Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was almost the end of the you hour, nearing the xu hour.
By then, even on the floating immortal islands high in the sky, the last traces of the setting sun had long since vanished. In their place were the stars scattered across the heavens, the Milky Way, and the crescent moon. Together, they bathed the immortal paradises suspended between heaven and earth, far above the teeming masses below, in a cold, silvery glow.
The rear courtyard of the Rongguo Immortal Estate's floating island complex—that is, an elegant courtyard with pavilions, waterside halls, and a flower hall behind the main residence of the island complex where Grandmother Jia lived—was bustling with activity. Countless immortal maidens and maids hurried back and forth, carefully making preparations.
This was an open-sided pavilion in Grandmother Jia's rear courtyard, built especially for banquets and enjoying the scenery. The floating island was not large, but open on all sides, enclosed by white marble railings. Inside, carved beams and painted rafters adorned the halls; the upturned eaves of an octagonal pavilion reached toward the sky. Rare flowers and plants surrounded the buildings, while spiritual springs murmured in the lotus pond and fish played in the water. Several towering, unfamiliar immortal trees and flowers either spread their branches or bloomed brilliantly overhead.
All the lights in the courtyard had been switched on. After night fell, the place shimmered with dazzling splendor, its beauty and luxury beyond the imagination of ordinary mortals.
In the open space of the courtyard, where the ground was also paved with white marble tiles, several exquisite redwood round tables inlaid with mother-of-pearl cloud patterns had been set out. Immortal maidens and maids darted to and fro like butterflies among the flowers, preparing for the