Dan Yang Mountain, Wangyan Peak.
Today marks the 500th birthday of Beichen Sect’s Great Elder Yan Zhengting. At the foot of the mountain, a grand banquet spanning over a dozen miles has been arranged. Colorful canopies tower high, clouds carpet the ground, and strange flowers hang in the air. Guests from all directions arrive on flying boats or riding cloud carriages, crowding this mountain hollow to its brim.
Yan Zhengting’s eldest son, Yan Duo, personally stands aboard the golden ship to welco the guests. Behind him stand his own son, Yan Zhenxiang, and his nephew, Yan Zhenhua. After seeing another group of guests inside, a clear cry of cranes echoes from above. Raising their heads, they see over a dozen n and won, resembling True Immortals, riding on cranes as they descend.
Yan Duo’s expression brightens as he exclaims joyfully, "It’s the fellow Daoists from Bi Yu Xuan."
Fifteen majestic immortal cranes with white feathers and red-tipped crowns circle in mid-air before gradually landing on the golden ship. From the cranes’ backs descend a group of people. At the forefront is a beautiful woman clad in a palace-style robe with a cinched waist, her necklace gleaming like jade. Following her is a spirited, lively child.
The woman leads the child forward, bows slightly, and says, "Yan Xiyue of Bi Yu Xuan, accompanied by my younger brother Yan Xiaoyang, representing our mother to congratulate Elder Yan."
Yan Duo, recognizing them as the son and daughter of Bi Yu Xuan’s Sect Leader, imdiately beams with delight and returns the greeting, saying, "So it’s the esteed siblings. Please, co inside and take a seat of honor."
Yan Xiyue smiles warmly and waves her hand. A maid steps forward and presents the gift list.
Yan Duo glances at the list and exclaims in astonishnt, "A thousand-year-old auspicious turtle, a pair of five-hundred-year-old male and female white deer, and eighteen Qingyu immortal cranes..." Before finishing, he continuously remarks, "Sect Leader Yan has been far too generous, truly too generous."
Bi Yu Xuan’s founding ancestor was once an elder of the Nanhua Sect. The two sects share deep connections, and Bi Yu Xuan is highly skilled in taming immortal birds and exotic beasts. These turtles, deer, and cranes are far superior to ordinary auspicious beasts, having been nurtured with spiritual dicine and trained with secret techniques. In combat, they can even surpass ordinary cultivators. Once bonded to a master, they are exceptionally loyal, never betraying their owners—a quality beloved by cultivators. Such creatures are rarely granted, yet here Bi Yu Xuan has gifted so many, truly lending great prestige to the occasion.
Yan Duo quickly calls over one of his cousins and instructs him to carefully tend to the sibling pair.
Yan Xiyue, holding the hand of the clever child, follows the golden bridge further into the venue. At first, the child excitedly looks around, but after a while, he pouts and says, "It’s not so extraordinary! It doesn’t even compare to our Water Moon Pavilion."
Yan Xiyue gently taps his head and softly scolds, "If my little brother keeps speaking nonsense, elder sister won’t bring you out next ti."
The child rubs his head, grumbles under his breath, but doesn’t dare speak further.
The leading Yan family clansman shakes his head with a smile, pretending not to hear. After all, Bi Yu Xuan, backed by the Nanhua Sect, holds a position far above Beichen Sect in terms of strength. Though the words ca from a child’s unrestrained mouth, there is indeed so truth to them.
anwhile, on the golden ship, Yan Duo strokes his thick beard with a smile, chuckling, "Linqing Temple has sent their third-generation senior disciple Song Hong and the Great Elder’s daughter Mi Qing’er. Bi Yu Xuan brings Sect Leader Yan’s son and daughter. When Father learns of this, he’ll surely be pleased."
Behind him, his eldest son, Yan Zhenxiang—a young man with a clean-shaven, fair face—steps forward and says, "Father, may we start the banquet now?"
Yan Duo is about to respond but seems to suddenly rember sothing. Turning his head, he asks, "Zhenhua, didn’t you ntion an important guest would attend? Now that the guests from Bi Yu Xuan and Linqing Temple are here, where is the distinguished guest you invited?"
"Well..."
Yan Zhenhua feels uncertain. In the past, the Mingcang Sect would always send polite refusals in response to his invitations. He hadn’t minded much, as his intention was rely to maintain the connection, not to truly expect their attendance. However, this ti he received no refusal. Confident they might co, he had hoped to use the occasion to earn so recognition among his family and peers. Yet now, with no sign of the guest, and uncertain of their intentions, he doesn’t dare guarantee anything.
Yan Zhenxiang, noticing his cousin’s awkwardness, chuckles lightly and remarks, "Zhenhua has made many acquaintances in the past, though many are of uncertain origins and whereabouts. Surely Father doesn’t an to trouble him over a casual remark?"
Yan Duo snorts. He has always disapproved of this nephew’s boastful tendencies and penchant for associating with fringe loose cultivators, as well as frequenting the mansions of Wei Dynasty nobles. These behaviors hardly resemble those of a proper cultivator. When his nephew had confidently claid to have secured an influential guest, Yan Duo had his doubts. Now, it seems to be yet another empty boast.
Hearing his cousin’s jibe, Yan Zhenhua’s face darkens. Using the excuse of greeting so friends, he pulls his robes aside and swiftly leaves with his head lowered.
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