When he saw off the sword cultivators of the "Polar Sword Pavilion," Zheng Xinghuai never once loosened his grip on Su Fan's wrist.
With a trace of urgent warmth in his fingertips, he led Su Fan and Hu Xuan all the way along the cloud-wreathed mountain path, heading straight toward the main peak of the sect deep within the mountain gate.
When they reached the front of the main peak, an elder of the Dao Palace dressed in a green-patterned Daoist robe came forward and led Hu Xuan to the cultivators' residences on the western side to settle in.
Zheng Xinghuai, meanwhile, kept hold of Su Fan's wrist and continued up toward the sect's main hall at the mountaintop. His sleeve brushed across the moss on the stone steps before the hall, stirring up tiny fluctuations of spiritual power.
In the blink of an eye, noon arrived, and the "Heavenly Lightning Dao Palace's" Spirit Wine banquet had already been laid out in the square before the main hall.
Rows of white jade tables stretched up the steps, tier after tier. Jade plates brimming with spirit fruits glimmered faintly, while the steaming fragrance of Spirit Wine mingled with the mountain breeze and drifted half a li away.
This Spirit Wine banquet was held to an exceptionally high standard. Even in the "Heavenly Lightning Dao Palace," such an occasion was rare.
Sect Master Zheng Xinghuai personally occupied the host's seat. Five Integration Stage elders of the sect sat on either side, and every cultivator present wore the sect's formal attire. Yet all their gazes kept circling back to Su Fan beside the host's seat.
The crisp clinking of cups rose and fell throughout the banquet. Zheng Xinghuai repeatedly raised his cup to toast Su Fan, while several elders, emboldened by the wine,