In the April embrace of Broken Realm Mountain, the grass was long, the orioles sang, and the world was a verdant wonder. A warm breeze, originating from the distant southeast, could not surpass the sprawling mountain body, layering and rising, ultimately encountering cold and turning into rain. It had been raining for several days, without a moment's pause.

Cliff City, situated at the foot of the mountain, received less rainfall. However, the gentle drizzle had persisted for two or three days and nights. The entire mountain city was shrouded in a thick layer of mist. From a high vantage point, the closely packed houses in the city were mostly obscured, only the most prominent buildings revealed their outlines.

As his gaze wandered through the mist, You Gongquan felt as if he had returned to the fog-filled Sky Rift Valley. However, there were no bloodthirsty Demons here, only hundreds of thousands of ordinary people and a pitifully small group of Cultivators.

With such thoughts, he naturally gazed into the distance. Behind the pervasive mist, the dark shadow was Cinnabar Cliff. It was the heart of the mountain city. The most influential figures in the city lived there, and their every move had a profound impact on the city.

However, in recent days, the people's attention had shifted to this side of the city.

Perhaps due to the continuous rain, there were not many pedestrians on the streets. But around You Gongquan, there was a bustling crowd.

He was currently on the Sky Wing Tower, more precisely, on the enclosed walkway of the Sky Wing Tower's left wing. Beside him, tourists were coming and going. There was no clear distinction between Cultivators and ordinary people. As a Golden Elixir cultivator, he was standing next to a wealthy businessman.

You Gongquan felt a bit regretful. He shouldn't have come to this walkway to pass the time. The residents of Cliff City clearly had a very strong curiosity and courage.

It was said that a battle had taken place on the Sky Wing Tower, almost causing the entire building to collapse. This led to a city-wide battle, with countless casualties among Cultivators and civilians. Yet, only a few months later, these people had seemingly forgotten their pain and were swarming up again for similar reasons. Or perhaps, was this a sign of the city's vitality after its upheavals?

Shaking his head, he entered the main building. The crowd inside was much smaller, after all, only Nature-Connecting Cultivators were eligible to enter.

"Cliff City is one of the largest cities in the Midwest, but it's still a distance from the prosperity of the Three Lakes of the North, let alone the southern land where Cultivators gather. Hmm, perhaps even the North Wilderness is more bustling than here. This is the result of a single sect's dominance!"

As a Lone Cultivator, You Gongquan often took pleasure in mocking the Lichen Sect and other large sects. This was a habit formed many years ago, and he presumed it would never change.

At this time, the final preparations for the banquet were still underway inside the building. You Gongquan leisurely ascended to the second floor, and just as he was about to continue upstairs, a man rushed out from the diagonal and bowed to him:

"Greetings, Immortal Elder You."

"Elder Fan?"

You Gongquan recognized the man. He was one of the members of the hunting party he had assembled, albeit the least impressive one.

Due to the complications of the situation, the hunting party, which had gathered more than twenty Nature-Connecting Cultivators from all over, had disbanded. You Gongquan was now alone. Seeing his old subordinate, his feelings were mixed, but seeing his respectful manners, he felt quite pleased and replied with a smile:

"Elder Fan, how's your business faring?"

"Thanks to your blessings, I've been making a small profit."

Elder Fan had always been a peddler during his time in the hunting group. Now that he had left the group, he was still doing the same old trade. He stood somewhat awkwardly, slightly stooped, his prematurely aged face showing a hint of genuine fear and trepidation. You Gongquan, a seasoned veteran of all corners of rivers and lakes, laughed upon seeing this:

"Is there something you need?"

Seeing that You Gongquan was not showing any signs of impatience, Elder Fan mustered up some courage and whispered, "I would like to ask You, the Immortal Elder, to accompany me to the third floor."

Tonight's Sky Wing Tower was reserved by Xuan Yin Sect for a party, but it was arranged according to the requirements of Random Heart Pavilion. The entire main building was an easy treasure ground for Cultivators to exchange their possessions. According to the arrangement, the four floors of the main building were divided into different tiers:

The first and second floors were for low-level Cultivators like Elder Fan. On these two floors, Random Heart Pavilion only introduced some relatively common daily materials. Besides the variety and exquisite craftsmanship, there was nothing special. Even the cultivation tools were only of Artisan Tool level. The third floor was the boutique floor, where Magical Instruments and some rare material resources started to appear. The prices were high, and the Cultivators who could go up there had to be at least at the Nature-Connecting Middle Stage and were prominent figures in and outside of Cliff City.

As for the fourth floor, it was a place only Golden Elixir cultivators could tread. You Gongquan had also received an invitation a few days ago, and he was just about to go up for the banquet.

Elder Fan took this opportunity to follow the convention. The followers of Golden Elixir cultivators could wait on the third floor.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

You Gongquan knew some details about this peddler. He knew that he was one of the rare Lone Cultivators who had a wife and children. His life was difficult, but he was a decent person and left a good impression on people. It was no problem to take him to the third floor. Just as he was about to nod, he noticed that Elder Fan's gaze had passed over his shoulder, and he seemed a bit stunned. Then a voice sounded from behind:

"Excuse me."

Only then did You Gongquan realize that he was standing at the staircase entrance. He grunted in acknowledgment, stepped aside, and a tall, thin figure brushed past him and ascended to the third floor.

The tall, thin figure was bald and robed, apparently a monk. As he passed by You Gongquan, he felt a mysterious and gloomy aura emanating from this person. His speech was strange, as if his tongue was deliberately stirring the air, creating a bizarre sound. It sounded polite, but it was eerie.

Having traveled north and south and seen many people, You Gongquan was not surprised. He glanced at the figure and then turned to Elder Fan:

"Follow me."

Elder Fan was stunned, then overjoyed, thanking him profusely. You Gongquan shook his head, ignoring him, and walked up with his hands behind his back. Elder Fan followed him, and the guards at the entrance did not stop them.

Compared to the lower floors, the third floor was much quieter and more elegantly decorated. The banquet had not yet begun, and the exhibits of Random Heart Pavilion had not been put out. However, some Cultivators had taken out their Magical Instruments, Elixirs, and Pills that they wanted to exchange and placed them on specially arranged low tables against the wall, preparing for the upcoming exchange.

At a glance, You Gongquan even spotted two former members of the original hunting party. Their meeting was rather peculiar.

Shifting his gaze and continuing to observe, he saw the slender, tall monk ascending the stairs ahead, conversing with a young man who appeared to be in his thirties. Strangely, there was a delicate, doll-like girl standing next to the young man. Feeling You Gongquan's gaze, the young man slightly turned his head, his eyes first showing surprise, then lighting up:

"Ah, is that Brother You ahead?"

"Hu Dan, my younger brother?"

You Gongquan was momentarily taken aback before recognizing the man. The young man was already laughing as he stepped forward, grasping You Gongquan's arm in greeting: "It's been a decade since we last met at Five Chain Lake, Brother. How have you been?"

"Wandering aimlessly, making the world my home, I can only say my health remains decent."

You Gongquan was delighted to meet an old friend here. He and Hu Dan had once journeyed together in the northern lands, cultivating their skills, and had formed a deep friendship. The young man was certainly older than he appeared, but indeed he was more than half younger than You Gongquan. When they had parted ways, the young man was already at the middle stage of Golden Elixir cultivation level. In terms of talent, You Gongquan was far behind.

Thinking about his own luck in forming the Golden Elixir, and how his path to cultivation had been full of setbacks, You Gongquan couldn't help but feel sentimental. Realizing he was losing his composure, he laughed and asked, "Did you happen to be passing through here, Brother Hu?"

Seeing the girl beside the young man, You Gongquan realized he had misunderstood. Sure enough, Hu Dan laughed heartily:

"Brother, you've come to my home. Half of this Cliff City is our sect's property. It's a pity that I'm not the host today, otherwise, I'd have to get drunk with you. Come on, let's go upstairs. I'll introduce you to my sect leader of Thousands Spirits Sect, and a few friends. Oh, this is my sect leader's granddaughter, named Shi Xin, but we all call her Little Nine. Little Nine, this is your Uncle You, whose Sword Way skills are extremely profound. You'll need to learn a lot from him."

The little girl who had been following Hu Dan blinked her eyes, not showing any shyness, and cheerfully called out "Uncle You," looking rather mischievous.

As You Gongquan was thinking about what kind of gift to present, so as not to appear stingy, Hu Dan introduced him to the tall monk he had noticed earlier: "This is Monk Zheng Yan, a disciple of Master Yi Xin from the Pure Water Sect. He's a rare rising star in our Cliff City, with limitless potential."

Only then did You Gongquan take a closer look at this monk. The man had narrow eyes, thin lips, a slender nose, and a face like pale gold. His expression was quite grim, and his appearance was not particularly pleasing. However, between the opening and closing of his eyes, golden light flickered, and his aura was contained, not revealing itself. It seemed that he was already at the Nature-Connecting Upper Stage of cultivation level, and his skills were deeply refined. He was probably only one step away from the Mechanism of the Cauldron, forming the Golden Elixir.

"Indeed, he possesses extraordinary magnanimity."

You Gongquan praised, but felt a sense of curiosity within his heart. Despite not having seen Hu Dan for a decade, he was well-acquainted with the man and had a deep understanding of his temperament. The words he just heard felt somewhat insincere. He silently speculated that there might be some animosity between the Thousands Spirits Sect and the Pure Water Sect. However, after observing Hu Dan's recent conversation with Zheng Yan, he found it hard to believe.

In the end, this matter had nothing to do with him. He quickly put it out of his mind and ascended the tower with Hu Dan. The top of the Sky Wing Tower would undoubtedly be the most bustling place tonight.

**********

The overcast and rainy weather made the day turn dark particularly fast. The main building of Sky Wing Tower and the bridges on both sides were already lit up, casting a faint yellow halo on the structure in the rain.

At the top of the Sky Wing Tower, the Golden Elixir cultivators were gathered. Any of these prominent figures had a cultivation level that was no less impressive than You Gongquan's. Being a Golden Elixir cultivator merely granted one the qualification to be seated.

You Gongquan had been silent for a long time. In fact, since Hu Dan introduced him to the people upstairs, he had not spoken a word after exchanging a few pleasantries. On one hand, he was unfamiliar with the others, except for Hu Dan. On the other hand, he felt the atmosphere in the room was quite peculiar.

According to his understanding, this banquet should be Master Bi Chao of the Xuan Yin Sect making an apology for her predecessor's inappropriate words and actions, and an attempt to rebuild the relationships between the Thousands Spirits Sect, Pure Water Sect, Lifeless Sword Sect, and other sects in Cliff City.

It seemed that the sects were not opposed to this idea, but for some reason, they were reluctant to express their stance.

This hesitation was not only present among the sects of Cliff City but also among those who held higher positions. Their attitudes were subtly delicate.

Look at the expression of Taoist Bao De, who was sent by the Lichen Sect. He seemed to have something difficult to say, repeatedly opening his mouth but saying nothing. His gaze often drifted to the most honored female cultivator at the main table. Unfortunately, he could not glean any valuable information from her stern and indifferent face.

You Gongquan felt uncomfortable on his behalf.

At the main seat, Master Bi Chao had finished her symbolic toast and was raising her glass to the others. The leaders of the sects responded in kind, but those truly valuable words were still sealed in their mouths, not a single one escaping.

You Gongquan also raised his glass, about to drink, when he suddenly heard the dignified and elegant Master Bi Chao sigh:

"One person is absent, making this drink somewhat less satisfying."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of more than half of the people present subtly changed.

At this moment, someone laughed and asked, "Oh? Who is Master Bi Chao referring to?"

**********