thinking that the grandeur of Random Heart Pavilion was perhaps a bit too overwhelming.
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At that moment, on the open ground surrounded by desks, a wisp of smoke began to rise, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
The smoke twisted and turned, gradually taking shape. It resembled a budding tree sprout breaking through the soil, slowly growing taller, with its trunk forming, branching out, and eventually developing into several smoke-wrapped branches.
These branches were not fixed, but rather swirled and danced around the trunk of smoke, intertwining and transforming. Yu Ci counted and found there were five in total.
On these branches, layers upon layers of smoke accumulated, forming leaf-like shapes. In reality, these were trays holding objects, upon which various colors of light shone brilliantly. Through the outer layer of swirling smoke, they turned into a hazy light that illuminated the entire room, attracting everyone's attention for a moment.
"Show-off!"
Yu Ci chuckled inwardly, turning to look at Zhao Zirui. He found that Zhao Zirui was also looking his way, presumably thinking about the conversation they had earlier atop the cliff. Both of them nodded with a smile, their gazes once again drawn to the Smoke Tree.
Despite calling it a show-off, they had to admit that this technique of "raising a Smoke Tree from flat ground, with five branches catching the treasure light" was quite eye-catching. Especially the mysterious light intertwined among the branches and leaves, its nature unknown. The light shone through, revealing glimpses of the true treasures that were otherwise hidden, making it impossible to see clearly, but enough to tickle one's curiosity. It seemed that this Smoke Tree alone was quite an extraordinary item.
Just then, a hearty laughter rang out.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting, esteemed Immortal Elders and Daoist friends. My name is Zhou Youde, the humble steward of Random Heart Pavilion. I am honored to meet you all."
With the laughter, a short and sturdy figure emerged from behind the screen. He had a robust build, but his face was all smiles, exuding a warm and friendly air typical of a merchant. He bowed deeply to everyone present, repeatedly expressing his respect. When he reached the front, he specifically bowed to Xie Yan:
"Since we last parted at the Fountain of Youth, Xie Immortal Elder's charisma remains unchanged, which I greatly admire."
Yu Ci had met Zhou Youde earlier that day and knew him to be a very smooth operator, but he had no idea that Zhou Youde and Xie Yan were old acquaintances.
Xie Yan gave Zhou Youde a quick glance, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Youde's face. He slightly nodded, acknowledging Zhou Youde's greeting. He then turned his face back, still fixated on the Smoke Tree in the center of the room.
Zhou Youde, clearly aware of Xie Yan's temperament, made another round of salutations to everyone present before taking his seat. He then gave a light cough. Despite his yellowish complexion indicating his poor health, likely due to injuries sustained from a recent robbery, he managed to maintain his professional smile, greeting everyone with utmost courtesy.
In this brief moment of respite, Yu Ci felt that something was amiss.
The gaze shifted to Xie Yan. The elder, unblinking, was staring intently at the radiant glow of the Smoke Tree, his expression grave. It was only through recent frequent contact with Xie Yan that such nuanced emotions could be discerned. To the others, this reclusive and eccentric Immortal Elder always wore the same expression, unchanging.
What was Xie Yan looking at?
Yu Ci couldn't see through the smoky layer surrounding the treasure, but his vision was not on par with a Vacuum Walking Cultivator.
At that moment, a gasp of surprise arose from below, indicating a treasure had been revealed, thus stirring the atmosphere into greater excitement. As the noise subsided, Zhou Youde finally got to the point. He gestured towards the Smoke Tree at the center of the banquet.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, these are the five Magical Instruments that my Random Heart Pavilion has prepared for this Treasure Exchange Banquet. They were all brought from the Western Buddha Land, each possessing unique characteristics and offering great benefits to cultivators. You all should know the rules of the Treasure Exchange Banquet. I will unseal a treasure. If any Immortal Elder or Daoist friend takes a liking to it, you can estimate its value and exchange it for an item of equal worth, or purchase it with our Random Heart Pavilion's 'Ruyi Money'. Of course, I will announce the price before unsealing."
Half of the attendees broke into laughter, not because Zhou Youde's words were humorous, but because they understood the implications.
Merchants like Random Heart Pavilion had always strived to establish a universal currency in the Cultivation World, aiming to change the traditional barter system. However, the currency they created could only circulate within a small scope. This 'Ruyi Money' was only useful when dealing with Random Heart Pavilion, something none of the attendees possessed. Zhou Youde was merely promoting enthusiastically, a fact everyone understood.
Zhou Youde laughed heartily, refraining from further comment. With a gentle clap, a branch of the Smoke Tree blossomed like a lotus, revealing a palm-sized ring made of brass-like metal. The ring seemed ordinary, but Zhou Youde announced a price:
"'Heart-Connecting Rhinoceros Ring', five thousand Ruyi Money."
Those familiar with the internal market were somewhat surprised; the price was quite impressive, roughly equivalent to the value of a Magical Instrument made from a stack of over forty "Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha" Refining Ritual Talismans.
Upon seeing the expressions of the crowd, Zhou Youde chuckled and continued to explain:
"This 'Heart-Connecting Rhinoceros Ring' is made from the horn of a Ring-Horned Rhinoceros, a creature unique to the Western Buddha Land, mixed with Wind-ground Mystical Bronze. It has been consecrated by the high monks of Lan Ruo Temple and layered with the thirty-one levels of Buddha Bathing Great Mantra. When worn close to the body, it can dispel inner demons and ward off evil spirits; when used against an enemy, it can subdue Yin Demons. Moreover, due to the characteristics of the Ring-Horned Rhinoceros, the wearer of this ring can understand the language of birds and beasts without any training, allowing for simple communication with all creatures. Quite unique indeed."
Yu Ci gazed at the ring from afar, thinking that if he had had this ring when he encountered Nan Songzi earlier, he would have been able to handle the situation with more composure.
Zhou Youde glanced around at the guests at the banquet, grinned and asked, "Is there any Daoist friend who is interested?"
The banquet fell silent, not because no one was interested, but because those who were interested were calculating how to make the most advantageous "treasure exchange". Zhou Youde displayed great patience, waiting with a smile.
Just then, someone softly chanted a Buddhist mantra. It was Monk Yi Xin, who, coming from a Buddhist background, understood the details. "Lan Ruo Temple is one of the Thirty-three Treasured Temples of the West. If a high monk from there consecrates something, it should be equivalent to ten layers of talisman. And the ability to communicate with birds and beasts seems tailored for the Thousands Spirits Sect. It's a pity that Sect Leader Shi is not here..."
"Who says Shi is not here!"
A vigorous voice came from outside the door. Before the echo died away, a tall, white-haired elder strode in. His laughter resonated from his chest, powerful and hearty:
"How could Shi miss such a lively feast?"
Yu Ci glanced sideways, just in time to see the shock on Jin Huan's face replaced by an unmistakable grim expression.
Shi Song, the Sect Leader of the Thousands Spirits Sect, who had not set foot in Sheer Cliff City for fifty years, had suddenly appeared at Sky Wing Tower, standing before his old rival.
A wave of gasps came from downstairs, providing a footnote to Shi Song's arrival.
Are any readers feeling that the plot has been moving a bit slow recently? If so, fasten your seat belts, because things are about to speed up!
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e