At the evening banquet, cups clinked and wine was passed back and forth, accompanied by no shortage of mutual flattery. Some officials drank until the sky spun and the earth whirled, even falling asleep on the spot. Fortunately, I had plenty of empty guest rooms, so the guardians simply tossed them onto the beds and called it a day.
Hei Zi and Zhen Dayu were the happiest of all. After all, my promotion brought them the greatest benefits. Of course, where there was happiness, there was also displeasure. Zhou Qiping wore a dark expression as he gave me two third-grade, two-year Immortal Qi Plates as a return gift for the previous favor—double the amount, at that. He couldn't go back on his word.
I accepted them with a beaming smile. Four years' worth of third-grade Immortal Qi Plates was quite a fortune, and it would greatly help me enter the Central Hub. After all, my Immortal Qi Plates had always been used up the moment they reached my hands.
As for the Immortal Qi Plates Han Shanshan needed for her upcoming breakthrough to a third-grade Dao Body, I planned to have the Zhu Household handle it. Even brothers had to settle accounts clearly; the payment that was due still had to be collected.
After the evening banquet ended, I immediately took Han Shanshan to the Central Hub of the Divine Court, since there wasn't much time left before the competition.
"Shanshan, you remember to bring the star-chart compendium you borrowed from Zhu Daohe, right? You still have to return it." I reminded Han Shanshan.
"I brought it. You're so naggy. Are you worried Miss Zhu will get upset?" Han Shanshan had brought a huge bundle of luggage, which the guardian carried onto the cloud carriage. This cloud carriage was a