"Gifts from Spirit Hall: three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, a thousand rare treasures, five hundred bundles of rare medicinal herbs, a hundred Soul Tools, and a hundred jin of Dawn Morning Dew. We wish Sect Master Ning Zhaoming health, happiness, and a long life."
Hearing of Spirit Hall's gifts, everyone present couldn't help marveling at the sect's deep reserves. They'd produced three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones just like that.
"Hahaha! Good, good, good. Let the banquet begin!"
"Let the feast—begin!"
As soon as the words fell, rows of maids came in carrying all kinds of delicacies. Murong Huai watched with delight as they placed the trays on the tables.
But when he saw the food on them, Murong Huai froze, unable to believe his eyes.
What was this?
On one plate lay nothing but a... carrot, about as thick as two fingers?
On another plate were two slices of beef??
Murong Huai looked around in disbelief, then at the food before him. He wondered if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's cooks were actually soldiers from Shanghai.
The portions were truly tiny, and the prices truly steep!!
Everyone chatted among themselves, the banquet filled with laughter and warm conversation as cups were raised and exchanged...
About an hour later, someone suggested:
"Old Sect Master Ning, why not let the youngsters come out and have some fun? It'll liven things up."
The others readily agreed.
"Yeah, drinking the whole time isn't much fun."
"It'd be a good chance to see how the younger generation of the various sects measures up..."
"Let us witness their skills, too..."
Hearing them, Ning Zhaoming nodded.
"Very well. In that case, someone, raise the Soul Fighting Platform!"
At Ning Zhaoming's words, a guard nearby operated a mechanism hidden inside a pillar. At