As the night went on, the feast continued, laughter echoing through the grand banquet hall as new dishes arrived and old ones vanished. It was a banquet unlike any they had ever attended, and for that night at least, their only concern was how much they could eat before the table was empty.
Little Shrubby, of course, took that as a challenge.
Lin Mu surveyed the table, marveling at the sheer variety of dishes before him. Platters of roasted spiritual beast at, steaming bowls of fragrant seafood soup infused with rare herbs, glistening golden dumplings stuffed with exotic fillings, and even a massive roasted divine beast rib glazed with a sauce that shimred in the light. The aroma alone was enough to make even an immortal cultivator's stomach rumble in anticipation.
'Looks like they have quite a few wines,' Lin Mu mused as he examined the extensive selection laid out before him. The list spanned hundreds of nas, many of which he had never even heard of.
He decided to sample as many as he could. With a flick of his fingers, he activated the serving formations embedded in the table. Several bottles appeared instantly, floating gracefully in the air. At his silent command, the bottles uncorked themselves and poured out the perfect cup, the rich fragrance of aged spirit wine filling the air.
'Maybe I'll be able to improve my own wine. The Saintess might also be interested in so of these,' he thought as he took a sip of an amber-colored wine that burned smoothly down his throat before exploding into a symphony of flavors.
As he continued to savor the delicacies and wines, he beca aware of several people observing him from across the hall.
At the largest table, seated in a position of prominence, were the mbers of the Imperial Court. Their finely embroidered robes and commanding presence made their status clear. Among them, murmurs began to rise as their curiosity was piqued by Lin Mu and his companions.
"Who is that?" one of the officials asked, narrowing his eyes.
"The man with him appears to be wearing the robes of the Zenith Dao Sect," an elderly noble replied.
"A Zenith Dao Sect disciple? What rank is he?" another inquired.
"If I rember correctly, he should be a Core Disciple," the elderly noble responded thoughtfully.
"Oh? That's quite high. Still, for soone of that sect to be here... it seems Lady Yeon has far-reaching connections."
"What about the other man, the one with the beast beside him? He seems noble as well."
"He wears no crest, yet his bearing is certainly refined."
"Should we approach them?" an elder mused.
"Hmm... Junior Elder Wang, why don't you go speak with them?" another suggested. "You're closer to their age."
"As you wish, elders," Junior Elder Wang responded before standing up and making his way toward Lin Mu's table.
Lin Mu, midway through taking another sip of wine, noticed the man approaching and set his cup down. Seeing the polite cupped-hand greeting, he returned the gesture.
"May I know your na, fellow Daoist?" Junior Elder Wang asked courteously. "I am Junior Elder Wang, under the Ministry of Comrce."
"I am Lin Mu. I am unaffiliated," Lin Mu introduced himself simply.
'An unaffiliated cultivator?' Junior Elder Wang was taken aback. However, he quickly suppressed his surprise. The man before him was clearly no ordinary rogue cultivator. If he had been invited to sit at a table of honor and was accompanied by a Core Disciple of the Zenith Dao Sect, then his background had to be extraordinary.
"So it is Daoist Lin Mu. I am honored to et you," Junior Elder Wang said smoothly.
"Likewise," Lin Mu replied before gesturing to his companions. "This is my friend, Daoist Chu, and my disciple, ng Bai."
"Greetings, Senior," ng Bai said, bowing with the proper etiquette he had been taught.
"Ah, Junior Elder Wang. I believe I've seen you before," Daoist Chu said with a knowing smirk.
"You have?" Junior Elder Wang raised a brow.
"At the Eternal Serenade Pavilion, just two days ago," Daoist Chu replied with amusent.
"Ah! A man who appreciates the fine arts." Junior Elder Wang's face lit up.
"Of course," Daoist Chu chuckled, pulling out the chair beside him. "Why don't you join us?"
"Thank you." Junior Elder Wang accepted the invitation and sat down.
As they exchanged pleasantries, the conversation eventually turned to the matter at hand.
"May I ask how you know Lady Yeon?" Junior Elder Wang inquired.
"Lady Yeon?" Lin Mu frowned slightly.
"I… don't think I know her," Daoist Chu admitted.
"You don't? But she's the one who organized this banquet," Junior Elder Wang said, surprised.
"Oh? We simply received invitations since we're staying at the Imperial Ocean Quay," Daoist Chu replied, beginning to suspect there had been so kind of mix-up regarding their seating arrangents.
'Strange. They don't even know Lady Yeon and were still given a seat of honor?' Junior Elder Wang pondered the implications.
"May I ask who Lady Yeon is?" Daoist Chu asked. "We're not from this world."
"Ah, I see. Then it makes sense that you wouldn't know," Junior Elder Wang said, nodding. "Not many outside the upper circles are aware of her. Lady Yeon is an external elder of the Imperial Family and a prominent business magnate within the empire."
"An external elder?" Daoist Chu raised a brow.
"She's not part of the Imperial Family?" Lin Mu had assud that soone with the authority to use the Western Shore Palace would surely be royalty.
"She isn't a direct mber, but she has close ties to them. Several of her family mbers are married into the Imperial Clan, and she holds considerable influence. She is also, pardon my language, filthy rich." Junior Elder Wang's tone carried deep respect.
"Oh?" Lin Mu's interest piqued. 'No wonder there was no information about her in the book. She's an external elder.'
External elders occupied a unique position—outsiders who were granted official status within powerful sects or clans due to their exceptional abilities. Sects often invited alchemists, formation masters, and artifact refiners, while noble families sought warriors or strategists. In Lady Yeon's case, her expertise seed to be wealth itself.
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