Invitation

Around the Temple of Literature were four immortal ferry crossings where cultivators could stay: Pan Shui County Town, Mandarin Duck Islet, Aotou Mountain, and Parrot Continent.

A long-browed elder who had just arrived from the South Sea's Returning Ruins was already fishing at Mandarin Duck Islet.

Two Immortal Family Ferries docked almost simultaneously near Aotou Mountain, one from the Xuanmi Dynasty and the other from the Shao Yuan Dynasty.

Both dynasties ranked among the ten greatest on the Central Divine Continent.

A black-clad youth stepped off one ferry. The Xuanmi Dynasty enjoyed the favor of Water Virtue, and black clothing was prized throughout its court and countryside.

Beside him, a plump, heavyset elder rubbed a piece of jade against his face.

One was the Xuanmi Dynasty's new Emperor, only sixteen years old. The other was Yu Panshui, patriarch of the Yu Clan: emperors came and went, but he remained Supreme Emperor, as enduring as iron.

Yu Juanfu and Yu Qingqing accompanied the elder.

The Shao Yuan Dynasty's party was larger. Alongside Emperor His Majesty, a man in the prime of life, came National Teacher Chao Pu, elegant beneath a tall cap and flowing sash, a snow-white horsetail whisk in hand. There were his prized disciple Lin Junbi and Mr. Xilu, Jiang Longxiang, who had written the Kuai Zai Pavilion Chess Manual.

The Yan clan's Old Ancestor was accompanied by a curvaceous maidservant holding a fox. Her eyes and brows were naturally alluring, and a beauty mark sat beside her lips.

Lin Junbi, Jin Mengzhen, Zhu Mei, Yan Lü, and Jiang Guancheng—five Sword Immortal Embryos—had all traveled to the Sword Qi Great Wall with Sword Immortal Ku Xia.

Jiang Guancheng was Sword Immortal Ku Xia's direct disciple. Two of his elders had once been Academy gentlemen of the Second Sage lineage.