In a blink, You Gongquan turned his gaze to the speaker, who sat to the right of Bi Chao, a woman of exquisite beauty.

From his perspective, the woman's raven-black, lustrous hair was neatly coiled into a bun, adorned with three long jade hairpins inserted at an angle, forming a fan-like pattern, exuding an air of elegance.

Her attire was equally meticulous. She wore a moon-white dress devoid of any other ornamentation, save for a circle of pale gold embroidery along the neckline. A crimson silk sash lightly cinched her waist, and a robe of deep azure, embroidered with delicate patterns of birds and flowers, was draped over her shoulders. The harmonious blend of colors and the exquisite craftsmanship of her attire hinted at the work of a skilled artisan.

The soft, flowing dress accentuated her graceful curves, while the magnificent robe lent her an air of nobility. Despite sitting on her knees, her back was straight as a reed. Her deep, dark eyes rarely flickered, and even her smile was faint and restrained, exuding an air of dignified grace that commanded respect.

You Gongquan knew that this was another key figure at the banquet, the leader of the trade caravan from the Random Heart Pavilion, who had come to host the Treasure Exchange Banquet. Her name was Shen Wan, a highly regarded young talent in the eyes of the current Pavilion Master, and her presence was indeed grand.

Before the banquet began, he heard Hu Dan, who had attended the previous Treasure Exchange Banquet, jokingly say, "This one is much more stern than the amiable Zhou Steward from last time."

As Bi Chao's bright eyes sparkled like rippling water, her smile swept over the faces of Shen Wan and several other important figures at the banquet. Before she could respond, Shen Wan shook her head and said:

"It seems that not everyone is present for this Sky Wing Tower's night banquet. Not to mention my master, there are also some anticipated guests I have not seen. Have the Immortal Elders Xie Yan and Yu Ci from the Lichen Sect decided not to attend?"

At the mention of "Lichen Sect," all the cultivators present, regardless of their knowledge of the sect's background, turned their gazes to the main guest table.

Ironically, the most prominent figures at today's banquet were all female cultivators. Aside from Bi Chao and Shen Wan, the focus of everyone's attention now were two female cultivators seated at the main table.

Feeling the gazes from the crowd, the seemingly gentle and frail female cultivator behind the long table remained silent. But the one next to her, currently the most esteemed figure in Cliff City, merely swept her gaze over the crowd, causing everyone to avert their eyes, and the top floor of the Sky Wing Tower quieted down considerably.

"How formidable!" You Gongquan felt a chill as if his eyes had been plunged into icy water. The two women at the table were of such high status and profound cultivation level that everyone else could only look up to them. Especially the Immortal Elder He Qing, who was known for her reticence. Her presence at this banquet was indeed a surprise.

He Qing was not an arrogant person. With an air of authority in her gaze, she calmly explained, "Elder Brother Xie is certainly unable to attend, as for Yu Ci, whether he comes or not depends on his own will."

Shen Wan still showed respect to He Qing, slightly bowing her body at the table to indicate her understanding. At this moment, however, the banquet hall was buzzing with discussions.

You Gongquan was taken aback. He hadn't expected that the young Cultivator who had traveled with him for two days would have such an influence in Cliff City. He had a feeling that the person Master Bi Chao had left unmentioned must undoubtedly be Yu Ci.

At that moment, behind the long table, two female cultivators were whispering, "Aunt Qing, he hasn't come over yet. Did something happen on the road?"

"With Shan Gu around, even if there is trouble, he can ride the dragon and retreat unscathed."

He Qing spoke calmly, "If he is truly desperate for that item, he will surely come tonight. If he can't make it, it's fate, and no one else can be blamed."

At that time, at the adjacent table, Master Bi Chao finally raised her cup to toast, drinking it all in one gulp, showing great spirit. He Qing shifted her attention slightly, nodding approvingly at Bi Chao's composed demeanor: the cultivation of a great sect truly set them apart!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Next, she noticed that Gan Shi Zhen beside her turned her face and was gazing at Bi Chao, somewhat lost in thought.

She had initially thought that this niece of her clan was still thinking about Yu Ci, but on second thought, something seemed off.

"What's wrong?"

"This Master Bi Chao, she seems familiar."

Gan Shi Zhen responded softly. With their level of cultivation, they did not need to exert any effort; their external Primordial Qi formed a relatively independent domain within a certain range, without worrying about sound waves dispersing. However, perhaps Bi Chao felt their gaze after being stared at for too long, and at that moment, she turned her head back, her face beaming with a polite nod.

At the same time, the control of the banquet had been handed over to Shen Wan.

This steward of the Random Heart Pavilion, after a few polite words, officially kicked off the Treasure Exchange Banquet. Prior to this, the three floors below were filled with intermittent applause, and the atmosphere gradually heated up. As for You Gongquan, he had already settled on the idea of "accompanying the prince in reading," and was indifferent to the applause below.

At this moment, smoke began to rise from the open space in the middle of the table.

"A Smoke Tree rises from the flat ground, its branches reaching out to Bao Guang."

You Gongquan had seen many similar techniques during his travels around the world and was no longer surprised. However, the twisting changes in the smoke still attracted most people's attention.

The smoke gradually formed into a small tree. After the outline was completed, it branched out and formed several smoke-entwined branches. These branches twisted and turned on the "trunk," interweaving and changing, making it difficult to count how many there were. The smoke accumulated on top, forming a tray to hold items, the swirling smoke half-concealing the treasures on top.

You Gongquan knew that generally, the number of branches on this Smoke Tree represented the number of treasures for sale. It seemed that Random Heart Pavilion had put a lot of effort into this.

With a smile, Shen Wan scanned the room, "A few months ago, our Pavilion also held a Treasure Exchange Banquet here, but unfortunately, it was disrupted by an unexpected event, which was quite regrettable. Now, we return to this place to continue the unfinished business, hoping to exchange and share with all of you, to reach a satisfactory conclusion."

"This one is really not giving up," Hu Dan chuckled at the table, Shi Song beside him grunted in agreement, his expression unchanged.

Shen Wan lightly clapped her hands, and the smoke on the treasure tree dispersed, revealing a neatly folded piece of clothing. Judging by its style, it might be a shawl for women.

"Draped in a rosy mantle, Ruyi Money, seven thousand."

A wave of astonishment swept across the assembly. This was no small sum, equivalent to the value of a magical instrument refined to forty-five or six layers.

Shen Wan sat steadily, offering no explanation, merely observing the reactions of those around her.

At the head of the table, Bi Chao's eyes twinkled before she laughed, "It's rare for your esteemed pavilion to go to such lengths. This shawl, it's made using the weaving technique of the rosy clouds, isn't it? Such a technique, augmented by over forty layers of refining, infused with True Sha, and bathed in the brilliance of the rosy clouds, can confuse the enemy's sight and hearing, conceal one's figure, and even enable distant escape through the Soaring Mist and Beam Technique. Although it lacks lethal power, it is an excellent protective treasure, especially suitable for those of us who prefer to use illusion techniques."

She scanned the room, nodded, and laughed, "If no one objects, I'll take this rosy mantle. Shall we trade for this item?"

With that, she took out a jade vial and handed it over. Shen Wan took it, felt it for a moment, then opened the lid, took a light sniff, and quickly closed it again, saying with satisfaction:

"Poison Dragon Incense, only your sect or the Flying Soul Sea City could produce such a high-quality product."

As she spoke, she slightly opened the vial, and the top floor of the Sky Wing Tower was instantly filled with a captivating fragrance, and a red light flickered before everyone's eyes, creating a wondrous scene that left them speechless.

The deal was done. However, everyone present knew that this transaction held more symbolic than actual value. After all, the reopening of the Random Heart Pavilion's Treasure Exchange Banquet was largely due to Bi Chao's efforts, and it was only natural to start the event with a show of support and boost the atmosphere.

Shen Wan casually placed the jade vial containing the Poison Dragon Incense on the table, following the rules of the Treasure Exchange Banquet. Any treasure acquired by the host can be exchanged again, until the end of the banquet. Then there was applause, and the second layer of cloud gas opened.

The cultivators widened their eyes, eager to see the treasures. But the next moment, a chilling light flashed, and a whip-like object flew around the room, buzzing and causing a rush of air that brushed against their cheeks. Although it didn't break the Protective Gang Sha, it made their hair stand on end.

The room fell silent.

Shen Wan was about to speak when a hole suddenly appeared in the window beside her, and a long shadow darted in, moving restlessly. The large hall suddenly seemed much smaller with the addition of this large creature.

Gan Shi Zhen exclaimed, "Shan Gu?"

The one who broke in through the window was He Qing's Destiny Spiritual Object, the Fish-Dragon "Shan Gu". As the cultivators were stunned by this rare spiritual object, a voice rang out:

"Am I late?"

With these words, a figure appeared, not through the main entrance, but striding out from the viewing platform across the Cloud Bamboo Garden.

The newcomer appeared to have gone several days without grooming, his clothes ragged and his face covered in stubble. Yet his laughter was hearty and his demeanor extraordinary.

The assembly erupted in excitement, and someone called out, "Immortal Yu has arrived."

**********