After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Shen Long arrived at the entrance of a nine-story Golden Pavilion. The plaque bore three large golden characters: "Rain-Listening Pavilion." It was a teahouse, and many Qi Refining Cultivators liked to come here to drink tea, make friends, and gather information along the way.
Shen Long entered Rain-Listening Pavilion and reached the fifth floor. Every seat was occupied. Just as he was about to head upstairs, a hearty male voice rang out. "Fellow Daoist Li, are you looking for someone?"
Shen Long followed the voice and saw a tall, thin silver-robed youth. His features were upright, his skin fair, and he held a green folding fan in his hand, dressed like a refined young gentleman.
"No, I came by myself. Is Fellow Daoist Wei waiting for someone?"
Shen Long said with a smile.
The silver-robed youth was called Wei Tianbao. He came from a cultivation lineage, and the Wei Family was an affiliated cultivation lineage of Tyrant Blade Villa.
Wei Tianbao had followed an elder of his lineage to Yunmeng Mountain, intending to participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly and join Tyrant Blade Villa.
"I'm waiting for two friends. If Fellow Daoist Li doesn't mind, join me at my table. I just bought a canister of good tea leaves."
Wei Tianbao said warmly.
"I won't be disturbing you, will I?"
Shen Long asked politely.
"Not at all. I mentioned you to them before, and they want to meet you too. Sit down—we can drink while we wait."
Wei Tianbao invited Shen Long to sit, then picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of Spirit Tea.
The tea was golden in color and gave off a peculiar, fragrant aroma.
Shen Long lifted the cup and took a sip. He could clearly feel his divine sense grow slightly stronger. Even if it was only by a little, it was still quite good.
"What kind of Spirit Tea is this?"
Shen Long asked curiously, draining the cup in one gulp.
"Spirit-Nourishing Tea! I traded for it from Fellow Daoist Jiang. I heard it is only harvested once every hundred years. A single tea tree yields barely more than ten catties of leaves, all supplied for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This tea can strengthen divine sense, and its effects are even better for Qi Refining Cultivators like us."
Wei Tianbao said with a smile, picking up the teapot to refill Shen Long's cup.
"Fellow Daoist Wei has connections everywhere. Only someone as capable as you could obtain such fine Spirit Tea."
Shen Long praised him, then raised his cup for another sip.
Wei Tianbao was skilled at socializing, knew quite a few Qi Refining Cultivators, and was passionate about making friends.
"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Li. Fellow Daoist Jiang merely showed me some respect. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten a canister of Spirit-Nourishing Tea so easily!"
Wei Tianbao said modestly, though his face was full of smug delight.
"Fellow Daoist Wei truly is capable. The last time I visited the Jiang Clan, I found it difficult even to trade Fellow Daoist Jiang for two taels of Spirit-Nourishing Tea, yet he traded an entire canister to you."
A woman's voice, clear as silver bells, rang out.
As soon as the words fell, a fragrant breeze drifted over. A purple-skirted maiden in her early twenties and a blue-skirted young girl with slightly baby-fat cheeks approached.
The purple-skirted maiden had an oval face, cherry lips, a delicate nose, skin whiter than snow, and lively eyes. The blue-skirted young girl had a round face and large eyes, an unusually full chest, and a slender waist that could be encircled with one hand.
"Fellow Daoist Li, let me introduce you. These two are Fairy Zhang."
Wei Tianbao rose to his feet and introduced them.
Shen Long hurriedly stood and clasped his hands. "I am Li Xiao. Greetings, Fairies."
"This little sister is Zhang Yuyan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Li."
The purple-skirted maiden introduced herself.
"I've long heard Fellow Daoist Wei speak of Fellow Daoist Li. This little sister is Zhang Yuruo. How about we find a place to spar? We'll compete in spells."
The blue-skirted young girl's eyes gleamed.
"Uh... another day, perhaps!"
Shen Long gave an embarrassed smile and politely declined.
"Please don't take offense, Fellow Daoist Li. My younger sister has cultivated four first-tier spells to Great Perfection. She heard that Fellow Daoist Li had done the same, which is why she wished to compete with you in spells."
Zhang Yuyan explained.
Shen Long suddenly understood. He nodded to show that he understood.
Wei Tianbao invited them to sit down, and they drank tea while chatting idly.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Li, which sect do you wish to join? Are you interested in joining the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect?"
Zhang Yuyan asked casually.
The Zhang Family was an affiliated cultivation lineage of the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect. They had come specifically to participate in the Immortal Ascension Assembly under orders from their elders, to recruit capable Qi Refining Cultivators into the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect.
"That isn't for me to decide. I'll try them one by one!"
Shen Long answered vaguely.
Qi Refining Cultivators from the affiliated cultivation lineages of Seven Rosy Clouds Sect, Tyrant Blade Villa, and Purple Firmament Gate had all tried to persuade Shen Long to join the same sect as them. Their lineages held a certain amount of influence within their sects, and if they entered together, they could offer him some care and support.
This was not because Shen Long was particularly outstanding. It was merely polite talk; they had said similar things to many Qi Refining Cultivators.
"Mystic Yang Sect's assessment is very difficult to pass. Purple Firmament Gate likes to recruit Talisman Makers. Tyrant Blade Villa is renowned for its blade arts, and most of its disciples cultivate blade techniques. Spirit Control Sect excels at controlling insects and beasts. Seven Rosy Clouds Sect is different—we have both high-tier Talisman Makers and senior cultivators proficient in sword-control arts, as well as disciples skilled in controlling insects and beasts."
Zhang Yuyan said slowly.
"Hmph, the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect's inheritance is far inferior to our Spirit Control Sect's, and even less comparable to Tyrant Blade Villa. Fairy Zhang, aren't you being ridiculous by praising the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect so extravagantly?"
A man's mocking voice rang out.
As the words fell, a broad-shouldered, thick-waisted gold-shirted man came upstairs. Three Spirit Beast Bags hung from his waist, while patterns of birds, beasts, fish, and insects were embroidered on his sleeves—the mark of the Spirit Control Sect.
Zhang Yuyan gave an awkward smile and hurriedly explained, "Every sect has its own strengths. I had no intention of belittling the Spirit Control Sect."
"Fairy Zhang may not have belittled our Spirit Control Sect, but you praised the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect far too highly. Anyone who didn't know better might think the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect was the number one sect in the Qin Kingdom!"
The gold-shirted man sneered.
"Our Seven Rosy Clouds Sect is indeed not the number one sect in the Qin Kingdom, but neither is your Spirit Control Sect. Fairy Zhang merely praised the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect a few times, yet Fellow Daoist Xu keeps making things difficult for her. Are you looking down on our Seven Rosy Clouds Sect?"
A woman's icy voice rang out.
As the words fell, a Gold-Skirted Girl in her twenties came upstairs. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her eyes were like water, her brows resembled distant dark hills, and her delicate nose tilted slightly upward. A seven-colored rainbow pattern was embroidered on her sleeve—the mark of the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect.
"I have no such intention. I simply felt that Fairy Zhang had praised your Seven Rosy Clouds Sect too excessively, so I spoke a few fair words. Our Spirit Control Sect may not compare to Mystic Yang Sect, but we are certainly stronger than your Seven Rosy Clouds Sect."
The gold-shirted man's face was full of pride.
"Hmph, anyone can talk big. If you have the courage, let's go to the Martial Arts Arena and have a match. We'll see the truth beneath our hands and speak with our abilities."
The Gold-Skirted Girl proposed.
"Fine, let's go. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
The gold-shirted man agreed without hesitation.
Shen Long and the other three looked at one another. None of them had expected things to turn out this way.
Both the Gold-Skirted Girl and the gold-shirted man were fiercely protective of their sects' reputations and unwilling to yield.
The gold-shirted man looked toward Shen Long's group of four and said, "You come along too! Let me show you whether the Spirit Control Sect or the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect is stronger."
Naturally, Shen Long and the others had no objections. They followed them to a vast Bluestone Square, where several Bluestone Platforms stood.
Before you continue