"To have Brother Xu as my friend in this life is the greatest honor of my life. I'll offer you a cup of tea in place of wine."
Long Jingxiu raised her cup.
Xu Yi laughed heartily and raised his cup to meet hers. "I'm the one who's been blessed across three lifetimes."
They drained their cups together. Suddenly, dazzling lights filled the sky, bathing the entire world of ice and snow in color.
A jade carriage suddenly tore through the air, pulled by a golden dragon. Its hundred-zhang body came hurtling forward, scales and claws spread wide, as its enormous roar sent thick streams of white Qi pouring across the sky.
"A true dragon!"
Xu Yi cried out in shock.
He could hardly believe it. By now, he was an old hand in the Cultivation World, and his cultivation was quite advanced.
Yet he had never heard of a true dragon appearing anywhere.
That jade carriage was actually being pulled by a true dragon—something far beyond anything he could have imagined.
Long Jingxiu said, "It's a dragon-whiskered python, made up to look the part. It's all for show. Still, a dragon-whiskered python a hundred zhang long is an exceptionally rare sight."
As they spoke, the giant dragon pulled the jade carriage past them. A Golden Crown Youth sat at ease inside. As he passed the two of them, he smiled brightly at Long Jingxiu.
"Why is he here? This, this..."
Long Jingxiu seemed dazed.
When the carriage vanished into the distance, a lilting melody suddenly drifted over from afar. Long Jingxiu said, "The Spring Welcome Banquet is about to begin. Brother Xu, be sure not to eat any food offered to you by others."
A dozen breaths later, Long Jingxiu led Xu Yi to a light gate. "Brother Xu,